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Thanks to all who donated and supported our 3rd Annual Back to School Supply Drive.  The donations continue to increase each year.  Your willingness to serve the community has allowed us to provide supplies and personal items to West Cary Middle School, Raleigh Rescue Mission, and Oxford Children's Home.  Next Sunday, we start our final series in Acts, covering chapters 13 to 28.  The series is called "Missions to the Ends of the Earth".  This is our longest series that will take us well into next year.  Join us and bring someone as we dig into the last part of Acts. As we got ready to worship through our giving, I shared this excellent writing from our Sunday School lesson.  God's grace equals giving... "Jesus paid the cost of leaving heaven to become a baby, grow up on earth, live with constant criticism by religious people, and die on the cross.  He paid the price that we might experience God's grace (undeserved favor).  Therefore, our giving s

Thanks to those who attended the Theological Seminar on yesterday. We have a few copies of the handout available at the Welcome Center.  If we ran out and you would like one, please contact me (pastorharris AT mtzioncary.org) and I'll send you a soft copy. You can also watch the seminar online or order a DVD copy of it . Please join us for Elder-led Prayer on Tuesday from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. We will be focusing on praying for strength, deliverance, and endurance.  So if you're struggling with something (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc) including a particular sin, come out on Tuesday.  Do not keep pretending that everything is okay or keep hiding your struggle. James 5:13-16 (ESV) states, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick [the Greek word literally means "weary" such as weary from suffering]? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with

The recent events should be a reminder that we live in a fallen world infected by sin.  Human depravity is on display with the senseless killings of individuals like Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO by the police and even the massacre of Iraqi Christians (who are fleeing for their lives) by radical Islamic terrorists .  This is why we have no time to play church weekly but we should gather to worship Jesus Christ and be equipped to go out and spread the gospel (people need Jesus) and serve our communities (love our neighbors). Please pray.  Pray for Ferguson, Missouri...that peace be restored in this city.  Pray for Michael Brown's family...that they would be comforted as they mourn the loss of their loved one.  If they don't know our Lord Jesus, that they would come to know him through this tragedy.  Pray for the officer involved in this shooting.  Pray for honesty and justice.  And if the officer does not know Jesus as Lord that God would use this tragedy to save him.  Pra

You asked for it! Dr. Ben Merkle, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary , is returning to teach part 2 of "How to Study the Bible."  Join us for this theological seminar on Saturday, August 23rd, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.  Come out and learn how to properly read and study Scripture.  Light refreshments will be served.  Please register for the seminar online. Sunday afternoon, the Men's choir and I traveled to Virginia for my speaking engagement at Lovingston Baptist Church for their Family and Friends Day.  Thank you all for your prayers as we were able to travel to and from and have a great service. My text was John 8:31-38 with the subject "Welcome to the Family".  Sin is a harsh slave master that oppresses and tortures us. And ultimately sin kills us (for the wages of sin is death). What we need is liberation.  We need freedom but we cannot free ourselves.  Christ is our great liberator and redeemer who sets believers free from the bondage of sin!

Even after God has saved us, believers still struggle with pride. How does pride show in the life of believers? One of the ways is the "fake it to you make it" attitude. This attitude will have us putting on a mask because we want others to think we have it all together. That's pride. God's grace enables us to be transparent. Another way is when we are not willing to receive help from others. It sounds so humble to say that we don't want to bother others but really that's pride. True humility is being able to receive help when we truly need it. James 4:6 (ESV): But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." I love this video from Joe Solomon ( @WhatIsJoeDoing ) where he discusses how believers "front" and gives some wise counsel on being transparent with other believers.   RSS or Email Subscribers click through  here  to see the video  

Jesus came for the ratchet! Praise God!!   RSS or Email Subscribers click through  here  to see the video Thanks to all who came out to Back to School Conference! A lot of great information was given and we prayed over our children for another successful school year. We still have some great info available on Wake County schools for parents at the Welcome Center. Attention, All Youth (13-17) and Young Adults (18 and up): The Youth Ministry is sponsoring an outreach opportunity with Dorcas Thrift Shop (Cary) on Saturday, August 9th, from 9:00am to 12:00pm. We are expected to have at least 12-14 volunteers available to support.  Have you signed up yet? Please take time to sign up today.  See Brother Ellery and Sister Rasheeda Oliver for details. Minister Matt Darby shared his testimony about Ecuador.  He reminded us to not just look for the miraculous, external things as a sign of God working.  God is working even when it doesn't appear that way.  We are to be faithf