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Coming Up Events!!

Gearing Up for Disciple Now: January 8-10

It’s about that time folks! This year’s Disciple Now is coming up on January 8th-10th.

We’re gearing up for the best D-Now yet, and you’re definitely going to want to be a part of it. There’s only a few days left to make your plans, and invite your friends! Be sure and bring your t-shirt order form to the YouthRoom on Wednesday so we can be sure and order enough awesome shirts for everyone.

Know to Grow,

‘Hank

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Quote for today!

Knowing God was born like this…

From John Piper at Desiring God:

In this smelly place he lay,
Smelly like the swine,
Smelly like the rotting hay,
Like your sin, and mine.
Do you see how low he lay?
Do you see how low?
There is lower yet to go.
Lower yet to go.

He is lying where they eat,
Lying where the swine—
Lying like a piece of meat
Where the hungry dine.
Do you see the flow complete
Do you see the flow?
There is greater love to show
Greater love to show.

Such a happy toddler there,
Happy like the birds,
Happy like the morning air
Filled with happy words.
Does he see or know or care?
Does he see or know:
O, how deep will be his woe
Deep will be his woe?

Knowing God was born like this
Knowing this is he,
Knowing somehow this is bliss
For the swine and me,
Is this loves full glow and kiss?
Is this love’s full glow?
There are deeper things to know,
Deeper things to know.

Mary musing every year,
Musing on her son,
Musing with a rising fear
Who will be the one:
Who will strike the blow and spear?
Who will strike the blow?
Does she know that blood must flow?
Know that blood must flow?

Jesus hanging on the tree,
Hanging like the meat,
Hanging there for swine like me,
Gives his flesh to eat.
Here is Life brought low and free.
Here is Life brought low.
O, how vast the debt I owe
Vast the debt I owe.

I hope you feel the same undeserved debt to the grace of God this year because of Christ. What an amazing Savior we have!

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Quote for today!

Quote of the Day

“To be much for God, we must be much with God…” – Leonard Ravenhill, “Why Revival Tarries”

Born Again to a Living Hope

Tonight in the YouthRoom, Drew brought the Word to us out of 1 Peter 1:3-9.  The apostle Peter had a whole lot to say about the need that every person has for salvation in Jesus Christ, and how that salvation delivers us from the penalty of sin in the past, the power of sin in the present, and the presence of sin in the future. That kind of news changes lives and we got to hear and see that in the Bible tonight. Nobody can ignore the brokenness that comes with a life lived in bondage to sin. Our youth especially know the pain, guilt, and regret that comes with sinful hearts that refuse to honor God in their thoughts and actions. But, praise be to God, there is the good news that Jesus Christ came — on the very first Christmas about 2,000 years ago — to live a perfect life on our behalf, and then to die a death in which he took all our sins upon himself. He canceled all the debt that we owed to God because of our sin. He delivered us and set us free — causing us to “be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

That salvation is for everyone and anyone who is willing to humble themselves and call out to God for forgiveness in Jesus Christ. The Bible says that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) As a church and a youth group, we want every person to know that the greatest gift they could ever receive this Christmas would be to be born again to a living hope by faith in Jesus Christ. May this be the year that you find your hope in the Savior who was born, crucified, and risen for you!

‘Hank

New Wednesday Night Bible Study: 1 Peter

Tonight in the YouthRoom, Drew is going to start a brand new bible study on the first book of Peter!

If you’ve never read through 1 Peter, or you haven’t ever taken the time to really study it, this is a fantastic opportunity to jump in and get started! Like all of God’s Word, this book is chalked full of truth that will change the way you live life. The apostle Peter doesn’t mess around when it comes to telling it like it is. He wanted the Church to understand how much the Father loved them, and the reason that He sent Christ to die for them. This is good news, because Peter was writing to a group of sinners, much like us — to encourage, warn, and teach them how to love Jesus more. Tonight Drew will be introducing the book and the background to us, and laying a foundation for the rest of the chapters. It’s gonna be awesome!

We’ll keep the light on for you…

‘Hank

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Quote for today!

Quote of the Day

The more we pray, the more we shall want to pray.  The more we pray, the more we can pray.  The more we pray, the more we shall pray.  He who prays little will pray less, but he who prays much will pray more.  And he who prays more, will desire to pray more abundantly.” – Charles Spurgeon

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Bible Study Blogs Preachers We Like

Singing the Battle Song

We had a great time tonight up in the YouthRoom learning about why the songs of Christians absolutely change the world and us!

Not only do we sing because of the awesome truth that God has saved us from our bondage to sin through Jesus Christ, nor is it just because the Bible tells us to sing (though it does from beginning to end!), but we sing because we are in the middle of a war!In fact, we are in the middle of the greatest war that there ever was or ever will be! God declared it in Genesis 3, won it on Calvary, and will finish it off in Revelation. Until then, we get to rally every Wednesday and Sunday together as an army of God’s redeemed, singing of God’s deliverance of our souls, His promises for our future, and His power and victory over the devil and sin. The songs of the Christian declare that the King is coming soon, and complete and final victory is coming with Him. Hallelujah! Now that’s good news!

A fellow freedom fighter for your joy and the glory of Christ,

‘Hank

Two awesome vids on war. The first on making war in life – and the second on prayer as a war-time walkie talkie. Add ’em to your arsenal…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrY0h33coR4]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2J1PYKB-R4]