Occoquan Bible Church | Sermons Occoquan Bible Church

In Acts 13:1–3, the church in Antioch gathered to worship the Lord. And as they worshiped, the Holy Spirit identified Barnabas and Saul for missionary service. In response, the church continued to fast and pray, and then they laid hands on the newfound missionaries and sent them out.

Ever since, faithful churches have followed a similar pattern. They have recognized men called by God preach the Word (see 1 Tim. 4:14), and they have commissioned them to serve as elders locally or missionaries globally. 

On Sunday, we have the chance to participate in this missionary drama too. For the last 13 years the Comoglio family have been faithful members of our church. During that time, Ron has served as an elder for nearly a decade. However, in the last year, the Lord has made it clear that he is calling Ron to a ministry of evangelism and encouragement to the public servants in Alabama.

After much prayer and counsel, Ron received a call to go with a ministry called Capitol Commission, and next month he is moving to Alabama to begin that work. As he goes, our church will be one of many that support him. In this way, we participate in the great work of recognizing ministers of the gospel and sending them out into the highways and hedges to share the message of Christ with those who need to hear the gospel.

In celebration and commemoration of this commissioning (which will officially take place in May), Brad Harbaugh, president of Capitol Commission, is coming to bring the Word. He will preach from Psalm 2 and its message that Christ rules over all the governors who rage against God. 

In our day, this is a needed message. And one that fits with the ministry that Ron is being sent to fulfill, and one that we need to support as well. So as we prepare for Sunday, let us pray for our gathering and for God to raise up laborers in our church and from our nation to go and speak truth to those in power. On Sunday, that is the message we will hear, and as the Lord allows, I look forward to joining you to worship our risen and reigning Lord.

We are also starting a new Sunday School series this week and invite you to read our blog on Simeon Trust's First Principles for Bible Reading.

For His Glory and your joy in Christ,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions (Psalm 2)

1. What do we know about Psalm 2—in its relationship to the Psalter? And the rest of the Bible?
2. Acts 4:25 tells us that David is the author. How does that truth inform our reading of Psalm 2?
3. What is the condition of the nations (Psalm 2:1–3)? How did they get that way?
4. What is God’s response to the rage of the nations (Psalm 2:4–6)? What is his planned response?
5. What is the promise of sonship? And when is this fulfilled? See Acts 13:33; Matthew 28:18.
6. What confidence does the Lordship of Christ give to us today? How does that impact our relation to the nations?
7. How does the authority of Christ impact the Great Commission? Do we need earthly authorization to preach Christ?
8. What is our response to the risen Christ?
9. In light of Christ’s Lordship, what is our calling?
10. Take time to pray for our nation, the nations, and the gathering of God’s holy nation (the elect from every nation).

Dear OBC Family,
There's an old adage that goes something like this: "In order to get strong, you have to pick up something heavy." Lifting weights builds muscle, and resistance shapes our bodies and makes us stronger. The weight of God's glory likewise shapes us and strengthens us in ways that we can't do ourselves.  
This Sunday, we'll take a brief detour from our series on Genesis to ponder how the glory of God affects us and shapes us. We'll look at Exodus 33:12-34:9, and see how Moses encountered God's glory (or some of it) in the wake of his people seeking glory elsewhere. God's glory is foundational for any covenant relationship with him, and it's also foundational in shaping us from the image of ourselves into the image of Christ.
This week we will be having a time of corporate confession. To help you prepare, we are sharing this Sunday's corporate confession in advance.

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,
Pastor Jared
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Discussion & Response Questions (Exodus 33:12 – 34:9)
What have been your previous perceptions about glory?
In Exodus 33, Moses asks the Lord to show him his glory? Why was this an impossible question?
The Lord answers the Moses's plea, but not in the way that Moses expected. How did Yahweh's answer (Ex. 33:19) suit Moses better than what he asked for?
What are some ways that the weight of sin and the weight of the world compete with God's glory?  
What are some things that cause us to be short sighted in recognizing God's glory?
What are some ways that we often push against the "resistance training effect" that God's glory has upon us?
What are a few tangible ways that the glory of God can shape how we live?
Because of sin, we're ultimately incapable of truly seeing God's glory on our own. How does the grace of God in the person of Christ help us in this respect?

Worship is why we are here.

When God made us, he created us in his image to worship him. Yet, fallen in Adam, we will not worship God rightly unless God makes us worship him rightly.

Indeed, this is a major point in Genesis 4. The chapter begins with worship, as Adam’s children bring sacrifices to God. And the chapter ends with worship, as Seth calls upon the name of the Lord. And in between, the story of Cain’s family line is also about worship . . . if we have eyes to see.

This Sunday, we will see how Cain’s city-building project is one that exalts the glory of man, not the glory of God. Likewise, the music that fills Genesis 4:17–24 is a testimony to the way humans will sing praise to what they love most. And unless and until God intervenes and gives them a new song, they will sing praises to themselves about themselves.

Even for the church of Jesus Christ, we need the grace of God and the truth of his Spirit to lead us to worship God rightly and righteously. And more, we need the Word of God to teach how we are to worship God. Wonderfully, we have already been taught that worship centers on Jesus Christ and is empowered by the Spirit of Truth. Because Father has given us the Son and the Spirit, we can gather in confidence that our praises will be accepted and pleasing to him. And in that confidence, we will gather for worship on Sunday. 

To prepare for Sunday, please read Genesis 4, Psalm 33, and John 4. These passages come together to teach how to worship God truly. And on Sunday, as the Lord allows, I will look forward to gathering with you to do just that. 

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 4:17 – 26)
What have we seen so far in Genesis 4? How does the place of the story inform the context? What about the people (i.e., the two seeds)?
Where does Genesis 4:17–24 take place? How does that inform our understanding of the passage?
What does the building of a city indicate? In Scripture, who is renowned for building cities (see Gen. 10:11; 11:4–8; Exod. 1:11; Num. 13:22)? Who is renowned for building altars (Gen. 8:20; Gen. 12:7–8; 22:9; 26:5; 35:7; Exod. 17:5; 24:4)?
If city-building is an evidence of unbelief, what do we discover about the other products invented / created in Genesis 4?
What does the building of a city suggest about the people in Cain’s family? What do their names indicate?
What is the story of Lamech? In what ways does this serve as a warning to us?
Compare the teaching of Jesus in relationship to Lamech (Matt 18:21-22). What do you notice?
What is the Christian ethic when it comes to revenge and justice? Consider Romans 12:17-13:4.
The passage finishes with a return to Adam, Eve, and Seth. What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord? And how does the wickedness of Lamech relate?
What do we learn about worship in Genesis 4? And how should we prioritize our lives accordingly?
What are you building? And where are you putting your trust? 

He is risen!

Well actually, depending on when you read this, as you remember Christ’s holy week, it is probable that you will read this before his resurrection on the first day of the week. 

Today, as we celebrate Good Friday, we remember the seven sayings of Jesus from the cross. And tonight, we will come to the final statement, where Jesus entrusts himself to his father and he prepares to give up his life. Accordingly, if you read this email today, it might serve you best to ponder what it means that Christ died for our sins and what his seven statements mean to us today. To help with that you might find this short article helpful.

Tomorrow, on Saturday, if you read this email, it will correspond to Holy Saturday—the day when Jesus' body remained dead and buried. Or, as the Apostle’s Creed declares, he descended to the dead (to sheol). In our English language, we often confuse hades (the realm of the dead) with hell (gehenna). But in fact, hades is not the same thing as hell, and Jesus and the apostles knew this. In fact, tonight and on Sunday, we will take some time to think about it too. 

It matters where Jesus was when he died. And it matters than the eternal Son of God in his divine nature was not dead, even when he offered his body as a sacrifice for sins. It matters that Christ went and proclaimed victory over the spirits. And it matters that he led a procession of saints from Sheol to Glory in his resurrection. In fact, that is one of the important lessons that comes from Matthew 27:51–54, the passage we will consider Sunday.

On Sunday, we will proclaim that "Jesus Christ is risen indeed!” And we will consider the earth-shaking events of his death and resurrection. To prepare, take time to read Ezekiel 37. It will help give some background to the remarkable fact that dead men rose from their graves to walk around Jerusalem when Jesus Christ rose again. Sunday, we will consider this passage and what it means for Christ and for us.

Until then, plan to join us tonight at 7:00pm, as we gather to celebrate Good Friday. Then, pray for Sunday. Invite friends. And plan to come early to find a seat and welcome visitors. We will only have one service on Sunday at 10:00am. This service will be inside, with overflow seats available as needed. Sunday School will resume next week.

For now, let us pray for Christ to be magnified as we gather tonight and Sunday. For the truth remains the same, that Jesus Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed!

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions (Matthew 27:51-54)
At easter this year, what is most hope-giving about the resurrection of Christ? 
In Matthew’s Gospel, what are the points that he stresses at Christ’s resurrection?
What are some of the ‘earth-shaking’ signs that accompany the death of Christ? What does this indicate?
How does the Old Testament help us understand this passage? Especially Ezekiel 37?
When did the saints rise from the dead? When they enter the city? Why do both of these incidents matter?
What did Christ do when he died and before he was raised from the dead? How did the world change as a result of Christ’s death and resurrection?
What became of these resurrected bodies? What hope does this give to us? What does it say of Christ’s resurrection?
What comfort, encourage, strength does this give you today? Why does death sting “less” today then before Christ’s death and resurrection?
What hope does the promise of Christ’s resurrection give you going forward?

Dear OBC Family,
 Last Sunday we saw in Genesis 4:1-7 how God offered grace to Cain when his sacrifice was not accepted. In that sermon, we learned a great deal about the way God expects us to worship him.

This Sunday, we pick up in Genesis 4:8-16 where we will see how Cain’s refusal to worship God in truth and to receive his offer of grace results in a deadly to decision to sacrifice his brother in place of God’s provision of a sin offering.

Again, this passage written down long ago has much to teach us today. We are still a people who worship and what we worship will determine how we live. If we worship God rightly, it leads to living honorably before him, but when we live dishonorably it is because there is something amiss with our worship of God.

On Sunday, we will explore the connection between right worship and right living. And to prepare, let me encourage you to read again Genesis 4. But also take time to look at Psalm 115 and 1 John 3-4. These will help you to see some of the connections between Genesis 4 and ourselves today.

As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Let us continue to pray that God would lift our eyes to him, so that we would walk in truth and love, not lies and hate.

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 4:8 – 16)
Contrast how Cain responds to God’s questions versus how his parents responded to God’s questions in Genesis 3. What differences do you notice?
Notice how Abel’s blood cries out from the ground. Why is the connection of bloodshed and the land significant?
How does Cain’s curse (4:11-12) build upon the curse of Genesis 3?
Consider the justice and mercy of God in Genesis 4.
How does the New Testament speak about Cain? (Heb 11:4; 1 John 3:11-15; Jude 11)
What is the purpose of the mark of Cain? Is it a curse? A mercy? Historically, how has this idea been abused?
As we consider the unbearable nature of sin and its consequences, what does this teach us?
Abel was a righteous shepherd who was slain for his obedience to God. How does this connect to Zechariah and lead us to Christ? (Matt 23:35, Heb 11:4, 12:24)?
Do you see yourself as your brother’s keeper? Why or why not? What should brotherly love look like?
How ought we to respond to this text?

Dear OBC Family,
 
For the last six months we have spent our time learning about God’s creation and covenant in Genesis 1–3. This Sunday, we enter a new sermon series on God's salvation and judgment which is seen in the earliest generations of humanity. 

From Genesis 4–11, we find that that the mercy and justice of God, first seen in Genesis 3:14–19, is going to continue as it responds to Abel and Cain, Noah and the Nephilim, and Shem and the citizens of Shinar. To begin in Genesis 4:1–7, we will look at the contrasting sacrifices offered by Adam’s first two sons. In one son, faith led to an acceptable sacrifice, while in the other self-reliance invited God’s judgment. From this, we will learn much about God’s grace, God’s law, and God’s gospel.

To prepare for Sunday, therefore, read Genesis 4, Hebrews 11:1-6, and Hebrews 12:18-29. Both passages in the New Testament give us important truths about Cain and Abel, and make connections on how this story from long ago has ongoing relevance for us today.

Let’s pray that as we gather on Sunday, God will give us ears to hear his voice and turn from self-reliance to a faith that receives his salvation. As the Lord allows, I will look forward to seeing you Sunday.

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 4:1 – 7)
What does Genesis 4 reveal to us about Adam? Eve? Cain and Abel? God?
What do we learn about humanity? What is the division?
What are the signs of difference between Cain and Abel? What does this have to do with their sacrifice?
What are the details of the sacrifice? Where was it offered? When? Why? How would they know what to do?
How do the specific details of the sacrificial system (see Leviticus) inform the way we think about Genesis 4?
Where do we see the grace of God? The law of God? The gospel of God?
Why is it best to see Genesis 4:7 as an invitation and provision of a sin offering?
What does this passage teach us about worshiping God? And living in fellowship with others?