Pastoral Prayer Based on Our Lord’s Prayer

July 26, 2015July 26, 2015 BigSpringsHeidelberg Catechism, Lord's Prayer, pastoral prayer, worship service

Today, I used the Lord’s Prayer as a pattern of the long prayer in our worship service. The Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 116 gives us a summary of why prayer is necessary for Christians: Q. Why is prayer necessary for Christians? A. Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us, and because God will give His grace and Holy Spirit only to those who earnestly and without ceasing ask them of Him, and render thanks unto Him for them. And this is the prayer that our Lord Jesus…

Psalms

“Joy Comes With the Morning”

July 26, 2015July 26, 2015 BigSpringsJohn 16, joy comes in the morning, mourning into dancing, Psalm 30

Readings: Psalm 30:1-12 (text); John 16:20-24 July 26, 2015 * Download this sermon (PDF) Dear Congregation of Christ: This last week my wife and I drove from Big Springs Community Church to Escondido and back, a total of 1,600 miles. A member of our church in Manila flew into San Francisco and we gave him a tour of California via I-5. He will start his studies at Westminster Seminary this Tuesday. Please pray that he will have diligence and perseverance to finish his studies in three years, and return to…

Psalms Sermons

“Who is the King of Glory?”

July 20, 2015February 6, 2017 BigSpringsArk of the Covenant, hill of the Lord, King David, Psalm 24, pure heart

Readings: Psalm 24:1-10 (text); Matthew 5:8; 1 Timothy 2:8 July 19, 2015 • Download this sermon (PDF) Dear Congregation of Christ: In Manila, there is an annual procession every January 9, when several million Filipinos commit blatant idolatry against the one true God of the Bible. They parade the wooden Black Nazarene idol around Manila for a whole day, touching, caressing, kissing and wiping it with their handkerchiefs and tears. The procession ends when the idol enters and is enshrined in one of the big Roman Catholic cathedrals in the city.…

Psalms Sermons

“The LORD is My Good Shepherd”

July 12, 2015July 12, 2015 BigSpringsGood Shepherd, John 10, Psalm 23

Readings:Psalm 23:1-6 (text); John 10:11-16 July 12, 2015 • Download this sermon (PDF) Dear Congregation of Christ: I was raised in a church where we had annual Vacation Bible Schools. The little children memorized short verses, while the bigger kids memorized passages such as The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, and Psalm 23. So until today, I can still recite some of the Beatitudes. But I still have the others, including Psalm 23, fully memorized. Sadly, this beautiful poetry is known as a funeral psalm. Why? Only…

Psalms Sermons Worship

Liturgy for July 12, 2015

July 9, 2015July 9, 2015 BigSpringsGood Shepherd, John 10, Psalm 23

Sabbath Sermons

The Sabbath, Old and New

July 7, 2015August 3, 2015 BigSpringscreation, Deuteronomy 5, Exodus 20, first day, Genesis 2, Lord's Day, resurrection, Sabbath

Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 31:12-17; John 20: 19, 26; Revelation 1:10 July 5, 2015 • Big Springs Community Church • Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Today is the Lord’s Day. The Bible commands believers not to neglect the assembling of the saints on this day for public worship, especially that the “Day” is near (Heb 10:24-25). But there are some who not only neglect the public worship on this day, but also believe that Christians must worship on the seventh day of the week, called the Sabbath in…

Psalms Sermons

“Let Us Go to the House of the LORD”

June 28, 2015June 28, 2015 BigSprings

Readings: Psalm 122:1-9 (text); Galatians 4:22-26 June 28, 2015 • Download this sermon (PDF) Dear Congregation of Christ: For many people today, and especially the youth, going to church on the Lord’s Day is a burden, a task to do before a game to watch, or a get-together with family and friends, or a picnic in the park. It wasn’t so in my younger days. Then, it was the best day of the week, not only because our best friends were also at church, but also because the worship service and…

Church Blog Recent News

2015 VBS Photo Gallery

June 27, 2015June 27, 2015 BigSprings

“Bring [your children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).

Psalms Sermons

“The Fool Says, ‘There is No God’”

June 22, 2015June 22, 2015 BigSpringsabigail, david, nabal, Psalm 14, Psalms, there is no god

Readings: Psalm 14:1-7 (text); Romans 3:10-12; Heidelberg Catechism LD 3 June 21, 2015 • Download this sermon (PDF) Dear Congregation of Christ: Most of us are familiar with the story of David, Nabal and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. David fled to Carmel with his 600 loyal men from King Saul’s jealous rage. In Carmel, there was a wealthy man named Nabal with several thousand sheep and goats. During the sheepshearing feast, David sent ten of his men to Nabal to ask for a share of the food and water. David…

Psalms Sermons

“O LORD, in the Morning You Hear My Voice”

June 15, 2015June 15, 2015 BigSprings

Psalm 5 (text); Revelation 7:9-17 June 14, 2015 • Big Springs URC Congregation of Christ: Who among us in this gathered assembly does not have personal enemies? Enemies are a part of life, even as Christians. When God regenerated us by his Spirit, he did not work magic in which all our enemies disappeared. Our enemies surround us on every side. We go to bed at night and get up in the morning with our thoughts on how our enemies oppose and even persecute us. How am I going…