This introductory message considers why Jonah ran.  Was the call too difficult?  Was it too dangerous?  Or was there another reason?

Then the message looks at how the sovereign will of God played out in Jonah's life.

"God will do whatever God needs to do to fulfill His sovereign will in our lives!"

This message is a review or summation of some of the key points of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church's 45th General Assembly.

We seek to build on a firm foundation of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone.

And as we build on that foundation we focus on Faith, Family, and Future.

This message is a paraphrasing of what our Youth learned at their mission camp with Mfuge in Ridgecrest, NC.

It is about walking in the light of Jesus and owning our Faith.

It is a reminder that Jesus is the Source of Faith.

We are called to help Spark Faith in others.

We must Fuel our Faith.

And we are called to Shine the light of Faith.

Psalm 147 is all about God.  In the opening eleven verses "Lord" or "God" is used eight times.  And the pronouns "He, His, and Him" are used fourteen times to refer to God.

The opening eleven verses give us at least three reasons we should praise God:

God cares for His people

God cares for the least significant.

God cares for all of creation.

God is all Loving.

God's Love is:

Sacrificial

Jealous

Unconditional

Chastening

God-Initiated

Steadfast and Everlasting

God is all-merciful and God has demonstrated His great mercy in Jesus.

Our response to God's mercy is to: remember it; delight in it; demonstrate it; and declare it!

God is all-knowing and all-wise.

God's knowledge is exhaustive and perfect; whereas, our knowledge is partial and imperfect.

God is also all-wise.

We see God's wisdom in creation, God's plan of redemption, in the Church, and most of all in Jesus.

God's knowledge and wisdom is a call to humility. It's a call to Scripture and to prayer.  It's a call to seek the mind and will of God.

God is All-Sufficient.

We can not add anything to God.  God does not need anything or ultimately anyone beyond himself.

But the good news is that though God does not need us; God wants us; God chose us.

God chose to create us; God chose to redeem us; God chose us for service.

And because God is all-sufficient we can depend upon God!

Two "secret disciples" buried Jesus along with two women.

Really no such think as a secret disciple.  We must stand with Jesus.

Four people at his burial, but oh what a difference the empty tomb made.

Transformed the disciples and the early church and it transforms us.