July 4 weekend? Yes.
Sunday at 6:00pm I will be leading an hour of corporate prayer.
We meet in a classroom at the end of the hallway in the main building.
This corporate time of prayer is for the purpose of:
–exalting God
–claiming His promises
–caring for His people
–fighting injustice
–about 40 other great purposes
So come if you can–no matter your prayer history and/or experience. You’re welcomed and will benefit from the time. Only those who want to do so are asked to pray aloud.
One of the themes in Exodus 17:1-7 is that God is on trial.
C. S. Lewis observed: “The ancient man
approached God as the accused person approaches his judge. For the modern
man the roles are reversed. He is the judge: God is in the dock. He is quite
a kindly judge: if God should have a reasonable defense for being the god
who permits war, poverty and disease, he is ready to listen to it. The trial may
even end in God’s acquittal. But the important thing is that Man is on the
Bench and God in the Dock.”
Phil Ryken says: “Instead of starting with God and evaluating our experience from
his point of view, we start with our own circumstances and judge him on
that basis. When things go wrong, when life does not meet our expectations,
we are quick to fix the blame squarely on his shoulders and to demand
some kind of explanation.”
Sunday, as we gather to worship and to share Holy Communion, we will be in Exodus 17:1-7. The short story is:
God’s people are thirsty; they blame Moses; Moses complains to God about THEM; God tells Moses to strike a certain rock; Moses does; Water flows! In the new testament we read that Christ is that rock (1 Corinthians 10).
The Bible often refers to God as a Rock. He is “the Rock of Israel” (Gen.
49:24; cf. Isa. 30:29), “the Rock . . . [whose] works are perfect” (Deut.
32:4), the Rock who is a “fortress” and a “refuge” (Ps. 18:2). He is “the Rock
of our salvation” (Ps. 95:1; cf. Deut. 32:15). In keeping with this imagery, the
rock that Moses struck with his rod was a symbol of God and his salvation.
In particular, it showed how God would submit to the blow of his own justice
so that out of him would flow life for his people.
God did this in the person of his own Son. The rock was Christ because
like the rock, Christ was struck with divine judgment. This is what happened
to him on the cross. Christ was bearing the curse for our sin; so God
struck him with the rod of his justice. The Scripture says, “He was pierced
for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment
that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed”
(Isa. 53:5).
The judgment that Christ received on the cross is the proof of
our protection. It shows that we will not suffer eternal death for our sins. God
has taken the judgment of our guilt upon himself, and now we are safe for
all eternity.
Francis Chan models amazing humility and boldness here. I think what he’s saying is important–and it challenges me.
About This Blog
This blog is one of the primary ways that Christ Community's staff can connect and share information. Look for important updates on our community life here each week.
Visit the CCC Website.
View our Church Calendar.
Reminders & Reflections
Blog Archive
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011