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So far in our study of I Peter, we've learned that as elect exiles, living in a foreign land, we should expect pushback and opposition to the way we conduct ourselves as followers of Jesus. We've also been reminded that, as we encounter opposition, Christ is our hope and heaven is our home. These two truths were delivered by Peter to a group of Christians who had been scattered, distressed, tempted and tested. With this letter, Peter took on the role of a coach or personal trainer, encouraging the early church to pull together, support one another, and to keep the end goal (heaven) in mind.
Amazingly, even today, many of us are still in need of a personal trainer, a coach, who like Peter, will encourage us to not forget our kind, loving heavenly Father who held us in His arms, protected us, and fed us just what we needed to grow. New believers feel free to ask God anything, sharing everything with him. But as we advance in biblical and theological knowledge, an erosion begins to occur. We drift from the childlike intimacy with God and before long, that caring Father seems distant, uninterested in our everyday problems, even a bit irritated by our constant mistakes and nagging requests. We need a Peter to come alongside and remind us of who we are and our role in this world. This is the message of I Peter 2:4-12. Join us this Sunday at 9:30am, as we continue in our series called, Resilient Hope. In I Peter 2, we will be reminded that we are God's chosen people, living stones, royal priests, called on by God to pursue holiness so that a world without God, might come to know Him and accept His free gift of salvation. Please join me this Sunday at 9:30am, as we continue to wade through the book of I Peter. Special Invitation: Immediately following this Sunday's service, I am inviting you to join with me, and our church council, in praying for the future of Parkside Fellowship. We will meet in the large Sunday School room directly across from the Fireside Room. The most critical key to any church revitalization and renewal is prayer. Prayer is the foundation for beginning any new direction a church might take. It anchors the future and the past by drawing us closer to the Lord. Prayer produces faith. Prayer leads us to confession. Prayer leads us to humility. Prayer leads us to make God glorifying decisions. Prayer is a privilege. It is a powerful tool. Prayer is where you meet God. Prayer is where you and I are shaped. So let's pray! We will also spend time around the communion table, as we remember that Christ died for his bride....the church. Thank you for praying for our church. 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 God is presented in Scripture by a variety of images. He is called our Rock, our Refuge, our Shepherd, our Shield, our Redeemer, and our Deliverer. But I would argue that no picture of God is more powerful and personal than seeing God as our Father. With this title, the invisible God becomes the intimate God. When Jesus spoke the words, "Our Father who is in heaven...", he unlocked the door to the living room of God's house and invited us to come in and sit with our Heavenly Father. A father who will never turn you away. The door to his house is never closed.
"Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39) Come celebrate Father's Day at Parkside Fellowship. Join us this Sunday at 9:30am, as we learn why God is our "perfect" father. A father who is holy. A father who is the almighty maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. We speak truth when we call him King. And we also speak truth when we call him by his favorite name...Abba, Father. Join us after the service at 10:45am for one of our new Adult Bible Studies. 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 Special Note: As many of you are aware, Kent Johnson, passed away on May 31st. On behalf of Susan and the family, I would like to extend an invitation to attend the Celebration of Life service for Kent. The service will be on Thursday, June 23rd. Below are the details: June 23rd (Thursday) Finley-Sunset Hills Memorial Park 6801 SW Sunset Hwy Portland Viewing: 12:30pm Service: 1:00pm Reception: 2:00pm Graveside: 3:00pm If you are unable to attend the service, but would like to send Susan a note of encouragement, please send them to the following address: Susan Johnson 10790 NW 285th Drive North Plains, OR. 97133 Thank you for being a church body that prays for one another. See you Sunday Pastor Doug |
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