8/23/2020 - Power Trip!
The Church Will Stand Forever: Sundays after Pentecost
August 23, 2020
America turned 244 this past year. The Greek empire lasted 350 years. The Roman empire lasted about 500 years. God's kingdom will never end.
God's Church is made up of believers. There has never been a moment in history when there were no believers on earth. Twice, God repopulated the earth only with believers (Adam & Eve, then Noah and his sons). From the days of Adam and Eve until today, from today into the future, there will never be a time when God's Church does not exist.
Like every empire in history, God's Church has enemies. Today's lessons underscore that nothing can prevent Jesus from upholding his Church through the forgiveness of sins and his promised salvation. Neither false expectations or heretical teachers, not the Egyptian army or the Philistine Goliath, not the gates of hell nor the devil himself, not riots or pandemics, not even the great tribulation or the end times will bring God's Church to an end. Later we'll sing…
The Church shall never perish,
Her dear Lord, to defend
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end.
Though there be those that hate her
And strive to see her fail,
Against both foe and traitor
She ever shall prevail (Hymn 538:3).
You're a member of God's eternal Church. It's a joy to be a Christian. It's a blessing to belong to a church on earth. That all pales in comparison to the unending heaven that God is preparing for you. His kingdom will never end. Praise the Lord!
► Readings:
• Exodus 34:5-9: The LORD proclaims his name
• Romans 10:5-13: If you confess, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved
• Matthew 16:13-20: God builds his church on the confession that Christ is God
• Psalm 138
► Sermon theme on Matthew 16:13-20: “Power Trip”
8am & 10:45am services with accommodations will be held on campus.
10:45am service also livestreamed on our YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/RedeemerTucson