In Sunday’s bulletin we asked if couples would be interested in a 10-week marriage study beginning in January.  As the bulletin announcement explained, I wanted to find out “who” before we figured out “when.” But based on some discussions I had after church, I realized the announcement needs more explanation.

In early October we hosted a two-day Marriage Matters seminar here at WOGF that we put together ourselves.  We used a combination of live and video teachers. One of the video teachers was acclaimed marriage author Emerson Eggerichs.  In his teaching he “teased” his ten-week seminar, now available as combination of video/discussion/workbook kit, which we own. At the October seminar we promised to make the seminar available this January.

This is a phenomenal seminar.  It’s great for couples in the early years and couples in the twilight years.  It will help couples whose marriage is on the rocks and couples whose marriage rarely ever sees any turbulence.  If you have a perfect marriage, we ESPECIALLY want you to come, because the rest of us need your leadership, example, and mentoring!  Plan NOW to attend, whenever this class runs! ~PS

After we see who wants to take part, the question we need to answer is what works better – a weeknight (e.g. Thursday)? A Saturday morning? Or the Sunday morning Bible Study (SS) hour?  The first two could be in homes or here at church, depending on the number of people involved and childcare needs. If we used the Bible Study hour, the study would likely go longer than ten weeks, but it might be easiest in terms of kids, etc.

And that’s why I wanted to find out “who” before I tried to figure out the when!  🙂

Pastor Scott    

Pastor Scott,

I had a question for you about the message yesterday. You talked about loving your enemies instead of wanting vengeance. Turn the other cheek and don’t withhold your shirt from them. My question is this: Was David wrong when he prayed for the detriment of his enemies? Psalm 109.

David was a man after God’s own heart and I believe that this was before his fall with Bathsheba. So why is this in the Bible and what am I missing because I know the Bible doesn’t contradict itself.

Sincerely,

The Ponderer

Dear Ponderer

The short answer is you aren’t missing anything!  You caught a major change in God’s program for dealing with people.   Jesus changed everything (ie Matthew 5); In short, because He reconciled the whole world to His Father on the Cross (2 Cor 5:19).

God still hates sin and He made provision for it to be dealt with in our lives (Romans 5:8); in the church (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5).  But unlike David, we aren’t given the power to judge others (James 4:11-12).

Something else to consider is the fact that David was God’s point man on earth and his position doesn’t really exist in the Church.  Neither was his mission – slaying Israel’s enemies, the same as the church’s mission – making baptized disciples.  

I’m barely scratching the surface here, but I hope this gives you enough to ponder!

Pastor Scott

P.S.

Alistair Begg does a Blog for CH Spurgeon.  I liked this one:

https://info.truthforlife.org/devo-nov26-2019?ecid=ACsprvuQT5yQaV3hJMTEKnwYF86ynN79PryXu440VmCWFa3c4zA-HMGHz7oIobBVKp2BbqyLste9&fbclid=IwAR3rIq_lKUFwV_fMiUg-4nMY0GnijzpegKaLksBrDLchDG3obFDKlg6LnVQ

I really wanted to write something clever and new for this Thanksgiving blog, but it’s hard to write better than the man after God’s own heart!  As your family gathers and as you feast, don’t forget to bless the Lord!!

Psalm 103 – A Psalm of David.  

Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness

And justice for all who are oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses,

His acts to the children of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

He will not always strive with us,

Nor will He keep His anger forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

As a father pities his children,

So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in heaven,

And His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels,

Who excel in strength, who do His word,

Heeding the voice of His word.

Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,

You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

Bless the Lord, all His works,

In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

From my family to your family – Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Scott

Below is a link to a blog I follow from GES in which a variety of authors write on a variety of issues involving grace.  Typically they are “defending grace” from those trying to make it harder to get to heaven. In the case of the article below, they are taking on the issue of those who use grace as permission to sin.  It’s an interesting read, for all that I don’t know if the ECM churches referred to are actual individual churches or “straw men.” My reason for reposting, however, isn’t to point fingers at those churches; it’s because of the disdain I feel, for their teaching points a finger back at me!

Not me as a preacher.  As a preacher, I’m clear that every passage that teaches justification by grace (ie. Romans 3:22-5:21) is followed by passages like Romans 6:1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”  And Scott, the preacher, and you, the congregant, know the answer, right?

God Forbid!    

My concern isn’t for my preaching.  My concern is for Scott, the distracted driver, or the tired channel surfer.  Or Scott, the impatient husband. Scott, the preacher, and Scott, the Bible student, knows that grace means forgiveness, NOT permission.  Scott, the man, doesn’t always act that way. Scott, the man, may answer the question: “What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”   

“You Betcha!”  

Well, not with my words, but with my actions or attitudes.  How about you? Do we give the amazing grace of God a bad name by using it as permission?  I think the reason this article hit me so hard is because it was secular researchers who saw the obvious hypocrisy!  Remember we are His witnesses, always and everywhere! 

https://faithalone.org/blog/bizzaro-grace-in-the-emerging-church-movement/?utm_source=Grace+Evangelical+Society&utm_campaign=6073ba4f74-DAILY_BLOG_EMAIL&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f3a5800ed2-6073ba4f74-261191289&mc_cid=6073ba4f74&mc_eid=c3c0565551   

Yours, Because I”m His,

Pastor Scott

“This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.”  ~Writer Unknown

I can hear this in the comforting voice of an old southern preacher!  I hope you can too; but I also hope the Holy Spirit’s voice uses it to remind each of us not to allow the urgent things in life to distract us from the important thing in life!

Pastor Scott

No, I’m not referring to the 1981 hit by .38 Special, though I admit that song always made me smile.  I’m referring to words, whispered in the dark, 18 years earlier by my mom’s mom to my mom as she held her first baby (me) in her arms.  “Hold on loosely, honey.” My mom used to share how jarring that was coming from her sweet little mother, and yet how profound. Truth is, it applies to many more things than parenting.

For the last several weeks the congregation has brought in pounds of candy, the facility team has spent dozens of man-hours undoing critter damage in our outbuilding (Building 2).  On Saturday, October 26, a crack team of volunteers assembled the giant bouncy houses, fun fair games, and eatery, turning a warehouse space into an outreach extravaganza! Then came the warnings of another snowpocalypse…..  Unfortunately, because of the heaters we had to rent, we had to make the call in the morning of the event, and that morning there was still a bulls-eye on KC at 7 p.m., so I pulled the plug – hearing, once again, the words of my Grandma Nelson, “Hold on Loosely”… 

As echoed by Solomon:

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Learned by Job:

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:  ‘Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.  Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.’” (Job 38:1-4)

And demonstrated by Jesus:

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

I don’t know how often this happens for you.  I am often accused by voices in my head that if only I had planned better, if only I had anticipated better, then thus and so wouldn’t have happened.  Of course, one can ALWAYS learn from mistakes, BUT one isn’t always mistaken. Sometimes God has a different plan. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Where He leads, we simply need to…..go!

Amen? 

Blessings,

Pastor Scott

 

On Sunday, October 20, 2019, we were able to live stream the sermon on the church’s Facebook page.  We hope to be able to continue to provide this service for those who aren’t able to be with us physically.  There are just four things I wanted to make note of now that we have our first service online! (Technically, it was not the first one; Levi’s mom streamed his sermon in September, proving it could be done! 🙂 ) 

1. We can post only the sermons because I, Pastor Scott, hold the copyright on those.  We do not have, and cannot afford, the license to broadcast music over the internet.
2. This Sunday, October 27, we are privileged to host Calvary’s Lux Voces and, because of point #1, we won’t be live streaming anything.
3. Services posted on Facebook and/or Youtube* are recorded so, if you aren’t able to join us live at 9:45, you can watch it any time or even reference it later in the month/year.
4. Over time, we will work to center up the picture and decrease the echo; right now we are using a phone and trying not to obscure the view of anyone in the live audience.

If you have any non-tech questions, feel free to call the church or email me at scott@wordofgrace.org.

Blessings,

Pastor Scott

*We hope to be on YouTube in November 

 

1. How come you’re standing by the back as we leave?

On Sunday Gary Rogers (the Elder who read scripture – hint, hint) also read the announcements and gave the benediction so that I could get to the back door and greet folks as they left.  Dozens of people asked me why I was doing that, many mentioning that it was a return to the `50’s (which I assume was an intentional exaggeration since I wasn’t alive in the ‘50’s and not only do I remember greeting pastors at the back of the service, I remember being the pastor at the back of the service! 🙂 ).   I do enjoy greeting everybody, but that’s not why I made this change. Nor did I make it, as some teased, so I could hear instant evals of the sermon! I did it because too often I don’t get to meet visitors. After the message I find myself caught up in conversation at the front of the Worship Center, and if a later coming visitor doesn’t stay for fellowship, I never get to even shake his or her hand, so at least this way that presumably will change! 

2. Texter:  “What do you do when you are being pulled in different directions of doing new things out of your comfort zone to help you grow and giving your time and energy into your gifts/strengths?  What wins over when you’re stretched thin on time/mental capabilities?”

The verses that come to mind are in Ephesians 5.  Paul says: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. “ (vs 15-17)   From the pulpit I said, in response to this question, “I think you need to seek wise counsel,” and the recitation of this verse doesn’t change that.  It seems to me, especially when life throws so much at us that all seems equally important, it’s helpful to have someone(s) to help us prioritize. I often have to remind myself that God doesn’t expect me to get 26 hours’ worth of work done in a 24 hour day!  🙂

Blessings,

Pastor Scott

 

Scripture is full of agricultural analogies some of which, I’m afraid, as a child of suburbia, I miss.  Take this one, that anyone raised around sheep would know…

The beautiful, green hills of New Zealand, a country known for its sheep industry, are dotted everywhere with white sheep. During the yearly lambing season, thousands of baby lambs are born. Unfortunately, some lambs die at birth. Many mother sheep are also lost during lambing season; they die giving birth. In an attempt to save the orphaned lambs, the shepherds match baby lambs that have lost their mothers with mother sheep who have lost their lambs. It’s not as easy as it sounds, though—a mother sheep won’t accept a lamb and nurse it unless it is her own.

How, then, do shepherds get a mother sheep to accept an orphaned lamb as her own? The process is as old as shepherding itself. The mother’s own lamb, which has died, is skinned and the skin of the dead lamb is draped over the living lamb as it is placed by the adoptive mother’s side. The mother sheep then smells the skin and accepts the orphaned lamb as her own.

Lambing season in New Zealand reminds us of what Jesus did for us on the cross. When John wrote, in Revelation 7:14 and 12:11, of our being saved by “the blood of the Lamb” it was in terms that people in agrarian societies vividly understood.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he…has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” (Ephesians 2:13-14). Because of Christ’s blood, God accepts us as his own. Once we were orphans, but now we are God’s adopted children.

Gives a whole new meaning or focus to the fact that Jesus is the Lamb of God, doesn’t it?

Yours, because I’m His,

Pastor Scott

 

“A woman means by Unselfishness chiefly taking trouble for others; a man means not giving trouble to others…thus, while the woman thinks of doing good offices and the man of respecting other people’s rights, each sex, without any obvious unreason, can and does regard the other as radically selfish.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Or said another way; she’s trying to “love” him by “mothering” him and that makes him feel belittled and disrespected.  Meanwhile he’s trying to “respect” her by showing her that he believes she can do it by herself – which leaves her feeling completely unloved and alone.  Interesting that God specifically instructs each of us to DO what DOESN’T come naturally, but what the other most NEEDS, isn’t it? (Ephesians 5:33)  Hope to see you tonight at Marriage Matters!