Announcements

KENYA PROJECT - We're helping a church in Kenya with their building project. Our goal is to raise $3,000. So far, we've collected $813.

If you wish to participate, please write Kenya on your offering envelope and the amount you're enclosing.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE PRAYER - for a specific need during the Sunday Morning Service, please mention it to one of the ushers or use a prayer request card located on the back table. We are happy to pray for you during the service or privately afterward, whichever you prefer.

Quotable Quote

"Jesus is not to us as Christmas is to the world, here today and gone tomorrow." - Rick Mylander

This Week at Zoe

ON WEDNESDAY, 12/21/11, AT 7:00 P.M., we'll meet at Neshaminy Manor, to sing carols for the residents. We'll be finished by about 7:45 P.M. because they go to sleep early.

Afterward, we'll head back to the church for hot chocolate and cookies. We'll provide the hot chocolate, but we'd appreciate folks bringing some cookies to share.

ON SATURDAY, 12/24/11, AT 6:00 P.M. (CHRISTMAS EVE), we'll have a Candlelight Service.

ON SUNDAY, 12/25/11, AT 10:00 A.M. (CHRISTMAS DAY), we'll have a service.

Sunday Morning Message - What Is It For?

Text: Matthew 7:7-11

This scripture tells us that everyone who asks receives, and everyone gets what they asked for. This is important to know because many believe that:

1) bad things come from God

2) God decided I didn't need a fish, so he gave me a serpent instead.

3) God is not good.

This passage is followed by Jesus warning about false prophets. There are those who come as sheep among wolves. Sheep eat grass, but wolves eat sheep. When people teach contrary to scripture, they're false teachers.

How can we be deceived?

1) Wrong information

2) Twisted information

3) Ignorance

Do you want to know how you can build your spiritual house on a firm foundation? Please visit our website, and click on the Sermon Player. You can listen on your computer, download it to your MP3 player, or podcast - all FREE of charge.

If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning service. We will be having a service on Christmas Day at 10:00 A.M., which is also the regular time for our meetings every Sunday.

We're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rt. 611), Warrington, PA 18976. The church phone number is (215) 343-7686. We'd love to meet you!

Mark Your Calendars

1) On Wednesday, 12/21/11, we will meet at Nashaminy Manor at 7:00 PM to sing Christmas Carols for the residents.

Afterward, we'll go to the church for hot chocolate and cookies. Come out and spread some joy for those unable to go home for the holidays.

2) We are still collecting donations to send to the church in Kenya for their building project. Our goal is $3,000. So far, we have $753.00.

Quotable Quote

"Whether we like it or not, asking is a rule of the kingdom." - Charles Spurgeon

This Week at Zoe

1. On Wednesday, 12/14/11, at 7:30 P.M., we'll gather for All Church Prayer.

2. Next Sunday, 12/18/11, is Visitor Sunday. Invite a friend!

Sunday Morning Series - Victory For Doubters - Summary

Pastor Steve summarized the series, "Victory for Doubters." Here are a few highlights:

1) Just saying words won't change your circumstances. Belief must accompany your speech. Words have power when we believe.

2) There's a difference between believing in your heart and believing in your head. Thoughts can come into your head and affect what you say, but they won't come to pass. However, what you believe in your heart and speak carries power.

3) What's wrong when nothing changes? If I directly disobey a word from God, my words will have no impact. This can be corrected by doing what God says.

4) Indications of flesh faith (versus spiritual):

A) When you hear yourself saying, "I have been___________."

B) It should

C) Why didn't God_____?

D) I deserve___________.

Flesh faith is based on feelings and what I've done.

5) People who are going in the wrong direction:

A) Critical of others

B) Judge their motives without speaking to them.

C) Blame others for their own problems, dilemmas, and shortcomings.

D) Justify their actions to others not involved.

E) Recruit allies.

To hear the entire message, go to our website, and click on the Sermon Player. You can listen on your computer, download it to your MP3 Player, or Podcast FREE.

If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to join us for Sunday Morning Worship. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA 18976. The church telephone number is (215) 343-7686. We'd love to meet you!

Quotable Quotes

"Here's a side to the Christmas story that isn't often told : Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them. Those baby feet, pink and unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross. That sweet infant's head with sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns onto it. That tender body, warm and soft, wrapped in swaddling clothes, would one day be ripped open by a spear. Jesus was born to die."

John MacArthur

Announcments

We are planning to go over to Nashaminy Manor on either the 2nd or 3rd Wednesday night in December to sing carols to the residents.

We are still collecting donations to send to the Church in Kenya for their building project. Of the $3000.00 needed, $753 has been collected so far. Give as God directs you.

Instead of the usual Woman's Brunch there will be a cookie exchange this Saturday Dec. 10th.

The event will be at Pastor Steve and Connie's home at 10:00 a.m. Bring some cookies with you and take home some new ones. Regardless of bringing cookies or not this is a great time of fellowship. Hope to see you there.

Victory for Doubters - "Dealing with Entitled People

Are you entitled? Perhaps you have been led into believing that you are entitled to healthcare, a part of someone else's wealth, etc. That's at least what the media and politicians would have us believe. After all it's what our country was founded on. NOT!!

If you look to the word of God we see that in Numbers 16 God is very definite in his approach to dealing with "entitled people". Miriam and Aaron rise up against Moses. They feel they are entitled to be recognized by the Lord as Moses is. The Lord thinks otherwise. He makes Miriam into a leper and were it not for the Priestly garment Aaron wore he would have shared the same fate. The Lord did give them a chance to repent.

Again, in Acts 4:34 - 5:11 Ananias and his wife sold a piece of property to give to the Apostles but felt they could hold back some of the money. They felt they were entitled to the recognition that others who gave were getting. God did not particularly care for this deceit. He was swift to Judge.

While we too would like to follow God's example it is not for us to be quite so final in our actions. We must remember we have not quite reached the perfection of God.

In John 8:1-10 we see how Jesus deals with this issue. A woman caught in the very act of adultery is brought into the midst of the crowd before Jesus. They ask Jesus whether they should stone the woman as Mose's law commands or not. They are not interested in justice.

They are trying to use this incident to bring Jesus down and elevate themselves in the people's eyes. To this end they are not above using other people.

Jesus reaction? Ignore them. He writes in the sand. And he continues writing until one by one the accusers have left. What did he write? Could have been the sins of the accusers? The Bible does not specify. But this is an effective way to deal with entitled people. Jesus refocused their attention from the sins of others to their own sins.

The entitlement mentality is a contagious one. People who feel entitled will try to show you how you too are entitled to what they themselves feel entitled to. Don't fall into this. Ignore them. Obviously, God doesn't like an entitlement attitude. You would not want to have him deal with you in the same manner he has dealt with others.

If "entitled" people can't draw you in to their mentality they will then try to bring you down. Don't listen to them, don't react to what they say. Don't fall into the trap of condemning others. Don't boast of your own righteousness. Your righteousness is from what Jesus did, not from anything you did. We must identify our lack of ability to Judge because of the sins that still reside in ourselves. We are told elsewhere in the Bible that before we can remove the speck from our brother's eye we need to remove the plank from our own eye.