Forward In Faith

The children of Israel are still in the wilderness of disobedience. But in chapter 20 we find that 38 years have passes without any record recorded. What does that mean? Here in this chapter we hear the 7th time the people complain and we see Moses and Aaron also take a step of disobedience that will keep them in the wilderness.

This Sunday we begin a new sermon series: The Pilgrimage of Faith: Truths for life from the book of Numbers. The first message is titled Moving forward in Faith. Israel is counted and organized by God for battle, worship and service. They begin their pilgrimage to enter into God’s promise. The sad truth of the book is that many who started this journey never enjoyed the fruit of the promise of God.

This weeks message comes form Psalms 127. Here the scriptures challenge us to put our homes in order. God created the home for the good of lives and society. But he did not create this wonderful representation of heaven on earth and leave it’s construction up to our own ideas. This passage challenges us to follow the instruction of God’s word so that our homes would be both health and happy.

This week we will kick off a new series titled: Faith & Family. The sermon is, Back to School. For many the past couple of weeks has meant the start of a new school years. For students, and parents, this is an exciting time. These first weeks are exciting and important for a couple of reasons. First it is a new start. Every student gets a clean slate. They start as all “A” students with great potential. And second, the opening session all go back to the basic for review. For families who are seeking to honor God, we need a fresh start and we need to go back to the basics of how God created the home.

On Labor Day week end we will turn the page from the Gospel of John to the first chapter of Acts. But, we will still focus on The Wonders of Jesus. Here we are reminded of the Wonder of His Ascension. This proves that Jesus’ kingdom is for all people and that He is reigning today. As citizens of this kingdom, Jesus promises us power, so why are we standing around?

Often we find the storms of life overwhelming. It feels like many things that are out of our control are pushing us around and keeping us from getting to our desired destination. Somethings those country winds cause us to be afraid. Like the disciples on the sea we need to hear and heed the command of Jesus, Don’t Be Afraid. And we need to see Him as the great, “I AM.”

This week we come to the Fourth miracle of Jesus in the Gospel of John. In this account we see that Jesus test the faith of His disciples. He tests our faith first to help us see what we are depending on and second that we might trust Him more. Jesus wants us to grow in our faith and he wants us to experience His abundance. John 6:1-15.

The Wonders of Jesus were signs that are meant to open our eyes to the life transforming power of God’s Grace.

This week we turn to the Second book of Chronicles to read of an event that reminds of the danger of drifting away from the practice of worshiping the living God. We can become focused on so many things that may seem important for the moment. But, if we were to prayerfully consider where we are investing our passions, we might discover that we are pursuing temporal things. Things that won’t matter 20,50 or 100 years from now. We were created for the eternal things of the Kingdom of God. Worshiping the God of Heaven, tunes our hearts to the truly important things of life. Focusing on the presence and power of God brings peace to the human soul.

Jesus teaching is to challenge us to be aware that God is always at work I Like Jesus and John we are to be busy with God’s work II. Jesus and John worked hard… to introduce people to the Gospel of God’s Love. III. Jesus exposes the inactivity of the self-righteous when He asked “what shall I liken this generation to?” IV. Jesus calls us to wisdom, and to get in the game.

The grace of God that is working in us is making all things new. We have a new relationship with God, we have a new perspective of people and we have a new reason to do “good works.” As we read from 2 Corinthians chapter 9 this morning, we will discover that their is a harvest of God’s grace available to those who will faithfully plant seeds of love.

This week we find in the Love Letter of 2nd Corinthians a passage of encouragement and assignment. In Chapter 5 we are instructed that now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation! God is at work to bring to you the message of reconciliation and the power of new life. In fact His desire is to make all things new.

This week we open the second letter to the church at Corinth. It opens with the blessed assurance of God’s mercy and comfort. The Christian has the opportunity to walk in Joy because the confidence that is our in His comforting presence. If you are not walking in Joy, it is often because you have forgotten that He is near. 2 Corinthians 1 remands us of these great truths.

This week we are looking at one of the most popular chapters in the Bible. I Corinthians 13. We know it as the great love chapter, and though we know what it has to say most people simply don’t understand what this Godly love is. We have been given the gift of God’s love through Jesus our Lord and Savior. We need to learn to let His love flow through us.

This week we will focus on the instruction given to the church on the observance of the Lord’s Supper. As Paul writes to the church in Corinth he rebukes them for ignoring the purpose and preparation that is required to honor the Lord with our lives and in His church. Our worship should unify our service and fill our lives with thanksgiving for the sacrifice of Jesus.