sermon texts

On Second Thought - 12May08

Graduate Night —

We will have a night to celebrate our graduating Seniors on Sunday, May 4 staring at 6 p.m. Parents of Seniors: I need CDs of pictures of your child growing up immediately.  Also: Parents of Juniors: You are in charge of decorating and food.  Call Mark at 223-2790 with questions and comments.

Confirmation Class

This years Confirmation Class is for all teens!  We've gotten all the information down to a two day intensive.  We'll start Friday afternoon, May 9, break at night, and pick back up Saturday morning, May 10. Interested? Please contact Mark Allio.

Mother's Day Flowers

Attention sons and daughters of all ages!  On Mother's Day (Sunday, May 11) the youth have you covered… as far as flowers go.  Buy your roses and carnations from the Youth to help raise money for the Mexico and Haines mission trips.  Flowers will be for sale in the Narthex after each service.

Junior High Mission Trip —

We ask for your prayers as our Jr. High team goes off to Haines from May 31 to June 7 to minister to the children and to the community.  The teens will help lead VBS and work around the community lending a hand wherever needed, while purposefully growing in and towards God.

Men/Sons Swan Lake Canoe System Trip/Retreat —

Our 4th annual Memorial Day weekend trip will be May 24-26. We’ll canoe through six lakes (easy portages), camp, and fish for rainbow trout and dolly varden. We’ll have Sunday morning service around the campfire. We have canoes, life jackets, etc. Enjoy God’s country with us. Email mark@soquet.com or call 727-1616 for reservations.

Neat Army Sign Up —

The Neat Army is here and at your service!  

The Neat Army is a fundraiser for both the junior high and senior high mission trips this summer. Students, with the help of an adult or two, will be available to help you with your many household chores and small jobs

And that is just to name a few… Payment is donation only. Whatever you need help with we’ll be more than happy to do it. See the display in the Narthex for more information and for job scheduling.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month (8th & 22nd) at 6:30 p.m. in the Upper Room.

Contact is Ruth Graham at 929-6040.

Do you have a talent you’d like to share during the traditional services this summer? 

While the Chancel Choir takes a break, we are looking for people to provide special    music.  If you’re willing to fill in on a Sunday, please call Janet Stiles at 694-6256.

VBS Dates & Your link to Registration

Mark your calendars, and fasten your seatbelts! We will be having Vacation Bible School the week of June 9-13. We have chosen Group’s PowerLab for our VBS theme!

The following link provides all the particulars about PowerLab including registration for both children and volunteers, volunteer opportunities, and a short video on PowerLab.

https://www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/VBSatfirstpres

Connections —

Has concluded to resume in the fall.  Have a great summer!

Question:

How do you answer the atheistic worldview that says, “If you base your morals on the Christian Bible, your morals are likely to be hideous? How can one believe in God when there is such evil in the world, and there are even wars caused by religion?

Answer:

Much of this kind of thinking comes from a lack of knowledge and understanding of the Bible, as well as a misconception and misinterpretation of Scripture as a unified whole.   It is important to remember that the Bible is a historical record of the struggle between good and evil, and quite naturally will contain descriptions of war, conflicts, immorality and judgment.

It is also important to realize that not everything recorded in the Bible is approved by the Bible. God’s revelation to the nation Israel in the giving of the law and the ordinances, His revelation through the Prophets, and in all Bible recorded situations, clearly presents a portrait of the depravity of the human race and a moral God who judges evil. In comparison, the Old Testament also gives us a beautiful portrait of those who followed God in love and obedience. The Psalms and Proverbs give us rich teaching in wisdom and worship.  

Notice the transition from the historical physical battles of the Old Testament to the new era of spiritual warfare demonstrated in the New Testament. The Old Testament focuses on God’s revelation through the nation Israel and their subsequent disobedience and unbelief. The warfare of Jesus Christ focuses on spiritual realities, and the weapons used are spiritual, not physical. (Ephesians 6:10-18). It all comes down to the necessity of the acceptable sacrifice for sin that is required by a Holy God, and the change of heart and mind that overcomes a sinful nature. All of this is provided through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  

The Bible is the Christian’s mandate. It has the power to speak, to connect with, and to guide those who will open it and read it.