News (Page 13)
Love Others well
Love Others Well I was making myself a sandwich the other day and without hesitation when I opened up a new loaf, I tilted up the heal slice of bread, reached a few slices into the loaf and removed my perfect two slices of bread. As I was eating my delicious sandwich I realized how quick I was to get the best bread for my incredible sandwich and leave the heal for the next poor sap who opened the loaf…
We Are Healed For a Reason
We Are Healed For A Reason Matthew 8:1-3 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Imagine what it meant to this man, not only to be healed, but also to be touched by another person. God is committed…
A Taste of Heaven
A Taste of Heaven Philippians 2:1-4 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the…
God’s Purpose In Times Like These (New Series)
God’s Purpose In Times Like These (Series) When we look around at all the sickness, violence and hatred, it’s easy to feel like there’s no point or purpose. Like a ship without a rudder, it’s easy to feel lost, alone and like no one cares. It’s normal and healthy to ask questions. Where is God? Why can He seem so distant when we need Him most? Is all that we are going through right now an accident or is He…
GOD’S WAYS
GOD’S WAYS: The biblical God is one who insists He will be seen in nature, and also is one who gives leave to chance (randomness) – he allows free will and injustice. So is He in control? The greatest point of contention between science and religion arises when believers insist God directly controls nature (like a puppeteer) while scientists insist that nature can run “on its own”. Which is right? According to the Bible, that divine control may be enigmatic. …
Standing For Kingdom Culture Comes At A Cost
Standing For Kingdom Culture Comes At A Cost Is following Christ, in a post Christian culture worth it? I think it’s healthy to ask the question at a time when we are bombarded with the twisting of what’s good and bad in our society. What did the Apostle Paul say on this subject? 2 Timothy 4:4-6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have…
Why Temptation is so Powerful?
Why Is Temptation So Powerful? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your desire to do what you know is wrong? Why does sin have such a strong magnetic force that at times it seems to have a stronger pull than our faith? Is there any way we can overcome our sinful nature? I’m sorry to say that according to scripture, the answer is no. Not only that, but even our New Testament heroes like Paul, fall short. We see in…
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed; Matthew 13 –The sower (the Holy Spirit) and the seed (God’s Word) are effective and good, but the field or soil must accept and allow the seed to take root and grow. The context is about how receptive and open we (people) are to the Gospel message and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. So how can we know that God’s seed has been firmly planted and taken root…
Know Who The Battle Is Really Against
Know Who The Battle Is Really Against 2 Timothy 2:23-26 Don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, & be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. Growing up, a…
Celebration of Life Service for Jodi Marie Hall
If you missed her service, please use this link to view the service: https://youtu.be/LmtDg3XDMe4 Please keep Jodi’s family, friends and church family in your prayers as we are all hurting and missing her. We are so thankful that she is with the Lord and that we get to see her again in heaven. Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,who, by the power that enables him to…
Conditions to Answered Prayer
CONDITIONS TO ANSWERED PRAYER John 14:12-15 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. One of the reasons we feel like God…
THE LORD WILL RAISE HIS VOICE TO BE HEARD
THE LORD WILL RAISE HIS VOICE TO BE HEARD This last Sunday, we started a new series, “Giving Up Your Idols” from Luke 9:59-60. Our midweek encouragement will be connected to the previous message for this series. Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will…
No More Banging Gongs
No More Banging Gongs I’ve been reading through Ephesians for my devotions for the last few weeks and a few things stood out to me. The church was in a hostile environment in Ephesus, were they were isolated and under pressure to give into the Godless culture of their day. Paul encourages the church, by reminding them that God is in control, and their salvation can’t be taken away. Eternal life is eternal. Then Paul shows what God’s purpose and…
Giving Up Your Idols (Series)
Have you ever wondered if you’re the only one who struggles with the hypocrisy of not living out what you know to be true? How can a believer know God’s word and be so casual in not being a doer of the word? Is there a way to experience love, joy, peace and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit in a growing way in a world that is getting more and more divided and anti-Christian? The answer isn’t…
Are You Whole?
Are You Whole? Do you know the word of God and still feel like you’re somehow missing something very important? Do scriptures like the Galatians 5:22-26 bring frustration instead of peace and joy? Does it remind you of what your missing in real time faith? Can we be whole or are we destined to enjoy only fleeting moments of the fruit of the Spirit. Is God really that Cruel? Does He point at what is just out of His children’s…
AMAZING GRACE
AMAZING GRACE By Elder Jim Shedd INTRODUCTION: As I began to think about the subject of GRACE, I first looked at what we normally mean when we use the term, and how we most often understand it. (it may seem somewhat old fashioned, as we don’t use it a lot except in Christian circles and contexts where it is a word rich and full of meaning). It seems that generally the term GRACE means something like “Unmerited Favor” or…
