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Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 37, 2 Thessalonians 3, and 1 Timothy 1 2 Thessalonians 3:1: "...pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." Paul reminds his readers that those who preach the gospel (like Paul) are in need of prayer so that they can most effectively do the will of God and so that God can be glorified. It is a reminder to pray for all our spiritual leaders: pastors, church elders, spiritual elders among family and friends, missionaries, teachers. And also for each other. We are not islands on our own, and one vital way we support each other as the body of Christ is through prayer, that God's will is done in our lives and He is seen through us.

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Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 36 and 2 Thessalonians 1-2 In chapter 1 of 2 Thessalonians, Paul encourages the church of Thessalonica, which is being persecuted, and reminds them that they will be fully vindicated when Jesus returns. In chapter 2, Paul then writes about the second coming of Jesus, which will not occur until a "man of sin" comes, who "exalteth himself above all that is called God." Paul also writes how many will be deceived, because "they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved." Our greatest defense against the deceptions of the enemy is to love God's truth, found in His word. We can have discernment through the Holy Spirit, but that discernment must align with God's word. Those who do not love truth (and Jesus said He IS the truth in John 14:6) are prey to satan and his lies and the people who speak those lies.

Bible Study Tonight! All are welcome. Come fill up on the Word of God amongst good company. We can’t wait to see you there!

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 35, 1 Thessalonians 4-5 In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul speaks about the rapture, the second coming of Jesus Christ. There were those in the church of Thessalonians who were concerned that those who died before Jesus returned would miss out on Jesus' salvation. But Paul assures them that Jesus "died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." All who believe in Jesus, whether alive or dead when He comes, will dwell with Him eternally. Paul also tells the Thessalonians to be ready, always, for when Jesus returns. Paul says to put on "the breastplate of FAITH and LOVE; and for a helmet, the HOPE of SALVATION." The opposite of being ready is to live in unbelief and sin. But those who believe in Christ and follow Him have nothing to fear when He returns. "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul ends 1 Thessalonians with exhorting the church to "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 34 and 1 Thessalonians 2-3 1 Thessalonians 2:4 "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak: not as pleasing men, But God, which tries our hearts." When Paul came to preach the Gospel to the Thessalonians, he did not try to "use flattering words," or try to please people or to seek "glory." He only spoke the Word of God. Paul also writes, in verse 13, that when the Thessalonians heard Paul, they "received the word of God which [they] heard of us,[they] received it not as the word of men, but as the word of God, which effectually worketh also in [them] that believe." In the Word of God, there is power to save, to transform lives, to heal those who believe. It's encouraging, because we are not called on to speak fancy words or be great orators. All we need is to speak the gospel, the word of God.

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 33, Colossians 4, and 1 Thessalonians 1: Colossians 4:2 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;" Prayer, watching (to be alert spiritually, with spiritual discernment, and willing to hear God), and thanksgiving are things that are meant to go together, to be done continually throughout our day and life.

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 32 and Colossians 2-3 Have always loved these scriptures: Colossians 3:1-4 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." This also reminds us that we do not derive life or nourishment from the things of the earth, but the things of Jesus Christ. In fact, we are already dead to the flesh and "raised with Christ." His life is sustaining us. Paul writes that we should therefore "put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him [Jesus] that created him [us]."

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 31, Philippians 4, and Colossians 1 Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Philippians 4:19 - "But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." There is, therefore, no need for worry or anxiety, but faith and trust in Jesus. Through Him, we can do all things that are required of us or that He has called us to do. And He has promised to provide for every need we will ever have (physical, material, spiritual). When the Bible speaks about there being liberty or freedom in Christ Jesus, one freedom we have is from the tyranny of fear, worry, and anxiety. It is a beautiful freedom!

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 30 and Philippians 2-3 Paul writes how we are to imitate Jesus, who humbled Himself, obeyed God the Father, and put the Father's will and the need of others before Himself. Philippians 2:6-8 "Who [Jesus], being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be the equal with God; "But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." But after becoming a man and dying on the cross, He was resurrected from the dead and as Paul writes in Philippians 2:9-11: "Where God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth:" "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 29, Ephesians 6, and Philippians 1 In Ephesians 6, Paul writes of putting on "the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." He reminds us that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Paul also reminds us to pray "always." The example my (Christina Wehner"s) mother gave me was to imagine that prayer is like a sword we use in battle. To pray occasionally, is like taking one's sword into battle, but only occasionally swinging the sword, and letting it rest most of the time, despite the battle raging on without stop. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Easter Sunday Celebration @ Pastor Sam’s House! GOOD Food, GOOD Company, and an AWESOME egg hunt to enjoy!! Please come & bring a friend. If you are able to provide a side dish, there is a sign up sheet available at church. TIME: 3-6pm. WHEN: April 21st, 2019.

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 28 and Ephesians 4-5 Ephesians 4:29 "And let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." This is quite a thought, that our words are not just expressions of how we are thinking or feeling at any given time, but also meant by the Lord to edify (build up, instruct) others, to bring His grace into their lives.

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 27 and Ephesians 2-3 Ephesians 2:6 "And [God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." This is amazing. Jesus sits at the right hand of God and has completely defeated death, sickness, and the devil. We are not fighting sin, sickness, or the devil from the position of humans on earth, bound by our own human limitations. We are in Christ, who is in heaven and has already defeated it all.

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 26, Galatians 6 and Ephesians 1 Ephesians 1:17-19 contains a prayer that Paul prays for the Ephesians, which we can also pray for ourselves, our family and our church. 17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18 The eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power."

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 25 and Galatians 4-5 In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes that we are "crucified with Christ." In Galatians 4:24-25, he writes "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Walking in the Spirit involves reading the Word of God, praying, listening to and talking with God, obeying Him, becoming more and more filled with Him as we spend more time with Him and are changed by Him. Paul contrasts the results of walking in the flesh (idolatry, adultery, hatred...) with "the fruit of the Spirit [which] is love, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Weekly Bible Reading: Psalm 24 and Galatians 2-3 We are not justified (made righteous, 'just-as-if-I'd-never-sinned) by works (doing good deeds, the works of the law). Gal. 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ." Gal. 3:6 - "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Abraham lived before God gave the law to the Israelites, but Abraham was considered righteous because of his faith in God's word. Gal. 3:7 "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." What does it mean to be of faith? To believe that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.' That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14) We are redeemed from sin, sickness, despair...!