"Radical" by David Platt

Jesus reminded his disciples that their safety was not found in the comforts of this world but in the control of a sovereign God over this world. Jesus asked his disciples, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father." We can rest confident in the fact that nothing will happen to us in this world apart from the gracious will of a sovereign God. Nothing.

That is what I love about Stephen in the book of Acts. According to Scripture, he was the first Christian martyr. As we learn in Acts 7, he was stoned by the Sanhedrin religiou council - a remarkable picture of what it means to share in the sufferings of Christ. But what is even more remarkable in this story is what happened as a result of Stephen's death. Luke wrote, "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." Then Luke wrote three verses later, "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." In other words, as a result of Stephen's suffereing and death, the church multiplied throughout Judea and Samaria.

Do you see what was happening here? Satan's strategy to stop God's people through the stoning of Stephen only served to accomplish God's purpose through the scattering of the church.

This is the testimony of all Scripture. From the story of Job to Paul's description of Satan's attack in his life in 2 Corinthians 12, we see how Satan not only acts within the sovereign permission of God but also ends up accomplishing the sovereign purposes of God. Indeed, this is what the Cross is all about. Satan's strategy to defeat the Son of God only served to provide salvation for sinners.

We have nothing to fear, because God is sovereign.

Come & Gather Directions

Join us after church for a pot luck lunch!



Guys: bring bread / drinks
Girls: bring dessert / bags of salad
Everyone: bring a friend! They have wii and other games to play!


MARIE AND HARRY HAUPTMAN

Titus Bible Study

Have you ever come across a passage of scripture and wonder "what on earth does that mean"? Or maybe you've read an Old Testament verse and thought "OK, God...how does THIS apply to me...TODAY?"

I've definitely had those questions and more, and have even felt bored with reading the word because there were things I simply didn't understand. But, about two and a half years ago I was introduced to the Inductive Study Method, which taught me how to discover meaning in God's word on my own.

With the Inductive Study Method, we are forced to read through scriptures slowly, looking at the context in which it was written. This OBSERVATION of the text will help us to clearly see and understand what is going on within the scriptures (who is speaking, to whom he is speaking, the reason for this particular word, etc).The study will later take us to an INTERPRETATION of the scriptures and eventually we'll discover that APPLICATION of what we've read is indeed possible!

It's great to sit under a pastor or teacher and soak in the knowledge that God has given them. But we, too, having the mind of Christ and the same Spirit working in and through us, can sit at Papa's feet and learn and hear from Him ourselves.

So, from February 25, 2011, to April 8, 2011, we will study the New Testament book of Titus using the Inductive Study Method. We will observe, interpret and apply what God's word says about living with character and integrity in the midst of an immoral society. The absolute joy and excitement you'll get from personal revelation of the word will be life changing!