We are a community of people dedicated to follow Jesus in all that we do. If you’re looking for a church committed to loving God, loving each other, teaching his word, and worshiping him, then we invite you to come join us at any of our worship gatherings and activities for adults, youth, and children (see our About page and Activities page). Also, if you’re looking to learn more about Jesus and what it means to be his follower, I would love the chance to talk with you (also, see our About page for contact information, or see our Follow Jesus page).
Check out our site, read the blog posts below for news updates and devotional posts, and check out one of our worship gatherings!
~ Pastor Mike
Sunday Morning Schedule
9:45am ~ Small Groups / Sunday School
10:45 am ~ Worship Gathering
Sin condemns. That’s one of the first lessons we learn from the Bible. God is good, perfect, and just. Rebelling against him is evil and is worthy of his wrath, found in death that leads to a hopeless eternal death.
Sin condemns. Sin hurts us and hurts those around us. It is a black hole, a deep pit from which we cannot find escape in ourselves.
Sin condemns. But in Jesus, there is hope.
In Romans 8:1, Paul wrote, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” He went on to explain in 8:3-4 that God “condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us…”
Sin condemns, but in Jesus, God condemned sin.
Jesus did this by living a perfect, sinless life so that he could be a perfect sacrifice for our sin. God heaped the sins of his people, those who trust in Jesus as their Savior-King, upon Jesus. Jesus took them willingly to the cross where he absorbed God’s wrath and condemned our sin.
In exchange, we received the goodness and righteousness of Jesus so not we no longer stand condemned before God as rebels, but we come into the open arms of his presence as beloved sons and daughters (Romans 8:14-17).
If you belong to Jesus by faith, you are not condemned. If you belong to Jesus, you stand before God without a single spot of rebellion staining you. If you belong to Jesus, you have fulfilled everything the law of God requires of you because Jesus obeyed for you.
No memories of the person you were before Jesus can condemn. No voice of accusation from the enemy, Satan, can condemn. No whispers of gossip or harsh shouts of criticism from other people can condemn.
Knowing this frees us. We don’t have to try to earn God’s favor out of our condemnation because God already did everything required for us. Therefore, we can live faithfully to God, freely and happily, as he pours his love into our hearts through his Spirit.
Sin condemns.
But if you are in Jesus, you are not condemned.
All scripture quotations taken from the Christian Standard Bible.
This Sunday, we’ll take a look at John 1:29-51 and see how, after encountering Jesus, Andrew and Philip went and found Peter and Nathanael and led them to Jesus. We’re taking a break from the Gospel of Luke to kick-off our 2019 Evangelism Challenge–Who’s Your One?, as issued by JD Greear (current president of the Southern Baptist Convention).
You can find out more information by visiting whosyourone.com.
We hope to see you there! And don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you go to bed, as we spring forward.
Schedule
@945 Small Groups / Sunday School for all ages
@1045 Worship Gathering
@6pm Judges video study in youth room
Sermon Notes Who’s Your One? ~ John 1:29-51
The sermon in one sentence: Every follower of Jesus has at least one person in their life with whom they can share the love and grace of God in Jesus.
Hearing the gospel and trusting in Jesus will forever change your life (1:29-44)
Following Jesus, you should seek to lead others to follow Jesus (1:40-51)
The Who’s Your One? Challenge:
Think of at least one person in your life who is not a follower of Jesus
Commit to pray for your “one” for at least 30 days
Pray and look for opportunities to share the gospel with your one
Songs for Worship 10,000 Reasons How Great Is Our God Tell Me the Story of Jesus Let Others See Jesus in You Shout to the Lord
While Moses was on the mountain receiving instruction from the Lord, the people grew impatient. Their hearts turned to idolatry and they demanded that Aaron make images of gods for them to worship. God’s anger burned against Israel because of this rebellion, and as part of the punishment, he told the people, “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people” (Exodus 33:3).
God would keep his promise, he would give them the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but he was withdrawing his presence from them.
This grieved the people, but most of all it grieved Moses. So much so, that he went before God in prayer and plead on behalf of himself and Israel, saying, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here” (33:15).
The Promised Land was a great gift of God, but Moses knew there was something better, and without it he didn’t want a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses knew the best thing they could have was God himself.
For followers of Jesus, this is what makes eternity so wonderful. God hasn’t simply offered a Promised Land full of good things; rather, he promises his very presence.
In Revelation 21, John sees the vision of the heavenly Jerusalem coming down to rest on the new earth. As he marvels at the sight, a voice echoes from God’s throne: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (21:3-4).
Moses knew that the presence of God made Israel unique. John saw in eternity that God’s presence is the defining aspect of being God’s people. The land itself will be nice, but it’s God’s presence that produces the fullness of joy. This is why King David’s heart sang, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
I once had a young man say to me that he told a person at Bible camp that he sometimes felt doubt. The person responded to him, “Christians aren’t supposed to doubt.”
But the reality is, even if we are walking faithfully, following Jesus, and guided by the Holy Spirit and God’s word, we are still living in an imperfect world. We are on a journey with the finish line being the start of our eternity with Christ. It is then, Paul wrote, we will know fully just as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12). For now, though, we are still works in progress, those who will arrive but have not yet done so.
That means that even for the most faithful follower of Jesus, doubt still sometimes happens.
Think of the life of John the Baptist. Luke’s gospel tells us that from the womb he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, shortly before Jesus arrived on the scene, he preached the gospel in the wilderness as crowds came to him to be baptized. He even baptized Jesus and in that moment witnessed the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus and the Father’s voice boom from heaven, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.”
John was a prophet, messianic forerunner, and great man of faith. Jesus even praised John, saying, “I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John” (Luke 7:28).
Yet, in Matthew 11 we read:
Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?” (11:2-3)
With everything John had experienced, you would think if anyone wouldn’t doubt it would be him. Yet, confined to prison and unsure about his own future, John had a moment of doubt. Jesus replied back with a gentle correction, because that is the grace that he gives in the face of doubt.
So, when doubt arises, we should not think that our faith is poor or that we’re failing Jesus. Even the most devout Christians experience times of doubt. Instead, let us through prayer cast our doubts upon the God who cares for us. Let us through God’s word hear the voice and feel the presence of our loving Father. Let us through other followers of Jesus bear one another’s burdens and help each other carry those moments of doubt. Let us experience the wonder of God’s grace.
All scripture quotes are taken from the Christian Standard Bible.
2/9/19 – Men’s Breakfast at the pastor’s; 8:30am — men, join us for biscuits, gravy, bacon, and fellowship; fathers and grandfathers, feel free to bring sons and grandsons!
2/10/19 – Evangelism Training week 1 of 3; Noon, with lunch — after our morning worship gatherings during the last three Sundays of February, we’ll meet in the gym for lunch and then Life On Mission – 3 Circles evangelism training.
You can check out the event pages on our facebook page.
Join us this Sunday as Jeremy Bridges shares from God’s word, filling in for pastor Mike. We hope to see you there! There will be no evening Bible study on the 3rd.
Schedule
@945 Small Groups / Sunday School for all ages
@1045 Worship Gathering
**Evening Study Cancelled This Week
Songs for Worship Better Is One Day Speak, O Lord A Selection of Favorite Hymns
