Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV
Isn’t it interesting how so much conflict in our lives come from the fact that people do not see the same thing the same way. In fact, sometimes people will even agree on the conclusion but disagree on the way we are to get there. This is very common in our workplace and extremely common in the church.
For example, all of us in the church believe in the Great Commission because that is what Christ proclaimed us to do. He said that we should go and make disciples of all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (paraphrase from Matthew 28:19). Almost everyone I know in the church believes this. Yet the discussion is always about the means because many people have differing views about how this should be carried out.
So when we begin discussing the concept of unity, it becomes a very difficult topic. It is not something we can simply declare and say since there are various levels of unity. In some cases unity may simply be around a common organizational name. Other times it may be around a common concept. It may be around a common person (as Paul even mentioned in the book of 1 Corinthians about people saying they were of Apollos or was of Paul). These types of unity exist.
But are any of these the type of unity the Bible says we are to have with one another? Or is there a different type of unity that God desires of us?
Jesus prayed this before all of the disciples in the gospel of John: “…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21 ESV). That we may be all one just as the Father and Jesus is one? That type of unity is not simply based around a common organizational name I believe. There is certainly something of substance behind that type of unity and simply not something we can say we have. It is something that needs to be discussed and prayed about.
Therefore it was exciting to walk into the Acts group after CTL and see the group discussing one of the most important parts of the Christian faith—unity. It is something that needs to be worked out in the church because we are unified beyond what all of us see. Our unity is based in Christ and we are connected to one another through the Holy Spirit. We are family, brothers and sisters of one another in Christ.
This of course does not mean we will not struggle to come to a unity in seeing things the same way. This does not mean we should not challenge others in their views to ensure accountability is upheld for fear of disunity. And it never means we should compromise core beliefs and the truth in order to join with others in thought. We have been made differently and each has different gifts and experiences to share within the ‘body of Christ’ while the truth is to be upheld at all times.
But what I believe we need to do is consider the strength of our unity in Christ and match it up with what divides us. What unites us is our true condition as Christians. It would be like measuring the effect of the moon’s gravitational pull on the earth’s orbit around the sun. Science tells us that the moon does have a gravitational pull on other celestial bodies. Yet the difference is minimal. For the reason why the earth is in orbit around the sun is not because of the moon, it is because of the sun and its gravitational pull.
This is our unity. For our orbit in life is because of Christ. Each one of us exists because of Him and we all exist together because of His plan. His “gravitational pull” keeps everything together in the same orbit because He is in all and through all (Colossians 1:16-17).
Paul shared to each one of us what we have been given—the ministry of reconciliation:
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…” 2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV
This ministry is at the center of all unity. For the church has been called to be peacemakers in a world divided by selfish, self-centered ideas. By sharing a ministry of reconciliation to this world, we are going forth by God to love others as Christ has so loved us.
Therefore this coming week, let us consider what unity is and how we can strive to put the ministry of reconciliation into action. For we are all connected as one body; all connected as the church; all called to serve; called as one to a world so desperately needing a Savior.
Prayer requests
Over the next few weeks, I am considering changing the format of our prayer request here on the weekly email. It seems like we need to mix things up little so we can make a further an impact for our Lord Jesus Christ. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
In order to make this impact, I want to stress what these prayer requests are. All of these are things the members of this group have wanted to make public to the ‘body of Christ’ so that we may raise them up to Him in unity in prayer. We have firmly believed in the power of prayer from the beginning of this group and I personally have seen God work mightily in them and through them.
But please know that many times certain prayers need to be held confidential and kept in a small circle of believers. In these cases, myself or others in this group have been and are still willing to pray with you one on one. Let us know.
So as we continue to move in a direction God has set forth, let us continue to pray for others earnestly and continually. If anyone wants to share a prayer request, please email them so we can pray for them…
Carmine – pray that he will have peace for his upcoming surgery
Ernie – praise God for his goodness, pray for his brother-in-law Jerry who is still working through his recovery from surgery, pray of Nathan who is about to finish basic training, pray for all the Christians who are in Sudan and Congo
David – praise God for the life he provided him, pray for wisdom at work as he takes on a leadership role, pray the Lord will open up an opportunity for him to goto Bible College
Tim D – praise God for His faithfulness, pray that all the believers in the church will have the desire to seek out Him and to reach out to others
Bill M – praise God for touching his heart about giving thanks as a way of learning, pray for the men of the Acts group, pray for his grandchildren who were exposed to whooping cough and that they may remain healthy.
Richard – pray that he will be able to have a stronger foundation in faith
Greg – praise God for having other brothers in Christ, pray for his daughter who moved out that they all will be watched over, pray for the leadership of the church that they will provide Biblical leadership
Mark – praise God for bringing forth Mardee’s baby and giving her life, pray for her protection, pray that I make walk worthy of the Lord today, pray for all those who have lost their jobs because of the recession
***Pray that all of us may feel the weight of Good Friday
Continued prayer needs
Ramon – praise God for continually bringing him work, praise God for the health of his wife, pray that his daughter may be comforted while she is going through counseling, pray that he may have the strength and ability to put in wood floors at his son’s house
Paul – pray that God will continue to guide him in Eastern Washington and protect him during his travels
Calvin – pray that he will find a good work family balance and that he may find success at work, pray that he will be able to return to the group soon
Joe T – pray for his brother who unintentially overdosed on Tylenol, praise God he lives, pray for his son Joey who is dealing with seizures, pray for his wife, praise God for his patience and that his oldest son accepted Christ
Gary S – praise God for the job he was able to find in Oklahoma, pray for his marriage and that God will help them be able to work through the distance and any trouble they may be facing
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
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
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, April 22nd, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
****Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, May 6th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, May 13th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, May 20th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
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, April 18, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday Message / Prayer Request
Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Mark 14:48-49 NIV
In the gospel of Mark, this is where Christ becomes a prisoner for each one of us. This is the point where Christ submits to the will of the Father and begins the journey to the cross. From this moment, Jesus becomes a spectacle to the world through six trials and then his eventual execution in the same brutal way as a murderer would be killed.
Everyone at that moment simply thought he was hanging on the cross to die...
Yet this was never the plan according to God. He was not simply hanging on a tree, a spectacle to all those who mocked him or did not believe. He was not brought there to die. The journey Jesus was on was one of redemption. He was there hanging on that cross so the Scriptures may be fulfilled.
Today with it being Good Friday, do you feel that weight? Do you realize that it was not a rebellion Christ was leading? He even said it at the beginning of the passage. Nothing in that sequence of events which led Him to the cross was meant to be an Earthly rebellion, a victory in worldly terms.
What Christ was doing is saving each one of us from ultimate destruction. He was saving each one of us personally from the sins we have committed against our heavenly Father. His death was our life. That is the weight of that moment.
Yet today for many people will be just another day. Good Friday will mean nothing to them and just be a day on the calendar preparing for Sunday. Many throughout this world will travel down the road of life today and not reflect upon what happened on this day nearly two thousand years ago.
Let us not be this person. Instead let us reflect upon Christ hanging on that cross and realizing that it was something special. That His death there was our death there. His cross was my cross. In fact I should be the one hanging there instead of Him. Yet, He did it for me.
There are probably not many more words that can be said to emphasize this point. In fact it is difficult to put any of this into words because what was accomplished on that day is bigger than anything I can even say. And to be honest, it is bigger than anything I can understand because each one of us has our own cross to bear. Your cross has its own sins that none of us may ever know.
But please believe me when I say that Christ is on your cross to. Christ was there in place of you as well. I am certain of that because I have seen Him bring people back from their sins in a way that only God can be glorified. Therefore when the world seems dark, always remember that Christ was there on that cross for you.
And there is nothing more which needs to be completed. For Jesus completed everything that day and sealed the fate for all who may believe:
“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:28-30 NIV
He finished it for us and fulfilled the Scriptures that all of us may be saved. The price has been paid for each one of us...
Today we do not mark a rebellion. Instead what we mark is the moment when everything was finished. Please feel that weight because it is huge. Your life and my life changed nearly two thousand years ago.
When Sunday comes and the tomb has been opened to find out that He has risen, let us look back to the weight of today and then realize that what happened on Good Friday was true. Because the empty tomb signifies the truth, that Christ did overcome death for each one of us on our cross.
May you feel the weight of today and honor Him with your thanks, your love, and your faith…
Let the love of Christ be with you today.
Prayer requests
Paul – pray that God will continue to guide him in Eastern Washington and protect him during his travels
Ernie – praise God for his goodness, pray for his brother-in-law Jerry who may be released from the hospital here soon, pray of Nathan who is about to finish basic training, pray for all the Christians who are in Sudan and Congo
David – praise God for the life he provided him, pray for wisdom at work as he takes on a leadership role, pray the Lord will open up an opportunity for him to goto Bible College
Ramon – praise God for continually bringing him work, praise God for the health of his wife, pray that his daughter may be comforted while she is going through counseling, pray that he may have the strength and ability to put in wood floors at his son’s house
Bill M – praise God for touching his heart about giving thanks as a way of learning, pray for the men of the Acts group, pray for his grandchildren who were exposed to whooping cough and that they may remain healthy.
Richard – pray that he will be able to have a stronger foundation in faith
Tim D – praise God for His faithfulness, pray that all the believers in the church will have the desire to seek out Him and to reach out to others
Carmine – pray that he will be strengthened at work with his relationships with coworkers
Greg – praise God for having other brothers in Christ, pray for his daughter who moved out that they all will be watched over, pray for the leadership of the church that they will provide Biblical leadership
Mark – pray that I make walk worthy of the Lord today, pray that Beth and I will continue to seek the Lord in our daily provisions, pray that we can financially become more secure, pray for all those who have lost their jobs because of the recession
***Pray that all of us may feel the weight of Good Friday
Continued prayer needs
Calvin – pray that he will find a good work family balance and that he may find success at work, pray that he will be able to return to the group soon
Joe T – pray for his brother who unintentially overdosed on Tylenol, praise God he lives, pray for his son Joey who is dealing with seizures, pray for his wife, praise God for his patience and that his oldest son accepted Christ
Gary S – praise God for the job he was able to find in Oklahoma, pray for his marriage and that God will help them be able to work through the distance and any trouble they may be facing
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
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
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, April 15th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, April 22nd, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
****Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, May 6th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, May 13th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
“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
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Weekly Message / Prayer Request
Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16 NKJV
This past weekend the providence of God was definitely visible in my life. Not that there is ever a time when it isn’t at work; but there are certain times when you can really see God’s hand working. For just as He directed the chain of events which led to the crucifixion of his Son (Acts 4:27-28), everything in our lives happens according to His purpose.
As many of you know, I am continuing to seek out God’s will for my life; or you also may be well aware that I have been considering the question of leadership-what makes a good leader and identifying them in your ministry; or you may know that I am seeking God’s wisdom in making the best financial decisions for my family; or if you have been with us any period of time for our Wednesday night meetings, you would know how serious I am at seeking and living out biblical Christianity.
Each one of these topics has been at the forefront of my thoughts and prayers. And because of prayer, each one of these was addressed by a session I attended at the Northwest Ministry Conference this past weekend at Overlake Christian Church. It was absolutely amazing how God arranged these sessions to tackle where my focus has been these past few months.
Yet what I have generally always found is that God will many times go one step further. He will take it to the next level and challenge you to die to self, pick up your cross, and follow Him daily. That is always His challenge for our lives. He will say, “…yes you have come this far, but there is more distance to travel” or, “…yes you have given this up, but there is more you need to do.” His work continues in our lives well after when we feel it is necessary.
And by the providence of God, this chord was struck again Saturday morning…
Because God challenged me what would it look like if I was to live out this verse from 1st John? What could happen if I truly demonstrated this before the men of this group?
It can never be enough to meet together once a week and check in with each other if we are to live out this verse. What God has called is well outside of the idea of a social club or a place to get away from the daily routine. I believe God has not designed this group to be our personal ‘third place’ if I may liberally use Starbucks lingo (I am married to a former Starbucks store manager so it is easy for me to slip in verbiage from Starbucks).
Instead I believe there is something more for each one of us in this verse. Our place in this fellowship is not that this is our ‘third place’, but instead the ‘true place’. We have been called into a community of believers. It is about community; being there for one another during time of crisis; caring about each other at such a level we look at each other as if we are family. The Apostle John even said, “…we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
Jesus put it this way when He spoke with his disciples saying:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV
It really is about love. We should love others the same way that Christ loves us. If we do, then we will be living life just like Christ wants us to live. For we are part of a community, part of the same ‘body of Christ’.
This is why Peter says we are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). He does not say we are being built into holy priests. It is about the entire ‘body of Christ’ manifest through all of us, not any one individual.
Therefore let us focus in on the group this week and put our thoughts on the reason why we are together in Christ. If we do, then I believe we will see the brotherhood that God designed with Christ as the head, the firstborn over all Creation.
This is how I believe we live out Biblical Christianity.
Prayer requests
Paul – pray that God will continue to guide him in Eastern Washington and protect him during his travels
Ernie – praise God for his goodness, pray for his brother-in-law Jerry who may be released from the hospital here soon, pray of Nathan who is about to finish basic training, pray for all the Christians who are in Sudan and Congo
David – praise God for the life he provided him, pray for wisdom at work as he takes on a leadership role, pray the Lord will open up an opportunity for him to goto Bible College
Ramon – praise God for continually bringing him work, praise God for the health of his wife, pray that his daughter may be comforted while she is going through counseling, pray that he may have the strength and ability to put in wood floors at his son’s house
Bill M – praise God for touching his heart about giving thanks as a way of learning, pray for the men of the Acts group, pray for his grandchildren who were exposed to whooping cough and that they may remain healthy.
Richard – pray that he will be able to have a stronger foundation in faith
Tim D – praise God for His faithfulness, pray that all the believers in the church will have the desire to seek out Him and to reach out to others
Carmine – pray that he will be strengthened at work with his relationships with coworkers
Greg – praise God for having other brothers in Christ, pray for his daughter who moved out that they all will be watched over, pray for the leadership of the church that they will provide Biblical leadership
Mark – praise God for continuing to work in our marriage relationship and strengthening it everyday, pray for continued discernment on making the right financial decisions, pray for Mardee and Rick that through the birth of their baby daughter there may come an amazing testimony and that God’s glory may be revealed
***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ
Continued prayer needs
Calvin – pray that he will find a good work family balance and that he may find success at work, pray that he will be able to return to the group soon
Joe T – pray for his brother who unintentially overdosed on Tylenol, praise God he lives, pray for his son Joey who is dealing with seizures, pray for his wife, praise God for his patience and that his oldest son accepted Christ
Gary S – praise God for the job he was able to find in Oklahoma, pray for his marriage and that God will help them be able to work through the distance and any trouble they may be facing
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
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
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, April 1st, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, April 8th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, April 22nd, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
****Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
“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
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16 NKJV
This past weekend the providence of God was definitely visible in my life. Not that there is ever a time when it isn’t at work; but there are certain times when you can really see God’s hand working. For just as He directed the chain of events which led to the crucifixion of his Son (Acts 4:27-28), everything in our lives happens according to His purpose.
As many of you know, I am continuing to seek out God’s will for my life; or you also may be well aware that I have been considering the question of leadership-what makes a good leader and identifying them in your ministry; or you may know that I am seeking God’s wisdom in making the best financial decisions for my family; or if you have been with us any period of time for our Wednesday night meetings, you would know how serious I am at seeking and living out biblical Christianity.
Each one of these topics has been at the forefront of my thoughts and prayers. And because of prayer, each one of these was addressed by a session I attended at the Northwest Ministry Conference this past weekend at Overlake Christian Church. It was absolutely amazing how God arranged these sessions to tackle where my focus has been these past few months.
Yet what I have generally always found is that God will many times go one step further. He will take it to the next level and challenge you to die to self, pick up your cross, and follow Him daily. That is always His challenge for our lives. He will say, “…yes you have come this far, but there is more distance to travel” or, “…yes you have given this up, but there is more you need to do.” His work continues in our lives well after when we feel it is necessary.
And by the providence of God, this chord was struck again Saturday morning…
Because God challenged me what would it look like if I was to live out this verse from 1st John? What could happen if I truly demonstrated this before the men of this group?
It can never be enough to meet together once a week and check in with each other if we are to live out this verse. What God has called is well outside of the idea of a social club or a place to get away from the daily routine. I believe God has not designed this group to be our personal ‘third place’ if I may liberally use Starbucks lingo (I am married to a former Starbucks store manager so it is easy for me to slip in verbiage from Starbucks).
Instead I believe there is something more for each one of us in this verse. Our place in this fellowship is not that this is our ‘third place’, but instead the ‘true place’. We have been called into a community of believers. It is about community; being there for one another during time of crisis; caring about each other at such a level we look at each other as if we are family. The Apostle John even said, “…we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
Jesus put it this way when He spoke with his disciples saying:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV
It really is about love. We should love others the same way that Christ loves us. If we do, then we will be living life just like Christ wants us to live. For we are part of a community, part of the same ‘body of Christ’.
This is why Peter says we are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). He does not say we are being built into holy priests. It is about the entire ‘body of Christ’ manifest through all of us, not any one individual.
Therefore let us focus in on the group this week and put our thoughts on the reason why we are together in Christ. If we do, then I believe we will see the brotherhood that God designed with Christ as the head, the firstborn over all Creation.
This is how I believe we live out Biblical Christianity.
Prayer requests
Paul – pray that God will continue to guide him in Eastern Washington and protect him during his travels
Ernie – praise God for his goodness, pray for his brother-in-law Jerry who may be released from the hospital here soon, pray of Nathan who is about to finish basic training, pray for all the Christians who are in Sudan and Congo
David – praise God for the life he provided him, pray for wisdom at work as he takes on a leadership role, pray the Lord will open up an opportunity for him to goto Bible College
Ramon – praise God for continually bringing him work, praise God for the health of his wife, pray that his daughter may be comforted while she is going through counseling, pray that he may have the strength and ability to put in wood floors at his son’s house
Bill M – praise God for touching his heart about giving thanks as a way of learning, pray for the men of the Acts group, pray for his grandchildren who were exposed to whooping cough and that they may remain healthy.
Richard – pray that he will be able to have a stronger foundation in faith
Tim D – praise God for His faithfulness, pray that all the believers in the church will have the desire to seek out Him and to reach out to others
Carmine – pray that he will be strengthened at work with his relationships with coworkers
Greg – praise God for having other brothers in Christ, pray for his daughter who moved out that they all will be watched over, pray for the leadership of the church that they will provide Biblical leadership
Mark – praise God for continuing to work in our marriage relationship and strengthening it everyday, pray for continued discernment on making the right financial decisions, pray for Mardee and Rick that through the birth of their baby daughter there may come an amazing testimony and that God’s glory may be revealed
***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ
Continued prayer needs
Calvin – pray that he will find a good work family balance and that he may find success at work, pray that he will be able to return to the group soon
Joe T – pray for his brother who unintentially overdosed on Tylenol, praise God he lives, pray for his son Joey who is dealing with seizures, pray for his wife, praise God for his patience and that his oldest son accepted Christ
Gary S – praise God for the job he was able to find in Oklahoma, pray for his marriage and that God will help them be able to work through the distance and any trouble they may be facing
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
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
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, April 1st, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, April 8th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
**** Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Wednesday, April 22nd, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church
****Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church
Group Happenings
“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
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