Sunday, July 26, 2020. J. I. Packer (1926–2020), Theologian Died Friday, July 17, at age 93. Pastor Philip Miller

“God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. To live with your ‘thorn’ uncomplainingly—that is, sweet, patient, and free in heart to love and help others, even though every day you feel weak—is true sanctification. It is true healing for the spirit. It is a supreme victory of grace. (God’s Plans for You)

We thank God for J. I. Packer. Well done, good and faithful servant.

You are loved, more than you know!

Pastor Philip

“Your faith will not fail while God sustains it; you are not strong enough to fall away while God is resolved to hold you. (Knowing God)

“Adoption is the highest privilege of the gospel. The traitor is forgiven, brought in for supper, and given the family name. To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater. (Knowing God)

The losses keep amassing in this difficult year. This past week we said a temporary goodbye to J. I. Packer (1926–2020), the brilliant theologian and author so many of us have cherished over the years. I wanted to share a few of my favorite Packer quotations in his honor.

Greetings from our family to yours as we join The Moody Church online this morning! Vacation is different this year, but we’re enjoying a bit of respite as a family. Pastor Bill Bertsche is preaching this morning, and I know we’ll be blessed by his ministry to us.

Knowing God and God’s Plans for You by J. I. Packer (1926–2020)

WELCOME

PASTOR TO PEOPLE

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Inspirational: Video: Knowing God and God’s Plans for You

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Invocation

Psalm 71 ESV

Forsake Me Not When My Strength Is Spent

Audio

71 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame!

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;

incline your ear to me, and save me!

Be to me a rock of refuge,

to which I may continually come;

you have given the command to save me,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.

For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;

you are he who took me from my mother's womb.

My praise is continually of you.

I have been as a portent to many,

but you are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with your praise,

and with your glory all the day.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;

forsake me not when my strength is spent.

For my enemies speak concerning me;

those who watch for my life consult together

and say, “God has forsaken him;

pursue and seize him,

for there is none to deliver him.”

O God, be not far from me;

O my God, make haste to help me!

May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;

with scorn and disgrace may they be covered

who seek my hurt.

But I will hope continually

and will praise you yet more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,

of your deeds of salvation all the day,

for their number is past my knowledge.

With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;

I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

O God, from my youth you have taught me,

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

So even to old age and gray hairs,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

your power to all those to come.

Your righteousness, O God,

reaches the high heavens.

You who have done great things,

O God, who is like you?

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities

will revive me again;

from the depths of the earth

you will bring me up again.

You will increase my greatness

and comfort me again.

I will also praise you with the harp

for your faithfulness, O my God;

I will sing praises to you with the lyre,

O Holy One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy,

when I sing praises to you;

my soul also, which you have redeemed.

And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,

for they have been put to shame and disappointed

who sought to do me hurt.