Have you found the church's Facebook page yet? We are listed under, "Zoe Christian Fellowship, Warrington, PA." You can do a search for part or all of that title, and it will come up for you. Become a fan, enjoy the pictures, alerts to new posted sermons, and look for us to use the discussion format soon.
On Wednesday, 2/24/10, at 7:30 P.M., Pastor Steve will teach on Genesis 9:20 - 10:32. This covers some events from Noah's life, his descendants, and the roots of nationalities.
The Ladies' Brunch will be on Saturday, 2/27/10, at 10:00 A.M., in the Children's Church. Invite your friends, bring your Bibles, and a breakfast dish with you. If you have any questions, please see Phyllis or Connie.
Text: Hebrews 10:23, Romans 12:10-12
Last week, we learned that hope is always about the future. We're not denying the present circumstances in our lives, but looking toward a better tomorrow. Our life principle: Don't be led into a hope; follow one based on the Word of God.
Not all Godly hope is a promise of a bright future. Jesus' hope was the cross. Paul faced imprisonment. Peter knew he would be martyred. Yet, at the other end of these difficult times, they saw a glorious end result.
Many people have picked up negative hopes, apart from the promises of God. If the hope you have doesn't look toward a glorious end, it's not from God. Some people have physical conditions and figure they have to accept whatever comes their way. Others experience emotional problems and develop a victim mentality. Depression is based on a negative hope that things will never get better. Poverty is based on a negative hope of lack.
In all of these negative hopes, a glorious end is missing. We've compromised God's Word and exchanged His promise for a sob story.
Is your hope right? Check the...
Ending of your hope
Basis of your hope
and the reflection (what does your countenance tell people?) of your hope.
Would you like to hear the entire message? Check out the Sermon Player on our website. Free MP3 downloads and podcasting will also be available.
Our Covered Dish Dinner has been re-scheduled to Sunday, February 21, 2010, after the morning service. Please bring a covered main dish along with a salad, side dish, and/or dessert (depending on the size of your family). We'll be finished around 2:15 P.M.
Please mark your calendar and plan to enjoy a time of food and fellowship.
You can designate either missions or "Haiti" on your envelope. Each Monday, we'll send out your offering, so it will go right to work.
Due to inclement weather, our All Church Prayer was cancelled last week. We will have it on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, at 6:30 P.M., prior to our Mid-Week Service.
Our Mid-Week Service will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, at 7:30 P.M. Pastor Steve will finish the story of Noah's flood.
The Men's Breakfast will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at 8:00 A.M., in the Children's Church. Bring your Bibles and a breakfast item. See Keith if you have any questions.
Text: Hebrews 10:23 and others.
Paul often talked about/confessed his hope. He didn't think about it; he spoke it out of his mouth. When Agabus and others prophesied that he would be bound in Jerusalem and go to Rome, Paul spoke of that future event. He knew he would bring the gospel to a distant land.
Jesus spoke about his future death and resurrection. Hope is not always a positive event, at least not on the surface. Even though he faced hard times, he knew his purpose.
A number of people openly expressed their hope for healing. In Mark 5:21-43, Jairus confesses to Jesus that his daughter will be healed when he (Jesus) lays hands on her. In Verse 28, the woman with the issue of blood, confessed to herself that if she could only touch the hem of his garment, she'd be healed. When a messenger comes to Jairus telling him his daughter is dead, Jesus bolsters his hope by telling him not to be afraid, but to believe. He clung to those words of hope, and his daughter was raised from the dead.
None of these people denied their present circumstances. Hope deals with the future.
Confess what is promised and use what is given. When Jesus gave the disciples authority to heal the sick, they used it. Hold fast to your confession until the hope arrives. Once it arrives, you no longer need hope. Godly hope is based upon what is promised, not just because we want something.
To hear the entire message, go to our website and click on the Sermon player. It will also be available at some point as an MP3 download and podcast.
Thanks!
It's that time again! On Sunday, 2/7/10, we'll have our bi-monthly covered dish dinner. We'll start immediately after the service and be finished around 2:15 P.M. (way before the Super Bowl).
Please bring a covered main dish along with a salad, side dish, and/or dessert (depending on the size of your family). Come out for food and fellowship.
On Wednesday, 2/3/10, at 7:30 P.M., Pastor Steve will continue the study of Genesis. Chapter 6 covers the flood. What were some of the possible causes, long-term effects, and the role of Noah before the rain started? Come out and bring a friend.
The men will be going to the Philadelphia Auto Show on Friday, 2/5/10. We'll be meeting at Keith's house at 4:00 P.M. Tickets are $10.00 each, but Dwight was able to get plenty of $3.00 off coupons. Thanks, Dwight!
Afterward, we'll head out for a late dinner at Famous Dave's.
Hebrews 10:23 (NKJ)- "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."
"Hold fast" - don't let go of the promise.
"The confession of our hope" - Godly hope involves speaking the promises of God.
"without wavering" - To waver means to sway to and fro; flutter, to flicker or quiver, as light; become unsteady, begin to fail or give way, to shake or tremble, to feel or show doubt, indecision, etc.; vacillate; to fluctuate or vary.
Abraham had times of wavering. He had a child by Hagar, but Ishmael wasn't the child God promised. He complained to God that his servant would be his heir. God responded by changing his name from Abram to Abraham, which means, "father of many nations." Every time he spoke his name, he was confessing he was the father of many nations.
Abraham finally settled down. In Romans 4:16-21, we told that Abraham didn't consider his age or the deadness of Sarah's womb. He didn't ignore the circumstances, but he refused to stop trusting God because of them. Our hope is based on the promise. God is faithful to His word. The focus of our faith is on Jesus, and the faithfulness He has always demonstrated.
Hope is future tense. It's for something we do not have yet. When you have a promise that is different from where you are now, you don't deny the circumstances. You keep trusting God's promise regardless of them.
Know what is promised.
Look past the obstacles.
Hope without wavering.
If you'd like to hear the full message, check the Sermon Player on our website.
