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Now I See – A Spring 2019 Sermon Series
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Pastor’s Corner – April 2019
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“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” — Matt. 11:28-30 THE MESSAGE
Out of Rhythm
About 5 years ago, my kids and I were swimming at a friend’s house and I found I couldn’t catch my breath. Even sitting still, I was breathing heavily and my heart was racing. I had no idea what was going on. Erring on the side of caution, my wife took me to the ER and we found out my heart was in atrial fibrillation. The ER staff took great care of me, and a few hours later we were on our way home. A couple of years later, my family went to Sliding Rock in North Carolina (pictured). I’ve never experienced water as cold as that. Hitting that water was such a shock that it not only knocked the wind out of me, it sent my heart into a.fib a second time. Just like the first time, I couldn’t catch my breath even standing still and my heart was racing. Having experienced it before, I knew immediately what the problem was. This trip to the ER resulted in an overnight stay, and somewhere around 15 hours later, my heart returned to normal rhythm on its own. Fortunately, other than these two instances, I have a very healthy heart and haven’t had any further issues. Some folks go into a.fib and aren’t aware of what’s going on for several days. When your heart gets out of rhythm, it affects everything else.
Life Arrhythmia
I think many of us spend our lives in a kind of “life arrhythmia.” Our lives are out of rhythm and we often don’t even realize it. We live and move and work in something of a semi-frenzy, desperately trying to keep up just enough to catch our breath every now and then. We yearn for rest, but find that even in the moments of rest (whether a couple of hours or a week of vacation), we still can’t catch our breath. Our souls weren’t meant to live like this, and when we spend our lives out of rhythm, it affects everything else. Sometimes we know what the problem is; often we don’t. If we continue to try to force ourselves to live according to the rhythm of the world around us, we’ll never get in sync and will be constantly racing to keep up. We need to look for a different way.
The Unforced Rhythms of Grace
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Pastor’s Corner – March 2019
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“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;he will never let the righteous fall.” — Psalm 55:22
Teach Us To Pray
More Than Knowing How
A Spiritual “Reset” Button
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Hope Springs Eternal
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And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.“There is nothing there,” he said.Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” (1 Kings 18:41–44)
Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lam. 3:22–26)
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What 21st-Century Christians Can Learn From The Early Church – A Lent 2019 Table Talk Series
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March 13: “How the Early Church Was Made”
March 20: “Going, Loving, Dying: The Missionary Church in Action”
March 27: “Lessons from the Catacombs”
April 3: “Contending for the Faith: Heresy and Orthodoxy”
April 10: “Constantine: The Church’s Worst Nightmare?”
April 17: “The Death Throes of Paganism”
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Pastor’s Corner – February 2019
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If you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour. If you teach him to catch a fish you do him a good turn. — English proverbBut Jesus answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” — Matthew 4:4“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Learning to Study the Scriptures
Getting SOAPy
Scripture
Observation
Application
Prayer
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New Sunday School Opportunity – Beginning Sunday, January 27
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- The closer I walk with Jesus, the closer I come to that “more and better life.”
- The more time I spend in God’s Word, the more grounded I am.
- The more I connect with other believers, the more hope I have.
- Teaching the full gospel of Jesus Christ (more than just “sin management” or whatnot),
- Parents being the primary ministers to their own children (don’t let this scare you), and
- Building as many intergenerational connections into kids lives as possible.
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Pastor’s Corner – January 2019
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Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Tim. 4:7–8 ESV)
What’s Your Resolution?
Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Praying Like Jesus
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Pastor’s Corner – December 2018
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Consumed by Consuming
A Prescription for A Better Way
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:11–13)
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December Table Talk Series: Aspects of Advent
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