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A Body Strong!

Posted by Seth Stultz on Thursday, November 10th, 2011 in Pastor's Corner

So often Christians forget that being a part of the Church is more about “doing for the Church” than it is about “the Church doing for you!”  Of course there are some wonderful benefits to belonging to the household of God (Eph. 1:3-14)  but with those benefits comes responsibilities as well and it’s up to the body (Rom. 12:4-8) to make sure that the work of the Church is accomplished as set forth by God’s commands.  The Apostle Paul said in Colossians 1:16 “all things were created by Him and for Him.” which says to me that we were created to glorify God first and foremost!  Well then the question arises, “How do we glorify God?”  Great question!

One of the ways we glorify God is by being totally faithful and committed to doing the work that Jesus Christ commissioned us to do.  The Church is God’s primary instrument here on earth for reconciling a lost world back to Himself through Jesus Christ.  The thing about instruments is they are totally stunning to look at, their craftsmanship and design but they weren’t created to be just looked at.  They were created to play music and the Church was created to do the work that Christ set before us!  When we don’t do what we were created for, we become just instruments on a stage.

In Hebrews 10:19-25, the author shares some  ways that I believe we can use to “play our song” and glorify our Father in heaven.

1.  Let us draw near to God!  (10:22)  Christians should always seek out God’s presence and power.  We need it to live and operate in this world.  Seeking out God constantly shows our devotion, adoration and commitment to Him! 

2.  Let us hold to our profession! (10:23)   Christians are to stay true to their testimony, their belief in God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and His Word given to us.  It is the foundation that we stand on and no matter what we face, we are to stand strong!

3. Let us encourage each other in their work! (10:24)   Christians all have gifts that God has given to them and He expects us to use them.  Not everyone has the same gifts which is ok because God knows exactly who He’ll use to accomplish any given task.  We are to cheer on each other in whatever work God has given one another so as to glorify God!

4.  Let us be faithful in our fellowship with one another!  (10:25)  A family sticks beside one another and spends time with each other.  A family provides and protects one another at all times and we as the family of God even more so should stand alongside one another as we live out our lives with one another.  Time spent together in worship, prayer, study and fellowship is strengthening to the Body of Christ and should be seen to at all times.

The truth is if the Church doesn’t accomplish what God desires, who will.  Always hoping that somebody will do it, while nobody does is a recipe for failure in the church.  As a Christian and member of God’s household, the work of the Church is not an option but a command set down by God Himself.  It’s time for the Church to step us and the Church is Jesus Christ, me and you! <><

Be a blessing, be blessed!

Pastor Seth <><

Listen for the entire sermon, “A Body Strong” coming soon to our LISTEN TO A SUNDAY MESSAGE section.

 

Sunday Night Bible Study

Posted by Seth Stultz on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 in Bible Study

Join us at Sunday night Bible study as we study through Chip Ingrams study titled, “How God Transforms His Children”.  Fellowship begins at 6pm with the study starting at 6:30.

Membership, Baptism, Child Dedication

Posted by Seth Stultz on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 in Announcements

Anyone intersted in Church membership, being baptized or dedication of a child should speak with Pastor Seth or one of our Deacons for more information.

Children’s Bible Study

Posted by Seth Stultz on Saturday, October 29th, 2011 in Bible Study, Youth Ministry

Children will join together Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30pm for Bible study.  Children must be in at least 2nd grade to participate in the study.  Younger children are invited to the staffed nursey.

LIve Free! (Pastor’s Remix)

Posted by Seth Stultz on Friday, October 28th, 2011 in Pastor's Corner

Our world is full of condemnation, some of it good such as the condemnation of terrorism.  Some of the condemnation found in our world doesn’t have a positive effect such as condemnation of certain ethnic groups within our world.  In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul speaks also of condemnation as it pertains to Christians.  Paul says in Rom. 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”

Just what does he mean in this passage?  We all are very aware that Christians aren’t perfect and often continue to sin.  The sad truth is that sin exists in every single human being but for the Christian, sin is not to conquer us for when Jesus died on the cross, he conquered sin once and for all! (1 Cor. 15:54-57). It’s because of His sacrifice the we will not be condemned.  Our sin will be condemned (Rom. 8:3,4) but the sinner is justified by what only Christ could do. (Rom. 3:24).

How often we as Christians make the mistake of continuing to condemn one another as well as condemn ourselves for sins that Jesus Christ died once and for all for.  God alone judges sins and sinners and sent Jesus to not condemn the world but save the world through repentance and relationship with Him. (John 3:17)  We are called to forgive as He did, and show the grace that was shown to us while lovingly restoring one another to the Lord.

We are not called to merely sin in a mindset that “I can do anything because I’m a Christian” but live in a way that reflects the change of heart we encountered upon accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. 

If you’re living under condemnation, either from someone or even yourself, come out from under it and place it under the cross where it belongs.

Be a blessing, be blessed!

Pastor Seth <><

 

Listen for the sermon “Live Free” coming to our LISTEN TO A SUNDAY MESSAGE section.

Kingdom Seekers Youth Group

Posted by Seth Stultz on Friday, October 28th, 2011 in Youth Ministry

Kingdom  Seekers Youth Group is an outreach ministry open to all children and youth in our community in grades K-8 and 9-10.  Kingdom Seekers meets alternate Sunday evenings from 6-7:30 at the Darlington Armory where fun and fellowship meet teaching and application.  Parents are welcome to come as well and meet those who have dedicated their time and resources to making a positive impact on our communities youth.  You can find our meeting dates on our “EVENTS” page.

The Way back to God (Pastor’s Remix)

Posted by Seth Stultz on Tuesday, October 18th, 2011 in Pastor's Corner

No one likes to be lost!  But when it comes to loosing God, well the consequences are just downright eternal!

How can we lose God, you ask?  Well we often lose God when we ignore our Bible study times, our prayer times and our calling to fellowship with Him and other believers.  We can lose God when we choose to ignore His commands and do our own thing!  In a very short time we can turn around and find ourselves standing alone in the world.  God didn’t leave us, we left Him and some go through life not even knowing it.

“No one is so empty as the man who’s stopped walking with God and doesn’t even know it.” Author unknown

The people of Israel had lost God because they made the choice to follow after other gods and other people and as a result they were living a lost life.  The prophet Hosea was called to challenge the people to find their way back to God.  Like Hosea’s wife, Gomer who led a very adulterous lifestyle, straying from her marriage vows, Israel also chased after other loves while ignoring the covenant they had made with God.  The outcome was the same, separation and pain. 

But in Hosea 3, God commands Hosea to go after Gomer and “buy” her back and to love her again and God did the exact same thing when He sent His only Son to “pay” the price for our sins.  Even in our unfaithfulness, God is always still faithful to us. (Heb. 13:5)

Hosea instructs us to “return to the Lord” with attitudes of repentance and confession. (Hosea 14:2)  The way back to God always involves humility and recognition of our total need of God in our lives.  Returning to the Lord paves the way for us to be graciously received by Him and freely loved as well. When God receives us He begins the work of restoration (v4-8) that is needed to bring us back into that right relationship with Him.

Truth is, everyone loses their way every once in awhile but as Hosea 14:9 cries out to us, “The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”

Be a blessing, be blessed!

Pastor Seth <><

 

Watch for the sermon “The Way back to God” coming soon to our LISTEN TO A SUNDAY MESSAGE section.

Called to Follow (Pastor’s Remix)

Posted by Seth Stultz on Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 in Pastor's Corner

In one way or another, at sometime or another, we’ll all be called to follow.  What makes all the difference is WHO we’ll follow and WHY. 

The Apostle Paul writng to the Corinthian church was addressing some pressing issues that were affecting it’s ministry there in Corinth.  The Church had made the mistake of letting the outside sins creep into its midst and as a result the church was living as a defiled church.  We as members of God’s church are called to holiness (1 Cor.1:2) meaning we are to be separated from the sinful lifestyles that we were enslaved to prior to accepting Christ.  Holiness is the result of a relationship with Jesus and should be an every day goal for those who follow Him!

The Corinthian church was also a divided church that struggled with following many men and their ideas while loosing focus on Jesus Christ who’s to be our sole focal point.  Because so many within the church choose to follow others, their differences began to separate them from each other keeping them from the call to fellowship that Paul would remind them of. (1 Cor. 1:9)  The body of believers are to be united in service to God and to one another and division within the church is not be tolerated (Romans 16:17-19).

The overall effect these problems had on the Corinthian church was that it had became a disgraced church in the eyes of the surrounding community and most importantly God.  We mustn’t forget that the church is on the earth to glorify God and accomplish the work that He’s ordained for us to do but to do that we must hold to His commands as He’s set them down for us in His Word.  We must remember that we chose to “pick up our crosses and follow Jesus” (Matt. 16:24) not men or their ideas and  not the world and its ways!

Be blessed

Pastor Seth <><

Watch for the entire sermon, “Called to Follow” coming soon to our LISTEN TO A SUNDAY MESSAGE

Outline taken from the Wiersbe Bible Commentary

Wrestling with Change (Pastor’s Remix)

Posted by Seth Stultz on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 in Pastor's Corner

One thing is for certain, CHANGE HAPPENS!  We are surrounded by change whether it be our environment, our workplace and even in our church.  But why do we wrestle with change so much?  What about change scares us to the  point of denying change, even in ourselves?

Jacob found himself wrestling with change in Gen. 32:22-30.  In essence Jacob found himself wrestling with God as God attempted to get Jacob to see the changes that needed to take place in his life if he was to go on to become the man and leader that God would have him to be.  God wasn’t wrestling with Jacob to hurt him, as God doesn’t want to hurt us either.  When God struggles with us it’s because He’s trying to help us, grow us, and yes, often change us.  When we submit to God He does 2 things.

1.  God changes our Walk (Gen. 32:31) 

2.  God changes our Name (Gen. 32:28)

God changes the way we walk with Him, helping us to walk more obediently, more faithfully, more upright.  God also gives us a new name or identity (2 Cor. 5:17) doing away with old us and bringing to the forefront the new us that He has shaped for His glory!

Many of us do all we can to stay clear of wrestling with God for fear of being hurt or disciplined but God always has good intentions for His children and we need not fear Him! 

One thing is for certain, theres no better place than in God’s loving embrace!

Be blessed,

Pastor Seth <><

Watch for the entire sermon, “Wrestling with Change” coming to our LISTEN TO A SUNDAY MESSAGE section.

Committed to the Cause (Pastor’s Remix)

Posted by Seth Stultz on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 in Pastor's Corner

It’s easy to be excited about something when it’s new and fresh!  But we all know as time goes on, we as humans become a little less excited and unfortunately a little less committed.  This is especially true often in our christian lives.  So many of us can recall the day we invited Jesus into our hearts and lives.  We can remember feeling as if we were on fire and could take on anything and anyone as long as the Lord was with us.  There wasn’t anything we wouldn’t do!

What happened then?  Where did the fire go?  The Lord certainly didn’t go anywhere!  He didn’t leave or become less in love with us.  As committed as He was when He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, He is as committed to us today!  Think about the blessings and gifts He’s poured out on you and those around you.  This is what King Solomon did in 1 Kings 8:56.  Solomon rejoiced at what God had done for His people and prayed that God would continue to be with them but mostly that the people would continue to be with God!

The truth is when God called you, He wasn’t looking for part-time disciples!  That’s rough, I know, but true!  God wants those whose “hearts are fully committed to the Lord” (1 Kings 8:61). He wants those who have made Him #1 above all else.  Another truth is this though; You’ll never be committed to the Lord until you first submit to the Lord!  His eyes are searching (2 Chronicles 16:9) for those fully committed to Him.  Question is, how does He see you?

Be blessed <><

p seth

Watch for the entire message “Committed to the Cause” coming soon to our LISTEN TO A SUNDAY MESSAGE section.

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