In Sunday’s Sermon, “God Speaks in the Book of Hebrews,” we considered the high priestly work of Jesus Christ. By his blood, Hebrews says, we’re able to “draw near [to God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

In coordination with the sermon, we closed the service with an importnat song, “Before the Throne of God.” The words express well the good news written about in the Book of Hebrews. Perhaps you’ll use it to aid your prayers this week.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Words: Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863

The song leaders from Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY, recently recorded this song. You can listen here and purchase from Amazon here.

Jesus spent time with children.

In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Our theme for VBS this year was, “The Gold Rush: Discovering the Rock of Ages.” From July 25-29, we spent a week with children, helping them rightly identify Jesus Christ by asking them an important question. We asked the question Jesus himself asked of his disciples in Luke 9:20, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, of course, answered correctly, Jesus is “The Christ of God.”

We thank God for the faithfulness of 160 workers and His goodness to bring over 300 children to VBS this year. Here’s the video we showed on a Sunday several weeks back.

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On Saturday, August 6, 350 men gathered at DSC from four churches for encouragement and help from God’s Word in the man’s fight for godliness. Fighting for Godliness, of course, was the theme for this year’s The Man Conference, hosted by Blaze Christian Fellowship, Desert Springs Church, Mars Hill Church, and Trinity at the Marketplace. Our speakers, Michael Kelshaw and Carlos Montoya, preached sermons worth listening to if you are a man and missed the conference.

Here’s the audio from this year’s theme, Fighting for Godliness:

• “Fighting for the Gospel,” Michael Kelshaw
• “Fighting to be a Godly Husband and Dad,” Carlos Montoya
• “Question and Answer 1,” A.J. Hamilton, Michael Kelshaw, Carlos Montoya
• “Fighting for the Mission,” Carlos Montoya
• “Question and Answer 2,” A.J. Hamilton, Ryan Kelly, Michael Kelshaw, Carlos Montoya

Audio from last year’s The Man Conferences with Dave Bruskas from Marsh Hill Church is available here.

In Sunday’s sermon, “God Speaks in the Book of Ephesians,” Ron provided an overview of what is one of the New Testament’s most theologically majestic books.

Ron began his sermon with an important point: “All the battles that count are spiritual battles.”

Before the fall of humankind into sin there was no such thing as “battle.” Every struggle of every kind is a reminder that we are in a fallen world. For Christians, every struggle is a reminder of what Christ came to end. That’s why Paul begins his letter by reminding his Christian readers about all that God has won for them in Christ. He writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (1:3).

In the eleven verses which follow, Paul expands on what he means by “every spiritual blessing.” Here’s a list of how God has blessed us “in Christ”:

• “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (1:4)
• “In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (1:5-6)
• “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…” (1:7)
• “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory” (1:11-12)
• “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (1:13-14)

If our prayers to God or thoughts about Him are becoming routine, this package of blessings gives us high thoughts and rich words to enliven our affections for Him.

In his sermon, Ron read a quote, “We do not fight for victory. We fight from victory.” That’s significant. All of the spiritual blessings that we know in Christ have been decisively won for us, and enjoying them is the fuel for the fight of the Christian life. That’s why Paul says at the start of chapter 4, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (4:1).

For more information about our plan to listen through the New Testament in 90 days and for a listening schedule, visit the God Speaks: We listen landing page.

God made men to lead.

For that reason, we are encouraging all of our men to join us for The Man Conference this Saturday at DSC from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM. The conference is free and details about the theme and speakers are available here.

Strong men are important for the sake of God’s glory in their families and in our church. And strong, biblical men are also important for the church that DSC will plant in Rio Rancho in January, 2012 – what is now less than six months away.

With that in mind, Darrin Patrick, pastor and author of Church Planter: The Man, The Message, The Mission, has a compelling word for our men in this short video:

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Partick’s book, along with other important books for men, are available at the Resource Center during the conference and this Sunday.