Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV

Last week in this forum I began a conversation considering the meaning of the Church. It is nothing new, for over the past two thousand years the Church as we know it today has been having this discussion with a variety of results.

We should understand that in every place the Word goes forth into a culture, even one that may be radically different than ours, the result will be the same—God will save His people. But the instrument God uses to share this Word may be very different from one place to the next. For different cultural languages requires very different ways to communicate.

Many have discovered this as they have taken the good news into places afar, translating the Scripture into numerous languages. The modern evangelical church has discovered this by using contemporary music to worship the Lord. And today with the invention of the internet, churches have even moved into this venue by webcasting or sending messages via email.

Regardless to the means, the core message remains the same—Jesus Christ died on the cross to save all of us from our sins, resurrected on the third day, and ascended into to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

But the question still lingers, what is the meaning of the Church to us? What is the best way we can share this message of good news? What is the instrument we call Church here in Snohomish County to look like, so that we may truly reach the unreached?

These questions may be all one in the same, but all of them I believe lead us back to the passage at the beginning of this email from the book of Ephesians. For the church is not some fancy building or any one particular ministry. The church is not based upon size or the amount of people it touches on a weekly basis. Instead the church is you and I… the Church is people.

Therefore I truly believe none of us ever go to Church. Let me repeat this so you know it is not a typo, I believe none of us ever go to Church because we are the Church… Wherever we are, the Church is there. When we go home, the Church is there. When we go to work, the Church is there. When we come together in fellowship with one another, the Church is certainly there.

Whoever has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior has become ‘a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit’. We have in essence become the holy temple of the Lord and therefore the Church. The Church is not only visible through the work of the saints, but the Church is also invisible through the lives of those who have been saved.

For the Apostle Paul understood the nature of the invisible Church when he wrote Timothy saying:

“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His’…” 2 Timothy 2:19a NKJV

Many of us subconsciously when we are asked about our plans on Sunday morning will simply answer, ‘I am going to Church…’ I have made this comment numerous times in passing conversations with non-believers.

The reality is that we are the Church whenever and wherever, and God will use our testimony as proof of His work in this world. We become the hands and feet of the good news in order that it may be carried out into the hearts of men.

So do not consider yourself outside of the decision making process within the Church, for every decision you make is a decision of the Church. When you strengthen your relationship with Christ, the Church is strengthened as a result. When you make a decision to help the needy, the Church has made a decision to help the needy. When you pray, the Church therefore prays.

We could go on, but may we all know today that the Church exists within the hearts and minds of all who believe… you are the Church!


Prayer requests

Tim D – pray that he will be able to find a job

Bill M – pray that the treatment will go as planned and will successfully remove the cancer

Stephen G – pray for strength in teaching kids at school this week so they may learn and become better students

Greg – pray for wisdom and discernment

Paul – pray for the Northshore bookstore ministry

Kevin – pray for a couple of people in church who needs strength, pray for ex-wife that she may come back to the Lord, pray for country, pray for CTL that it will impact the lives of men

Ralph – pray that he will be able to surrender to God in everything

Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry

Larry Miller – pray that the marriage ministry will make an impact on the couples who attend Northshore

David – pray that he will be able to serve in the children’s ministry and make a difference in the lives of kids

Ernie – pray for his brother’s health, pray for his 21 year old grandson who has cancer and may he find the best treatment possible

Tim W – pray for continued spiritual growth

Steve – pray for the forgiveness of his sins, pray for the cleansing of his mind

Vince – pray for financial support in paying bills and working with social security

Ramon – pray that God will continue to give him strength

Mark – pray for this group that it will continue to impact people for Him, pray for Church leadership, pray for my family, pray for financial discernment, pray for the health of this country

***Pray as Northshore begins new ministries this fall to help encourage others grow in their relationship with God


Continued prayer needs

Gary – pray for strength as he works through all the various stresses of life, pray for the health of his wife

Craig – pray that he will become more diligent in joining with others in fellowship, pray God will comfort him during times of loneliness

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

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 deal with the stresses of work

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

Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life


Future Meetings

Wednesday, September 17th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church in Room C214 on the Academy side of the Church.

**** Wednesday, September 24th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, October 1st, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church

**** Wednesday, October 8th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, October 15th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church



Group Happenings

Remember, our focus is going to be on an every-other week schedule for those who wish to attend CTL. But, there has been a call by a few brothers to meet every week. Tim Dressler has volunteered to come lead a group of men on the same night as CTL. Therefore please consider this as an option if you wish to continue meeting with all of us and continuing in your growth in the Word…

Always know that I stand beside all of you 24/7 as we continue on this journey together…

Please keep October 9th open for the Prayer Connect event which is taking place at Northshore. It would be a great opportunity for all of us to come together and pray for the Church. More details will be coming soon…


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