Sunday Recap 3-24-13

Morning: The sermon, "Authentic Worship," focused on Luke 19:37-40. Luke reminds his reader that the right response to Jesus is worship.

1. Those who know Jesus, worship. The disciples were joyful. They praised God. They did so loudly. Their praises were rooted in the work of God.

2. Worship is possible because Jesus came. Jesus was favored by God and did the Father's will. His coming to die and be raised to life brought peace between God and man. His coming caused him to be exalted to the highest place.

3. Genuine worship will always face opposition. The Pharisees opposed Jesus' disciples because they did not want Jesus as their Messiah.

4. If humanity fails to see and proclaim Christ's glory--the rest of creation will not.

Evening: Movie night.

Sunday Recap 3-17-13

Morning: The sermon, "Are You Washed?," focused on Hebrews 9:11-15. The author of Hebrews reminds us that Christ brings eternal redemption by his blood-once for all. The author of Hebrews wants his readers to realize Jesus represents a greater sacrifice and a great promise.

1. Jesus offered a greater sacrifice. His sacrifice was great because it was offered in a greater place. The earthly temple/tabernacle was patterned after the heavenly reality. Jesus entered the heavenly reality. Jesus' sacrifice has a better affect. The offering in the temple made a person externally clean. The offering could change their hearts. Jesus' sacrifice cleans the conscience.

What does it mean that it cleanses the conscience? It corrects it, so that it can see right and wrong. It transforms it, so it will desire right. It enables the conscience to desire God. Jesus' sacrifice frees the conscience to serve God.

2. Jesus represents a greater promise. The Old Covenant states, "Do these things and you will live." The New Covenant in Christ's blood states, "I died that you may live." The promise in an eternal inheritance. Believers have been ransomed. They are freed from sin.

Evening: The message, "The God Who Pursues," focused on Romans 8:29-30. Paul reminds us that it is God who pursues us.

God set his sights on you. He foreknows us--that is, he loved us before he formed us.

He has a plan for us. He wants us to be shaped in the image of Christ.

He pursues us to the end. He promises us that God will bring his work to completion in our lives.

Sunday Recap 3-10-13

Morning: The sermon, "Abide," focused on John 15:5-8. In this passage, Jesus reminds us that true believers abide in him. He states,


1. Those who abide in him bear fruit. Those who don't abide can do nothing. The concept of abiding or remaining means that one is walking in continual faith. Faith isn't a once for all event, but a commitment to continual trust. Through faith believers become fruit bearers. They do not produce fruit, but rather Christ causes fruit to form in their lives. It may be best to understand this fruit in light of the fruit of the Spirit. With Christ we become fruitful, but without him we are unable to please God.

2. Those who don't remain in Christ are in danger. Without Christ, there is no life. The unbeliever moves from being broken to withering to being burned. Brokenness relates to our lack of spiritual life. Withering relates to our increasing sinfulness apart from Christ. The burning relates to eternal judgment in hell.

3. Those who remain our rewarded. They can have confidence in their prayers. As they seek to know and honor Jesus, the Father answers their prayers. They bring glory to the Father as they serve the Son. The fruit in their lives marks them as Christ's.

We are called to abide in Christ. He promised to abide with us. In doing so, we avoid spiritual danger and inherit wonderful promises.

Evening: The lesson, "God as Work," focused on John 5:1-17. In this passage, we are reminded that God is always at work around us.  This story reminds us to be ready, to acknowledge our need, and to obey when the Lord speaks to us.

Sunday Recap 3-3-13

Morning: The sermon, "Unless He Goes Us," focused on Exodus 33:15-20. In this passage, we are reminded that life without God is pointless. Moses is seeking God's continual presence and he gives an example of how to live in God presence.

1. Cling to God. We must seek God. We do not seek him because he is lost, we seek him because we have lost our way to him. We must wait upon the Lord. We need to think before we leap. We must also remind ourselves (daily) that we don't deserve to live in God's presence. Living in his presence is a gift. If we are to follow him, we need him to teach us his ways. As seek to walk in faith, we must be careful not to presume on God's grace.

2. Rest in his grace. God answers the prayers of his people. Not every answer is a yes, but God hears his people when they pray and delights in answering. God is pleased with his people when they live by faith. How did Moses please God? He loved God and he loved other people. God also know your name. He knows who you are, and he wants you to know him.

3. Pursue God's Glory. Moses wanted to see God glorified. He wanted to know God in fullness of his perfection. We need to pursue God's glory.

Life is meaningless apart from God. We are called to live, but it is pointless unless he goes with us.

Evening: Business Meeting

Sermon Recap 2-24-13

Morning: The sermon, "The Most Important Question You'll Ever Answer," focused on Matthew 16:13-20. In this passage, Jesus asked the most important question that a person can face. It is a question we must all answer. Our answer determines our destiny.

Some fail to understand who Jesus is. Jesus wanted to understand how the crowd perceived him. The disciples rattled of names: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet. The names could reflect a popular opinion of Jesus: a man recognized as one who can work and speak on behalf of God. Or it may reflect negative opinions of Jesus. John and Elijah were scene, from a political stand point, as trouble makers. They were wilderness wild men. Jeremiah was called the crying prophet and was not well liked in this day.

Today we are tempted to use words like teacher or leader or example, but we share the same inclination to keep Jesus at arms link or to dismiss him. C. S. Lewis warned,

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing people often say about him, "I am ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I do not accept his claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on a level with a man who says he's a poached egg--or else the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to (Mere Christianity, 55-56).

We must recognize who Jesus is. How should we answer the question? We must acknowledge Jesus is the Christ. Christ or Messiah means anointed. Jesus was anointed by God as prophet, priest, and king. As prophet, he teaches us the word and ways of God calling us to walk in obedience. As priest, he is both the one who offer the sacrifice and the sacrifice that satisfies God's wrath. As King, he is our true leader.


We must acknowledge that he is the Son of God. In Jesus' day the crowd's understood the claim to be God's Son meant that he was equal with God. A true faith confession rests in knowing that Jesus is God. He is fully human and fully divine.

Truths we need to remember about this confession:

It is mark of God's favor. Jesus pronounced Peter as blessed, because he had been permitted to recognize Jesus. It was all of grace. In this world, we either live under God's blessing or his curse.

It is the truth upon which the Church is built. The foundation of the Church isn't a man, but the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. As people confess their sins and turn to Christ in faith, they are united together in the Church. We lay no other foundation except Jesus Christ.

It is the message that will free the world. Wherever we preach the gospel, people will be freed. Wherever we horde the gospel, people will continue to be enslaved to sin and death.


Evening: Movie Night begins at 5:00 pm.

Sunday Recap 2-10-13

Morning: The sermon, "Through Jesus' Eyes," focused on Mark 6:30-44. In this passage, Mark helps us to see the world through Jesus' eyes.

1. Jesus had compassion on the shepherdless. Jesus recognized that the people were only wool and meat to their political and spiritual leaders. They needed to know about him and his kingdom, so he taught them. Then he fed them.

2. Jesus had faith that God could take a little and make it much. The disciples doubted that five loaves and two fish could be useful, but Jesus knew that God could take nothing and make it something. He knew that the gift would be more than sufficient.

3. Jesus had gratitude for and generosity with the things God provided. Jesus thanked the Father for what was provided and began sharing it with others. We, who have been blessed, need to do the same.

Evening: We looked at sharing the gospel with children.

Sunday Recap 2-3-13

Morning: The sermon, "Becoming a Worshiper," focused on John 9:35-41. In this passage, John demonstrates the right response to Jesus-faith and worship. We are meant to see worship as an integral part of our identity.

In the life of this healed blind man, we see two analogies: moving from death to life and blindness to sight. Through his excommunication from the synagogue, the man became dead (figuratively speaking). Jesus brought him life by bringing him into a new community. His blindness and sight are developed as metaphors later.

As we witness the man responding to faith, we find him believing and worshiping. If Jesus were merely a man or a good teacher, allowing this man to worship him would have been blasphemous. But as the eternal Son of God, come in the flesh, it was right.

The end of this story points to both edges of the gospel. For some, the gospel brings life and forgiveness. For others, their continual rejection of the Spirit's witness leaves them hardened in their sin.

Worship is more than what we do, it is part of who we are. It colors the rest of what we do. I hope you become a worshiper of Jesus in your thinking.

Evening: Business meeting.

Sermon Recap 1-27-13

Morning: The sermon, "Wrestling with Weakness," focused on Colossians 4:12-13. Through the life of Epaphras, Paul reminds us to be weak enough to pray hard. Those who realize the their weakness then to have a fuller prayer lives. His work is characterized as continual, dedicated, and personal. He prayed that people would experience a full faith. And Paul said he worked hard at it.

Evening: Movie Night.

Sermon Recap 1-20-13

Morning: The sermon, "Every Life Matters," focused on Colossians 4:7-18. In this passage, Paul reminds us through his farewell that every life matters. As Paul says good-bye to the church in Colosse, he introduced them to some of his friends. They were friends who had encouraged him and who made a difference.

Evening: The lesson, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made," focused on Psalm 139:13-16.

Sermon Recap 1-13-13

Morning: The sermon, "Gospel Shaped Relationships," focused on Colossians 3:18-4:1. In this passage, Paul reminds us that the gospel should shape all of our relationships.  The temptation some face in relationships is to please the other person within that relationship. Other want to please themselves in relationship. In all of our relationships, we need to remember that we should live to please the Lord. Here is how the gospel should shape our relationships:

1. Wives should submit to their husbands. Paul's command suggests humility and equality. The husband is not to subject his wife, she is to come under his leadership. The wives submission acknowledges the created order. It also fits the larger model. Jesus, the Son is equal to the Father, but submits to him. The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, but submits to them. Believers are to submit to their leaders and each other. Paul also notes that this submission is not blind obedience. Wives are only to submit as fitting to the the Lord. In other words, they don't have to violate their consciences when husband led them astray.

2. The husband is to love his wife and not be harsh. He is to give himself to the nurture and care of his spouse. His needs are to give way to hers. He is to guide with gentleness and care.

3. Children are to obey their parents. Rebellion toward parents is rebellion towards God. Children honor God when they obey their parents.

4. Parents shouldn't embitter their children. There are numerous things one could do to embitter their child: unrealistic expectations, too much praise, not enough praise, violence, verbal abuse, etc.

5. Employees need to work hard. We don't have an exact correlations to slavery today. However, an rough analogy can be drawn between slave/employee and master/employer. The employee is to work with sincerity. They should work at the same level of excellence whether or not their boss is present. The should work with passion. As they work with all their might, they reflect the glory of God and make that glory known to those around them. They must also work in faith knowing that their work will receive a reward greater than a paycheck.

6. The employer is also reminded to do right by his workers. God shows no favoritism. He expects workers to work, and their employers to provide for them fairly.

Apart from the gospel, these types of relationships are not possible. It is only by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit that we are able to live out these God-given roles.

Evening: We reviewed our church covenant tonight.

Sunday Recap 1-6-13

Morning: The sermon, "New Year, Same Focus," examined Colossians 4:2-6. In this passage, Paul urges us to make the most of every opportunity. We do that in two ways.

1. We devote ourselves to prayer. We do this by staying alert. We must be alert to the weaknesses of our flesh, the pull of the world, the schemes of the devil, and the coming of our Lord. We are kept from getting weary by the continual reminder that we are to be ready when Jesus returns.

We must also stay grateful. The core of our prayer life should by gratitude. God is great and infinitely worthy of worship, praise, and thanksgiving.

We must also pray for those in the service of the Lord. We should ask God to give them opportunity to share his message, to share it faithfully, and to share it with clarity.

2. We must watch how we live.  Paul urges us to live wisely. Our actions must match what we proclaim.

We must make our conversations full of grace. Part of this is taking time to listen.  And we should also season our speech with salt. There should be a winsomeness to our sharing.

As we work in the new year, we must remember to keep our focus the same: Jesus Christ and his glory.

Evening: Business Meeting

Sunday Recap 12-30-12

Morning: The sermon, "Seeing with Fresh Eyes," focused on 1 Kings 19:1-18. In this passage, we learn we need to keep our eyes on the Lord. Through the mistakes of Elijah, we learn a better way to navigate life challenges.

1. Don't forget who fights and wins the battles (the Lord). Look back at past victories and see where God has been at work.

2. Don't isolate yourself. Elijah cut himself off from the Lord, then he cut off everybody else.

3. Take care of yourself. Elijah became so discouraged that he stopped caring if he lived or died. We need to eat right, exercise, and rest. We need to seek spiritual, emotional, and physical emotions.

4. Expect, but don't limit. We need to realize that God often answers prayers in ways we can't fully anticipate. Elijah was expecting God to do something amazing, but he wasn't ready for a still small voice.

5. Listen and obey. Elijah doesn't seem to obey all of the orders of the Lord. We need to hear him speak, and do what he asked.

If we will keep our eyes on the Lord, he will guide our steps. We have no reason to fear when we are trusting the Lord.

Evening: No services.

Sunday Recap 12-16-12

Morning: The sermon, "The Loss of the Innocents," focused on Matthew 2:16-18. In this passage, Matthew reminds us of a savage moment in history. This story offers us some truths to deal the savage moments in our life.

1. Evil is real. Paul tells us that the God of this age has blinded unbelievers (2 Cor. 4:4), He informs us that the spirit of disobedience is at work in unbelievers (Eph. 2:2). John tells us that those who do the things the devil does belong to the devil (1 Jn. 3:8). Evil is a real force within our world, and evil exists in the human heart. We need to be transformed by the gospel of Jesus.

2. God is in control. The events in Bethlehem were foretold by him long before they happened. He was aware that they would happen. Tragedy tempts us to question the power, the goodness, or the existence of God. However, unless there was a moral center, a true source of absolute goodness, how could we speak of things or events as good or evil?

3. God has already acted. God provided the solution for the sin problem in the world. He has sent his Son, Jesus Christ. Those who turn from sin to the living God, trusting in Jesus' work on the cross as the source of their righteousness will be saved.

When the innocents perish we need to remind ourselves of these truths, and share the love of Jesus with those who will listen.

Evening: We went Christmas caroling. It was pretty fun.

Sunday Recap 12-9-12

Morning: The sermon, "Come, Let Us Adore Him," focused on Matthew 2:9-11. In this passage, Matthew tells us of the arrival of the Wise Men to Bethlehem. Their example teaches us how to respond to Jesus.

1. We should find our joy in Jesus. In Christ, life takes on purpose and meaning.

2. We should worship Jesus. Jesus is infinitely worthy of worship.

3. We should bring him gifts. Jesus is worthy of our treasures.

Christ has given so much; we should be willing to give to him in return.

Evening: The message, "Sharing Comfort," focused on 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. In this passage, Paul encourages us to reflect on the Father's compassion and comfort, so we can comfort those suffering hardship.

1. God the Father is worthy of praise. He is the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort.

2. We suffer and are comforted, so that we can comfort others.

3. We suffer as Christ's followers, but we are also comforted.

4. The experiences of suffering, being comforted, and comforting others teaches us to endure.

Suffering is part of the Christian experience, but so too is comfort. Christ teaches us to comfort others.

Sunday Recap 12-2-12

Morning: The sermon, "Waiting Prayerfully," focused on Luke 2:36-38. In this passage, we are told about Anna, a prophetess of great age, who met the infant Christ child. Through her example we see how we are to deal the the anticipation of Christ's return.

1. Anna was wholeheartedly devoted to God. After only seven years of marriage, she committed the remainder of her adult life to worship. Luke's words can be understood to say she was 84 or that she had been a widow for 84 years. It's probably best to read it as she had been a widow for 84 years. The world passed her by why she waited for the Lord's promise.

2. Her service (or worship) was marked by fasting and prayer. Luke says she was in the temple night and day. She served or worshiped (they mean the same thing) through fasting and prayer. God had promised to reveal the Christ. Anna believed that promise and interceded on behalf of those who did not.

3. She shared her hope with others. It didn't take her long to make baby Jesus known to the faithful. Her whole life was building up to this moment, and she seized it by being a faithful witness.

Evening: Business Meeting.

Sunday Recap 11-25-12

Morning: Today was our Children's Christmas Program. A lot of hard work went in to making today a success. The kids did a fantastic job. The service was concluded with a brief word on John 3:16-17.

Evening: No evening service.

Sunday Recap

Morning: The sermon, "Transforming Attitudes," focused on Colossians 3:15-17. In this passage, Paul explains how we can achieve the holy life: we have to change our attitudes. But how? Paul explains that peace of Christ must rule in our hearts, the word of Christ must dwell richly within us, and we must do everything to the glory of Christ. Two thoughts are woven through all of these commandments: unity and gratitude.

1. Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts. We are to be controlled by Christ's peace. Jesus describes his peace in John 14:27. Commentator, William Hendriksen said, "It is the conviction that the sins of the past have been forgiven, that the present is being overruled for good, and that the future cannot bring about separation between Christ and his own."

2. Let the Word of Christ dwelling in you richly. The Word should have a living presence within your life.

a. As you teach and admonish with all wisdom

b. As you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart.

3. Let whatever you do be done in the name of the Lord. To do something in Jesus' name means we are doing in a way that keeps with his character. 

Evening: Community Wide Thanksgiving Service

Sermon Recap 11-11-12

Morning: The sermon, "A Guide to Holy Living," focused on Colossians 3:1-14. If Satan cannot get you to believe a big lie, he'll hit you with a more subtle one. If he can't get you to believe that Jesus' death didn't purchase your forgiveness, he'll tell you that it has no real purpose in the here and now. And it might be tempting to read Paul's words in that way. But Paul isn't encouraging us to daydream about better days, he's explaining the hows and whys of the Christian life.

1. The reality of our union with Christ should be the focal point of our lives. The fact that we are in Christ should shape our affections, thoughts, and hopes (or ambitions, visions, and motivations).

2. Since we are in Christ, we need to put our sin nature to death. Paul clarifies his expectations by listing examples and the reasons why we have to get rid of them. We need to rid ourselves of our sin nature: 

because it is idolatry

because it brings God's wrath

because we aren't that person anymore

because we have already put off the "old self"

because we have put on the "new self"

                                                                                       

3. Since we are in Christ, we should reflect his character. Here Paul offers a list of traits and actions that should be evident in the Christian's life.  We need to show forth Christ's character.  Bear with others and forgive as we have been forgiven. We also need to put on love.

Evening: Play practice.

Sunday Recap 11-4-12

Morning: The sermon, "No Compromise," focused on Colossians 2:16-23. Here Paul further exposes the errors that are being pressed on to the people in Colosse. Paul urges the church to submit to Christ, and not the world. To this end, he gives them stern warnings:

1. Don't let people judge your freedom in Christ. God has given each person a conscience. That conscience can be refined or dulled. In Christ, we are to live out of a biblically informed conscience. We shouldn't let people judge us on what we eat or drink or our religious celebrations. These things were shadows; Christ is the reality. As long as what we are doing doesn't violate the commands of God, we have freedom in Christ.

2. Don't let anyone disqualify you from the prize. The false teachers promoted a false spirituality.

 They were overly pleased with themselves, but didn't want others to think so. They called for a spirituality based on visions and idle notions. Spirituality divorced from Christ is lifeless: it possesses no life and produces no life.

3. Don't submit to the world's rules. In Christ, the believer has died to the world and its authority.

The world's rules don't prevent sinful behavior, but provoke it. Instead, we are to pursue Christ. 

Evening: Business meeting

Sunday Recap 10-28-12

Morning: The sermon, "No Retreat, No Surrender," focused on Colossians 2:6-15. In this passage, Paul urges us to continue to live in Christ. In these verses, Paul begins to address the false teaching plaguing the Colossian church. It appears to be a mixture of philosophy and legalism with a basic premise that stated Jesus isn't enough. As with many early errors in the church, the false teachers seem to have a problem with Jesus' deity and/or his humanity. Based on Paul's language, the philosophy most likely promised to bring adherents into the fullness of knowledge. Paul reminds us that Jesus is more than enough, and calls us move forward and stand our ground.

1. Our faith must be living and growing.  We are to be rooted in Christ and built up in him. We are to be strengthened in the doctrines of the faith, and overflowing with gratitude.

2. We must not allow ourselves to be taken captive false belief systems. Paul calls the false teaching an empty (hollow) and deceitful philosophy. He warned against its reliance on human traditions and basic principles of this world (possibly a reference to demonic spirits).

3. Our focus must be on Christ. Paul tells us to focus on who Christ is--God in the flesh and head over every power and authority. Paul explains that in Christ the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form. Warren Wiersbe, pastor and commentator, tells us term means, "the sum total of all that God is, all of His being and attributes." We also need to focus on what he has done: spiritual circumcision or regeneration, given us life, and forgiving us of all our sins.  He did this by dying in our place and disarming those spiritual powers that rage against the will of God.

 Evening: We had our Fall Fellowship. Everybody had a great time.