SATISFACTION Romans 5:1-12

Posted on November 28, 2009 
Filed Under Pastor's Blog, Sermons

“I can’t get no satisfaction…When I’m drivin’ in my car, and the man comes on the radio. He’s telling me more and more bout some useless information. Supposed to fire my imagination. I can’t get no satisfaction…. When I’m watching my tv and a man comes on and tells me how white my shirts can be, but he can’t be a man cause doesn’t smoke the same cigarettes as me. I can’t get no……. (The Rolling Stones)

We are rarely satisfied. Our culture breeds greed. Which can make Thanksgiving such an ironic holiday. There was much made of our attempt this year to make the best of not so great circumstances (politically and economically). Less than a year ago we were euphoric over the election of a new president who would bring justice and equity to our nation. He would make all that was so wrong right. Now we just have a  bad hangover. The thrill is gone.

Fortunately, there is another Messiah. His name is Jesus and he does not disappoint. In Romans 5 that is Paul’s thought. Jesus has been utterly victorious through his cross. Having borne our shame we now have access to his righteousness. Paul celebrates our being right with God through Jesus. It is a celebration in which God wants us to participate. While the world offers elusive shadows of fulfillment. God offers us something real in Jesus. They are peace, grace and future glory (in which we hope).

Big ideas which can withstand the rigors of daily life. Your life matters to God and he is determined to use every bit of it to cultivate your life in Jesus (3-5). Life in Jesus does not deny the reality of suffering rather it recognizes God’s ability to salvage our sufferings and make us a little more like him.

Paul was no idealist. Rather, he was a realist. He understood the only we could truly celebrate life was to be in Jesus. One has to have life in him. For apart from him we are utterly lost (or in Paul’s words; weak, sinners, under wrath and enemies of God). But in Jesus we are loved, justified, saved and reconciled to God. All is not right with the world but we can be right with God and celebrate with a thankful heart.

We live in one of two realms; Adam or Jesus. Adam is the world (life) without God. The place where deception thrives (the serpent with Eve), rebellion is practiced (Adam eating with Eve), shame reigns (A&E realized their nakedness), fear and secrets persist (A&E hid themselves from God), blameshifting rules (Adam threw Eve under the bus) and hate infects the whole human race (Cain rose up and slew his brother Abel). In Adam we are “east of Eden.” Separated from God. We are dead.

Only in Jesus are we alive. In fact in Jesus we reign (see v. 17). His grace is sufficient not simply to save us but to grant us victorious lives. Not some type of etherial eternal life. But something earthy and relevant today. If you’re in Jesus you really do have a wonderful life. Celebrate the life you have in Christ.                            WHB

Weekly Bulletin – November 29, 2009

Posted on November 25, 2009 
Filed Under Weekly Bulletin

The Lord’s Day!
Nov. 29, 2009
Welcome to our Church!

PREPARE TO WORSHIP
On this first Sunday of Advent, grant us the burning desire to grow as close as possible to you as we prepare for our Savior’s birth.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you are visiting us, please fill out a visitor’s card (available in the foyer if no one has handed you one) and drop it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher. Thank you.

PRAISING GOD WITH SONG

GIVING TO GOD  Offering  /  SPECIAL MUSIC

(Children ages 4 -7 may be dismissed)

HEARING FROM GOD

WORSHIPING GOD IN SONG

PLEASE STAY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL NEXT!

THIS WEEK :

UPCOMING EVENTS

_______________________

A Guest at the Table

For after all, put it as we may to ourselves, we are all of us from birth to death guests at a table which we did not spread.  The    sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet.  Shall we think of the day as a chance to come nearer to our Host, and to find out something of Him who has fed us so long?                  -Rebecca Harding Davis
_______________________

Thanks for attending FIRST CHRISTIAN, please come again!

Protected: Prayer Requests – November 18, 2009

Posted on November 18, 2009 
Filed Under Prayer Requests

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:


2012 Acts 1:6-11

Posted on November 14, 2009 
Filed Under Pastor's Blog, Sermons

The Mayans will have their 15 minutes of fame. I suppose 2012 will come and go and we will move onto the next apocalyptic scenario. In some way the apostles of Jesus wanted their own version of apocalypse. In their minds they were ready for it. “It” being the Kingdom. They wanted “it” now. Jesus, who always has a way of being unpredictable says, “not now.” He puts the disciples off and reiterates that it is not for them to know the “times or the seasons of the kingdom.” Only the Father knows that.

Here is where we as followers of Jesus have to depart from doomsayers. First, only the Father knows. Those who propose dates and times are not speaking with God’s voice. When the end comes is a secret that God keeps quite well. Second, our focus should be upon the present not the apocalypse. By present, I mean Jesus’ mandate that we be his “witnesses.” Witness in the Bible ironically is the word for “martyr.” Which suggests at some level that following Jesus is not without cost. As Erwin McManus once said, “The purose of the church can not be to survive or even to thrive but to serve. And sometimes servants die in the serving.”

The apostles wanted the kingdom, Jesus wanted a church (which is a witness to the kingdom to come). In their desire is an expression of what they sought; glory, control and peace. These all characterize the kingdom. Unfortunately the church has expended a lot of energy pursuing these passions (peace is the only troublesome aspect as we should be at peace with all people as much as possible but I am referring an eschatological peace, Eden if you will).

Jesus wants us to be witnesses to his cross. To follow in his footsteps which was to serve. The early church had to forsake the concept of “kingdom now” as prophecied in the OT. They would have to create their own future. Abandon their hope for convenience (glory, control and peace) and focus on relevance. The world needs Christ (and the church). Our responsibility is to be a witness to Christ, the only real light in a dark world.             WHB

Weekly Bulletin – November 15, 2009

Posted on November 12, 2009 
Filed Under Weekly Bulletin

The Lord’s Day!
Nov. 15, 2009
Welcome to our Church!

PREPARE TO WORSHIP
May we properly invite you, dear Lord, to enter our hearts so we may know we’ve been in your presence. Amen

ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you are visiting us, please fill out a visitor’s card (available in the foyer if no one has handed you one) and drop it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher. Thank you.

PRAISING GOD WITH SONG

GIVING TO GOD  Offering  /  SPECIAL MUSIC

(Children ages 4 -7 may be dismissed)

HEARING FROM GOD

WORSHIPING GOD IN SONG

PLEASE STAY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL NEXT!

THIS WEEK :

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thanks for attending FIRST CHRISTIAN, please come again!

Protected: Prayer Requests – November 11, 2009

Posted on November 11, 2009 
Filed Under Prayer Requests

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:


Weekly Bulletin – November 8, 2009

Posted on November 5, 2009 
Filed Under Weekly Bulletin

The Lord’s Day!
Nov. 8, 2009
Welcome to our Church!

PREPARE TO WORSHIP
A joyous greeting to one and all.  We especially welcome all veterans, as our nation honors them this week.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you are visiting us, please fill out a visitor’s card (available in the foyer) and drop it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher, as your contribution today. Thank you.

PRAISING GOD WITH SONG

GIVING TO GOD  Offering  /  SPECIAL MUSIC

(Children ages 4 -7 may be dismissed)

HEARING FROM GOD

WORSHIPING GOD IN SONG

PLEASE STAY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL NEXT!

TODAY: Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes are due.  Monetary donations are also welcome.

THIS WEEK :

UPCOMING EVENTS

_____________________

Veterans Day has its roots in what was called Armistice  Day, the day  when a peace agreement was signed with Germany ending World War I. Armistice Day was established with a proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson which reads in part: “Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.” On June 1, 1954, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.
On Veterans Day this year, let us remember and honor those men and women who gave of themselves, and let us continue to pray for our men and women currently serving in the military.

ACTIVE LOVE NOTES:
Please remember the following people with cards, a call or visit.

Thanks for attending FIRST CHRISTIAN, please come again!

Protected: Prayer Requests – November 4, 2009

Posted on November 4, 2009 
Filed Under Prayer Requests

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: