Our Blog

Spiritual Development August 2018

What is Biblical Hope?

We use the word hope in a variety of ways. Sometimes it connotes a wish about something over which we have no control at all. We say, “I sure hope the train comes soon,” or, “I hope it doesn’t rain on the day of the picnic.” These are wishes for things, but we wouldn’t bank on them. The word hope also depicts what we think should happen. We say, “I hope he will choose to be honest this time,” or, “I hope the judge brings down a guilty verdict.” Here hope reveals an internal sense of morality or justice. We also use hope in a motivational sense. We say, “I did this in the hope that it would pay off in the end,” or, “I got married in the hope that he would treat me in marriage the way he treated me in courtship.” All of this is to say that because the word hope is used in a variety of ways, it is important for us to understand how this word is used in Scripture or in its gospel sense. Biblical hope is foundationally more than a faint wish for something.

Biblical hope is deeper than moral expectation, although it includes that. Biblical hope is more than a motivation for a choice or action, although it is that as well. So what is biblical hope? It is a  confident expectation of a guaranteed result that changes the way you live. Let’s pull this definition apart.

First, biblical hope is confident. It is confident because it is not based on your wisdom, faithfulness, or power, but on the awesome power, love, faithfulness, grace, patience, and wisdom of God. Because God is who he is and will never, ever change, hope in him is hope well placed and secure.

Hope is also an expectation of a guaranteed result. It is being sure that God will do all that he has planned and promised to do. You see, his promises are only as good as the extent of his rule, but since he rules everything everywhere, I know that resting in the promises of his grace will never leave me empty and embarrassed. I may not understand what is happening and I may not know what is coming around the corner, but I know that God does and that he controls it all. So even when I am confused, I can have hope, because my hope does not rest on my understanding, but on God’s   goodness and his rule.

Finally, true hope changes the way you live. When you have hope that is guaranteed, you live with confidence and courage that you would otherwise not have. That confidence and courage cause you to make choices of faith that would seem foolish to someone who does not have your hope. If you’re God’s child, you never have to live hopelessly, because hope has invaded your life by grace, and his name is Jesus!

Kids Happenings August 2018

Hello church family,

Let me start by saying “God is good all the time”!  We have had a very busy summer in the life of children’s ministry and have so much to be thankful for.  I don’t want any of these blessing to go unsaid so now is the time that I can share.  Let me start with our kids Sunday School teachers… We have some extremely amazing teachers that teach truth to our children each week. Some have been teaching children for 20+ years while others may be starting this coming school year. Each week these teachers, study and prepare their lesson, show up even when they have had a tiresome week and are probably tempted to sleep in, pray with your children and for your children, they may even lose sleep because of their love for your children. God has really blessed our children’s ministry with wonderful servants who have a heart for kids. If you get the chance please let our children's teachers know how appreciated they are.

To add to the many blessings, We had 202 children attend VBS this Summer and during that week we had 24 children show an interest to pray to receive Christ as the Lord and Savior. This is something to celebrate!  We have been able to follow up with these children and are walking with them and their parents as they make the most important decision of their lifetime.  Thank you to all the volunteers that helped during VBS. God truly uses vacation bible school as a tool to grow the kingdom.

As I write this article I am also preparing to take 26 children and 5 adults to kids camp.  We will have the opportunity to encourage, teach and pour into these children with no distractions from video games, television or drama.  I am praying that upon our return there will be life change within EVERYONE that attends.

Regarding upcoming events for the month of August… Our children will be promoting to their new classes on August 12th. This is always an exciting and sometimes nervous time for children. We hope to have the children meet their new teachers on August 5th in order to help children transition into their new class.  Also, AWANA will be starting the first week in September. We will have registration on August 27th from 6 -7:30 pm in the main lobby. If you would like to know more about our AWANA Ministry please visit out church website.  And if you would like to be a part of our AWANA team and   encourage kids to learn scripture and grow a closer relationship with Christ, please sign up in the main lobby. We will have a volunteer meeting on Mon. August 27th at 6:00 pm.

• August 4th - Kids Praise Sunday 8:30 - 11:30 am (during Growth Initiative)
• August 12th - Promotion Sunday - All children will promote up into their new grade appropriate class.
• August 29th - AWANA Registration 6:00 - 7:30 pm in main lobby

I pray your children are able to take part in these awesome opportunities to have fun and more importantly grow in their relationship with Christ.

I’m looking forward to seeing what God has in-store for our children’s ministry as we start our ministries for the fall and thank you for allowing me to love on your little ones.