Sermon Preview:

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Before I introduce our sermon passage for this coming Lord’s Day, I want to share with you some exciting news as well as a prayer request regarding one of our dear Church families.

Over the last several months Daron and Amy Drown, and their five precious daughters, have sensed the Lord’s strong leadership regarding the ministry of Church planting. Recently (and providentially), a small core-group in our area has come together with the vision of birthing a mission Church of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC, in the city of Madison. After much prayer, conversation, counsel, and fervently seeking the Lord’s will, Daron and Amy have made the decision to assist in this mission effort, and will join the CREC for this purpose. Their last Sunday with us at Christ Presbyterian Church will be this coming Lord’s Day, January 31.

Of course, this is both an exciting and bitter-sweet thing for our Church. We are so honored and thrilled that the Lord has placed this call upon one of our own families. It is exciting when the Lord summons one of us, or one of our families, to an area of special service to His Kingdom. But we are saddened at the same time, and will deeply miss their fellowship in the Lord’s work among us here in our body.

Daron has so faithfully and sacrificially served us as one of our Ruling Elders. His gift of teaching has richly nourished us in God’s Word. And Amy has employed her wonderful gifts in faithfully ministering to our children, ladies, and youth. And we have all benefited so richly from their family’s influence upon us as the Lord has used each of them to contribute uniquely to the work of the Spirit that we see in evidence in our Church.

I want to personally express my gratitude to Daron and Amy. Thank you for all that you have done for us in the Lord’s Name over these years that you have been with us. Thank you for your constant encouragement, your faithful prayers, and your example of loving and dedicated leadership. The fruit of your ministry to us will continue to blossom for God’s glory for years to come. I love you all dearly, and I commit to remember you and your family in my prayers. And I will look forward in eager anticipation of the great things that our Lord will do through each of you in this new work.

Let me ask you to please lift up Daron and Amy, along with Emily, Sarah Kate, Anna, Ashlyn, and Grace in your prayers. And I hope that on Sunday you will take the opportunity to bless them with words of gratitude, support, and encouragement as they follow God’s will.

Then, as we proclaim the Word of God this Lord’s Day, we will consider Hebrews 6:11-15, with special focus upon verses 11-12. I believe our Father has such a strong word of hope for each of us in this passage. If you have ever doubted your salvation, or lacked the assurance of your standing in God’s grace, then this text from Hebrews will be of special help for you. I might suggest that you also read Hebrews 11 in anticipation of our sermon.

I love you with all my heart, and you are ever in my prayers,

Mike

Announcements:

COVID-19 Message:

For those of you who are attending worship in person on Sunday morning, please practice social distancing as much as you are able and observe the pew markers so that we may keep a safe, 6-ft between families. During this time, we will not have nursery or fellowship time with food and drink. If any family member has been sick, or you have a pre-existing condition, please consider staying home and joining us by watching the recorded service when it is sent out. Masks are not required if you are maintaining social distance, but are welcome. We hope and pray that if you have any needs, you will let a staff member or deacon know so that we can serve you well during this trying time.

Youth Group:

Youth Group meets February 7 at 4:30 PM at the church house.

Also, the presbytery-wide youth event, the ROOTS Retreat, will be March 5-7 at Camp ToKnowHim. This year’s speaker is Rev. Braden Benson. He’s an ordained PCA minister, and ACBC Christian Counselor working with the Owen Center in Auburn. He’ll be presenting a series on Fear, Anxiety, and Depression (using Running Scared by Ed Welch). Braden holds a Masters of Arts of Christian Counseling as well as a Masters of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. He received a degree in Psychology from Mississippi State University with a special focus in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is also a member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). For the past six years he and his wife have worked in ministries of counseling, adult Christian education and with Joni & Friends, a Christ-based ministry to the disabled. Through the Owen Center Braden pursues a life-calling to serve Christ by cultivating the ministry of biblical counseling in His church. This year’s Cost is $100 +$12 for a shirt. The deadline to register is February 12th. Please contact Matthew Elliott if you are interested in this event.

Children’s Ministry:

Children’s Sunday School Classes:

Toddler/preK – Nursery (Amanda Dean)
K, 1st and 2nd – Middle Back Classroom (Amy Drown, Tim Cummings)
3rd – Fellowship Room (Ashley Turnbull, Denise Brown)

4th and 5th – Back Right Classroom (Kerry Tameling)

Additionally, youth meets at the church house. Contact Matthew Elliott for any questions about youth classes.

Watch for a Summer VBS survey to go out next week!

Women’s Ministry:

Women’s Bible Studies have resumed for the new semester. Times and subjects below:

Mothers Morning Bible Study
Date: Tuesdays through May
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Christ Pres Church

Women’s Morning Bible Study
Date: Wednesdays through May
Time: 10-11:30 am
Location: Christ Pres Church
Topic: Book of Acts Ch, 1-12 by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acts 1-12 For You (a companion commentary ) by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Women’s Evening Bible Study
Date: Wednesdays through May
Time: 6-7:30 pm
Location: Christ Pres Church
Topic: Book of Acts Ch, 1-12 by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acts 1-12 For You (a companion commentary ) by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Senior Fellows:

At 9 AM on Tuesdays, the Senior Fellows are having a Zoom Bible Study on “Days of Creation”. Members and visitors are welcome to join us. For more information contact: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Rich and Christina Bagdazian, Dustin and Katie Jackson, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, and Elizabeth Holton.
Bereavement: Church member and brother in Christ Nolan Osmer died this week. Please pray for Linda, Rachel, and the entire Osmer and Matheny families.
Expecting: Please pray for the Deans, expecting in July.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Amos and Jessica Williams (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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

“ It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,

I’m sure you are all quite familiar with the episode in the life of our Lord from which the words above are derived. This explanatory statement was uttered by Jesus in response to a question posed by His Disciples upon their encounter with a man suffering from congenital blindness. The full episode is found in John 9, where we read the following account:

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

On this new Monday, I’d like to suggest some very encouraging truths that we discover here in this remarkable story of our Lord’s healing power and profound compassion.

First, like all of the miracles that Jesus performed, this one demonstrated that with the coming of our Savior to this world, the Kingdom of God had broken in to human history. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “ the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21). The miraculous healing of this poor and afflicted man was a dramatic demonstration of the presence of that eternal kingdom! And it illustrated the greater miracle of salvation, which is for all who believe. Just as it was the power of God’s eternal kingdom, His “ works” of healing and salvation, that were “ displayed” in the man’s deliverance from his blindness, the power of God alone is sufficient to save all hopeless sinners who place their trust in Christ Jesus.

Secondly, as our Lord explains, this man’s blindness was not caused immediately by anyone’s sin. Rather, his terrible affliction came from the hand of the Father for the purpose that He might display His glory in the man’s weakness. And take note of the interesting juxtaposition of the words “ blind from birth” (v. 1), and “ displayed in him” (v. 3). In the life of this one who could not see, the world would behold the glory of God! What a turnaround! What a surprise! Those around him surely would have concluded that his affliction was meaningless and his existence equally tragic. Yet the Father, who is eternally wise and compassionate, had another purpose in view; one that was unimaginably good and glorious!

And then, there is a most encouraging word here for each of us today who belong to the great Healer and Redeemer. It is surely true that all of our afflictions, despite their apparent cause, are instruments of our Father’s glory and the means by which He brings us ultimate good! I can easily imagine that this blind man’s family agonized over his condition every day without fail. His friends looked upon him with hopeless pity. His doctors were distressed that no cure could be found. And he himself was resigned to the fact that this was simply his lot in life, and he was cruelly destined to exist in such a pitiable state until death finally freed him. But the eternal and unfailing reality that overwhelmed all of these emotions and conclusions about the quality and meaning of his life was that God was at work in Him! His condition was not due to the unfortunate roll of the cosmic dice. His affliction came from his Father! And in the midst of this awful pain the Father would do something unthinkably grand!

I am convinced that all of us who are in Christ can apply this great fact to our own personal pains and afflictions. Despite their size, duration, or apparent cause, they each have a purpose which was determined in eternity by our Father’s wise counsel. And that is to glorify our Lord and King!

And this also means that those afflictions that come upon us corporately as the beloved Body and Bride of Christ are also ours by divine design. COVID 19 has come upon us for God’s glory and our good! The political upheaval and turmoil in our country has come upon us so that God’s awesome work might be seen in us! The instability of the surrounding nations, and that of our whole world, has come upon us so that our Father might cause all of earth and heaven to behold His beauty, grace, sufficiency, and His glory in us!

So, my beloved ones, take comfort in this: The Maker of time, space, the stars, and this world is your Father! He is working in and for each of us! His kingdom is present now! Even in our afflictions He is glorifying His Name and bringing us eternal good! Let us trust Him! Let us rest in His purpose!

I love you all more than words can express!

Mike

Sermon Preview:

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This coming Lord’s Day we will consider the words of Hebrews 6:7-12 as we continue our series of messages from this epistle.
As you read over this passage before Sunday, let me draw your attention to verse 9: “ in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things–things that belong to salvation.”

These words are like a deep, filling breath of fresh air in light of the warning given regarding apostasy in the previous verses. It is clear that the inspired author is seeking to bring assurance of salvation to the readers, the great majority of whom he believes are true Christians. He has no intention of creating unnecessary doubts in their hearts as to whether or not they are in the faith. To the contrary, his purpose is to give them the “ full assurance of hope until the end” (v. 11). If the warnings against falling away had caused any of these true believers to experience anxiety about their salvation, the author seeks to alleviate this by pointing them to the triumphant, unfailing, and eternal grace and power of God!

Coming on February 21

On Sunday February 21, we will begin a new Adult Sunday Class on the Book of Esther. If you would like a very good commentary for this study, see the link below. In the meantime, be sure to read through Esther a couple of times to get familiar with this amazing story of God’s sovereignty and power.

https://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Esther-Redeemer-Sudden-Reversals/dp/1527102343/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ruth+and+esther+strain&qid=1611320236&s=books&sr=1-1

I can’t wait until we meet together and share in the goodness of our Father’s Holy Word!

You are my beloved ones indeed!

Mike

Announcements:

COVID-19 Message:

For those of you who are attending worship in person on Sunday morning, please practice social distancing as much as you are able and observe the pew markers so that we may keep a safe, 6-ft between families. During this time, we will not have nursery or fellowship time with food and drink. If any family member has been sick, or you have a pre-existing condition, please consider staying home and joining us by watching the recorded service when it is sent out. Masks are not required if you are maintaining social distance, but are welcome. We hope and pray that if you have any needs, you will let a staff member or deacon know so that we can serve you well during this trying time.

Youth Group:

Youth Group meets January 24 at 4:30 PM at the church house.

Men’s Ministry:

Men’s book study of Calvin’s Institutes is meeting weekly on Tuesdays at 6:15-7:15 AM. We’re meeting upstairs at the Cooper House on Randolph Ave near downtown. All men are welcome to join us in building friendships as we discuss our lives in Christ at a practical level. If interested, please contact darondrown@gmail.com

Women’s Ministry:

Women’s Bible Studies have resumed for the new semester. Times and subjects below:

Mothers Morning Bible Study
Date: Tuesdays through May
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Christ Pres Church

Women’s Morning Bible Study
Date: Wednesdays through May
Time: 10-11:30 am
Location: Christ Pres Church
Topic: Book of Acts Ch, 1-12 by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acts 1-12 For You (a companion commentary ) by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Women’s Evening Bible Study
Date: Wednesdays through May
Time: 6-7:30 pm
Location: Christ Pres Church
Topic: Book of Acts Ch, 1-12 by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acts 1-12 For You (a companion commentary ) by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Children’s Ministry:

CPC Families,

We are thrilled to have started back our children’s Sunday school classes Sundays at 9:30 am.

We have the following classes:

Toddler/preK – Nursery (Amanda Dean and Moms)
K, 1st and 2nd – Middle Back Classroom (Amy Drown)
3rd, 4th, and 5th – Center Classroom (Ashley Turnbull)**

Additionally, youth meets at the church house. Contact Matthew Elliott for any questions about youth classes.

Please join us to study God’s word together again in small group classes. We are thankful the Lord has given us the opportunity to meet again this semester!

See you Sunday!

In Christ,
Ashley

Senior Fellows:

At 9 AM on Tuesdays, the Senior Fellows are having a Zoom Bible Study on “Days of Creation”. Members and visitors are welcome to join us. For more information contact: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Herschel Matheny, Rich and Christina Bagdazian, Dustin and Katie Jackson, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer.
Bereavement: Please pray for Milton Johnson, whose brother died this week.
Expecting: Please pray for the Deans, expecting in July.
Birth: Congratulations to the Krietzers, whose son Elijah was born this week.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Amos and Jessica Williams (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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

“ and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, declares the Lord”–Jeremiah 31:14

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Last week our Session met and we considered the words of Jeremiah 31:14 in our time of devotion and prayer. Since that day, this blessed passage has continued to resonate in my mind, and I wanted to share some thoughts with you about these inspired words.

As you will remember, Jeremiah 31 is normally understood as the prophet’s New Covenant promise for wayward and fallen Israel. Both the Southern (Judah) and the Northern (Israel) kingdoms have suffered the judgment of God, been exiled, and for all intents and purposes, have ceased to exist.

Yet, despite their sins, the Lord was not finished with them. There would be a grand deliverance and restoration!  Grace and mercy would triumph in the end!  From the smoldering debris of their apostasy, God would soon raise up a new Israel, a faithful remnant, who will return to their sacred land and rebuild all that was once destroyed.

Of course, the immediate fulfillment of this passage was the return of the exiles to the Land of Promise, and the rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem, and her walls. Yet, the ultimate fulfillment of this passage is to be found in our Lord and Savior, who builds a new nation, a new holy people, and new kingdom of priests, by means of his life, and death, and bodily resurrection.

Tucked into this glorious Old Testament promise of a better covenant are the words quoted above. Yahweh announces through the prophet that those who belong to Him will discover their ultimate satisfaction in only one thing: His abundant “ goodness”!

Among the many points of connection between the experience of the Jewish exiles in 550 BC and our lives as Christian believers today in 2021 AD, there is one that I would offer for your consideration on this new Monday.

The hardships we have all endured over the last nine months or so have stripped away some of the things that we treasure and enjoy. Perhaps one of the biggest of all is our ability to be together in unhindered fellowship with one another. Quarantines, illnesses, masks, social distancing, and the threat of infection have severely limited our contact with one another. As some have suggested, we are conducting the Lord’s holy business under ‘wartime conditions.’  And with this we have experienced the stresses and pressures that accompany life and ministry on the field of battle.  Such was the case with that remnant of believing Israelites who were living out their faith in a foreign land, under a pagan king, and enduring all of the restrictions and depravations that life in Babylon imposed upon them.

Yet, in the midst of this pain and affliction, the Lord was lovingly forcing His people toward a certain place, a definite destination, spiritually speaking. They needed to be brought to the point where their true and ultimate satisfaction was found only in His “ goodness.”  And to accomplish this, they had to suffer the forfeiture of lesser things.

The exile had stripped away from them virtually everything they had loved and once found joy in.  From one perspective, they had nothing. However, having been reduced to the place where they could claim ownership only of the name ‘Israel,’ the Sovereign Lord had them exactly where He wanted them!  With hopes dashed, possessions taken, and their homeland in ruins, they were finally in a place where they could see just how incredibly rich they really were! Their true wealth was to be found in their God, and in His unflinching “ goodness” toward them! And in this marvelous benevolence, they would be fully “ satisfied”!

You see, we can never know how wonderful and satisfying our Father’s goodness really is until we have nothing else left upon which to set our affections and hopes. It is a most blessed thing to be reduced to the place of having nothing but Him!  Only in this situation can we really experience and begin comprehend just how awesome and good our God is!

I find it so fascinating that when Moses asked for the honor of seeing the Lord, it was His “ goodness” that he was permitted to behold:

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness  pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy”(Exodus 33:18-19).

Of course, king David spoke so frequently of the Lord’s goodness. One passage in the Psalms comes to mind:

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! (Psalm 31:19).

But again, given human nature, we can’t appreciate or become satisfied with our Father’s goodness until it is only the promise and experience of His goodness that we have! As long as lesser things satisfy us, we can’t fully “ taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).

This, I think, is the wonderful benefit of affliction! We are stripped of those things that we once found our delight in. And we are then moved to look upward into the face of the One who is always good to us! If we have our Lord and Savior, if we have His grace, if we have hope in His promises, then we will always be satisfied no matter our circumstances!

So, my Beloved, your Father loves you! He is always good to you! His goodness is as eternal as His very Being!  And even if you have precious little left in this life, then you are in the perfect place to know just how good He is!

I love you all so very much, and I never cease praying for you by name!

Mike

Sermon Preview:

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the most unnerving experiences we’ve all had is knowing someone who once professed faith in Christ, took their vows and joined the Church, got involved, worshiped the Lord, and perhaps even served in some area of ministry, and then turned away from both the Savior and His people. It is always a painful thing when one who has confessed our Savior, worshiped side-by-side with us, and appeared to be genuine in their love for Christ, suddenly disappears, and even claims to no longer believe the Gospel we embrace and love.

I would imagine that virtually all of us have known someone like that. And not only do Christians in local churches experience such terrible things, we seem to frequently witness this sad reality more visibly in the broader world of evangelical Christianity. We read about a minister who abandons the Gospel and the Church, publicly renouncing His once-held faith. We see one of our spiritual heroes, perhaps a gifted preacher or defender of the faith, exposed as an immoral and wicked fraud. Then there are the celebrity Christian leaders who decline both in doctrine and in practice to the point that they no longer even call themselves Christians. And, if we are completely honest, we often wonder, ‘Could that happen to me? Could I walk away from Christ? Could I disassociate myself from His people and deny the very truth that I once said I believed?’

Well, it is this very thing that the inspired author of the Epistle to the Hebrews addresses head-on in Hebrews 6:4-6. These verses, blunt by anyone’s measurement, provide us with an answer as to why this happens and what it ultimately means. In the end, the author will reveal just how close one can come to truly knowing Christ and being transformed by God’s grace, and yet remain completely lost.

But, there is more here than just this ominous reality. For not only will we come to a fuller understanding of the grievous sin of apostasy, we will encounter a profound word of hope and assurance for our own souls that will richly nourish us as we continue to walk together in commitment to our Savior and His people.

Let me encourage you to read and mediate upon Hebrews 6:1-20 over the weekend. And then let’s get on our knees and ask our Lord to bless His people and build His Church through His mighty Word.

I love you all so very much,

Mike

Announcements:

COVID-19 Message:

For those of you who are attending worship in person on Sunday morning, please practice social distancing as much as you are able and observe the pew markers so that we may keep a safe, 6-ft between families. During this time, we will not have nursery or fellowship time with food and drink. If any family member has been sick, or you have a pre-existing condition, please consider staying home and joining us by watching the recorded service when it is sent out. Masks are not required if you are maintaining social distance, but are welcome. We hope and pray that if you have any needs, you will let a staff member or deacon know so that we can serve you well during this trying time.

Youth Group:

Youth Group meets January 24 at 4:30 PM at the church house.

Men’s Ministry:

Men’s book study of Calvin’s Institutes is meeting weekly on Tuesdays at 6:15-7:15 AM. We’re meeting upstairs at the Cooper House on Randolph Ave near downtown. All men are welcome to join us in building friendships as we discuss our lives in Christ at a practical level. If interested, please contact darondrown@gmail.com

Women’s Ministry:

Women’s Bible Studies have resumed for the new semester. Times and subjects below:

Mothers Morning Bible Study
Date: Tuesday, Jan 12th
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Christ Pres Church

Women’s Morning Bible Study
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 20th
Time: 10-11:30 am
Location: Christ Pres Church
Topic: Book of Acts Ch, 1-12 by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acts 1-12 For You (a companion commentary ) by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Women’s Evening Bible Study
Date: Wednesday, Jan 20th
Time: 6-7:30 pm
Location: Christ Pres Church
Topic: Book of Acts Ch, 1-12 by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acts 1-12 For You (a companion commentary ) by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Children’s Ministry:

CPC Families,

We are thrilled to have started back our children’s Sunday school classes Sundays at 9:30 am.

We have the following classes:

Toddler/preK – Nursery (Amanda Dean and Moms)
K, 1st and 2nd – Middle Back Classroom (Amy Drown)
3rd, 4th, and 5th – Center Classroom (Ashley Turnbull)**

Additionally, youth meets at the church house. Contact Matthew Elliott for any questions about youth classes.

Please join us to study God’s word together again in small group classes. We are thankful the Lord has given us the opportunity to meet again this semester!

See you Sunday!

In Christ,
Ashley

Senior Fellows:

At 9 AM on Tuesdays, the Senior Fellows are having a Zoom Bible Study on “Days of Creation”. Members and visitors are welcome to join us. For more information contact: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Jean Terry, Dustin and Katie Jackson, Rich Bagdazian, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Kreitzers, expecting soon.
Bereavement: Please pray for Phillip Jones, whose mother died this week.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Amos and Jessica Williams (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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

“ We know that no one who has been born of God sins; but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18, ESV).

My Dear Loved Ones in Christ Jesus,

It was back in 1974 when I was first exposed to the New American Standard Translation of the Bible (the 1963 edition funded by the Lockman Foundation). A high school classmate gave one to me for Christmas that year, and I was immediately hooked!

Up until that time, like many of you, I was reading the KJV. One of the things that was so beneficial about the NASB was that the translators saw fit to capitalize certain personal pronouns for the sake of clarity. In fact, in the preface to my edition of the NASB there is the note that, “ Personal pronouns are capitalized when referring to Deity.”

As you know, in the original language of the New Testament, there was no capitalization employed at all. And, furthermore, there was also a complete lack of punctuation! That means no capitalized words, no periods, not commas, no chapter or verse divisions, and no spaces between words!! Just imagine trying to read such a version. A verse from one of the original New Testament books would have looked something like this using English letters:

hellomynameismikeandiamfromhuntsvillealabamaandinowliveinhamptoncoveandgotochristpresbyterianchurchandisurehopebamawinstonight

Well, thank the Lord for the work of Bible translators!

I bring this up today because the verse quoted from 1 John 5 above is one of those places where the capitalization of pronouns makes a significant difference in how we read and understand the verse. Let me show you what I mean.

Here is the way the KJV translation of 1 John 5:18 reads:

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

You can see that, despite the Old English ‘eths,’ the KJV and the more recent ESV, read somewhat alike. Both speak of “ he” who was born of God, little h. On initial glance, it is not so clear who is being referenced here. Who is the one that is born of God? Is it speaking of the believer himself, or someone else?

In this verse, the Apostle John is discussing the believer’s relationship to sin, and the nature of one’s new life in Christ. And he makes the claim that those who are genuinely redeemed do not (and cannot!) make a habit of sinning with impunity, or living comfortably in the life-style of sin and rebellion against God. This is the meaning of the phrase, “ no one who has been born of God sins” (NASB). Some NT Greek scholars render this phrase as, “ no one who has been born of God practices sin.” That is, none of us who have been saved by God’s triumphant grace will be comfortable, at home with, a life of persistent sinning against our Lord.

But why is this so? How is it that we are not overcome by sin? How is it that we don’t fall into such persistent rebellion against our God and Father? Why are we addressed in Romans 8:37 as those who “ overwhelmingly conquer” all evil? How can this be when we feel so weak and overwhelmed? How can this be true of us when we find ourselves tempted, attacked, and seduced not only by the world and the Devil, but by our own fleshly impulses? How are we conquerors when we are so frequently cast down, seemingly on the edge of collapse, treading that razor thin margin between faithfulness and compromise?

Well, here is where a simple capitalized pronoun makes all the difference in the world!

Notice how the following translations punctuate this same verse:

“ We know that no one who has been born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him” (NASB).

“ We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them” (NIV, 1973).

And then, the Phillips Translation makes it even clearer:

“ We know that the true child of God does not sin, he is in the charge of God’s own Son and the evil one must keep his distance.”

Who keeps who from being hopelessly overwhelmed by temptation, adversity, doubt, and that awful host of other such enemies of our faith in Christ? It is none other than our Lord Jesus Himself! He will not let the evil touch us. He will keep us safe! He will deliver us from all harm!

The safety, strength, and the provision that we need today, and will need in the tumultuous days that are ahead, do not come from us! And if it were up to us, then Satan would surely “ sift” us “ like wheat” (Luke 22:31). For, as our dear Lord bluntly explained, “ apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NASB).

However, with one word, “ he,” or “ He,” the beloved Apostle John comforts us with the truth that it is because we have Jesus, or rather, because Jesus has us, that we shall overcome!

One little two-letter pronoun. One capitalized word. It changes everything!

Take encouragement today from this infallible truth: Jesus holds you in His hands. He holds His Church in His hands. You are loved and protected by the One who is King, the King! And in Him, and because of Him, we “ overwhelmingly conquer”! Everything depends upon His strength, His faithfulness, His grace, and His unceasing intercession for us! And since this is true, we can live this day, and this coming new week, with joy and peace!

I love you all, each and every one, with all my heart!

Mike

Sermon Preview:

Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord,

It is always such a blessed thing for us to gather together in corporate worship! There is nothing else in all the world that will form us into the holy people our Father has called us to be than our worship together as His new people in Christ!

In the light of the events of this week in our nation, I am especially eager to gather in our Lord’s presence with each of you. It is in the company of the redeemed that the Spirit not only sanctifies us and cleanses us by the preached Word, but also strengthens our faith, builds our love, and gives us immeasurable hope!

Honestly, I have struggled deeply since Wednesday over what I should preach this coming Lord’s Day. Without getting into all of the sordid political details, I believe we are all most aware now that the cost of following our Lord faithfully in this country will become even greater in the days ahead. 2021 will doubtless bring a more formidable assault upon our basic freedoms, and those values that we believe are essential for the survival of a just nation where human life is cherished as a sacred gift from our Creator.

My heart is broken, and I know that each of you could give a similar testimony.

And yet, from the depths of that same broken heart, I believe that the inspired Word of our Father will provide all that we need to move forward in joy and hope! That’s why, despite my struggle, I am certain that our series in Hebrews should continue as planned.

Our text, while on the surface seeming to be far removed from our current afflictions, will nevertheless provide us with exactly what we need in this painful moment.

On Sunday, we will prayerfully consider Hebrews 6:1-3. Here, the Spirit of God will call us to “ go on to maturity” together! We will see that this exhortation, first sounded to Christians prior to AD 70, will give us our marching orders in this new year of 2021.

Whatever challenges lay yet ahead for us, we know for certain what our Father’s will is: we must keep moving! And we must do so as empowered by the very Spirit who raised our blessed Redeemer from the dead!

It will be a joy to explore this Word with you on the Lord’s Day!

Sunday School Begins This Sunday at 9:30 AM

In addition to our classes for Children and Youth, our Adults will be studying the subject of ‘The Church and the State.’ I can’t think of a more timely and appropriate topic than this.

I hope you will join us at 9:30 AM for the study of God’s Word.

I love you all so much,

Mike

Announcements:

COVID-19 Message:

For those of you who are attending worship in person on Sunday morning, please practice social distancing as much as you are able and observe the pew markers so that we may keep a safe, 6-ft between families. During this time, we will not have nursery or fellowship time with food and drink. If any family member has been sick, or you have a pre-existing condition, please consider staying home and joining us by watching the recorded service when it is sent out. Masks are not required if you are maintaining social distance, but are welcome. We hope and pray that if you have any needs, you will let a staff member or deacon know so that we can serve you well during this trying time.

Youth Group:

Youth Group meets on Sunday at 4:30 PM at the church house.

Sunday School:

Sunday School will resume on January 10 at 9:30 AM with classes for all ages.

Men’s Ministry:

Men’s book study of Calvin’s Institutes is meeting weekly on Tuesdays at 6:15-7:15 AM. We’re meeting upstairs at the Cooper House on Randolph Ave near downtown. All men are welcome to join us in building friendships as we discuss our lives in Christ at a practical level. If interested, please contact darondrown@gmail.com

Women’s Ministry:

Women’s Bible Studies have resumed for the new semester. Times and subjects below:

Mothers Morning Bible Study
Date: Tuesday, Jan 12th
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Christ Pres Church

Women’s Morning Bible Study
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 20th
Time: 10-11:30 am
Location: Christ Pres Church
Topic: Book of Acts Ch, 1-12 by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acts 1-12 For You (a companion commentary ) by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Women’s Evening Bible Study
Date: Wednesday, Jan 20th
Time: 6-7:30 pm
Location: Christ Pres Church
Topic: Book of Acts Ch, 1-12 by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acts 1-12 For You (a companion commentary ) by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Children’s Ministry:

CPC Families,

We are thrilled to be starting back our children’s Sunday school classes this coming week, January 10th, at 9:30 am.

We have the following classes:

Toddler/preK – Nursery (Amanda Dean and Moms)
K, 1st and 2nd – Middle Back Classroom (Amy Drown)
3rd, 4th, and 5th – Center Classroom (Ashley Turnbull)**

Additionally, youth meets at the church house. Contact Matthew Elliott for any questions about youth classes.

Please join us to study God’s word together again in small group classes. We are thankful the Lord has given us the opportunity to meet again this semester!

See you Sunday!

In Christ,
Ashley

**This is a large class, and I would love to have someone come alongside me for a small group breakout session with the 5th graders. If there is someone interested in this, please email me. You would just be responsible for teaching a 15 min breakout session each week with the older children while I work with the 3rd and 4th graders. I will handle everything else. Thank you!

Senior Fellows:

At 9 AM on Tuesdays, the Senior Fellows are having a Zoom Bible Study on “Days of Creation”. Members and visitors are welcome to join us. For more information contact: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Dustin and Katie Jackson, Lincoln Ely, Rich Bagdazian, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Amos and Jessica Williams (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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