July 2014 Newsletter

I love Sunday mornings. I love the church. I’m not talking about the building, nor am I referring simply to the event. I love being in the holy temple of the Lord’s presence in His gathering of the building in where our God is the architect and builder (Ephesians 2:19-22).

We the church gathers on Sundays to prove the Lord’s building in us by loving one another as Christ loves us (John 13:35, 15:12). As we have been studying the early church in Acts, we discover a devotion of the local church to gather regularly to study Scripture and enjoy fellowship (Acts 2:42). All of the “one another” passages in Scripture are in the enjoyment of Christ in our devoted fellowship. The worship service of God’s people assembled is to dig deep into the riches of the wisdom of God, rejoicing at His mercy, and marveling at His wondrous grace (Romans 11:33)!

So, let us gather with the saints. Let us gather thirsting for God’s presence and longing to see His glory in His temple (Psalm 42:4 63:1-2). Let us gather as His beloved to show His love to one another. Let us offer a tribute of praise to our God. Let us gather to praise our great God and Savior in the Name that is above all names, Jesus Christ our Lord. As Psalm 150 commands us,

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in His sanctuary;

    praise Him in His mighty heavens!

Praise Him for His mighty deeds;

    praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with trumpet sound;

    praise Him with lute and harp!

Praise Him with tambourine and dance;

    praise Him with strings and pipe!

Praise Him with sounding cymbals;

    praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD!