How to Pray on Dark Days
Psalm 130
In this sermon from earlier this summer, Paul Hines shares great wisdom from the Psalm of Ascents about praying when things are difficult.
Sacred things should be shared.
In this sermon, Deacon Dave Morris opens up the scriptures about the sabbath, as Jesus' disciples are criticezed over a minor point of law. Jesus' argument gives a much deeper insight into our relationship with the Father.
Mark 2:23-28
We must be born again.
The Lord has brought us this far, and He is faithful.
As I leave for sabbatical, I am confident of the Lord's provision for all of us. The first eight years at St. Timothy have been wonderful, and I am convinced that the best days are still ahead.
~Fr. Micah
Each one has been given a manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good.
The Holy Spirit empowers all believers to build the church and the Kingdom.
Today we look at 1 Corinthians 12:7
By this we know -
The apostle John wrote his first letter to a church in doubt. There had been division and question, and so he writes a short letter that is full of reassurance. Concluding, he writes that three testify - the water, the blood, and the Spirit. These three still reassure us of our faith in a world of doubt and question.
What about church planting? In Acts 11, we learn about a group of ordinary believers that began one of the most influential churches in the ancient world - through faithful witness and the favor of God.
Structure and Stretch
Early believers in Jerusalem needed to make a choice. Stay or Go. The situation was dangerous.
The way they responded in Acts 8 shows us so much about mission. Some stayed and some went, but the creative tension between them allowed for a remarkable new mission to the Samaritans.
The way we face matters. 1 John 3.
The early church was frustrated because it's experience of sin did not match its expectation of righteousness. It's still a problem today!
John wrote to assure them (and us) of God's love and progress in us, even if what we are is not what we will be someday.
He is the propitiation for our sins! (1 John 2:2)
That's a mouthful, but it's important.
Today, we ask what it takes to be a good person. What qualities make us "good"? The Bible teaches that the bar is imposisbly high, but in the resurrection of Jesus, God has made a way to prevent and repair sin, and remain in fellowship with God.
Thomas demanded proof of the resurrection. In John 20, Jesus appears to his disciples, but Thomas was out, and didn't want to take their word for it.
People still demand proof. As Jesus had comapssion for Thomas, He still has compassion, and leaves us evidence of his ongoing, living, presence in the lives of HIs people.