worship preview

Dear Saints:   Social researchers say it's a consistent trend that in tough economic times, consumers continue to spend money on those products that lift their spirits. Maintaining that trend, sales of comfort foods like chocolate and macaroni and cheese have climbed dramatically over the past several months.   What kinds of things make you feel better when you're struggling?  What foods or activities lift your spirits?  My hope is that worship is one of those times and places where you feel renewed.  Being in God's presence, hearing God's Word, and being with God's people are meant to restore us so that we might continue to live faithfully as followers of Christ.    This Sunday we will focus on a topic that has lifted Christian spirits across the centuries --the promise that God will make all things new, that a glorious future awaits us where we will be with God and with all God's people forever and ever. This promised event is described poetically in the Revelation of John and is mentioned repeatedly in the writings of Paul.   For worship tomorrow, I would encourage you to read Revelation 21:1-8 and Romans 8:22-27.  As you read these passages, you might ask:  How these passages provide hope and encouragement to us today?  Why do we need to be reminded that God has made such a promise?  What is it in the Revelation passage or in the Romans passage that speaks to your heart directly?  The passages are included below.   Please also pray for our service tomorrow that we might all celebrate the goodness and grace of God.   In Christ,   Bryan   Revelation 21:1-7 The New Jerusalem  1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."  6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."   ROMANS 8:22-27    22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.  26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.