This Week At Zoe

On Wednesday, 11/11/09, at 6:30 P.M., the leadership will meet for prayer. At 7:30 P.M., everyone is invited to join us for prayer.

Sunday Morning Series - The Right Stuff - Grateful Thanksgiving

Text: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20.

At the beginning of Chapter 6, we read the story of the King of Syria sending people to kill Elisha. Of course, God protects him, and the prophet feeds and sends them away in peace. Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, repays Elisha's kindness by coming against Samaria (capital of Israel) and laying seige to the city.

Things get so desperate that people are paying a fortune for a donkey's head and the excrement of doves in order to survive. A woman calls out to the king and asks him to make her friend kill her son, so they can eat him. Does the king repent or call the people to repentance for all their sins? No, he blames the messenger of God for their predicament and sends an assassin to the prophet's door.

Elisha prophesies that food will be plentiful and cheap the next day. The messenger expresses his doubt. As a result, he's told he will see the prophecy come to pass, but will not participate in the blessing.

When reading these stories, it's good to put ourselves in the place of these people. Suppose someone told us that gas would cost two cents per gallon tomorrow down from $6.00? A lot of people would have difficulty believing that prediction.

The next day, four lepers decide to approach the Syrian camp and beg for food. What do they have to lose? If they stay outside the city gates, they'll starve. If the Syrians kill them, their misery will be over. They find the camp abandoned, and gourge themselves on food and drink and carry off valuables from the tents. Out of fear, they decided they'd better let the king and the people know of their discovery. They are thankful, but did they have an attitude of thankfulness? Did they want to share the good news? They told the others to protect themselves.

To hear the entire message, check out the website sermon player, download it to your MP3, or podcast. Pastor Steve shows the difference between being polite and being gratefully thankful.

Book Club

If you want to participate in the new Book Club, please see Jim. The first selection is Max Lucado's, "Facing the Giants," based on the David and Goliath story. The book is available in hard cover for $10.00.

Collecting Non-Perishable Foods

The Children's Church is collecting non-perishable foods for Thanksgiving baskets. Bring them with you to the Sunday or Wednesday night services.

Let's help make Thanksgiving special for those going through hard times.

This Week at Zoe

On Wednesday, November 4, 2009, at 7:30 PM, Pastor Steve begins a new series from the Book of Genesis. Come out and invite a friend!

Men's Ministries

Men's night out is scheduled for Friday, November 6th. One idea is to see a new movie that will have its first showing November 6th - the animated "A Christmas Carol" with the voice of Jim Carrey as Scrooge.

Let Pastor Steve know what you think of this idea or suggest an alternative activity. We will send the final details in an email this week.

Sunday Morning Series - The Right Stuff - When I Am Not Thankful

Pastor's text: 2 Chronicles 20

Pastor Stephen Hecht looked at Jehoshaphat's response to a big problem. He gets word that a great multitude is coming against them. Situations will cause fear to rise up, but he didn't allow fear to paralyze him. He went to God.

It's fascinating to see his approach. He set or positioned himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. The people joined him in the house of the Lord to seek Him. Jehoshaphat leads the people in prayer. He praises God and acknowledges His power and might. He points out that the very ones God told them to spare are coming against them. He asks God to judge them because they have no might against such a great force.

There's no record that Jehoshaphat or the people bickered and complained. They don't declare their own demise. They don't blame God for their predicament. Instead they seek God's help and declare His power. Someone once taught "there is no place between unthankful and thankful." These people showed the attributes of thankfulness.

Can you pray without getting entangled in doubt or unbelief? Can you pray without griping and moaning? Can you pray without succumbing to doom and gloom?

Judah was spared because of their obedience to God's instructions. In this case, God told them to go before the army, praising the Lord. When they did so, God delivered them.

To hear the full message, visit our website. You can listen via the Sermon Player or download the message FREE onto your MP3 player. Podcasting is also available for your convenience.

If you're in the area, you're welcome to visit. We're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. For more information, check out the website or call
(215) 343-7686.