Newsletter | July 15, 2020

Lord’s Supper

On Sunday, July 26, we will observe the Lord’s Supper during our morning worship.  Prefilled disposable cups will be available as you enter the sanctuary.

Deacon Election

The deacon election will be coming up soon.  Any men who do not wish to be on the ballot are asked to call the church office by August 3 and have their name taken off the list.

Sunday School Live Stream

Carl Hobbs, the teacher for Christians Under Construction, is teaching live on Facebook each Sunday at 9:30 AM. Everyone is welcome to join.

To Join: Search for Carl Hobbs on Facebook. You will then see a link to join on his page.

Call Jonathan if you have any issues.

Giving

Giving as of July 15, 2020

  • Budget for 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$326,787.00
  • Tithes Needed to Date . . . . . . . . . .  $163,393.62
  • Received to Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$141,449.32
  • Needed for weekly budget . . . . . .  . . . $6,284.37
  • Tithes Received this week . . . . . . . . .  $4,395.45

From Our Pastor

     If we have learned anything in this turbulent time, we have learned the importance of hearing from the Lord.  We have never had a time when the need to hear from the Lord has been greater.  Our personal devotions, daily life, and corporate worship need to be focused on hearing from God through the Scriptures, prayer, His people, and His hand as He controls circumstances.

     Joshua 1 is a powerful example of the need for hearing from God.  Verse 1 says, “…the Lord spoke to Joshua…”  The rest of the chapter and the book of Joshua flow from that statement.  Joshua’s hearing from God set the stage for taking possession of the Promised Land.  That is a tremendous lesson for our life.

     When we hear from the Lord, we learn what He wants us to do.  In verse 2, God tells Joshua to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land.  God was telling Joshua the overall-plan and the next step.  How we need both!  We need God to show us the general direction and what we need to do now.  Only while listening to God will we receive that direction.

     If we listen to God, we will hear his promises.  God referred to Israel as “…the land which I am giving to them…”  It may seem obvious, but the Promised Land was the Promised Land because God had promised it to Israel.  Joshua needed to hear this.  We must hear God’s promises if we are to live by faith.

     Hearing from God is the path to receiving His power and enablement.  In verse 5, God said, “No man will be able to stand before you…”  God was telling Joshua that He would fulfill His promises by His power.  How we need to hear that!  How we need to hear that God will give the strength and the power for everything that we face (Isaiah 40:31; 41:10; Zechariah 4:6)!

     Last, hearing from God enables us to experience His presence.  In verses 5 and 9, God tells Jeremiah that He would be with him.  God did not just send Joshua – He led him and went with him.  In Psalm 23, David was assured of the Lord’s presence even in the valley of the shadow of death.  When we hear from the Lord, we are assured of His presence.

     When Joshua heard from the Lord, he received everything he needed to face his times and fulfill his calling.  If we prioritize listening to the Lord, He will give us everything we need to fulfill His will in these days.