During the service on Sunday (25/09/11), as we were rejoicing in the grace and goodness of God, Angi Sussex sensed that God wanted to minister through prophetic song specifically to these who were struggling with doubt, and questioning the goodness of God, because of particular situations in their lives at present.  Here’s the lyrics from the song. May they serve and encourage all who read them!

Sunday 25th September 2011
Prophetic Song for those Struggling with Doubt.

I hear your cry, I see your tears in the night
You are weak and you wonder why
You feel alone but I am with you

So let my grace, let my grace be enough
Find your strength in me the solid rock
for my power never ends

For I am the God who draws near unto
Those who call on me
I welcome you to my throne of grace
To find help in times of need

I hear your cry, my promised good you cannot see
Your situation’s not what you want it to be
But it’s my design and sovereignty

So let my peace, let my peace bring calm to your soul
In stormy trials I won’t let you go
Rest in the shadow of my wings

For I’m the God who heals the brokenhearted
I stoop down to seek the lost
I’ve shown my love and compassion for you
In the mercy of the cross
I’m the father to the fatherless
The defender of the weak
Always watching over you
Put your trust in me

So lift you eyes to me your Coming King
Lift your heart and voice to sing
Hope in my love that’s unfailing
I’m the sustainer of everything
I’m your God, trust in me

The new album from Sovereign Grace Music is now available!

The album, “Risen” features 13 songs celebrating Christ’s resurrection and all that it means for those who have trusted in his atoning work on the cross.

I’ve been listening to it much of today, and am really enjoying the songs, revelling in the glorious truth of the resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  In fact, this album has been so popular that the Sovereign Grace Store crashed and album downloads have stopped because they can’t handle the demand!

Part of the reasons the album is being snapped up quicker than a cup of cold water in the desert is because Sovereign Grace is offering the download album for a fantastic $5 (limited time offer only, closes on 5th April 2011).  In real money, that makes it an absolutely incredible £3 (give or take a bit depending on the exchange rate!)

That’s practically giving it away! Therefore, my suggestion is that you visit the Sovereign Grace Store and download the album ASAP.  We will be learning a bunch of the songs over the coming weeks, so nows as good a time as any! You can also get it from Amazon (£6.99) or iTunes (£7.99).

Here’s a video of our friend Bob Kauflin (don’t forget he will be at Grace Church on 24th April 2011!) explaining why they have made this album:

Risen from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

“The Christian worldview, for centuries the most popular system of belief in the West, posited the existence of two realms, heaven and hell, which received either the eternally saved or the eternally lost, respectively. Though belief has waxed and waned over the last two millennia, most people have stared the reality of these two realms in the face. For most people of the past, mortality was not a distant prospect, one that could be pushed off for years, even decades. It was a constant reality. Whether they wanted to or not, most people had to confront death and the afterlife on a regular basis, whether from life experience or from religious instruction…

It is hard to believe in an afterlife today [as we live in a world that has opted out of an eschatological (or eternity-focused) life], and especially difficult for us to believe in the afterlife as Scripture presents it. Yet if we will accept the Word as our authority, we will find that God is alive. He is the Lord of heaven and earth, the sovereign ruler of all Creation. Though many attempt to silence the Lord, He is not silent. His revelation on the afterlife demands our attention, our concern, and our whole-hearted worship and trust.”

Taken from: Owen Strachan & Doug Sweeney, from “Jonathan Edwards on Heaven & Hell: Introduction ‘Edwards and the Reality of the Afterlife.’” (Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL.  pp. 22-23)

Over the coming weeks, we want to introduce some new songs that will help us focus on the truths we’re studying in our Heaven//Eternity series.

To try and help familiarise your with these new songs, I thought we could post some links with the audio and lyrics.

REVELATION SONG (Written by Jenny Riddle, performed by Kari Jobe)

I WILL RISE (Chris Tomlin)

O For That Day (Enfield)
You can still download the free audio of this song, and the music from Bob Kauflin’s blog. Here’s the section of Bob’s blog that offers the link:

O For That Day (Ryan Foglesong) – “O for that day when our journey is ended, all of our hope found in heaven’s reward.” John Martin of Enfield is generously giving the MP3 of this song away, as well as the lead sheet. You can also download the guitar chart in E.

I’m really excited about our current summer series, “Christ in the Old Testament“, and the opportunity to get to know the first portion of our Bibles better. But why have we decided to do this? The following quote provides an answer:

“The most compelling reason for Christians to read and study the Old Testament lies in the New Testament. The New Testament witnesses to the fact that Jesus of Nazareth is the One in whom and through whom all the promises of God find their fulfilment. These promises are only to be understood from the Old Testament; the fulfilment of the promises can be understood only in the context of the promises themselves. The New Testament presupposes a knowledge of the Old Testament. Everything that is a concern to the New Testament writers is part of the one redemptive history to which the Old Testament witnesses. The New Testament writers cannot separate the person and work of Christ, nor the life of the church, from this sacred history that has its beginnings in the Old Testament.”

–Graeme Goldsworthy, Gospel & Kingdom (p.18)

In light of this new series that will occupy us right through until the end of Setpember, I thought it might be useful to provide some resources and extra information so that we all might enhance the ongoing benefit of this series to our minds, hearts and lives.

First up is some documents that provide a rough outline of some Old Testament history and chronology. Secondly, you will see a list of recommended books for you and your children that will serve in deepening your understanding of Christ in the Old Testament.

An Outline of Old Testament Chronology

An Outline of Old Testament History

Recommended Resources for Further Study

We are back blogging again this week, and for today I want to speak to those of you who are parents, or have a desire to be a parent in the future.

As we’ve said before, the start of a new year is a good time to sit down and take stock of your life and family, and assess your priorities, time, resources, and plans, etc to make sure the year ahead is purposeful, and (by God’s grace) fruitful.

As a parent, I’m always on the look out (and grateful) for resources that can help me with regard to my children and my parenting.  And at the beginning of a new year I want to point you towards some materials that can help you as parents, sit down, take stock of your lives, families and children, and freshly instruct and/or remind you of the amazing privilege, and awesome responsibility of raising children for God.

The materials come from our good friends at Covenant Life Church, and there’s something for everyone as there are messages and materials for parents with children ranging in ages from 0-22 years old!

I suggest taking a listen together with your spouse and then discussing some areas for growth, change and application of biblical truth into this vital area of parenting.  I hope, and pray this material serves you and blesses your family in 2010!

(NB: Click on the links to listen on-line. To download: PC users right click and save file; Mac users ctrl+click and save file.)

The Parenting Years I: 0-5 year olds (Brian Chesmore)

Part 1: Biblical Principles of Parenting
Part 2: Training & Discipline
Part 3: Questions & Answer Session

The Parenting Years II: 6-10year olds (Kenneth Maresco)

Part 1: Biblical Principles for Parenting
Part 2: Shepherding Towards Conversion
Part 3: Shepherding Your Child’s Heart

The Parenting Years III: 11-14 years olds (Greg Somerville)

Part 1: Changing Bodies & Minds
Part 2: Emerging Convictions in a Changing World
Part 3: Changing Relationships
Part 4: Panel Discussion

The Parenting Years IV: 15-18 year olds (Kenneth Maresco)

Part 1: God’s Role and Our Role
Part 2: A Teen’s Relationship with God
Part 3: The Importance of Relationships in a Teen’s Life
Part 4: Questions & Answer Session

The Parenting Years V: 19-22 year olds (Bob Kauflin)

Part 1: Goals & Guidelines
Part 2: Rules & Relationships
Part 3: College, Careers & Beyond
Part 4: Questions & Answer Session