photo by GAC "In [Christ] the enslaved find redemption, the guilty pardon, the unholy renovation; in him are everlasting strength for the weak, unsearchable riches for the needy, treasures of wisdom and knowledge for the ignorant, fullness for the empty." Arthur Bennett, The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Carlisle, PA: … Continue reading Quote of Note #138: Hope and Help in Christ
Tag: Christ
Quote of Note #124: Mercy and Grace for Us
Stained glass from North Presbyterian Church, Elmira, NY; photo by GAC "[Christ] does not get flustered and frustrated when we come to him for fresh forgiveness, for renewed pardon, with distress and need and emptiness. That's the whole point. It's what he came to heal. He went down into the horror of death and plunged … Continue reading Quote of Note #124: Mercy and Grace for Us
Pastor Note #115: Advent Reflections #1
I just did a quick online search for Advent calendars and discovered that you can buy Advent calendars at Target, Walmart, and on the Etsy site. They’re everywhere. I also noticed that almost all of them are incorrect. All of the Advent calendars I looked at start on December 1, and five out of every … Continue reading Pastor Note #115: Advent Reflections #1
Bible Note #22: Facing the Evil
Facing the Evil The year 1944. The place, Nazi-occupied Poland. The narrator, Dr. Viktor Frankl, an Jewish psychiatrist from Austria. Fifteen hundred people had been traveling by train for several days and nights: there were eighty people in each coach. All had to lie on top of their luggage, the few remnants of their personal … Continue reading Bible Note #22: Facing the Evil
Sermon #64–Death Defeated, Part 1: What is Death?
Death is all around us. It is woven into the fabric of our world. It's not supposed to be like that. But it is like that. The Bible has a lot to say about death, because we need to understand death--its origins, its meaning, its consequences for us, and its remedy. This message is the … Continue reading Sermon #64–Death Defeated, Part 1: What is Death?
Sermon #56 — “The Mighty Power of God,” an Easter Sermon
"The Mighty Power of God" Ephesians 1:15-23 & Ezekiel 37:1-14A Sermon preached at Venice Presbyterian Church (EPC), Cecil Township, PA Easter Sunday April 5, 2015 What are we to say in the face of the brokenness and evil and suffering of our lives? What does God say? No, actually, what does he do? Look at … Continue reading Sermon #56 — “The Mighty Power of God,” an Easter Sermon
Sermon #55 — The Victor’s Battle Cry and our Easter Victory Gift
AN AUDIO SERMON [see link below] By rising from the dead -- raising us up with him -- Jesus Christ has won the great victory and has, thus, restored to us our eternal significance which death had stripped us of. Death is a powerful and ever-present reality for human beings. And for us death doesn't … Continue reading Sermon #55 — The Victor’s Battle Cry and our Easter Victory Gift
Prayer Note #46 — A Channel of Blessing: a Pastor’s Prayer
[Although I have called this a "Pastor's Prayer," with a slight adjustment of the language, this prayer might well work as a prayer for any Christian who wants to be a channel of blessing to the people in their lives. And what Christian wouldn't want to be a channel of God's blessing in the lives … Continue reading Prayer Note #46 — A Channel of Blessing: a Pastor’s Prayer
Sermon #47 — Our Pilgrimage to Grace: Father’s Running Embrace — Luke 15:11-32, Pt. 5 (Easter)
_ "If believers' eyes are turned to the power of the resurrection, in their hearts the cross of Christ will at last triumph over the devil, flesh, sin, and wicked men." John Calvin God's love for us is in place before we ever do anything to deserve it. God … Continue reading Sermon #47 — Our Pilgrimage to Grace: Father’s Running Embrace — Luke 15:11-32, Pt. 5 (Easter)
Sermon #40 — Words from the Beloved Apostle: Loving Like Jesus Again — 1 John 4:7-14
Is loving hard or easy? Well, it very much depends on what you are referring to by the word "love." In much of modern, Western culture, love is presented as a feeling or a passion. If that is true, if love is really a feeling or an emotion, then we should think of love as … Continue reading Sermon #40 — Words from the Beloved Apostle: Loving Like Jesus Again — 1 John 4:7-14
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 