Announcements - Thank You - Prayer List

Sermon Sunday January 29  “Missions”  By Brian Morton 

Women’s Bible Study at Faith Church. Feb 6th at 10 am Bring a
salad for lunch. All women are invited!

NANCY LEE WILL BE GIVING A LESSON ON BIBLICAL GUIDANCE ABOUT DEPRESSION.

NANCY IS A FORMER NURSE ( R.N.) IN THE MILITARY DURING THE  Vietnam WAR.

SHE IS A VERY GOOD TEACHER AND IS A WELL VERSED CHRISTIAN.  I KNOW THE LADIES WILL ENJOY IT.

BRING A SALAD IF YOU WANT TO STAY FOR LUNCH.

TEA AND COFFEE WILL BE PROVIDED ALONG WITH THE TABLE SERVICE.

HOPE WE CAN HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF LADIES THERE.

Feb 12th:- Second Sunday Devotions by Juanita Wolfley

Feb 19th, Sunday 4 pm – Fun Night & Monthly Birthday Celebration
& Game Show.

If you want to deliver food from the senior center to the McGee’s, see Judy
Brown.

Prayer/Praises Requests
Faith Church is a Praying Church!!  

Pray for safety of Dulcinea Wenzel’s Orphan mission trip
in March.
Dixie  Wright– Health
Larry & Mary Selby– He-colon (is cancer Free) & Her -
Breast  cancer. Rubin's neighbors
George & Oleta McGee–George dialysis– Oleta surgery
recovery
All the Christians being persecuted.
Pray for Pastor John in Pakistan
Pray for our church members to be able to reach out and touch people with
Gods message and encourage them to come to Faith Church. Pray for our Military
Safe travels for all traveling.
Reatha Smith– health
Hannah– Rubin’s 15 year old granddaughter. Depression.

Huge Thank You to…
Eudora Read for your sweet sweet spirit and to All those that are helping this church family to grow...& to God for all his Blessings!

Verse For this week

Psalm 26:1-3
"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without waver-ing. Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for Your love is ever before me, and I walk continu-ally in Your truth."

  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,

 I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the
Lord our God,
I will seek your good

Sunday January 22 2017

 Pastor Kim's Sermon Notes

Do You Believe?

Definition of believe

1. A : To have a firm religious faith 
   B : To accept something as true, genuine, or real <ideals we believe in> <believes in ghosts>

Believed
BELIE'VED,  pp. Credited; assented to, as true
  
Believing 
BELIE'VING,  ppr. Giving credit to testimony or to other evidence than personal knowledge.

KJV Dictionary Definition: believe

believe

1 BELIE'VE, v.t. To credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of something upon the declaration of another, or upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by other circumstances, than personal knowledge. When we believe upon the authority of another, we always put confidence in his veracity.
When we believe upon the authority of reasoning, arguments, or a concurrence of facts and circumstances, we rest our conclusions upon their strength or probability, their agreement with our own experience, &c.
2. To expect or hope with confidence; to trust.I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalms 27:13
BELIE'VE, v.i. To have a firm persuasion of any thing. In some cases, to have full persuasion, approaching to certainty; in others, more doubt is implied. It is often followed by in or on, especially in the scriptures. To believe in, is to hold as the object of faith. "Ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1 To believe on, is to trust, to place full confidence in, to rest upon with faith. "To them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:7 Johnson. But there is no ground for much distinction.

Important!! Please Read 2 or 3 Times!

John 17: 20-26   “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you^[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

The Disciples In The World 

John 17:13-26 (NASB)
¹³  "But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
¹⁴  "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
¹⁵  "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
¹⁶  "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
¹⁷  "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
¹⁸  "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
¹⁹  "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
²⁰  "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;

Their Future Glory 
 
²¹  that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
²²  "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
²³  I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
²⁴  "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
²⁵  "O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me;
²⁶  and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."  

Announcements - Thank You - Prayer List

Jan 22nd, Sunday 4 pm – Fun Night & Monthly Birthday Celebration, Card Bingo & Potluck!!!

 
Women’s Bible Study at Faith Church. Feb 6th at 10 am Bring a
salad for lunch. All women are invited!

If you want to deliver food from the senior center to the McGee’s, see Judy
Brown.

Sermon Tomorrow Morning -  

“Do You Believe?” 

Huge Thank You to…

Dixie Wright for your caring & friendly spirit and to All those that are helping this church family to grow...& to God for all his Blessings!

Prayer/Praises Requests

Faith Church is a Praying Church!! 

Pray for safety of Dulcinea Wenzel’s Orphan mission trip
in March.

Dixie Wright – Health

Larry & Mary Selby– He-colon (is cancer Free) & Her -Breast cancer. Rubin's
neighbors

George & Oleta McGee – George dialysis – Oleta surgery recovery

All the Christians being persecuted.

Pray for Pastor John in Pakistan 

Sharon & Larry Anderson – Strength for Sharon & Health of Larry. 

Pray for our church members to be able to reach out and touch people with
Gods message and encourage them to come to Faith Church. 

Carol McCaslin– Daughter-in-law of Lela. Lives in Washington-Pray they
have removed all the cancer. 

Pray for our Military

Safe travels for all traveling. 

Ivy Woodard and Reatha Smith– health 

Hannah– Rubin’s 15 year old granddaughter. Depression.

 

  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,

 I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the
Lord our God,
I will seek your good

Verse For Today

Romans 8:17 NIV
"Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if in-deed we share in His sufferings in order than we may also share in His glory."

Church Library

 Be sure and stop by the
Church Library on the way out and check out a book to read and pick up “Our Daily Bread” pamphlet on the table at the en-trance. Juanita Woofley has logged each book and has done a fantastic job.

Brethren, I was asked about how to donate money for Bibles to reach the least reached peoples, and I thought I would pass this information to everyone in case others are interested . Here are two ministries that do this for $5.00 per New Testament Bible.

Open Doors USA
PO BOX 27001
Santa Ana CA 92799
888-524-2535
opendoorsusa.org

VOM
PO Box 443
Bartlesville OK 74005-0443
800-747-0085
persecution.com/bibles

VOM = The Voice Of The Martyrs
A non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.

Announcements - Thank You - Prayer List

Announcements - Thank You - Prayer List

Jan 15th, Sunday 4 pm –( CANCELLED ) Fun Night & Monthly Birthday Celebration . Card Bingo & Potluck, Everyone welcome!

Women’s Bible Study at Faith Church. February 6th at 10 AM Bring a salad for
lunch. All women are invited!

 
Huge Thank You to…
Sheila Bilyeu for your sweet smile & support of this church and to All those that are helping this church family to grow...& to God for all his Blessings
 
Prayer/Praises Requests

Faith Church is a Praying Church!! 

Pray for safety of Dulcinea Wenzel’s Orphan mission trip
in March.

 

Dixie Wright – Health

Larry & Mary Selby– He-colon (is cancer Free) & Her -Breast cancer. Rubin's
neighbors

George & Oleta McGee – George dialysis – Oleta surgery recovery

All the Christians being persecuted.

Pray for Pastor John in Pakistan 

Sharon & Larry Anderson – Strength for Sharon & Health of Larry. 

Pray for our church members to be able to reach out and touch people with
Gods message and encourage them to come to Faith Church. 

Carol McCaslin– Daughter-in-law of Lela. Lives in Washington-Pray they
have removed all the cancer. 

Pray for our Military

Safe travels for all traveling. 

Ivy Woodard and Reatha Smith– health 

Hannah– Rubin’s 15 year old granddaughter. Depression.

 Pray for Jerusalem

 

Church Library

 Be sure and stop by the
Church Library on the way out and check out a book to read and pick up “Our Daily Bread” pamphlet on the table at the en-trance. Juanita Woofley has logged each book and has done a fantastic job.

 
Brethren, I was asked about how to donate money for Bibles to reach the least reached peoples, and I thought I would pass this information to everyone in case others are interested . Here are two ministries that do this for $5.00 per New Testament Bible.

Open Doors USA
PO BOX 27001
Santa Ana CA 92799
888-524-2535
opendoorsusa.org

VOM
PO Box 443
Bartlesville OK 74005-0443
800-747-0085
persecution.com/bibles

VOM = The Voice Of The Martyrs
A non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.

 
             NO TIME
There’s a loving letter I mean to send,
There is a visit I mean to pay
There’s a careless habit I hope to mend,
When I get the time someday.
There’s a dusty Bible I mean to read
There’s an hour I’ll keep to pray
I’ll turn each dream to a golden deed.
When I get the time someday.
I’ll carry flowers to the sick and sad
I’ll seek for those who stray
You can trace my steps by hearts made glad,
When I get the time someday.
So somebody, thought, so somebody said,
But wasn’t it just a crime?
Too busy with less important things

They never did get the TIME

  Pray for the continued blessing of Faith Church that we may continue to prosper and grow!!

May you have a God Blessed Day

Sunday January 15 2017

Sundays Sermon "Deny Jesus"

Pastor Kim's Sermon Notes

Deny Jesus

Psalms 25:1-5
1 To you O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.

Prayer For Protection, Guidance and Pardon
A Psalm Of David
 
Psalm 25:1-5 (NASB) 
 l To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
²  O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.
³  Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
⁴  Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.
⁵  Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.
 
John 18: Story of Peter and the two campfires John 18:25 and  John 21:9. 
And Denying Jesus 3 Times! John 18:17, John 18:25,  John 18:26-27

 John 13:36-38 (NASB)
³⁶  Simon Peter *said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later."
³⁷  Peter *said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You."
³⁸  Jesus *answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.

 John 18:1-28 (NASB)
¹  When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.
²  Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
³  Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
⁴  So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, "Whom do you seek?"
⁵  They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He *said to them, "I am He." And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.
⁶  So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
⁷  Therefore He again asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene."
⁸  Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
⁹  to fulfill the word which He spoke, "Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one."
¹⁰  Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus.
¹¹  So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"
¹²  So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,
¹³  and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
¹⁴  Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.
¹⁵  Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,
¹⁶  but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
¹⁷  Then the slave-girl who kept the door *said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He *said, "I am not."
¹⁸  Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
¹⁹  The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.
²⁰  Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.
²¹  "Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said."
²²  When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?"
²³  Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?"
²⁴  So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
²⁵  Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it, and said, "I am not."
²⁶  One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, *said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?"
²⁷  Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
²⁸  Then they *led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 

The Love Of Motivation
John 21:15-17 (NASB)
¹⁵  So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs."
¹⁶  He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."
¹⁷  He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep.  


Mathew 10:33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My father who is in Heaven.

 Matthew 10:32-33 (NASB)
³²  "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
³³  "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. 

Verse For Today
Luke 24:36-39
"While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.'"

Announcements - Thank You - Prayer List

Women’s Bible Study at Faith Church. Jan 9th at 10 AM Bring a salad for
lunch. All women are invited!

Jan 15th, Sunday 4 pm – Fun Night & Monthly Birthday Celebration . Card Bingo & Potluck, Everyone welcome!

 Thank You Jim & Kay Lucken for the lovely and delicious treat bags after the candle light service.!

Huge Thank You to…
Jim Lucken for writing the Blog for this church and to All those that are helping this church family to grow...& to God for all his Blessings!

Huge Thank You to…
John Rubin for giving of his heart for this church and to All those that are helping this church family to grow...& to God for all his Blessings!


Prayer/Praises Requests

Faith Church is a Praying Church!! 


Dixie Wright– Heart issues
Larry & Mary Selby– He-colon & Her -Breast cancer. Rubin's neighbors 
George & Oleta McGee–George dialysis– Oleta surgery recovery
All the Christians being persecuted. 
Pray for Pastor John in Pakistan
Sharon & Larry Anderson– Strength for Sharon & Health of Larry. 
Pray for our church members to be able to reach out and touch people with Gods
message and encourage them to come to Faith Church.
Carol McCaslin– Daughter-in-law of Lela. Lives in Washington-Pray they have
removed all the cancer. 
Pray for our Military 
Safe travels for all traveling.
Ivy’s Woodard health
Hannah– Rubin’s 15 year old granddaughter. Depression. improving

Brethren, I was asked about how to donate money for Bibles to reach the least reached peoples, and I thought I would pass this information to everyone in case others are interested . Here are two ministries that do this for $5.00 per New Testament Bible.

Open Doors USA
PO BOX 27001
Santa Ana CA 92799
888-524-2535
opendoorsusa.org

VOM
PO Box 443
Bartlesville OK 74005-0443
800-747-0085
persecution.com/bibles

VOM = The Voice Of The Martyrs
A non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.

Church Library

 Be sure and stop by the
Church Library on the way out and check out a book to read and pick up “Our Daily Bread” pamphlet on the table at the en-trance. Juanita Woofley has logged each book and has done a fantastic job.


  Pray for the continued blessing of Faith Church that we may continue to prosper and grow!!

May you have a God Blessed Day

Sunday January 8 2017

 Sermon "Not All Humans Are The Same"

New Creation – People are not the Same

 We Are A New Creation Because We Have The Holy Spirit to Guide And Direct Us Every Day!

Genesis 4:1-8   

1 Adam^[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.^[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth^[c] a man.” ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”^[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Cain And Able 

 Genesis 4:1-16 (NASB)
¹  Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD."
²  Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
³  So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.
⁴  Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering;
⁵  but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
⁶  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
⁷  "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
⁸  Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
⁹  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
¹⁰  He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.
¹¹  "Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
¹²  "When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."
¹³  Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is too great to bear!
¹⁴  "Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
¹⁵  So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.
¹⁶  Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.  

People Are Different 

Western Europe – Renaissance  - South Pacific Still Head Hunting

Judges 3:1  
1 These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan.  Verse 5: The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. ⁶ They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

Idolatry Leads To Servetude 

Judges 3:1-8 (NASB)
¹  Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan;
²  only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly).
³  These nations are: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath.
⁴  They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses.
⁵  The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites;
⁶  and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
⁷  The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
⁸  Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.  
  
2 Corinthians  6:14  
14 [ Warning Against Idolatry ] Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
People groups used to live in their own part of the world.

Their Ministry Commended

2 Corinthians 6:1-18 (NASB)
¹  And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—
²  for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"—
³  giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
⁴  but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
⁵  in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
⁶  in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
⁷  in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
⁸  by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
⁹  as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,
¹⁰  as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
¹¹  Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.
¹²  You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.
¹³  Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.
¹⁴  Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
¹⁵  Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
¹⁶  Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
¹⁷  "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.
¹⁸  "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.  

2 Corinthians 5:16-19 
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ.

The Temporal And Eternal 

  2 Corinthians 5:1-21 (NASB) ¹  For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
²  For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,
³  inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.
⁴  For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.
⁵  Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.
⁶  Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—
⁷  for we walk by faith, not by sight—
⁸  we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
⁹  Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
¹⁰  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
¹¹  Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
¹²  We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.
¹³  For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
¹⁴  For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
¹⁵  and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
¹⁶  Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
¹⁷  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
¹⁸  Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
¹⁹  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
²⁰  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
²¹  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

Verse 
Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB)
¹³  "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
¹⁴  "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Sunday January 1 2017

Sermon Title “Christmas: Message of Peace”

Luke 2:13-14  
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 Jesus' Birth In Bethlehem

 Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)
¹  Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
²  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
³  And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
⁴  Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
⁵  in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
⁶  While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
⁷  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸  In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
¹⁰  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
¹¹  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
¹²  "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
¹³  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
¹⁴  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
¹⁵  When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
¹⁶  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
¹⁷  When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
¹⁸  And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
¹⁹  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
²⁰  The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.  

 Ephesians 2:14-15  

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,   

15 By setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

 

Peace:  1. Peace with God

       

            2. Peace with Self

            3. Peace with Others

Made Alive In Christ

 Ephesians 2:1-22 (NASB)
¹  And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
²  in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
³  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
⁴  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
⁵  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
⁶  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
⁷  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
⁸  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
⁹  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
¹⁰  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
¹¹  Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands—
¹²  remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
¹³  But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
¹⁴  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
¹⁵  by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
¹⁶  and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
¹⁷  AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;
¹⁸  for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
¹⁹  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,
²⁰  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
²¹  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
²²  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.  

Romans 15:13 

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Romans 15:13 (NASB)
¹³  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 

2 Peter 1:2  

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

 Growth In Christian Virtue

2 Peter 1:1-15 (NASB)
¹  Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
²  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
³  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
⁴  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
⁵  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
⁶  and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
⁷  and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
⁸  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁹  For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
¹⁰  Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
¹¹  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
¹²  Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.
¹³  I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,
¹⁴  knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
¹⁵  And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.  

Verse
 Psalm 103:11-12 (NASB)
¹¹  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him.
¹²  As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.