Join us this Sunday at 9:30am, as Pastor Norm completes our summer series, Postcards with a Punch. Only 13 verses long, the tiny memo that is II John would have barely filled a single sheet of paper. It's like a note we might write and drop in the mail to a close friend. However, as I've shared throughout this series, short does not mean insignificant, and the letter of II John is no exception. II John contains three principles we can spend the rest of our lives putting into practice. These aren't complicated, but they are difficult, because navigating between unconditional love and discerning truth will always be a challenge for followers of Jesus.
First, loving others is a fundamental expression of authentic Christianity. Nowhere does John dismiss the idea of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. One of the greatest forms of witness we can have is to show love toward each other and those outside the church. Second, embracing the truth is equally important. The one who loves you the most is the one who tells you the truth. It isn't loving to let a person engage in destructive, ungodly behavior just because we don't want to offend them. This means we need to know the truth, grow in the truth, and study Scripture and sound theology. If you don't know what you believe and why, you won't know where to stand on any doctrinal or moral issue--at least not with any solid conviction. Take time to study and be strengthened in the truths of God's Word. Third, love and truth are not mutually exclusive. We must know the truth and take a stand for it without backtracking, compromising or downplaying its importance in the role of a follower of Jesus. At the same time, we need to be gracious and winsome in our witness. As I Peter 3:15-16 states: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." We must stand for the truth, but at the same time, we must extend love and walk in grace. We must love within the banks of love and discernment...and learn to live in the tension of grace and truth. Note: Good Neighbor Project is scheduled for Sunday, August 21st. This will be our 5th year taking a Sunday morning to blanket our city with the love of Jesus. We will accomplish this by rolling up our sleeves and helping get Beaverton High School ready for the upcoming school year, filling backpacks with school supplies and individually providing our neighbors with a gift bag. The day will conclude at noon with an all-church bbq. Make plans now to join us for this special Sunday of loving our neighbors. Finally, John Crisan (wife Syliva, son Alex), went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, July 31st. On behalf of Sylvia and family, I want to invite you to attend a Celebration of Life service for John. This special time of remembrance will take place tomorrow, Saturday, August 13th at 10:00am in the Fireside Room of Parkside Fellowship. Please join us for this special time of remembering the life God gave John and the love and laughter he shared with his family and all who knew him. Also, please pass this information along to those who would be interested in attending. See you Sunday! Pastor Doug Happy July 4th Parkside Family!
Monday is July 4th, and my family, like most families across America, will celebrate with food and fireworks! As you take time to celebrate our freedom as a nation, I want to encourage you to also take time to celebrate the freedom we have as followers of Jesus. I Corinthians 15:1-4 provides for us a clear picture of the freedoms we have because of our faith in Jesus. First, "Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said". Jesus died for one reason: to pay the penalty for our sins, so that we can experience freedom and eternal life. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we stand righteous before a holy God. This is our justification. Second, "He was buried", Romans 6 tells us that because of Jesus' death, sin no longer has dominion over us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to live righteous lives. This is our sanctification. Third, "and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said". His death alone could not save us; it was the resurrection that showed God's acceptance of Christ's sacrifice, and that gives us power unto salvation. The resurrection guarantees a future in Heaven for us. This is our glorification. As you pray for our country, take time to thank God for the freedom we have because of Jesus. This Sunday at 9:30am, Pastor Norm will continue our series, Postcards with a Punch. This week, our focus will be on the second shortest book of the Bible, which coincidentally is II John. While II John has fewer verses than III John.....13 vs.15...II John has 26 more words. So, which book you consider to be the shortest book in the Bible, depends on what method you use.....word count or verse count. For our purpose, we are using the word count method, which makes II John the second shortest book in the Bible. The short postcard letter of II John was written, out of love for fallen humanity, to save us from our own foolishness by letting us know that eternal life is knowable and that it is definitely discoverable in Jesus. And the blessing is this: Discovering the truth of God is the way everyone can experience the love of God. In fact, it is the only way. This Postcard with a Punch, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, shows you and me how we can have both God's truth and God's love guiding, inspiring and transforming our lives. Take time before Sunday to read II John and let God's love and truth shape and mold you into the likeness of Jesus. It's not too late to join one of our Adult Bible Studies. These discipleship opportunities meet every Sunday at 10:45am. Below are the details for each: Study #1: Prayer that Moves Heaven Facilitator: Martha Bailey Time: Sundays at 10:45am Study #2: Psalms and Proverbs Facilitator(s): Mark Hester and Jonella Malinowski Time: Sundays at 10:45am Thank you for being a church body that prayers for one another. Blessings. Pastor Doug |
Our PastorDoug Boyd - Sr. Pastor Archives
February 2023
Categories
All
|