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This Week at First

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October 13th: When God is Not There


It’s easy to thank God when blessings flow into our lives and we stand upon the mountain top, but what happens when the bottom falls out and we can’t find our way out of the valley? What happens when God seems to be nowhere to be found? Both Job and the early church struggled with these questions, and using passages from Job (23:1-9, 16-17), and the Letter to the Hebrews (4:12-16), we, too, will wrestle with the question of what happens “When God is Not There.”


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

Job 23:1-9, 16-17


Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter

23 Then Job answered:

 

2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;[a]    his[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him,    that I might come even to his dwelling!4 I would lay my case before him,    and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would learn what he would answer me,    and understand what he would say to me.6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?    No; but he would give heed to me.7 There an upright person could reason with him,    and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.

 

8 “If I go forward, he is not there;    or backward, I cannot perceive him;9 on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him;    I turn[c] to the right, but I cannot see him.

 

 

16 God has made my heart faint;    the Almighty[a] has terrified me;17 If only I could vanish in darkness,    and thick darkness would cover my face![b]


 

Hebrews 4:12-16


12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

 

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.  15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested[a] as we are, yet without sin.  16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

   

 







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October 6th: What's The Big Deal?


This Sunday we celebrate World Communion Sunday with guest speaker David Williams. But just what does that mean? Why do we do it year after year? Why is it so important. Using Paul's first Letter to the Corinthian, we will seek to answer those questions as we ask, "What's the Big Deal?" Our scriptures will be Exodus 13:11-16 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.


See you Sunday.


 

Exodus 13:11-16


The Consecration of the Firstborn

11 “When the Lord has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and has given it to you,  12 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your livestock that are males shall be the Lord’s.  13 But every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. Every firstborn male among your children you shall redeem.  14 When in the future your child asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall answer, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.  15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborn to the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’  16 It shall serve as a sign on your hand and as an emblem[a] on your forehead that by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”


 

1 Corinthians 11:23-26


The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,  24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for[a] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

   

 







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September 29th: Are You Happy?


Jesus came to earth so we might have life and have it in abundance, not a life of drudgery, but a life of joy and happiness. So, let me ask, “Are you happy?” This week we will look at both Psalm 1 and James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a and see if we are working against our own happiness. The message, “Are you Happy?” will hopefully get us thinking and acting in ways that will both please God and make us happy. Our special mission’s guest will be Benward L’oningo representing Free Generation in Tanzania.


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

Psalm 1


The Two Ways

1 Happy are those    who do not follow the advice of the wicked,or take the path that sinners tread,    or sit in the seat of scoffers;2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,    and on his law they meditate day and night.3 They are like trees    planted by streams of water,which yield their fruit in its season,    and their leaves do not wither.In all that they do, they prosper.

 

4 The wicked are not so,    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,    but the way of the wicked will perish.


 

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a


Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.  14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.  15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.  16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.  17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.  18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for[a] those who make peace.

 

Friendship with the World

4 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?  2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet[b] something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask.  3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.  


7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

   

 







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