The Resurrection Gospel

helpful article by Kevin DeYoung

The resurrection is not a sentimental story about never giving up, or the possibility of good coming from evil. It is not first of all a story about how suffering can be sanctified, or a story of how Jesus suffered for all of humanity so we can suffer with the rest of humanity. The resurrection is the loud declaration that Jesus is enough–enough to atone for your sins, enough to reconcile you to God, enough to present you holy in God’s presence, enough to free you from the curse of the law, enough to promise you there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Something objectively happened on the cross, and that objective work was broadcast to the whole world by an empty tomb. The good news is not a generic message of love for everyone or hope for all. The gospel is the theological interpretation of historical fact. You might put the good news like this: Faith will be counted to us as righteousness when we believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification (Rom. 4:24-25).

read the rest here

Insignificant?……. me thinks not

Don Carson introduces his account of his father’s life –

Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2008)like this (p.9):

Some pastors, mightily endowed by God, are remarkable gifts to the church. They love their people, they handle scriptures well, they see many conversions, their ministries span generations, they understand their culture yet refuse to be domesticated by it, they are theologically robust and personally disciplined… Most of us, however, serve in more modest patches. Most pastors will not regularly preach to thousands, let alone tens of thousands. They will not write influential books, they will not supervise large staffs, and they will never see more than modest growth. They will plug away at their care for the aged, at their visitation, at their counseling, at their Bible studies and preaching… Many of them will attend the conferences sponsored by the revered masters and come away with a slightly discordant combination of, on the one hand, gratitude and encouragement and, on the other, jealousy, feelings of inadequacy, and guilt. Most of us – let us be frank – are ordinary pastors. Dad was one of them. This little book is a modest attempt to let the voice and ministry of one ordinary pastor be heard, for such servants have much to teach us.

Carson’s aim in writing (p.11): …to convey enough of [his father’s] ministry, and his own thought that ordinary ministers are encouraged, not least by the thought that the God of Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon and Piper is no less the God of Tom Carson, and of you and me.

 Tom Carson never rose very far in denominational structures, but hundreds of people in the Outaouais and beyond testify how much he loved them. He never wrote a book, but he loved the Book. He was never wealthy and powerful, but he kept growing as a Christian: yesterday’s grace was never enough. He was not a far-sighted visionary, but he looked forward to eternity. He was not a gifted administrator, but there is no text that says, “By this all men know that you are my disciples, if you are good administrators.” His journals have many, many entries bathed in tears of contrition, but his children and grandchildren remember his laughter. Only rarely did he break through his pattern of reserve and speak deeply and intimately with his children, but he modeled Christian virtues to them. He much preferred to avoid controversy than to stir things up, but his own commitments to historic confessionalism were unyielding, and in ethics he was a man of principle. His own ecclesiastical circles were rather small and narrow, but his reading was correspondingly large and expansive. He was not very good at putting people down, except on his prayer lists.

When he died, there were no crowds outside the hospital, no editorial comments in the papers, no announcements on television, no mention in Parliament, no attention paid by the nation. In his hospital room there was no one by his bedside. There was only the quiet hiss of oxygen, vainly venting because he had stopped breathing and would never need it again.

But on the other side all the trumpets sounded. Dad won entrance to the only throne room that matters, not because he was a good man or a great man – he was, after all, a most ordinary pastor – but because he was a forgiven man. And he heard the voice of him whom he longed to hear saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Don Carson (Memoirs of An Ordinary Pastor) reflecting on his father’s life and death (pp.146-147)

(HT:JohnSampson)

The Lord’s Supper Part IV

preached by Rob Sturdy

Theology on Facebook

Below is a Facebook conversation between one of our college students and his friends.  Instructive.  Don’t try to “like” anything, I’ve broken all the links.

College Student A

Status:  ‎”A low view of law always brings legalism in religion; a high view of law makes a man a seeker after grace.”

15 hours ago · Like · 

• Random college student and 2 others like this.

• • College Student B Why do you say that? Sounds like another John Piper quote. Read somebody else! 😉

    15 hours ago · Like

  • College Student Ahahaha! I think it means like if we have a low view of law, we will believe we can actually keep the law, and so be saved by our own merit, but if we have a high view of law we will mourn over ourselves and “die to ourselves.”

    15 hours ago · Like

  • College Student AIt’s by J. Gresham Machen… whoever he is…

    15 hours ago · Like

  • College Student Cit’s funny that u posted that, I listened to the gnarliest sermon on that today. soo much truth in what you said . it’s all about grace, but in our fallen nature we always have this weird desire for the law, cause it puts us in control, and the focus on us instead of God.

    15 hours ago · Like

  • College Student Aword. Do you think the redeemed nature has a desire for the law as well? That ought to actually be nourished, and ought to be a desire that grows more and more?

    15 hours ago · Like

  • College Student C

    sort of , i think that more and more we desire to keep his law the more we fall in love with him. it just has to be in the right order. The focus can never be the law, it always has to be the grace of God and his person which will naturally produce good works. But as soon as we start thinking we are earning his love, by fullfilling the law is when we get messed up. It really is all about grace and the finished work on the cross.

    14 hours ago · Like

  • College Student BWhen I am justified by the cross, I want to become like Christ, so when I go to the law, it’s not to worship all the ways I deceive myself into thinking I live up to it, but to be judged by all the ways I fall short and ask God to chisel me into His masterpiece.

    14 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

  •  College Student A preach it brother. “the finished work on the cross” might be my favorite arragnemet of words in the whole realm of possibility.

    14 hours ago · Like

  • College Student BTo the justified, the judgment of God’s law is our sanctification. To the unjustified, it’s wrath to be fled.

    14 hours ago · Like

  • College Student Aagreed

    14 hours ago · Like

  • College Student Aaggreed, whatever

    14 hours ago · Like

  • College Student B You had it right the first time dude.

    14 hours ago · Like
  • College Student A haha

Stations of the Cross 2011

On Good Friday, 2011 Trinity was blessed to commission ten pieces of art from ten local artists, some of whom were Christians and some of whom were non-Christians.  Each artist was given a piece of scripture and a brief summary of the scripture.  The artists were given free reign to interpret the text anyway they liked. The artwork was presented in our version of the stations of the cross, which were on display in the fellowship hall.  The heavy publicity we got from this event drew numerous Christians and non-Christians to the church to see great art and hear the story of salvation history from the Exodus to Jesus.  Perhaps you missed the chance to come in person so I’ve copied and pasted the guidebook we gave to all our visitors in full below.  If you see any pieces you might like, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase them on May 4th, 6:00 p.m. at a dinner and auction at Cagney’s in Myrtle Beach.  Tickets must be purchased in advance and can be bought through the church at 843-448-8426.  

The Stations of the Cross: An Introduction

2000 years ago an event occurred in Jerusalem that would shape Western thought, art, music, literature and philosophy for centuries to come. This event was the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish carpenter who claimed to be the Messiah and Son of God. In ancient times it was common for pilgrims to travel to the site of Jesus’ crucifixion to see with their own eyes the sites where this remarkable event occurred. These sites eventually became the “Stations of the Cross.”

Traditionally the Stations of the Cross focused on the significant moments of the suffering of Jesus. These Stations before you
today focus on something quite different. Jesus understood his
sufferings to be the fulfillment of an ancient and important story. This story was the story of the Exodus, and it is this story which is the focal point of our Stations today.

The Exodus

The story of the Exodus is about how the people of Israel were
redeemed from slavery in Egypt through a mighty act of God. This redemption was central to the Jewish faith for centuries and
remains so to this day. The most important element of this story was the Passover. During the Passover, one male lamb was slaughtered and its blood was painted on the doorposts of the houses of Israel. When God came to destroy the slave masters of Israel, he would “pass over” the homes that had the blood of the lamb on the doorposts. Thus the slaves were spared and the slave masters were struck down.

The Passover and the Lord’s Supper

Over a thousand years later, in approximately 33 A.D., Jesus was celebrating this event with his friends at a Passover meal. During this meal, Jesus declared that there was a greater bondage than slavery in Egypt. This greater bondage was slavery to sin, death, and guilt. Because this is a greater bondage, Jesus also promised a greater redemption. Just as God led his people into freedom from slavery, so too would Jesus now lead his people into freedom from sin, death and guilt. Just as the Passover Lamb was
slaughtered before the slaves were redeemed from Egypt, Jesus indicated that he would be slaughtered to bring about freedom for his people.

Each station conveys an important aspect of this story. Ten
artists have graciously volunteered their talent for this effort. Some are Christians and some are not. Whether you are Christian or not, we believe as you experience these stations the art will powerfully convey a special truth about the help God offers to those in bondage, whether it be physical or spiritual.

Redemption from Poverty

Our theme today is redemption and it is our prayer that God will use this art and your generosity to work a new redemption in the lives of those trapped in the bondage of poverty. All art will be auctioned to benefit Habitat for Humanity on May 4th, 6:00 p.m. at Cagney’s Restaurant. You can purchase tickets for $50 or make a small contribution towards Habitat today at Trinity Church.

How to use this book

Each station features an artistic interpretation of an important piece of Scripture from the Exodus story. In this book you will see the art, the artist’s name, and a brief paragraph explaining the significance of the story. Each artist was given free reign in regards to interpretation, so we encourage you to take your time and try to absorb what the artist was communicating.
In addition to this, some stations feature an activity that you can participate in. Instructions for this will be located in this booklet. It was Michelangelo who remarked that “art is simply a shadow of the divine.” Please take the time to prepare yourself properly for what we pray will be a moving, spiritual experience.

A Prayer for Preparation

Almighty God, unto Whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from Whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy Name: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Station 1: Oppression
Tommy Simpson (Exodus 1.8-22)

It has been said that power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Throughout history there has been the unhappy experience of those with absolute power, having been absolutely corrupted, oppressing and exploiting the weak and vulnerable. In this station the people of Israel suffer under the severe weight of oppression imposed upon them by their Egyptian slave masters. This section of Exodus sets up the climax of the story where God in power overthrows the oppressors and liberates those in captivity.

There are more ways to be enslaved than by a secular power. Some are enslaved to anger, others to envy. Some are enslaved to power, or money. Still some are enslaved to chemicals such as alcohol or drugs which hold an oppressive power over their lives. Could God lead captives such as these free as he did for Israel?

Station II:  The Violence of the Oppressor

Trey Martin (Exodus 1.15-17)

What the powerful fear most is the loss of power.  Though Pharaoh tries to subdue and oppress the vulnerable Israelites, they nevertheless flourish in the land of Egypt.  Fearing that one day the Israelites would outnumber the Egyptians, giving the slaves a numerical advantage over their slave masters, Pharaoh mandated that all the male children of Israel be drowned in the Nile.  Martin Luther King Jr. once remarked that evil holds the seed of its own destruction.  Just as Pharaoh is ultimately provoking his own destruction, so too does slavery to anger, envy, power, money, sex etc. hold the seeds to the destruction of human life.  Slavery, whether it be to a human power or to a personal sin always brings violence into our life.

Meditate:  Is there a bondage that is bringing pain into your life?  What is it?

Station III:  The People of Israel Cry Out to God Jennie Hines (2.23-25)

It is the natural reaction of those who are oppressed to cry out for help.  The most recent example of this has been the popular uprisings in the Middle East, where in Libya protesters were seen carrying signs that said “do you stand with us America?”  In the story of Exodus, the people of Israel have no secular power to appeal to, so they cry out to God.  The text makes clear this is a painful, groaning to God almost as if it is their last desperate attempt.  God hears the cry of his people and hears the cry of the oppressed.  The final verse says that “God saw the people of Israel- and God knew.”

Pray:  Do you have a cry that God needs to hear?  Stop here for a moment and cry out to God in the quiet of your heart.  He will hear you.  If you need help praying, ask one of our clergy who are here to help.

Station IV:  God sends a deliverer

Marcia Martin (Exodus chs. 3 & 4)

 

In these chapters we read that God has chosen a deliverer to send to Israel.  We see that the deliverer that God chooses is not a morally upright man.  Moses was in fact a murderer.  We read that God does not choose an especially courageous man as Moses tries to back out.  We read that God does not choose an especially gifted leader, as Moses is not a competent speaker.  God chooses a weak man, but the weak man has the promise that God will be with him (3.12).  This leads us to look not towards the man, but to God for deliverance.  Furthermore, it makes us think that God might one day send a more perfect deliverer, that is one who is innocent, courageous, and a gifted.  It is Jesus, who comes to the same people over a 1000 years later, who claims to be the more perfect deliverer who brings about a more perfect redemption.

Station V:  The Deliverer Confronts the Oppressor Emily Miller (Exodus 5 & 7.1-13)

When God sends a deliverer, he does not send a deliverer who can merely bring inward spiritual comfort to the oppressed, but he sends a deliverer who actually confronts the oppressor. Moses, even in his weakness stands courageously before Pharaoh and demands justice for the people of Israel. Moses is not sent merely to encourage the downtrodden, but to bring about the tangible benefit of their freedom. And yet, freedom merely from Pharaoh will not be enough for the people of Israel. They have spiritual slave masters, who they serve under just as much of a burden as they did under Pharaoh. Some are slaves to anger, some to power, some to money. Each of these needs tangible freedom. So too, when Jesus came he claimed to be able to set people free from whatever bondage they were currently held captive by. Jesus confronts these slave masters face to face and gives them an ultimatum. Let my people go, or else.

Station VI:  God Judges Oppression

Jen Pierce (Exodus 7.14-11)

In Egypt, God’s people were helpless against their plight. It was not only that life’s circumstances were difficult, they actually had an enemy who was actively causing woe in their lives, refusing to allow them the freedom that they had requested. God is not removed from their plight, but He cares deeply about it. Like any father whose children have been hurt, God is protective and loves His people. Because He loves them, He can’t let Pharaoh get away with oppressing His people. We’ve all heard of the 10 Plagues in Exodus, and sometimes it seems like the ravings of a mad and wrathful God. In fact, God is showing His love for His poor and oppressed people by judging their oppressors. The Bible assures us that God will judge all who oppress the poor, because God loves them. This story takes on new meaning in the New Testament, however. In the plagues, God shows His love by judging the oppressor with an act of mighty power. On the cross, God shows His love in an act of infinite humility by receiving the judgment for our sin on Himself. On the cross, we are freed from selfishness, pride and vanity to serve the supreme God of the Universe.

Station VII:  The Lord’s Passover

Trey Martin (Exodus ch. 12)

The final plague that visited the people of Egypt was the killing of the firstborn. Interestingly, in the book of Exodus, the people of Israel weren’t excluded from this killing. They  were, however, given an escape. They were to sacrifice a pure and spotless lamb, and mark their doors with the blood of the lamb. When the avenging angel saw the blood of the lamb, he recognized that the price had been paid for the life of the firstborn in that house. This was done to point to something greater. In the Gospel, God doesn’t require for us to pay for our sins by giving up what is most dear to us. In the Gospel, God doesn’t take our firstborn, but gives up His own firstborn. Jesus is the lamb that was sacrificed as our Passover. It is His blood that covers us and protects us from the judgment of God. It is because of His blood that we don’t have to fear God any longer, but can now love Him. As John the Baptist recognized in John 1:29-36, Jesus is the true Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Station VIII:  The Red Sea

Tommy Davis (Exodus chs 14-15.21)

It has been said that the people of Israel entered Egypt as Hebrews and came out as Jews. In other words, they entered as a loosely tied together ethnic group. After letting the people go, Pharaoh repented and sent his army after them to destroy them. Cornered at the shore of the sea, God showed His might in a miraculous demonstration of power. He parted the sea for the people to walk through safely. When the Egyptians tried to chase after them, they were destroyed. As they walked through the Red Sea, the Israelites became something new. Through the Red Sea, they became the people of God. In the Gospel, Jesus is punished under the wrath of God so that we can walk through safe. On the cross, Jesus is doing miraculously with us what God did for the people of Israel in the Red Sea. In the cross, Jesus is making us a new people.

Meditate:  If I were to walk across the Red Sea, what things might I leave behind to become a new person?

Station IX:  A Greater Oppression than Egypt   Emily Veil (Exodus chs 16.1-3)

After they left Egypt, the Jewish people’s problems were all solved. Or at least you would think. Even though they’re fed, clothed, and protected, they aren’t satisfied. In fact, before long, they began to wish that they were back in Egypt. Needless to say, there’s something wrong with someone who chooses slavery over freedom and oppression over providence. What about us? We constantly call wants needs. Although we see it destroying our planet, we can’t stop consuming. We throw away food while people all over the worlds starve. Is their something wrong with us? The New Testament says ‘Yes.’ John 8:34 tells us, “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” The main problem for the Israelites was not external, the oppression of Pharaoh, but internal, the power of sin to keep them from the joy God intended for them. Likewise, Jesus says “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”(John 15:11 ESV) Jesus has come because we have an interior bondage. Because of this bondage to sin, we keep ourselves from the fullness of joy that God would have for us. Jesus came to set us free.

Station X:  A Greater Redemption

Dot Herron (Matt ch. 26.26-28)

Every year the Jews commemorated their deliverance from Egypt with the Passover meal. In this meal they remembered that God had heard their prayer, judged their enemies, and delivered them from slavery. Jesus celebrated this Passover for over thirty years. On the last night that He celebrated it, He said something astonishing. Taking the bread, He said, “This is my body.” And taking the wine He said, “This is my blood.” In other words, Jesus is saying, “this meal that you have eaten for centuries is all about me. I am the fulfillment of all that it ever meant. I am the one who has heard your cries for mercy. I am the one who will judge your enemies. I am the one who will deliver you.” The very next day, Jesus fulfilled His words by being sacrificed just like the Passover Lamb, showing Himself to be the fulfillment of every good thing God did for His people throughout the Old Testament. Jesus’ deliverance is more than a political deliverance that only lasts the lifetime of an individual or society. Jesus’ deliverance is a spiritual deliverance that lasts for eternity.

The Story Continues

In the 2008 Summer Olympics the opening ceremony played host to a remarkable site.  A Sudanese “Lost Boy,” Lopez Lomong carried the American flag into the Olympic Stadium in Beijing.  Unlike those who previously had this honor, Lomong actively campaigned to carry the flag of the U.S.A.  When asked why this honor was so important to him, he replied that it was out of gratitude for the country who redeemed his life from certain death in the Sudan that he so desperately wanted the honor of carrying the nation’s flag.

The story that you have just experienced through art and word is more than inspirational to those of us at Trinity.  To us, this story is a true story and it has profoundly affected us.  Not one of the pastoral staff here at Trinity grew up in Christian homes.  However, at just the right time for each of us, we grasped hold of this story and experienced the redemption described in this booklet.  While this experience is deeply spiritual, it is also intensely practical.  Like Lopez Lomong, we seek to carry the banner of our redeemer in the stadium of the world.

One practical way we can carry the banner of our redeemer is by being instruments for the redemption of others.  Whether you share our faith or not, you can help us be instruments for redemption in Horry County.  On the last page of this booklet is information on how to donate your time, talent, and money to Habitat for Humanity, a wonderful organization that helps move people from the bondage of poverty to the freedom of homeownership.  Also, at the end of this presentation you will have the opportunity to hear from a member of our pastoral staff how you could be written into the story of redemption as told above.  Your viewing will conclude with a brief discussion on what Jesus thought he was accomplishing on the cross on how this relates to a profound spiritual redemption that you could experience today.

Never Despair

“I never despair of anyone becoming a decided Christian, whatever he may have been in days gone by. I know how great the change is from death to life; I know the mountains of division which seem to stand between some men and heaven; I know the hardness, the prejudices, the desperate sinfulness of the natural heart.

But I remember that God the Father made the glorious world out of nothing. I remember that the voice of the Lord Jesus could reach Lazarus when, four days dead, and recall him even from the grave. I remember the amazing victories the Spirit of God has won in every nation under heaven. I remember all this—and feel that I never need despair.

The arm of the Spirit is not shortened! His power is not decayed! He is like the Lord Jesus—the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is still doing wonders, and will do to the very end. I shall not be surprised to hear, even in this life, that the hardest man I know has become softened, and the proudest has taken his place at the feet of Jesus as a weaned child. I shall not be surprised to meet many on the right hand in the day of judgment, whom I shall leave, when I die, traveling in the broad way.

I never despair, because I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

— J.C. Ryle

(HT:OFFirstImportance)

Christ’s Righteousness

He must increase, but I must decrease.

John3:30

Salvation is the free gift of God. It is God’s free grace that I preach unto you, not of works, lest any one should boast (Eph 2:9). Jesus Christ justifies the ungodly. Jesus passed by, saw you polluted with your blood, and bid you live. It is not of works; it is of faith. We are not justified for our faith, for faith is the instrument, but by our faith. The active and the passive obedience of Christ must be applied to us.

I Will Praise Your Name

“Do not think Christians are made by education; they are made by creation. You may wash a corpse as long as you please, and that corpse could be clean, but you cannot wash life into it! You may deck it in flowers, and robe it in scarlet and fine linen, but you cannot make it live! The vital spark must come from above! Regeneration is not of the will of man, nor of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but by the power and energy of the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God alone! See then, the ruin of nature and the freeness of grace! Void and dark, a chaos given up to be covered with blackness and darkness forever, and, while as yet it is unseeking God, the light arises, and the promise is fulfilled, “I am found of them that sought me not; I said, behold me! behold me! to a people that were not a people.” While we were lying in our blood, filthily polluted, defiled, he passed by, and he said in the sovereignty of his love, “Live!” and we do live. The whole must be traced to sovereign grace! From this sacred well of discriminating distinguishing grace we must draw water this morning, and we must pour it out, saying, “Oh Lord, I will praise your name, for the first origin of my light was your sovereign purpose, and nothing in me.”

– C. H. Spurgeon, Light, Natural and Spiritual” No. 660

HT:EffectualGrace

Love Lustres at Calvary

My Father,

Enlarge my heart, warm my affection, open my lips, supply words that proclaim ‘Love Lustres at Calvary.’

There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on thy Son, made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;

There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow;

There thy infinite attributes were magnified, and infinite atonement was made;

There infinite punishment was due, and infinite punishment was endured.

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,

Ravi breaks it down

As Sparks Fly Upwards

During this time of the year we focus heavily on the crucifixion and the payment for our sins that Jesus took upon himself. Let us also ponder the righteous life He  lived which is also accounted to us.

The following is G. Whitfield talking about those who take Jesus as a partial Savior trying to make a righteousness for themselves after receiving forgiveness of sins.

And to put on the new self,created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  Eph 4:24

Though there are some who dare to deny the Lord Jesus and disbelieve the revelation he has been pleased to give us, and thereby bring upon themselves swift destruction, yet I would charitably hope there are but a few, if any such among you, to whom I am now to preach the kingdom of God. If I were to ask you how you expect to be justified in the sight of offended God? I suppose you would answer, “Only for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

But, were I to come more home to your consciences, I fear that most would make the lord Jesus but in part their Savior and go about as it were to establish a righteousness of their own. And this is not thinking contrary to the rules of Christian charity, for we are all self-righteous by nature; it is as sparks to fly upwards. We have had so many legal, and so few free-grace preachers, for these many years, that most professors now seem settled upon their lees, and rather deserve the title of Pharisees than Christians.

Thus it was with the generality of the people during the time of our Lord’s public ministration; and, therefore, in almost all his discourses, he preached the gospel to poor sinners and denounced terrible woes against proud self-justiciaries. The parable to which the words of  the text belong, looks both these ways, for the evangelist informs us that our Lord, “spoke it to certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.”

And a notable parable it is, a parable worthy of your most serious attention. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” what Jesus Christ speaks to all visible professors in it.

April 20th , “Daily Readings George Whitfield”, edited by R.J. Pederson

Jesus really meant it when He hung on the cross and He said “it is finished”.

A Stations of the Cross Preview II

On Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus upon the cross. One special way that we remember the death of Jesus is through the Stations of the Cross which we will show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. this Friday at Trinity Church. At Trinity, rather than do the traditional Stations we like to do something creative to convey essential aspects of the story.

One story that was important to Jesus, as it was to all Jews was the story of the Exodus. The story of the Exodus is about how the people of Israel were redeemed from slavery in Egypt through a mighty act of God. This redemption was a centerpiece of Jewish faith for centuries and remains so to this day. One central aspect of this event was the Passover. During the Passover, one male lamb was slaughtered and its blood was painted on the door posts of the houses of Israel. When God came to destroy the slave masters of Israel, he would “pass over” the homes that had the blood of the lamb on the door posts. Thus the slaves were spared and the slave masters were struck down.

Over a thousand years later, in approximately 33 A.D., Jesus was celebrating this event with his friends at a Passover meal. During this meal, Jesus declared that there was a greater bondage than slavery in Egypt. This greater bondage was slavery to sin, death, and judgement. Just as this is a greater bondage, Jesus also promised a greater redemption. He said that just like God led his people into freedom from slavery, so too would Jesus now lead his people into freedom from sin, death and judgement. Just as the Passover Lamb was slaughtered before the slaves were redeemed from Egypt, Jesus indicated that he would be slaughtered to bring about freedom for his people.

In these Stations of the Cross we are hoping to tell the story of how the people of Israel were redeemed from slavery, but also how Jesus understood this event to point towards a greater redemption which he would bring about through his death on the cross. Each station conveys an important aspect of this story.

Below is a cropped section of a painting made by Jennie Hines, who coordinated all of the art work for this event. Jennie’s station is station III, “The People of Israel Cry Out to God” based off of Exodus 2.23-25. In this Scripture the people of Israel cry out to God. The text makes clear this is a painful, groaning to God almost as if it is their last desperate attempt. God hears the cry of his oppressed people. The final verse says that “God saw the people of Israel- and God knew.” God’s “knowing” of the people of Israel connotes a most intimate relationship. God champions the cause of his weak and weary people. We learn from this that all those weak and weary from sin and pain can cry out to God with confidence that he hears and more importantly, he knows.

A Stations of the Cross Preview

2000 years ago an event occurred in Jerusalem that would shape Western thought, art, music, and literature for centuries to come. This event was the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish carpenter who claimed to be the Messiah and Son of God. In ancient times it was common for pilgrims to travel to the site of Jesus’ crucifixion to see with their own eyes the sites where the remarkable events surrounding Jesus’ death took place. These sites eventually became the “Stations of the Cross.” You may not be able to travel to Jerusalem to investigate this story for yourself, but you can come to Trinity Church and experience the stations for yourself, vividly brought to life through ten depictions of ten stations painted by local artists. On Good Friday, April 22nd, come see the art and experience the Stations as you are given a personal tour by a clergyman of Trinity Church. Come investigate for yourself through story and art the most provocative and influential story the World has ever known. Click here for more details.

Above is a cropped preview of Station 7, “The Lord’s Passover”. The Passover comes from the story of the Exodus, where God freed the Jewish people from their Egyptian slave masters. Many years later Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples and indicated that he was about to lead a new Exodus, not from physical slave masters but from spiritual slave masters, that is sin, death, Hell and the Devil. The above painting can be seen in full this Friday along with 9 others at Trinity Church, Myrtle Beach, 3000 N’ Kings Hwy. Keep checking the blog for more tasters of what’s to come this Friday.

John Donne: God clothed himself in vile man’s flesh

I quoted this last night at our evening worship service.  One of the attendees was intrigued by it and I promised to post it on the blog.  Here it is!

Oh let me then, his strange love still admire:

Kings pardon, but he bore our punishment.

And Jacob came clothed in vile harsh attire

But to supplant, and with gainful intent:

God clothed himself in vile man’s flesh, that so

He might be weak enough to suffer woe.

John Donne, The Complete English Poems (Penguin 1996 pg 313)

Gospel Coalition Report

Last week I had the privilege of travelling to Chicago with Iain Boyd (Associate Pastor), Hunter Jordan (Youth Minister), Sami Al-Taher (Campus Pastor, West Campus), Danny MacDonald, and Jason Sheroff.  We were also pleased to meet  our friends from Cornerstone Church in Carolina Forest, as well as Hamilton Smith (Associate at St. Michael’s in Charleston) and Peet and Jenny Dickinson (Peet is the Dean of the Cathedral in Charleston).

I greatly enjoyed spending time with such good friends.  The conference was wonderfull.  The worship was edifying and the preaching was encouraging.  I wish I could share the entire thing with you, however I realize your time is precious so I thought I would share the absolute highlights with you.

The worship was led by Keith and Kirstyn Getty who pieced together several moving worship services with hymns both old and new.  I’ve put a clip where you can listen to one of their songs below.

You can visit the Getty’s at their website here and you’ll be able to pick up CDs of theirs from the bookstore at Trinity soon.

Throughout the day we had gifted preachers opening up God’s word.  The theme for this year was “Christ in the Old Testament.”  The preaching and teaching went from 9 in the morning until 10 in the evening.  I’m under no illusions that you’ll listen to all of them! So  I’ve selected my top three in the hopes that you might listen to at least one.

1. Tim Keller:   “Getting Out” (Exodus 14).  Our group generally agreed that Keller’s was the best.  Click here to listen.
2. Don Carson:   “Getting Excited about Melchizedek” (Psalm 110).  Though I found Keller personally more edifying, I must say Carson’s exposition of Psalm 110 was the very finest piece of expository preaching I have ever been privileged to hear.  It would do you some good to hear what he says on Psalm 110.  Click here to listen.
3. Mike Bullmore: “God’s Great Heart of Love Toward His Own” (Zephaniah).  I loved this sermon.  Click here to listen.

You can click here to see all the talks.  If others from our group had put together a top three, I think we all agreed on Keller and Carson.  However, Chandler and Mbwewe were also high on the list.  You can listen to them by clicking through the link above if you like.

I’m quite thankful for the opportunity to travel and be part of this enriching experience.  On behalf of the pastoral staff that went to Chicago, thanks for the opportunity!