LakeOPC

Jeremiah the Prophet and Current World Turmoil

2011-06-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

I have been reading through the prophet Jeremiah and specifically the book of Lamentations. Its a thought provoking, convicting, and prayer enabling study as Jeremiah views, experiences, and warns about the judgment of God against his faithless people.

All of Israel's institutions had failed. Sin abounded causing the corruption of the offices of King, Priest, and Prophet. Jeremiah's hard task was to proclaim God's determination to judge his people and to enact the curses promised in Deuteronomy 28. The horrific nature of the events recorded is hard for modern believers to comprehend. How many people deny that God executes or even permits temporal judgments let alone believe that He decrees them? Yet such temporal judgments serve a redemptive purpose. Just as Israel was forced to see their sin and to long for a righteous redeemer so that in the fullness of time God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law; so we seeing such temporal judgments long for Christ, long for his promised return, and the regeneration of all things. Temporal judgments are warnings of the final just judgment to come. They say to us, "Flee to Christ!"

As I ponder over the news articles of the economic chaos in Greece, the US, and elsewhere as I read about wars, injustices, murders, and all sorts of social decay I think about Jeremiah. I don't think the US is Israel. I do think Church has lost its way and is largely bereft of blessing. Christendom has embraced secularism. It has abandoned Christian ethics and appeased the world by giving in to the adulterers, the homosexuals, the legalists, the religious syncretists, etc. There is little belief in the redemptive power of the gospel. As Michael Horton of White Horse Inn fame has written many the broad Church have a Christless Christianity.

If I can make the analogy that as the weakening of the power of the US results in the growing influence of oppressive governments and emboldening of its enemies so the sinfulness and weakening of the Church has resulted in the growing influence of false religions and the emboldening of the Church's enemies. There can be no truce between truth and falsehood. God's truth will ultimately prevail. We may see the Church undergo a period of temporal judgment that we haven't experienced in decades. May we weep like Jeremiah. "How the gold has become dim." "Turn us back to you, O LORD, and we will be restored."

Regarding the Devastations in Japan

2011-03-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

The atheist would argue that the devastation in Japan is yet a further “proof” of the non-existence of God. They would argue that if God is a god of love he would not allow such a terrible and unloving event to occur.

There are several erroneous presuppositions in such a line of thinking. God has revealed himself in his creation and in his word as being characterized by more than love. The true God is an eternal, unchangeable, and infinite God in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. God’s word and his creation reveal that he is justly angry, even wrathful, towards the ungodliness of humankind (Romans 1:18-21). So, more than a mere expression of love is at work in the events of our day.

This idea reveals a second erroneous presupposition made by the atheist, that mankind is the object only of love by God. The atheist cannot explain the existence of evil. Evil is not a disembodied force but a state of being for moral creatures. God has revealed in his word that humanity is corrupted in sin. It isn’t what goes in that defiles a person but what comes from out of a person’s heart that defiles him (Mark 7:15). We are all sinners. (Romans 3:23). We are children of wrath by our sinfulness (Ephesians 2:3).

The third erroneous presupposition made by the atheist is his understanding of love and even of justice. Without God there is no objective moral standard for the definition of love or justice. The terms become subjectively understood and are no longer universals that apply to all people everywhere. Love can be defined as it often is today in a utilitarian sense of what is good for me, what is good for society, what is pragmatic, etc. Justice equally becomes a slippery term. In fact the atheist has no claim to the ideal enshrined in the US Declaration of Independence that roots human rights as being inalienable and given from God. Without that ideal, human rights are mere gifts of the state or society and can be taken away at will. There is no intrinsic worth to human beings.

What I would argue is that the tragic events in Japan and elsewhere are the direct warnings from a loving and just God who has promised to hold accountable all moral creatures before his judgment day. It is loving to warn people of the coming judgment so that they might mend their ways. We see God’s mercy in that he did not fully destroy Japan, New Zealand, or Chile but left them life and the ability to rebuild. I am not arguing that the people of Japan, New Zealand, or Chile are worse sinners than we who have not experienced such devastations. No, rather they are warnings to us all that unless we repent we will all likewise perish (Luke 13:1-5).

It is loving that God has provided a way that unworthy sinners deserving of God’s wrath can be made righteous in his sight (Romans 3:21-26). I implore you not to join the atheist in self-righteously judging God but to rather reverence God, repent, and to flee to Christ alone.

Glory by the Cross

2011-03-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

I am preaching through the gospel of Mark and in chapter nine, Jesus prophesies a second time about his pending death and resurrection. The point added is that Jesus understood his coming violent death at the hands of violent men as ordered by the plan of God. The disciples came to this conclusion to in Acts 4:25-28. Jesus then warns his disciples about being concerned about their greatness, their rights, and their standing. He taught them to be his disciples that they should be last and servant of all. For Jesus and his disciples, for God and his kingdom, the way to glory is by the suffering of the cross.

Jesus’ death by crucifixion is not an example of how to live as a Christian. His life and death is truly a substitutionary one for the person who believes in him. Jesus lived the perfectly obedient life required by the law for his people. He died the death required by law of God for sinners such as us. All this purchases eternal salvation and life for those who believe in Jesus.

Yet, Jesus calls his servants to live a life of service in suffering for others. The point is that the gospel of Jesus changes one’s heart. The issue is no longer your own greatness or your rights. The issue is the glory of God as Jesus shows us. The issue is the love of others by service.

This ethic once visible in American life and public service is what is so patently missing not only in the protests in Wisconsin but in our world. The Church needs to pray for revival and reformation. The Church needs to live by service and love in Jesus Christ.

The Problem of Fear

2009-12-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

The latest crisis is a regional one, the threat of Asian Carp to Great Lakes sport fishing. It is reported that there seems to be no way to stop this foreign invasion and if these fish gain access to the waters of the Great Lakes all sport fishing and related business is doomed! Scientists no doubt see a potential impact to native North American fresh water fish. But like "climate change" or "swine flu" the potential is magnified into a catastrophe of epic proportions. Why all this fear? Where is the American "can do" optimism? Whether from the left or right political spectrum the specter of fear is raised by unparalleled crises in our time.

I think this loss of the American optimism is in large part due to our loss of faith. America was greatly influenced by a Christian world-view at its founding and for the first 150 plus years. You cannot read the history of this land, the proclamations of its governors and presidents, and the development of its institutions without seeing the vast influence of a belief in the providence of God. Reverence for God begot an optimism that God was in control of all events for good. The fear of God meant we didn't have to fear every event we couldn't control. Indeed, we didn't believe man was in control but we believed in "acts of God." We believed in a positive future because we believed God had a purpose and history moved forward to that purpose.

The ascendancy of godless pragmatism and humanism has resulted in the belief that there is no purpose to life at all. Materialism and chance offer no purpose to life because belief in chance beginnings are without purpose by definition. If we are the mere product of chance there is no reason for our lives, our nation, or anything at all. If we are the only rational beings then its up to us to solve the latest crisis. The problem is that we cannot solve them. We are not God. There is no purpose for any of this. We live in a fear of blind chance happenings beyond our control and aided by our mistakes.

"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov. 28:1). This is the plight of the unbeliever who denies God. He lives in fear of everything because he controls nothing. Conversely, the Church, the company of believers, needs to stand up and be bold. We ought not to fear. God is in control. He controls the outcome of all events; even of the actions of unbelieving senators and representatives who promote fear to accomplish a political agenda. Hundreds of times the Bible calls us "not to fear." Why? Because a sovereign God rules over all things and gives purpose to all things. We are accountable to such a mighty God. Our only hope is in the salvation he has promised. That is our only comfort in life and in death.

Back Again

2009-08-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

I've been away for a long time but want to post a few thoughts as the work in Cleveland progresses. Yes, we are still at it and God has added a few more faces. I am working full time with Lake OPC mission now and still helping to develop new mission works across the presbytery as I am able. Check on our website often, we are working on securing a new meeting location but we have to wait for the city permits etc.

Lake OPC just started studying the book "Being Presbyterian" by Sean M Lucas. Its a good overview of the core beliefs, practices, and history of biblical Presbyterianism. I'd encourage you to check this study out. We meet on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM still at the Courtyard-Mariott in Willoughby.

The first chapter begins the section on beliefs or doctrines. Lucas takes up the issue of the sovereignty of God. That's a somewhat foreign term for Americans because we don't often speak about "sovereigns." The point is that God of the Bible reveals himself as the final authority and rules over everything. Lucas refers to Daniel 4 where Nebuchadnezzar, who conquered Judah by God's judgment, affirms God's sovereignty. Its a dramatic thought that a pagan king would submit to God's Lordship. Its a reminder that we all will one day be accountable to God (see 2 Cor. 5:10). Psalm 24:1,2 make this point clearly enough, and my own devotional readings of the minor prophets reveal God's kingship over his people.

While we may be uncomfortable with this concept and it may raise questions about the origins of evil and how man is still morally accountable, we find that God's sovereignty has practical implications for us. If God is not sovereign he really isn't God - not worthy of worship. If we are the result of chance then we as human beings have no purpose beyond ourself because chance is by definition devoid of purpose. If we only make our own realties how does that really square with our experience because we are not really in control of our lives, we are not self-existent nor independent.

Lucas reminds us that God's sovereignty estalishes our purpose (He gave it - Gen. 1:26ff) and his sovereignty is the foundation of our own moral responsibility and freedom. Read the book and see what Lucas says. Better yet join us for this discussion. Read Calvin's Institutes too!

Our Study on Galatains

2007-07-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

We meet on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM at the Courtyard-Marriott in Willoughby, Ohio. Our Wednesday evening meetings are a time of Bible study, discussion, fellowship and prayer. The theme of the basis of our relationship with God was the focus of our recent study on Galatians. Paul wrote the letter of Galatians to deal with the false teaching that had invaded that church and tempted those believers to forsake the gospel. Paul reminded them and us that we are constantly tempted to resort to earning favor with God by doing things. The false teachers that came to Galatia agreed that believers should believe in Jesus for salvation but that they should also add to their belief certain good works to show their faith and commitment. By performing these religious observances the false teachers reasoned that true believers would have true or full justification in God’s sight. Those false teachers taught that early Christians should keep the Old Testament laws and ordinances – those that were identified with the nation of the Jews. In essence, these Judaizers were teaching that Gentile believers needed to keep covenant with God in order to maintain their justification.

This point should not be lost on contemporary believers who hear of the so called Federal Vision movement in reformed churches. These contemporary false teaches have a similar problem that the first century false teachers did in Paul’s eyes. First century Judaizers taught that keeping covenant with God required observance of Old Testament ceremonies. Contemporary Federal Vision men teach that keeping New Testament ordinances maintains one’s justification. The believer’s justification is not based on anything that he does but all on Christ. It can be granted that one’s justification is proven or demonstrated visibly by his change of life and use of the means of grace. But these good works are in no wise meritorious.

Paul’s concerns are applicable to the issue of Federal Vision. “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal 3:3) and “…even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Gal 2:16b). This applies to any law keeping whether it be Old Testament or New Testament. Certainly God requires believers to live holy lives and to observe his ordinances. But such things do not and can not merit favor with God nor add to or maintain one’s justification. Justification is a singular act of God based solely on the work of Jesus Christ.

Tim Keller’s bible study on Galatians (www.redeemer.com) that we used doesn’t address the Federal Vision issue I’ve mentioned. However, Tim shows us that we all tend to fall back to trying earn favor with God by doing things. This is man centered religion which is opposed to God and Christ centered faith. Justification by faith is simply that. One is justified wholly and completely in Christ and received by faith. The realization of the Bible’s teaching on justification gives us freedom, assurance, and confidence. Come join us and find out the joy of the gospel! The gospel changes our relationship with God and with others.

Back with Two Objectives

2007-06-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

I took a long hiatus from my posts due to time constraints and to reconsider what I wanted to accomplish on this blog. After prayerful reflection it seems that I should attempt two things here. One objective would be to share a bit of the riches God has for believers in Jesus Christ through the gospel. This would be a means to introduce to you what we are about at Lake OPC. We want you to get a vision of a reformed and Presbyterian church. As people committed to reformed and Presbyterian principles we are passionate about the gospel. We are really committed to the scriptures. We want you catch what we are about so you might be encouraged to join us.

Secondly, I thought it would be helpful to share some of what we are learning from the scriptures so that you might derive some benefit from that teaching and discussion also. Perhaps you might even feel compelled to interact with me here. We want to see the whole bible taught and lived in the lives of Christian believers. I believe that God has spoken in his word, the Bible, to give us knowledge of God and of his will that is necessary for salvation from God’s just judgment of our sin. Salvation is not a matter of keeping rules but of truly knowing God and being in fellowship with him.

The Bible teaches that we come to know God and have reconciled fellowship with him through his son, Jesus Christ. Most of us will admit that we are estranged or separated from one other whether in our marriages, our relations to our children, our relations to neighbors, co-workers, even in relations to others at church. At root is our separation from true fellowship with God. People have attempted reconciliation with God through religious observance – giving God his due so to speak or more recently seeking an emotional experience. Feeling close to God emotionally through a group experience of moving music and celebration fades like any other temporal emotion. Enduring reconciliation and fellowship is founded on objective promises and commitments. God has given us those things in the work of Jesus Christ, his son. When we find that we are accepted as righteous in Christ apart from anything we can do we have a whole new reason for living and really, for living a holy life. We aren’t trying earn God’s favor but rather we are living in free thankfulness to God. Being a Christian isn’t easy because it is opposed to our sinful and selfish way of thinking and living. Being a Christian is an exciting way of living in a new sense of freedom from guilt and trying to earn favor from God and others. The gospel is great news and that is what we want to communicate in word and deed at Lake OPC in Cleveland!

New Location

2007-01-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

Here I am teaching the bible study. We meet on Wednesdays at 7 PM. We have a NEW location. We are meeting at the Courtyard - Marriott in Willoughby, Ohio just off I-91 and S.R. 91. The motel is on Maple Grove Rd just north of the interstate.

Why not come and check us out? We'd be happy to meet you!

Lake Presbyterian Church - OPC - an outreach of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church on Cleveland's east side!

Acceptance and Justification by Faith

2007-01-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

In our Wednesday evening bible study we have been working through Paul's letter to the Galatians. The theme of this book of the bible is the wonder and truth of the truth of justification by faith alone. The doctrine of "Justification by faith alone" is a reformation truth. It is as powerful today as it was then...and certainly as it was in Paul's day. Just as then (both in the time of the reformation and in Paul's day) this truth of the gospel is not understood very well.

You'd think that after two thousand years the Church would keep this truth straight and communicate it well. You'd think that after two thousand years Christians would understand this wonderful truth. But, the Church is made up of new generations of sinners. Sinners always try to measure their acceptance to God by their efforts. Even when we understand that we are accepted by faith in Christ we often measure ourselves by our efforts in sanctification. Paul argues in Galatians that we can't perfect ourselves by the flesh or works of the law (3:3). Paul ISN'T saying that the law of God is of no use to the believer or that believers can live contrary to it as God's standard. That would be opposite to the goal of gospel, redemption from sin and holiness before God.

What Paul is after is the freedom we have from trying earn God's favor on any level. We can not earn God's favor for him to save us. We can only by accepted by God by faith in Christ's work for us. We can not earn God's favor to remain acceptable to him. Christ Jesus is our sanctification.

So this New Year are you a Christian? If not, what will you do with your guilt? We all are guilty because we all know that we fail God and others - especially the ones we love. Only Christ can pay the full penalty for your guilt. All other religions try to get you to work off your guilt by substituting religious efforts. The Bible teaches that Jesus became a curse for us (Gal. 3:13). This is only "work" we need...belief in Jesus as our substitute (John 6:29). It is Jesus' works not ours for we can not earn anything before God (Romans 4:4,5).

If you are a Christian - that is you believe in Christ and that he died for your sins - do you still have guilt? Sure, we all sin. We are not fully perfected yet. Do you feel weighed down by guilt and so question your acceptance before God today? Do you feel you just don't measure up? Do you feel you just can't live a Christian life anymore? Read Galatians. Remind yourself of the great truth of justification by faith alone in Christ alone! Christianity isn't about doing things. Its about believing things and living a life free in faith. Yes, we still deal with sin. There must be a change in our lives. The change comes by the Holy Spirit applying the work of Christ to every area of our lives. We need to believe that and live it. We aren't accepted by God because we've done certain things or kept God's law. We are accepted by God only by faith in Christ's work for us. When Christ lives in us by faith we live in him.

This New Year resolve to live by faith in Christ Jesus. Quit the habit of trying to earn favor with God by your own efforts. You'll never measure up!

Scripture, myths, and doubt

2006-12-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

An interesting article is available at http://www.rpts.edu/pres_news_article.asp?articleid=37 where a friend of mine debunks many modern myths about the nativity narratives in the gospels.

Many Christians have joined the chorus of doubters about the Bible's teaching of the facts regarding the birth of Jesus Christ. Part of the reformation heritage is a strong belief, scholarly defense, and consistent application of the authority of the Bible. Too many of us have given up ground to naysayers and pseudo-scholars who have no belief in the Bible anymore. I am not talking about a mere defensive reaction to liberals but a robust and confident trust in the God of scripture and the scripture of God. Indeed, if we believe in Jesus as Lord and savior then we ought to believe in the word of God too for John 1 tells us that Jesus is the WORD of God. Belief in the scriptures as God's full revelation of himself and his will for our salvation is included in our belief of Jesus. The two concepts, belief in Jesus and belief in the scriptures go together.

May you join the chorus of the heavenly hosts in your heart and life as they sang, "Glory to God in the highest!" this year instead of the "doubting choir.

Faith & Worship

2006-11-17T13:46:00.000-08:00

Wow, its been a while since I've posted here. Its been about 3,000 miles plus a trip to Dallas, TX! I've been traveling a bit but I want to get back to thinking about a reformed and Presbyterian church in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. What makes Christian worship different? What makes worship at Lake OPC different?

Many people are looking for something more meaningful or perhaps more spiritually satisfying in worship. Some have thought that we need to adapt to the times. This has been the motivation for much of the contemporary worship movement and even the "emerging church" movement.

I think we need to constantly re-apply the gospel and principles of worship to our times. More importantly we need to use God's means. After all it is God's worship, not ours. God centered worship means more than just having God as the focus. It is using God's ways or means. The reformers of the 16th century wanted the church to be founded on the eternal principles of God's word not on the changing ideas of men. As we think about worship, the reformers helped us to identify the "means of grace." These are essentially the elements of worship; the Word of God (read and preached), the sacraments (Baptism & Lord's Supper), and prayer. These means actually and really communicate the benefits of redemption in Christ to the believer.

The way in which this is accomplished is through the instrument of faith. Faith is the instrument by which we receive all the benefits of Christ's work. Through faith we are justified in Christ. Through faith we receive the benefits of Christ's work. What I mean then is that we must use the means; the word, sacraments, and prayer, by faith. We must therefore come believingly into worship. So the writer of Hebrews writes, "Without faith it is impossible to please him (God), for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Heb. 11:6).

If you want more spiritually satisfying worship you don't need to do different things or modernize worship. You need to come to worship by faith. God has appointed the means for us to come to him in Christ. These are divinely powerful through faith. Too often we don't come to worship with belief. We want something we can hear, touch, feel. We need that which is truly spiritual and divinely powerful. Too often our worship is faithless. We can perform a lot of outward rituals or activity which seem like worshipful things. Paul writes about this in Colossians 2:20-23. Real worship is faithful worship or rather, worship through faith. Come and visit us at Lake OPC. We emphasize God's means. Your faith will be strengthened.

More on Worship and John 4

2006-10-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

When I preached from John 4 I noted that in verses 21 & 22 Jesus spoke about worship being regulated by God's word, "we worship what we know." The other idea that Jesus talks about in John 4 is that true worship is in spirit and in truth. In John 4:23,24 Jesus argues that because God is spirit worship must be in spirit and truth. We can understand it this way, the purpose defines the design. Worship isn't about us, it is about God. If worship is about God then it should reflect God's character and desires. It must be appropriate to God. In fact, what is more radical is that God adapts us to himself. He makes us unrighteous sinners who are spiritually dead alive by and in the spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, so that we can worship spiritually!

So, there are false worshipers. Those that worship a god of their own mind. Jesus calls believers to be true worshipers. True worshipers worship the father. That is, true worshipers are those adopted by the father in Christ. They have the benefit of adoption - an act of God that is the result of justification. True worshipers are spiritually God's children.

What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? We've seen that worship in truth is worship that is according to God's word not man's ideas. Worship in the spirit doesn't mean without regulation as like a sort of free or uncontrolled worship. This would contradict the worship in truth idea. Spiritual worship doesn't mean emotional, passionate, or even characterized by the miraculous. In fact all these descriptions of spiritual worship are external. Jesus over and over chided the Jews with looking only for the miraculous or the external (see John 6:26,27). Spiritual worship is focused on spiritual realities in Christ. Old Testament worship was external with spiritual meaning. New Testament worship is powered from the changed heart and the spiritual realities of being in Christ by faith. New Testament worship should openly reveal spiritual truth.

Christ encourages us to think of God, the focus of worship. He is spirit. He isn't defined by earthly forms. God certainly made us human beings in flesh but we are also spiritual creatures. God does not delight in the things that bring pleasure to our fleshly natures. Beautiful buildings, comfortable seats, rousing music or instruments that please our ears are not necessary to worship nor even necessarily pleasing to God. God wants us to sing but the idea is make a joyful noise (a heart felt) praise to God. The building or place doesn't matter (Jn 4:21). Rather the music is to aid us in praising God. If we have Christ and his Spirit in our heart what more can we desire? Too much of what we often do in worship is for our comfort, joy, and pleasure.

True worship reveals God, our need of a savior, and God's gracious provision. We should come to public worship in our best for God. We should keep the meeting house of God's people in good repair and even beauty. But our focus is in the spiritual realities. For when believers gather for public worship God comes and raises them up in Christ into his very spiritual presence (Hebrews 12:22). Worship is what brings praise, honor, and glory to God. Worship is being in the presence of God spiritually and hearing him speak his gracious promises by his word. This can only be by the spirit and the truth. This is the glory of reformed worship and what you will find at Lake OPC.

Thoughts on Worship

2006-10-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

I was preaching on John 4:19-26 recently. In this chapter Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well at high noon. She wanted to be by herself but God had other plans. He often does doesn't he? In this conversation she begins to realize that Jesus isn't just an ordinary Jew. He is special and he seems to have divine knowledge about her past. She calls him a prophet and asks a question about worship (perhaps to redirect the conversation away from her personal life). Actually I think her question in verse 20 really had bearing for her and it does for us! If we really are sinners (as Jesus pointed out to her in vv 17 &18) how do we get right with God? How ought we to come into his presence? Isn't that what worship is? Isn't worship really entering into God's presence?

Jesus speaks authoritatively about worship. Verses 22-24 are key here. The first point is that Christian worship is regulated by the word of God. Jesus states that worship isn't a question of tradition. Its not about what the "fathers" did. Now God had commanded that worship was to be in Jerusalem through the means of the temple rites of the Old Testament law. Things were about to change. Worship isn't defined by place but by God. Jesus had come and worship was to be through him. Jesus is the salvation from the Jews (v. 22).

Here is where Jesus teaches us that the word directs worship. Jesus stated that "you worship that which you do not know, we worship that which we know..." (v 22). How did the Jews know? They had the word of God, the law. That word was God's instructions to them (Deut 4:2). That word also promised Jesus as the Christ in type, shadow, and promise. So, if we are to worship in Spirit and in truth, we must know the truth, the word of God. God's word does tell us by command and example how we are to worship God. The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 21 relfects this in its teaching on the regulative principle of worship.

What so often goes on in worship services is man centered. We think worship should be this or that. There is a great degree of freedom in New Testament worship but God does command us to worship him in spirit and in truth. I think many want the spirit but forget the truth. The truth isn't just the preaching of the word, but our whole approach, attitude, and content of worship. I think you will find this kind of reverential worship at Lake OPC.

Don't forget the first part of verse 22. Jesus told the woman that she worshiped that which she didn't know. If we don't worship the true God according to the scriptures we not only worship in ignorance but we are ignorant of the true God.

2006-10-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

Yep, that is me. That little Camry and I cover a lot of road miles in a year. I am spending a bit of time in Lake County. I am meeting with about 5 families who really want to start a new Orthodox Presbyterian Church in western Lake County, OH. Right now we meet on Wednesday nights at 7 PM and on Sunday nights at 6 PM at the Kirtland Community Center on US 6 just west of SR 306. We are starting a study of the book of Galatians on Wednesdays and I am preaching through the book of John on Sunday evenings. These books have a richness in reformed theology! Come and join us.