Church guide

What does it mean to have a pure heart? It seems to mean, for one thing, to be blameless before God and living a life that is not controlled by sin. Since we’re all sinners, we’re only going to have pure hearts in this sense if we ask for, and receive, a heavy dose of God’s forgiveness and strength. And not just once -- the following prayer seems designed to be repeated on a regular basis: “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:9-10). Purity of heart can have another meaning too that is a little less obvious. It can mean a decisive, stable, focused, single-minded commitment to God. The words “steadfast spirit” in the Psalm above, parallel to “pure heart,” point in this direction. And in the New Testament, James describes a double-minded man as someone with a wavering faith, “unstable in all his ways,” and then says, “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). So if the diagnosis is double-mindedness, the prescription is purity of heart. To sum up, purity of heart is blamelessness before God, and also a focused commitment to God. And one final thought: Did you ever wonder why some people see evidence of God everywhere they look, while others claim not to see any trace of God anywhere? There may be a clue in the following verse: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).

Worship Service 4/21/19 Scripture: Matthew 26:30-35 Lesson: Feed My Sheep Preacher: Gary Babcock

According to an old spiritual, “Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows but Jesus.” Which raises a question: What’s worse than being miserable? Answer: Being miserable and feeling that no-one cares or even knows what you’re going through. But as the song says, Jesus does know. After all, He was tempted in every way like us (Heb. 4:15). Jesus reassures us with these words: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:29-31). So your heavenly Father knows you intimately, for sure. He knows what's going on in your life, and what you’re up against. And the Good Shepherd (Jesus Himself) knows you too. He doesn’t just care for his flock in general, as a group – He knows each sheep individually and calls them one at a time: “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:2-4). Let it sink in – Jesus knows you and calls you by name! And that’s true even if it seems everyone else has forgotten about you. Jesus “knows the trouble you’ve seen.”

We complain about stress. But in an emergency stress can help us to get focused and do what needs to be done. If we encounter an angry grizzly bear, most of us will have a stress reaction that can help us run faster and jump higher than usual. Lots of things can cause stress. Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul described a deep stress reaction the church there had experienced: “. . . : what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done” (2 Cor. 7). And what was the emergency that caused this kind of stress? It was the reality of sin in their lives. Paul had scolded them for their sin. And he was glad for their passionate response. In fact he called their stress reaction “godly sorrow”: “For you became sorrowful as God intended . . . . Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.” Sin, repentance, salvation – nowadays many don’t seem to care much about such things. But if we meditate on these spiritual realities, including the seriousness of sin, our godly sorrow can help us to get focused and do what needs to be done. And as Jesus said, “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20).

We complain about stress. But in an emergency stress can help us to get focused and do what needs to be done. If we encounter an angry grizzly bear, most of us will have a stress reaction that can help us run faster and jump higher than usual. Lots of things can cause stress. Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul described a deep stress reaction the church there had experienced: “. . . : what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done” (2 Cor. 7). And what was the emergency that caused this kind of stress? It was the reality of sin in their lives. Paul had scolded them for their sin. And he was glad for their passionate response. In fact he called their stress reaction “godly sorrow”: “For you became sorrowful as God intended . . . . Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.” Sin, repentance, salvation – nowadays many don’t seem to care much about such things. But if we meditate on these spiritual realities, including the seriousness of sin, our godly sorrow can help us to get focused and do what needs to be done. And as Jesus said, “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20).

An athlete that never gets any bumps and bruises is probably playing the game half-heartedly. So a few bumps and bruises may be a good sign – an indication that some effort is being put forth. In the same way, in our spiritual walk, trials and tribulations may be a sign that we're heading in the right direction. We shouldn't be surprised by such things. We are forewarned that “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God”(Acts 14:22). And we're told "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). If we mindlessly "conform to the pattern of this world" (Romans 12:2) we are following the path of least resistance. That path may seem inviting at first. But according to Jesus of Nazareth the path of least resistance leads directly to destruction: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

Worship Service April 14th 2019 Preacher: Gary Babcock

The passage below is special – it’s the longest Old Testament quotation that appears in the New Testament. The words are from Jeremiah 31, quoted in Hebrews 8. This prophecy is quoted in the New Testament to show that the “first covenant” is “obsolete” and is being superseded by a much better new one: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (P.S. We celebrate this new covenant regularly at the Lord’s table. Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20)

A great Swiss theologian, author of many thick books, was asked to sum up his theology. He responded by singing the words (from the children’s song), “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” That’s a pretty good answer. But does anyone in the New Testament actually state that Jesus loves them personally -- “Jesus loves me”? And does anyone in the New Testament claim that Jesus died on the cross for them personally – “He died for me”? We’re told God loves “the world” (John 3:16). And we know that Christ died for “sinners” – and in fact, He died “for us” (Romans 5). But can an individual actually dare to think or to say that Jesus died “for me”? Yes, according to the apostle Paul (Galatians 2:20): I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Maybe you know someone who thinks Jesus was “a great teacher, nothing more.” The opening words of the great book of Hebrews (below) set the record straight on who Jesus Christ is: In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. According to the above, Jesus Christ reveals God to us once and for all. But he’s a lot more than just a teacher. He has always existed, and He still does. The whole world was made through Him, and His power continues to hold everything together. He is God’s Son, and He bears a close family resemblance to His Father. In fact He’s divine Himself. And besides all that, He has provided a way for our sins to be forgiven (thank God!). And where is He now? Although he was executed on a cross, He lives again and reigns in heaven alongside the almighty God.

4-7-19 Worship Service Lesson: Nothing But The Blood Preacher: Gary Babcock

Worship Service 3-31-19 Preacher Gary Babcock

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Worship Service March 24 2019 Lesson: The Lamb's Book of Life. Preacher: Gary Babcock

Worship Service 4/21/19 Scripture: Matthew 26:30-35 Lesson: Feed My Sheep Preacher: Gary Babcock

Worship Service April 14th 2019 Preacher: Gary Babcock

4-7-19 Worship Service Lesson: Nothing But The Blood Preacher: Gary Babcock

Worship Service 3-31-19 Preacher Gary Babcock

Worship Service March 24 2019 Lesson: The Lamb's Book of Life. Preacher: Gary Babcock

KCCOC Worship Service 3/17/19

Worship 3/3/19 Lesson: What's So Bad About History Anyway Preacher: Gary Babcock

Worship Service 2/24/19 Lesson: Are YOU Playing Hide and Seek With Jesus?!?! Preacher: Gary Babcock

Worship Service - 2/17/19 Lesson: The Bible is FULL of questions. Preacher: Gary Babcock

Worship Services - February 10 2019 Lesson - Don't Quit! Preacher - Gary Babcock