Preparing for Passion Worship

A simple thing to do to prepare your mind and heart for worship during the Passion week is to read the gospel accounts of the story on a daily basis. Event by event, word by word, confrontation by confrontation, day by day, you will be presented with the essential character and purpose of Christ. The reality of His person is inescapable to those who read with open minds and hearts. And the greatness and gravity of what He did will likewise grow in impact on you as you read.

So several years ago, I compiled a daily harmony of the events of the week of Christ's death that I have found useful for doing that very thing. You may download a copy of it here. May it stimulate you into a deeper love and appreciation of our Lord.

The Gospel and the Good Value of Guilt

John Owen (called by John Piper "the greatest Puritan Theologian") writes the following concerning the good role of guilt in mortifying sin:

Bring thy lust to the gospel, not for relief, but for further conviction of its guilt: look on him whom thou has pierced, and be in bitterness. Say to thy soul, 'What have I done? What love, what mercy, what blood, what grace, have I despised and trampled on! Is this the return I make to the Father for his love, to the Son for his blood, to the Holy Ghost for his grace? Do I thus requite the Lord? Have I defiled the heart that Christ died to wash, which the blessed Spirit hath chosen to dwell in? And can I keep myself out of the dust? What can I say to the dear Lord Jesus? How shall I hold up my head with any boldness before him? Do I account my communion with him of so little value, that for this vile lust's sake I have scarce left him any room in my heart? How shall I escape, if I neglect so great salvation? In the mean time, what shall I say to the Lord? Love, mercy, grace, goodness, peace, joy, consolation; I have despised them all, and esteemed them as a thing of nought, that I might harbour a lust in my heart.

'Have I obtained a view of God's fatherly countenance that I might behold his face and provoke him to his face? Was my soul washed that room might be made for new defilements? Shall I endeavour to disappoint the end of the death of Christ? Shall I daily grieve that Spirit whereby I am sealed to the day of redemption?'

Entertain thy conscience daily with this entreaty. See if it can stand before this aggravation of its guilt. If this make it not sink in some measure, and melt, I fear thy case is dangerous.

As I read that this morning, I could not help but contrast it with something else I read this morning about another attack on the gospel. It is essential that we "get the gospel right," for only in understanding the gospel truly will we be able to live truly. This is the value of Owen's book — he understands the gospel and its power to change the lives of men. I've waited far too long to read this book, which is becoming a treasure to me in my daily battle against sin.

Additional Communion Thoughts

In preparation for communion, I often like to read a chapter out of a book on the cross, or an article that I have previously harvested from a magazine or journal. This week a friend gave me an article that I will undoubtedly read multiple times again. Russell Moore ("The Red Cross of Jesus" — unavailable online) makes a compelling argument that while our culture has become obsessed with blood (not just with violence in general or with crime show television, but in particular through a growing interest in vampires in mass-market romance novels), the church has become increasingly sanitized from blood:

American Christianity is far less bloody than it used to be. Songs like "Power in the Blood" or "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood," or "Are You Washed in the Blood?" are still sung in some places, but fewer and fewer, and there aren't many newer songs or praise choruses so focused on blood. The Cross, yes; redemption, yes; but blood, rarely.…

We're eager to speak of life, but hesitant to speak of blood. Some of this is the result of the lingering sting of liberal Christian hostility toward a 'slaughterhouse religion.' Some of it is the result of an age that fears blood, but doesn't know why. Some of it is the result of our ignorance, as we think that "blood" is just another metaphor, one we can easily replace.

And yet, bloodless Christianity leaves a void.…

There is power — wonder working power — in the blood. Our culture already sees that. They're simply looking in the wrong veins.

I also came across this week a very helpful article by Paul Tripp on confession, repentance and forgiveness ("Mercy Me: Psalm 51 and Everyday Life") that is not only helpful in preparation for communion, but is also valuable for rebuilding our earthly, horizontal relationships.

Sunday Leftovers (3/25/07)

All men thirst for God. They know they are thirsty — that they need something to satisfy their deepest desires — but they know not that their thirst is for God. This leads them to drink all manner of worthless and detrimental water. In Finding God in Unexpected Places, Philip Yancey recounts the following story that reinforces this truth:

John S. Dunne tells of early Spanish sailors who reached the continent of South America after an arduous voyage. The caravel sailed into the headwaters of the Amazon, an expanse of water so wide the sailors presumed it to be a continuation of the Atlantic Ocean. It never occurred to them to drink the water, since they expected it to be saline, and as a result some of these sailors died of thirst. That scene of men dying of thirst even as their shops floated on the world's largest source of fresh water has become for me a metaphor for our age. Some people starve to death while all around them manna rots.

So it was for the Israelites alive at the time of Christ. The leaders were indignant over His claims to deity and authority, and the people were alternately interested in Him for His miraculous works, and disinterested in Him because of His hard sayings.

It's not all that different in our own day. Anger by some, superficial curiosity from others, and disinterested boredom from still others. And the great (magnanimous) irony in all this is that He still offered (and offers) salvation to any who might come. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come and drink" (Jn. 7:37). In Christ there is sufficient, overflowing grace upon grace (Jn. 1:16) for all who might trust in Him.

What John Piper Thinks About Television

What John Piper thinks about television is what believers needs to think and believe about television.

The television itself (the plastic case and the electronics inside it) is amoral. Those who produce the products (both shows and commercials) that will be aired on that television are largely immoral. Which is why Piper says,

There are millions who are numb to hope because of the God-belittling things they have done and how ugly they have become. They don’t lift lofty arguments against God’s Truth; they shrug and feel irretrievably outside. They don’t defy God consciously; they default to cake and television.

You can (and should) read other insightful evaluations of television and what it does to our God-pursuing minds and hearts here.

Sunday Leftovers (3/18/07)

While Scripture has a high view of Scripture, the goal of acquiring knowledge of Scripture, meditating on Scripture and listening to sermons is not the mere accumulation of more knowledge. The goal of Biblical instruction is not just more knowledge. Rather, true Biblical instruction and knowledge will culminate in people and in a church that are increasingly being transformed into the likeness of Christ, unified in their love for Christ and each other, and giving evidence of that love through pure living, clear consciences and real (unhypocritical) faith (1 Tim. 1:5).

To that end, for example, 1 Timothy is replete with examples and admonitions and encouragements to embrace the truth of Scripture. Among the approximately 40 references to Scripture (using words like "doctrine," "teaching," "instruct," "truth," "Scripture," "preach," and "true faith") in the book are repeated exhortations to uphold sound doctrine. Consider 3:15 — one fundamental purpose of the church is to uphold the truth of the living God. And 3:16 — the doctrine and truth of Christ and the Godhead are foundational to godliness. And in contrast to the apostasy that comes from willfully ignoring the truth (4:1-5) and the malnourishment that comes from weak and empty teaching (4:7), sound doctrine will provide constant nourishment for the soul (4:6).

These are vital statements. The church in America today is substantively weak and ineffective because both she and her members have little dependence on and respect for and commitment to and transformation from the Word of God. If the church will be the church in coming days, it will come from a joyful reliance on the Word of God.


Two more thoughts about the kind of people God is using in building His church, from two other pastors:

"There is no mistake more terrible than to suppose that activity in Christian work can take the place of depth of Christian affections." [John MacArthur in The Master's Perspective on Pastoral Ministry.]

"…many ministers of God meet with hard things which might discourage them, and trouble and grieve their spirits; but this consideration, that God is pleased to employ them in such service near to himself, that though they cannot do good themselves, yet they may do good to others, this should disquiet them." [Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.]

Sunday Leftovers (3/4/07)

There is a simple reason why Jesus says, "Do not judge according to appearance..." (Jn. 7:24). Because we are prone to being impressed with the superficial.

For the same reason that foods that have much attraction and little substance and sustenance (read: candy bars, fast food burgers, chips and dip, and bubble gum), we are prone to being attracted to spiritual life that is glamorous, easy and superficial. Why dig deep into the heart of the matter if you can approach it superficially and give the appearance of being transformed?

Dig deep, because only spiritual depth will give you the satisfaction of a nourished soul.

Beware of the sermon that doesn't challenge you to something greater than you are or can accomplish in your own strength (every sermon should be God-exalting and expound the Scriptures so you are taught, reproved, corrected, and trained for righteousness). Beware of devotional times that leave you yawning — both literally and figuratively (you are meeting the holy God who invited fear when others saw Him). Beware of ministry and service that doesn't invigorate you or even make you fearful (you have been called to do something for which you are not adequate!). Beware of honoring those who have superficial successes (like money and position) and ignoring those who have no such trappings (its dishonoring to the name of Christ). Beware of being convicted of sin without being transformed.

All these dangers and more are marks of a superficial life that is perhaps "reputable" on the surface, but is weak and crumbling internally.

We do well to hear the words of Robert Murray McCheyne, which he wrote to a young missionary who was about to leave for his new ministry:

I trust you will have a pleasant and profitable time in Germany. I know you will apply hard to German; but do not forget the culture of the inner man — I mean the heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God's sword — His instrument — I trust a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfections of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.

There is a measure to the superficial life which is easy and simple. But the life of ease is not always (rarely, in fact) the good life. The good life is the examined, "heart deep" life.

Preparing for Hearing a Sermon

I have been carrying in my Bible for several years a statement by J. I. Packer [Quest for Godliness] that is excellent preparation for Sunday worship:

We must never, therefore, let our Sundays become mere routine engagements; in that attitude of mind, we shall trifle them away by a humdrum formality. Every Sunday is meant to be a great day, and we should approach it expectantly, in full awareness of this. [my emphasis]

How might we prepare our hearts so that worship is a joyful expectation?

George Whitfield gave six practical guidelines in how to listen to a sermon:

1. Come to hear them, not out of curiosity, but from a sincere desire to know and do your duty. To enter His house merely to have our ears entertained, and not our hearts reformed, must certainly be highly displeasing to the Most High God, as well as unprofitable to ourselves.
2. Give diligent heed to the things that are spoken from the Word of God. If an earthly king were to issue a royal proclamation, and the life or death of his subjects entirely depended on performing or not performing its conditions, how eager would they be to hear what those conditions were! And shall we not pay the same respect to the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and lend an attentive ear to His ministers, when they are declaring, in His name, how our pardon, peace, and happiness may be secured?
3. Do not entertain even the least prejudice against the minister. That was the reason Jesus Christ Himself could not do many mighty works, nor preach to any great effect among those of His own country; for they were offended at Him. Take heed therefore, and beware of entertaining any dislike against those whom the Holy Ghost has made overseers over you.
4. Be careful not to depend too much on a preacher, or think more highly of him than you ought to think.
5. Make particular application to your own hearts of everything that is delivered.
6. Pray to the Lord, before, during, and after every sermon, to endue the minister with power to speak, and to grant you a will and ability to put into practice what he shall show from the Book of God to be your duty.

In a very practical way, preparation for worship begins not just in the morning on Sunday, but in the day and days preceding it. It begins with a humble recognition that my heart needs transformation, and so I pray that the Lord will use the message on Sunday to transform me. To that end ask that God would equip the preacher of the Word with wisdom to accurately interpret the Word and deliver the Word so that the Spirit of God can use that Word of God to turn you into a man of God.

This week may be the week in which you make dramatic progress in your life — or it may be a week in which you realize one small piece of truth that has been inhibiting you from growing. Go to worship with the expectation that in either case, both dramatic or small, you are going to worship God and to hear His Word as if your very life depended on it (for it does!)