Wednesday Night Services

Paul said that everyone here (Rome) including the WHOLE palace or Praetorian guard, knows that he is in chains for the cause of Christ. How did so many likely unsaved gentiles come to know and respect that Paul's an ambassador to a cause and a Savior they likely didn't even believe in?

Christians' prayers for other Christians are often based on emotions; what we hope might happen or what we feel should happen. Paul in his epistles gives us some examples of his Word based prayer, but not here in the letter to the Philippians. Instead, he describes what his prayers involve and teaches us what our prayers for others can be, as well as things to receive in our own Christian life.

An introduction to the epistle to the church in Philippi and spending some time looking at verse 6 in particular... "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"

In this service we are going to expand on something from last week and take a look at what traits or characteristics does a person need to possess to become a Timothy, or Epaphras, or my favorite Aristarchus on the life of someone like Paul? In other words, how can you become a person who's mere presence is a blessing in the life of a person in ministry you depend on or serve with?

What do you know about the people who traveled with Paul? The people he came to depend on? Well, in tonight's midweek service as we finish the series on Colossians, we look at the people Paul mentions as he signs off. Fellow workers like Tychicus, Aristarchus, John Mark, Epaphras, and others. One of the great lessons to learn from this conclusion to this Epistle is how much we can be a support to those in the five fold ministry. We hear little a bout these men, but if Paul depended on them and needed them, then they made him better.

There is a difference between praying for doors to open and being led by doors that are open or closed.

In Colossians 4:2 Paul exhorts believers to continue in prayer and includes three very defining qualities our prayers should contain. How do yours stack up?

Paul's instructions on how we are to opperate in unequal relationships like parent and child, or boss and employee with the goals and expectaions of each.

Paul's instructions to husband and wives teach us more than just how to be married.

As we begin Colossians 3 we look at two of the great principles in the Word of God. If we could get these down and make them a natural part of our life, our lives will never be the same.

Paul had "great conflict" for the saints for three things that the church today just tosses casually away. Why did Paul see these things as so important and why don't we? What are we losing when we let go of just these three things?

Paul teaches us more about the work of Christ in us.

Are we walking in all that should be different in our lives since Jesus Christ has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light?

One of the great prayers in the Bible and one you can pray for yourself and those around you. In this service, we look at what Paul is praying for and the what it can bring to your life.

Have you ever wished that you had better people around you? Nicer people, friends who challenged you and made you better? How can you get those kind of people in your life? We look at how Paul did.

With the upcoming election, most Christians would say that their 1st choice (even 2nd and 3rd) are no longer running for president. So can a Christian vote for a presidential candidate who may not even be God's choice? We will take a look at this in next week's midweek service. The goal is to stay away from the political stands of each, but to look in the Word of God for what made a great leader, and what such a leader does to bring good things to the country. These principles will help us in this election. Hope you can join in!

The Finale - looking at Paul and the rest of the New Testament epistles and what they tell us to do with believers who are stuck on sin and no interest in repenting.

How do we deal with believers who are close to us, but also refuse to stop a habitual sin pattern of behavior. Should my relationship or fellowship with them change? What does the Bible tell me I should do? Last week we looked at what a habitual sin is, discovering that it is not just one you keep doing over and over, though that may have been our definition of it. This week we look at what kind of relationship should we have with those in such sins.

We know that most Christian’s are not living perfect lives, but when does sin disqualify us from serving in a church ministry and such? Do we have to become free from sin in order to serve or even to be effective? The Bible gives us some direction on this. Some examples; Judas served in Jesus ministry even after he became a thief, Aaron continued on as High Priest, despite having made an idol, but then Paul rejected John Mark from going with them on the 2nd missionary journey and dismissed others from service for different sins. Paul also wrote (1 Corinthians 5:2) “And you are proud! You should have been filled with sadness so that the man who did this should be put out of your group.” [NCV] In this service we look to see what the Bible tells us will disqualify us from service in the Kingdom.

Sister Ethel Waters filled in during pastor Steve's absence, taking another look at Jesus washing the disciples feet at the last supper.