Sermon Preview
Friday September 6, 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Beginning this coming Lord’s Day we are going to start a special five-week sermon series entitled, ‘Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.’ This will be a series of messages on the critical subject that we discover first set forth in Scripture in the words of Genesis 1:26-27:
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
The reason we are taking some time to go very deep into the doctrine of man, made in God’s image and likeness, is that this Biblical truth is so very fundamental to all that we believe about being human. In these two verses we discover our origin, our distinction, our differentiation, and our purpose as human beings created by God.
However, this is precisely the place where the Christian faith is under a significant assault today, and not simply from those outside of confessional Christianity. For this passage serves as the flash-point for controversy, even in historically conservative denominations like ours, the PCA. In fact, it is no overstatement to say that here in 2019, the theological unity of the PCA is deeply fractured over these verses (and others), especially as they speak to the issues of human identity and sexuality.
What I hope to accomplish in the next five Sundays is, 1) to speak to you very openly regarding the current theological controversy in the PCA, and the dangers it poses, 2) to set forth a Biblical theology of man (humanity in God’s image), and explore its various implications, especially as they relate to sexuality, and 3) to equip all of us to respond to the massive changes in our culture regarding human identity.
Now, this may sound a bit overwhelming to you, and perhaps even theologically dense. And to be very forthright, these sermons will be somewhat heavy on the doctrine side. But I believe you’ll quickly realize how important and relevant this series will prove to be, especially in light of what is happening in our world and in the Church.
I think it might help if I scope out our plan for you so that you can prepare and pray more effectively as we approach these messages.
First, this Sunday we will focus on ‘The Image of God in the Bible,’ and we will introduce the topic and address the ways this essential doctrine has been distorted and even abandoned. In the second message we will speak on ‘The Image of God in Creation.’ Then, in part three the subject will be ‘The Image of God and the Fall.’ The fourth message will be on ‘The Image of God Restored in Christ.’ And our final sermon will address ‘The Image of God Perfected in Glory.’
Of course, our only sufficient and infallible authority for these messages will be God’s Holy Word. Along with Genesis 1:26-27, we will explore other key Biblical passages that speak to the matters at hand. Together, we will prayerfully open the Scriptures to see what our Creator and Lord has declared to be true.
Also, let me assure the parents of our young children that I recognize that these issues are both difficult and delicate. Therefore, I will be very careful with the words I use from the pulpit, knowing that precious ‘little ears’ will be present.
Because your Session believes this series is so vital at this moment, we will also be devoting five weeks of Adult Sunday School to this matter as well.
Beginning this week, the Adults will meet with the Session in the Worship Center where we will discuss this more fully and openly, and take your questions as well.
This Sunday in our Adult Class, I’m going to give you a brief history of the PCA so that you can better appreciate the theological convictions that initially led to the formation of our denomination. And as we will see, it was theological concerns related to this very issue of man in God’s image that led our founders to break away from the Presbyterian Church US (now the PCUSA) in 1973.
Please be in fervent prayer for these messages, and for our all of Sunday School classes and teachers. And please intercede for our Church and denomination as we seek to be faithful to our Lord and His Word.
Before I go here are just a few quick announcements:
Sunday School for All Ages Begins This Sunday, September 8 at 9:15 AM.
Second Sunday Lunches Begin This Sunday.
Youth Bible Study for Middle and High School Students is This Sunday, From 4:30-6:15 PM at the Church
I love you all so very much!
Mike
Counselor’s Corner:
On occasion someone will ask me what books I might give to someone struggling with grief and loss. This is certainly not a bad question at all. After all, there are a myriad of resources on the issue, many of them having the potential to greatly encourage, describe expectations and provide helpful guidance in the midst of pain. Yet, it is also good for us to consider what books I ought to read as I consider helping those struggling with grief and loss. In this post, we describe three resources that you might consider reading as you approach family and friends dealing with the pain of loss.
Upcoming Events:
September 8, 9 AM – Sunday School resumes
September 8, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
September 8, 4:30 PM – Middle and High School Youth Study
September 10, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study
September 11, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study
September 12, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study
September 13, 11:15 AM – Senior Fellows Team A Downtown Rescue Mission feeding
September 14, 7 AM – Senior Fellows Work Day at PCA MNA Disaster Relief Warehouse, Rome, GA
September 18, 6 PM – Deacons Meeting
September 20, 6 PM – Marriage Enrichment Evening and Dinner
September 21, 8 AM – Church Work Day
September 29, 2 PM – New Members and Inquirers Class
October 3, 11:30 AM – Women’s Potluck Lunch at Timbers Edge Clubhouse
October 17, 6 PM – Women’s Potluck Dinner at home of Carol Calvert
Order of Worship:
You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here
If you’d like to sing the songs with your family beforehand, the songs for this week are:
O Worship the King – Hymn 2, vs 1, 4-5
Give Reviving
Precious Lamb of God (There is a Redeemer)
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Hymn 457, all 3 verses
Announcements:
Schedule:
All regularly scheduled studies and events resume this week. Sunday School for all ages resumes on September 8 at 9:15 AM.
Children’s Ministry Notes:
For anyone who would like to volunteer in our baby nursery, our Fall semester sign-up is now live. Please click HERE and sign up for a couple of dates for the fall and winter months. Older teens are welcome to serve as well!
I am in need of two new childcare workers on Tuesday mornings for the moms’ study at 9 am. Time commitment is weekly for 2 hrs (9 to 11 am). Please email Ashley if you are interested in this part-time job!
Thank you to all our members who will be teaching in some capacity this coming year. If you are interested in being a helper in a classroom, please email Ashley. We would love to have some additional adults in our rooms, learning and growing with our students.
- Nursery: Amanda Dean, Leah Johnson
- preK/Kinder: Stanley and Penny Gibson
- 1st/2nd: Nikki and Steve Profozich
- 3rd/4th/5th: John and Heather Dragash, Paul and Rachel Matheny
Save the date for the Reformation Celebration on Sunday, October 27th. More details to come, but contact Amy Drown if you’d like to be involved in the planning.
Youth Notes:
Sunday School
Our fall semester of Sunday School will begin on September 8, at 9:15 AM.
- Our Middle School Sunday School Class (grades 6-8) will meet downstairs at the Church house and will be taught by Graham and Sarah Burgess.
- Our High School Class (grades 9-12) will meet upstairs at the Church house and will be taught by Glen Doughty.
Sunday Night Fellowship and Bible Study
On every-other Sunday Night, beginning August 25 from 4:30-6:30 PM, our Middle and High School students will meet at the Church for a time of fellowship and Bible study.
The nightly schedule will go as follows:
- 4:30-5:00 PM–Joint fellowship and fun time in the fellowship hall
- 5:00-6:00 PM–Separate Bible Studies:
Middle School Bible Study (grades 6-8) led by Pastor Mike and Matthew Elliott
High School Bible Study (grades 9-12) led by Ken Burnett
- 6:00-6:15 PM–Joint snack and fellowship time in fellowship hall (parents may pick up their students from 6:15-6:30 PM).
Check the church calendar and bulletin for Youth Group dates. Visitors are welcome. If you should have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Pastor Mike or Ken Burnett.
Second Sunday Lunches:
September 8th will begin our Fall series of after church lunches, scheduled for the second Sunday of each month from September through December. If you would like to help or have questions please email or text Denise Brown:
niniandjb@gmail.com (256) 698-0475
Please click the link
HERE to sign up for food and service contributions for our September 8th Baked Potato Bar. Thank you so much for all your help! I’m looking forward to the fellowship and feasting!
Marriage Evening Conference:
Dear CPC Congregation, You are invited to join us for a Marriage Evening Conference on Friday, September 20th! Our evening will include several large group seminars as well as an optional dinner for those interested. Our hope is that the evening will be a time of fellowship with others as well as refreshment for you personally and in your marriage. Registration for the event opens on August 1st and concludes August 31st.
Speaker: Our speaker is Pastor Nate Shurden. He is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. While in seminary, Nate served at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson in Christian education ministry and as Assistant Editor for reformation21, the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. Upon graduation, Nate was called to be Minister of Discipleship and Young Adults at FPC Jackson where he served for three years. In 2010, Nate accepted a call to Franklin, TN to help plant Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. Nate is married to Christy, and they have four young children.
Dinner: We would invite you to join us for dinner! Catered by Carrabbas, we will begin serving around 5:45 and conclude our meal around 6:45. There is no cost for the sessions of the conference. However, for those attending dinner, a $10 per person donation is appreciated in order to mitigate some of the costs of the food. Given the limited amount of space, we are currently reserving the dinner portion of the event for members of Christ Presbyterian Church. Please feel free to invite friends and family to join you for the sessions starting at 7pm!
Details:
Christ Presbyterian Church
Friday September 20th, 2019
Dinner: 5:45 – 6:45**
Session One: 7:00 – 7:45*
Coffee Break: 7:45 – 8:00
Session Two: 8:00 – 8:45
*No cost for the sessions
**A donation of $10 for the dinner is appreciated
Childcare: There will not be any childcare provided at the church during the event. However, if childcare is an obstacle for your attendance, please indicate as such on the RSVP in the registration link provided in this email and we will contact you for assistance.
How Do I Sign Up? To sign up online, please follow the link provided here to register for the event! Please click here. We will also have a sign-up form each Sunday morning during the month of August in the foyer.
Questions: Do you have questions? Please feel free to email Matthew Elliott at matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org.
Women’s Fellowship Opportunities:
The women will continue their “First Thursday” monthly luncheons beginning September 4th. They start at 11:30 am at Timbers’ Edge Clubhouse. Other dates this semester are 10/3, 11/7, and 10/5.
Our quarterly potluck is on Thursday, October 17th, at 6 pm at the home of Carol Calvert. Anyone is welcome – bring a dish to share if you are able! Or drop in last minute for fellowship.
The Christmas Brunch for the weekly bible studies is December 4th.
The annual Ladies’ Christmas Dinner is Tuesday, December 10th, at 6 pm at Huntsville Country Club.
Mark your calendars for these fellowship opportunities. Contact Denise Scrip for any questions.
Fall Women’s Bible Studies:
The women are kicking off their fall bible studies with a brunch on Wednesday, 8/28, at 11:30 am at the home of Carol Calvert. If you are interested in attending a fall bible study, please join us.
Two women’s groups will begin meeting on Tuesday nights (6-7:30 pm) starting September 3 and Wednesday mornings starting September 4 (10-11:30 am). We will be doing the Jen Wilkens’ video study “First Peter (A Living Hope in Christ). “It can be ordered from Lifeway.com. Sign up in the Narthex.
A Moms’ Group will begin studying Melissa Kruger’s book “Contentment” beginning Tuesday, September 10th at 9 AM. Childcare will be provided.
Hope you will consider joining us in the Fall.
Church Work Day:
Church Work Day will be at 8 AM, Saturday, September 21. We will do landscaping, window/mirror washing and other clean up and improvement jobs. We need lots of helpers (men, women, youth) and some tools. A sign up for both will be in the narthex. A lite breakfast will be served. Don’t miss this opportunity to help beautify our church and enjoy great fellowship.
Senior Fellows:
On Tuesday, September 3 at 9 AM the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast followed by a special devotional. We will look at Demon Possession/Influence versus Mental Illness in light of all the awful happenings (like mass shootings) in our country today. Pastor Mike and Counselor Matthew will lead/moderate this session. Wives and guests are welcome to attend. Also both Senior Fellows teams will serve at the Downtown Rescue Mission. Team B will serve on Tuesday, September 3. Team A will serve on Friday, September 13. Each team will meet at 11:15 AM and start feeding at 11:30 AM. Carpools will leave the church at 10:30. On Saturday, September 14 the Senior Fellows will help at the disaster relief warehouse in Rome, GA. Jobs may include building a tool work bench, replacing termite damaged trim, and other needed items. We will depart the Church at 7 AM, and return home 5 PM.
New Member’s and Inquirer’s Class:
The next class will be held Sunday September 29, from 2-6 PM with dinner following. It is for all who are interested in Church membership at CPC. Taking the class does not obligate you to join, but is required for membership. Sign up in the Narthex.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Jose Luis Rodriguez, Linda Baxter, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Thoms, expecting in November.
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).
Emails:
general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs: benevolence@christpreshamptoncove.org
counsel and ministry needs: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org
Address:
288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763