Dear God,
As we come before you we recognize that we are unsuited for your presence. We are defiled with sin and stand in need of a cleansing that only you can give.
You have every right to chase us away—to run us out of your good presence like Adam before us. Indeed, if we were cast out into the outer darkness, you would be justified in your actions.
But we know that you accept the one whose heart is penitent and you show mercy to the brokenhearted. He who has nothing you make rich, and you eye is ever on the poor in spirit.
And as we turn to you now we pray that you might pardon us for looking so much like the world: for taking their views, for following their idols, for imitating their ways and embracing their pride. Too often we have been the world’s twin, rather than its greatest enemy.
Do cleanse us from this filth and lift us out of this mire. We pray that you would give us instead a zeal to pursue your law; to be conformed to the image of your Son; to mimic the angels in heaven. No longer do we wish to be a friend of the world, but instead we desire to be a threat to it.
Dear God, let us be holy, even as you are holy. Amen
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
New Study on the Church
What do you know about the Church? If you are like most people, not much.That is why CRF is embarking on a new study on the doctrine of the church (otherwise known as ecclesiology) in its Sunday evening study (6:30 p.m.).
It has been said that "Protestant theology has concerned itself largely with salvation truth to the neglect of the doctrine of the church." Indeed this is true. Many can speak of Jesus, but most do not know a thing about what Jesus says regarding his bride.
Moreover, it is important in a day when the church is governed more by pragmatism and personal affinities than by God's Word that we turn to the Bible to find out what the church should be and do.
The study will begin by looking at the attributes of the church, which are outlined in the Nicene Creed: I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Then we will consider other pertinent topics, such as the marks of of a true and false church, the mission of the church, church government and sacraments.
All along the way we'll be diving into contemporary issues such as the ecumenical movement, the church growth movement, and the issue of social action. Practical questions (such as, when is it right to leave a church? what is my role as a member of a local church? and do para-church ministries have biblical authorization?) will also be addressed throughout.
Faith Lessons for CRF's Tuesday Night Men's Group
The men of CRF have begun what looks to be a great series of videos from Ray VanderLaan and his Faith Lessons series. In the Dust of the Rabbi is the title of the videos we will be watching each Tuesday night at 6:00. If these videos are anything like the earlier ones from the Faith Lessons series, then they are sure to be excellent.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Reformation Day Celebration
This Friday (Oct 31st) is Reformation Day! We'll be celebrating by wathing the movie Luther. You are most welcome to come and join us. Just let me know. Don't forget to read your 95 Theses too in honor of our great heritage.
Mighty God,
What debt of love we do owe you. How can we repay? You have loved us with a matchless love. You have poured out mercy upon mercy. Torrents of grace have come down and we have been swallowed up by a deluge of love.
Yet you were not satisfied with that. You would not be content with a mere reconciliation. You would not stop until our hearts had been fully subdued and we made your children. This being so you have hounded us and hunted us. You have sought us and saved us.
So we stand here today as princes—heirs of eternity. We look to inherit a rich treasure, a great kingdom, a life of constant pleasure and happiness.
And so we call upon your Name, that name that is above all names, and ask that you might meet with us here. And continue to affirm your love for us. Bind us to yourself with that matchless devotion. For there is no one like you. There is no one who can even begin to imitate the bounty of your affection.
What debt of love we do owe you. How can we repay? You have loved us with a matchless love. You have poured out mercy upon mercy. Torrents of grace have come down and we have been swallowed up by a deluge of love.
Yet you were not satisfied with that. You would not be content with a mere reconciliation. You would not stop until our hearts had been fully subdued and we made your children. This being so you have hounded us and hunted us. You have sought us and saved us.
So we stand here today as princes—heirs of eternity. We look to inherit a rich treasure, a great kingdom, a life of constant pleasure and happiness.
And so we call upon your Name, that name that is above all names, and ask that you might meet with us here. And continue to affirm your love for us. Bind us to yourself with that matchless devotion. For there is no one like you. There is no one who can even begin to imitate the bounty of your affection.
God of all grace,
You have set us in this world to be salt and light. You called us to be separate from the world and a witness to the world. But we acknowledge that we have failed this holy calling.
Despite having received from you blessing upon blessing, we have grumbled and complained. We have despaired and doubted. Our faces have not reflected the joy that ought to characterize those who have been sanctified by your grace. And our lives have been filled with corruption.
We acknowledge the fact that we are defiled with the stain of sin. And we pray that you would forgive us for continuing to go back to wallow in the cesspool of our sin.
We ask that you would purge from us the iniquity that still litters our hearts. We ask, O God, that you would renovate these barren temples. Make them suitable for your divine presence. Clear away all that is vile. Melt away our longings for unrighteousness. Make us strong against temptation and shield us from evil.
We thank you for Jesus, and the promise of the gospel. We thank you that he did suffer and die upon the cross to bear the penalty of our sin.
And now, Father, we ask that you could cause our souls cleave to you and you alone. We pray that we might be testimonies to the Spirit’s work. That we might be your epistles to this world, having the gospel of grace written on our hearts. That others might find grace with you through us. Make it so, for Jesus sake.
You have set us in this world to be salt and light. You called us to be separate from the world and a witness to the world. But we acknowledge that we have failed this holy calling.
Despite having received from you blessing upon blessing, we have grumbled and complained. We have despaired and doubted. Our faces have not reflected the joy that ought to characterize those who have been sanctified by your grace. And our lives have been filled with corruption.
We acknowledge the fact that we are defiled with the stain of sin. And we pray that you would forgive us for continuing to go back to wallow in the cesspool of our sin.
We ask that you would purge from us the iniquity that still litters our hearts. We ask, O God, that you would renovate these barren temples. Make them suitable for your divine presence. Clear away all that is vile. Melt away our longings for unrighteousness. Make us strong against temptation and shield us from evil.
We thank you for Jesus, and the promise of the gospel. We thank you that he did suffer and die upon the cross to bear the penalty of our sin.
And now, Father, we ask that you could cause our souls cleave to you and you alone. We pray that we might be testimonies to the Spirit’s work. That we might be your epistles to this world, having the gospel of grace written on our hearts. That others might find grace with you through us. Make it so, for Jesus sake.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Our King and Our God,
To you we come this day wishing we had a thousand tongues to sing your praise. Even then it would not be sufficient to voice what we owe you. Neither then would we be able to express how glorious you are.
Your majesty is radiant. You are robed with honor. Yet we are limited creatures, we are but worms in comparison to your greatness. But we come as you have commanded. We shrink not back from our duty of worship. No, we come with glad hearts and jubilant spirits. For you are our all in all. We live because of you. We breath in this air because you have permitted us this simple grace.
And as we come to draw near to you, we pray that you would draw near to us. Come to us and abide with us. Make your dwelling place within us. Renew your love to us and shine your face upon us we pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
To you we come this day wishing we had a thousand tongues to sing your praise. Even then it would not be sufficient to voice what we owe you. Neither then would we be able to express how glorious you are.
Your majesty is radiant. You are robed with honor. Yet we are limited creatures, we are but worms in comparison to your greatness. But we come as you have commanded. We shrink not back from our duty of worship. No, we come with glad hearts and jubilant spirits. For you are our all in all. We live because of you. We breath in this air because you have permitted us this simple grace.
And as we come to draw near to you, we pray that you would draw near to us. Come to us and abide with us. Make your dwelling place within us. Renew your love to us and shine your face upon us we pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Our God and Savior,
We realize that we have broken covenant with you and have transgressed your law. We have not been humble enough to walk with you. We have not delighted ourselves in you. When you called us out of the storm of sin, we refused to come. We were more content to wallow in our iniquity and enjoy the pleasures of the flesh.
You have called us to walk in your way, to enjoy peace of conscience, and to find the bounty of eternal happiness. But we have not listened to your voice, nor heeded the beckoning of your Spirit.
But we turn to you now with grief in our hearts and sorrow for our sins. We are pained that we have left our first love and sought our own way. We cannot even explain why we were tempted to find our fulfilment in anything else. For you are the chief good and man’s supreme pleasure.
So, O God, we pray that you would not turn us away. As we turn to you we pray that you would turn again to us. Be gracious to us and forgive us. Mend us and restore us. Fill us and renew us with your grace. For we long to walk with you in newness of life. We long for the day when these chains of sin will be broken and ask that it would be this day that the remnants of sin would be continually splintered and put away forever.
We realize that we have broken covenant with you and have transgressed your law. We have not been humble enough to walk with you. We have not delighted ourselves in you. When you called us out of the storm of sin, we refused to come. We were more content to wallow in our iniquity and enjoy the pleasures of the flesh.
You have called us to walk in your way, to enjoy peace of conscience, and to find the bounty of eternal happiness. But we have not listened to your voice, nor heeded the beckoning of your Spirit.
But we turn to you now with grief in our hearts and sorrow for our sins. We are pained that we have left our first love and sought our own way. We cannot even explain why we were tempted to find our fulfilment in anything else. For you are the chief good and man’s supreme pleasure.
So, O God, we pray that you would not turn us away. As we turn to you we pray that you would turn again to us. Be gracious to us and forgive us. Mend us and restore us. Fill us and renew us with your grace. For we long to walk with you in newness of life. We long for the day when these chains of sin will be broken and ask that it would be this day that the remnants of sin would be continually splintered and put away forever.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy God,
We praise your name! We exalt you because you are infinite in holy perfection. Moreover, you are holy in that you transcend this creation and far surpass all that has been made by the power of your word. Even the angels in their burning light must fall down and cover their faces when in your presence.
As we come into your presence we do wish to rejoice that you have made us fit for your presence. We thank you that through the blood of your Son we have been justified. We give you praise for the outpouring of your Spirit, who has washed us and sanctified us so that we can stand before you and worship you today as the angels in heaven.
Moreover we thank you that we might be ones whom you have called to be holy. We do ask that you would come to us during this time of worship and stir our hearts up to that end. We pray that we might leave here with faces burning like Moses. We pray that our hearts might be set aflame with holy desires. We pray that in this time, as we are exposed to your majestic splendor, sin might be burnt like chaff and purged from our souls forever more.
We praise your name! We exalt you because you are infinite in holy perfection. Moreover, you are holy in that you transcend this creation and far surpass all that has been made by the power of your word. Even the angels in their burning light must fall down and cover their faces when in your presence.
As we come into your presence we do wish to rejoice that you have made us fit for your presence. We thank you that through the blood of your Son we have been justified. We give you praise for the outpouring of your Spirit, who has washed us and sanctified us so that we can stand before you and worship you today as the angels in heaven.
Moreover we thank you that we might be ones whom you have called to be holy. We do ask that you would come to us during this time of worship and stir our hearts up to that end. We pray that we might leave here with faces burning like Moses. We pray that our hearts might be set aflame with holy desires. We pray that in this time, as we are exposed to your majestic splendor, sin might be burnt like chaff and purged from our souls forever more.
We Can Do Nothing
Dearest Lord,
You are the God who dwells in heaven, and we are the people who have erred and gone astray. Your law declares your holiness. It convicts us of our evil and condemns us for it. Yet we come to you, poor sinners that we are, and seek your pardon.
We can by no means cover our guilt or make up for our offenses. No amount of offerings can take away your anger and no amount of charity could outweigh our evil. Even if we were to have the power to cease from our iniquity at this very hour, we know that we would still owe a debt beyond our ability to repay.
So as we come to you all we can do is throw ourselves upon your mercy, and look to the blood of your Son, our Savior. IN him we find one who is sufficient to pay our debt. In him we find our only hope of heaven and means of salvation.
So we pray that you would pardon our iniquity and fill us with a holy fear of you. Let us be ever thankful for your grace and sanctified by it. Let your spirit dwell within us continually and let him have his purifying work.
You are the God who dwells in heaven, and we are the people who have erred and gone astray. Your law declares your holiness. It convicts us of our evil and condemns us for it. Yet we come to you, poor sinners that we are, and seek your pardon.
We can by no means cover our guilt or make up for our offenses. No amount of offerings can take away your anger and no amount of charity could outweigh our evil. Even if we were to have the power to cease from our iniquity at this very hour, we know that we would still owe a debt beyond our ability to repay.
So as we come to you all we can do is throw ourselves upon your mercy, and look to the blood of your Son, our Savior. IN him we find one who is sufficient to pay our debt. In him we find our only hope of heaven and means of salvation.
So we pray that you would pardon our iniquity and fill us with a holy fear of you. Let us be ever thankful for your grace and sanctified by it. Let your spirit dwell within us continually and let him have his purifying work.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Almighty God,
You are the king and head of the church. You indeed have secured for us life forevermore. In you we have a mighty fortress. Through you we have a great inheritance. With you we have all confidence—be it against foe, fiend, and death alike.
Therefore we unite together to sing forth your praise. We come to you, our great God—three in one--to pledge our allegiance to you again, to renew our vows, to forsake our sins, to find grace and pardon, direction and teaching.
We pray that your glory would be sounded forth. We pray that the earth beneath us might be shaken and your presence known among us. We pray that your will would be revealed to us and your worship would be kept from all corruption.
Above all we pray that we would worship you both inwardly and outwardly. We pray that our worship would not be formalized or external only. We pray that our hearts would be renewed, our minds transformed. We pray that our souls would be dedicated to you, presented as a pleasing offering. For this is the one to whom you will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at your word. Bless to us this spirit, that you might be blessed above all things.
You are the king and head of the church. You indeed have secured for us life forevermore. In you we have a mighty fortress. Through you we have a great inheritance. With you we have all confidence—be it against foe, fiend, and death alike.
Therefore we unite together to sing forth your praise. We come to you, our great God—three in one--to pledge our allegiance to you again, to renew our vows, to forsake our sins, to find grace and pardon, direction and teaching.
We pray that your glory would be sounded forth. We pray that the earth beneath us might be shaken and your presence known among us. We pray that your will would be revealed to us and your worship would be kept from all corruption.
Above all we pray that we would worship you both inwardly and outwardly. We pray that our worship would not be formalized or external only. We pray that our hearts would be renewed, our minds transformed. We pray that our souls would be dedicated to you, presented as a pleasing offering. For this is the one to whom you will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at your word. Bless to us this spirit, that you might be blessed above all things.
Most Merciful and Saving God,
We come to you as the one who delivers sinners from their affliction, the one who saves those who are caught in the mire of sin. We know you to be a compassionate God, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. But we also know that you are most just and terrible in your judgments. You hate all sin and you will by no means clear the guilty.
Were we without hope of forgiveness we would be in great despair. But we know that your dear Son did bleed and die upon the cross. His flesh was torn and his body was crushed on behalf of sinners like us. And we do fly now to you with the hope of receiving salvation through his life, death and resurection. We do pray that you would accept his sufferings on our behalf and hold not against us the penalty of our sins.
We pray that you might raise us up with Christ that we might walk in the newness of life. Restore to us a heart of flesh and lead us in the way everlasting. And let not the death of Christ be in vain. But let all the merits that he did accrue in this perfect life be credited to our account. For this we ask in Jesus’ name.
We come to you as the one who delivers sinners from their affliction, the one who saves those who are caught in the mire of sin. We know you to be a compassionate God, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. But we also know that you are most just and terrible in your judgments. You hate all sin and you will by no means clear the guilty.
Were we without hope of forgiveness we would be in great despair. But we know that your dear Son did bleed and die upon the cross. His flesh was torn and his body was crushed on behalf of sinners like us. And we do fly now to you with the hope of receiving salvation through his life, death and resurection. We do pray that you would accept his sufferings on our behalf and hold not against us the penalty of our sins.
We pray that you might raise us up with Christ that we might walk in the newness of life. Restore to us a heart of flesh and lead us in the way everlasting. And let not the death of Christ be in vain. But let all the merits that he did accrue in this perfect life be credited to our account. For this we ask in Jesus’ name.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Gladness in Your Presence
Almighty God,
We enter your gates this morning with thanksgiving; we come into your courts with praise. For you are good and your steadfast love endures for ever. Your faithfulness persists to all generations.
You, O Lord, are God, you have made us. You tend to our needs as a shepherd tends to his sheep. You hear our cries. You wipe away our tears. You protect us from our enemies and fill us with goodness. You make us to dwell in board places. Therefore we come into your presence this morning with singing. In gladness we offer our service of worship to you.
And we ask O God that you would come down to us. May a pathway be opened into our hearts, and may your Spirit abide there forever. Even this day we pray that you would make us to ponder our ways. May we come to understand and the way that is blameless. We desire that our minds might be transformed and begin to align more fully with Christ our Lord.
Above all let us witness your majesty and be awed by your radiance. Give us a glimpse of your glory and let us leave this place changed by the experience of your divinity.
We enter your gates this morning with thanksgiving; we come into your courts with praise. For you are good and your steadfast love endures for ever. Your faithfulness persists to all generations.
You, O Lord, are God, you have made us. You tend to our needs as a shepherd tends to his sheep. You hear our cries. You wipe away our tears. You protect us from our enemies and fill us with goodness. You make us to dwell in board places. Therefore we come into your presence this morning with singing. In gladness we offer our service of worship to you.
And we ask O God that you would come down to us. May a pathway be opened into our hearts, and may your Spirit abide there forever. Even this day we pray that you would make us to ponder our ways. May we come to understand and the way that is blameless. We desire that our minds might be transformed and begin to align more fully with Christ our Lord.
Above all let us witness your majesty and be awed by your radiance. Give us a glimpse of your glory and let us leave this place changed by the experience of your divinity.
With Thee There is Forgiveness
Gracious and Compassionate God,
You know how we have struggled with our sins this week. We come here today having lost many battles. We struggled and we strained, but we have failed to be victorious over sin and temptation.
By your grace we have made some ground. As a baby makes headway in learning to crawl, so too we have come some distance. But you know how small our progress has been. The devil has attacked us again and again. Our flesh has burned with passion, and the world has lured us away from the way of righteousness.
This is why we come to you this morning. We know that you will complete the work of grace that you have begun in us. You do nothing halfway. We expect that on the day of Christ’s return we shall experience the fullness of our salvation. But until that time we need your forgiveness and grace to sustain us day by day.
And we have the confidence that there is forgiveness with you, even for the chief of sinners. You forgave the sin of Adam. You covered the sins of our forefathers: Abraham, Issac, Jacob and David. You did not turn your back on the Israelites when they sought after other gods. You forgave them when they cried out to you and you exalted yourself as the God of compassion.
So too we look to you for the same covenant faithfulness. Forgive us of our lawless deeds and let the blood of our dear Savior purge them away. We ask that your Spirit would burn away our transgressions and that new life and obedience would appear in their place. Give us courage to perform your will, give us power to stand up against the siege of Satan, and let our footsteps be lead far from the realm of evil. Protect us and save us by your righteous, omnipotent arm, for we are weak and pitiful creatures, prone to sin and lusting after evil.
You know how we have struggled with our sins this week. We come here today having lost many battles. We struggled and we strained, but we have failed to be victorious over sin and temptation.
By your grace we have made some ground. As a baby makes headway in learning to crawl, so too we have come some distance. But you know how small our progress has been. The devil has attacked us again and again. Our flesh has burned with passion, and the world has lured us away from the way of righteousness.
This is why we come to you this morning. We know that you will complete the work of grace that you have begun in us. You do nothing halfway. We expect that on the day of Christ’s return we shall experience the fullness of our salvation. But until that time we need your forgiveness and grace to sustain us day by day.
And we have the confidence that there is forgiveness with you, even for the chief of sinners. You forgave the sin of Adam. You covered the sins of our forefathers: Abraham, Issac, Jacob and David. You did not turn your back on the Israelites when they sought after other gods. You forgave them when they cried out to you and you exalted yourself as the God of compassion.
So too we look to you for the same covenant faithfulness. Forgive us of our lawless deeds and let the blood of our dear Savior purge them away. We ask that your Spirit would burn away our transgressions and that new life and obedience would appear in their place. Give us courage to perform your will, give us power to stand up against the siege of Satan, and let our footsteps be lead far from the realm of evil. Protect us and save us by your righteous, omnipotent arm, for we are weak and pitiful creatures, prone to sin and lusting after evil.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Listen to Sermons
If you would like to listen to Pastor Timmons' sermons you can do so by clicking here. You will find a list of sermons to choose from. Let me know if you have problems, I would like to make sure it is fixed.
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