Book Review: You Are What You Love by James K. A. Smith

Finally, here is a book on Christian discipleship that takes seriously the biblical vision of the human person.

Tapping into the reader’s imagination from the beginning, Jamie ushers us into a consideration of how our loves direct our living. Thinking matters, no doubt. But the object of one’s affections – what a person implicitly envisions as “the good life” – is the ultimate commander-in-chief of the life of every individual and society.

Further, our loves are shaped by the different habit-structures, or liturgies, in our lives. What are the implications of these two fundamental realities? This concise yet content-rich book will tell you.

Delving into corporate worship, church tradition, family, education, and vocation, Jamie explores the innovative and formative possibilities for true, and therefore holistic, Christian discipleship.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Purchase You Are What You Love, here.

yawyl

in Blog • Neil Long

April 9, 2017

This is a weekly blog post with one purpose: to help those coming to Park’s Sunday gathering engage with the teaching and liturgy in a more meaningful way. We use this space to share in advance our Sunday’s liturgy: the scripture we’ll be studying, the songs we’ll be singing, and the prayers we’ll be praying together. We also share a handful of thoughts each week to help you use these things to prepare for the service.

This Sunday will be Palm Sunday. As we begin Holy Week, we’re dipping into Matthew to learn from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Here are a couple ways to prepare:

1. Read through our text, Matthew 21:1–11.

Jesus is the King we all long for. A King for the People.

  1. A Humble King for needy people.
  2. A Savior King for rebellious people.
  3. A Reigning King for anxious people.
  4. A Returning King for waiting people.

This is why His Kingdom is good news.

2. Read, pray and sing through the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Based on John 12:13

King Jesus comes, King Jesus,
Son of God, Son of Man, Messiah.
Hail! King Jesus, King of all!
Recall the words of the Scriptures:
“A great crowd who had come to the feast heard
that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
So they took branches of palm trees
and went out to meet him, crying,
‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
even the King of Israel!’”
In praise we adore you, King Jesus.
Enter our hearts today
as you entered Jerusalem long ago,
and lead us by faith in the way everlasting.
Amen.

Rejoice, The Lord Is King (Joel Limpic, Charles Wesley)
O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts)

CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook

Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved You with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

Yet Even Now (Joel Limpic)
Crown Him With Many Crowns (Matthew Bridges, George Job Elvey, and Godfrey Thring)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Philippians 2:5–11

SERMON & COMMUNION

Man Of Sorrows (Matt Crocker, Brooke Ligertwood)
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) (Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche)

BENEDICTION & SENDING

in Preparing for Sunday

April 2, 2017

This is a weekly blog post with one purpose: to help those coming to Park’s Sunday gathering engage with the teaching and liturgy in a more meaningful way. We use this space to share in advance our Sunday’s liturgy: the scripture we’ll be studying, the songs we’ll be singing, and the prayers we’ll be praying together. We also share a handful of thoughts each week to help you use these things to prepare for the service.

This week at Park, we’re in week 27 of The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses. As you prepare for service this week, here are a couple of things to do:

1. Read through our text, Acts 16:11–40.

In this week’s text, we see three different people with very different stories, each engaging with the Gospel in different ways. In some ways, these three represent people we’d least expect to see believing in Jesus. However, when studied, they may help break down our assumptions about the power of the Gospel.

2. Read, pray and sing through the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 16:5–11

Grace Alone (Dustin Kensrue)
Break Every Chain (Brian Reagan)

CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook

Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved You with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

All The Poor & Powerless (All Sons & Daughters)
On Christ The Solid Rock (William Batchelder Bradbury and Edward Mote, arr. Austin Stone)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Galatians 3:23–28

SERMON & COMMUNION

Oh God (Zach Bolen)
Stronger (Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan)

BENEDICTION & SENDING

in Preparing for Sunday

March 26, 2017

This is a weekly blog post with one purpose: to help those coming to Park’s Sunday gathering engage with the teaching and liturgy in a more meaningful way. We use this space to share in advance our Sunday’s liturgy: the scripture we’ll be studying, the songs we’ll be singing, and the prayers we’ll be praying together. We also share a handful of thoughts each week to help you use these things to prepare for the service.

We’re back to The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses in week 26 this Sunday. Consider doing a couple things as you prepare for this week’s service:

1. Read through our text, Acts 15:36–16:15.

A handful of interesting things happen here in the Acts narrative. Paul and Barnabas disagree and separate over whether or not John Mark should join them, Paul seems to go against his own teachings by circumcising Timothy for the approval of the Jews, the Holy Spirit prevents Paul and Silas from preaching the Gospel in certain areas, and then Paul is given a vision directing him to go to Macedonia. It’s a lot to keep up with, what is Christ doing here in His church?

2. Read, pray and sing through the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 96:1–4

Praise To The Lord The Almighty (Joachim Neander, arr. Citizens)
Great Are You Lord (All Sons & Daughters)

CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook

Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved You with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

Your Name Is Good (Psalm 54) (Joel Limpic, Scott Mills)
The Stand (Joel Houston)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: From Romans 5:8, Colossians 1:13–14, and Romans 5:1

God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

SERMON & COMMUNION

Yet Even Now (Joel Limpic)
Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery (Matt Papa, Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker)

BENEDICTION & SENDING

in Preparing for Sunday

March 19, 2017

This is a weekly blog post with one purpose: to help those coming to Park’s Sunday gathering engage with the teaching and liturgy in a more meaningful way. We use this space to share in advance our Sunday’s liturgy: the scripture we’ll be studying, the songs we’ll be singing, and the prayers we’ll be praying together. We also share a handful of thoughts each week to help you use these things to prepare for the service.

This week at Park Church, we’ll take a one-week break from The Book of Acts as Brandon Washington joins us, teaching from 1 Corinthians 1:10–17. Consider doing a couple things as you prepare for this week’s service:

1. Read through our text, 1 Corinthians 1:10–17.

In our text this week, Paul addresses divisions in the church, admonishing believers to “be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

2. Read, pray and sing through the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Revelation 4:8–11; 5:9–10

Revelation Song (Jennie Lee Riddle)
Yes And Amen (Anthony Brown, Chris McClarney, Nate Moore)

CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook

Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved You with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

Let Justice Roll Like A River (Rebecca Elliott, Bobby Gilles)
Be Thou My Vision (Author Unknown, arr. by Ascend The Hill)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Ephesians 2:13–18

SERMON & COMMUNION

We Will Feast In The House Of Zion (Sandra McCracken)
Oh Holy Night (Placide Cappeau)

BENEDICTION & SENDING

in Preparing for Sunday

Hannah Anderson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Our guest is Hannah Anderson. She’s the author of Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God’s Image, and her most recent book, Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul.

Listen

Listen to the show Subscribe in iTunes

Show Notes

1:05 – Who Hannah Anderson is / what she does

2:45 – How to avoid skunks / what to do if you get sprayed

6:40 – What her book Made for More is all about

9:45 – What one of her (not so) secret hopes for the book is…

11:30 – What you should do about educating your kids (Public? Private? Homeschool?)

13:40 – Why there isn’t a “right choice” when it comes to educating your kids

19:15 – What people are missing in the debate about the “Benedict Option”

24:04 – Why retreating from culture cannot work with evangelical theology

27:10 – Why you can’t call for limited government when your personal life is free of boundaries

31:10 – What she thinks the future holds for the political landscape

34:05 – Her take on Russell Moore and the SBC

37:55 – Why she wrote her new book — Humble Roots

43:30 – Which character she identifies with on Parks and Rec

44:15 – The nerdiest thing she’s into right now

46:10 – The best meal she’s had recently

47:40 – If she could put a billboard anywhere in the world, she would put it __________ and it would say ______________

Links

Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God’s Image The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul

Parks and Rec

Iditarod

in James Lepine • Park Church Podcast

March 12, 2017

This is a weekly blog post with one purpose: to help those coming to Park’s Sunday gathering engage with the teaching and liturgy in a more meaningful way. We use this space to share in advance our Sunday’s liturgy: the scripture we’ll be studying, the songs we’ll be singing, and the prayers we’ll be praying together. We also share a handful of thoughts each week to help you use these things to prepare for the service.

We’re in week 25 of The Book of Acts: You Will Be My Witnesses. Here are a couple things you can do to prepare for this week’s service:

1. Read through our text, Acts 15:1–35.

In our text this week, a heated debate has arisen about the tension between man’s performance of the law and the saving grace of Jesus. After the law-fulfilling work of Jesus on their behalf, do Gentile (non-Jewish) converts to Christianity still need to be circumcised to be saved by the God of the Jews? This all points to a bigger question—besides receiving the free gift of salvation through faith, what must I practically do to be saved? Although a perennial “performance culture” would persuade us otherwise, it’s unspeakably good news that God saves us by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

2. Read, pray and sing through the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 145:1–7

Oh! Great Is Our God (The Sing Team)
Grace Alone (Dustin Kensrue)

CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook

Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved You with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways,
to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

Yet Even Now (Joel Limpic)
Rock of Ages (Augustus Toplady, Charlie Hall)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Ephesians 2:4–9

SERMON & COMMUNION

His Mercy Is More (Matt Boswell, Matt Papa)
No Longer Slaves (Jonathan & Melissa Helser)

BENEDICTION & SENDING

in Preparing for Sunday