First Scots Presbyterian (PCA)

This Lord's Day we will take a brief break from John's Gospel and turn to 1 Peter 5:1–5, where Peter gives one of Scripture's clearest pictures of shepherding in the church. We will consider what it means that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and that He lovingly provides undershepherds to know, feed, lead, and protect His people—leaders like Himself. Sheep need shepherds, and Christ has given shepherding as a gift to His church. Please come prayerfully, asking the Lord to teach us how to live together as His flock under His loving care.

On the ancient island of Crete, Christianity was beginning to bud by God's unstoppable grace. But it was certainly far from flourishing (yet). The culture all around opposed almost everything Christian's hold dear. What is more, even those who had been converted to Christ by the Holy Spirit were, for the most part, very young in their faith. They were only just beginning to take baby steps in learning to follow Christ. In the midst of all this was a young pastor named Titus who needed a lot of help. We can almost imagine Titus humbly crying out to the Lord in prayer, "Father in heaven, help me to know your will for your people! Help me to know how to rightly shepherd the flock of your love with wisdom, grace, and truth!" In response to the needs of this young pastor and the congregations he served, God gave us a little book of the New Testament that we call, "Paul's Letter To Titus", or just "Titus" for short. This Lord's Day we will begin a journey into this wonderful letter by considering Paul's introduction in Titus 1:1-4.

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the Christian life is the relationship between God's Law and the Gospel. In John 14:18–24, on the night before the cross, Jesus explains that the two are not at odds with one another, but that they walk side by side to help us live in the warm sunshine of the Father's smile.

On the night before the cross, as betrayal and suffering loomed, Jesus turned not inward but outward. He spoke tender words to fearful disciples and made them a promise: "I will not leave you as orphans." This Sunday in John 14:15–24, we will behold the extraordinary heart of Christ, the adopting love of the Father, and the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of adoption who teaches us to cry, "Abba, Father." Come and hear the gospel promise that you are not alone, not abandoned, but deeply loved and securely held as a beloved child of God.

In this passage we explore Jesus' powerful words: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." In just eight words, Jesus reveals a divide in the human heart—those who love Him and desire to obey, and those who may obey without love. We'll look at what it truly means to love Jesus—not just serve Him out of duty—but to delight in Him, and how that love leads to joyful obedience. Whether you need comfort for a tender conscience or a challenge to your spiritual complacency, Jesus' words will speak directly to your heart.

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards can be found at https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards.

It is often tempting to believe that if only we could see God—hear His voice, witness a miracle, or have a great experience of His presence—our faith would be stronger. But in John 14:7–11, Jesus tells Philip something astonishing: "Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father." In Christ, the invisible God has made Himself visible, not through spectacle, but through a Person. The glory Moses longed to see now shines fully in the face of Jesus. This passage reminds us that real faith isn't built on dramatic experiences, but on knowing and trusting the One who perfectly reveals the Father's heart—our Lord Jesus Christ.