Carried to the Table
Pastor Matt McGrew reminds us of why we should always be thankful because of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Living Thaksgiving pt.2
Thanksgiving week is upon us! I love Thanksgiving for many reasons. Though a friend of mine recently told me that Thanksgiving is “just a good meal on the way to Christmas”, I remain undeterred in my love for this holiday =) The food, family, football, and spirit of gratitude make it a favorite for me. But really, Thanksgiving should be much more than a holiday…it should be a lifestyle.
As we engage the book of Philippians again tomorrow, I trust that we will be both challenged and encouraged by Paul’s instructions toward “Living Thanksgiving”. Tomorrow we will see that when we surrender our lives to God’s Word and Will, we will experience internal joy and make eternal impact.
*As we enter this holiday season, let’s be mindful of the many in our midst who grieve recent loss. May our hugs, cards, words, and prayers communicate the care and support of our gracious God.
Living Thanksgiving
I hope that you’ve been able to enjoy the beauty of fall in these past couple of weeks. Trees turning fiery red or bright yellow is spectacular to see and another beautiful reminder of the goodness of our great God. Fittingly, these sights are also a reminder that Thanksgiving is upon us. But, I hope that Thanksgiving is more than a holiday for you. I truly hope that it is more than an event where we might be forced to come up with a few things we’re thankful for. I hope that Thanksgiving is a lifestyle.
I think that the book of Philippians could be subtitled something like “Thanksgiving Living”. So much of what Paul shares with the church at Philippi in this letter is aimed at a lifestyle of joy and thanksgiving. We’re going to consider this over the next two Sundays as we dive into Philippians 2:14-18. I look forward to studying this with you!
*As we enter this holiday season, let’s be mindful of the many in our midst who grieve recent loss. May our hugs, cards, words, and prayers communicate the care and support of our gracious God.
Blessed Assurance | Pastor Dustin Rogers
Billions of dollars are spent each year to keep our nation, homes, bank accounts, investments, internet, passwords, and our lives secure. We want to live with the confidence that we are safe from enemies who would steal, kill, and destroy. But, what about the ultimate enemies? What about Satan and all his forces of evil? All those billions can’t ultimately protect against him. What about death? All the money and supposed security in the world will eventually fail against this (nearly) undefeated foe.
But friends, we have access to a SECURITY that money can’t buy! In Christ, we are tethered to the ONE who has defeated death and hell and Satan! In Him, we have overcome the enemy who would steal, kill, and destroy. With the real Jesus, we have an abundant life that is full of joy and hope! The Real Jesus has made All the Difference and provides Real Assurance. This is what John has reminded us of in his first letter, and I, for one, have been blessed by it over these last several months. We conclude this study tomorrow as we look at 1 John 5:13-21, yet I hope we don’t conclude the experience of security. I trust that we will put the message of this portion of God’s word into a Belt of Truth that we wear every day!
Real Jesus, Real Difference, Real Assurance
We conclude Secure the study of 1 John today as we look at 1 John 5:13-21. We are reminded they we have access to a SECURITY that money can’t buy! In Christ, we are tethered to the ONE who has defeated death and hell and Satan! In Him, we have overcome the enemy who would steal, kill, and destroy. With the real Jesus, we have an abundant life that is full of joy and hope! The Real Jesus has made All the Difference and provides Real Assurance.
The Real Jesus Makes a Real Difference
What a beautiful fall weekend! And hey, every weekend is a good weekend to gather with the family of faith to worship Jesus. As we open up the Word of Life together tomorrow, we’ll consider one amazing verse – 1 John 5:13. Having worked our way through the whole of the book of 1st John, we’ll be able to consider this standout verse in light of its broader context. I trust that in doing so, we will find this treasured verse to be all the more valuable for our walk.
Speaking of our walk, at some point along the way in our Christian journey, we will come across moments of disappointment, failure, and fear. We will journey through seasons of dryness or doubt. In times like these we need a Savior…in times like these, we need an anchor. 1 Jn. 5:13 beautifully reminds us that we can be very sure that we are tethered to the Rock that is Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father wants us to KNOW that we are safe and secure!
“A Wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord…He hideth my soul in the cleft of the Rock and covers me there with His hand”
A Matter of Life and Death
It’s a matter of life and death!
Hi friends! I hope you have had a great week and are eager to gather again to worship Jesus with brothers and sisters in Christ. Last week in our studies in 1st John, God showed us three birthmarks of authentic faith: True Belief, True Love, and a True Life (1 Jn. 5:1-5). In verses 6-12, John does a deeper dive into the centerpiece of True Belief, the doctrine of Christ. As he continues to battle against false teaching about Jesus, John wants to help his people have precision about the object of their faith…for he knows that this is a matter of life and death. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life”. (1 Jn. 5:12)
Web of Security
As we’ve worked through the letter of 1st John, we’ve seen the Apostle weave a web of security for the people of God…a web of security that shields us from the fears and insecurities that seek to hunt us down and rob us of the joy of knowing where we stand with Him. What a blessing it is that God desires for us to know and experience assurance and security in Him!
In 1st John 5:1-5, John brings the main points of this web of security together as he moves toward his powerful conclusion. I look forward to studying this with you as we gather for worship.
Family Talks in the Word
It’s time we had a talk about masks. Through the first 18 months of this COVID crisis, I have been so thankful to God and proud of this church family for how we have navigated the difficult waters. It has been challenging to be sure and yet the collective efforts toward brotherly love and unity in our continued worship of God have been remarkable to witness and experience. However, the recent edicts from our local governing authorities have posed new challenges to us and have raised new tensions in our midst. As Elders, we want to be honest about these and address them biblically, directly, and transparently. So, as we open God’s Word we will seek God’s eternal wisdom that imports so readily to our present day. Though the mask mandate will sit in the background as a pressing issue, the sermon will not fundamentally be about masks but about God, His Word, His Body, and our collective worship of Him! “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2–3)