Devotion and the Bible

This week we continue our God-First series with a message focused on devotion and the Bible.  The Bible is an incredible book impacting lives wherever it is printed, preached, or read.  The Bible contains both the principles and promises of God and encourages us to pursue his presence.  Join us Sunday as we take a look at what it means to be devoted to God by pursuing the principles and promises contained in the Bible.
See you Sunday @ the ARC 10:15 AM.

BUSINESS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

This Friday begins our BOOK CLUB.  Each Friday over the next 10 weeks we are going to take a look at Wayne Grudem's "Business for the Glory of God".  Plus we get to enjoy some great fellowship.  Join me at the church office from 11:45-1:00PM on Fridays.  We will begin the discussion as closely to 12 Noon as possible.  Bring your own lunch.  See you there. Pastor Tom

God First

Looking forward to this weekend's kickoff of the "Creating a God-First Culture" Series.  I hope you will join us and bring a friend or two.  In fact, feel free to pass this blog around to friends.

We are basing the series on Matthew 6:33 where Jesus encourages us to Seek first the kingdom of heaven".  Our main question throughout the series will be "what does a 'God-First Culture' look like in our lives today?"  I'm sure you have some ideas, so I'd be interested to hear from you.

Here's some thoughts to get the discussion going.  First, let me hasten to say that a God-First culture is very much counter-culture.  We live in a Me-First culture, so as we think through what a God-First culture looks like, we also need to think about how it relates to the larger culture in which we live.  Here's my short version of a God-First culture: "Loving God and loving others more than you love yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39)

Matthew 6:33 is not the first place where we learn that God wants our list of priorities to pale in comparison to Him.  The first of ten commandments in the Old Testament declares, You shall have no other Gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)  In the same context, we learn that God is a "jealous God" (20:5).  He wants our undivided attention.  And yet, we live in a world and culture in which 'competing gods' cry out for our attention.  Everywhere in culture today, we are told to heap upon ourselves pleasure and happiness -- "me-first" is the accepted, but empty slogan of our day!

Here is a short list of the many 'gods' which cry out for your time, talent, and treasure--sports, school, success, friends, and carnal pleasures.  Many of these potential "idols" are actually good things.  So living a God-first culture is sometimes more about having the right priorities.  Other times we have to remove those things which are downright destructive to our lives.

Join us sunday as we continue the discussion.  See you @ the ARC, Sunday 10:15 AM. Pastor Tom

God-First Culture

Great news.  We are kicking off a new series entitled, "Creating God-First Culture".  Ever wonder why you have more month than money in your life?  OR why you are the busiest person alive, but seem to get less and less done these days?

Join us this fall as we consider ways to create a God-First culture and change our hearts, lives, and families in the process.

King David - Man After God's Own Heart

This week we wrap up our series - Choices: Where is Life Leading You?  Life is tough!  And all of us have made some pretty rotten decisions along the way.  The sad truth is that the more bad decisions we make, the easier it becomes to justify our bad decisions and add more to them.  That's what makes King David's story so valuable.  David's story teaches us to live to please God, to repent and turn back to God when we loose our way, and to "brace ourselves" for the consequences of our own poor choices.

Most of us remember David from the story of David and Goliath.  But David wasn't immune from sinful choices.  Although David was a mighty warrior and a spiritual poet, He was far from perfect.  And his failures weren't small ones.  When David messed up, he messed up royally.

But something stands out about David; it was his heart.  David's heart was always turning towards God.  Unlike King Saul, David was more concerned about pleasing God than pleasing people.  He was more concerned about God's will, than his own will.  Psalm 51 reveals the sadness of David's heart as he deals with his own grievous sins and repentance.  David wasn't perfect, but his heart was perfect toward the Lord.  That's the only reason that the Kingdom was taken from Saul and given to David.  David was a man after God's own heart.  Join us Sunday as we look deeper at the life of David and determine to live to please God.  See you @ the ARC (10:15 AM).

Saul - The Consequences of Pride

DL Moody once penned, "Be humble or you will stumble."  Most of you have heard the story of Saul.  He was the first king of Israel . . . and he was "tall, dark, and handsome."  What most don't know is that Saul started out as a humble "tall, dark, and handsome" kind-a-guy.  He was so humble that he hid from sight on the day of his announcement as king.  But, his insecurities and over-confidence led to the sin of pride.

Saul's great sin wasn't murder or adultery, it was pride.  And pride led to disobedience.  Saul's disobedience led God to reject him as the king of Israel.  So how important is obedience?  

Jesus told a story about two houses with two very different foundations.  Take a look in Luke 6.  Obedience is the difference between building a house that can stand the storms of life and one that will certainly fail.  Saul's house fell, not because his sins were lessor or greater than yours or mine, but because he refused to obey God and cared more for the praises of people, than the favor of God.  

Obedience to God's principles of truth is important.  It's the difference between success and failure.  See you Sunday as we take a deeper look into the Life of King Saul.  Pastor Tom