Martyr Stories
One of the things I like to do a couple of times a year is read martyr stories. I generally use Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (<– Free UnabridgedChristian Classic Ethereal Library bookmark it) for these periods, though not exclusively. I read a story every day or two, as part of my daily devotion. The two times of year I slide into this personal practice are right before we Celebrate the Resurrection and right before we Celebrate the Reformation. It seems natural while meditating on the life and sufferings of Christ and remembering the Church’s Reformation that those who were exemplary followers of Christ might also find their way into our thoughts too. It is important for us to remember that sometimes death o self is not a metaphor.
Neglected Church History
Church history has been neglected in the Israel of God and with it the martyr stories told in ages past and preserved for us the martyrologies of the early Church. The homeschool community is near rabid about making sure the United States founders are remembered. Why? Because to keep the fifth commandment to honor our fathers and mothers requires first and foremost that we know who they are.
The U.S. founders are secondary to Christians because our citizenship is in Heaven. We are part of another Commonwealth (Ephesians 2:11-22). How foolish would we think a kingdom was that neglected to tell their children about their founding and the generations that followed? What do we think would happen to their civilizational inheritance if they didn’t? Yet, the average protestant cannot name the Twelve Apostles, or any pre-Nicene Church Father, pray the Lord’s Prayer, or tell a single martyr story from the first eight persecutions. Some of us have lexicons of trivia built up from our time in the world’s kingdoms, but scarce any from Heaven’s.
Hymn For The Martyrs
Rather than tell martyr stories I thought I would encourage you to go and learn them and tell them to your children. Instead, I’ll drop a hymn for your enjoyment. It is one that we sing in our public worship from time to time. The children sang it it at the Wherry Hymn Recital last year. It is sung by the same group of Christians that recorded the setting of Trisagion I shared in last week’s Ascending Mt Zion. I hope you all enjoy the “Hymn For The Martyrs” by Liturgical Folk. Some good companion readings for before you listen are: Revelation 6:9-11 and Revelation 12:7-12
Enjoy!
Thanks For Stopping By
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Sermon
This week Pastor Jeremy will be in Acts 22:1-22 “Paul’s Speech At His Arrest”
March Memory & Meditation
Memory & Meditation Verses for this week are Psalm 22:9-10.
Read our latest Blog Series, Forsaken For Us All Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 based on Psalm 22:1-15 our Memory & Meditation Verses until we Celebrate the Resurrection.
You can also read our previous blog Series, Christ, His Church, & Marriage Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 based on Ephesians 5:22-33.
March Catechism Questions
Westminster Shorter Catechism: Questions 11-15
Reminder that Questions 1-6 which were our WSC Catechism Questions for last month can be presented before any member of the Consistory during lunch beginning this week.
Lord’s Day Meal
Yes!
Psalms & Hymns of Worship
Psalm 58:1-7 Tune: Bangor & Hymn – Stricken, Smitten, & Afflicted
Psalm 57:1-3 Tune: When I Survey & Hymn – Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Yes Midweek Worship
Pizza arrives at the Gingerich home beginning @ 6:15 pm. First we will begin the Opus Dei promptly @ 7 pm, then we will have our Catechism Lesson & Prayer. We will webcast to the Zoom Prayer Room. The Catechism Lesson will come from Question 7-8 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Join Us for Worship
Finally, come and worship with us on the Lord’s Day. We also meet on three Wednesday evenings a month for Catechism Lesson & Prayer. Another Visit our Homepage or What We Believe for more information. Find us on Google Maps or watch our sermons on Youtube.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Pastor Jeremy
“The Creation is quite like a spacious and splendid house, provided and filled with the most exquisite, and at the same time, the most abundant furnishings. Everything in it tells of God.” – John Calvin
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