Archive for March, 2013


Mar 29

Speaking of Gethsemane

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Sermon Follow-Up

On Wednesday night, Ryan preached a sermon from Matthew 26:36-46, titled, “Dark Gethsemane.” There at Gethsemane, as Ryan said, Jesus was in aguish in what laid before him so that we wouldn’t have to fear death.

This passage raises a number of questions that we weren’t able to explore concerning the relationship of Jesus to his Father. With perfect timing, just yesterday an article was published to the Gospel Coalition Blog dealing with one of the questions raised by this text.

The article was titled, “You Asked: Does Gethsemane Separate the Trinity?” Here’s the question submitted by a reader of the TGC Blog:

When Jesus says to his Father in the garden of Gethsemane, “not as I will, but as you will” (Mt.26:39), how should we think of this relationships within the Trinity? Did the Son have a different desire or will from the Father?

Great question. Click here for a reply from John McKinley.

Mar 28

Invite Someone. It’s Easy.

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Events

Joinus

This image is the top of a new invitation page for this weekend’s Good Friday and Easter Services.

This is something like a digital version of the invitation cards we have made available for years. Those cards are especially useful for the people we meet in the course of our day around town. But for the people we socialize with on a regular basis, this should come in especially handy. The digital space is where so much of our communication takes place already.

So, use it. Use it to invite friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to catch a glimpse of heaven in the singing, celebrating, and preaching of Christ’s resurrection this weekend. Link to it in an email, or use the little buttons at the bottom of the page to share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Google +.

Some things are meant to be shared. The resurrection is one of them. See you this weekend!

Mar 27

Christ died, he was buried, and he was raised!

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Events

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
– 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

There is nothing more important than the gospel of Jesus Christ. We remember and celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection each Sunday, and we do so in a focused way this time each year.

Since this week is also the week of our monthly Lord’s Supper gathering, we have the opportunity to gather as a church on three separate days. We would encourage you to make plans to participate in each service, and to invite your friends, family, and neighbors to join along.

To help you prepare, here are details and sermon texts for each of this week’s services.

Lord’s Supper, March 27 (6:30 PM)

On Wednesday night (tonight!) Ryan will preach from Matthew 26:36-56 where Jesus prayed to his Father in the garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.

Good Friday, March 29 (6:30 PM)

On Friday evening Ryan will preach from Matthew 27:32-44, the account of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Childcare will be provided for children four years and younger.

Easter Sunday, March 31 (7:30, 9:00, and 10:45 AM)

On Easter Sunday Ryan will preach from Acts 2:22-41, a record of one of the first proclamations of the resurrection of Christ.

Notice that we are hosting an early 7:30 AM service on this Sunday. Child care will be available only at the two later services.

Now about that 7:30 AM service. If your situation allows, please make plans to join us for the 7:30 AM service. Historically our later two services have been quite full, and we have needed to ask many of our guests to attend the service in the overflow room (Youth Room). Joining us at 7:30 AM will help ensure that visitors to our later services feel welcome and have a place to sit, even if they show up a bit late. Thanks for helping us be hospitable.

Mar 22

How Much of the Gospel Do You Want?

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Quote

The good news of the gospel is that, in Christ, we are no longer condemned for our sin (Romans 8:1). It is also good news that we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:17). Here’s a good word on the gospel’s life transforming purposes in our lives:

I would like to buy about three dollars worth of gospel, please.

Not too much—just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted.

I don’t want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust.

I certainly don’t want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture.

I want ecstasy, not repentance; I want transcendence, not transformation.

I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don’t want to love those from different races—especially if they smell.

I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged.

I would like about three dollars worth of the gospel, please. (pp. 12-13)

—D. A. Carson, Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians (Baker, 1996)

HT: Justin Taylor

Mar 18

Marital Love, the Holocaust, and Toys (The Link List, 3/18/13)

2013 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Link List

What Is Love?“ (cvcnow)

“‘Til death do us part” doesn’t really mean to us what it should. Here’s what it means.

9 Things You Should Know About the Papacy” (Joe Carter)

 Some helpful history and context for the Papacy.

Why a New Student Missions Conference?” (John Piper)

John Piper explains the reasoning behind the formation of a new student conference, Cross.

Goodbye, Faith in Humanity” (Derek Rishmawy)

Surprising news about the Holocaust; unsurprising news about our capacity as human beings.

Consider Yourself” (Burk Parsons)

Here are ten things to consider before engaging in controversy

Engaging the Quiet Guy In Your Small Group” (Ben Reed)

There are many reasons a person might be afraid to talk in a small group. Here’s help for opening up the conversation.

Toy Stories“ (Gabriele Galimberti)

A little off topic, but fun. This photographer traveled around and took photos of kids with their toys.

Data reveal scale of China abortions“ (Financial Times)

A reminder to pray and plead for the lives of the unborn.

Gospel Presentations or Conversations?“ (Alvin Reid)

Encouragement for conversational gospel sharing in an age of “presentation.”