Skip to main content

Excerpt from "Follow Me", Christmas Program & Dinner, Giving to Typhoon Victims (Pastoral Emphasis for 12/8)

Today's reading from the Chronological Reading Plan: Romans 4-7

As a church family, we are currently reading David Platt's book "Follow Me". Purchase your copy today and read along with us.  Here's a great excerpt from the beginning of the book...
Just ask Jesus into your heart. Simply invite Christ into your life. Repeat this prayer after me, and you will be saved.  Should it alarm us that the Bible never mentions such a prayer?  Should it concern us that nowhere in Scripture is anyone ever told to "ask Jesus into their heart" or to "invite Christ into their life"?  Yet this is exactly what multitudes of professing Christians have been encouraged to do, and they've been assured that as long as they said certain words, recited a particular prayer, raised their hand, checked a box, signed a card, or walked an aisle, they are Christians and their salvation is eternally secure.  It's not true.  With good intentions and sincere desires to reach as many people as possible for Jesus, we have subtly and deceptively minimized the magnitude of what it means to follow him.  We've replaced challenging words from Christ with trite phrases in the church.  We've taken the lifeblood out of Christianity and put Kool-Aid in its place so that it tastes better to the crowds, and the consequences are catastrophic.  Multitudes of men and women at this moment think that they are saved from their sins when they are not.  Scores of people around the world culturally think that they are Christians when biblically they are not."

Everyone is invited to come out to our Christmas Program on Saturday, December 14th, at 4:00pm. Afterwards, dinner will be served. To help us prepare for the dinner, please sign up online. And bring your favorite, homemade desserts to share with other! 

Today, our love offering will be donated to World Vision to help those in the Philippines who were affected by the typhoon. Over 5,000 people have died along with devastating destruction. Thank you for your generous giving.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mortgage Burning Ceremony (10.6.24)

Today is a day of celebration and gratitude as we come together to witness the burning of our church’s mortgage! This moment represents years of faith, commitment, and sacrificial giving from this congregation. It’s a testament to God’s faithfulness and the dedication of His people. What we are celebrating today is not just the end of a financial obligation, but the beginning of new possibilities for missions, outreach, and service in our community.   ---     Psalm 127:1 says, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.’   This building has been more than just bricks and mortar; it has been a spiritual home where so many lives have been touched by the gospel. We recognize that while we’ve paid off the mortgage, it is the Lord who has truly built this house, sustaining us through every season.   --- History of the Vision         Though this chapter is closing, the mission God has ...

My Hope Sunday, M:T Not a Competition, Prayer Gathering (Pastoral Emphasis for 10/13)

Today was My Hope Sunday ! We had several invited guests, and my message was from 1 Samuel 8:4-9 on "Looking for a Savior".  Israel wanted a king like the other nations who would “save” them. This is the very definition of a functional savior. A functional savior is anything or anyone a person looks to for ultimate hope, security, identity, or fulfillment in place of God. Whatever you look to to “save” you from your problems, fears, or insecurities is your functional savior. But all of our functional saviors cannot save us. Jesus is the Savior we really need!  Our greatest need in this life and the life to come is to have our sins forgiven by trusting in Jesus as our Lord and Savior! Today, my wife shared her My Hope Testimony .   (RSS Subscribers: click here to watch the video) Missions:Together’s "Not a Competition" is a powerful missions gathering designed to re-ignite your passion for missions on Saturday, November 2, hosted at The Summit Church in Apex. Wheth...

December Birthdays & Anniversaries, Bible Display, Verse by Verse Challenge (Pastoral Emphasis for 12/1)

As we step into December, it's a time for reflection, celebration, and coming together as a community. Here’s what’s happening this month in our church family:  ---  🎉 Birthdays and Anniversaries December is a special month for many in our congregation. Let’s take time to celebrate these milestones:  Birthdays : Join us in wishing a heartfelt “Happy Birthday” to all who are celebrating this month.  Anniversaries : We wish “Happy Anniversary” to these couples and ask God to bless their commitment to one another.   ðŸŒŸ December Senior Birthday Surprise We are also excited to celebrate Deaconess Peggy Credle with a special birthday surprise. Let’s make her feel loved and appreciated for all she does in our church community.  ---  📖 Theological Seminar: The Forge Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 7, at 9:00 AM. We will gather for a special Theological Seminar featuring The Forge . This event will include a viewing of the seminar followed by a...