WE FINISHED UP HAGGAI AND LOOKED AT THE COGNITIVE DISSIDENCE THAT OFTEN COMES IN LIFE. WE SEE THE PROMISES OF GOD AND OFTEN TIMES IT DOESN’T LINE UP WITH OUR CURRENT REALITY. YET CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE HOPE FILLED. PART OF HOW WE DO THAT IS BY TELLING OURSELVES A DIFFERENT STORY
( HAGGAI 2:20-23; HEBREWS 10:35-39; ROMANS 15:13).

WE HELD A MEETING TO UPDATE OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY ON THE WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON IN OUR CHURCH IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, WHERE WE ARE AT CURRENTLY, AND WHERE WE HOPE TO SEE OUR CHURCH GO.

THIS WEEK HAGGAI REMINDED US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRIST AT THE CENTER AND CIRCUMFERENCE OF OUR LIVES. THE PROPHET CALLED THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE THINGS THAT KEPT THEM FROM FROM LIVING OUT THEIR CALLING TO BE A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS. SO WE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LIVES AND FOR OUR CHURCH AND FAMILY (Haggai 2:10-19; Matthew 5:17-19: 1 John 2:3-6).

HAGGAI CONTINUES TO BE THE PROPHET WE NEED (NOT THE ONE WE WANT). THIS WEEK IN HAGGAI, WE LOOKED AT THE DISAPPOINTMENT THE RETURNING EXILES FELT AS THEY BEGAN THE WORK OF REBUILDING THE TEMPLE AND HOW IT CORRELATES WITH OUR CURRENT STATE AS THE CHURCH. IN THE MIDST OF THE DISAPPOINTMENT, HAGGAI GAVE THE REMANENT HOPE TO CONTINUE TO WORK FAITHFULLY ON THE TEMPLE BECAUSE OF THE FUTURE GLORY AND BY GOD’S GOOD GRACE, HE WILL GIVE US A SLOW FAITH AND A LONG HOPE FOR OUR LIVES AND OUR CHURCH (Haggai 2:1-8; Matthew 1: 12-16).

THIS WEEK, PASTOR JOHN TAUGHT ON THE PROPHETIC AND THEN WE HAD A CHANCE TO PRACTICE PROPHECY. PROPHECY IS TELLING SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS SPONTANEOUSLY BROUGHT TO MIND FOR BUILDING UP, ENCOURAGING, AND COMFORTING THE BODY OF CHRIST (1 COR. 14:1-5 & 1 COR. 14:26-29)

THIS SUNDAY WE FINISHED EPHESIANS! JOHN WAS SO HAPPY HE CRIED, SO WE HAVE THAT GOING FOR US. WE CLOSED IT OUT ASKING THE LORD TO COME AND BIRTH A DESIRE IN OUR CHURCH TO BECOME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS IN OUR OWN STREETS AND NEIGHBORS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL (EPHESIANS 6:18-20; 23-24; ISAIAH 52:7-10)

THIS WEEK, JOHN KASERMAN PREACHED ON THE FINAL TWO PIECES OF THE ARMOR OF GOD…THE HELMET OF SALVATION AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. HE ENCOURAGED US TO FIND HOPE IN CHRIST’S ULTIMATE SALVATION AND TO UTILIZE THE WORD OF GOD TO FIGHT THE ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY.

WITH THE PAINFUL AWARENESS OF THE SHOOTING IN EL PASO AND DAYTON, WE LOOKED AT EPHESIANS 6:12-15. WE STAND TOGETHER AGAINST THE FORCES OF EVIL WITH THE TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. THERE IS A SPIRITUAL REALITY OF EVIL THAT THREATENS TO UNDERMINE THE CHURCH’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THEIR UNITY IN THE BODY AND THEIR VOCATIONAL PURPOSE.

THIS WEEK, PASTOR JOHN WALKED THROUGH OUR BATTLE “AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN HEAVENLY PLACES”. HE PLAGIARIZED MARK HEGER A LITTLE (TEACHING MOMENT®), LED NORMANDY THROUGH IT’S OWN LITURGICAL PRACTICE AND UNPACKED THE BATTLE THE CHURCH FACES IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE (EPHESIANS 6:10-20).