| “We don’t come to church, to be a church. We come to Christ, and then we are built up as a church. If we come to church just to be with one another, one another is all we’ll get. And it isn’t enough. Inevitably, our hearts will grow empty, and then angry. If we put community first, we will destroy community. But if we come to Christ first and submit ourselves to Him and draw life from Him, community gets traction.” —C.S. Lewis |
November 22, 2024 In seminary we had a class on something called “hermeneutics,” the science and art of biblical interpretation. Hermeneutics is a science because there are certain rules and principles with interpreting the Bible. But it is also an art because those rules cannot be mechanically applied, rather they must be applied with contextual wisdom. As we approach this book requiring hermeneutical understanding, we find 47 commands in the New Testament that instruct us to do something with “one another.” We are called as God’s people to not simply exist as a corporate people on Sunday morning when we gather for worship but to intentionally engage with one another as we simply go about our lives as Christians. These commands give us the science, the rules or framework, of how we are called to live. But then we have the Spirit to lead us in how we might live those commands out in our lives. We have to be intentional and wise about how we apply these commands, particularly when we don’t “feel” like loving one another, engaging with one another, and serving one another. In the coming week I want to encourage you to prayerfully consider how our Triune God is challenging you, convicting you, and convincing you of the necessity and joy of “one another-ing” according to God’s Word as we celebrate the gospel of Jesus Christ in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Prayer Schedule For the week of November 24, please consider these prompts to pray: Pray with thanksgiving for the community that has been built up at Mercy Church Pray for conviction regarding the sins of partiality and grumbling Jhn. 6:43, Js. 2:1 Pray against envy and boasting in your own heart, as well as the hearts of your church family Gal. 5:26 Pray to be at peace with one another — being kind and tenderhearted toward one another Eph. 4:32 Pray to be devoted to one another in love Rom. 12:10 Pray that you would be subject to one another, clothing yourself in humility toward one another Eph. 5:21, 1 Pet. 5:5 Pray for an opportunity to bear one another’s burdens Gal. 6:2 Pray that you would have opportunity to encourage one another 1 Thes. 5:11 Pray that you would encourage one another to love and good works Heb. 10:24 Pray for opportunities to show one another hospitality 1 Pet. 4:9 Thankful for all my brothers and sisters in Christ, and what our God is doing in and among you! In Christ, John D For those who like a bigger picture here are the remaining 5 weeks at a glance: December 1, 2024 — celebrating in and through public mission December 8, 2024 — celebrating in and through personal mission December 15, 2024 — celebrating and cultivating generosity December 22, 2024 — celebrating and cultivating sacrifice December 29, 2024 — giving up what we cannot keep to gain what we cannot lose |
Announcements
| —Thanksgiving Luncheon After Worship 11/24/24 As announced last Sunday, we are intending on having a Thanksgiving luncheon immediately after worship on Sunday, November 24. Mercy will provide the meat, but there will be a sign up sheet for various sides that y’all can bring. —Songs for Sunday Here’s what we’re singing this Sunday if you’d like to familiarize yourself with tunes + lyrics! In Tenderness Yet Not I But Christ Through Me Psalm 31 (O Come, O Come Emmanuel) What A Friend We Have In Jesus Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder |
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