http://bible.com/59/PRO14.21.ESV Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Bible.com/app

Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Samsung Galaxy SIV

September already.

Here are the handouts for Ephesians 4:11-16.

• PDF Speaking the truth in love, growing up in Christ HANDOUT ONE 090813
• PDF Speaking the truth in love, growing up in Christ 090813 HANDOUT TWO

I wrestled with this text over the last couple of weeks. So many questions to answer. I pray that by going through the winepress I will present to you on Sunday “the very wine of strengthening.” See Oswald Chambers below.

• Oswald Chambers
  If you cannot express yourself on any subject, struggle until you can. If you do not, someone will be the poorer all the days of his life. Struggle to re-express some truth of God to yourself, and God will use that expression to someone else. Go through the winepress of God where the grapes are crushed. You must struggle to get expression experimentally, then there will come a time when that expression will become the very wine of strengthening to someone else; but if you say lazily — “I am not going to struggle to express this thing for myself, I will borrow what I say,” the expression will not only be of no use to you, but of no use to anyone. Try to state to yourself what you believe to be the absolute truth of God, and you will be allowing God the opportunity to pass it on through you to someone else. Always make it a practice to stir your own mind thoroughly to think through what you have easily believed. Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study. The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.
•  From “My Utmost for His Highest”  December 15 reading
• For more Oswald Chambers click here to link to online “My Utmost for His Highest“

Love,
Dave

Here is this week’s bulletin.

Thanks, Brenda.

• PDF FFC bulletin for 090813

Question: “What is Soteriology?”

Answer: Soteriology is the study of the doctrine of salvation. Soteriology discusses how Christ’s death secures the salvation of those who believe. It helps us to understand the doctrines of redemption, justification, sanctification, propitiation, and the substitutionary atonement. Some common questions in studying Soteriology are:

Once saved always saved?
Perhaps the most heart-wrenching fear some believers live with is that we can do something to lose our salvation. But the Bible speaks clearly about the eternality of our salvation and how we are preserved by the One who bought us with His blood.

Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works?
Am I saved just by believing in Jesus, or do I have to believe in Jesus and do certain things?

Is baptism required for salvation?
What is baptismal regeneration? Baptismal regeneration is the belief that a person must be baptized in order to be saved. While baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, the Bible is clear that baptism is not a requirement for salvation.

What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation?
Biblical repentance is changing your mind about Jesus Christ and turning to God in faith for salvation (Acts 3:19). Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the results of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to be a born again Christian?
The phrase “born again” literally means “born from above.” It is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes—a spiritual transformation.

Other than Christology, Soteriology is the area where Christianity is the most different from the cults and other world religions. Understanding Biblical Soteriology will help us to know why salvation is by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. No other religion bases salvation on faith alone. Soteriology helps us to see why. A clear understanding of our salvation will provide a “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) because we come to know that He who can never fail is the means by which we were saved and the means by which we remain secure in our salvation. If we were responsible to save ourselves and keep ourselves saved, we would fail. Thank God that is not the case!

• Titus 3:5-8 is a tremendous summary of Soteriology, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Recommended Resource: So Great Salvation by Charles Ryrie.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Soteriology.html

http://bible.com/59/NEH8.9.ESV And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

http://bible.com/59/2TI2.24.ESV And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

A few days ago I was at the church and poked my head inside the door of the sanctuary just to kind of check things out. And I saw the sun coming across the pews. I thought “that’s a picture.” I sensed the peace and presence of God.

Thank you, Lord, for the good building you have given us.

Dave

Click pic to enlarge.

Beautiful flowers.

Thanks, Gerald.

Click on photos to enlarge.

You’ve heard of Evangelism Explosion. This was Excavation Evangelism.

Lots of ways to love our neighbors, as individuals and as a church. This week I enlisted the services of Uncle Dean’s & Steve’s Excavating & Hauling Co. to help a neighbor in need.

Our neighbor across from us and by the church needed some dirt junk piles moved. So Uncle Dean and Steve came to the rescue. While they were there, our other neighbor on the opposite corner also had a couple dirt/weed piles that were in her way. No problem for the boys at Uncle Dean’s & Steve’s Excavating & Hauling Co. They hauled her stuff away too.

We do these things in Jesus’ name and let God do what he will do.

Thanks Dean and Steve.

Click on the photos below to enlarge.

http://bible.com/59/PRO10.24.ESV What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Bible.com/app

Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Samsung Galaxy SIV