Week of 10/5/25
Dear Church Family,
I have been seeing online and hearing from several of you about recent end times predictions and people giving dates for Jesus' return. One recent prediction was September 23, because it lined up with the Old Testament Feast of Trumpets. Well?
Now there are some setting dates for the end of October. I would remind us all of what Paul said to the Thessalonians.
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God." 2 Thess. 2:1-4
Jesus himself said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." Matthew 24:36
Difficult events like those we've seen in the last few weeks stir up our hearts with concern, fear, with a longing for all of this to be over, and there are those who in their fervor stir people up further to follow them into believing a certain date. To what end? We are to set our hopes on the certain return of our Savior and be doing what he has given us to do every day, because we do not know the day or the hour.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes." Matthew 24:46
Do not worry or push others into a frenzy concerning the times. Ask yourself who the Lord has given you to faithfully serve and speak of his grace and truth, of freedom from sin and his salvation! Be doing that when he returns in his time, he will give you all you need for today.
Home Enjoyment
Read 1 John 1:5-2:6.
John is explaining what leads someone to have assurance of fellowship with God.
I put it roughly into three categories in Sunday's message.
1) Acknowledge God's purity and agree with his assessment of sin
2) To confess and continue confessing
3) To walk in obedience
What basis does John give for why #1 is essential to fellowship with God? (Vs 5)
How does agreeing with God help or hinder our fellowship with one another?
Is #1 truly essential to having fellowship with God? Salvation?
What basis does John give for why #2 is essential to fellowship with God? (vs 9)
What does confession do for us? How is our first confession of need for Jesus as Savior different from those afterwards?
What basis does John give for why #3 is essential for fellowship with God? (Ch 2, vs 1-3)
Why is obedience given as a condition for 'coming to know' God?
How does obeying Jesus help us to know him?
How does disobedience keep us from knowing him?
Do verses 4 and 5 concern you? Why?
What grace or strength do you find in this passage to obey?
What help do Jesus' words in John 14:15-17 offer?
Personal Application
Are there places you are prone to self-deception and disobedience? What are they?
Are you willing to ask a friend or your spouse places where you are blind or justifying sinful attitudes or behaviors?
To all the above... Agree with God's Word, Confess your need for Jesus' saving work for you, and walk in grateful, Spirit-enabled obedience.
In His Love,
Pastor Phillip
I have been seeing online and hearing from several of you about recent end times predictions and people giving dates for Jesus' return. One recent prediction was September 23, because it lined up with the Old Testament Feast of Trumpets. Well?
Now there are some setting dates for the end of October. I would remind us all of what Paul said to the Thessalonians.
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God." 2 Thess. 2:1-4
Jesus himself said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." Matthew 24:36
Difficult events like those we've seen in the last few weeks stir up our hearts with concern, fear, with a longing for all of this to be over, and there are those who in their fervor stir people up further to follow them into believing a certain date. To what end? We are to set our hopes on the certain return of our Savior and be doing what he has given us to do every day, because we do not know the day or the hour.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes." Matthew 24:46
Do not worry or push others into a frenzy concerning the times. Ask yourself who the Lord has given you to faithfully serve and speak of his grace and truth, of freedom from sin and his salvation! Be doing that when he returns in his time, he will give you all you need for today.
Home Enjoyment
Read 1 John 1:5-2:6.
John is explaining what leads someone to have assurance of fellowship with God.
I put it roughly into three categories in Sunday's message.
1) Acknowledge God's purity and agree with his assessment of sin
2) To confess and continue confessing
3) To walk in obedience
What basis does John give for why #1 is essential to fellowship with God? (Vs 5)
How does agreeing with God help or hinder our fellowship with one another?
Is #1 truly essential to having fellowship with God? Salvation?
What basis does John give for why #2 is essential to fellowship with God? (vs 9)
What does confession do for us? How is our first confession of need for Jesus as Savior different from those afterwards?
What basis does John give for why #3 is essential for fellowship with God? (Ch 2, vs 1-3)
Why is obedience given as a condition for 'coming to know' God?
How does obeying Jesus help us to know him?
How does disobedience keep us from knowing him?
Do verses 4 and 5 concern you? Why?
What grace or strength do you find in this passage to obey?
What help do Jesus' words in John 14:15-17 offer?
Personal Application
Are there places you are prone to self-deception and disobedience? What are they?
Are you willing to ask a friend or your spouse places where you are blind or justifying sinful attitudes or behaviors?
To all the above... Agree with God's Word, Confess your need for Jesus' saving work for you, and walk in grateful, Spirit-enabled obedience.
In His Love,
Pastor Phillip
Recent
Archive
2025
April
May
July
August
September
October
2024
February
November
Categories
no categories
No Comments