Today we kick off our new series taking us through the book of Ephesians.

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places...

We finish our summer 2021 series,

"Words To Live By" with a look into Romans 12:1-2

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

We are in a battle.

But is it not against your neighbor.

It's against the evil one.

Thanks be to God we have victory in Jesus,

and armor to advance the gospel.

This Sunday we look at the far-too-often misrepresented and misunderstood armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-20.

Church Growth: Then and Now

This Sunday we welcome Pastor Ruth as she brings the word.

She'll be preaching from Acts 2:38-47.

Fear is a part of life.

Sometimes fear is healthy and helpful.

Often fear is misplaced and mistaken.

And the bible warns us that fear can even be a spiritual battle.

This Sunday in our "Words To Live By" series we'll take on the spirit of fear

with the spirit God gives-

A spirit of power,

of love,

and of self-discipline.

This Sunday Brooke Bartelson shares her "Words To Live By"

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

John 3:30

Jesus said his cousin John was the greatest man who ever lived.

Which means we're all in a race for silver.

But that's OK.

Actually, it better.

We're all in a race to make more of Jesus,

and less of ourselves.

We'll discover some practical ways to do this as we embrace John's Mission, Message and Motto.

Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1:

Q. What is your only comfort

in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own,

but belong—

body and soul,

in life and in death—

to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

This Sunday Joy Engelsman will be sharing our "Words To Live By."

If you ever felt like an outsider-

like you didn't fit-

come hear what God's word has to say about belonging.

"Words To Live By"

Psalm 63

Who or what do you desire?

There are the usual suspects-

Money.

Sex.

Power.

So what does it look like to desire God,

delight in God,

and trust in God's defense?

Psalm 63 reveals David's heart for God.

Under the most dire of pressure,

his highest priority became God his savior.

How do we discern God's Path?

W.A.T.C.H.

Word of God

Attentive prayer

Think it through

Counsel of the saints

Hand of God

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

These are some of the freedoms we enjoy and celebrate this 4th of July weekend.

Yet much of life is consumed with worry.

Worry, anxiety and stress are a reality of life.

But they are not to control our lives.

Jesus gives us a simple but not simplistic antidote to life characterized by worry.

We'll break it down in our

"Words To Live By" tomorrow.