A reminder: there will be no class for Sunday, December 24 or Sunday, December 31, 2023.
We’ll resume on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
See y’all then!
Category: News (Page 22 of 91)
Jonah 3:6
The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
This is a tough one. It involved being “clothed” in sackcloth and ashes. (A far cry from “Louis Vuitton” or whatever the fashionable wear is now!)
Jonah was dreading this. He knew of Nineveh’s true, utter, undisputed wickedness cruelty. And he also knew of God’s mercy for those who repent. In the off chance Nineveh would head God’s Word, Nineveh would be spared and their evil continue.
And that’s what happened.
What a disaster!
But this is precisely the point of God’s call for repentance – a turning from sin and back toward God and His ways.
So what does that have to do with clothing or sackcloth and ashes?
Being clothed in sackcloth and ashes was a sign of one’s sorrow and repentance. A sign that they were truly sorry for what they had done.
God didn’t spare the people of Nineveh because they changed their cloths and got a little dirty. He spared them because they changed their hearts and saw that they were very dirty.
The call is for us, too. We are called to repentance. True repentance. Soulful repentance. Deep repentance. Full repentance. Not an outward change of clothing or actions, but an inward transformation of the heart which produces from our very being a want and desire to change our actions.
If our repentance is done only for God and others to see, well, God sees through that; and He isn’t fooled. He wants to see that our sins, which break His heart have broken ours too. He wants to see that the actions He despises are despised by us too. He wants to see our hearts in sackcloth and ashes because we see the seriousness of our sins.
But He doesn’t leave us there! Where there is faith in Jesus there is forgiveness of our sins! Where there is confession sins there is mercy freely given! Where we were covered in ashes, He has traded us Light. Where we were drowning in sorrow and mourning, He has lifted us to peace and rejoicing. Where we wallowed in despair and hopelessness, He has stood us up in Life and hope.
Take to heart your sins, for they are serious.
Even more, take in His heart the forgiveness of all your sins through faith in Jesus, for it is certain and everlasting!
Scripture
- Jonah 3:6-10
We continue our journey through the book of ROMANS.
We’re at Romans 9 – Take 2! (Last week we got into Israel / Hamas.)
Let’s go!
As several classes and leaders have challenging schedules for CHRISTmas and the rest of the holiday season, here is a brief summary of some of the meeting schedule.
| Children’s Church | Battle | Surge (Wed.) | Belong – Special Needs | Adult Bible Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/17 | ✔ | ✔ | — | ❌ | ✔ |
| 12/20 | — | — | ✔ Caroling | — | — |
| 12/24 AM | ✔ | ✔ | — | ❌ | ❌ |
| 12/24 @5PM | ❌ | ❌ | — | ❌ | ❌ |
| 12/27 | — | — | Facebook Live | — | — |
| 12/31 | ❌ | ❌ | — | ❌ | ❌ |
| 1/3/24 | — | — | Facebook Live | — | — |
| 1/7/24 | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
Blessings to each of you as we celebrate the Savior’s birth!
Genesis 37:3
Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.
Jealousy is ugly in people. It produces hurts and feelings of inferiority. It feeds insecurities and wounds to the core of who we are, what we do, and our feelings of importance within the scheme of things. It focuses us on others, then ourselves, instead of working toward God’s good and the common good.
This can be especially true in families and for siblings. Comparisons of favor – perceived or real – can be the cause for emotional and spiritual wounds that can last a lifetime.
The story of Joseph and his father’s display of favoritism toward him in this special coat give evidence of this and the consequences that can follow.
He is sold into slavery and communicated dead to his father.
Flagrant hubris displayed through clothing produced devastating jealousy.
But that’s not where things end.
God used Joseph and the special gifts He blessed him with to save people – including those who were hurt by him and, in turn, hurt him.
God used this favorite son of Jacob to save his family, a country, and countless others!
But it goes even further: Joseph as a type of Christ!
Said differently: God’s one and only, special Son saved all!
Are we to be jealous of Jesus’ place? Of the clothing He had to wear to accomplish salvation? That would be foolish.
So it is also foolish to be jealous and hurt by others God is using for His purposes, whatever they are.
And here’s another truth: God blessed you with special, unique gifts and abilities to do His will, too! Gifts and abilities He didn’t give anyone else.
He has clothed you in your beautiful, unique skin and package to work, will, and share a message that clothes and saves others. To share Him in everything you do.
That is a truth we can all celebrate and never have to be jealous of!
Scripture
- Genesis 37:1-4
From a post by the Greater Sealy Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page:
Ribbon Cutting for the Good Samaritan Shop. This resale shop is now open to the public. The Good Samaritan is run by the Ministerial Alliance with the combination of multiple churches here in Sealy. Blue Blazer Leroy Zapalac talked about the efforts put in by many volunteers, churches, and Foundations to help make this project happen.
Open
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday 10-5pm
Thursday 10-7
First weekend of each month
Saturday 10-5
Sunday 1-5Volunteer
If you would like to Volunteer you can come in and ask for Yvonne JohnsonDonations
Drop off the back alley preferably during open hours. They are primarily looking for lightly worn clothes.
Also anything needed to run a home, like a toaster or dishes.
No Frames, sofas, or furniture please.
Genesis 3:21
And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
The first clothes we find in the Bible are all the way back in Genesis. Adam and Eve have just committed the first sin, corrupting humanity and all creation, plunging them into a fall that fundamentally separates from connection and intimacy with God.
The importance of this rebellion cannot be overlooked or minimized. It forever changed the course of history. It brought with it death and sin and shame. A shame that needed to be dealt with. Put off. Covered.
Adam and eve tried to cover this colossal mistake with fig leaves. But that won’t do. A simply external covering will not – can not – cover the sin itself. Sin demands death. It demands the shedding of blood. And so God shows His first act of mercy in not shedding the blood of Adam and Eve, but instead making the first sacrifice of an animal. Spilling its blood to cover the sin and its hide to cover the nakedness.
Whatever your sin and shame is, through faith in Jesus it is covered. Atoned for. On the cross. Forever. His blood covered your sin. His resurrection covers your shame.
“Thank You, Lord, for covering us in every way and restoring us to You!”
Scripture
- Genesis 3:14-21
Men, we’re starting a new series on our time together: “Faith in Hostile Times“ by Berni Dymet.
Description
Are you overwhelmed by the godlessness sweeping across our world and flooding every corner of cyberspace? Are you disillusioned that the most vitriolic voices in debates are sometimes those of people calling themselves Christians? In this five-part series, Berni Dymet explores how Jesus engaged with and responded to people who were hostile toward Him. In Jesus’ example, we find a way to hold tight to the truth, while speaking it in love.
Series Trailer
Schedule
| Session 1 | December 12, 2023 | The Rising Tide of Persecution |
| Session 2 | January 9, 2024 | Understanding Your Enemy |
| Session 3 | January 23 | When Freedoms Come under Threat |
| SPECIAL | February 13 | Valentine’s Meal with Wives at LB! |
| Session 4 | February 27 | Speaking the Truth in Love |
| Session 5 | March 12 | Shining the Light of Christ |
Participant handouts, leader’s guide, and other resources for the series is available here.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Revelation 1:3
I love Revelation chapter 21. The description of the new heaven and earth is staggering in beauty and scale and exceeds of what we could conceive.
But as it is the Last Sunday of the Church Year when we look toward Christ’s return, it is fitting to think about the reality of what awaits those who believe in Jesus.
The real beauty, I think, is that this description probably doesn’t do justice to the reality. I think it is the best way a finite people with a limited language and understanding could paint a picture of the beauty of the Divine reality in store.
In parts of the description (not in today’s reading, we hear of things that defy our reality, like gold that is pure like glass.
Wow!
But as amazing as the description is that exceeds our understanding are parts that described that are both full of wonder and miracles in equal parts; like God wiping away all tears and no more pain; or, the very best news shared here: that in this place where we are headed, God dwells with us and we will be His people and He will be our God!
That is the very best and most amazing part of it all! That is our future! That is our heritage!
To have the almighty dwell us us! Forever!
That boggles the mind and should exceed any and every other aspect of the new creation!
Yes, Lord! Let it be!
SCRIPTURES
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
- Revelation 21:1-7
