New Series--The Exciting Life of Faith

This past Sunday we finished our series of studies through the book of Titus. This next Sunday we will start a series of message through Hebrews 11--the great faith chapter. I would encourage you read Hebrews 11 several times this week in your personal devotional times. Then week by week it will deepen our study together if you read the Old Testament passages behind the examples of "The Exciting Life of Faith."

A Special Joy

It was a special joy to have Pastor Patrick and Mindy join us for worship this past Sunday. Aren't you thankful for those through whom God blesses and enriches your life?

Just A Thought on Love

We should love God for God's sake--because of who He is and because He is worthy of the supreme love of our hearts, minds, soul, and strength.

We should love others for God's sake--because people are made in His image, because He commands us to love our neighbors, and because we are to reflect His love in the world.

Business Meeting, Wednesday July 28

The monthly Business Meeting was postponed one week because of our special guests, David and Emily Rimstead. Our hearts were moved and challenged as they shared their new work on UCR with Christian Challenge.

Business Meeting will be this Wednesday, July 28.

David and Emily Rimstead Our Guest Wednesday, July 21

David and Emily Rimstead will be our guest Wednesday evening to share their new work with Christian Challenge on the campus of UCR. David graduate this past May from the BAT program at CBU and Emily is still a student at CBU. This is an important work and I pray that the church will support them as well as other individuals who feel so led.

As You Pray

As you pray daily, pray faithfully for the Pastor Seach Committee. The church has entrusted them with a great responsibility in seeking and recommending to the church a pastor. Pray that God will give them wisdom and discernment in His will for this body of believers.

Reaching People--How I Share the Gospel

To reach people who are far away from God, we must share the Gospel with them. Yet, so many Christians are either intimidated about sharing the Gospel or are not sure how to. So, I want to share with you how I share the Gospel.

Over the years I have been through so many evangelism training courses and exposed to tens and tens of ways to witness. However, I find myself coming back to share the Gospel around four passages in the book of Romans. To be sure I use other Bible passages, but these four are the outline that I use.

Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This verse allows me to start with the glory of God. I talk about God as Creator of all that there is and the fact that all things were made by and for Him. God created man in His image. The greatness of God means that we were made to love Him supremely, worship Him only, obey Him gladly, and serve Him faithfully. Then this verse allows me to go straight to the heart on man's terminal problem, sin. Sin is our rebellion against God and refusal to love Him supremely. Sin is man making himself his own "god" and thus leads to selfish, self-indulgent, self-centered living. And it is sin that produces the sins of ungodly living.

Romans 5:8, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This verse allows me to go straight to the Cross, the only solution for man's sin problem. I can talk about the sacrificial nature of God's love and how Jesus died in my place for my sins.

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." With this verse I stress the urgency of trusting the Gospel. The contrasts could be more dramatic--death (eternal death, separation from God now and forever) and eternal life; wages (what I deserve) and the free gift of God (grace).

Romans 10:9-10, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." From these two verses I can help people see that they can only be saved by faith and then emphasize the content of saving faith.

This is how I feel comfortable in sharing the Gospel. It is not necessary that you do it the way I do. What is absolutely necessary is that we share the Gospel!

How Important is the Gathering of the Church?

The New Testament knows nothing of the Christian life lived in isolation. There are no "Lone Ranger" Christians. In fact, as you read the New Testament epistles, they were written primarily to churches and addressed areas of the Christan life in the context of the church. We need one another! We need one another to grow in the faith, to worship, to have accountability, and to fulfill the mission of God across the street and around the world.

That's why Hebrews 10:24-25 admonishes us to, "consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

As you study the New Testament the answer to the question, "How important is the gathering of the church?" is clear. It is absolutely essential.

Have I ... today?

Here are some questions that are good to ask ourselves every day.

1. Have I read the Bible today?
2. Have I contemplated on the greatness and goodness of God and given His thanks for something today?
3. Have I interceded in prayer for someone within the church family today?
4. Have I prayed for a non-Christian friend today?
5. Have I spoken a word of or written a note or e-mail of encouragement to someone today.
6. Have I looked for an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone today?
7. Have I faced my sins honestly and confessed them in repentance today?
8. Have I praised God for some aspect of His glorious character today?
9. Have I been more concerned with receiving a blessing than being a blessing to others today?
10. Have I delighted in God today?

Reaching People by Blessing People

Within our network of friends and acquaintances, there are always people facing times of crisis, needs, and hurts. As we keep our eyes open, there are ways we can minister to them and help them see the greater spiritual need of their life by being a blessing to them.

Blessing People Through Prayer

We believe in the power of prayer because God has chosen to work through the believing praying of His people. However, prayer also has a great horizontal impact in our witness to people. When you know of a non-Christian friend or acquittance going through a trying time, pray for them. Pray earnestly and fervently. Pray specifically. Then write them a note or give or give them a call or stop by and see them and let them know that you have being praying for them and how you have been praying. I have never known anyone that did not appreciate praying in times of need. It opens the door to talk about your faith in God and His great power.

Blessing People Through Words of Encouragement

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." When we see people in times of great need we have an encouraging word of testimony to share with them. We have been there too! And in the midst of our need our Lord came alongside of us (that what the word "comfort" means) with His grace and love to carry us through and meet every need. We have an encouraging testimony of His faithfulness, love, and intimate care for His children.

Blessing People Through Acts of Kindness

When you see people hurting, how can you serve them through acts of kindness and compassion? Taking them out for a meal? Sitting with them for a while? Offering a helping hand? The list of possibilities goes on and on. In acts of kindness we express something of the love and grace of God in tangible ways.

DD

The Preciousness of People

Wendesday evening in the study of the book of James we talked about the the preciousness of people. I don't know how to express that truth better than the following poem written by my 13 year-old grand daughter Meredith who lives in Egypt.

Her Brown Eyes

She approaches you with a welcoming smile
a warm heart
casual looks just like anyone else
she seems pleasant
some one you would want to get to know
you sit down with her
and suddenly her eyes meet yours
it melts your heart at this awe full sight
her eyes are beautiful and charming
loving in so many ways
they sparkle and show potential
but at the same time
these eyes are lost
ones that have had it all taken away
these eyes search for hope
these eyes search for grace
these eyes are consumed by the flesh
her big brown eyes are dark
her big brown eyes search you
to see if you are what she is looking for
“will you show me love?”
“will you give me hope?”
you stare into her eyes not knowing how to respond
for if you reach out your hand to help
you could risk your life
for if you tell her of God's love
there is a possibility for no tomorrow
you turn head but something draws you back towards them
God whispers to you
“This is what I have commanded you to do.”
“This is what I long for, this is what I desire.”
“For I will save this city
this country
and they will serve me forever more!
So go
for this is my mission in progress.
I love these people
they are my children.”
once more I lift my head up to see her eyes
her big brown eyes
that need the Lord.

Meredith Dunavant