Sermon Preview:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
One of the most difficult subjects in the Bible is the relationship between the Christian and the Old Testament Law. This matter has been one of great controversy throughout the history of the Church, as we in evidence initially in Acts 15 (the Council at Jerusalem, led by James our Lord’s brother, dealt with this critical issue). Closer to home, it has also been the focus of much debate between the Lutheran and Reformed traditions, as Luther and Calvin certainly had their differences on the question of the Law’s validity for Christians.
In the Epistle to the Hebrews this subject is addressed at length, and in painstaking detail! In fact, we might say that from chapter 5 through chapter 10, and then again in chapters 12 and 13, the author focuses almost exclusively upon this question.
Perhaps you are like many of us and have often wondered just how we are to think about the Law, the Levitical system of sacrifices, and the Old Covenant. Is the Law still valid for us? And is there anything that the Old Covenant, and its commandments, contributes to us? What, if anything, happened to the Law when Jesus came?
Well, it seems that the original readers of Hebrews also struggled with such questions. And in this ‘Epistle-sermon’ the author gets down into the details in order provide them (and us!) with a definitive answer.
Over the next serval weeks in our Sunday messages, we will be picking our way through these chapters. And we will deviate from our normal course of taking one passage after another as it appears consecutively in the text, and will jump around a bit in order to better trace key themes and subjects concerning the old Covenant.
This Lord’s Day our sermon passage will be taken from Hebrews 7:11-22, with a special focus upon verses 11-14 which speak of Jesus as the better Priest who has given us a better Law.
Esther Begins this Sunday in Adult Sunday School!
Just a reminder that our Adults will begin studying the Book of Esther this Lord’s Day. For those interested in a commentary on Esther, I would recommend Esther & Ruth: Reformed Expository Commentary, by Iain M. Duguid (P&R Publishing, 2005).
I love you all, and eagerly await our time of worship together!
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 21 at 4:30 PM at the church house.
Children’s Ministry:
This continues to be a strange time and hard for churches to plan and execute as they normally would. I am thinking and praying how we can continue to minister to families and children in 2021. I would love to have input and help in planning for 2021. I have some great ideas to continue Vacation Bible School (although in a different, smaller format) as well as outdoor summer fellowships for our children throughout the summer. Additionally, I am so thankful to have so many of your children in Sunday school each week – they are growing and learning BIG truths! Thankful for the teaching of Amanda, Denise, Tim, and Kerry! Please reach out if you have any questions regarding Sunday school. And don’t forget to fill out our survey and include any feedback!
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.
Career/Singles:
The weekly bible study and fellowship for career/singles has resumed at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry.
Senior Fellows:
The Senior Fellows have an ongoing weekly Bible study on Tuesdays from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. We will use the Zoom virtual meeting application to study The Last Days According to Jesus by R.C. Sproul. The topics for the 12 week series are listed below. Church members are welcome to join us. For further information, email us at seniorfellows@
Feb.23 – Understanding the Parousia
Mar. 2 – A Question of Time
Mar. 9 – Literal or Figurative?
Mar. 16 – This Generation
Mar. 23 – The End of the Age
Mar. 30 – The Destruction of Jerusalem
Apr. 6 – The Book of Revelation
Apr. 13 – The Antichrist
Apr. 20 – The Beast
Apr. 27 – The Rapture
May 4 – The Millennium
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Dave Angotti, Dustin and Katie Jackson, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, and Elizabeth Holton.
Bereavement: Please pray for Mark Hearn, whose brother Mike died last week.
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