Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 NIV

“Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” Romans 15:7 NKJV

It is always very interesting to look different versions of the Scriptures in order to deepen your study of the Word. Each version uses the language a little different and I truly believe it helps all of us contextualize a little further about what God wants to teach us.

Yet let us understand that all of what is written is the divine Word of God regardless of the translation. All of us who have come on a Wednesday night have certainly seen this truth at work, because many times we will read something from two or three versions and grasp the meaning of what God is saying with even greater clarity.

So I could not help to share the passage at the beginning of this email in both the New International Version and the New King James Version with this same hope. Because I believe there is something very special about what the Apostle Paul is saying here to the Romans. This verse goes to the heart of what I believe this fellowship is about and what God’s desire is for the entire Church.

Each week all of us have the opportunity to welcome others into our homes, our fellowships, our small groups, our families, and even our Church. Many times these people who we welcome are our friends, but at times they may be a stranger or someone who we do not even know. And there may even be times when this person could even be our enemy or someone who is counter to everything we stand for or believe.

But this act of accepting others is very important because it is not just a greeting or an invitation; it is an act of love.

God wants his people to be those who see people for who they really are—a creation of Him in his very image. Everyone has been blessed with this very same trait and each person has been created for a very unique purpose. So we should never brush off anyone just because of their external image, but instead focus on the internal being of who they really are.

The Greek word used for the word welcome in the NIV and the word receive in the NKJV in this verse is the word proslambanō which literally means to take to, take in addition, or to take to one’s self. This is a very key understanding to seeing what God desires when we are welcoming others.

Because it is not just an opportunity you provide others in order that they may be your guest. We should not welcome others just so they can join us for the moment. This unfortunately I believe is the attitude of many churches and even many Christian people today. Many will say, “Let us welcome others for the moment so that maybe they will become part of the family.”

I believe we are to go one step further and welcome others for eternity. We are take others into us in order that they may be joined to us. By connecting others to us in a way that makes everyone one we just don’t unite with them for the moment through the front door, but unite with them for life by joining them in the living room. We are called by God to proslambanō others.

The Apostle Paul shared with us about how we are to live this type of life when he said:

“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:2 NKJV

When we walk in love, we welcome others. For there is nothing more welcoming then when we look at others for what God has made them for, not what they have become. When this happens, we bring others into us so that Christ may touch their lives.

Brothers, true fellowship is built around this type of love and acceptance. If we can have this occur, the Lord will truly be able to work with the lives of all of us. For granting access into your life starts with the heart and this is the meaning of fellowship…

Therefore my prayer is that we may receive others into this fellowship and into Northshore with this attitude in place. Then God will be glorified…


Prayer requests

Ernie – pray for sister-in-law, pray for grandson and his upcoming surgery

Tim D – pray that he will be able to remain focused on the Lord

Steve – pray that his mind will be cleansed by the Lord

Bill M – pray for the family during the loss of his father-in-law to cancer this past week, pray for the health Bill with cancer, pray for healing of a rash on his leg, pray for his neighbor who had an aneurism

Paul – pray for guidance at home, pray for an open heart, pray for safety during travel this week and next

Gary – pray for strength as life sometimes gets heavy

Kevin – pray the Lord will guide him in making the right decisions on a job path, pray for the government and all of the leaders in this country

Vince – pray that he can apply more of scripture in everyday life, pray that he can forgive his brother, pray for his thought life

Greg – pray for Timothy Nelson who is continuing to have some heart trouble

Tim H – pray that he will be able to be able to witness at his upcoming 30 year High School reunion

David – pray that Big Al will be able to find a new car

Mark – pray for the financial situation of family as we continue to work through maternity leave, pray that mind will be cleansed of any negative thoughts, pray that he will have strength to finish everything this week, pray for the Paul Lowell’s wife who lost her mother yesterday

***Pray as Northshore begins a new chapter in its ministry to people who desperately needs to hear the gospel message


Continued prayer needs

Ramon – pray that God will continue to give him strength

Joe – pray for all the military members who are in harms way for their safety and quick return

Sky – pray that he will be accepted into the RN program at college for this fall

Larry Miller – pray for wife Sandy’s mother that she continues to remain healthy, praise God for healing her of her recent illness

Kelcy – pray for all the pastors and leaders within the Church

Brent – pray that he will find clarity and guidance for finding the right person to marry

Brett S – pray for healing of liver disease

Dick – pray for gluttony issues, pray for strength to deny self by helping him submit to the Lord

Carmine – pray that he can find ways to lower his blood pressure which was very high recently

Monte – praise God for a new job that he has been blessed with

Keith – pray that their youngest daughter will be able to do well in college, pray that Nate will be able to find a job

Craig – pray that he will become more diligent in his Bible reading, pray that all pain will be removed someday from his body

Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life


Future Meetings

Wednesday, August 20th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 on the academy side of the church.

Wednesday, August 27th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, September 3rd, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church


Group Happenings

August 27th we will be having a special night of prayer. That evening we will be looking into the scriptures on the meaning of prayer during our usual time of fellowship. But we will close the meeting with a special time of prayer… More will be shared in the next few meetings.

September 10th is going to be a kickoff barbecue for the Men’s Ministry. More information can be found in the bulletin. Please make sure to RSVP with EmilyV@northshorechristian.org


Memory Verse

“But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” 2 Chronicles 15:7 NKJV