“Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart” (Colossians 3:21).
Audio Sermon: Colossians 3:21

Spanktification is a branch of sanctification. Spanktification is the application of discipline by the parent upon the child. God commands His beloved to discipline their children, but when the discipline is withheld, the child lives under the parent’s roof as an illegitimate rather than as an heir (Heb. 12:7f.).

The goal of all discipline is character transformation rather than mere behavior modification - though there are times when parents must accept behavior modification as they pray for the Lord’s Spirit to transform the character of their children. Godly parents are not striving for mere behavior modification in their children. They want the child to desire the godliness of Christ for their own lives.

God says, “Discipline your son while there is hope” (Prov. 19:18). When a parent cowers from applying the rod to the child, he soon discovers he has taught his child to forfeit respect for the parent (Heb. 12:9). Parenting defines parents, not birth rates or dates.

Children of royalty have historically had to practice disciplines beyond those generally addressed in the general society of man. They have been called to greater responsibilities, so their training is more challenging. Heirs of royalty must be cautioned against succumbing to the standards of conduct adopted by those around them. They have a kingdom-sized task before them and must take upon themselves the raiment of the king.

Parenting is a most difficult task because it varies with every child. Though two children are birthed and reared by the same two parents in the same home, disciplining one child requires a significantly different “rod” from the discipline gifted to the other child. How many parents do you know who are no longer participating in effective parenting? What percentage of parents have geographically left the home of the child (via divorce), or have emotionally left the home of the child (via allowing someone else to assume the role of parenting)?

The tenure of some parents is quite short. Numerous parents never even make it to the marriage ceremony with the other parent. Scores of parents cease their parental matriculation in the middle of their first parental semester. Others attempt for a season, but then surrender to the scourge of sloth.

Many a parent prays for his child’s salvation/sanctification and yet affords a lifestyle for the child that robs the child of the appropriate encouragements to seek the Lord. Your responsibility is to instruct your child in the art of garrisoning his mind against worldliness. Would a godly parent allow his child to remain surrounded with the very temptations that draw his child away from the reality and benefits of living righteously?

Youth is a perilous season of life. Your children’s tender years must be seasoned with Christian instruction every day in order that Christ’s citadel of values shall become the child’s lifestyle principles (Prov. 22:6). You will receive no benefit from the tears shed on behalf of your child if you continue allowing him to trim his sails hellward.

If parents lived godly before the faces of their children, far fewer would go to their graves anxious about leaving behind unconverted children. The sins of the child are God’s sermons to the parent. Your child’s lack of respect toward you and others in authority is God’s lecture to you on your lack of respect toward God.

God loves you so much He disciplines you. Do you love your children enough to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord?” (Eph. 6:4). “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently” (Prov. 13:24).

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

“Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).
Audio Sermon: Colossians 3:18-20

Parents desire obedience from their children. Nonetheless, in order for children to practice obedience, they must be taught and the training-cost is always significant (oftentimes beyond what parents are willing to pay). Parents, friends, teachers, ministers and the church should be examples for and exemplars of the well-pleasing obedience wherein the Lord delights. J. C. Ryle allows several means to assist you in encouraging your children in their address to becoming well-pleasing to the Lord and you:

• Consider your child’s soul above his amusements, education and employments
• Train him in the knowledge of Scripture
• Encourage him to pray for small items
• Discipline him to diligence concerning his attendance in Sunday school and worship services
• Exhibit your trust in Christ as his model
• Make sure he redeems his time even in apparently inconsequential matters
• Discourage immediate gratification, hedonism, materialism and the idolatries of youth
• Prune him early, often and with increasing precision
• Tutor him in being a serverant rather than expecting to be served
• Instruct him to remember the power and consequences of sin

The under-shepherds at Christ Church take seriously the charge God Himself has given to train and instruct children in the ways of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6). We trust God’s sovereignty, understanding that God alone chooses, transforms and deploys surrendered hearts for His glory and eternal purposes (Psalm 51:10,17; Isaiah 64:8; Ephesians 1:4f.). We are intentional in every aspect of ministry to children. We rely upon the Holy Spirit’s leading in teaching the full counsel of God and exercising His grace though the teaching while reinforcing biblical behaviors that touch every aspect of daily living. We trust in our Holy Father to bring a renewed and sacred respect in our lives to honor Him as well as those in our families and our brethren throughout the world.

The language of the world is full of lies, promoting self-interest and the lusts of the flesh. The language of Canaan is the Truth, thereby bringing joy and peace to all who hear and obey (Isaiah 55:11f.). The children of Christ Church shall be taught the language of Canaan. Boys are expected to become gentlemen and girls to become ladies. Courteous and courtly behavior will include the basics of greeting others; young gentlemen seating the ladies and speaking to adults and others when they are addressed. Our curriculum shall come from the Holy Scriptures. Developmentally appropriate activities and exercises will rivet the children and the parents’ attention upon maturing in biblical knowledge and displaying the nature of God in the child’s conduct toward others. Our prayer is that every child will develop an intimate relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and pray daily, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23f.).

When the Apostle John was most advanced in age, He said, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (III Jn. 4). God’s calling does not come without sacrifice and a determination to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Self examination by parents, children and the body of believers within the Church is vital to identifying the worldly habits, tendencies and sins that must be plucked from the hearts of the saints (Psalm 51:10f.).

We trust the Lord’s Spirit to shepherd us all as we shepherd those entrusted to our care.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

MORNING WORSHIP

Prelude Like a River Glorious

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

• No. 710 God of Our Fathers
• No. 137 Holy Bible, Book Divine

Offertory Suffer the Little Children

Hymn of Commitment

• No. 719 A Christian Home

Doxology

Postlude Psalm XIX

VESPER WORSHIP

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

• No. 642 Be Thou My Vision
• No. 481 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Hymn of Commitment

• No. 645 Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Doxology

Postlude Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).
Audio Sermon: Colossians3:15-17

All musical offerings are not pleasing to God (Ex. 32:18). God says, “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps” (Am. 5:23). The Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) are models for God-pleasing music.

Augustine searched the Scriptures discovering the three essential in every true hymn: it must be sung, it must bring praise and it must be offered to God alone. His position may have been established upon Hebrews 2:12, “I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise,” Exodus 15 or the command from Psalm 66:2, “Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.”

Music should not be presented in a worship service to make people more comfortable with the church by making the church more like the theater, concert hall or some worldly extravaganza - the church is not Vanity Fair. When Handel wrote Messiah, he said that he did not intend to entertain the people, but to do them good. Musical contributions should enlighten congregants to the presence, purity, glory and holiness of the majestic God who is a consuming fire.

God looks to the heart of the presenter in determining the worthiness of the musical offering. Nonetheless, God expects all musical submissions to be offered in spirit and truth. Several cautions may assist you in determining God-honoring sacred music and its presentation in a worship service:

* Be aware of encouraging applause in response to a musical presentation. In the American culture, applause is best suited for the theater, concert stage, athletic events, comedians and political speeches because the applause draws one’s attention to the visible offeror rather than to God (Isa. 42:8).

* Hand held microphones invite attention to the performer.

* Preachers lead worship, not musicians. Musicians must guard against preaching.

* Electronic instrumentation tends to forfeit purity.

* Over-amplification may convert a house of prayer into a concert hall.

* Guard against songs that are subjective sentimental expressions of personal experiences and desires.

* Congregants should anticipate all musical offerings by bookmarking the appropriate pages in their hymnbooks prior to the service. Scraping hymnbooks as they are being removed from pew racks is inconsiderate, distracting and destructive.

* The musical offering includes a two to six second congregational quietness after the instrumentation is complete in order to gather the fullness of the music’s resolution.

Never cultivate the lower levels of an art at the expense of the higher. The music presented in your church’s worship services declares the worldview of your church. God describes His church as a house of prayer thereby calling for heavenly harmonies glorifying Him and Him alone.

Should the Lord move you to explore in further detail the matters set forth in this writing, do not hesitate to contact Mr. and Mrs. Harry O. Wilson who are presenting the music in the services of worship this Lord’s Day.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO!

“And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Colossians 3:12f.).
Audio Sermon: Colossians 3:12-14

Have you ever thought about how genuine forgiveness expresses itself? The offended one treats the offender as though the offense never occurred. You reject the offense and send away its “hurt/sting” so that the offender is free of the imputation and the accompanying ill will.

Have you ever considered the necessity God places upon you to forgive? Refusing to forgive is a sin bearing eternal consequences: “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Mt. 6:14f.). Paul says Christians are marked by their “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Col. 3:13f.). Christ took upon Himself the nature of those He would save in order that those saved would take on the forgiving nature of the One who saved them (Tit. 2:14).

Have you ever addressed the process of forgiving? You must shed the perceived grievance. You must surrender your “self” to the extent of Christ’s own yieldedness:

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (Heb. 12:3f.). Christians are committed to “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead” (Phil. 3:13). Nevertheless, exclusion is easier than expulsion - guard against beginnings. How is this accomplished?

Have you ever reflected upon the insulators you should have established in your spiritual infrastructure so that you will forgive most quickly before a root of bitterness springs up?

* “[Love] is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered” (I Cor. 13:5). Love is not quick-tempered and refuses to perceive an injustice by refusing to impute evil motives. The lover receives all matters in a light most favorable to the offeror.

* Your position is that of the Apostle Paul’s: “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:8). When you disabuse yourself of holding onto perceived rights, you will not refuse forgiveness.

* You capture the mind of Christ and take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (I Cor. 2:16; II Cor. 10:5). What does this mean practically? “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

Is this lofty standard of forgiveness achievable? “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

MORNING WORSHIP

Prelude

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

• No. 30 Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
• No. 486 God, Be Merciful to Me

Offertory

Hymn of Commitment

• No. 494 Forgive Our Sins (TUNE: MAJESTIC SWEETNESS SITS ENTHRONED)

Doxology

Postlude Ode to Joy

(Guest musicians: violin, viola, cello, oboe/English horn)

VESPER WORSHIP

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

• No. 16 Come, Let Us Sing Unto the Lord
• No. 115 All Creatures of Our God and King

Hymn of Commitment

• When in Our Music God is Glorified - (Lyrics)
  

Doxology

Postlude Diadem

(The pre-service music will be offered with guest musicians, piano and vocal)

“Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11).
Audio Sermon: Colossians 3:8-11

Jesus is everything - not just for Christians, but for the whole world:

• “All things have been created by Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16).

• “In Him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17).

• “He Himself gives to all life and breath” (Acts 17:25).

• “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

You cannot grasp with fullness Jesus’ allness unless you study those whose likenesses to Him allow inquirers to enter the genus of Christology. Abel manifested Jesus’ righteousness, Enoch His perseverance, Abraham His trust, Moses His humility, Daniel His courage and Jeremiah His compassion for His people. You would be well-served to deliberate upon Jesus’ throne-names of Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, Chief Shepherd, King of kings and Lord of lords (Isa. 9:6; I Pe. 5:4; Rev. 19:16, respectively).

Be ever mindful that though you have been made in God’s image, Jesus was and is God Himself (Jn. 10:30; 14:9). He is the Lord of the Old Testament thereby uniting the two Testaments (Mal. 3:1; Acts 2:36; I Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:11). Jesus is so much better than His followers because He perfectly couples the function of divine warrior and healer (Ex. 15:3, 26). The Lord Christ is the prophet of a new day, the high priest with the only offering acceptable to God and the king whose reign shall know no end.

Consider all of the kings, princes, presidents, prime ministers, governors, legislative bodies, courts, military personnel and officials who have held any position of authority in the history of the world. If you accumulate all of those holding these offices and in these positions preceding and following the tenure of Christ upon this land, you will discover that the lastingness of their influence is insignificant when compared to His.

Give deliberation to Jesus’ learned eloquence, boldness, unquestioned authority, inimitable verifiable miracles and the strength wherein He addressed the lives and souls of men. Who else could unite Jews and Gentiles? (Eph. 2:11-22). The God-man, your gladiatorial champion, wore His power lightly and yet diseases, winds, waves, devils and death obeyed His every desire. He could call a rich Zaccheus from the boughs of a sycamore tree and the sons of Zebedee from their fishing. A tax-gathering Matthew could not resist forsaking all he had to follow the One who is all in all.

Perhaps the words of those who have gone before will afford clarity concerning Jesus’ allness:

• “Christ’s performances outstrip His promises.” Nehemiah Rogers

• “The Physician did die that the patient might live. The resurrection of Christ is the Amen of all His promises.” John Boys

• “Christ did not die to purchase this world for us.” Thomas Adams

• “He hath got but a little of Christ that fears to get too much.” Thomas Taylor

• “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C. S. Lewis

Jesus is in every circumstance, contact and movement. We would be remiss if we failed to note one other voice giving tongue to Christ being “in all.” Tertullian (c. 155-220) said, “See how these Christians love one another!”

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS GLORIA

“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry”
(Colossians 3:5).
Audio Sermon: Colossians 3:5-7

The worldly gods of the Hebrews included Ashtoreth, Asherah, Asherim, Baal, Chemosh, Milcom and Molech. They were visible, popular with those around them and serving them brought the Hebrews into fellowship with those God commanded them to avoid.

Churchmen constantly sacrifice the greater for the lesser - the spiritual for the material. They sacrifice all to avoid the disfavor of those around them and to secure the favor of a society having little regard for them and their God. He conforms his life to societal prejudices, weaknesses and vices. He glosses over the truth to avoid any point of offence and does not hesitate to barter his professed relationship with Christ for a few moments of popularity.

When Christians pursue their worldly idols with more vigor than they do their God, they may discover that they have been given over by God to their worldly pursuits. Scores of church-goers honor the Lord and yet serve the world. You can know if you are serving your idols rather than the God of Scripture by examining the evidences you give to the world of your love for Christ. Perhaps these diagnostic questions will assist:

• What offends you most: Christ’s name not being lifted up or people not recognizing your name?

• What concerns you most: Perishing souls or your financial portfolio?

• What is your greatest joy: Your children making “A”s, you receiving a promotion at work or a person you barely know mortifying one sin?

Be mindful; God is as pleased with worldly-minded Christians as He is with devils in heaven. While man spares no cost in serving his earthly gods, God spares no cost in tearing those He loves from their earthly gods.

God’s gospel is designed for idolaters, servants of the world and earthly-minded churchmen. In this eternal curriculum known as the Bible, a person is called to attend to the ways of God. Idols of every stripe are identified, punishments are explained and the benefits of fleeing from idol worship are exampled.

You cannot afford to be given over to worldly idols. Though there may come a time when God will draw you to Himself, you cannot imagine the pain and scarring that accompany your service to the idols of this present darkness. The ripples flowing from pursuing worldliness at the expense of growing in holiness devastate families, churches, communities and nations. When you recite the Lord’s Prayer, you petition God to not lead you into temptation, but to deliver you from evil because you have an awareness of your susceptibility to idol worship and the effect of leaving the God you love (Mt. 6:13).

“Go, serve everyone his idols; but later, you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols.” Just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper” (Eze. 20:39; Ro. 1:28, respectively).

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

MORNING WORSHIP

Prelude Lento

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

• No. 100 Holy, Holy, Holy!
• No. 66 God is Known Among His People (TUNE: Regent Square)

Offertory

Hymn of Commitment

• No. 521 My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (The Solid Rock)

Doxology

Postlude Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken

VESPER WORSHIP

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

• No. 122 God, All Nature Sings Thy Glory
• No. 163 At the Name of Jesus (TUNE: WYE Valley Without Refrain)
  

Hymn of Commitment

• No. 32 Great is Thy Faithfulness

Doxology

Postlude Lobe Den Herren