Hi FBC!
I was listening to Dave Ramsey this week and he was talking about how we need to prepare for a rainy day because, “a rainy day is GOING TO HAPPEN!” He must have been referring to Oregon! After the amazingly dry weather we’ve been having for the last month and a half, it looks like the wet stuff is rolling in. From what I hear, this will make our farmers happy!
But enough about the weather…
I love what I read this morning in Psalm 112, especially verses 1-2: Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
We have a strong desire to develop men of God who fear the Lord and delight in His commandments (so men, join us on Saturday morning at 6:45!) And we have a strong desire to equip parents and train boys and girls to know, love, and serve the Lord. We are making efforts to that end on Sunday mornings and Thursday nights with our Sunday School classes, our Awana program, and our parenting class. Tonight is the last night of Awana for this school year, and then Sunday at 5pm is the Barbeque and Awards night. Everyone is invited to celebrate what the kids have accomplished, thank the volunteers who serve in the program, and meet parents from the community who might not attend church (yet)!
And parents, if you were not able to attend the class on Thursdays, I have about 6 copies left of the outstanding book we’ve been using, Parenting is Heart Work. Let me know if you’d like to purchase a copy for $12.
This Sunday we will be back in Galatians, looking at 2:15-21. We will discuss a few key doctrines that come from the passage, including what I believe is the key doctrine upon which the message of the gospel rises or falls: the doctrine of justification by faith alone. The Reformers referred to this with the Latin term, Sola Fide. The modern church has lost sight of what some of the great people of faith in the history of the church were willing to give their lives for. Please join us Sunday to examine this crucial section of Scripture!
Also, remember awhile back I gave you some verses to memorize and the dates we’d be saying them together? Well, this Sunday is the day for our next verse: Galatians 2:20! So be working hard between now and Sunday so we can recite this amazing verse together:
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20 ESV)
May God bless you as you live by faith, die to yourself, and abide with the crucified Christ!
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael