Weekly Newsletter 6/14-6/21
FBC Marysville Weekly Newsletter
Last Week:
- On Sunday, we had an attendance of 63 and our giving number was $3254. The Lord has continued to bless us in a multitude of ways, and while these numbers are not why we do what we do, the growth we have seen is worth celebrating.
- Week 2 of our Grow and Know 100 cohort, which focuses on how to read/study the Bible took place at 9:15am on Sunday. We discussed the importance of context and how we can faithfully come to a more complete understanding of God's Word. Feel free to attend this weeks cohort study on Worship, Fellowship, and Fasting.
Announcements:
- Discipleship Cohorts: Sign up for our Grow and Know 200 theology class which will be held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings beginning the second week of July.
- Background Checks: Be on the lookout for an email regarding Checkr background checks. You should receive a message from them this week with prompts that will ask for bits of information leading to running a check. That will qualify you for work in our security and children's areas.
- Sermon Series: Lord willing, we will finish our study through Acts this Sunday the 21st. After this, we will shift to Paul's letter to the Colossians. The first two Sunday sermons in Colossians will be preached by Michael Shepherd and Justin Price, members of our church who are in our Eldership Cohort, training for ministry.
Prayer Requests:
- Illnesses: There are many in our church family who can visit us infrequently or not at all because of their physical ailments. Pray that God would comfort them and restore them to full health in their times of need.
- Redemption Hill Church: Pray for our partners in the Gospel, Redemption Hill in Galloway who are holding a large sports camp for their community. Redemption Hill, led by Josh Rosentreter is a smaller church plant, much like us! That being said, pray they would honor the Lord with this big endeavor.
- Secret Prayer Partner: This week, think of a face from our church family and take time each day to pray for them specifically. Pray the Lord's favor over them, pray that they would draw near to the Lord this week. Intercede for them before our Father every day.
Weekly Devotional: From Acts 27
On Sunday, we discussed all of Acts 27. A large passage which explained Paul sailing from Caesarea to Malta on his way to Rome. He was doing so as a prisoner, but tasked by Jesus with testifying about the gospel before the very leader of the Roman Empire. There was much trouble during the portion of the voyage recorded in chapter 27, which led to Paul, a few companions, many other prisoners, and guards being shipwrecked on an island that none of them had recognized.
There is much to draw out of this deep well of a text, but today we will focus on the particular aspect of doing things the way God intends for them to be done. In other simpler terms, in Acts 27, Paul standing firm on what God has said winds up saving many lives.
After giving up hope during a horrific storm, Paul received a vision from an angel of the Lord who told Paul that though things looked bleak, they must run the ship aground on an island and no one from the ship would perish. However, look with me at verses 30-32,
"And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea under the pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the Centurion and the soldiers, 'Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.' Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go."(Ac.27:30-32 ESV).
In high school, I played for an excellent team that won two division 1 state championships during my time there as a player. One of the major reasons for our success was an incredible quarterback. He is 6 foot 2, 215lbs, could run, and could throw like you would not believe. He set several school and state records during his time at our school, is a man of character, and still one of my best friends (that is why I can use this story). All of that being said, I remember a critical third and goal play from the 2 yard line. A mere few feet from a touchdown that would seal the game for us. The call came in, and the quarterback was to hand the ball off to a running back who would try to smash his way into the end zone. When the ball was snapped, the quarterback turned, acted as if he was going to give the ball to the running back, but pulled it back in and took of running around the edge. To his dismay, there was a defender waiting there for him who did not take the bait. Instead of giving the ball to the back as designed, he lost several yards, and we were in a much worse situation than before.
These sailors who had received the message through Paul that God promised none would die if they followed His command, turned their back on God's plan for a brief moment. Many of us, like them, would have ended up worse than before if we deviated from what God had made clear. These soldiers would have been floating on a raft in a hurricane were it not for Paul reminding them of God's Word. My friend who got our team into deep trouble by deviating from the coach's play call learned on that third down play that there is a good reason our coach told us to do things the way he did. Not just to be in charge, but because he knew what was best for his players. In like-manner, God knows what is best for His creation, so we cannot turn our back on God's way thinking we know a better one.
God, in His Word, has made all necessary things clear. We cannot deviate from His plan and His will or we may find ourselves walking in a kind of disobedience that is unfit for believers. Friends, let us learn from this situation because at the end of the chapter, they respond rightly to Paul's reminder, and all are brought safely to shore. We can rest knowing that even when we find it difficult, walking according to the Lord's commands will lead us to the safest of all havens. Namely, our Savior's side.
Anthony Lampron, Pastor