This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive) that we have put our hope in the living God who is the Savior of all, and especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 3:9-10
Like Us According to a recent press release, it appears that a
majority of the 171 presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have approved
a change to the current description of marriage in their Constitution to affirm
same-sex unions.
At its meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, Palisades
Presbytery became the 86th presbytery to approve an amendment to the PC(USA)’s
Book of Order, part of its constitution. The new language reads:
Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind
for the wellbeing of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique
commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and
support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that
unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the
church and the wider community.
In civil law, marriage is a contract that
recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society. In the
Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active
part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges.
The 221st General Assembly (2014) of the PC(USA) approved
Amendment 14-F last summer, but required a majority of presbyteries to ratify
the provision for it to become part of the church’s Constitution. The
change will take effect on June 21.
As reported by The New York Times, the nation’s
largest denominations—including the Roman Catholic Church and most evangelical
churches—recognize marriage only as between a man and a woman. Other religious
denominations that have officially decided to permit their clergy to perform
same-sex marriages include the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ,
the Quakers, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Churches and, in
Judaism, the Reform and Conservative movements. The Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America left it open for individual ministers to decide. The United
Methodist Church, with about 5.5 million members, has been debating same-sex
marriage for years, but it includes a growing membership in Africa, where there
is little acceptance of gay relationships.
“I don’t see any further large mainline denominations making
the same move,” said Alan Wisdom, a Presbyterian and the interim editor of Theology
Matters, a journal for conservative Protestants.
It’s important to note that the PC (USA) is a separate body
from The Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), which has not changed their
traditional stance on same-sex marriage. For important information on the
differences between the PC (USA) and PCA, click to this blog post by The Gospel Coalition.
It is significant that Jesus prayed from the cross. While experiencing the worst torture a human being could endure – he prayed.
Most of us, in such moments of anguish, would succumb to the suffering. Our prayers would be diminished to one word: “Help!” Reflecting on the worst moments of my life, I must admit “Help!” is the most sincere prayer I’ve ever uttered.
Yet, Jesus went beyond a prayer for help at Golgotha. His prayers from the cross reveal the intensity of his pain – yet, a deep love pouring from his heart. Instead of being consumed with himself, he turned his focus to God and others.
The old adage states, “We all have our cross to bear.” In our moments of anguish, we can look to Jesus, and see how he responded in his darkest valley. A review of Good Friday events shows that Jesus did three things:
1)He pressed into prayer.
2)He poured out love. 3)He surrendered all to God.
What an example for us! In deep sorrow and suffering, we, too, can press into prayer, pour out love, and surrender all to God.
The prayers of Christ from the cross serve as an excellent model for our praying during this holy week:
1)Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
Are you holding bitterness and resentment in your heart? Who has wronged you? Are you struggling to forgive? If you can’t bring yourself to forgive them, ask God to do the forgiving for you. Forgiveness is for our own benefit. Carrying resentment is like swallowing poison and hoping the other person will die.
2)Today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
Who is lost, broken and hurting? Pray for those who are suffering from their own decisions. Rather than judge them, love them. Remember we all need grace, and our past mistakes do not necessariy dictate our future. Focus on the life beyond this life, and how God’s love draws us to where we need to be. Trust those who are wandering to God’s care.
3)Behold your mother. (John 19:26-27)
Are you so consumed with your own pain that you are neglecting those closest you? What do your dearest loved ones need from you? Do you know how they’re doing? Pray for them. Love them deeply. Show them your concern.
4)My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mat. 27:46, Mark 15:34)
Admit your deep despair and loneliness. Where and when do you feel rejected and forsaken? This prayer comes from Psalm 22. Remind yourself that Psalm 23 follows immediately. We are never alone. In the darkest valley, God is with us.
5)I thirst. (John 19:28)
What is your deep seated thirst? What do you think you need to survive? Thirst for praise? Thirst for acceptance? Thirst for significance? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
6)It is finished. (John 19:30)
What needs finishing in your life? What have you begun, but not completed? What is God’s calling for you – his unique mission? Are you following it? If not, what stands in the way? What parts of you are still “under construction?” Be patient with others, they are still under construction too. “Be patient with me. God is not finished with me yet.”
7)Into your hands I commit my spirit. (Luke 23:46)
What do you need to release into God’s hands? Have you been trying to control outcomes and other people? Let them go. Release them into the hands of your loving father. Are you concerned about your future? Your past? Are you confused about your present situation? Are you struggling emotionally? Spiritually? Relationally? Physically? Surrender all to God.
Plan to join us this coming Friday for the 7:00pm Good Friday Worship and then serve on Saturday morning beginning at 9:00am to prepare for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. This year invitations have gone to families in the YMCA, STEM and Girl Scouts. The Easter Egg Hunt and activities begin at 10:00am
Sunday is Resurrection Sunday as we celebrate Easter 2015. Join us for a free breakfast on Sunday morning beginning at 9:00am and our time of corporate worship at 10:30!
Sunday: Triumphal Entry Popularity is fickle. As Jesus entered Jerusalem during Passover Week, the
adulation and expectation of the people was intense. What happened next—satisfaction
or disappointment—and why?Matthew 21:1-11
Monday: Clearing the
Temple The trouble with righteous anger is that it is much easier to be angry than
to be righteous. How does Jesus' anger compare with your own "righteous"
anger or that of others?Mark 11:12-19
Tuesday: Teaching at the
Mount of Olives What are the hallmarks of Jesus' prophecy? How did his audience receive his
prophecy? How can his example help you to discern true or false prophets today?Matthew 24:1-31
Wednesday:A day of quiet preparation for the weekend
that changed the world. How will you plan to honor the Lord today and clear
your calendar for the weekend to live your life to the praise of God’s
glory!Today is the day to send that
email – make that phone call – message through Facebook a personal invitation
to join us this weekend!
Thursday: The Last Supper How do you respond to crisis? What does Jesus' response to crisis teach you
about him and about God?Matthew 26:17-30
Thursday: Betrayal &
Arrest Those closest to us have the power to hurt us in deep, personal ways that
others do not. What does being a loyal friend mean to you? What pressures in
your life test your loyalty to Jesus?Mark 14:43-72
Friday: Trial In what ways is Christianity distorted to fit other agendas and ideologies?
What tempts you to compromise your faith? Jesus' conduct during his trial can
equip and inspire you to hold fast to the truth.John 18:28–19:16
Friday: Crucifixion Because of Jesus' teaching and his confrontation of suffering, Christians
know that honestly facing and feeling our grief is the best way through it. How
have you been helped or hindered by others in times of personal hurt or loss?Matthew
27
Sunday: Resurrection Easter Sunday is the biggest celebration on the Christian calendar. But many
sneer at the impossibility of the Resurrection. How do you know it happened?
What does it mean for you, for others and for the world?
Luke 24:1-43
Plan to join us for the
free breakfast provided at the church beginning at 9:00am until 10:00am. Then
continue the fellowship with coffee and juice and prepare your hearts for
corporate worship beginning at 10:30am
INTRO: Remember when you were in college or graduate studies and you were
required to take an elective humanities class? You may have taken Art
Appreciation. A certain A until you were in the class and you had to do more
than simply look at pictures and paintings – you had to gain appreciation or
understand the mood, method and message of the artist. Here are some examples:
·Van Gogh – Starry Night
·
Michael Angelo – on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome
duringthe
Reissuance period – part of the creation of Adam painting.
Contemporary -I always
got this wrong – thinking it was from the Kindergarten or first grade years - My
grandchildren could paint this.
·
This is a picture I created. I call it: Coaching in the ACC.
What are they saying – what message is being
communicated?I have no idea.
I am wonder on that morning when Jesus entered
into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey what people saw – what did they think
about it? Did Judas appreciate it?Did
the Disciples truly understand what they were observing? The religious leaders
did they grasp the meaning? The multitudes who cried “Hosanna” within the week
cried “Crucify Him!” They missed it.They were all part of the picture God was painting. They could not see
it – comprehend it – understand it until later.
My question to you this morning is:Do you really understand, do you fully
comprehend and appreciate what God was communicating to you through the Cross?What we are going to do this morning is to go to a short Art
Appreciation Class – but I am not the instructor – The Apostle Paul will be
teaching us today through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:Romans 5 – Paul unpacks for us a View of the
Cross - the Heart of the Artist:
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. For scarcely will one die for a righteous man, yet perhaps
for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended His love toward
us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then,
being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For
if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that,
but we shall also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have
now received the atonement.Romans 5:6-11 (KJ21)
God demonstrated His LOVE for us!
For when we were yet without strength, in due
time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely will one die
for a righteous man, yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commended His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Examples: 1. Pastor of first church I ever attended.The church family surprised the pastor: box
with string attached – followed throughout the church – to parking lot – end of
the string a set of keys to his new car.
2. Pastor in Michigan who served on staff of a growing church – Pastor
became ill with a kidney disease. The staff pastor was tested and matched –
donated one of his kidneys to save this man’s life.
3. Many of you can look at your left hand a view a ring that you have
worn for many years.That wedding ring
is a symbol – it means that you have made a convent to love your spouse. To
care for one another – put up with your differences and have a committed love
for one another. (Some people break that promise – but God never breaks His
promises)
But God commended (demonstrates) His love toward us in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Do
you ever think “Does God love me?” He
loved us when we were: Helpless (without strength) [total depravity]; you were
ungodly - still sinning (yet sinners) God is paining a portrait of his love for
us! Don’t miss it! The Cross is a picture of how bad – sinful – lost we were
and of the extreme heights and depths of God’s love for you and me.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his
Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.1 John 4:10
All of
us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better
than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us
free from our sins.God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ
offered his life’s blood, so that by faith in him we could come to God. And God
did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive
sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have
faith in Jesus.Romans 3:23-25 (CEV)
You are SAVED and BEING
SAVED
Much more then, being now justified
by His blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through Him.
Romans 5:9 (KJ21)
Justified – a legal term – justice is required. God punished
sin. The wages of sin is death……And “saved”
forgave us.The Devil is an accuser and
often tells us we are not good enough for God.We are still guilty.
Example: When I am up late at night and going through the stations on TV
I often fall on a movie called Double Jeopardy.Once a crime has been paid for by time served – a person cannot be
re-tried for the same crime.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.1 Corinthians 1:18
Brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the good news I preached
to you. You received it and have put your faith in it. Because
you believed the good news, you are saved. But you must hold firmly to the
message I preached to you. If you don’t, you have believed it for nothing. What
I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is
what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would. He was
buried.He was raised from the dead on
the third day, just as Scripture said he would be.1
Corinthians 15:1-4
This is the reason we do not give up. Our human body is wearing out. But
our spirits are getting stronger every day.
1 Corinthians 4:16 (NLV)
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from
God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NKJV)
God desires RELATIONSHIP
with us!
For if, when we were enemies, we
were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that,
but we shall also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have
now received the atonement.Romans 5:10-11 (KJ21)
Those who claim to belong to him must live just as Jesus did.1 John 2:6
Closing: God loves you and demonstrates his love for you by paying the
price for your sins – Christ died once – for all! You are to walk in that forgiveness in
relationship with God. I ask today that you gasp the heart of the Artist and
understand that God has reconciled us and we can rejoice in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. By whom we have now received atonement. Do you appreciate
what God has done for us though our Lord Jesus Christ? Give your life to God – accept his love and
forgiveness.
We are in the midst of an awesome 24 hour Prayer Vigil.
Last evening was great as I felt the touch of god upon my heart. I am receiving news of answers to prayer and God at work!
Let us prepare our hearts for worship tomorrow at NRN and for a unique Palm Sunday message.
We begin with a welcome to all in attendance - then we stand to sing our praise to God:
We continue in our worship by greeting one another. It is always good to dwell in unity with one another. Our church demonstrates the love of God as we greet people into our family. Are you thankful for those gathered around you? let's continue to sing big to our God:
We’ve all been there, felt the regret. We missed it. Whether “it” was
an opportunity to advance our career, to get extra credit at school, to go to a
great concert or to finally ask that special person out on a date. We let our
fears, past hurts, doubts and pride get the better of us. The same thing happened
as Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday, some people missed
it. But this time “it” was one of the biggest moments in history. It was our
redemption moment, the ultimate display of unconditional love, grace and mercy.
Come to the Lord's Table, all you who love him. Come to the Lord's Table, all you who do earnestly repent of your sin, Come to the Lord's Table, be at peace.
We close our time together by bringing our sacrifice of praise to the Lord through our financial offerings. Let us not only be found faithful but extravagant to God and His work!
This evening at 6:00pm we begin a period of 24 hours of
prayer. A core value of our church in that Prayer is a priority in the
Christian life.
Jesus said "My house
shall be called a house of prayer."
As people come to the church each hour
over the next 24 hours we believe God will hear our prayers and that lives will
be changed. God answers prayers!
Just what is a prayer vigil? The idea is many centuries old. "Vigil"
indicates a time of "vigilance", wakefulness, a watch, originally
"kept on the night before a religious feast with prayer or other
devotions." We observe a 24 hour prayer vigil each year the week-end of
Palm Sunday in preparation for the following week of ministry leading to
Resurrection Sunday! Hundreds of prayers have been answered and miracles taken
place since our prayer vigil in 2008. Join us for our 8th year of
seeing our church become a House of Prayer for a 24 hour period.
We invite you to join us in this prayer vigil. If you cannot come to the church
- please select a time to devote one hour in prayer and simply comment to let
me know when you prayed and how your time with God went. If you are concerned
that you do not know how to pray for one hour – no worries – a prayer guide is
provided to take you through the hour of prayer. If you are in the area - you are invited to
come any hour from 6:oo pm on Friday until the closing hour beginning at 5:00 pm
on Saturday.
"The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. From
some distance away he saw a fig tree covered with leaves, and hoped to find
some fruit on it; but when he came up to it he found nothing but leaves. (It
wasn't yet the season for figs.)He addressed the tree directly. 'May no one
ever eat fruit from you again,' he said. And his disciples heard.They came into
Jerusalem. Jesus went into the Temple and began to drive out the traders, those
who bought and sold in the Temple, and overturned the tables of the
money-changers and the seats of the dove-sellers. He permitted no one to carry
any vessel through the Temple. He began to teach: 'Isn't this what's written,'
he said,'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the world to share?
But you've made it a brigands' den!' The chief priests and the legal experts
heard, and looked for a way to get rid of him. But they were afraid of him,
because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they
went back out of the city. As they were returning, early in the morning, they
saw the fig tree withered from its roots. 'Look, Teacher!' said Peter to Jesus,
remembering what had happened before. 'The fig tree you cursed has
withered.''Have faith in God,' replied Jesus. 'I'm telling you the truth: if
anyone says to this mountain, "Be off with you – get yourself thrown into
the sea," if they have no doubt in their heart, but believe that what they
say will happen, it will be done for them. That's why I'm telling you,
everything that 1 you request in prayer, everything you ask God for, believe
that you receive it, and it will happen for you.
'And when you are standing there praying, if you have something against someone
else, forgive them – so that your father in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses.' Mark 11: 12-25
Imagine you are standing on a high hill, overlooking a long valley. In the
valley are villages, a river, fields and woods, with a network of small roads
winding their way between them all. Now imagine that you can see a car, driving
much too fast, along one of those winding roads. The driver is obviously
hell-bent on getting somewhere quicker than he should. At the same time, you
see another car, coming the other way, going about its ordinary business. With
horror, you see what's going to happen. Round one of the corners, any minute
now...Welcome to Mark 11. Jesus has been warning his fellow Jews, up and down
the country, that God's kingdom is coming. But they, for the most part, have
preferred their own aspirations, their own agendas. They have been speeding on
their way, eager for national liberation of the usual revolutionary sort.
Within the society, the rich have been getting richer, and the poor poorer. The
self-appointed religious watchdogs have been concentrating on the outward rules
and purity regulations rather than on the human heart. The Temple itself, the
place where heaven and earth were supposed to meet, where God's forgiveness was
supposed to happen, has been used as a symbol of national pride. They have
ignored the warning sign and are heading straight for a sharp bend...where,
coming the other way, is Jesus...
...Mark, as we've seen elsewhere, writes the story almost like a novelist. He
frames Jesus' action in the Temple (verses 15–18) within the double story of
the fig tree. Jesus comes hoping for fruit, but finds none; so he puts a curse
on the fig tree (verses 13–14). Then, the day after the Temple incident, there
is the tree: withered from its roots (verses 20–21). The point could hardly be
clearer. Jesus has come to Jerusalem, has come to the Temple, the holiest point
in the Jewish world, looking for the fruit of repentance, of the wisdom,
justice, holiness and peace that should be the marks of God's people. He has
found none. His action in the Temple must be seen – certainly this is how Mark
and the other gospel writers see it – as an acted parable of God's judgment. No
one will eat fruit from this tree again...
...At the heart of Jesus' charge against the Temple is the little verse from
Isaiah 56.7. God's house was supposed, in the long run, to be a place of prayer
for all the world. All the nation were supposed to look to Jerusalem and see it
as a beacon of hope, of the presence of the creator God. Instead, anyone
looking would see only a market-place, and worse: a den of brigands (an
allusion to Jeremiah 7.11). 'Brigands' are more than 'robbers' (one of the
traditional translations). 'Brigands' were, in Jesus' day, the holy
revolutionaries, the terrorists, eager to overthrow pagan rule by violence. The
Temple itself has come to symbolize that deep distortion of God's kingdom. The
only word that can now be spoken to it is a word of judgment.
The disciples, watching in amazement, learn another lesson as well. They will
be faced with 'this mountain' – the mountain where the Temple sits, ruled over
by the hardhearted chief priests – in the days to come. They will need to have
faith that God will overthrow the system and all that it represents.
The lesson goes wider, in line with Jesus' repeated teaching about prayer and
faith. Ask; believe; and it will happen. But remember: while asking, forgive
(verse 25). The door that opens to let forgiveness out of your heart towards
someone else is the door through which God's forgiveness will enter.
As you look at today's world, where are the cars that are speeding much too
fast towards the dangerous bends? Where are Jesus' warnings most badly needed
in our world?
Prayer: Almighty Father, God of judgment and mercy, overthrow the
systems that abuse their calling and oppress your people, and set up your rule
of grace and peace.
As we gather for prayer at 6:30 this evening - let us turn our hearts towards God and pray this prayer:
Spirit of God - open our hearts. We need your presence. Your Kingdom come - your will be done on earth - as in Heaven!
Here is Israel Houghton singing "Your Presence is Heaven" during a live August 19, 2012 11:15am Sunday morning worship service at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC.
Waiting for something you
want can sometimes feel like an eternity. But God is not bound by time, and
what feels like an eternity to us, is simply space that allows us to grow.
How
will you use your time?
Patience is one of the most difficult virtues to have. Life
forces us to wait and be patient for many things, and it often proves
difficult. So what does the Bible say about patience?
These verses on patience can help you understand why we must
wait through trials and tribulations to fulfill God's plan for us. Read them
below and click the verse for more information.
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be
exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations
also: knowing that tribulation works patience;
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in
due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
James 1:19 Why, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift
to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brothers, to the coming of
the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has
long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James 5:8 Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the
coming of the Lord draws near.
“And this is the testimony:
God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the
Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1
John 5:11-12 NIV)
If you were to head out to a mall today
and ask people if they are going to Heaven or Hell, you’ll likely hear them
say, “I hope I’ll go to Heaven.”
But hope just isn’t good enough. I pray
that’s not your answer. Your eternal destiny is too important not to know for
sure.
Only a fool would be unprepared for what
we all know is inevitable: death. The most recent statistics show that
mortality rates in the world are 100 percent!
You’re not guaranteed another minute on
this planet, much less another hour. Don’t put off the most important choice
you’ll ever make.
The Bible says in 1 John 5:11-12, “And
this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his
Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does
not have life” (NIV).
That’s about as clear as you can get. If
you have Jesus, you have life. If you don’t have Jesus, you do not have life.
You have a choice.
You won’t go to Heaven because of someone
else’s faith. You’ll never go to Hell because of someone else’s choice.
It’s your choice! You’ll decide where
you’ll spend eternity.
This is why Christmas and Easter are so
important. If Jesus hadn’t come at Christmas and if he hadn’t died and come
back to life on Easter, we’d be hopeless. Nothing we do would matter. You
wouldn’t have this choice.
The cross is the answer to our deepest problem
— our separation from God.
The Bible says, “When you were dead in
your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made youalive
with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our
legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it
away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).
God nailed everything that separated you
from himself to the cross. But God won’t force you to make the most important
decision of your life.
