Page 27 - English Grammar and Composition-Student Textbook short

Practice 7A: Description

Read the following sermon by John Piper. Pay special attention to the sections of bold print.
Afterwards, record your reactions.

Do You See the Joy of God in the Sun?

• Message by
John Piper

• Scripture: Psalm 19:1–6 Topic: Creation
•
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and there is nothing hid from its heat.

God made the skies
With voices clear,
And gave you eyes
So you can hear.

My goal this morning and this evening is to connect you with the ministry of God through the sky and through the
Scripture. Perhaps you can remember the content of Psalm 19 that way: verses 1–6 describe the ministry of God
through the sky; and verses 7–11 describe the ministry of God through the Scriptures.

An Often Neglected Ministry of God to Us
As I've tried to sense God's leading for this morning's and this evening's messages, I believe what he wants me to do
is put you in touch with one of his ministries to you that is often neglected, especially by urban, fast-paced,
productive, efficient, rational, scientific people like you and me. And yet this neglected ministry of the Lord is one
that God means for you to be helped by every day. There is not a day that goes by, nor is there a place in the world,
where God does not extend this ministry for the healing and hope and happiness and humility of those who will
receive it. I'm speaking of the ministry of the Lord through what he has created, through the world of nature,
especially what we see when we look up into the skies during the day and during the night.
So let's go to Psalm 19:1-6 and let God tell us the content of his ministry to us through the skies—what he is saying
and showing to us. And then tonight we will ask: How does God, through the skies, minister healing, and hope, and
happiness, and humility in our lives? And if there is time tonight, we will go on to look at God's ministry to us in the

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