Prairie View

Today we look at 2 Thessalonias Chapter 1, where we see the need to persevere in the midst of persecution and trials. We can take hope because we know that Jesus will return!!!

God is up to something at Prairie View! 3 new members and 6 baptisms today! Pastor Brian Filibeck preaches on baptism! You will be blessed!

Gideon Representative Lee Becker shares with us today. The Gideon's is an excellent ministry, and I encourage you to find out how you can support them and get a representative into your church! You will not be disappointed!

Paul gives a list of things that we need to do in order to be ready for the return of Christ. These practical commands are so beneficial for our lives as Christians - not only so that we can live ready in light of Christ's return, but so that we can help others live ready for Christ's return as well!

Today we look at the Scriptures that bring us such hope - the Scriptures about the return of Christ! We have no hope if Christ is not resurrected, and we have no hope if He is not returning! Thankfully, the same Christ that is resurrected is the same Christ that will come back for those who are His! The only way to be ready is to live ready!

Paul walks the Thessalonians (and us) through what it means to live holy lives - how we are called to holiness and not uncleanness. We also look at the way holiness is worked out in our lives: it is not by what we say - but by how we live before the Father and in our relationships with others. True holiness is living empowered by the Holy Spirit, ready for Christ's return.

There is a common theme in Scripture of how the hearts of different people responded differently to God in the same situations. We look at the captivity of the Israelites, and see how they responded when things got worse for them instead of getting better, even after deliverance had been initiated, proclaimed, and begun. For us today, we take this principle and seek to make sure our hearts don't grow hard against the Lord, even in the midst of trial and adversity. The Lord knows what He is doing, even if we cannot see His whole plan!

Do you have faith even now, even in the midst of pain, hurt, and hopelessness? God is with us even now. Pastor Logan Conine preaches for us today out of John 11:1-44.

This is our Vision Sunday for 2023. 2023 is a year of reset - either in a positive or negative way. Positive reset will include Recognize/Respond, Engage/Encourage, Sanctify/Solidify, Evangelize/Emerge, and Test/Trust. Negative reset will include Resist/Resent, Escape/Evade, Slip/Slide, Erode/Erase, and Topple/Trample. Which reset will be your defining choice in 2023?

Hope promised becomes hope expected, which becomes hope delivered. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ today! He is our Hope, and the only Hope we have! This is our Christmas Day service.