Good morning! I hope you’re making this a great week! We’re in a bit of a lull, activity-wise, as we prepare for the Christmas season. I’m happy to share with you we’re doing another outdoor Christmas Carol Sing in our parking lot like we did last year. More details to come but mark Sunday night, December 19.
Ministry Update: Precept Bible Studies
This fall our Precept Bible Studies returned with a study of the Book of Job. There were 3 classes held and one of them in person.
Here’s a report our teacher, Ann Clark, shared with me:
“Returning in person is lovely and so much more conducive to good discussion. My preference would be for a conversation circle as opposed to rows of desks but that is still best for social distancing. It is nice to see the students interacting with each other which is not really possible in the structured Zoom class where more than one person speaking at a time is hard to decipher. Some amazing insights and the ability to share much more easily are also part of in person class.
We have quite a list of Insights now on those who are hurting. Much can be learned by observing their negative side through Job's friends! The 'what not to do or say'!
Most importantly, Job requires us to examine our understanding of God and the implications of His sovereignty. Can we stand firm in the midst of suffering? Fortunately, we are not usually attacked on every level - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually - as Job is. Can we still 'Know that my Redeemer lives' as Job does?”
I’d just like to add a BIG thanks to Ann for continuing to faithfully serve this ministry. You’re really letting your light shine!
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as we look at a church in motion
This Sunday at 11am we continue our fall series: “A church in motion”: the book of Acts. I will be looking at chapters 19 and 20 where Paul spends 3 years in Ephesus. As a new church he had his challenges so there is a lot we can learn here. I hope you’ll join me to hear more about this on Sunday!
Remember, you can join us as we gather in-person or you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE.
Thought for the Day: How To Be Truly Thankful – Be Humble Towards God
Okay, so you likely have figured out I’m looking at being thankful through a different lens. God said this in Deuteronomy 32: “Look now; I myself am He! There is no other god but Me! I am the One who kills and gives life; I am the One who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from My powerful hand!”
Yikes! Do you read that verse and cringe a little bit? Do we really believe this? Isn’t God all about love? Yes, He is but this is more about God as LORD, as a sovereign king. Think of it this way: who are we to know better than God? Or how about this: do we honestly think that we could last even one minute on this earth unless it was God’s will for us to remain? Or could we rule the heavens and the earth for 30 seconds (I know I couldn’t)?”
That’s kind of discouraging Chris! And what does this have to do with being thankful…hurry up, I need to prepare for Black Friday. Here’s my point: I read recently, “We would choose the things that God chooses if we had the knowledge of God.” Really? Think about it, God’s heart is good because God is good. And God is love. (read 1 John 4:16) He’s weaving us into a grand tapestry, and when he cuts our thread or hides our thread behind others our pride flairs up (remember I talked about that on Tuesday?) and we get upset. If we’re honest, like Satan himself, sometimes we think we can do a better job of this “god thing”. We can’t. That makes it pretty hard to be thankful. We are sinful and have selfish motivations. We want our thread to not only remain in the tapestry but for it to be the star of the show.
We want our lives to be free of trouble. In times like this we need to remember Paul’s words in Romans 8: “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
We would choose the things that God chooses if we had the knowledge of God.
And we don’t, so it’s not on us. That should humble us and cause us to walk our day-to-day lives in humility. So, when we come before God in humility, as a sovereign king who is in control of all things, how can we not be thankful? The world isn’t on our shoulders, its on HIS.
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
Ministry Update: Precept Bible Studies
This fall our Precept Bible Studies returned with a study of the Book of Job. There were 3 classes held and one of them in person.
Here’s a report our teacher, Ann Clark, shared with me:
“Returning in person is lovely and so much more conducive to good discussion. My preference would be for a conversation circle as opposed to rows of desks but that is still best for social distancing. It is nice to see the students interacting with each other which is not really possible in the structured Zoom class where more than one person speaking at a time is hard to decipher. Some amazing insights and the ability to share much more easily are also part of in person class.
We have quite a list of Insights now on those who are hurting. Much can be learned by observing their negative side through Job's friends! The 'what not to do or say'!
Most importantly, Job requires us to examine our understanding of God and the implications of His sovereignty. Can we stand firm in the midst of suffering? Fortunately, we are not usually attacked on every level - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually - as Job is. Can we still 'Know that my Redeemer lives' as Job does?”
I’d just like to add a BIG thanks to Ann for continuing to faithfully serve this ministry. You’re really letting your light shine!
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as we look at a church in motion
This Sunday at 11am we continue our fall series: “A church in motion”: the book of Acts. I will be looking at chapters 19 and 20 where Paul spends 3 years in Ephesus. As a new church he had his challenges so there is a lot we can learn here. I hope you’ll join me to hear more about this on Sunday!
Remember, you can join us as we gather in-person or you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE.
Thought for the Day: How To Be Truly Thankful – Be Humble Towards God
Okay, so you likely have figured out I’m looking at being thankful through a different lens. God said this in Deuteronomy 32: “Look now; I myself am He! There is no other god but Me! I am the One who kills and gives life; I am the One who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from My powerful hand!”
Yikes! Do you read that verse and cringe a little bit? Do we really believe this? Isn’t God all about love? Yes, He is but this is more about God as LORD, as a sovereign king. Think of it this way: who are we to know better than God? Or how about this: do we honestly think that we could last even one minute on this earth unless it was God’s will for us to remain? Or could we rule the heavens and the earth for 30 seconds (I know I couldn’t)?”
That’s kind of discouraging Chris! And what does this have to do with being thankful…hurry up, I need to prepare for Black Friday. Here’s my point: I read recently, “We would choose the things that God chooses if we had the knowledge of God.” Really? Think about it, God’s heart is good because God is good. And God is love. (read 1 John 4:16) He’s weaving us into a grand tapestry, and when he cuts our thread or hides our thread behind others our pride flairs up (remember I talked about that on Tuesday?) and we get upset. If we’re honest, like Satan himself, sometimes we think we can do a better job of this “god thing”. We can’t. That makes it pretty hard to be thankful. We are sinful and have selfish motivations. We want our thread to not only remain in the tapestry but for it to be the star of the show.
We want our lives to be free of trouble. In times like this we need to remember Paul’s words in Romans 8: “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
We would choose the things that God chooses if we had the knowledge of God.
And we don’t, so it’s not on us. That should humble us and cause us to walk our day-to-day lives in humility. So, when we come before God in humility, as a sovereign king who is in control of all things, how can we not be thankful? The world isn’t on our shoulders, its on HIS.
In His grip,
Pastor Chris