Bible Verses for Sunday Service October 2, 2022
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
Announcements:
We will hosting a special missionary speaker on October 16, 2022. Dr. Alvin Low, director of Acts International. He will be with us to speak during the Sunday School hour, the morning service and a service right after lunch. He will speak on world missions. Please do all you can to be there and hear him speak at each service.
The walls of the garage/storage building are going up. Thanks to the volunteers who have been working on it last week. We hope to continue the work if the weather cooperates. If you want to help, please let Steve know.
Casting Crowns, a Christian group, perform at the Metra this Thursday at 7PM. Their songs include such hits as Who Am I, Praise You in the Storm, Voice of Truth, Glorious Day and many others. You can purchase tickets at the Metra ticket office. Through the concert, Casting Crowns promotes Compassion International, a Christian ministry to support needy children all over the world.
We will be packing Christmas Child boxes in Awana, and we welcome financial contributions and/or items to be included in the boxes. Soon we will have a list of items and a collection box in the foyer.
Sermon:
Continuing in Acts, Pastor preached on “Paul’s Possessions,” a reflection on Acts 26:29. To introduce the important idea, in God’s Kingdom being possessed of a peace through Him is far superior to any material possession, Pastor asked us to contrast the material wealth of the English royal family with Paul. The Queen just died. She had untold wealth. Likewise Princess Diana, but both admitted to numerous disappointments and much pain. Knowing what we know of their lives, would we change places with them? No. Naturally then Pastor asks the rhetorical question, “What did Paul have that we can have?
Firstly, we can have an attitude like Paul’s. In this chapter in Acts, Paul wished that King Agrippa was like him, except for chains. In wishing that Paul is wishing that the King and everyone who haven’t placed their faith in Christ would have joy, contentment, peace, patience, and perseverance, even in chains that results from trust in Christ.
Part of those non-material possessions, the attitude was a certainty, which Pastor split into two parts. Firstly, Paul knew the living Lord and Savior. Through a path of persecution of Christians based on works based Jewish righteousness, Paul came to know Jesus personally. This personal knowledge informed his new conviction to serve the risen Lord in every way.
A second part of that attitude came from a God given purpose, serve Jesus Christ. We aren’t saved by Him so we can relax and devote ourselves to recreation like playing golf. We are to be active agents in the Kingdom of God, extending its reach and deepening its effect in our lives, and the lives of others. Paul’s joy in this mission is obvious to behold, and that joy sustained him, even when he was in chains.
Besides an attitude for the Kingdom, Paul recognized that he made a choice. Everyone knows life is full of choices, so we should choose well. Choosing one thing often excludes something else. Paul was supremely confident that he had made the right choice. In this chapter in Acts, he is despairing over the wrong choice of Agrippa and Festus.
In making his choice, his appeal to Agrippa is a demonstration of the rightness of his choice. Paul remarks that he has not been disobedient to the heavenly vision. We can be confident that our choice to receive Jesus and submit to Him is the right choice, and like Paul, we must not be disobedient to that choice. Pastor asked us to search our hearts, have we been like Paul in our obedience to that choice?
Obedience to our choice as the alternative is disaster, the wrong choice. Agrippa and Festus provide us a picture of the wrong choice. Festus a corrupt official – he had solicited a bribe from Paul – and thought him crazy. Agrippa was smart enough to see the truth inherent in Paul’s appeal. Faith in Jesus was attractive to him. But it would have costs, like giving up the incestuous relationship with his sister. So again, he exercised his free will, and made the wrong choice.
In closing Pastor asked us to consider everything today. Let’s not be envious of apparent material success. Let’s be comforted in our choice that brings an attitude that surprises the world, peace in adverse circumstances. And let’s use our attitude to extend and deepen the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Accessing the Service, Bulletin and Sermon Outline:
Here are the pages from the bulletin, click on the images below to see them full size:
If you would like to have the sermon outline, you can download it here, a pdf file.
Unfortunately, we were not able to record this week’s service due to technical problems with the camera.
Lastly, if you would like to see all the services, you can find them here.