Quotable Quotes

"How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!" - Benjamin Franklin

This Week at Zoe

 New Year's Eve Service?? Watch for details on our Facebook page or via text message.

On Sunday, January 4, 2015, at 10:00 AM, we'll gather for our first Sunday service of the New Year. Children's Services will also begin at 10:00 AM.

Learn to Discern - Learn, Practice, and Train

Text:  John 8:32 and various

How do we learn?

1)  Hear the Word.
2)  Read the Word.
3)  Study the Word.

We hear the Word when we gather together on Sundays and midweek services. Another good way is to listen to podcasts, CD's, or download messages to our MP3 players. Every year, we're reading through the New Testament. The question is: Are you absorbing it or do you have difficulty remembering what you've learned?

John 8:32 says, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ONLY truth can make you free. Anything else will hinder you.

Practice

Practice involves repetition. Remember the days of going over and over scales or a song on the piano? We practice by doing what we learned and then sharing it with others. In John 2:5, Mary told the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

If we don't do what we know, we cannot develop or mature to even have the ability to learn what we yet don't know.

Train

The purpose of training is to build endurance. If you're in the Army, they'll make you do push-ups and sit-ups and walk for miles. You won't have to do them in the heat of battle, but your body will be strong enough to withstand harsh conditions. How do we train spiritually?

1)  Meditate on the Word.
2)  Pray the Word.
3)  Talk the Word.

We weaken ourselves by:

1)  Worry (corrupted meditation)
2)  Prayers that beg.
3)  Talking fear and doubt.

To hear the entire message, please go to our website and click on the Listen Tab. You can listen online, download the message to your MP3 player, or Podcast FREE.

If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service, at 10:00 AM. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.We look forward to meeting you!

Quotable Quotes

"How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!" - Benjamin Franklin

This Week at Zoe

 

Christmas Eve Candle Light Service - 12/24/14, 7:00 PM.

 

On Sunday, 12/28/14, at 10:00 AM, we'll gather for our Sunday Morning Service. Children's Services will also start at 10:00 AM.

Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.

Sunday Morning Series - Learn to Discern - Using Your Inside Voice

Text:  Luke 2:22-35

Here we have the story of Jesus being brought to the Temple. God told Simeon that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. He was a just, devout man, waiting for the Consolation of Israel.

On one particular day, the Spirit led him to the temple. Although he spent much time there, he had to take care of all the matters of life like we do. Yet, he was sensitive to that inner witness and obeyed.

What if he hadn't gone to the temple? What if he thought as we sometimes do that it was just his imagination or was that thought/impression really from God? Just because God speaks something to you doesn't mean it will happen if you're disobedient. For example, God told the Israelites He would bring them into the Promised Land, but they refused to obey Him. The greater the promise/revelation, the greater the obedience required.

Simeon did not have a dream, a vision, or a Scripture verse that told him to go to the temple on a particular day. The Spirit of God led him.

To hear the entire message with more examples of how God directs people, please visit our website and click on the Listen Tab. You can listen online, download the message to your MP3 player, or Podcast FREE.

If you're visiting the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 AM. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. We look forward to meeting you.

This Week at Zoe

On Wednesday, 12/17/14, at 6:50 PM, we'll meet at the church and then head over to the nursing home to sing Christmas Carols. You can also meet us there at 7:00 PM if you prefer. After we're done, we'll come back to the church for cookies and hot chocolate. We'll provide the hot chocolate. Please bring some cookies to share.

On Sunday, 12/21/14, at 10:00 AM, we'll gather for our Sunday Morning Worship Service. Children's services will also begin at 10:00 AM.

Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA.  If you need directions or have questions, check our website. We look forward to sharing this special time of the year with you!

Sunday Morning Series - Learn to Discern - Special Ways God Speaks to Us

Text:  Luke 1:26-38

The angel, Gabriel, is sent to Mary by God. Most of the time when angels show up with news, it's good. He starts off by telling Mary to:

1) Rejoice
2) She's a highly favored one.
3) The Lord is with her.
4) She's blessed among women.

This saying troubled Mary, and she wondered what manner of greeting this was. It's not wrong to question God. It's wrong to question Him in unbelief. The full message raises questions in her mind. After all, she knows how babies are made. The angel responds to her questions, and she gives her full acceptance and cooperation. This is what the angel needed - her response.

Now Mary was awake when all this happened. She had a vision. In the Old Testament Daniel had a vision of the king's dream. Later, in the New Testament, Peter had a vision on the rooftop.

A vision occurs when you're awake, while a dream happens when you're asleep. Mary most likely shares this news with Joseph since she's betrothed to him. He obviously didn't believe her because he considered putting her quietly away. Mary goes off to visit her cousin, Elisabeth, because the angel revealed the miracle of Elisabeth's pregnancy. It's good to have the support of those who understand what God is showing us.

An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and is given instructions. He obeys them and doesn't go through with his plan to put her away.

The stronger the Word to you, the more difficulties you'll encounter. Mary bore the brunt of being pregnant without the benefit of marriage. Throughout her life, people around her would whisper condemning words. She needed that vision to carry her through all she'd face. Joseph had a dream that would give him the strength to withstand criticism and protect his wife.

Caution: There are false or even non-meaningful dreams. Don't seek after them. A God-given dream will always line up with the Word.

A dream or a vision is for the person who has it. It relates directly to their life. Others would see it through the lens of their own experience/circumstances and not understand. A good example is the reaction of Joseph's brothers in the Old Testament. The dreams he had related to his future role of leadership, but they were offended and hated him because they thought he was expecting to rule over them.

To hear the entire message, please visit our website, and click on the Listen tab. You can listen online, download it to your MP3 player, or Podcast FREE.

If you're visiting the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 AM.  Zoe  Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. The church phone number is 215-343-7686. We look forward to meeting you!

Quotable Quotes

"Grace and glory differ very little; the one is the seed, the other is the flower; grace is glory militant, glory is grace triumphant." - Thomas Brooks

This Week at Zoe

 On Wednesday, 12/10/14, at 7:30 PM, Ethel Waters will speak on, "Fight is Fixed."

On Sunday, 12/14/14, at 10:00 AM, we'll gather for our Sunday Morning Worship Service. Children's Church Services will also begin at 10:00 AM.

Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. Come out and invite a friend!

Sunday Morning Series - Unrestrained

Text: Exodus 32 & Various

In Exodus Chapter 24, we're told that Moses told the people ALL THE WORDS of the Lord and all the judgments. Moses not only tells them, but writes them down. The people say, "All that the Lord has said we will do." (Verse 7) Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu and the 70 elders "saw the God of Israel..." (Verses 9-10).

Moses and Joshua then depart for the top of the mountain. The glory of the Lord rests on the mountain in the sight of all Israel (Vs. 16-17).

Now the people have been in slavery for all their lives. They work hard with no vacation, no sick time, and little food. Moses and Joshua are up in the mountain, and they begin to get restless and discontent. They go to Aaron and demand that he make them gods to go before them because they don't know what's become of Moses.

They may not be switching Gods, but they at least want an image they can control instead of a cloud and pillar of fire they cannot. This practice wasn't okay with God. No matter how the people viewed the golden calf, God saw it as something separate from Himself.

What was their motivation? In their own words, "We didn't know what happened to Moses." Now, that he's back, Moses challenges them and asks, "Whoever is on the Lord's side, let him come to me." (Verses 25-26) Only the Levites joined Moses.

What are the similarities between this situation and the one in Ferguson, MO?

1.  They refused all restraint. Their actions were based on their feelings rather than on what was right.
2. They refused to hear the Word of God.
3.  They refused to alter their behavior, words, or purpose. They did whatever they wanted in spite of the facts.
4.  They masked their true motivations. People from Oakland, California and other areas came to Ferguson with the express purpose of creating trouble and polarizing the community. Many people were looting and burning but did not get killed. Witnesses were found to be unreliable that said the young man killed had his hands raised.

Application:

1. Many cast off moral restraints. Do what you want. Do what feels good. Anything goes.
2. They refuse to hear the Word of God and instead follow their feelings.
3.  Even after Moses returned, they refused to alter their behavior, words, or purpose. No matter what the decision in Ferguson, the rioters were determined to cause trouble.
4.  The leaders kept their true motivations and intentions hidden. They had an agenda and took advantage of a situation.

Will you be among those who resisted or those who go along with the crowd?

To hear the entire message, please visit our website and click on the Listen tab. You can listen online, download the message to your MP3 player, or Podcast FREE.

If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to Zoe Christian Fellowship. We're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. We look forward to meeting you!

Quotable Quotes

"All our discontents about what we want appear to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have." - Daniel Defoe

This Week at Zoe

 On Wednesday, 12/2/14, at 7:30 PM, Pastor Steve will pick up the teaching in Galatians beginning in Chapter 6, verse 11.

On Sunday, 12/7/14, at 10:00 AM, we'll gather for our Sunday Morning Service. Since it's the first Sunday of the month, we'll be having Communion.

Children's Services will also start at 10:00 AM in the Children's Church Auditorium.

After the service, we'll have our last Covered Dish Dinner and church meeting for the year. Please bring a covered dish, side dish, salad, and/or dessert (enough food for your family and a little extra to share if you can). We should finish about 2:15 PM.

If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, this is an ideal time to come see us. You'll have an opportunity to enjoy both the Word and fellowship. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), in Warrington, PA. The church phone number is 215-343-7686.

Thanksgiving - Stay Thankful

Text:  Luke 17:12-19

We usually begin anything with a thankful/grateful attitude. Then stuff happens afterwards, and we start to complain.

How do we become ungrateful?

1)  We forget what we have received. God provided manna, water, and protection for the Israelites, but they didn't trust Him when the next challenge occurred.

2)  We regret what we have received. The puppy that was so cute in the store window suddenly becomes a problem when we get it home. After it chews the couch, we may regret our decision.

3)  We should get what we received. An attitude of, "I deserve it," can take the place of thankfulness.

4)  We resent what others have received. Instead of being grateful for what we have, we're angry when someone else gets a promotion, a raise, or some other good thing comes their way.

Chronic conditions - whether health or relationships - can wear us down. It sets up a negative expectation that things will either stay the same or get worse. They can also alter our attitude and make us cranky. Our vision for the future is re-shaped.

Maintaining a grateful/thankful attitude:

1)  Speak/think highly of others. This doesn't mean we put ourselves down, but rather consider others above ourselves.

2)  Speak/think highly of God. How many people get mad at God when things don't go their way? Every good and perfect gift comes from Him.

3)  Speak/think highly of what you have. When you first landed that dream job, you were happy. When you married your spouse, you were filled with gratitude. Focus on the positive aspects of your job and relationships to maintain an thankful attitude.

4)  Speak/think highly of what has been done. If God healed you, continue to thank Him that you're no longer in pain/sick.

To hear the entire message, please visit our website, and click on the Listen Tab. You can listen online, 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 our Sunday Morning Service at 10 AM.  Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Route 611), Warrington, PA.  You can click the above link to see our website. We'd love to meet you!