Church guide

Due to the predicted weather, the Everton Community Church Worship Service is cancelled for today

Tomorrow at ECC: The last message in our study of 2 Peter. Since Jesus' return is imminent how should we Live? "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (2 Peter 3:11-18 NIV)

Scripture for today: "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” (2 Peter 2:1-22 NIV)

"So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:12-21 NIV)

We Need to Remember 2 Peter 1:12-21 What do we remember? ~ Remember to be Established in the Truth (1:12-15) ~ Remember that Most Writers were Eyewitnesses (1:16-18) The Transfiguration affirms: Jesus is the Son of God The Truth of the Scriptures The Certainty of the Second Coming of Christ ~ Remember that the Bible is Inspired by God (1:19-21) Whatever you do, don’t forget to remember!

Lessons from today's message: We are to Reflect Christ by How we: Look, Sound & Act! If Jesus took our place in our life would we Look, Sound and Act different?

Today's Scripture: "So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Lessons from todays message: Our Purpose for being here: We are here to get prepared for Eternity! So what does God want us to do why we are here? 1. Get to know Him 2. To become Christ-like 3. To learn to Serve 4. Share His purpose with Others Have a blessed week!!!

This mornings Message: Why am I here? What is my purpose for being here? Ecclesiastes 1:1-14 10am be there!

A Children's Special during service. How happy the kids were to be up on stage singing about Jesus!!

Today's Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16 "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."

Praise God for always being my all!!

This Past Sunday Highlights: Our Purpose - Seeking the Lost Luke 15:1-32 Jesus answered that by saying, "Go & make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit, & teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). I’m convinced that when we recognize that the reason we exist is to reach the lost with the message of Christ, then as a congregation we will grow. Luke 15 - the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, & the Prodigal Son. Jesus told those 3 stories to teach people that He had come for one primary purpose - to seek & to save those who are lost. ~ Why Do We Seek the Lost? 1) They are lost & still in their sins - (Just like we once were) 2) The love of Christ compels us to reach out ~ How Do We Seek the Lost? 1) There is searching. 2) Attraction (Church needs to be a loving, nonjudgmental, accepting place where people want to come) ~ The Reward of Seeking the Lost The reward is rejoicing. "At the completion of the golden gate, No, the angels did not celebrate. And when the Wright boys flew their bird, No angelic shouts were heard. There is only one thing that we are sure about, That can make those angels jump & shout. It’s when a sinner makes the Lord his choice, That’s when the angels rejoice. When the light bulb first lit up the town, No, the angels did not dance around. And when the Model "T" first hit the street, It didn’t bring all heaven to its feet. When the first man stepped on the moon, They didn’t sing a victory tune. And when the first computer was born, They didn’t blow old Gabriel’s horn. There is only one thing that we’re sure about, That can make those angels jump & shout. It’s when a sinner heeds the Savior’s voice, That’s when the angels rejoice. If that’s true of angels, it should also be true of the church.

Todays Scripture: Luke 15:1-32 The parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, & the Prodigal Son. I really hope to see you there at 10am!!!

Today's Scripture: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."(John 14:1-6) Hope to see you @ 10am!

Come at 10am as we learn from the life of Zacchaeus. Hope to see ya there!! "Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)

From last Sundays Message: Be Prepared for the Second Coming! If we are alert and self controlled we will be ready. Understand this, when He comes there will be no time left to get ready, no time left to change your mind or lifestyle. No insurance policy – it’s a done deal. Are you ready?

What is the Goal of a Disciple? We will seek to answer this question on Sunday!! Be there at 10am!!! :)

From Sunday's message: Not a one of us is “good enough” to be a Disciple of Jesus. The only way to have the Heart of a True Disciple is to give yourself --- heart and soul --- to Jesus Christ.