CCC Gainesville | Blog
Tomorrow, 10 am – noon, we will be having another Bike Day at the church property. We will be blocking off the parking lot so our kiddos can ride their bikes around the paved parking area safely and freely. Bring your bikes, trikes, scooters, cosy coupes…whatever you can think of to ride around. Don’t forget sunscreen and snacks! We will have a door to the church open for potty runs or the water fountain.
Hope to see you all there!
The theme of this developing sermon in my head seems to be “Loving The Trinity”. Not loving the doctrine of the trinity—but loving our triune God.
The Church of Jesus Christ has loved the trinity for 2000 years.
The same Trinitarian doctrine is clearly confessed in the ancient creeds of the Christian church. In the Apostles’ Creed, for example, believers confess their faith in “God, the Father Almighty,” in “Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,” and in “the Holy Ghost.” Similarly, the Nicene Creed states, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth . . . and in Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God . . . and in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified.”
–Michael LeFebvre & Phil Ryken, “Our Triune God”
You know I love all things British (cf Harry Potter, the word FORTNIGHT, Et al) and should not be surprised to learn that a Brit has (quietly) had a tremendous influence on me and on Christ Community. John Stott was a wonderful person and Christian who went to be with Christ last summer.
This Sunday we will look together into the Scripture’s teaching on “Our Triune God”. Consider praying Stott’s morning prayer in preparation for Sunday.
Good morning heavenly Father,
good morning Lord Jesus,
good morning Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, I worship you as the creator and sustainer of the universe.
Lord Jesus, I worship you, Savior and Lord of the world.
Holy Spirit, I worship you, sanctifier of the people of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence
and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God,
have mercy upon me. Amen.
– John Stott, quoted in Basic Christian: The Inside Story of John Stott
Every time (everytime?)
Whenever I go to an event like the one were having Saturday at Payne’s Prairie–2 things happen.
One, I get to have a conversation with a church friend that lasts more than the 3 minutes that Sunday morning usually allows. Great memories of chatting with S. Addcox at Egg Hunt last year.
Two, I meet someone that I didn’t already know. I met Ben & Elisabeth Griffin at a Saturday event. Then I enjoyed several years of watching them grow in Christ before they moved to NM last year.
So, come on out! 11-2, Saturday. Details are here.
Several people have asked for the text of the reflection I read yesterday from Phil Ryken. Phil Ryken is the former senior pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and is currently the president of Wheaton College. Interestingly enough, he was a classmate and friend of Gainesville’s own Ron Kuykendall of St. Andrews Episcopal Church.
