Worship Service - April 18, 2021

CBC,

Before I share a little about this coming Sunday, I would like to let you know about something some of our members are trying to do on the 24th of April.

Evan N. Is helping coordinate with our care groups to participate in Love Fullerton Day.

Love Fullerton, what is that about?

It is a city wide service day put on by a local non-profit organization. They identify what they call COVID friendly projects for groups to participate in.

What’s the point for us as a church?

We’re hoping it is a simple way for us to engage with our community, to show the love of Christ, and to spend some time doing what we as Christians do, serving together.

If you would like more information about the details, please talk to Evan on Sunday or send me an email!

Ok, that’s the announcement.

Now, this Sunday, we are talking about the Old Testament. I don’t know what comes into your mind when you think about studying the Old Testament But looking at the writers of the New Testament, I think we can identify at least 7 characteristics regarding their attitude toward the Old Testament.

  1. The Old Testament is important.
    You see that in how often they quote it, the way they use the Old Testament to establish their argument, and all the images and allusions they make to it.

  2. The Old Testament is relevant.
    They use it when speaking to unbelievers and when speaking to believers.

  3. The Old Testament is true.
    They make whole arguments that hinge on stories in Old Testament.They describe Old Testament as inspired by God.

  4. The Old Testament is authoritative.
    The writers never argue with the Old Testament. When they say ‘It is written’ that basically functions in their argument as a way of saying, ‘Case closed.’ Sometimes will describe Scripture simply as God speaking.

  5. The Old Testament is understandable.
    They don’t use the Old Testament allegorically. They expect listeners to be able to look at quotes and follow the argument.

  6. The Old Testament is beneficial.
    Peter says prophets were serving us. Paul speaks of it as being profitable.It is beneficial for practical every day living. (1 Cor.10) It gives the wisdom needed to lead us to salvation.

  7. The Old Testament teaches us about Jesus Christ.
    It is really impossible to appreciate and understand Jesus without understanding a little bit about the Old Testament. And ultimately that is why we are taking several weeks to do a deep dive into the Old Testament. We want to enjoy Jesus as much as we possibly can.

Over the course of these weeks, I want to give you four key concepts that will prepare you to understand what Luke says about Jesus. Last week we looked at the kingdom of God. This week we look at the idea of covenant.

Come ready! Come expectant! Come humble! Come praying!

Joshua

for parents and children

Parents,

There are lots of things you want to do for your children I am sure. But there’s hardly anything more important you can do than help them learn how to benefit from listening to God’s Word. Lord willing, they are going to sit listening to many hours of preaching over their lifetimes.

But we all know it’s very possible to sit and listen and not benefit. Ultimately of course you can’t put the hunger for the Scripture in their hearts, but there are simple things you can do to help them develop habits that will put them in a place where they will more easily benefit from what they are hearing.

(For example, reading. Can they benefit from God’s Word without learning to read? Yes, I think so. But learning to read is definitely going to help. And so is learning how to listen.)

What can you do?

Obviously they are children, not full grown adults so your expectations need to be a little different. But while recognizing they are children, there are some simple things you can do without exasperating them.

(And by the way, I’ve been so encouraged by how you are doing just that! In fact, someone mentioned to me the other day they went away as encouraged by watching the parents at CBC with their children as they were by the sermon itself! That’s a pretty great testimony!)

But as the Bible likes to say, abound still more! Here are some ideas to help you keep going. (And I know most of them are probably so obvious!)

Before the service

  1. Pray together on Saturday evening at dinner for the preaching of God’s Word.
  2. At dinner, ask your wife or have your wife ask you, why you are excited to go to church tomorrow. And then answer in a simple, authentic way that your children can understand.
  3. See if anyone can remember anything from last Sunday’s message. (Don’t be too surprised if they can’t. I am the preacher and sometimes it takes me a little while to remember as I am already thinking about what’s coming ahead!)
  4. Have them get to bed early on Saturday evening so they are rested.
  5. On the way to church, sing some worship songs together and then pray for the service in the car together. Perhaps ask one of them to pray specifically.
  6. We are going to be talking about the Old Testament and specifically the Noahic Covenant and the Abrahamic Covenant. Those are big words! But you might mention we are talking about the story of Noah and the promise God made to Abraham. Ask them what they like about those stories and if there is anything confusing to them about those stories.

During the service

  1. For the little ones, I will be saying the word covenant a lot during the sermon! So they can listen for that word, mark down how many times I say it, and see Marda afterwards for a surprise. Since I am talking about the Noahic covenant, you might encourage them to listen for when I start talking about that, and then draw a picture of the flood and the ark when I do.
  2. For the older children, you might have them listen and see if they can hear the answers to the following questions:
  • What is a covenant?
  • What percentage of the Bible is the Old Testament?
  • What does Noah’s name mean?
  • What is the other name for Babel?
  • Where was Abraham from? What later famous Old Testament empire was that city in?

After the service

On the way home or at dinner, you might ask:

  1. What did you like from the message?
  2. What do you remember?
  3. Did you learn anything about God that should cause you to love Him?
  4. Do you have any questions about what we talked about?

If they did a good job during the service, encourage them! Let them know specifically what they did well. "You really did great work with your notes today.” Or, “It was amazing how well you did sitting still. That really helped mommy and daddy be able to listen.” And even if it wasn’t perfect, you might say something like, "I know it was a little harder today, but I think you really started out well! It was so helpful. Next week, we’ll keep trying! Is there anything I can do to help you more?”

more details

Announcements

  • Children's Ministry will be on zoom this Sunday at 6:30pm.
  • As Huey emailed this week, we’re optimistic that we can move forward without the reservation system. There will still be inside and outside seating for both 8:30 and 10:30. No reservations are needed.
  • On Sunday May 2 at 6pm, we will be having a “State of the Church” meeting. The meeting will be in person but we also plan to offer live-stream. The “State of the Church” is an exciting time to celebrate what God is doing at CBC and to welcome new members. Children are welcome to sit with their parents. (There will be no Children's Ministry on Zoom on May 2nd.)
  • The next CBC prayer meeting will be on Sunday, May 16th at 6pm.