Walking in Blessing
Part Two
Matthew 5:1-12
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
SERMON NOTES
“My desire for God is greatly fueled by my need. And it is in the areas of loss where I feel my need most intensely. Unmet desires keep me on my knees, deepens my prayer life, makes me ransack the Bible for God’s promises.
Earthly blessings are temporary; they can all be taken away. Job’s blessings all disappeared in one fateful day. I, too, had a comfortable life that was stripped away within a span of weeks. My marriage dissolved. My children rebelled. My health spiraled downward. My family fell apart. My dreams were shattered.
And yet, in the midst of those painful events, I experienced God’s richest blessings. A stronger faith than I had experienced before. A deeper love than I had ever known. A more intimate walk than I could explain. My trials grounded my faith in ways that prosperity and abundance never could.
While my trials were not blessings in themselves, they were channels for them. As Laura Story asks in her song “Blessings,” “What if your blessings come through rain drops? What if trials of this life — the rain, the storms, the hardest nights — are your mercies in disguise?”
This revolutionary idea of blessing is firmly established in Scripture.”
-Vaneesa Risner
Note these verses:
- Luke 11:28
- Romans 4:7 (from Psalm 32.1)
- James 1:12
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, July 17
9:30 am Outreach Prayer
1:30 pm Women's Prayertime
TUESDAY, July 18
7:00 pm Antigua Mission Information Meeting
WEDNESDAY, July 19
9:45 am Keenager’s Study
10:30 am Park Play Days at Central Park
7:00 pm Young Adults Study at Vanderveen’s
THURSDAY, July 20
FRIDAY, July 21
SATURDAY , July 22
SUNDAY, July 23
10:00 am Worship Service w/Discovery Island Sunday School
JOURNEY UPDATE
FAMILY FRIENDLY SERVICES - There will be child care only for Nursery infant/toddler care today. Gr 1-6 will resume July 23. Volunteers are still needed for Summer Sunday School and VBS. Sign up at the Check-in Kiosk today.
SINGIN' THE GOSPEL Tonight at 6:00 pm. The Pilkey Sisters, from Abbotsford, BC, have been singing Gospel Music since the tender age of 5. These three young women bring to their audiences a unique blend of “family harmony” with a tightly-knit sound. A freewill offering will be taken.
PARK PLAY DAYS Women, we will meet at Central Park in Spruce Grove from 10:30 am to noon, Wednesday, July 19. Check out our Facebook page, Spruce Grove Alliance Women for details and dates.
VBS (Vacation Bible School) August 14 - 18. Maker Fun Factory for ages 3 to 12. Registration is now open online! EARLY BIRD PRICE ENDS July 31!
ELDERS UPDATE NEWSLETER is available at the welcome centre or online here.
MISSIONS: Pastor Coreen will be taking a team to Antigua again this January 2018 to provide Discipleship Curriculum in the public schools and present the Gospel in a creative way. An info meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 18 at 7:00 pm. (Ages 8 - 80) Please call or text Catarina Van Neck at 780 - 667-4601 or Kathy Duncan at 780-722-3211 if you have any questions.
SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT TRAINING, July 26 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and Aug 9 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. All volunteers working with children are required to take this training once per year. If you are new to volunteering or need to update please let Debbie or Janet know when you will attend. A VBS training will follow for all VBS volunteers on Aug 9 at 7:00 pm.
You are invited to SHELBY'S DESSERT NIGHT FUNDRAISER Thursday July 27 at 7 pm. Come bid on silent auction items and hear about her experience in missions. Discover how you can become a part of it! For more information contact Shelby by email.
THE PURPOSE OF TITHING
The Scripture says something very interesting. It says that the reason for the tithe is to teach us to fear God and to place Him first. We are to somehow express that He is our greatest treasure of all. Where we put or invest our money, by choice, will help our heart move that way.
In other words, if you want God to bless your marriage, put God first in your marriage. If you want God to bless your job, put Him first in your job. If you want God to bless your decisions about your future, then place Him first in your decisions about your future. If you want God to bless your finances, then put Him first in your finances.
Tithe means “tenth” or the “first tenth”. It’s the heart of God’s people to reach others with the gospel who may have never heard it any other way. It is our contribution. So we give with all our hearts and all our love because we know that God will somehow convert it to life.
PRAYER
Please pray for:
- Our International Workers: Shaun & Iris Kelly, Charles & Angela Ibsen, David & Annette Faszer.
- Our Pastoral Staff: Pastor Coreen Frey. Pastor Coreen is married to Dave and they have 3 married children.
- Our Administrative Staff: Joyce is married to Reuben and they have two adult children.
- Our Elders: Russell Mueller. Russell is married to Virgie and they have 3 married children.
FAMILY MATTERS
- Sept. 03 LOVE THE GROVE. This is a free community event. Worship service at 10:00 am followed by lunch and activities,. Open to all ages.
- Annual General Meeting 2:00 pm Sept. 24. all members are encouraged to attend. Annual Reports will be availble Sept. 3.
- Thank you to our church family for the kindness shown to our family over the past weeks. The prayers, the notes, the food, the rides, the gifts and the visits have helped me tremendously in my recovery. We are so grateful and blessed beyond words.
Love,
Karen Lapp and family.