Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 NIV
Last weekend as we were driving to Church, my daughter looked out over the Cascade Mountains and the rising sun and proclaimed in a flurry of excitement, “My grandma and grandpa live over those mountains! They live over those mountains! I am so excited to see them!!”
Now we have told her before that they live over the mountains, but this impromptu burst of excitement came so unexpectedly. My mind immediately reacted and I could not help but to think how much this speaks to the child-like faith of children.
For everything she knew about where her grandparents were; everything she realized about what was over those mountains; everything she could comprehend was based completely on faith. She did not know they were 2400 miles away. In no way could she even comprehend what that distance was. Instead, simply by faith, she knew they were over those mountains simply because she was told.
This is such a great picture of faith and hope because isn’t this what God is asking us? He gave us truth in the Word (Ephesians 1:13). He told us about our inheritance waiting for us (1 Peter 1:4). He shared a vision of what the New Heaven and the New Earth was going to look like (Revelation 21:1). He revealed His glory in His Son on the cross and was rose three days later to defeat death once and for all (2 Corinthians 13:4). He has promised us everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). He has given us eternal life (Luke 18:30). All of these are only a few promises we have been told; yet each of these are on the other side of the ‘mountains’ for all who believe.
But why do none of us say it with conviction? Why does none of us shout out like my daughter and proclaim these truths that lie over the ‘mountains’ like we should? Instead we struggle to put this truth out before even our own family at times. (I have struggled with this tremendously at times, presenting this hope, the truth with undeniable faith.) Instead, our beliefs become this personal thing which is not shared or even proclaimed. It lives within us and everyone can either find it for themselves or not.
Yet I do not believe that the Apostle Paul believed in this type of faith. He really believed that the truths we know over the ‘mountains’ was something to rejoice over which is why he said that we “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Rejoicing is something that is external, ‘displaying a great happiness about something’ as the Encarta Dictionary says. This is supposed to be us about the truth.
Paul also goes on to say something even more profound about the truth. He says in a very familiar verse:
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word…” 2 Timothy 4:1-2a NIV
Within this familiar charge to preach the Word comes a significant message because the word used for ‘preach’ by Paul is the Greek word kerusso which literally means ‘to proclaim’ or ‘to herald’. Paul is telling Timothy it is not just about sharing the Word, but proclaiming it! One should give the same emphasis to the Word that one would give to proclaiming the arrival of nobility, or a King. We are to herald its truth!
So the over the next four weeks I am planning on building upon this idea of proclaiming the hope we have in Christ; proclaiming the truth which exists on the other side of the ‘mountains’.
The world is continuing to use the word hope for other ideas and is looking toward a different type of hope. What we are looking toward is something based upon the truth and is unchanging regardless to anything yesterday, today, or tomorrow.
This goes along with the Ephesians study rather nicely and I look forward to all the parallels; but regardless to the Wednesday night’s study, I look forward to this journey and considering together what is on the other side of the ‘mountains’ we can proclaim together!
Prayer requests
Bill M – praise God for his family and grandchildren, pray that his wife will heal from the back trouble she is having
Brett S – praise God for bringing him here to the group healthy and with energy, pray that he will continue to have some more good days of strength and health
Paul – praise God for the work he has, praise God for the home he has been given in Eastern Washington, prayer for continued guidance in doing the right thing
Ernie – praise God for his goodness, pray that Jerry will continue to respond to treatment from prostrate cancer, pray for Nathan who is in boot camp
David – praise God for His presence in his life, pray that He will reveal Himself more in his life
Ramon – praise God for continuing to have work, praise God for helping him finish a roofing job, pray that he can properly resolve things with an electrician which is giving him trouble over a billing problem
Richard – praise God for this church and how God is speaking through the ministries and pastors of Northshore, pray for a young man who is dating his daughter and how he wants to come to church with him
Gary S – praise God for his good health and the blessings he has been given, pray that he can find work and that his family will be strengthened
Tim D – praise God for his limitless mercy and glory, pray that he will have patience in finding the right job and waiting upon the Lord
Greg – praise God for being in his life and his continued blessings, pray that he can be a godly steward at his work
Mark – praise God for healing my family from a recent bought of sickness, pray that Mark can get back into a normal routine which includes more time reading the Bible and studying, pray that he can find opportunities to use his skills maybe even in a part-time position outside of work, pray that Mark and Beth can finally balance their budget
***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ
Continued prayer needs
Sky – praise God that the move to Bellingham has gone smoothly and he is now attending a school up there
Jimmy – pray that he will be able to walk more consistently with the Lord
Calvin – pray that the men of this church will become energized for God, pray for his brother which is dealing with a difficult custody battle
Carmine – pray for the troops which are serving overseas and for their financial health and security
Dick – praise for his new job that it is a good fit and he can be successful
Kelcy – pray for all the pastors and leaders within the Church
Stephen G – pray for strength in teaching kids at school so they may learn and become better students
Steve S – pray that he will be able to trust more in God
Nelson – pray for the President-elect that he will be a man of God, pray for his brother Bob
Tim W – pray for wife who is going to Germany to visit parents who may not be doing well, pray that a great deal of success came from the auction which happened on Saturday night
Larry Miller – pray that he will be able to find work, pray that he will be able to strengthen the marriage ministry at Northshore
Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry
Gary – pray for strength as he works through all the various stresses of life, pray for the health of his wife
Brent – pray that he will find clarity and guidance for finding the right person to marry
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
Future Meetings
Wednesday, February 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 the academy wing
**** Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, March 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
Just started… “Ephesians: The Wealth of God in us”—A study through the book of Ephesians, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, so we can discover all we have been given by God…
As the world continues to tell all of us all what we do not have and what we are lacking; as each one of us continue to struggle through tough economic times; as the Church continues to face new challenges; I believe there is no better time than to truly discover all we do have as Christians. We have been blessed beyond measure through our Lord Jesus Christ and by Him have access to all of God's promises.
By studying all the topics covered in the book of Ephesians together in this fellowship of men, my prayer is that all of us will truly come to understand that we have "The wealth of God in us".
Pray that this study will be a tremendous blessing to each one of us, a blessing to the Church, and an opportunity for the Acts 2:42 Men's Fellowship to continue the calling God has placed on all of our hearts...
I invite you to invite others so that through this study, we can minister unto others and share the love of God.
God bless and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.
In Christ,
Mark
Ephesians Study Outline
Here is the outline of the study plan we are looking at covering while we study the book of Ephesians:
Part number
1. Ephesians 1:1-14 Salutation / Predestination, Redemption, Inheritance in Christ
2. Ephesians 1:15-23 Resources in Christ
3. Ephesians 2:1-10 New Life in Christ
4. Ephesians 2:11-22 Unity in Christ
5. Ephesians 3:1-13 The purpose of the mystery revealed
6. Ephesians 3:14-21 God’s Fullness for the Church
7. Ephesians 4:1-6 God’s Plan for Faithful Living in the Church
8. Ephesians 4:7-16 God’s Son Endows and Builds the Church
9. Ephesians 4:17-32 God’s Pattern and Principles for members of the Church
10. Ephesians 5:1-14 Walking in love / Living in Light
11. Ephesians 5:15-21 Walking in wisdom / Filled with God’s Spirit
12. Ephesians 5:22-6:9 God’s standard for Authority and Submission in the Church
13. Ephesians 6:10-17 God’s provision for His children’s spiritual battles
14. Ephesians 6:18-24 God’s appeal for prayer in the Church / Benediction
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
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Weekly Message / Prayer Request
Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.” Ezekiel 8:16 NIV
Today I must be honest with everyone. As I told everyone last night, my mind has drifted some from the mission this past week…
Instead I have found my patriotism stirred, focusing on the difficulties that lay before my country. The economic challenges, financial uncertainties, and the international relations which all sit before this country as problems that needs to be solved. This has caused much of my focus outside of my daily devotions to fall squarely on these concerns.
Yes, patriotism is a good thing; but we must always keep this in perspective, as our study through the book of Ephesians has revealed. We are just sojourners, passing through this life unto our ultimate destination in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
This week as I was reflecting upon my focus on worldly events, I remembered this section of Scripture from the book of Ezekiel. Because there is no place, no set of circumstances, upon where we can avoid falling into temptation and worship the creation more than the Creator. It is a slippery slope. Even some of the most “sacred” places can be places of idolatry.
In this story from the book of Ezekiel, here we have twenty-five priests within the inner court of the Temple. These priests were facing east, worshipping the rising sun with their backs toward the temple of the Lord.
These men were supposedly men of God, men who were considered righteous enough to be within the inner court. But their worship became worldly, focusing on the creation not the Creator. They fell prey to one of the earliest forms of idolatry (Job 31:26-27) and into violating one of the Ten Commandments given to the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 17:3).
But the question is, how did it get that far? How did these men who were at the Temple, a place of worship to God, being the most well respected priests of their day, still turn their back on Lord who was the Creator of all and began to worship the sun? Pagans worshipped the sun.
The answer I believe is pride. For no man can escape its grip once you have given into its seductive calling. Once it has its grip on people, pride leads them into believing that you can find answers in this world on your own. It leads men to thinking, “No longer do I need God…”
We have been warned of this faulty argument and one we need to take heed of. Listen to the Apostle Paul when he spoke to the Corinthian people:
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV
The priests in the book of Ezekiel looked toward the sun in their worship. They were worldly in their thinking. Many today do the same thing. In fact, the world is worshiping the earth more and more each day (example: global warming) while trying to remove God from every aspect of society.
Yet as we watch the world; as we consider the ‘wise’ by the human standards of today; as we look at the ‘influential’ in dealing with the financial and economic problems; let us never forget where true wisdom resides. Let us never turn our back on the Lord and worship anything other than the One who gave all and is in all.
Instead of allowing pride to grip your heart and mind, let us live in humility. Let us live according to Christ knowing this life is temporary because our inheritance is secure.
So join me on this journey as we recommit to the calling we have been given (Matthew 28:19) and through prayer, let us not be conformed to this world but renew our mind in the truth (Romans 12:2).
Prayer requests
Bill M – praise God for his health, pray for wife who is dealing with fibromyalgia
Paul – praise God for the work he has, praise God for the home he has been given in Eastern Washington, prayer for continued guidance in doing the right thing
Ernie – praise God that his grandson is recovering from cancer and is now back at work, pray for his brother-in-law Jerry who has had numerous complications from prostrate cancer surgery, pray for grandson who is in basic training for the Army, pray for a man who works with Ernie who is a Muslim and that Ernie can witness to him
David – praise God for His presence in his life, pray that He will reveal Himself more in his life
Ramon – praise God for the weather so he can finish a roofing job, pray for the health of his wife who is struggling with fibromyalgia as well
Richard – praise God for this church and how God is speaking through the ministries and pastors of Northshore, pray for a young man who is dating his daughter and how he wants to come to church with him
Gary S – praise God for all the blessings her has been given, pray for wife who is in California and is working on her Masters Degree, pray for the family as they are separated from one another, pray that he may be able to find employment after being laid off
Tim D – praise God for his love and mercy, pray for mom who broke her ankle and the plate put in her foot
Mark – praise God for my family and how blessed I am with a beautiful wife and children, pray for Matteo who has bronchitis, pray that I can remained focused on the Lord and can maintain my spiritual integrity while monitoring the political / economic forces at work in America, pray for Northshore and the Men’s ministry
***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ
Continued prayer needs
Sky – praise God that the move to Bellingham has gone smoothly and he is now attending a school up there
Greg – praise God for the church and all that He is doing here at Northshore, pray for his brother who is moving to Arizona
Jimmy – pray that he will be able to walk more consistently with the Lord
Calvin – pray that the men of this church will become energized for God, pray for his brother which is dealing with a difficult custody battle
Carmine – pray for the troops which are serving overseas and for their financial health and security
Dick – praise for his new job that it is a good fit and he can be successful
Kelcy – pray for all the pastors and leaders within the Church
Stephen G – pray for strength in teaching kids at school so they may learn and become better students
Steve S – pray that he will be able to trust more in God
Brett S – pray that he will be able to stay strong in the Word and continue to come back to this fellowship
Nelson – pray for the President-elect that he will be a man of God, pray for his brother Bob
Tim W – pray for wife who is going to Germany to visit parents who may not be doing well, pray that a great deal of success came from the auction which happened on Saturday night
Larry Miller – pray that he will be able to find work, pray that he will be able to strengthen the marriage ministry at Northshore
Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry
Gary – pray for strength as he works through all the various stresses of life, pray for the health of his wife
Brent – pray that he will find clarity and guidance for finding the right person to marry
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
Future Meetings
**** Wednesday, February 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 in the academy wing
Wednesday, February 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, March 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
Just started… “Ephesians: The Wealth of God in us”—A study through the book of Ephesians, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, so we can discover all we have been given by God…
As the world continues to tell all of us all what we do not have and what we are lacking; as each one of us continue to struggle through tough economic times; as the Church continues to face new challenges; I believe there is no better time than to truly discover all we do have as Christians. We have been blessed beyond measure through our Lord Jesus Christ and by Him have access to all of God's promises.
By studying all the topics covered in the book of Ephesians together in this fellowship of men, my prayer is that all of us will truly come to understand that we have "The wealth of God in us".
Pray that this study will be a tremendous blessing to each one of us, a blessing to the Church, and an opportunity for the Acts 2:42 Men's Fellowship to continue the calling God has placed on all of our hearts...
I invite you to invite others so that through this study, we can minister unto others and share the love of God.
God bless and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.
In Christ,
Mark
Ephesians Study Outline
Here is the outline of the study plan we are looking at covering while we study the book of Ephesians:
Part number
1. Ephesians 1:1-14 Salutation / Predestination, Redemption, Inheritance in Christ
2. Ephesians 1:15-23 Resources in Christ
3. Ephesians 2:1-10 New Life in Christ
4. Ephesians 2:11-22 Unity in Christ
5. Ephesians 3:1-13 The purpose of the mystery revealed
6. Ephesians 3:14-21 God’s Fullness for the Church
7. Ephesians 4:1-6 God’s Plan for Faithful Living in the Church
8. Ephesians 4:7-16 God’s Son Endows and Builds the Church
9. Ephesians 4:17-32 God’s Pattern and Principles for members of the Church
10. Ephesians 5:1-14 Walking in love / Living in Light
11. Ephesians 5:15-21 Walking in wisdom / Filled with God’s Spirit
12. Ephesians 5:22-6:9 God’s standard for Authority and Submission in the Church
13. Ephesians 6:10-17 God’s provision for His children’s spiritual battles
14. Ephesians 6:18-24 God’s appeal for prayer in the Church / Benediction
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
“He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.” Ezekiel 8:16 NIV
Today I must be honest with everyone. As I told everyone last night, my mind has drifted some from the mission this past week…
Instead I have found my patriotism stirred, focusing on the difficulties that lay before my country. The economic challenges, financial uncertainties, and the international relations which all sit before this country as problems that needs to be solved. This has caused much of my focus outside of my daily devotions to fall squarely on these concerns.
Yes, patriotism is a good thing; but we must always keep this in perspective, as our study through the book of Ephesians has revealed. We are just sojourners, passing through this life unto our ultimate destination in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
This week as I was reflecting upon my focus on worldly events, I remembered this section of Scripture from the book of Ezekiel. Because there is no place, no set of circumstances, upon where we can avoid falling into temptation and worship the creation more than the Creator. It is a slippery slope. Even some of the most “sacred” places can be places of idolatry.
In this story from the book of Ezekiel, here we have twenty-five priests within the inner court of the Temple. These priests were facing east, worshipping the rising sun with their backs toward the temple of the Lord.
These men were supposedly men of God, men who were considered righteous enough to be within the inner court. But their worship became worldly, focusing on the creation not the Creator. They fell prey to one of the earliest forms of idolatry (Job 31:26-27) and into violating one of the Ten Commandments given to the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 17:3).
But the question is, how did it get that far? How did these men who were at the Temple, a place of worship to God, being the most well respected priests of their day, still turn their back on Lord who was the Creator of all and began to worship the sun? Pagans worshipped the sun.
The answer I believe is pride. For no man can escape its grip once you have given into its seductive calling. Once it has its grip on people, pride leads them into believing that you can find answers in this world on your own. It leads men to thinking, “No longer do I need God…”
We have been warned of this faulty argument and one we need to take heed of. Listen to the Apostle Paul when he spoke to the Corinthian people:
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV
The priests in the book of Ezekiel looked toward the sun in their worship. They were worldly in their thinking. Many today do the same thing. In fact, the world is worshiping the earth more and more each day (example: global warming) while trying to remove God from every aspect of society.
Yet as we watch the world; as we consider the ‘wise’ by the human standards of today; as we look at the ‘influential’ in dealing with the financial and economic problems; let us never forget where true wisdom resides. Let us never turn our back on the Lord and worship anything other than the One who gave all and is in all.
Instead of allowing pride to grip your heart and mind, let us live in humility. Let us live according to Christ knowing this life is temporary because our inheritance is secure.
So join me on this journey as we recommit to the calling we have been given (Matthew 28:19) and through prayer, let us not be conformed to this world but renew our mind in the truth (Romans 12:2).
Prayer requests
Bill M – praise God for his health, pray for wife who is dealing with fibromyalgia
Paul – praise God for the work he has, praise God for the home he has been given in Eastern Washington, prayer for continued guidance in doing the right thing
Ernie – praise God that his grandson is recovering from cancer and is now back at work, pray for his brother-in-law Jerry who has had numerous complications from prostrate cancer surgery, pray for grandson who is in basic training for the Army, pray for a man who works with Ernie who is a Muslim and that Ernie can witness to him
David – praise God for His presence in his life, pray that He will reveal Himself more in his life
Ramon – praise God for the weather so he can finish a roofing job, pray for the health of his wife who is struggling with fibromyalgia as well
Richard – praise God for this church and how God is speaking through the ministries and pastors of Northshore, pray for a young man who is dating his daughter and how he wants to come to church with him
Gary S – praise God for all the blessings her has been given, pray for wife who is in California and is working on her Masters Degree, pray for the family as they are separated from one another, pray that he may be able to find employment after being laid off
Tim D – praise God for his love and mercy, pray for mom who broke her ankle and the plate put in her foot
Mark – praise God for my family and how blessed I am with a beautiful wife and children, pray for Matteo who has bronchitis, pray that I can remained focused on the Lord and can maintain my spiritual integrity while monitoring the political / economic forces at work in America, pray for Northshore and the Men’s ministry
***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ
Continued prayer needs
Sky – praise God that the move to Bellingham has gone smoothly and he is now attending a school up there
Greg – praise God for the church and all that He is doing here at Northshore, pray for his brother who is moving to Arizona
Jimmy – pray that he will be able to walk more consistently with the Lord
Calvin – pray that the men of this church will become energized for God, pray for his brother which is dealing with a difficult custody battle
Carmine – pray for the troops which are serving overseas and for their financial health and security
Dick – praise for his new job that it is a good fit and he can be successful
Kelcy – pray for all the pastors and leaders within the Church
Stephen G – pray for strength in teaching kids at school so they may learn and become better students
Steve S – pray that he will be able to trust more in God
Brett S – pray that he will be able to stay strong in the Word and continue to come back to this fellowship
Nelson – pray for the President-elect that he will be a man of God, pray for his brother Bob
Tim W – pray for wife who is going to Germany to visit parents who may not be doing well, pray that a great deal of success came from the auction which happened on Saturday night
Larry Miller – pray that he will be able to find work, pray that he will be able to strengthen the marriage ministry at Northshore
Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry
Gary – pray for strength as he works through all the various stresses of life, pray for the health of his wife
Brent – pray that he will find clarity and guidance for finding the right person to marry
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
Future Meetings
**** Wednesday, February 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 in the academy wing
Wednesday, February 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, March 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, March 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
Just started… “Ephesians: The Wealth of God in us”—A study through the book of Ephesians, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, so we can discover all we have been given by God…
As the world continues to tell all of us all what we do not have and what we are lacking; as each one of us continue to struggle through tough economic times; as the Church continues to face new challenges; I believe there is no better time than to truly discover all we do have as Christians. We have been blessed beyond measure through our Lord Jesus Christ and by Him have access to all of God's promises.
By studying all the topics covered in the book of Ephesians together in this fellowship of men, my prayer is that all of us will truly come to understand that we have "The wealth of God in us".
Pray that this study will be a tremendous blessing to each one of us, a blessing to the Church, and an opportunity for the Acts 2:42 Men's Fellowship to continue the calling God has placed on all of our hearts...
I invite you to invite others so that through this study, we can minister unto others and share the love of God.
God bless and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.
In Christ,
Mark
Ephesians Study Outline
Here is the outline of the study plan we are looking at covering while we study the book of Ephesians:
Part number
1. Ephesians 1:1-14 Salutation / Predestination, Redemption, Inheritance in Christ
2. Ephesians 1:15-23 Resources in Christ
3. Ephesians 2:1-10 New Life in Christ
4. Ephesians 2:11-22 Unity in Christ
5. Ephesians 3:1-13 The purpose of the mystery revealed
6. Ephesians 3:14-21 God’s Fullness for the Church
7. Ephesians 4:1-6 God’s Plan for Faithful Living in the Church
8. Ephesians 4:7-16 God’s Son Endows and Builds the Church
9. Ephesians 4:17-32 God’s Pattern and Principles for members of the Church
10. Ephesians 5:1-14 Walking in love / Living in Light
11. Ephesians 5:15-21 Walking in wisdom / Filled with God’s Spirit
12. Ephesians 5:22-6:9 God’s standard for Authority and Submission in the Church
13. Ephesians 6:10-17 God’s provision for His children’s spiritual battles
14. Ephesians 6:18-24 God’s appeal for prayer in the Church / Benediction
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
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Weekly Message / Prayer Request
Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 NIV
One of the things I look forward to each evening is sitting in my favorite chair, holding my children in my arms. This is many times the highlight of the day. I get a chance to see how they are doing, how much they have grown, and just have the opportunity to love on them. What a great gift God has given me…
Yet during the day (and even sometimes during the evening when I want to hold them) my children will not stay still. Instead they want to move, see something new, or play with their toys. Instead of wanting to stay inside their father’s arms, they want to go out and see the world. They want to experience what is out there; until, they realize they are in over their heads, hurting from a fall or a mistake, needing a place to find shelter—right there back in their father’s arms.
It is exciting to see your children grow and experience life right in front of your eyes; yet the precious time in their father’s arms sometimes feel distance and small. It feels like life will go so fast (as many have told me it will) and before you know it, these moments will be one’s that I will cherish.
But as I was pondering this, I realized that I am no different. In fact, probably none of us are any different. All of us are out there in the world living life. We are all at times so busy that we try to make ends meet on our own. Very rarely do we ever think about what we have with Christ and the comfort we have in the arms of our Father
I can just imagine what God is probably saying to all of us at times, ‘Come back into my loving arms for I want to hold you…My arms is where you can find peace and rest…’ Yet we just continue to live life on our own, not seeking Him until we really need Him. This is our sinful human nature.
But I believe we can change and begin to realize the promise written in the opening passage from the book of Isaiah. Because here God is saying to the chosen people of Israel, I will hold you and guide you through all the troubles you may face:
“For I am the Lord your God!”
This phrase has significance because it has been echoed throughout the history of the Israelites. It was used when the Ten Commandments were given during the opening passage of the Decalogue (Exodus 20:2). It was used when God asked for the first part of the harvest to be brought to the place of worship (Exodus 34:26). It was used when God asked the Israelites to dedicate themselves to Him (Leviticus 20:7). It was used when God said that He should be remembered during the appointed feasts and day of gladness (Numbers 10:10).
In total, this phrase—which was used by God 125 times throughout Scripture—I believe was used for a very special reason. I believe it was God trying to tell each one of us: ‘trust me, worship me, because I, your God, loves you and will look out for you.’
Which is the same thing Jesus himself points out to the disciples when He said:
“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God.’” Mark 11:20-22 ESV
I believe the question therefore is about faith. How much faith do we put in the Father’s arms to hold us, carry us through the difficult times of our life? How much do we consider the true place of refuge as the only place of refuge?
Times are becoming challenging and the world I believe is truly in a state of change. In many ways, I believe the days are becoming darker because the times are becoming ever more evil. For the ‘god of this age’ is on the march and truly blinding the eyes of those who have not accepted Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Let us begin to seek our Father’s arms and begin once again to put our complete faith in Him. This is my prayer. I am continuing to fight through the challenges of this world with this prayer, and I ask that all of you join me on this journey. That this group of men will stand tall during these days as a testament to the glory of God…
Prayer requests
Paul – praise God for being here with the group these past few weeks, pray that God will continue to reveal what He wants them to do with the property in Eastern Washington
Ernie – praise God for the all the goodness He bestows, praise God that his grandson is recovering from cancer and is now eating solid food, pray for his brother-in-law Jerry who has had numerous complications from prostrate cancer surgery
Jimmy – pray that he will be able to walk more consistently with the Lord
Greg – praise God for the church and all that He is doing here at Northshore, pray for his brother who is moving to Arizona
David – praise God for the wonderful blessings He bestows, pray that God will provide him and Al with the right apartment in Everett
Richard – praise God for his continued good health, praise God that things are improving on his marriage, pray for the church leaders here at Northshore
Tim D – praise God for the work of the Spirit in our lives, pray for the Elders who are working through the vision of Northshore that they will make Godly decisions
Sky – praise God that the move to Bellingham has gone smoothly and he is now attending a school up there
Mark – praise God for the continued blessings He provides through other people coming alongside, pray that God will continue to work through this ministry, pray that God will give him wisdom on making the right choices in finances, furthering my education, and ministry options, pray that Vince will be healed and that he will be able to find the right group here at Northshore to fit his needs
***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ
Continued prayer needs
Bill M – praise God for the test results of his PSA count after prostrate surgery, pray that his grandson’s hearing exam will go fine
Calvin – pray that the men of this church will become energized for God, pray for his brother which is dealing with a difficult custody battle
Carmine – pray for the troops which are serving overseas and for their financial health and security
Dick – praise for his new job that it is a good fit and he can be successful
Kelcy – pray for all the pastors and leaders within the Church
Stephen G – pray for strength in teaching kids at school so they may learn and become better students
Steve S – pray that he will be able to trust more in God
Brett S – pray that he will be able to stay strong in the Word and continue to come back to this fellowship
Nelson – pray for the President-elect that he will be a man of God, pray for his brother Bob
Tim W – pray for wife who is going to Germany to visit parents who may not be doing well, pray that a great deal of success came from the auction which happened on Saturday night
Ramon – pray that God will continue to heal his wife Tina and give her strength in the coming days
Larry Miller – pray that he will be able to find work, pray that he will be able to strengthen the marriage ministry at Northshore
Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry
Gary – pray for strength as he works through all the various stresses of life, pray for the health of his wife
Brent – pray that he will find clarity and guidance for finding the right person to marry
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
Future Meetings
**** Wednesday, February 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 on the academy side of campus
Wednesday, February 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, February 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, February 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
Just started… “Ephesians: The Wealth of God in us”—A study through the book of Ephesians, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, so we can discover all we have been given by God…
As the world continues to tell all of us all what we do not have and what we are lacking; as each one of us continue to struggle through tough economic times; as the Church continues to face new challenges; I believe there is no better time than to truly discover all we do have as Christians. We have been blessed beyond measure through our Lord Jesus Christ and by Him have access to all of God's promises.
By studying all the topics covered in the book of Ephesians together in this fellowship of men, my prayer is that all of us will truly come to understand that we have "The wealth of God in us".
Pray that this study will be a tremendous blessing to each one of us, a blessing to the Church, and an opportunity for the Acts 2:42 Men's Fellowship to continue the calling God has placed on all of our hearts...
I invite you to invite others so that through this study, we can minister unto others and share the love of God.
God bless and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.
In Christ,
Mark
Ephesians Study Outline
Here is the outline of the study plan we are looking at covering while we study the book of Ephesians:
Part number
1. Ephesians 1:1-14 Predestination, Redemption, Inheritance in Christ
2. Ephesians 1:15-23 Resources in Christ
3. Ephesians 2:1-10 New Life in Christ
4. Ephesians 2:11-3:13 Unity in Christ
5. Ephesians 3:14-21 God’s Fullness for the Church
6. Ephesians 4:1-6 God’s Plan for Faithful Living in the Church
7. Ephesians 4:7-16 God’s Son Endows and Builds the Church
8. Ephesians 4:17-32 God’s Pattern and Principles for members of the Church
9. Ephesians 5:1-14 Walking in love / Living in Light
10. Ephesians 5:15-21 Walking in wisdom / Filled with God’s Spirit
11. Ephesians 5:22-6:9 God’s standard for Authority and Submission in the Church
12. Ephesians 6:10-17 God’s provision for His children’s spiritual battles
13. Ephesians 6:18-24 God’s appeal for prayer in the Church / Benediction
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
“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 NIV
One of the things I look forward to each evening is sitting in my favorite chair, holding my children in my arms. This is many times the highlight of the day. I get a chance to see how they are doing, how much they have grown, and just have the opportunity to love on them. What a great gift God has given me…
Yet during the day (and even sometimes during the evening when I want to hold them) my children will not stay still. Instead they want to move, see something new, or play with their toys. Instead of wanting to stay inside their father’s arms, they want to go out and see the world. They want to experience what is out there; until, they realize they are in over their heads, hurting from a fall or a mistake, needing a place to find shelter—right there back in their father’s arms.
It is exciting to see your children grow and experience life right in front of your eyes; yet the precious time in their father’s arms sometimes feel distance and small. It feels like life will go so fast (as many have told me it will) and before you know it, these moments will be one’s that I will cherish.
But as I was pondering this, I realized that I am no different. In fact, probably none of us are any different. All of us are out there in the world living life. We are all at times so busy that we try to make ends meet on our own. Very rarely do we ever think about what we have with Christ and the comfort we have in the arms of our Father
I can just imagine what God is probably saying to all of us at times, ‘Come back into my loving arms for I want to hold you…My arms is where you can find peace and rest…’ Yet we just continue to live life on our own, not seeking Him until we really need Him. This is our sinful human nature.
But I believe we can change and begin to realize the promise written in the opening passage from the book of Isaiah. Because here God is saying to the chosen people of Israel, I will hold you and guide you through all the troubles you may face:
“For I am the Lord your God!”
This phrase has significance because it has been echoed throughout the history of the Israelites. It was used when the Ten Commandments were given during the opening passage of the Decalogue (Exodus 20:2). It was used when God asked for the first part of the harvest to be brought to the place of worship (Exodus 34:26). It was used when God asked the Israelites to dedicate themselves to Him (Leviticus 20:7). It was used when God said that He should be remembered during the appointed feasts and day of gladness (Numbers 10:10).
In total, this phrase—which was used by God 125 times throughout Scripture—I believe was used for a very special reason. I believe it was God trying to tell each one of us: ‘trust me, worship me, because I, your God, loves you and will look out for you.’
Which is the same thing Jesus himself points out to the disciples when He said:
“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God.’” Mark 11:20-22 ESV
I believe the question therefore is about faith. How much faith do we put in the Father’s arms to hold us, carry us through the difficult times of our life? How much do we consider the true place of refuge as the only place of refuge?
Times are becoming challenging and the world I believe is truly in a state of change. In many ways, I believe the days are becoming darker because the times are becoming ever more evil. For the ‘god of this age’ is on the march and truly blinding the eyes of those who have not accepted Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Let us begin to seek our Father’s arms and begin once again to put our complete faith in Him. This is my prayer. I am continuing to fight through the challenges of this world with this prayer, and I ask that all of you join me on this journey. That this group of men will stand tall during these days as a testament to the glory of God…
Prayer requests
Paul – praise God for being here with the group these past few weeks, pray that God will continue to reveal what He wants them to do with the property in Eastern Washington
Ernie – praise God for the all the goodness He bestows, praise God that his grandson is recovering from cancer and is now eating solid food, pray for his brother-in-law Jerry who has had numerous complications from prostrate cancer surgery
Jimmy – pray that he will be able to walk more consistently with the Lord
Greg – praise God for the church and all that He is doing here at Northshore, pray for his brother who is moving to Arizona
David – praise God for the wonderful blessings He bestows, pray that God will provide him and Al with the right apartment in Everett
Richard – praise God for his continued good health, praise God that things are improving on his marriage, pray for the church leaders here at Northshore
Tim D – praise God for the work of the Spirit in our lives, pray for the Elders who are working through the vision of Northshore that they will make Godly decisions
Sky – praise God that the move to Bellingham has gone smoothly and he is now attending a school up there
Mark – praise God for the continued blessings He provides through other people coming alongside, pray that God will continue to work through this ministry, pray that God will give him wisdom on making the right choices in finances, furthering my education, and ministry options, pray that Vince will be healed and that he will be able to find the right group here at Northshore to fit his needs
***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ
Continued prayer needs
Bill M – praise God for the test results of his PSA count after prostrate surgery, pray that his grandson’s hearing exam will go fine
Calvin – pray that the men of this church will become energized for God, pray for his brother which is dealing with a difficult custody battle
Carmine – pray for the troops which are serving overseas and for their financial health and security
Dick – praise for his new job that it is a good fit and he can be successful
Kelcy – pray for all the pastors and leaders within the Church
Stephen G – pray for strength in teaching kids at school so they may learn and become better students
Steve S – pray that he will be able to trust more in God
Brett S – pray that he will be able to stay strong in the Word and continue to come back to this fellowship
Nelson – pray for the President-elect that he will be a man of God, pray for his brother Bob
Tim W – pray for wife who is going to Germany to visit parents who may not be doing well, pray that a great deal of success came from the auction which happened on Saturday night
Ramon – pray that God will continue to heal his wife Tina and give her strength in the coming days
Larry Miller – pray that he will be able to find work, pray that he will be able to strengthen the marriage ministry at Northshore
Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry
Gary – pray for strength as he works through all the various stresses of life, pray for the health of his wife
Brent – pray that he will find clarity and guidance for finding the right person to marry
Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life
Future Meetings
**** Wednesday, February 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 on the academy side of campus
Wednesday, February 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, February 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, February 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
Just started… “Ephesians: The Wealth of God in us”—A study through the book of Ephesians, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, so we can discover all we have been given by God…
As the world continues to tell all of us all what we do not have and what we are lacking; as each one of us continue to struggle through tough economic times; as the Church continues to face new challenges; I believe there is no better time than to truly discover all we do have as Christians. We have been blessed beyond measure through our Lord Jesus Christ and by Him have access to all of God's promises.
By studying all the topics covered in the book of Ephesians together in this fellowship of men, my prayer is that all of us will truly come to understand that we have "The wealth of God in us".
Pray that this study will be a tremendous blessing to each one of us, a blessing to the Church, and an opportunity for the Acts 2:42 Men's Fellowship to continue the calling God has placed on all of our hearts...
I invite you to invite others so that through this study, we can minister unto others and share the love of God.
God bless and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.
In Christ,
Mark
Ephesians Study Outline
Here is the outline of the study plan we are looking at covering while we study the book of Ephesians:
Part number
1. Ephesians 1:1-14 Predestination, Redemption, Inheritance in Christ
2. Ephesians 1:15-23 Resources in Christ
3. Ephesians 2:1-10 New Life in Christ
4. Ephesians 2:11-3:13 Unity in Christ
5. Ephesians 3:14-21 God’s Fullness for the Church
6. Ephesians 4:1-6 God’s Plan for Faithful Living in the Church
7. Ephesians 4:7-16 God’s Son Endows and Builds the Church
8. Ephesians 4:17-32 God’s Pattern and Principles for members of the Church
9. Ephesians 5:1-14 Walking in love / Living in Light
10. Ephesians 5:15-21 Walking in wisdom / Filled with God’s Spirit
11. Ephesians 5:22-6:9 God’s standard for Authority and Submission in the Church
12. Ephesians 6:10-17 God’s provision for His children’s spiritual battles
13. Ephesians 6:18-24 God’s appeal for prayer in the Church / Benediction
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
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