Preparing for the Lord's Day
Jesus is Better
In his monumental work, The City of God, the church father Augustine (354-430 AD) distinguishes between two cities: one founded by men and the other by God. He articulates this profound dichotomy as follows:
"Two loves have made two cities: love of self, leading to the contempt of God, has made the earthly city, while the love of God, leading to the contempt of self, has crafted the heavenly city." - City of God, Book 14, Chapter 28.
This delineation by Augustine reveals that the love of God charts the course toward the eternal city, whereas the love of self directs us to the earthly city. Before us lie two paths: following our desires or emulating Christ's model of self-denial.
Our scripture passage for this coming Sunday teaches us that to reach the eternal city, we must be willing to follow Christ outside the gates of the earthly realm. We cannot remain within the confines of one while claiming citizenship in the other. We will discover that if our hearts yearn for the eternal city, we must understand that here we have no lasting home, but we seek a city that is yet to come.
To prepare for Sunday's sermon, I encourage you to spend time this week reading and meditating upon Hebrews 13:9-14, Galatians 6:14, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Peter 2:11-12, and Revelation 21:2-4, and this article on the City of God.
As we gather to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” the Acclamation of Praise “My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness,” and the Hymn of Response “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information
Text: Hebrews 13:9-14
Title: The Eternal City
Outline:
- Exiling the Earthly City (vv. 9-11)
- Sojourning Between Cities (vv. 12-13)
- Pilgrimage to the Eternal City (v. 14)