From your Pastors

PRAYING THE SERMON:Matthew 2:1-12 Matthew 2:1 Nowafter Jesus was born inBethlehem of Judeain the days of Herod the king, behold, wise menfromthe east came to Jerusalem,2 saying, "Where is he who has been bornking of the Jews? For we sawhis star when it roseand have come toworship him."Father, help me to always closely observe a Nativity scene through the lens of Scripture...

"It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the profoundest and most unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. 'The Word became flesh' (John 1:14); God became man; the divine Son became a Jew; the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and stare and wriggle and make noises, needing to be fed and c...

PRAYING THE SERMON Luke 2:1-20 "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." J.I. Packer It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the profoundest and most unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. The In...

SGCL NOVEMBER 29, 2020 PRAYER POINTS 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 Peter O'Brien (Dictionary of Paul and his Letters) Pauline thanksgiving approximates what we understand by 'praise,' for it is broader than the expression of gratitude for personal benefits received. The apostle regularly gave thanks for God's graces effected in the lives of others. Thanksgiving is a response...

"Paul mentions the subject of thanksgiving in his letters more often, line for line, than any other Hellenistic author, pagan or Christian... Pauline thanksgiving approximates what we understand by 'praise,' for it is broader than the expression of gratitude for personal benefits received. The apostle regularly gave thanks for God's graces effected in the lives of others. ...

PRAYING THE PASSAGE: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 The bold points below are quotes from CJ's sermon "A Pastor's Heart" John Piper - I owe my life to the gospel of Jesus and no one has taken me deeper into the mysteries of the gospel than PaulI love him for the Christ he shows me.Father, thank you for the Apostle Paul, who compassionately, courageously, uncompromisingly points ...

"I have lived with the apostle Paul for over sixty years-admired him, envied him, feared him, pounded on him, memorized him, written poems about him, wept over his sufferings, soared with him, sunk to the brink of death with him, spent eight years preaching through his longest letter, imitated him. Ha-imitated him! In ten lives, I would not come close to his sufferings-or ...

"In reality the Thessalonian church was probably comprised of no more than fifty to one hundred members. They were a fledging and insignificant group in the midst of a large city like Thessalonica. How easily these believers could have been discouraged when considering the godlessness and evil lives of most people in the Roman empire, not to mention Thessalonica itself. If...

PRAYING THE PASSAGE:1 Thessalonians 1:1-10The bold points below are quotes from CJ's sermon "Saved From What?" The Thessalonian Christians would know exactly how to respond to the question, "Saved from what?"So how would you respond if someone asked you this question? Father, for the purpose of gratefulness, worship, anticipation, and evangelism, please use your Word and ...

1 Thess. 1:2 "We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers...4 For we know,brothersloved by God,that he has chosen you..."A study of Paul's letters reveals the high priority he assigned to giving thanks to God for those he loved and served.Father, in Jesus name, I ask that the Holy Spirit remind me again and again of those that you ...