harvestoc blog

Firsthand Accounts from Syria Are Exactly Opposite the Reports in Western Media

2012-02-15T13:41:00.003-06:00

Mindy Belz interviews Victor Atallah, who is the chairman of our MERF Board. God-willing, I will be seeing Victor in April and bringing you more details of what is going on in the churches, specifically. Please pray for the Reformed churches in the Middle East. Almost the exact same situation is even further along now in Egypt, a country to whom our nation's president insists on continuing military aid.

Study and application questions for reviewing Galatians 5:25-26 from the morning sermon

2012-02-08T12:15:00.000-06:00

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Read Galatians 5:25-26

Questions for understanding:

· How have we been made alive? How shall weproceed, then, in this new life?

· If we walk by the flesh, what might we“become” (26a)?

· If we walk by the flesh, what might we do toone another (26b)?

· If we walk by the flesh, what kind of heartmight we end up having toward one another (26c)?

Questions for application:

· Do you feel the day-to-day relationship betweenhow your Christian life began, and how it continues?

· What is going well in your Christianlife/walk? Honestly, which better describes how you feel about this: proud ofit or thankful for it? When you think about those who aren’t doing as well inthis area, are you humbled by God’s mercy to you? Or do you scorn them?

· Do you interact with other believers in a waythat provokes them toward being on the wrong side of the questions that we justanswered in the previous bullet? Are your pride and contempt contributing topride and contempt in others?

· In what relationships has this comefull-circle—to the point that when others seem to do well or be blessed, youcast it in the darkest colors and spite them even for that?

· If these are sore spots for you in particularrelationships right now, meditate upon Galatians 6:1-9 for next week! (we maytake two weeks to work through that passage)

SuggestedSongs: Psalm 133, NTH #335 Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me

Tomorrow (Wed.) Bible Study and Prayer @7p; Supper @6p.

2012-02-07T13:26:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is Wednesday, and as usual, you are invited to study and sing a Psalm, as we condition our hearts for praying together. Tomorrow's Psalm happens to be a singing favorite: Psalm 98. That's at 7p.m.

These prayer meetings have moved to the Hakims', 607 Michigan Ave SW.

The Hakims are also inviting everyone for supper on Wednesdays, at 6p. It'll be light fare--soup, sandwiches, home-made pizza, or the like. Anyone who wishes to add a side to the ones we have is welcome to do so, but the point is for you to not have to do any meal prep or clean-up, so that more of us can fit praying together as a congregation into our midweek schedules.

If you can't make it until 6:15 or 6:30, you'll still have time for some food and fellowship ahead of the meeting. Hope to see you there!

Galatians 5:25-26 • March by the Spirit

2012-02-07T11:59:00.000-06:00

Lord's Day, February 5, 2012 ● Morning Sermon ● Pastor Hakim
listen to the audio read the outline look up the passage

Christians are to live as those who move, moment by moment, by the command of the Spirit. Therefore, they are to be those who treasure Word, sacrament, and prayer; and, live every moment in response to the Word, by the strengthening of the sacraments, and the reliance upon God of prayer. These are the great tools that the Holy Spirit uses, and faith is the working principle in each one. If we march to our own ideas, in our own strength, or our own confidence, we will not only become proud of ourselves, but also fall into discord with one another.

Study and application questions for reviewing Proverbs 7 from the morning serial reading

2012-02-07T11:50:00.003-06:00

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Read Proverbs 7

Questions for understanding:

· How deeply are we to hold God’s Word in ourparents’ mouths (v1-3)?

· What are His words to control (2b)? What else(3a)? What else (3c)?

· How are we to feel about them, and how oftento think about them (v4)?

· From what are they to preserve us (v5)?

o How does he describe those who fall for her(v7)? How does 7:8 relate to 5:8?

o What new twist gets added in v11-12? How doesthe end of v12 describe her strategy of being out and about?

· What do we learn about her in… v13? v14?

· How does she entice him in v14? 15? 16? 17?18? 19? 20?

o What is really happening all this time(v21-27)? Does she necessarily intend it this way?

Questions for application:

· Parents, is one of the main aspects of yourrelationship with your children that it is an affectionate, wisdom boot-camp?

· Children, are you working hard to own foryourself the biblical wisdom that you get from your parents?

o Are you being controlled by it in everythingyou think and do?

o Are you taking it with you everywhere you go?

o Are you treasuring it as a constant blessingfrom God—an enjoyable companion and a strong protector?

· Girls, are you guarding against the desire toalways “be out” and especially to be around guys and to attract them?

· Everyone, are you learning to guard againstthe many enticements of sin?

· Even if sin in romance doesn’t have muchallure for you, all folly seduces us in the same way—

o Are you learning to recognize which excusesseem to carry more weight for you? Are you guarding against them?

Suggested Songs: Psalm 119:89-97; NTH #59 ForeverSettled in the Heavens

Proverbs 7 • Guarded from Idiocy

2012-02-07T11:49:00.000-06:00

Lord's Day, February 5, 2012 ● Morning Serial Reading ● Pastor Hakim
listen to the audio look up the passage

If we follow the flesh, we will be idiots, running headlong into sin's slaughtering of us. God's Word is a guard against this, if it is taken into the control center of our being and commands and directs all of our actions. Parents should give themselves to teaching this. Children should give themselves to assimilating it.

Genesis 18:19 • Chosen for Covenant Keeping

2012-02-06T22:01:00.000-06:00

Lord's Day, February 5, 2012 ● Morning Call to Worship ● Pastor Hakim
listen to the audio look up the passage

God chose us, so that we would keep covenant with Him, and that He would keep covenant with us. In worship services in particular, He gives us the commands and the promises that supply the content of what that all means.

Study and application questions for reviewing Genesis 18:19 from the morning call to worship

2012-02-06T21:48:00.000-06:00

Monday, February 6, 2012

Read Genesis 18:19

Questions for understanding:

· How did Abraham come to belong to God?

· What was God’s purpose for Abraham to do forGod?

o Whom was he to command?

o What were they to keep?

o What do those who keep Yahweh’s way do?

· What was God’s purpose for Himself to do forAbraham?

Questions for application:

· As you think about what to do in a day, thisweek, this year, and with your life in general—are you planning your own way,or are you purposing to keep Yahweh’s way?

o In what areas, in particular, have youestablished goals that are not directed by the biblical instruction of the Lordfor you?

· Do you do what the Bible says is right(righteousness) in the judgment of God (justice)?

· If you are a parent, do you teach yourchildren to do the same—to make decisions in the same way?

o Teaching them what to do is different thanteaching them what to believe. Do you teach them both?

· As you read the Bible, do you keep an eye outfor the promises of God?

o Do you trust God to bring them to you?

o Do you receive them as sure, in large partbecause it was God who chose you in the first place?

o Which promises are you having difficultybelieving?

Suggested Songs: Psalm 76, NTH #66 God Is Known Among His People

"Harvest at Home" Devotional Helps • February 6-11, 2012

2012-02-06T21:40:00.001-06:00

These daily devotionals for this week are designed to help you and your family, throughout the week, to continue to think through and live out the Scriptures that we heard proclaimed in worship together on the Lord's Day.

Orders of Service for February 5, 2012

2012-02-04T13:31:00.001-06:00

If it pleases God to permit it, we will worship Him on the coming Lord's Day according to this plan

Study and application questions for reviewing Exodus 7:8-16 from the evening sermon

2012-02-04T05:44:00.000-06:00

Lord’s Day Eve, February4, 2012

Read Exodus 17:8-16

Questions for understanding:

· Who came in v8? What did he do? Where (cf.v1)?

· Where must Moses have gotten the idea in v9?What was Moses going to take with him? Where had we just seen it (cf. v5)?

· What command does Moses give Joshua?

o What would Joshua have to employ, in order tochoose men?

o What would Joshua and his men have to employ,in order to obey the command to “fight” (cf. v13)?

o Which of these determined who would win (v11)?Ok, then, what did determine whowould win?

§ What was Moses’ part in this?

§ Does that make sense from a militarystandpoint?

§ Could Moses even do that (v12)?

· What does Yahweh command in v14?

o What is he to write in? Who has read it?

o Where is he to speak? What was that particularhearer to do? Where do we see Moses obey this command (v16)?

o What did Moses do, in addition (v15)?

Questions for application:

· Do you trust that God’s mercy alone determinesyour good?

· Do you obey God’s commands anyway, because Heis God, and because He plans to employ your efforts?

o Do you employ wisdom, insight, strategy, anddiscernment (your intellect!) in your obedience?

o Do you employ strength, energy, and sweat inyour obedience?

o And, yet, do you acknowledge that you have noteven the strength to believe, as youought, in God’s over-ruling exercise of His own power in determining victory?

· Do you receive God’s mercy to you as whollyundeserved, acknowledging that you deserve what Christ’s enemies will get?

· Are you determined to remember this forever—sothat you will praise Him both for His wrath and for His mercy to you?

Suggested Songs: Psalm4; NTH #469 How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place

Exodus 17:8-16 • Esau Have I Hated

2012-02-04T00:04:00.001-06:00

Lord's Day, January 29, 2012 ● Evening Sermon ● Pastor Hakim
listen to the audio read the outline look up the passage

God makes His substitutionary sacrifice for Israel even more startling, by demonstrating (by His wrath upon Amalek) that the only reason He did such a thing was His mere good pleasure. The only way for us to escape wrath is God’s unearnable mercy, and the only thing that gives us victory is God’s unassistable power.

2Corinthians 6 • True Alliances

2012-02-03T23:43:00.000-06:00

Lord's Day, January 29, 2012 ● Evening Serial Reading ● Pastor Hilbelink
listen to the audio look up the passage

Even under great affliction and undeserved contempt, Paul and Timothy have persisted in humble, loving, service of the church. They call upon the Corinthians to see that these are the marks of true servants of Christ, with whom alone believers should be in alliance.

1Peter 3:3-4 • Imperishable Beauty

2012-02-03T23:35:00.000-06:00

Lord's Day, January 29, 2012 ● Evening Call to Worship ● Pastor Hilbelink
listen to the audio look up the passage

God is the true judge of beauty and ought to be the true object of a woman's adornment, so let her be spiritually beautiful before Him.

Galatians 5:19-24 • The Flesh vs the Spirit

2012-02-03T12:08:00.000-06:00

Lord's Day, January 29, 2012 ● Morning Sermon ● Pastor Hakim
listen to the audio read the outline look up the passage

Walking by the flesh only produces the indulging of the flesh, but walking by the Spirit produces spiritual health.

Proverbs 6:20-35 • 3 Kinds of Parental Talk

2012-02-03T12:03:00.000-06:00

Lord's Day, January 29, 2012 ● Morning Serial Reading ● Pastor Hakim
listen to the audio read the outline look up the passage

Parents are to speak at least three life-saving ways from the Bible: commands, instruction, and reproof. And, children are to obey, learn, and repent, respectively.

Genesis 17:26 • Worship Compels Action

2012-02-03T11:56:00.001-06:00

Lord's Day, January 29, 2012 ● Morning Call to Worship ● Pastor Hakim
listen to the audio look up the passage

When you meet with God, and truly learn more of who He is, then you are compelled to do immediately whatever you have learned about what He requires.

The Murderous Treachery of Komen for the Cure

2012-02-03T11:22:00.000-06:00

The Komen Foundation folks have reversed themselves, now saying that they will continue to fund the Planned Parenthood abortion machine. If you had written them to commend them, you may wish now to write to condemn them. If you had given a donation, I suggest that you demand it back.

And even if they reverse again, they have proven that their word is worthless, so under no circumstances would I recommend that you support Komen or participate in any of their "pink" things again.

Read more about their reversal [here].

If you want to help prevent breast cancer, educate people that breast-feeding a child reduces your risk of breast cancer by 50%, and that each additional child reduces your risk by 7%. There is a reason that it used to be called "the nun's disease." Now, it should be called the "murderesses" disease.

You cannot breastfeed a baby that you kill in the womb.

Does a breast cancer research support organization really not know these things?

The Komen for the Cure people say that it's unfair to play politics. Well, when they contribute to an organization that is probably responsible for causing more breast cancer than any other single entity in America, it's obvious that they're not trying to be fair or scientific. They're just playing politics with murder.

Good Deal on Carson's "The Intolerance of Tolerance"

2012-02-03T09:50:00.004-06:00

Relativism is a belief system that is actually hostile to all competing belief systems. DA Carson's writing is almost always clearly thought out, and plainly stated. Monergism has a 96 hour sale on his new book [here]

Study and application questions for reviewing 2Corinthians 6 from the evening reading

2012-02-03T05:40:00.000-06:00

Friday, February 3, 2012

Read 2Corinthians6

Questions for understanding:

· After reading this chapter, whom do you thinkthe Corinthians are in danger of rejecting?

o What kind of people have they instead beenpartnering together with in ministry?

o With whom are they not then working (v1a, v15a)? How dangerous is that (v1b—“in vain”is the same word as “foolish” in James 2:20—Paul and James agree about suchpeople and their peril!)?

· What kinds of things happen to true ministersof the gospel (v4-5, 8-10)?

· What kind of responses characterize them, andfunction as their ‘weapons’ (v6-7)?

· What is the main thing causing them to bedistrustful of the true apostles’ ministry (v11-13)?

o To whom, instead, have they been opening theirhearts (v14)?

o What kind of “yoking” is v14 talking about inits context?

o What command do vv17-18 give, regardingpartnering in ministry with those who are not characterized by vv6-7?

Questions for application:

· Are you happy to suffer whatever is necessaryfor the work of the gospel?

· Do you refuse to support the ministries of, orto work with, those who lack the qualities in vv6-7?

· Do you open your hearts wide, withunrestricted affection, to those officers of Christ, with whom He has calledyou to work?

· Are you in ministry relationships with anyonewho seems willing to bend God’s law when it suits him? THEN FLEE!

Suggested Songs: Psalm 5, NTH #51 OJehovah, Hear My Words

When I Was Young Enough That I Cannot Even Remember Now, I "Asked Jesus into My Heart"

2012-02-02T09:44:00.000-06:00

Read an article by Paul Helm today defending the language of "asking Jesus into your heart." It actually changed my mind. It's quite possible that from the pulpit I've poo-pooed that language, since it has been a fly in my TR ointment for a long time. So, I thought I would post my retraction here.

I'm still wary of what most people mean by it (something like, "decided to let Him help me, and be my pal").

But if by it they mean, "surrendered the control center of my entire life in order to submit to His wondrously free salvation and perfectly loving/wise/powerful ownership of my being, so that I and He would be united forever by my believing upon Him"--well, then "asked Him into my heart" sounds like pretty good shorthand to me. (cf. Eph 3:17)

Of course, I'd still prefer people used the 'longhand' to the 'shorthand' there: there's just so much more of Him and His work in it! So, instead of merely scowling and wondering, when I hear "asked Jesus into my heart," hopefully I'll have the courtesy and presence of mind to ask, "what do you mean by that?"

So that we can [hopefully] rejoice together in the 'longhand'.

Study and application questions for reviewing 1Peter 3:3-4 from the evening call to worship

2012-02-02T05:37:00.000-06:00

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Read 1Peter 3:3-4

Questions for understanding:

· What is the entirety of v3 commanding wivesNOT to allow their adornment to be?

· What does the first half of v4 command them tolet their adornment be?

o What is the advantage of this kind of beauty,by comparison to hair, jewelry, and clothing?

o Who delights in this beauty? (Who might neverdelight in it?, cf. v1)

Questions for application:

· Ladies, upon which do you spend more thought,time, and energy?...:

o hair, jewelry and clothing?

o or the hidden person of the heart, and agentle and quiet spirit?

· Gals, does godliness make you feel beautiful? Ifnot, then you’ve got some work to do in disciplining your feelings!

· Wives, are you trying primarily to please God,or your husband?

o Which of these would do your husband mostgood?

Suggested Songs: Psalm 45:10-17, Psalm 29, NTH #45Now unto Jehovah

Free Logos4 Ebook: JCRyle's "Holiness"

2012-02-01T18:21:00.004-06:00

Same idea as the Warfield book from earlier today. Expires February 6. Get it [here].

Free E-Book: B.B. Warfield's "Revelation and Inspiration of Scripture"

2012-02-01T11:23:00.002-06:00

It's one of the best books on inerrancy that I know of, and it's free in Logos's proprietary format.

It takes a bit of installing, etc., but Logos 4 reading software is free for Windows, Mac, Android, and iPad/iPhone. Since they do a new book every month, it may be worth the download for you.

And this month's free book is B.B. Warfield's Revelation and Inspiration of Scripture

Free Audiobook: "Trusting God"--Jerry Bridges

2012-02-01T10:58:00.002-06:00

Christianaudio's free audiobook for the month is another pretty good one: Jerry Bridges' Trusting God