Three parts of God's plan to redeem sinners : from my perspective
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Welcome!
I welcome your comments regarding our shared ministry at St. Paul.
 If you would rather comment privately please, email me at Prshepherd@westriv.com

"Two are better than one," says Ecclesiastes, 
"because if one falls down, his friend can help him up." 

I deeply desire to bring Christian comfort and the power of prayer to those who are challenged with sickness or circumstances in life. However, in this time of restricted visitation call me and I will attempt to contact them.

Please, assume that if you don’t tell us, we do not know. 
Call me at 301-4956 if surgery or hospital stay is imminent or if a visit could be helpful. 

Pastor Dennis
from my perspective…

    Breaking News, or Headline News, is updated by the hour and minute. The programs are designed to get our attention and to sell advertising. (Big surprise!) On the other hand, the Good News of Jesus Christ was proclaimed and is proclaimed today for an entirely different purpose.

    Mark begins his gospel with “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mk 1:1, ESV) It sounds like Mark is reporting, “Breaking news! Pay attention! Something important has happened!” 


    Matthew begins his gospel, “The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David.” (Mt. 1:1) It sounds like Matthew is introducing a history lesson whereby we might learn something. Don’t get me wrong – I love history because I believe with George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 


    John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” (Jn. 1:1) This is something totally different. John invites us to lay aside our daily concerns and ponder life’s Big Questions concerning God and “The Word of God.” 


    Each year, we might take a measure of our life on Tax Day, an anniversary, or any number of other milestones. Regardless of the circumstances, we go through a process of reflection, evaluation, and decision-making. We might reflect on the Big Questions of Life, like “Who are we? And “How do I fit in with family and society?” or “What positive difference am I making?” 

    I will grant that the most common daily question is, “Am I happy.” But I believe the Bible teaches us that happiness results from how we think of ourselves and our relationship with others. Therefore, John invites us to ponder anew our relationship with the One God of the Holy Scriptures, as opposed to mental or emotional gods of pleasure, wealth or self-importance. 
In the church year, Lent is the season that encourages us to ponder our relationship with the one and only eternal God and one another or who we desire to become. 

    Join us as we explore Jesus’ great encounters with religious rulers, a disrespected woman from a disrespected people and His disciples. In John, Jesus, the Word of God, invites people to question who we are in God’s eyes and who He desires us to become to live a fulfilling life. (e.g. John 10:10)
As John informs us, Jesus, the true Word of God, comes into the world to save us from ourselves and the destructive temptations brought on by the evil lies of the great Satan. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV) 

Please join us in our encounter with the Living Word of God, your pastor, Dennis.

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Three parts of God's plan to redeem sinners

by Pastor Dennis on 09/09/15

             Jesus walks, heals and teaches in gentile lands. Caesarea Philippi was named for the Roman Emperor, who proclaimed himself to be god and the Governor of the province, the son of King Herod. Turning his face south where Jerusalem laid over the horizon Jesus teaches three things:

1.      He is the Son of God, the Messiah who was sent to save the whole world.

2.      He must pay the debt of sin for all those who He would save.

3.      Those who are called to lay down their sin and follow Him.

 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may we ever have ears to hear Your Word of Grace and Mercy even when it offends our pride. In all our troubles, may we come to You; knee down and humbly lay down all our cares and concerns; at Your feet; knowing that you will take them up and give us Your forgiveness so that we may serve one another in Your name. Amen

 

Next Sunday: The Measure of Faith: Walking with the lord alone. Jesus suffered and died so that those who believe might receive forgiveness of sin before God. All who believe, trust and rely on God’s act of redemption through Christ will be reckoned as righteous before God and adopted into the kingdom of God, eternal. Therefore, the ‘saved’ walk with Jesus alone.

Monday: Romans 1:16-17 The righteousness of God revealed by faith alone

Tuesday: Romans 3:21-26  The righteousness of God through faith.(cont.)

Wednesday: Romans 4:13-1 The faith of Abraham

Thursday: Ephesians 2:1-9 Saved by God’s Grace Alone

Friday: Ephesians 4:1-7 Walking in a manner worthy of Christ alone.

Saturday: Share what God has revealed to you with a friend.

Sunday: Come to worship the Son of God, whose Word is a lamp to our feet in a darkened and confusing world and bring a friend.

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