Friday First - The Answer is not Within Us

Anyone beginning to rethink all the talk about “good riddance” to 2020? The first week of 2021 has been challenging to say the least. Once again, we should be seeing politics as the vanity and empty void it is. Politics is a dry well. And, as Christians, we all need to be on the same page with rioting … whether we be on the far left or the far right … violence is sinful. See Romans 12.17, 19; 1 Peter 3.9; Hebrews 12.14.

We live in bizarre times. Much of what we hear and see we do not trust. People are out of hand on social media. Bad impressions are being formed, of ourselves … and of others. We need to be careful as to what we say and remember that no one’s opinion was ever changed because of your Facebook or Twitter post.

So what is going on in our nation? What is causing everything? Where can we go for refuge? These are the questions we’ll try to answer as we come together on Sunday.
We’ll discuss:

Romans 1.18-32 - Our nation has been handed over for judgment
We must not bring the world into the church
God designed the church to be a place where we see authority working

As you prepare for worship on Sunday, please give consideration to these questions:

What should be the Christian response to violence?
Why is politics a dry-well?
How is family a God-given restraint to sin? What is happening to the family in our country?
How can we combat the pride and selfishness that threatens the church?
What can we do to ensure our congregation remains a place of peace and refuge?

THOSE SERVING:
OPENING / WELCOME
Cain Atkinson

SONG LEADER
Mark Ringle

PRAYER OF PRAISE
Chris Fles

LORD'S SUPPER
Nathan Armstrong

SCRIPTURE READING
Randy Mullins
Romans 14.1b; 10; 19

PREACHING
Matthew Allen

CLOSING COMMENTS & PRAYER
Russ Robins

WELCOME CENTER
Cain Atkinson / Kathy Downey

USHERS
Bob Hoopes / Rich Jacobs

HEALTH SCREENING (arrive @ 08.45)
FRONT ENTRY: Pam Grushon
SIDE ENTRY: Jessica Grushon

Post-Service Sanitization
James Johnson
Rich Jacobs
Tina Jacobs

Closing the Building
Justin Spargo