The message of the gospel is so simple and yet, so profound:  "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."  John 3:17-17

Just like the first generation of Hebrew believers, Christians today are inheritors of "so great a salvation" (Heb. 2:3).  And because of this, we must respond with lives that are driven by a relentless conviction that resists the tendency to drift.  How do we keep from drifting or getting pulled away from what is eternally important?

1. Continue to be transformed by the "old stuff" of the gospel message.  While it's important to continue to grow in spiritual knowledge, it's also important that we continue to thirst for a tall, cold glass of gospel milk.  Milk that is rich in the free gift of salvation that cannot be purchased, earned or passed down from one generation to the next.  Milk that provides us strength to live as disciples of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.  If you need to quench this thirst for gospel milk, I would suggest a slow, careful, and prayerful read through the book of Galatians or the book of Romans.

2. Also, be consistent in living out the truths of God's Word.  Drifting results either when we're under the currents of the unbelieving world outside of us or when we give in to the selfish desire within us.  Don't allow yourself to wander on your own instincts; but rather, anchor yourself on the immovable truth of the gospel.  To stay anchored, we need to daily--not weekly or monthly--attend to the application of God's Word. 

Join us this Sunday, at 9:30am, as we continue our series, Unleashed.  When Jesus conquered death, he unleashed for us a better, more secure path to God.  A path that is paved with the promise of eternal salvation and not the need to make daily sacrifices for our sins.  Being made right with God doesn't require us to work through a daunting list of do's and don'ts; rather, we are able to turn to our forever high priest, Jesus for the forgiveness of sin.  Take time this weekend to read Hebrews 1, as you prepare your hearts for worship.

Also this Sunday at 10:45am, our adult discipleship classes will combine for a 5 week study titled, Keeping It Simple (Spiritual Discipline for a Focused Life).  I want to encourage everyone to consider attending and learning about this much lacking, but extremely important discipline. 

For week #1, The Premise of Simplicity, please read Luke 10:17-42 and consider the question:  "What is the 'one thing' necessary (vs.42)  Also, come prepared to share about the many things that keep you from being focused on the one necessary thing.  Hope to see you there!

Below are the class details:

Facilitator:  Martha Bailey
Topic:  Keeping It Simple (Spiritual Discipline for a Focused Life)
When:  Sundays at 10:45am.
Why?:  Because all of us could use a little "simplicity" in our lives.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Doug

After his miraculous, bodily resurrection from the grave, Jesus spent forty days on earth, mainly with His disciples.  It must have been an incredible time for these men and women as they spent time with their resurrected Savior; because now, with a living breathing Jesus, all the hope, all the confidence, and all the dedication to the mission and message suddenly returned.  What an amazing experience it must have been!  Oh, how I would have loved to have been there to witness the reactions of those who went from the dark despair of a crucified Christ to the overwhelming joy of a risen Lord...all in a matter of days! 

How do you respond to the resurrection of Jesus?  What do we do with a resurrected Savior?  What was unleashed when Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of the tomb?

This Sunday at 9:30am, we will continue with our Unleashed series.  This week, we will focus our attention on the depth and breadth of the Good News.  We will be diving into Colossians 1:15-20, where the apostle Paul provides for us one of the earliest distinctly Christian hymns written in praise of Christ.  In the same spirit of "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name", or "Crown Him with Many Crowns", Paul's purpose was to crown Christ Lord of all.  Take time this weekend to read Colossians 1:15-20.  Its words are packed with deep reverence for Christ and profound theological truth.  It focuses on the unique person and work of Jesus, underscoring the absolute sufficiency of Christ as Lord!

Join us this Sunday at 9:30am and together, let's declare that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Also, consider staying after the service and attending our adult discipleship class that begins at 10:45am.  Pastor Roger will be leading this week, as he introduces a brand-new study that will be led by Martha Bailey.  Don't miss it!

Thank you for being a church that prays for one another.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Doug

Beginning this Sunday at 9:30am, we look back at arguably the most important week in human history..."Holy" or "Passion" Week.  The climax of Jesus's messianic ministry began as he entered Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday.  He rode into the city on the back of a donkey as Israel's Messiah-King.  While the journey between Bethany and the gates of Jerusalem was rather short, to the crowd that gathered along the road on that Sunday morning, it was a profoundly important journey that had the potential to seal their eternal destinies.  Holy Week could not have begun on a bigger note!

As you read the account of the Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21:1-11, look for yourself in the crowd.  Are you the one pushing and shoving your way to front, wanting to get as close to Jesus as you possibly can, while you place your own garment on the ground as an act of worship and honor, acknowledging Him as your Savior and Lord?  Can the people closest to you see your devotion to Jesus, or do you follow from afar, keeping the "Hosannas" to yourself?  Maybe you're like those who got swept up in the excitement of the moment, hoping to gain some short-term joy and celebrity status, as you get close to Jesus of Nazareth.

There's only one right response to the One who has come to reign in our lives...total surrender.  It's the one response that doesn't come naturally to any of us.  And yet, with all of our heart, soul, and strength, we are called to join the loud chorus of eternal "Hosannas"!  Join us this Sunday as we proclaim in one loud voice, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna, Hosanna to the King!"

Below is the schedule for Holy Week at Parkside Fellowship:

• This Sunday, April 10 is Palm Sunday.  Make plans now to join us at 9:30am for a special Palm Sunday service.  NOTE:  Adult Sunday School classes will meet at their normal time.
• Good Friday service will take place in our Fireside Room on Friday, April 15th at 7:00pm.  You won't want to miss this special time of singing, reflection and communion, as we "hear" from some who were there, as Jesus died for our sins.
• Easter Sunday at Parkside Fellowship!  Easter is the celebration of Christ's glorious resurrection and His triumph over sin and death.  Join us as hope is Unleashed through our risen Savior...Jesus!   Easter service at 9:30am.

As we gather for our in-person services, Parkside Fellowship has adopted a mask optional policy, based on the recommendations of our state and local leaders.  Please join us this Sunday at 9:30am, masked or unmasked, for a time of singing, prayer, encouragement from God's word and fellowship.  We look forward to seeing you!

Thank you for being a church that prays! 

See you Sunday.

Doug

This Sunday at 9:30am, we will wrap-up our series titled, Jesus in the Wilderness.  Through the lens of Matthew's gospel, we have been looking in on Jesus as he spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan. With this third and final temptation, Satan drops his pretense and makes one final, desperate effort to corrupt Jesus.  He had first suggested what Jesus ought to do for Himself.  Next he suggested what the Father ought to do for Jesus.  In his third temptation, the devil attempted to coax Jesus into worshiping him for a magnificent but short-term gain.  Satan is telling Jesus what he can do for him--in exchange for what Jesus could do for Satan.

Through the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness, we learn the keys to victory over our own temptations:

1.  Trust and Obey God
2.  Commit to following His purpose and plan for our life.
3.  Hold on tight to our convictions and values without compromise.

Simply, we find help against temptation, just as we find help for everything else in the Christian life, by "fixing our eyes on God and His Son, Jesus".  Keeping our eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ is our only hope of conquering temptation and faithfully running the race that is set before us.  And as we do, I believe God will do for us exactly what he did for Jesus....

"Then the devil went away and angels came and took care of Jesus".  Matthew 4:11

Join us this Sunday at 9:30am and find your rest in Jesus.

As we gather for our in-person service, Parkside Fellowship has adopted a mask optional policy, based on the recommendations of our state and local leaders.  Please join us this Sunday at 9:30am, masked or unmasked, for a time of singing, prayer, encouragement from God's word and fellowship.  We look forward to seeing you!

After the service, at 10:45am, I want to invite you to join one of our adult discipleship communities.  We have two to choose from:

• Study of the Gospel of Luke
• Study in Wisdom

Holy or "Passion" Week at Parkside Fellowship

• Next Sunday, April 10 is Palm Sunday.  The climax of Jesus's messianic ministry began as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Holy or "Passion" Week could not have begun on a bigger note!  Make plans now to join us for a special Palm Sunday service on April 10th at 9:30am.
• Good Friday service will take place in our Fireside Room on Friday, April 15th at 7:00pm.  You won't want to miss this special time of singing, reflection and communion, as we "hear" from some who were there, as Jesus died for our sins.
• Easter Sunday at Parkside Fellowship!  Easter is the celebration of Christ's glorious resurrection and His triumph over sin and death.  Join us as hope is Unleashed through our risen Savior...Jesus!   Easter service at 9:30am.

Thank you for being a church that prays! 

See you Sunday.

Doug