What is SIN?

Since last week for a month or so, our church has started a new series on: The Unusual Suspects - looking at characters of the bible that we would never have paid much attention to, and learning from them and their godly qualities. Last week, we looked at PRISQUILLA [the powercouple name for Priscilla and Aquila] who invested time in the life of others (eg, supporting Paul's ministry, inviting Apollos to their home to explain the gospel to him). Today, it was Obed-Edom (2 Samuel), who led a life pleasing to God. But what I got more out of the message, was the opportunity to compare ourselves with people in the old testament, and reflect on who God is in our lives. Have I been offering God the respect HE commands?

Our pastor shared this excerpt towards the end of sermon today

When John Piper asks the question: what is sin? he is simply seeking to re-direct our attention to what sin really is. You see sin is more than the bad things we do, sin is also the good and precious things we don’t do. What is sin?

The glory of God not honoured; the Holiness of God not reverenced; the greatness of God not admired; the power of God not praised; the truth of God not sought; the wisdom of God not esteemed; the beauty of God not treasured; the goodness of God not savoured; the faithfulness of God not trusted; the commandments of God not obeyed; the justice of God not respected; the wrath of God not feared; the grace of God not cherished; the presence of God not prized; the person of God not loved … that is sin.

 

how humbling it was to be reminded of how far i am from perfection, to realise how I've been sinning even without realising it.

Rend Your Heart (Joel 2)

¹² “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

¹³ Rend your heart
    and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
    and he relents from sending calamity.
¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent
    and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
    for the Lord your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion,
    declare a holy fast,
    call a sacred assembly.
¹⁶ Gather the people,
    consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
    weep between the portico and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
    a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

*dictionary.com: 

definition of REND

to harrow or distress (the heart) with painful feelings.

to work with older adults...

... you think like an older adult.
... you dance like an older adult

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfgKMfexdPQ
http://youtu.be/6KYX-RdLnAY

YOU BE AN OLDER ADULT!!!