This past Sunday we continued with our series on 4 major objectives of the church under one overarching purpose, which is of course, to BRING GLORY TO GOD.
This week our time was spent talking about COMMUNITY, also referred to as FELLOWSHIP. Our Bible text came from increasingly familiar Acts 2:42-47 and we also spent time in Romans 12:9-13.
We discuss that Biblical Community:
• originates with God’s people uniting in Jesus’ name
• includes a deep connection with others
• includes a giving of ourselves to one another
Isn’t it amazing how God has uniquely placed US together to build each other up, to care for each other, to share life and God’s love with one another? We need to take full advantage of Christian Fellowship to fully enjoy all that there is in Christ Jesus and of course, to bring GLORY TO GOD.
“The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.” –John Wesley
If you’d like, check out these supporting texts of scripture:
Hebrews 10:24-25
1 Samuel 18:1-4
John 13:34-35
1 John 4:7-11
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Sunday Recap...Illuminate Truth
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching…Acts 2:42
This past Sunday we focused on the churches’ objective to Illuminate Truth –teaching the Word of God.
We began in Acts 2:42, clarifying that this was a priority to the early church, that they were “devoted” to it! We also spent time in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 where Paul charges a young Timothy to “preach the word” and warns him that people will not always want to “endure sound teaching”.
“One generation believes a truth, the next generation assumes a truth, and the third generation denies a truth” D.A. Carson
We also spent time in Psalm 19:7-11. In this passage David very eloquently outlines several wonderful benefits to the Word of God.
Finally we ended our time in John 5:39-40. Where Jesus' words helped us see that our commitment to the Word of God has got to be about our relationship with Him. If not, we are missing it!
The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.-- A. W. Tozer
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sunday Follow Up...
Hello Family!
We covered quite a bit of ground yesterday as we discussed one of the main objectives of the church WORSHIP ("the activity of glorifying God in his presence with our voices and hearts."). So I thought it might be helpful to give you a summary of the many verse references used.
Acts 2:42-47 - This was our "home base" and we discussed the AWE that the early church possessed.
Hebrews 12:28-29, Romans 11:33-36 - These references support the idea of being in AWE of God.
John 4:23 - We spent the bulk of our time here unpacking several things that Jesus taught us about worship through his conversation with the woman at the well.
Exodus 7:16, Exodus 20:5, 1 Timothy 2:8 - These references gave us further Biblical understanding of Jesus' teaching on worship.
We ended our time with this
Colossian 3:16 - We ended our time with this charge from Paul, followed by a time of lifting our voices in praise to the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS!
Also, here’s one reference that I did NOT get to, but I feel like really puts things in perspective in keeping with the fact that worship belongs to God. Check it out for yourself:
Isaiah 40:21-26
ONE LAST THING! Here is the powerful quote regarding worship that we pondered:
“In many (most?) churches there are programs and activities…but so little worship. There are songs and anthems and musicals…but so little worship. There are announcements and readings and prayers…but so little worship. The meetings are regular, but dull and predictable. The events are held on time, led by well meaning people, supported by folks who are faithful and dedicated …but that tip-toe expectancy and awe-inspiring delight mixed with a mysterious sense of fear of the almighty God are missing.” -Pastor Chuck Swindoll
We covered quite a bit of ground yesterday as we discussed one of the main objectives of the church WORSHIP ("the activity of glorifying God in his presence with our voices and hearts."). So I thought it might be helpful to give you a summary of the many verse references used.
Acts 2:42-47 - This was our "home base" and we discussed the AWE that the early church possessed.
Hebrews 12:28-29, Romans 11:33-36 - These references support the idea of being in AWE of God.
John 4:23 - We spent the bulk of our time here unpacking several things that Jesus taught us about worship through his conversation with the woman at the well.
Exodus 7:16, Exodus 20:5, 1 Timothy 2:8 - These references gave us further Biblical understanding of Jesus' teaching on worship.
We ended our time with this
Colossian 3:16 - We ended our time with this charge from Paul, followed by a time of lifting our voices in praise to the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS!
Also, here’s one reference that I did NOT get to, but I feel like really puts things in perspective in keeping with the fact that worship belongs to God. Check it out for yourself:
Isaiah 40:21-26
ONE LAST THING! Here is the powerful quote regarding worship that we pondered:
“In many (most?) churches there are programs and activities…but so little worship. There are songs and anthems and musicals…but so little worship. There are announcements and readings and prayers…but so little worship. The meetings are regular, but dull and predictable. The events are held on time, led by well meaning people, supported by folks who are faithful and dedicated …but that tip-toe expectancy and awe-inspiring delight mixed with a mysterious sense of fear of the almighty God are missing.” -Pastor Chuck Swindoll
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