Creation-Care for a Cosmos in Labor [2023.09.06 Midweek Sermon in Romans 8:19–22]

God has placed us in an expectant creation that teaches us to live in expectation of glory at the resurrection.

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Biblical Theology of the Diaconate (6): The God Who Feeds and Clothes Us in the Covenant of Grace [2022.10.09 Sabbath School]

1. Covenant of grace. Earthly provision and the mitigation of the curse.
1.a. Gen 3:14–23 with worship purpose of 3:24
1.a.i. The Seed promise and the special care of those with child and their children, vv14–16, 20 (cf. 1Tim 2:15; n.b. the ‘diaconal’ nature of a redeemed husband)
1.a.ii. The cursed ground and the groaning creation—diaconal need a guardian against complacency in a world of sin and a guide to desire for the sinless world, v17–19 (n.b. the ‘diaconal’ opportunity presented by any abundance, which prompts both a desire to have it and a priority if we do)
1.a.iii. The atonement-reminding nature of every provision, v21 (cf. 2Cor 9:15)
1.b. Gen 8:22–9:17 with worship purpose of 8:20–21
1.b.i. Renewal/reaffirmation of covenant grace manifested in diaconal terms
1.b.ii. God’s earthly provision, 8:22, 9:3
1.b.iii. Man’s earthly service in God’s image; 9:1–2, 7 

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How Israel's Death Penalty for False Religion Instructs Our Hearts for Our Everyday Life [Family Worship lesson in Exodus 22:18–20]

How did God’s civil law for Israel highlight how abominable idolatry is? Exodus 22:18–20 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that idolatry is not only abominable in itself but leads to other abominations that are uniquely detestable to the LORD. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)