Prague Journal—09.07.05

Lord’s day. We met for worship in Modřany with ten people in attendance. It was a special blessing to have Katka (Havalind’s friend from school) who visited last week, return with her father Pavel. Some of the other “regulars” were missing because they were away for the long holiday weekend.

We don't need not stinking "curb appeal."

It was good to sing the praises of God under Sid Anderson’s leadership on the guitar. (As part of our singing, he introduced a song that he had written, a kind of “dismissal blessing” that the people of God can sing to one another as they leave worship. He asked the Czechs to give him some feedback on the words.)

Ondrej visits with Sid Anderson following the service.

I preached the third message in the series about responding to fear and anxiety with faith — by making God’s kingdom and righteousness our life-priority (Matt. 6:33), by keeping our eyes and hearts focused on the worship and service of God alone (Matt. 6:24, and (today) by continually “asking, seeking, and knocking” in prayer (Matt. 7:7ff). The messages seem to have been a blessing to the brothers and sisters there.

Fellowship and refreshments between worship and Sunday school.

(Ondrej, Sid, Pavel, and Katka)

In Sunday school I continued my basic introduction to the biblical teaching about “the covenant.” Today we looked at Genesis 3 and the breaking of the original “covenant of life,” through the temptation of Satan, and the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, together with God’s curse upon humankind and the whole creation. I made the point, among others, that until we come to understand the reality and nature of sin and divine judgment, the “gospel” will never be really “good news” or attract the hearts of men. As Jesus said, “it is the sick who need a physician.” We are all “sick,” but part of the sickness of sin is self-deception — we don’t know how sick we really are.

Next week, God willing we will talk in broad terms about the redemptive restoration of covenant fellowship through Christ (as he is prefigured in the Law and Prophets, and finally revealed in the “new covenant”). I think all this is pretty new to the folks, but I hope it will at least provide an introduction for further study of this important foundational biblical idea in the future.

Vlasta and Vlasta minister to the needs of the saints — kava or čaj?

After worship Sid and I had lunch together back in Zbraslav. It was our first meeting, and it was a great pleasure to get acquainted a little with this gracious brother who has done so much to help the Farniks with their ministry here. He spoke of the profound longing he has to see the work in Modřany flourish and grow. Accordingly, he will be filling the pulpit in August. Pray for him.