Beginning Sep. 11, Learning for Life begins at 9:30, Worship at 11:00 am

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19, Colossians 3:12-17, Revelation 11:15-17

Songs:
Praise: O Worship the King
(lyrics & melody, contemporary)
Preparation: We Worship and Adore You
(lyrics, melody & images)
Response: They’ll Know we Are Christians By Our Love (lyrics, video)

Bulletin – September 4, 2011

John Nelson

“Christians gather for worship in mud huts and Gothic cathedrals, in prisons and nursing homes, in storefront buildings and village squares, in sprawling megchurches and old country chapels. In these diverse contexts the style of worship varies greatly from formal sermons to sponstaneous outpourings, from singing music accompanied by rock bands, pipe organs, drum ensembles, rusty old pianos, and some with no accompaniment at all. Some dress in their formal Sunday best, others in casual beach clothes. Yet for all the diversity of cultural expressions and worship styles, there remain several constant norms for Christian worship that transcend cultures and keep us faithful to the gospel of Christ.”(Lutheran “The Worship Sourcebook)

Worship styles come and go, but the Gospel message remains constant. If we consider worship to be an activity of the gathering of God’s people, then it begs us to ask the questions, What is true worship and why do we need to worship? Worship reflects “worthship”!

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Note: Summer Worship Begins at 10:00 am

What Happens After Death?

Death Be Not Proud, by John Donne.

Scriptures: Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 36:5-9, Revelation 21:1-6, Luke 24:36-48

Songs:
Praise: For All the Saints (YouTube w lyrics, 2, 11 verses)
Preparation: Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending (lyrics & melody)
Response: It is Well with my Soul (lyrics, melody, and background, by Hillsong, by Gaithers, by Kutless)

Bulletin – August 28, 2011

Joel Russell-MacLean

Good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell, right? Harps, clouds and singing hymns for some; flames and being poked by tridents for others. But there is this messy bit in the stories of Jesus where he came back to life with a physical body of some sort. Where does that fit in? If we stop at heaven, we haven’t got the picture finished properly.

The good news isn’t about ‘going to heaven’, it is about living once more, new bodies in a new world with Jesus – a “life after, life after death.”

This isn’t just good news about the future. Jesus’ resurrection also means this world and the one that is coming are connected. Our world and our bodies are not disposed of – just the opposite! Instead, we are waiting for their renewal, and the renewal of all things, the re-creation of sin scarred life, the restoration of all that’s been lost. What happens here on Earth matters and how we live does affect who we will be in the coming world. Life isn’t all pointless after all – thanks be to God!

Preparation

Besides reading the scriptures and becoming familiar with the songs, you’ll want to do the QUIZ to see where you stand on this week’s sermon topic. Go ahead, it’s fun!

Take it Further

• The following titles on this topic are found within our library.
• Surprised by Hope – NT Wright
• The Throne The Lamb and the Dragon – P Spilsbury
• Heaven – J Oswald Sanders
• Be sure to follow this Time Interview with Tom Wright “Christians Wrong About Heaven, Says Bishop”.

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Note: Summer Worship Begins at 10:00 am

Scriptures: Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 145:1-7,21, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:20-22,27-28, 6:1-6

Songs:
Praise: Glory Be to God the Father (lyrics & melody, biography of the author)
Preparation: I Surrender All (lyrics & melody, contemporary)
Response: Glorious Is Thy Name (lyrics & melody)

Bulletin - August 21/11

Dr. Mark McKim

How often have you heard someone say something like “Well, you can be a good person without getting God involved in it.”  Dr. McKim will address the question:  “Can you be good without God?”

Hint:  A Lot Depends on How you Define the Word “Good.”

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Baptism

This will be a joint service of worship with First Baptist Church and First Karen Baptist Church joining together for the celebration of the sacrament of believers’ baptism.  We believe that Jesus appointed two sacraments, that is rites, for the church:  Baptism and Holy Communion.  [The word sacrament comes from the Latin word "sacramentum," the oath of loyalty which a Roman soldier took to the Emperor.]

In baptism a person is publically declaring his or her loyalty to Jesus Christ, while each time we receive the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we are repledging our loyalty to Christ.  Since baptism is an oath of loyalty (and only those old enough to understand can promise their loyalty) and since in the Bible there is no record of anyone being baptized unless they were themselves a believer, that is someone who had promised their loyalty to Christ, Baptists practice only [adult] believers’ baptism.

Why Don’t We Celebrate OT Festivals

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 8:1-5, Acts 15:5-11, Luke 22:7,8,14-20

Songs:
Praise: You Call Us, Lord, to Worship
Approach: We Come, O Christ to You
Response: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Bulletin - August 7/11

Rev. Mark McKim

Are the Old Testament observances just for ancient Israel? Or are the annual Feasts of the LORD the very command of a righteous Father to His very people in ALL generations? Weren’t they done away, along with the rest of the laws like sacrifices and other rituals?”

As New Testament followers, we ask about the Feast Days:

• Were they only for ancient Israel?
• Are they part of an old, dead ritualistic law?
• Were they nailed to the stake along with all the other laws God abolished?

But what about the Spiritual Covenant that God made with Israel–and still makes with His people– today’s spiritual Israel?

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Scripture: Leviticus 24:19-20, Psalm: 84:1-4,10-12, 1 John 4:7-10, Matthew 5:38-41

Songs:
Praise: All People That on Earth Do Dwell
Preparation: Brethren We Have Met to Worship
Response: The God of Abraham Praise

Bulletin - July 31/11

Rev. Mark McKim

Dr. McKim’s reflects on the seeming incongruity of a God who epitomizes love with the commands of God to wipe out the sinful, even the innocent, as part of a cleansing process. Is this really the same God? Are we to carry forward the commands of killing found in the Old Testament into our present day.

How do we respond to people who claim to kill in the name of God?

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