Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This coming Lord’s Day we will open the inspired Word of the Lord once again to the Book of Judges chapter 13, and to verses 2-7, and also verses 24-25. We will be considering the very beginning of the intriguing story of one of the more famous men of the Old Testament, the man named “Samson.”

Of course, Samson was the twelfth and final deliverer for the Covenant people during that lengthy and tragic time in Israelite history called the ‘period of the judges.’ That season, as summarized by the final verse of the Book, was an awful period of sin and depravity when “there was no king in Israel,” and when “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (21:25).

We will discover that by the time of Samson’s arrival on the scene, Israel has declined to its lowest point ever. There is little hope for her recovery. The nation appears to be all but dead, a reality dramatically underscored by the sad note that the unnamed wife of Manoah—like several other most significant women in the Old Testament history of redemption—“was barren and had no children” (v. 2). Yet, as bleak as the situation appears to be, there are grace-filled rays of hope flashing all around!

On Sunday we will consider the unique circumstances surrounding Samson’s miraculous birth, his naming, and the fact that he was immediately endowed with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. I hope that between now and Sunday morning you will have some time to read all of chapter 13. And as you read, please pray for the preaching of the Word of the Lord, and that we will have our hearts attuned to the message of grace and salvation that we find here.

I love you all so very much!

Mike

Upcoming Events:

January 30, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Study
January 31, 9:30 AM – Women’s Morning Study
January 31, 8:30 AM – Senior Fellows Bags O’ Blessings packing at The CARE Center
February 1, 6 AM – Men’s Morning Study
February 1, 11:30 AM – Women’s Monthly Lunch
February 4, 3:30 PM – Alleluia Choir at Church House
February 4, 4:30 PM – Youth Group
February 9, 6 PM – Parents Night Out
February 11, 3 PM – Elliott Meet and Greet
February 21, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
February 22, 6 PM – Mom’s Coffee Night
February 24, 2 PM – Stafford Baby Shower
February 25, 2 PM – New Members Class

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

The songs for this week are:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Hymn 53, vs 1,3-5
Come Ye Souls By Sin Afflicted
Sweet Comfort
How Deep

Announcements:

Youth Group: Youth Group meets again on February 4 at the church at 4:30 PM for all students in grades 6-12. Invite friends and neighbors!

Women’s Bible Studies: The Women’s weekly studies are ongoing. The Tuesday evening study is at 6 PM, while the Wednesday morning study is at 9:30 AM.

Men’s Bible Study: The Men’s Morning Bible Study is also back in action, meeting every other Thursday. The next meeting is February 1 at 6 AM.

Senior Fellows: On January 31 at 8:30 AM the Senior Fellows will support Bags of Blessings packing at The CARE Center.

Women’s Monthly Lunch: The next Women’s Monthly Lunch is February 1 at 11:30 AM.

Alleluia Choir: Alleluia Choir for students in Second through Sixth Grades will resume on Sunday, February 4th, meeting from 3:30-4:20 PM upstairs in the Church House. New choristers are always welcome.

Parents Night Out: There will be a Parents’ Night Out on February 9, 6:00-8:30. We will have a winter theme, with crafts, games, a movie and probably pizza. Please contact Faithann Gibson if you are interested in helping out. We hope we can give the parents at our Church a Valentine’s Day treat!Her email: faithanngibson@gmail.com

Elliott Meet and Greet: On Sunday February 11 from 3-5 PM there will be a Meet and Greet time to welcome our newest staff member Matthew Elliott and his wife Meghan. It will be held at the church. Please join us in welcoming them.

Stafford Baby Shower: There will be a baby shower to celebrate the arrival of Baby Stafford on February 24 at 2 PM at the church. Contact Fatihann Gibson to help.

New Members Class: The next New Members Class will be on February 25 from 2 to 6 PM at the church. Childcare will be provided, and there will be a meal immediately following. Attending the class does not obligate you to join the church, but those wishing to join must attend the class. Visitors will not receive this notice via email, so if you know of any visitors interested in church membership, please help make them aware of the upcoming class date.

Mom’s Coffee Night: Moms’ Coffee Night is a small fellowship for moms to gather and pray. Date is Thursday, 2/22, from 6:30 to 8:00. Contact Nikki Profozich if you want to be involved and plan to invite a mom-friend from your school or homeschool group to join us. We’d love to have guests so that we may pray for our children together!

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Bill Bower, Suzi Jones, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the the Townsley family, expecting in March, and the Staffords and Deans, expecting in April.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

This coming Lord’s Day, as we continue on our walk through select sections of the book of Judges, we will arrive at the most famous of Israel’s judges, and one of the most well-known men in the whole Bible—the man called “Samson.” And in chapter 13 we discover the very beginning his story—what will prove to be the longest of the stories of any of the judges, taking up four whole chapters.

What most of us know about this popular Biblical character is that he was incredibly (supernaturally!) strong, and that somehow his extraordinary strength was connected to the length of his hair. And we also know that he was kind of a reckless man, not truly loyal to the Lord, one who hobnobbed with the enemy, married a non-Israelite (a Philistine woman!), and met his tragic end because he could not resist the seductive powers of that infamous and diabolically clever woman named “Delilah.”

But who was Samson, really? And why is his story so important, a fact underlined by the amount of verses and chapters dedicated to him in the Bible? And why—if he was such a reckless, undisciplined man, who was led astray by his sinful impulses—is he listed among the faithful in the New Testament Book of Hebrews, alongside noble men like “David and Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32)? And the more pressing question would be, what can Samson’s life and times teach us about our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and about living for Him in obedience, love, purity, and faithfulness–all the things that seem to have been missing from this man?

Well, believe it or not, the Holy Spirit has infallibly inscribed and preserved Samson’s story in the Bible because there is something for us to learn through him! He is, despite what we might think at first, and Old Testament ‘saint’ whose life and times prepared the world for the coming of our Savior and Lord—‘The Greater Samson’! As we prepare for worship and the preaching of the Word, let me encourage you to read Samson’s story once again as found in Judges 13-16. Our focus for the next two weeks will be upon 1:1-9, with special emphasis this Sunday on verse 1.

In this initial verse, that introduces the Samson episode, we discover something very tragic about the spiritual condition of the nation of Israel at the time this strong and mighty man appeared. Once “again” Israel has descended into the abyss of idolatrous rebellion against the Lord, and this is a refrain we have heard before. And, as we have also seen repeatedly, there are painful consequences for this sin: “so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.” However, there is something very different about this ‘cycle,’ and the evidence for it is discovered in this verse. There is something missing this time around, and the absence of it serves to confirm that the people of Israel have hit rock bottom, spiritually speaking. I wonder if you can discover what it is, something most obvious by its absence.

Well, I pray that by now you have thawed out completely, and I look forward to the warmth of our sweet fellowship this Sunday!

I love you all,

Mike

Upcoming Events:

January 21, 4:30 PM – Youth Group
January 23, 10 AM – Senior Fellows Testimony at the Church House
January 23, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Study
January 24, 9:30 AM – Women’s Morning Study
January 31, 8:30 AM – Senior Fellows Bags O’ Blessings packing at The CARE Center
February 1, 6 AM – Men’s Morning Study
February 1, 11:30 AM – Women’s Monthly Lunch
February 4, 3:30 PM – Alleluia Choir at Church House
February 9, 6 PM – Parents Night Out
February 21, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
February 24, 2 PM – Stafford Baby Shower
February 25, 2 PM – New Members Class

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

The songs for this week are:

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus 535, all 3 verses
Give Reviving
Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul
Why So Heavy

Announcements:

Youth Group: Youth Group meets again on January 21 at the church at 4:30 PM for all students in grades 6-12. Invite friends and neighbors!

Women’s Bible Studies: The Women’s weekly studies are ongoing. The Tuesday evening study is at 6 PM, while the Wednesday morning study is at 9:30 AM.

Men’s Bible Study: The Men’s Morning Bible Study is also back in action, meeting every other Thursday. The next meeting is February 1 at 6 AM.

Senior Fellows: On Tuesday, January 23 at 10:00 AM Senior Fellow John Baxter will present his Life Story/Testimony at the Church House. Visitors are welcome. Attendees will go to lunch afterward. Also on January 31 at 8:30 AM the Senior Fellows will support Bags of Blessings packing at The CARE Center.

Women’s Monthly Lunch: The next Women’s Monthly Lunch is February 1 at 11:30 AM.

Alleuia Choir: Alleluia Choir for students in Second through Sixth Grades will resume on Sunday, February 4th, meeting from 3:30-4:20 PM upstairs in the Church House. New choristers are always welcome.

Parents Night Out: There will be a Parents’ Night Out on February 9, 6:00-8:30. We will have a winter theme, with crafts, games, a movie and probably pizza. Please contact Faithann Gibson if you are interested in helping out. We hope we can give the parents at our Church a Valentine’s Day treat!Her email: faithanngibson@gmail.com

Stafford Baby Shower: There will be a baby shower to celebrate the arrival of Baby Stafford on February 24 at 2 PM at the church. Contact Fatihann Gibson to help.

New Members Class: The next New Members Class will be on February 25 from 2 to 6 PM at the church. Childcare will be provided, and there will be a meal immediately following. Attending the class does not obligate you to join the church, but those wishing to join must attend the class. Visitors will not receive this notice via email, so if you know of any visitors interested in church membership, please help make them aware of the upcoming class date.

Children’s Ministry Help: Our nurseries are still growing! Praise the Lord! We have SEVERAL more babies coming this spring, and we want to make sure we have loving, caring volunteers to serve our young families in the nursery area.
If you are a nursery volunteer, you will have the following role…

Arrive at the baby nursery at 10:15 am.
Greet moms, help them get their little one settled, take any instructions from visitors.
Rock, love, and hold these precious babies (ages 0 to about 18-20 mos)
If there are not many babies in nursery, and the staff feels okay about it, you may leave and return to worship. This will happen on occasion.

This is a great way to get to know some of our young families in the church!

I encourage the baby moms to sign-up, but we also like to see some of our other women of the church to serve in this way. I also allow young ladies, age 12 and up to be a volunteer. Babies love teenagers or college students!

If you feel able to meet this role, please click on my link HERE to grab a date or two for this semester. Thank you for serving Christ Pres in this way!

Ashley (Children’s Coordinator)
**Sign-up genius sends you a reminder two days out so that you won’t forget! Go ahead and write in on your calendar just in case!

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Bill Bower, Suzi Jones, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the the Townsley family, expecting in March, and the Staffords and Deans, expecting in April.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,

This coming Lord’s Day morning, as we continue our study of the major characters in the book of Judges, we will take our final look at the man named “Gideon.” And we have arrived at what is, perhaps, the most famous episode from his life—the amazing story of the Lord’s reduction of his army to just a fraction of its original size, from 32,000 to just 300 men, and the ultimate defeat of the Midianites.

But, as we have also observed along the way, the story of Gideon’s life and times is much more than just an interesting and even entertaining episode from the Old testament. It is an example for us. By looking at this story, and all of the others that we find in the Old Testament, we learn something very important about God’s plan of salvation, how He redeems His people, and how they serve Him and His kingdom in this world. This is why we are not at all surprised to find Gideon among those Old Testament men and women of faith mentioned in the Epistle of Hebrews in the New Testament. In the life and times of Gideon we see the one, eternal plan of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ—and the life of Spirit-empowered and God-glorifying service that it inaugurates—unfolding most beautifully before our eyes. And this will be especially true as we investigate this most well-known event recorded in Judges 7. Our focus for Sunday’s sermon will be upon verses 1-9, but you will need to be familiar with the remainder of the story found in 7:10-8:35 to more fully benefit from the message.

The overall theme of this colorful event is discovered in Judges 7:2 where the Lord explains to Gideon why his forces must be significantly downsized before they go and confront the Midianites: “lest Israel become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’” I believe you can see the immediate relevance to us and to our salvation in Christ, and the presence of the very same danger we also face as we serve our Lord in this world. So take another good look at this amazing episode from the life of Gideon, and join me in prayer that the Lord will speak to us most powerfully on Sunday.

Let me also say just one more word about Sunday School. All of our classes resumed last week. And we would encourage you to be a prat of this wonderful opportunity for further growth in the Lord and in our faith, and for the blessed opportunity for fellowship that Sunday School affords us. For our adults, we are studying the topic of “Spiritual Depression” as addressed by D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones in his classic book by the same title. If you have a copy of the book and are reading along with us, I will be continuing our introduction to the topic (chapter one) and also getting into chapter two, “The True Foundation.”

I love you all so much and eagerly look forward to coming together with you in the worship of our great Savior and Lord!

In His grace,

Mike

Upcoming Events:

January 16, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Study
January 17, 9:30 AM – Women’s Morning Study
January 17, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
January 18, 6 AM – Men’s Morning Study
January 21, 4:30 PM – Youth Group
January 31, 8:30 AM – Senior Fellows Bags O’ Blessings packing at The CARE Center
February 25, 2 PM – New Members Class

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

The songs for this week are:

To Thee I Come
Hark the Voice of Love and Mercy (It is Finished)
Have Thine Own Way 688, all 4 verses
He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought 600, vs 1,3-4

Announcements:

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

This coming Sunday we will be resuming our sermons from the Book of Judges. You will remember that this study is part of our larger sermon series on the ‘Great Events in the History of Redemption.’

For the last few messages from Judges our focus has been upon the man named “Gideon,” one of the most famous of Israel’s ‘judges.’ In fact, he is one of the four Israelite judges listed in Hebrews 11:32 (along with Barak, Samson, and Jephthah) who are said to have lived and served the Lord “by faith” (Heb. 11:33). Of course, Gideon is most famous for two things: his “fleece” (Judges 6:36-40), and his victory over the Midianites with just 300 warriors (Judges 7:1-25). The first of these will be our subject for this Sunday.

Virtually everyone has, at one time or another, followed along with Gideon’s example of ‘putting out a fleece’ in an effort to determine God’s will, or to find divine guidance for a particular matter. However, if we take a good look at the details of this episode, we see that God’s will for Gideon was never in doubt. What Gideon was doing had nothing to do with seeking guidance from the Lord or determining His will. Rather, he was testing the Lord and His Word, and seeking to find some additional confirmation of the Lord’s previous promise of victory over Midian (see 6:14-16). The fleece episode, then, was fundamentally about Gideon’s difficulty in trusting God’s character and His Word.

As we come to investigate this well-known story on Sunday, we will try and understand why Gideon needed such a confirmation, what led him to put the Lord to the test, and how this experience in his life can teach us many important lessons about our Lord, His Word, and the all-sufficient grace in which we stand.

As you pray and prepare your heart for Lord’s Day worship, take a moment to read and meditate upon our sermon passage found in Judges 6:36-40.

Also this coming Lord’s Day, Sunday School resumes for all ages at 9:15 AM. I will be teaching our Adult Class on the topic of ‘Spiritual Depression’ based upon the classic book by D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones entitled, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Its Cure.

Finally, it will be our great joy on Sunday to officially welcome Mr. Matthew Elliott to our Church family. As you know, Matthew is our Pastoral Assistant for Counseling, and we are thrilled at how the Lord brought him to us to serve our Savior and His Church in this vital area. Please pray for Matthew and for his wife Meg as their ministry with us begins this week.

I love you all so much, and you are ever on my heart and in my prayers,

Mike

Upcoming Events:

January 7, 9:15 AM – Sunday School resumes
January 9, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Study
January 9, 9 AM – Senior Fellows Breakfast at Church House
January 10, 9:30 AM – Women’s Morning Study
January 18, 6 AM – Men’s Morning Study

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

The songs for this week are:

Be Unto Your Name
Stricken, Smitten And Afflicted (Hymn 257, all 4 verses)
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (Hymn 296, vs 1,3,6)

Announcements:

Senior Fellows: On Tuesday, January 9 at 9:00 AM the Senior Fellows will have breakfast at the Church House. Come and join us for food, fellowship, fun, and a devotional. They will also support Bags of Blessings packing at The CARE Center on January 31.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Bill Bower, Suzi Jones, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the the Townsley family, expecting in March, and the Staffords and Deans, expecting in April.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).