NEWS NOTES November 10, 2024

 

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him(Jesus) from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31 NIV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Jay Graham plans to be here next Sunday and speak.  And La Verne congregation is having a songfest and potluck with Charles Fry as their speaker.  We will broadcast Charles’ message in the afternoon from La Verne at about 4:15 pm. 

 

Blessings: The Ladies’ Day Bible Study yesterday was an uplifting time of fellowship, prayer, and God’s Word.  We are grateful for all who attended, presented, and served in bring everything together.  We are wonderfully invigorated spiritually and tired physically. 

 

 

HOW  BIG  IS  THE  LORD’S  CHURCH?

Adapted from a message by Jay Graham

 

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’

 

The ark Noah built has been considered a type of the body of Christ.  It was truly built for the sole purpose of saving mankind, or at least those that chose to be in it.  It perfectly accomplishes this purpose; it protected Noah and his family as well as representatives of the land animal kingdom while the rain came and until after the water receded. 

 

These are similarities the Ark had to the Church Jesus built for mankind’s salvation.  However, there is one very important difference.  The Ark, though massive, was limited in size.   It was approximately 450’ in length, 75’ in width and 45’ in height.  This equals approximately 1,518,750 cubic feet!  It was large enough to do its divine purpose.  But it was limited in size still.  The Genesis 6 account of the Flood doesn’t record how other people might have known to repent of their wickedness and ride out the coming flood.  However, Noah was called a “preacher of righteousness” in 2 Peter 2:5 without exact details of how or what he “preached.”  We know from other scriptures such as Jonah preaching to the people of Nineveh that it is God’s nature to warn people before He sent His wrath upon them so they can repent and be saved from.  It is my thought people in Noah’s time probably had a chance to be saved, but no one heeded God’s call.  So He had Noah make the Ark to those dimensions to be exactly the size needed.

 

In this way the Lord’s church is very different.  It is not limited by size, therefore the prophecy at the beginning of this article was truly real—“Whoever would call upon the name of the Lord could be saved”, and accordingly, added to the Body.  There is no limit to the number of people who can choose to submit to the gospel and be added by the Lord to this great and glorious Body!  There always has been and will continue to be plenty of room, no matter what the number!

 

Its size is like God.  The Church cannot be measured on an earthly scale.  There is no limit to its capacity.  Indications in the New Testament are that the saved will number in the multitudes when the end comes.  When Jesus says few will find the narrow gate that leads to salvation (Matthew 7:13-14), that is a relatively small number when compared to the entirety of mankind, but still a multitude of saints added to the church over time.

 

We need not worry.  There will always be plenty of room for everyone who chooses the Way of the Lord.  Our only concern is to make such a choice to be among the saved in His body.

 

“All things are ready, come to the feast!  Come for the table now is spread.  Ye famishing, ye weary come, and thou shall be richly fed.”

 

We are guaranteed there will always be plenty of room!

NEWS NOTES November 3, 2024

 

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:12-13

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service and a return to Standard Time.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Jay Graham plans to be with us November 17th.  Also La Verne congregation is having a songfest and potluck on November 17th with Charles Fry as their speaker.  Jay will be our speaker in the morning and we will broadcast Charles’ message from La Verne at about 4:15 pm.

 

Last Reminder: Ladies’ Day Bible Study is next Saturday November 9 here at our building.  Topic is “May You Shine: Shining Your Light for Christ When We Live in a Modern Day Corinth” - Lessons from Corinthians.  Continental Breakfast is at 8:30 AM with sessions from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.  Lunch will also be provided.  Email comelearnofme5909@gmail.com for more information and registration.

 

 

“Ego & Unity”

Adapted from a message by Emery Wright 1/15/2023

 

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:14-17 NKJV

 

Jimmy Johnson took the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl wins in the early 1990's, reversing a long downward spiral.  Yet owner Jerry Jones fired him.  Both men had massive egos.  They couldn’t get along even when winning.  Texas wasn’t big enough for the two of them it seemed.

 

God puts a tremendous value on unity or “getting along.”  Just before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prays for unity amongst His disciples then and His disciples in the future (John 17:20-21).

 

We seem to have a natural tendency to not get along, even when young.  My son recently started school and is having some difficulty adjusting because he wants to do things his way.  We have to make an effort to get along.  Our actions are more important than our feelings.

 

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a cold shoulder, what can you do?  If you are giving a cold shoulder to someone, this will help you break the cycle.  Consider, does your life reflect Christ and God’s unity?  Are you being loving as Christ was? How does not talking to someone or yelling at each other fix things?

 

Do you “bear with each other” (Colossians 3:13)?  We all have minor faults and idiosyncrasies.  If we want people to put up with us, we should put up with them.  Make sure you are being loving and forgiving.

 

We need to take the high road in resolving disharmony situations.  We know how dirty our hands were before we were washed in Christ’s blood.  God chose us when we didn’t deserve it.  This alone should make us tone down our ego (insisting on my way) and be more kind and loving.

 

God was so amazingly merciful to His people in the Old Testament and continues that merciful love with us.  In our relationship with God, we must give up arrogance and pride.  It doesn’t matter “who started it.” Be the one who resolves it in peace.

 

God sees our actions and understands our feelings.  We can’t always control our feelings, but we can control our actions.  We must “put on” - meaning to clothe ourselves with positive virtues of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  Wearing these on our heart will help us control our emotions and diffuse situations.  And be sure to pray for people you can’t get along with - pray for good things in their lives.

NEWS NOTES October 27, 2024

 

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Jay Graham will not be here November 3rd.  However he still plans to be with us November 17th.  Also La Verne congregation is having a songfest and potluck on November 17th with Charles Fry as their speaker.  Jay will be our speaker in the morning and we will broadcast Charles’ message from La Verne at about 4:15 pm.

 

Prayers for: Many of our brethren in the Philippines have been in harm’s way with recent tropical storms battering the islands.

 

Reminder: The next Ladies’ Day Bible Study is Saturday November 9 here at our building.  Topic is “May You Shine: Shining Your Light for Christ When We Live in a Modern Day Corinth” - Lessons from Corinthians.  Continental Breakfast is at 8:30 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM and ending at 3:30 PM.  Lunch will also be provided.

 

 

“If Only” Versus “Next Time”

Adapted from a message by Gerald Crown May 1971

 

And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62 NKJV

 

Man comes from dust and eventually returns to dust.  Man’s worth apart from God’s gift of the “breath of life” is as dust.  But even dust has a secret potential.  Death Valley has miles and miles of sun-bleached barren dust.  Yet with God’s gift of water a date farm at Furnace Creek and tropical gardens at Scotty’s Castle flourished when the gift of water transformed the dusty earth.  We might say that God created man with miracle dust.  He gave us a place above all other creations with freedom and ability to rule all creation.  But above all, He made us in His image and likeness to glorify Him (Genesis 1:26-28).

 

Despite this we are prone to make mistakes and have short comings.  Usually we are sorry afterwards.  How we react after these mistakes is what counts.  Reactions can either help a better outcome next time or lead to the same mistake.  How many times have you said, “If only I hadn’t done this, if only I had been early or late, etc.?”  The habit of  “if only” or “I just wished I had”  lead to becoming bitter about the past and the focus to do better in the future is forgotten.

 

Judas Iscariot is an “if only” example.  When he realized he had betrayed his Lord, causing Him to be crucified he could see no future, only the bitter past.  He should have known God is merciful and forgiving if we turn to Him.  Instead Judas hung himself (Matthew 27:3-5).  On the other hand, Peter after he denied his Lord three times was also sorry, weeping bitterly.  His attitude was not “if only I had stood up for Christ,” but “I must do better” and he did.  Peter went on to help carry the Gospel of Jesus to many people, bringing them to salvation.  Eventually Peter, older and wiser and more useful to God was also crucified for Christ (Matthew 26:75, John 20:1-1-10, 21:7-19).

 

In our everyday lives we all have bitter disappointments or losses sometimes that are tragic.  Sometimes you’ve wanted to do something right, but it ended up all wrong, making matters worse.  If we approach them with “if only I had done this, if only I had done that, if only. . .” Then we become so wrapped up in past mistakes, we can’t move on.  We all make mistakes unless we never do anything, which is usually worse.  Do not keep going over, rehashing old mistakes.  View the past long enough to see what you did wrong and say “next time do better, next time I’ll use past experience to make a better outcome.”  Pray to God for help; ask others to pray for you too.

 

As Christians we are to look to the future.  God has prepared a glorious future for us.  Through His Son and washing away of our sins in baptism we can make the desert that was our life into a fruitful field, bearing much for God (Matthew 13:23).

NEWS NOTES October 20, 2024

 

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You visit him? Psalm 8:3-4 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Jay Graham plans to be our speaker November 3rd and 17th.  Also La Verne congregation is having a songfest and potluck on November 17th with Charles Fry as their speaker. 

 

Reminder: The next Ladies’ Day Bible Study is Saturday November 9 here at our building.  Topic is “May You Shine: Shining Your Light for Christ When We Live in a Modern Day Corinth” - Lessons from Corinthians.  Continental Breakfast is at 8:30 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM and ending at 3:30 PM.  Lunch will also be provided.  Email comelearnofme5909@gmail.com for additional registration information.

 

 

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

Musing - Catherine and Michael Manning

 

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.  Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19: 1-4 NKJV

 

With a few dozen other people, we waited last evening in a Signal Hill park for it to get dark.  Right away in the western sky we could see the planet Venus and before long the fainter Arcturus (a bright star).  In between those sky markers we expected to see the Comet C/2023 A3.  This is the comet that’s in the news right now with very impressive pictures of the bright head and long tails of light moving across the night sky.  But with our city lights and a marine layer of clouds moving in, we couldn’t find the comet even with good binoculars. 

 

When David penned Psalm 8 and Psalm 19 he didn’t have city light pollution or ocean weather to obscure his view of the night sky.  When he tended his father’s sheep as a boy and later as a man on the run from King Saul in the desert, he had glorious views of God’s heavenly creations.

 

The created world is an awesome testimony to the power and glory of the Creator.  Most of the countries around Israel worshipped these created celestial beings. Today we have people who in a sense worship the science of the creation and miss the Creator.  David knew to appreciate the natural world by rightfully giving God the glory for creating it.

 

So David was inspired to say more in these Psalms than “what a cool sky.”  God’s law (Psalm 19:7-9) is also perfect and immeasurably more beneficial to us than anything else in creation because God’s words tell about His nature, His love for us, and His expectations of us:

 

More to be desired are they [law] than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:10-11

 

God’s creation, His written Word, and His gift of love and salvation through His Son Jesus Christ are humbling.  With David, we say What is man that You are mindful of him?  More humbling yet, are our repeated meanness to others and sins against God.  So David prayerfully ends Psalm 19 requesting God to help him stay away from sinful acts, “let them not have dominion over me.”  That is what we pray as well. 

 

Unlike trying to find a comet above the Los Angeles lights, God is never far from us (Acts 17:22-31).  But we must seek Him:

 

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 Butseek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV

NEWS NOTES October 13, 2024 

 

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD ." Joshua 24:15 NIV 19884

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  We are having potluck after morning services.

 

Reminder: The next Ladies’ Day Bible Study is Saturday November 9 here at our building.  Topic is “May You Shine: Shining Your Light for Christ When We Live in a Modern Day Corinth” - Lessons from Corinthians.  Continental Breakfast is at 8:30 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM and ending at 3:30 PM.  Lunch will also be provided.

 

 

Mercy

Adapted from a message by Douglas McKenzie 10/28/2018

 

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Matthew 5:7 NIV 1984

 

Mercy means “a mission or act done to alleviate the suffering of others.” Our English word comes from medieval Latin words which mean “price paid.” 

 

We don’t find good examples of mercy in the world.  The drive in professional sports to win at all costs, renewing labor contracts, and political campaigning are ruthless and cutthroat to say the least.  World War I peace conditions were so mean they led to World War II 20 years later.  Violence of video games rewards aggressive cruelty; killing an opponent gives you another life.  The motto for many is “Take no prisoners, show no mercy.”

 

From time to time, our courts may show a person convicted of a crime mercy. This means the person is granted clemency or leniency in the punishment they deserve under the law.

 

In the Bible, mercy is also used in reference to giving forgiveness or withholding deserved punishment. Grace, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, and compassion are other words related to mercy. The difference is that mercy is the action that is put into effect because of feelings like compassion and kindness.

 

The scriptures particularly speaks of God's forgiveness, as well as the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The Book of Jonah in the Old Testament shows the difference between man and God.  The idea of preaching to his enemies and opening a door to repentance and God’s mercy was too much for Jonah.  He chose to run away instead.  But God had mercy on both Jonah and the repentant people of Nineveh.

 

Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5:3-12 that we call the Beatitudes are foundational and build on each other.  Each beatitude starts with “blessed.”  It carries the meaning that “God has bestowed His divine favor or goodness.”  So said another way, Matthew 5:7 is “God bestows his divine favor of mercy on those who show mercy to others.”

 

Reinforced concrete has to be cured before you can build on it.  We are the same.  Each of us must grow and mature in the Lord.  There is compassion, wanting to get to know people’s circumstances and help each other.  We don’t want to have a blind spot to mercy in legalism like the Pharisees.  They were so angry when Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath day because they thought it was like doing work instead of resting (Luke 6:6-11). No mercy in their hearts.

 

Like David we have all sinned and need God’s mercy (Psalm 51:1-4).  Jesus paid the price for our sins.  He is lord and the only way of salvation (Acts 4:1-12).  Hope, renewal, mercy are key to salvation.  Jesus came to encourage - “come follow me” (Luke 18:22); “go and sin no more” (John 8:11).  We need to show a soft side in presenting the right way.  What is it like to know the joys, anxieties, hopes that others have? Jesus knows (“Jesus wept” John 11:35). 

 

How blessed are those who show mercy.

NEWS NOTES October 6, 2024

 

Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Psalm 119:18 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  We will have a potluck next Sunday after morning services. 

 

Reminders: The next Ladies’ Day Bible Study is Saturday November 9 here at our building.  Topic is “May You Shine: Shining Your Light for Christ When We Live in a Modern Day Corinth” - Lessons from Corinthians.  Continental Breakfast is at 8:30 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM and ending at 3:30 PM.  Lunch will also be provided.

 

 

Death  Reigned  Until  Moses

By Jay Graham

 

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. Romans 5:12-14 NKJV

 

These verses in Romans teach a number of lessons.  We know Adam chose to sin, and as a result of that choice death began its reign on our earth.  Many will try to pin the blame solely on Adam or even Eve, but according to verse 12 death spread to all men.  Why?  Because all sinned.  We, as individuals, are responsible for our own sin and accordingly, our own death which comes as a result.  However, another lesson that is taught is found in verse 14—“Death reigned from Adam to Moses.”  My question is-- “What was and is so special about Moses?”

 

An argument could be made that Death reigned until Abraham or until Christ’s life or His death and subsequent resurrection?  Or Death reigned until the preaching of the gospel?  Or Death will reign until it is cast into Hell at the end of time as taught in Rev 20:14?  All of these can be valid, so what was/is so special about Moses?

 

One could argue that mankind finally had a Law of some sort for the first time, but that is not necessarily true.  Mankind had law from His Creator.  Adam and Eve had the Creator’s expectations in Genesis 2-3.  And those expectations surely were a law.  Cain and Abel had law.   Those in Noah’s time had law and expectations from the Lord.  So, it must be more than simply law or expectations from the Lord.

 

I am convinced that at Moses’ time mankind received God’s law in written form for the very first time.  Prior to Moses, God’s expectations were passed down by oral tradition.  There was no written account of in regard to God’s expectations for mankind.  Through Moses, the Creator communicated to Man in a new mode.  The written word is special compared to oral tradition (John 20:30-31; 1 John 1:4; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).

 

While the Law that came through Moses was given specifically to His special people, Israel, it still was a Law for all mankind’s learning.  The Lord worked through this written record to ultimately bring us to the Christ and His gospel.  The gospel also eventually came in written form in what we call the Bible - the complete Divine “written” Word of God.  The Word convicts and gives mankind an answer to his sin and death, the only answer to his sin and death.  The Old Law was never intended to be an end result.  It was always intended to point to something better and more spiritually profitable.  The Old Law indeed pointed to a true Hope.  The Hope that was the only answer to man’s sin and bondage to sin.

 

I believe that is why Romans 5:12-14 speaks of Moses in regard to the end of Death’s reign.  While the Old Law did not do away with the reign of death, it did begin the process of the power of the written word that oral communication was not sufficient for.  It was a tutor to Christ and His redemptive work and plan for mankind.

 

Let us always take advantage of this written plan and learn more and more about what our Creator expects from us.  For indeed there is no other way to learn of the gospel and Hope but through these written words.NEWS NOTES October 6, 2024

NEWS NOTES September 29, 2024

 

For you [God] created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 NIV 1984

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  

 

Reminders: 1) We will have a potluck Sunday October 13 after morning services. 

2) The next Ladies’ Day Bible Study is Saturday November 9 here at our building.  Topic is “May You Shine: Shining Your Light for Christ When We Live in a Modern Day Corinth” - Lessons from Corinthians.  Continental Breakfast will be available at 8:30 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM and ending at 3:30 PM.  Lunch will also be provided.

 

 

In God’s Likeness

Adapted from a message by Michael Manning 4/7/2024

 

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures

that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27  NIV1984

 

We are made in God’s likeness.  Animals are interesting, but people are not just another interesting animal; we are special.  Have you given thought to how you are like God and how you can be more like God?

 

Dominion over the all the animals as described in Genesis 1:26 is one way we are like God.  Many animals are stronger and more suited physically for their natural habitat, yet mankind is able to tame, train, subdue, and breed animals according to man’s will.  People resemble God in other characteristics such as:

 

But it is the spirit in man,  the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. Job 32:8 NKJV

 

The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4 NKJV

NEWS NOTES September 22, 2024

 

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.   Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.  Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19:1-4 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.    Many, many were sick last week.  Everyone is improving based on our latest contact.

 

We will have a potluck Sunday October 13 after morning services.

 

Reminders: The next Ladies’ Day Bible Study is Saturday November 9 here at our building.  Continental Breakfast will be available at 8:30 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM and ending at 3:30 PM.  Lunch will also be provided.

 

 

A New Season

By Michael Manning

 

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so.” Genesis 1:14  NIV1984

 

Today is the autumnal equinox.  At local high noon today, on the equator, the sun will be directly overhead.  Every place on the surface of the earth will have approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nighttime.  For those of us in the northern hemisphere, today marks the beginning of the fall season.

 

Humans have learned how to measure time very accurately – days, seasons, and years.   The lights in the sky that God gave us in creation (particularly the sun) set for us a standard by which we can identify each of these measures of time.

 

As we enter the fall season, the duration of daylight becomes noticeably shorter and the temperature cools considerably as we move toward winter.  We may look forward to such blessings as the cooler weather, the fresh fruits of harvest, and more excuses to enjoy a hot beverage.  Since we live in a Mediterranean climate, similar to the land of Israel, we pray for (and are grateful for) the gentle early rain to start in fall and continue into spring (Deuteronomy 11:13-15).  It’s been a long, dry summer.

 

Let us also give thanks to God for the blessing of life that he continues to provide for us.  Let us be reminded that God has given us a finite amount of time to live here on this earth (. . . “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  James 4:14 NIV1984).  And, let us be committed to use that time as best we can to love and serve Him and to love and serve our brothers and sisters.                                      

 

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22 NIV1984

NEWS NOTES September 15, 2024

 

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 NIV1984

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.    What a blessing to have the return of our cooler weather and ocean breeze.  Our hearts go out to the people who have lost homes in the horrible fires and we pray for the safety of the fire fighters.

 

Reminders: The next Ladies’ Day Bible Study is Saturday November 9 here at our building.  Continental Breakfast will be available at 8:30 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM and ending at 3:30 PM.  Lunch will also be provided.

 

 

Who Told You That You Were Naked

Adapted from a message by Douglas McKenzie 5/23/2021

 

And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" Genesis 3:11 NIV1984

 

Sin is the mother of shame.  Man has been trying to cover his nakedness ever since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and realized they were naked (Genesis 3).

 

In the 1726 novel Gulliver’s Travels, author Jonathan Swift creates a fictional race of intelligent horses who were in charge, not humans.  The Master Horse finds man wearing clothing as the most unusual characteristic.  Only man wears clothing.  Animals grow more fur or shed hair depending on the weather.  Man can’t.

 

Also man embellishes clothing with decorations and changing designs.  Often we change or get new clothing, not for climate reason or size, but a desire for decoration in the latest fashion. 

 

Clothing is an unbridgeable gulf between man and beasts.  The desire to cover nakedness comes from knowledge and shame.  It’s a natural reflex to want clothing as a toddler grows into a child.

 

The morale sense of men and women differentiates them from animals and babies.  We know we are sinners.  Conscience is unique to mankind.

 

Herod, the tetrarch imprisoned John the Baptist because he reproved Herod for unlawfully taking his brother’s wife Herodias.  On Herod's birthday, Herodias' daughter danced for him and his guests. Her dancing pleased Herod so much he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. When Salome asked her mother what she should request, she was told to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Although Herod was distressed by the request, to “save face” he had John beheaded.  Later when Herod heard reports about Jesus, he thought it was John the Baptist come back to life, which distressed him more (Matthew 14:1-12). Even an evil man like Herod can be haunted by his past and afraid of the future.

 

King David tried to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba, even to the point of murdering.  He thought he had covered it up, but God was displeased (II Samuel 11-12).  God saw David’s nakedness.

 

Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves, but were not very successful.  It took God killing animals to make something durable.

 

None of our finest clothing or “hidden” actions cover our sins.  The righteousness of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross is the only garment that covers our sin (Colossians 1:15-23). 

 

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2 NIV1984

 

Have you put on Christ?  Remember what Ananias said to Paul after Paul’s encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus: And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.' Acts 22:16 NIV1984

NEWS NOTES September 8, 2024

 

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?  Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?”  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.   Romans 11:33-36 NKJV

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  

 

 

Going All In

Adapted from a message by Emery Wright 11/21/2021

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1-2 NKJV

 

The apostle Paul opens this section (chapter 12) of his letter to the Roman churches with an appeal, begging emotionally that each person make a choice for serving God.

 

Paul’s writing pattern is strong exhortation passages followed by practical instructions.  The “therefore” marks the change from strongly encouraging us to do what God wants, to telling us how to do what God wants.  

 

The “do” is to be a living sacrifice.  The Greeks and Jews understood dead sacrifices - killing an animal - very well, much better than we do.  But God does not want dead sacrifices, He wants living ones where we put God first every day.  We are to put our whole self into His will.  Life no longer revolves around “me,” but around the sacrifice of “me” for others - Jesus first, others next, and yourself last (J-O-Y).

 

Being a living sacrifice is a “reasonable service.”  The word in the Greek is logikos, with the sense of careful, logical thought that arrives at a correct conclusion.  Remind yourself, “Why am I here?” Jesus is the great Priest-King (Hebrews 5-7); we are also to be priestly kings (I Peter 2:9), offering ourselves, not a dead animal, to God. 

 

God wants all of us - body, soul, and spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23).  This is not just showing up for Sunday service.  Show up with your heart and actions every day.  You can get a lot done without putting your heart into it, but God knows the difference.

 

Many Greeks and early Christians didn’t think much of the physical making them unspiritual.  Yet God does care about our physical bodies as well as our spirit and soul.  He cares what we do to our bodies and what we do with them (I Corinthians 6:12-20).  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (verse 20)

 

As a living sacrifice we must transform - change the way we live and think compared to the world.  The knowledge of God’s will (what we should be) is found in the Bible.  Read it, absorb it, pray for understanding, and live it. (II Timothy 2:8-19)

 

Even with the desire to go all in to please God, we can’t do it on our own.  It is by God’s mercies.  Paul, previous to this section, detailed those mercies to the Roman Christians.  God commands us to be like His Son, but gives us what we are able to do.  God’s grace was extremely important to Paul because of the horrible things he had done before meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9, 22:1-21, 26:1-23).  We need God’s mercy - none of us deserves it.  It is something our Sovereign God gives us (Romans 9:14-18).  Thanks be to Jesus that we may obtain undeserved mercy. 

 

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV)