Sermon Notes
Tabernacle
Jan/25/2008 12:20
The
tabernacle - I have never thought there was so much
symbolism hidden in it. You read the chapters in
Exodus and think 'that's just a bunch of blueprints
that told Moses how to build the tabernacle'.
When you take a look at the pictures others have drawn and the minitiature models that have been made, things begin to make sense.
First, things I didn't notice begin to draw my attention. The colors, for example: scarlet - that bright red color is everywhere in the tabernacle: in the entrance curtain, in the high priest's robes, in the curtains that hide the Holy Place and the Holiest Place from view, and in the roof.
The white fence does not isolate God's place from the real world but makes it clear that approaching God is special - a privilege. Just the fact that God wanted to live among his people and that he made himself accessible to sinners is a sign of his grace! Just read the history of Israel described in the books of Exodus and Numbers and you know how patient God was. The same is true for us.
Read more about this in the second sermon in the series...
Click
the tabernacle image to go to the sermons page that
contains all the tabernacle sermons.
When you take a look at the pictures others have drawn and the minitiature models that have been made, things begin to make sense.
First, things I didn't notice begin to draw my attention. The colors, for example: scarlet - that bright red color is everywhere in the tabernacle: in the entrance curtain, in the high priest's robes, in the curtains that hide the Holy Place and the Holiest Place from view, and in the roof.
Holy
Then there is white linen: this definitely tells you about God's holiness. Israelites who approached the tabernacle were immediately confronted with it: the tabernacle was fenced off by a white linen curtain. It told everyone: God is perfect and holy; you can't approach him just like that. You have to admit you are a sinner. Do you do this when you pray to God? Or do you just come to him without humbling yourself and do you submit your list of desires?The white fence does not isolate God's place from the real world but makes it clear that approaching God is special - a privilege. Just the fact that God wanted to live among his people and that he made himself accessible to sinners is a sign of his grace! Just read the history of Israel described in the books of Exodus and Numbers and you know how patient God was. The same is true for us.
Come in!
You probably notice the white curtain-fence in the picture below. Do you also see the colorful curtain at the front? That's the entrance. It is made of the same fine linen, but they are embroidered with bright colors: scarlet, blue, and purple . These colors symbolize what Christ has done for us. He is the payment for our sins (scarlet), he is our king (purple) whom we are called to obey, and he gives us a place in heaven (blue). You can enter with Christ as cover!Read more about this in the second sermon in the series...
Books on the Ten Commandments
Sep/28/2007 00:56
I
am preaching through the Ten Commandments in
September and October.
Many books have been written on the Ten Commandments. Let me suggest some books that I have read and may help you understand them.
I mention some details about the writers behind each title. (each link will open in a new window or tab in your browser).
Many books have been written on the Ten Commandments. Let me suggest some books that I have read and may help you understand them.
I mention some details about the writers behind each title. (each link will open in a new window or tab in your browser).
- Edmund Clowney, How Jesus Transforms the Ten Commandments. Phillipsburg, NJ (P&R Publishing), 2007. (Professor Clowney was one of the founders of Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA) has published on the fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New.)
- Philip Ryken, Written in Stone. The Ten Commandments and Today's Moral Crisis. Wheaton, IL, 2003. (Ryken is James Boice's successor as senior minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA, where the PCRT (Presbyterian Conference on Reformed Theology) is held every year. He is a prolific writer)
- Michael Horton, The Law of Perfect Freedom. Relating to God and others through the Ten Commandments. Chicago 1993. (Horton is professor at Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, CA. He wrote many books on Reformed theology.)
- Glen Martin, God's Top Ten List. The Ten Commandments. Chicago 1999.
- J.I. Packer, Growing in Christ. Wheaton, IL, 1994. (Short explanations of the commandments in 2-3 pages each. This book also explains the Apostles' Creed, Baptism and Repentance, and prayer.) Packer has written many good books., the most famous being Knowing God. An overview of the books he wrote can be found here.
- J. Douma, The Ten Commandments. Manual for the Christian Life. Phillipsburg, NJ (P&R Publishing), 1996. (this book by my former Ethics professor in Kampen (the Netherlands) was translated from Dutch by prof. Nelson Kloosterman (Mid America Reformed Seminary) who did his Ph.D. with him.)
- John Holbert, The Ten Commandments. A Preaching Commentary.(Series: The Great Texts). Nashville, 2002.
- Chris Hedges, Losing Moses on the Freeway. The 10 Commandments in America. New York, 2005. (this book is of a different kind. Chris Hedges is a veteran war correspondent who publishes about religion and ethics. One of his books is entitled War is a force that gives us meaning. Losing Moses on the freeway is a personal narrative that shows the cost of ignoring God's commandments for American society.)
Sermon Notes on: Meditation as a preparation for prayer
Aug/23/2007 14:20
A new thought? Prayer as a response to what God says
(this entry is related to the sermon on Joshua 1:8)I often notice that I pray about the same things in the same words. How about you? I also notice it in other people's prayers. We tend to use certain phrases.
I am not happy with this. Of course God will hear our prayer every time we pray for forgiveness in the name of Jesus. The condition is that we repent from the heart and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus. It does not depend on the words you choose, provided you don't turn it into vain repetitions (Matthew 6).
However, I am wondering: can we change the way we say it so that we don't fall into a rut because we have our fixed formulas? And wouldn't God be pleased if we respond to new insights we gain from the Bible?
I would put it like this: when I grow my prayers should grow in depth and creativity. The way your own children talk to you when they are 22 will hopefully differ from the way they talked when they were 2. They won't be asking things only. They will talk more intelligently. They will have developed certain gifts and desires. They have changed and the way they talk to their parents will change. Wouldn't the same thing happen in the lives of God's children?
Sermon Notes on John15 - Jesus is your friend
Aug/23/2007 11:12
Prayer
I think this has a great impact for how you can pray to him.
First, please read the whole passage in your Bible: John15,10-17.
Pray to Jesus as to your friend?
Doesn't that ignore the difference between Jesus and us? He is God, right? People who have been raised in the Christian faith often find this too familiar.If you are afraid of this, consider this:
- Jesus spoke these words. We can and should regard him as our friend if he says so.
- the general way in which Jesus spoke tells us that he is not speaking about the 12 disciples only. V. 13 is true for every Christian: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Jesus laid down his life for you. He is the best friend you'll ever find.
- calling Jesus your friend implies a lifestyle that is characterized by discipleship: vs. 14 and 15 show that the disciples Jesus is talking about are the ones who follow his commands and who know the things that Jesus taught. Calling Jesus your friend can never lead to a familiarity that ignores his authority and identity as God's Son and the savior.
- if you understand friendship you will know that good friends never misuse their friendship. Claiming Jesus as your friend while praying for your own desires and trying to use him for your own agenda shows that do not know Jesus at all. Jesus said: "a servant does not know his master's business"; a friend however, is not only in the know but he defends and supports his friend's business. Jesus' disciples can call themselves his friends if they make his kingdom their first priority.
Go ahead, pray to Jesus, your friend!