by Bret Capranica | Jul 30, 2011 | Twitter
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! http://esv.to/Ps107.22 # Enjoyed a great afternoon with R. Bowman and @DawsonBryant-made my first visit to the warehouse-look what we found: http://t.co/F3sRq9R # Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! http://esv.to/Ps108.5 # The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. http://esv.to/2Cor13.14 # With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. http://esv.to/Ps109.30 # RT @ToddA1968: Sad//RT @Phil_Johnson_ Missing the point of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: http://youtu.be/c6EgY0W6Er8 ht: Jedi # Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good…2Sam10.12...
by Bret Capranica | Jul 28, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think The biblical book of Numbers has several of the most memorable scenes from Israel”™s early days after the Exodus. Read through the following sections and see if you can summarize the main idea and list any principles that you think would apply to God”™s people in general: Numbers 11 Numbers 12 Numbers 13-14 Numbers 16 Numbers 20 Numbers 21-25 Prayerfully Meditate The New Testament mentions a number of sections found in the book of Numbers. Read each passage and see if you can find where in Numbers the New Testament author is referring to and what the corresponding lesson for Christians is. John 3:1-15 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Hebrews 3:7-4:16 Intentionally Act From what you have read in the passages above, what sin needs to be acknowledged before God? What elements of praise should you express to Him? For what can you be specifically grateful in light of what you have been meditating upon from Numbers? Pray for those who will attend this Sunday and do not personally know the saving work of Christ. Pray their hearts will be opened to His mercy and changed through the Spirit”™s conviction. Pray that God”™s people will be appropriately challenged and encouraged, equipped to serve Christ well. Pray for those leading the service on Sunday (Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, prayer and Scripture reading, Bret Capranica, teaching). Pray that they will assist the congregation in acceptable praise to Christ. Pray for the others who will also be assisting to ensure our worship honors Christ (instrumentalists, visual and audio techs, ushers, etc.). Meditate on the lyrics of the songs for Sunday and...
by Bret Capranica | Jul 27, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Video
Make Leviticus practical. In Leviticus last week we said it covered 5 ways we live with God – or that He lives with us: sacrifice, mediation, purity, atonement, and holiness. Jesus fulfills all of those. The sacrificial system made atonement very practical, vivid, and constant for the Jewish people. How can it be for us. CJ Mahaney’s book, The Cross-Centered Life, suggests a few ways to preach the gospel to yourself regularly: Memorize the gospel Pray the gospel Sing the gospel Review the effects of the gospel Study the Gospel Books recommended in the video: The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges The Cross-Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney The Cross of Christ, John R. W....
by Bret Capranica | Jul 23, 2011 | Twitter
Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. http://esv.to/Ps102.15 # Excellent rework on this hymn! http://t.co/1RMBc3X #iTunes # Another great one on this album! http://t.co/MAcfSdD #iTunes # The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. http://esv.to/Ps103.19 # Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul! http://esv.to/Ps103.22 # @ToddA1968 thanks friend! # May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, http://esv.to/Ps104.31 # I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. http://esv.to/Ps104.33 # Look – I finally got a storm names after me – Tropical Storm Bret drifts northeast off Bahamas – Yahoo! News http://ow.ly/5He0f # @johnwmartin so encouraged with you and God's grace through you brother! # For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. http://esv.to/2Cor10.18 # Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! http://esv.to/Ps105.3 # @MichaelLumpkin wow! Praying with you, brother. # Pops and Leefy surprised Dave with an early b-day gift-I think this makes Dave an official Missourian now. http://t.co/Wrkaf2u # Summer sledding! Who needs snow for our hill? http://t.co/dP5FC9a # Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. http://esv.to/Ps106.8 # Worth the read: Heat 'dome' traps much of US in pressure cooker (AP) http://yhoo.it/rgT8CJ # Worth the read: Divided the Movie...
by Bret Capranica | Jul 21, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think Read through Leviticus 1-5 and make a list of the various offerings Israel was to give. What was the role of the priest? What did the one making the offering have to do? What was the overarching reason for all of the offerings? Read Leviticus 10. What was Nadab and Abihu”™s failure? What does this suggest about God? What does it suggest about people and their approach to God”™s commands? Read Leviticus 16. What is the main theme of this chapter? Who”™s sin was covered? How? What do you learn about how sin is atoned for in this chapter? Read Leviticus 18-20. What is the overarching motive mentioned over and over that should move the Israelites to obedience? Prayerfully Meditate According to Leviticus, how much of life was treated as worship? What does this suggest about how God”™s people should think about life? According to Leviticus how do you know that God took public worship so seriously? What does it suggest to us about our approach to worshiping God? Read Hebrews 8-10. In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of what you read in Leviticus? Read Matthew 5-6. In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of what you read in Leviticus? What should the most significant effect of Leviticus be on your approach to worship this Sunday? Intentionally Act What areas of sin have been brought to your mind in contemplating Leviticus and its affect on worship and life? Confess those specifically to God in prayer. Respond in prayer to God for what you have learned from Leviticus and Hebrews (mentioned above) and the role Jesus plays...
