Into The River

8/20/17. Week 10 in Summer Psalms. The End of Self-Supremacy (Psalm 73).

We took a moment as a whole congregation to consider the historical moment in the world, and in our nation, to pause and interpret these things through the lens of Scripture. We let the Word of God as a whole, and Psalm 73 specifically, interpret current events for us.

(Quotes shared also appear on blog page.)

// Jeff Patterson preaching on Psalm 73 (part one) #SummerPsalms

8/13/17. Week 9 in Summer Psalms. Remembering the Gospel with Our Hearts (Psalm 78).

The Good News satisfies much more than our guilty consciences, and touches much more than our minds. God is into whole-life transformation.

Let us receive God's invitation to remember well, to remember fully.

(Quotes shared also appear on blog page.)

// Jeff Patterson preaching on Psalm 78 #SummerPsalms

8/6/17. We welcomed a new friend visiting from Uganda, along with Paul Hunter sharing. Pastor Robert Sityo of Jinja was visiting the States in part to be at the Next Generation Ministries annual BBQ gathering, for stories, sharing, and fundraising for NGM. We're grateful for his partnership with Paul and Pam Hunter for much more than the last decade plus.

// Paul Hunter sharing then Robert Sityo preaching on Acts 9 #NGMUganda

7/30/17. Week 8 in Summer Psalms. Always Swimming Upstream (Psalm 71).

"Ten words have set the course for my life: God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves."

—Joni Eareckson Tada

// Jeff Patterson preaching on Psalm 71 #SummerPsalms

7/23/17. Week 7 in Summer Psalms. Where there is Darkness, He is the Light (Psalm 67).

During Renew Family Camp we paused on Sunday morning to read, sing, pray, and rejoice in the Gospel of Christ.

Psalm 67 reminds us that God is the Light of the world, even in the darkness that surrounds.

// Jeff Patterson preaching on Psalm 67 #SummerPsalms

7/16/17. Week 6 in Summer Psalms. Wide, Wider, Widest Joy (Psalm 65)

In talking with our kids we discovered a simple truth: if our enjoyment of something can only have right now and in our preferred way, we will not only miss out on life, we will also injure others.

This is a symptom of self-centeredness, and the Father is actively training the opposite direction: that we as His kids of Grace, can learn contentment in every circumstance, cultivating wide, wider ... even the widest ... joy.

// Jeff Patterson preaching on Psalm 65; Romans 8:1-6 #SummerPsalms

This week we continue our Summer adventure in the Story Catechism. Take it with you!

The eleventh chapter of the Story Catechism is about the Great Rescue:

God's love is bigger and better than sin.

God would never stop pursuing His creation (us).

God's love story is about Jesus.

God's love story about Jesus is called the gospel.

The gospel means that Jesus came to rescue us.

#RenewKids #RenewFamilies #LearningTogether

7/9/17. Week 5 in Summer Psalms. Wait-Wait, Do Tell Everyone (Psalms 40-41).

Learning to wait upon God is the chief discipline of faith. It is learning to live by faith, which has benefits in this life and reward in the life to come.

David's value of worshiping God, and waiting upon the Father's face, grace, and timing, became an earnest conviction and shaped how he faced life, and faced God.

// Renew Elders update then Jeff Patterson preaching on Psalms 40-41 #SummerPsalms

7/2/17. Week 4 in Summer Psalms. Truth & Light for the Downcast Soul (Psalms 42-43).

When we are downcast we always respond poorly, which is why we need to grasp why we're downcast, how to speak truth and light to our souls, and what it means to put one's hope in God when life looks dim and bleak.

The writer of this pair of Psalms helps us understand the yearnings and opportunities of what takes place when our souls are downcast.

// Jeff Patterson preaching on Psalms 42-43 #SummerPsalms

6/25/17. Week 3 in Summer Psalms. Facing God & Future-proofing Life (Psalm 27).

There are a few strategies people employ to deal with life: fight, be cynical, give up. David offers us a better way, living before the face of God. Did you know that what you seek in every interaction and situation is really found best, only, and eternally in the face of God?

// Jeff Patterson preaching on Psalm 27:1-14; 30:1-5; Romans 5:12-19 #SummerPsalms