Desire a Better Country
Sunday, July 17. Let’s prepare our hearts and minds for the 9:30 AM In-person, 11:00 AM In-person/Livestream Worship Service, and the sermon by reviewing the bible readings, confession, and reflection.
Bible Reading 1: Revelation 21:10-11; 22- 27; 22:1-5 (ESV)
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Creed/Confession: Heidelberg Catechism Q. 21.
Q 21. Why is it added: to the opening of the Lord's Prayer “in heaven”?
A. That we may have no earthly thought of the heavenly Majesty of God, and from His almighty power expect all things necessary for body and soul.
Sermon Texts: Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
Reflection
Just after the turn-of-the-20th century, pioneer missionary Henry Morrison was returning to New York after 40 years in Africa. That same boat also bore home the wildly popular President Theodore Roosevelt. As they entered New York Harbor, the president was greeted with a huge fanfare. Morrison felt rather dejected because no one came to welcome him. After all, he had spent 4 decades in the Lord’s service but then a small voice came to Morrison, saying, “Henry, you’re not home yet.” And that was true, for God had “prepared a city” far greater than the Big Apple for Henry Morrison. – Kent Hughes
We hope you can join us on July 17 (9:30 AM In-person, 11:00 AM In-person/Livestream) as Pastor John speaks about these verses. Here are the complete details for Sunday’s Service. The link for Sunday’s 11:00 AM Livestream is below. Lastly, here are the songs for Sunday if you like to listen to Sunday’s song selection.
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