Thursday, July 31, 2008

Martin Stump is now our minister. We welcome Martin, Brenda (wife), and his youngest daughter Jenny. The Stumps have two other children, Jeremy (Davenport,Iowa) and Amanda (attending Johnson Bible College).

*Minister Tidbit: Martin is a triplet. Yes, you read that right. He has twin sisters. Now our church has not only the twins, Allene and Arlene, but we also have a triplet, Martin.
Sunday's Sermon(7/27/08) Luke 19:14 ; John 4:35 ; John 1:29
What is life about? Life is about introducing and getting to know each other. What is our goal in life? We are to introduce people to Jesus Christ. We also need to help them to grow as Christians by getting them more acquainted with Christ. Luke 19:44- Jesus was weeping because they did not recognize God among them. Others need to see Christ reflected in us. Small things can make a life changing difference. What is Jesus going to do for them? He will take away their sins. As Christians, we need to reach out to others and bring them to Christ.

Monday, July 21, 2008

We have been honored to have Tim Wingfield with us these last few months. He has been an inspiration and guided us in our search to find the right minister for our congregation. We thank God for allowing us this time with him.

THANKS TIM!
July 20th was Timothy Wingfield's last Sunday with our church. He finished his series on Jonah as well.
Jonah was a prophet but also a man with faults just like us. Even though we are not ministers, we are ALL resposible to tell the good news i.e. Romans 10:14-15; 2Timothy 4:2
Ch.3-Jonah OBEYED! After Jonah was spit on dry land, he went to Ninevah and delivered God's message as he was commanded.
5 Steps of Salvation
Hear
Believe
Repent
Confess
Baptism
Live the Christian Life (fist) You can teach this to kids with fingers
Ninevah Changes
When they HEARD, they BELIEVED, they REPENTED (vs. 8 ea may turn from his wicked ways), CONFESSED (King's Declaration), Baptism isn't mentioned but God forgave them and didn't send his wrath (vs. 10)
Ch.4-Jonah got angry because God forgave Ninevah. This is ironic considering Jonah had just received God's forgiveness. Why? He knew God was slow to anger and he wasn't. (vs. 2)

View on Baptism- It is a symbol/representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We do this in obedience to him. Jonah was eventually obedient to God. We all have flaws. God can use us. In closing, Tim had John play a CD of the song "When He Reached Out His Hand For Me".

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The church received a memorial for Sally Vassar Shelton. Sunday would have been her 65th birthday. She was a longtime member of our church family. She was greatly loved and is sorely missed.
Timothy Wingfield has been bringing us a series of sermons on the book of Jonah. Sun. July 13th was Week 2. July 20th will end the series but it will also be Timothy's last Sunday with us. The theme of his message has been God Pursues Us. No matter how hard or how far we run away from what he wants for us, he will find us, i.e. storm and belly of the big fish. He wants us and what is best for us. God will ALWAYS be there.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008



New Minister at First Christian
On June 29th, Dr. Martin Stump accepted the invitation to become our minister. Martin and his family will arrive in mid-July. His first sermon will be on July 27th. The church is looking forward to welcoming the Stumps into our church family.


Communion Meditation from July 6th
Mike compared the freedoms we enjoy in our country with those we have in Christ. After enduring the wrath of the British government the colonist declared their freedom. The soldiers died for our freedom so we no longer live under the wrath of the British.
John 14:6-Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
The Truth is Christ. Christ died for our sins. Christ was our stand-in for God's wrath. We are now free from God's wrath. If we know the TRUTH (Christ), we are FREE. For this reason, we should truly celebrate.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Lessons
Day 1
Matthew 21:1-11
The Triumphal Entry
1
When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. 3"If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5"SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, 'BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'"
6The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. 8Most of the crowd
spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. 9The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!"
10When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" 11And the crowds were saying, "This is
the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."

Day 2
John 13: 1-20
The Lord's Supper
1Now before the Feast of
the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
5Then He poured water into the basin, and began to
wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" 7Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand (hereafter." 8Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." 10Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." 12So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13"You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16"Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17"If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18"I do not speak of all of you I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.' 19"From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. 20"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

Day 3
Luke 22:39-53
The Garden of Gethsemane
39
And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40When He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." 41And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." 43Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46and said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation."
47
While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" 49When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 50And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus answered and said, "Stop! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him. 52Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? 53"While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours."


Day 4
Mark 15
1
Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 2Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "It is as you say." 3The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. 4Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!" 5But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed. 6Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" 10For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12Answering again, Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" 13They shouted back, "Crucify Him!" 14But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!" 15Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
16
The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. 17They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; 18and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 19They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. 20After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him. 21They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross 22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. 24And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. 25It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26The inscription of the charge against Him read, "THE KING OF THE JEWS." 27They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. 28 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with transgressors."] 29Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" 31In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. 32"Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!" Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him. 33When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" 35When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, "Behold, He is calling for Elijah." 36Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down." 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" 40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. 41When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. 42When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. 45And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.

Day 5

Mark 16
The Resurrection
1
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" 4Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'" 8They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 9Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. 12After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. 14Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Taylor and Kayde @ VBS 2008. Some of you may think they are sisters but they aren't just cousins. They share the same birthday. Kayde enjoyed what little time she got to be with us since she is only 19 mo. old.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Vacation Bible School 2008

This year our theme was "Adventures in the Holy Land Jerusalem Marketplace". We all had a great time. It was set as if it was the last week of Christ and adults as well as children were learning what was really happening...