Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

Sermon Notes: My H.O.P.E. Is R.E.A.L.

Every week I publish my sermon notes so that you may read them for yourselves.  For my parishioners, this could be a good review from the weekend before.  And it gives you a chance to see what I intended to say!  For other pastors and ministers, feel free to borrow and use any of this material.  I'd love for God to be glorified by you incorporating these notes into your own worship.

Listen to My Hope Is Real

I KNOW part 8: “My Hope Is Real” 01.29.12

Scripture:  Romans 8:24-25 ESV / Song: “My Hope Is In You”

Intro: What we have learned so far in Romans 8 (over these past 8 weeks) is that my hope and your hope in Christ is REAL!  IF it is based upon the solid foundation of Jesus and what he has done for you.
(1) We are not condemned by God. (2) We can live a life pleasing to God. (3) We can be lead by Spirit of God. (4) We are known as God’s children. (5) We know God as our Abba Father. (6)We will be resurrected with perfect bodies someday! That’s a LOT OF REAL HOPE!

 This REAL HOPE is based entirely on what Christ has already accomplished. You can’t add one thing to make your hope any more real than it already is.  However, here is a truth I’ve learned from decades as a Christ-follower: Even though our hope is REAL, we might not REALIZE our REAL HOPE! (Repeat) Saying our Hope is Real is one thing.  REALIZING OUR REAL HOPE is another thing!  

If my hope is real, how can I know? This is the basis of this sermon series.  That I CAN KNOW.  That I don’t have to FEEL my way through life as a Christ-follower, dependent on the ups and downs of my emotions. I CAN KNOW that my hope is real.  God has accomplished everything for this real hope. But for you and me to realize this real hope will take some work on our part.  Today I’d like to share with you 4 ways you can know that your H.O.P.E. is R.E.A.L.

4 Ways I Know My H.O.P.E. is R.E.A.L. 

#1.  I must H _HOLD_ on to my R _REDEMPTION_.

 

Paul begins this section of Scripture with the basis of our salvation.  For Christ-followers, it always goes back to the beginning of our eternal life, when Christ and His Spirit gave us new life - salvation!

“For in this hope we were saved.” Romans 8:24 ESV

Quite literally we did not have any real hope before our salvation.  Hope begins and ends with Christ - and what he has accomplished for us!  We should never think we had anything to do with it.  Not dependent on us.  Wholly Christ’s work.  Dependent on him!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope.”
1 Peter 1:3a ES 

Paul: “My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago—and he doesn’t break promises!”
Titus 1:2 MSG

If you haven’t had this experience then you have no hope outside of God’s mercy.  Ask Him for real life, for forgiveness for sins, for His leadership in your life. Commit to follow Him. If you have already done this, don’t forget it. Tie a knot in Heb. 10:23 and HOLD ON!

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV

New Photo Album Highlights CR Kids Sermon

 

These are just two of the great photos in the new photo album on the Church Requel website.  Thanks so much Diana Devolder for your great photography.  I love telling the story of Church Requel with pictures!  And I love these two pictures especially well.  I don't know who is more delighted... the children or me! After all, I'm just a big kid at heart! (Click on either picture to see the full size.)

PFKBC Adds 9 New Books; Starts Sicily Kindle Fund

Every week or so I update our family members on their Kindle books.  We each keep our own Kindle, but we share an Amazon account together.  I keep track of who buys what.  The cool part is that we can share the books with one another.  Not only does it save us money, but it gives us something to enjoywith one another.  Here is this week's email.

Sicily reading Mom's Kindle

Dear Dad, Jillian, Tim, Jessica, Dave, Jennifer, Mike, Nancy, Patty, Cheryl, Grayden, Mary Kay, Kimberly and Riley:

It's been a fast two weeks since I last wrote to you.  As always, there's been lots happening within our PFKBC - the Pierce Family Kindle Book Club.  Five different members of our club purchased 9 new books.  This brings our total archives to 932 ebook titles.  Everybody should be able to find something they enjoy reading!  I've included a description of all the new books at the bottom.

Sicily Reading! I've mentioned to you before how exciting it is to see my grandchildren developing a love for reading.  Sicily has now read 4 different chapter books on her mom's Kindle.  This has happened at about the same time that Jennifer has been reading a lot more herself.  So they constantly vie for their time with THE Kindle. 

Sicily's Kindle Collection Can

Sicily's Kindle Collection Can. Following Grayden's lead, Sicily has come up with her own collection can for money she can earn to buy her own Kindle. However, Sicily has added her own fancy approach and applied some artwork to her "Kindle Can."  Check out the photo at the left to see what Sicily's Kindle Collection Can looks like.  Or... if you're feeling particularly generous... you can slip her a little money toward her own new Kindle!  Let's fill that can!

Grayden - Top of His Class! Saturday morning I ate breakfast with Jonathan, Grayden and Cohen.  Grayden was sporting a brand new T-shirt he had received at school the day before.  I asked him about it. Grayden is a participant in his school's reading program.  Every couple of weeks he takes comprehension tests to see how much of what he's reading he remembers. When the student has earned 150 points, he receives a brand new yellow T-shirt.  Grayden was the first in his class to receive his T-shirt!  Yay Grayden! Keep on reading!

Subscribe To Kindle Daily Deal Email. Two weeks ago I mentioned several different sources for where you could find great prices on Kindle books.  You took notice! Three of our new books came from the Kindle Daily Deal.  If you're like me, though, sometimes you will forget to go check every day.  If you will click here, you will be given the opportunity to subscribe to a daily email sent to you telling you about each day's great deal.  Make sure to check the email address on the top right hand side of the page - so it is your email and not mine.

Kindle Owners Lending Library. Because of my Prime membership we have access to thousands of books which we can borrow FOR FREE  with no due dates! However, we are limited to one free loan per month.  I am so far behind in my own reading that I won't be using this benefit in February personally.  So far, I haven't received any requests from any of you.  That means the first one of you to tell me you want to borrow a book - it's yours! No waiting!  No cost!  Here's the details.  Please let me know if you want to do this so I can keep track and be fair the next time someone wants to use this benefit.

New Books.  Here are the books you have purchased over the last two weeks.  Check out the list of what your fellow book clubbers have purchased.  You might find something you would like to read too!

Audio Sermon: My H.O.P.E. Is R.E.A.L.

If you are a Christ-follower then you have real hope. There's nothing you can do to make your hope any more real! However, you may not REALIZE your real hope all the time.  Join me in this audio sermon to learn 4 ways we can know our H.O.P.E. is R.E.A.L.

Listen to My Hope Is Real

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

An Inside Look at Tech Team Mindset

Mark Strong's notes on last night's planning sheet.

Have you ever wondered what kind of organization it takes for a Church Requel style worship service to take place?  This morning as I was digging out all the gear from my blue "church in a box," I found the planning sheet (to the right) on top of my clipboard.  The planning sheet is something I work up each week so all the tech team is literally on the same page as I am.  

What I want you to notice are all the red marks on the sheet.  Those were all made last night by Mark Strong, who ran our CG (computer graphics.)  These are notes he made for himself on top of the planning sheet I gave to him.  (You may click on the image to make it double the size.)

I am especially humbled by the note he wrote to himself in the left-hand margin about a third of the way down. "Don't let Pastor down!"

Wow!  When I see something like this I am amazed that God allows me to work with such a dedicated and serve-oriented crew.  

This Weekend at CR: Real Hope!

Hey everyone! Pastor Mark here with your weekly "What's Happening at CR" message.  Hope this weekend finds you well and prosperous.  We're suffering through the flu season at the Pierce household.  Mary Kay has been really under the weather this week.  So far I've been fortunate and missed whatever bug has hit her.  Thanks for your prayers on Mary Kay's behalf.

HOPEful Worship at CR. This weekend's theme at Church Requel will be all about the real hope that we have in Christ.  We have some real special things lined up for Sunday night.  We'll sing three songs together, all that deal with our great hope: "So Good," "Everlasting God," and "Our God Saves."

I've planned a special children's lesson for Sunday night.  All the elementary children will join me on the platform up front.  I plan on teaching them about how our real hope never sinks - even when our problems tend to drag us down.  I don't want to give it away, but let me just say that the object lesson involves a wrapped present, water, cork, nails, and chocolate bars!!!  Kind of makes you wish you were back in school, doesn't it?  Make sure to bring all the kiddies this weekend!

In addition - and oh wow will this be special! - Brandi Walker has agreed to sing a brand new song written by Aaron Shust called, "My Hope Is In You."  Perhaps you've heard it on the radio recently.  It's been popular.  Trust me though when I tell you that you haven't heard Brandi sing it yet.  One word: "Wow!"

Steve Thoman will lead our prayer time.  Nancy Roop will read our Scripture. And I'll bring our message from Romans 8:24-25.  We'll be learning from an acrostic that will teach us how to know that our H.O.P.E. is R.E.A.L.  It's been fun creating this sermon - I'm HOPING it will help you in your faith during tough times.

Men's Breakfast Tomorrow Morning! There are plenty of other things happening at Church Requel.  Tomorrow morning the men and boys of CR will gather in the back room of Paul Revere's Family Restaurant in Lexington.  We enjoy casual company with an authentic, down-home breakfast. The cost for breakfast with coffee is pretty reasonable, usually between $5 and $8.  We'll swap some stories of how God has been faithful over the past month.

Profile Pics This Weekend. Many of you had your pictures taken by Diana last weekend.  She'll be taking pictures again this Sunday night.  We hope to put up the photos online (with your permission) so that we can get to know one another better.  Diana will come a half hour early and will stay a half hour late Sunday evening.  By the way, if you haven't stopped by the Church Requel website lately, you should definitely check out the new photo album Diana put up from last weekend - featuring the testimony of Rachel Barr.  Thanks Diana!

Next Weekend Super Sunday at 4pm! Don't forget that on February 5th, we'll conduct our Super Sunday Pre-Game Service two hours earlier than normal, at 4pm!  This is a special opportunity for you to invite your Super Bowl friends to a Super Worship Service.  Tell them they can pray for either team! After the pre-game service, go enjoy the party with your friends. Watch the commercials!  Root for your favorite team!  But start it out at CR! We'll have some special "football plays" of our own, including the "instant replay" of the blooper reel of Pastor Mark from our football sermon series earlier this fall.

I'm always amazed at all the great things going on for our little church.  I'm so looking forward to seeing each of you this weekend!  With much affection, Pastor Mark

Video Sermon: My Body Will Be Made Perfect

This past Sunday night was a special one at Church Requel.  We reached our 7th sermon in our Romans 8 series, "I KNOW." When we recorded our sermon video promo back in December, I asked Rachel Barr to record this line: "I know my body will be made perfect."

Rachel calls herself the @MomWithOneLeg on Twitter.  While she uses humor to handle life's difficulties, Rachel has been through some tough times.  She suffers from a genetic disorder known as Neurofibromatosis or NF1. She has undergone 6 major leg surgeries and is waiting for her 7th.  So when we come to the place in Romans 8 where it talks about our new, redeemed bodies, it would be an understatement to say that Rachel eagerly waits!  

What will our new bodies be like?  Join me in this video talk as we discuss the physical continuity of our resurrected bodies. Also listen to Rachel Barr tell her own story in the last ten minutes of the video. She shares why she groans for her new and perfect body.  What a great testimony of faith and perseverance!  Nicely done, Rachel!

 

Here are the resources to support this week's sermon.  You may want to download the weekend program and follow along.  Or perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Download 120122OUTSIDE (PDF - 67 KB), the outside of our weekend program
• Download 120122INSIDE (PDF - 59 KB), the inside of our weekend program
  
• Download 120122 Body Perfect TEACHING NOTES (PDF - 93 KB), my sermon manuscript
  
• Download 120122 Body Perfect TEACHING NOTES (AZW - 15 KB), my notes in Kindle format
  
• Download 120122 Body Perfect NOTES SLIDES (PDF - 2.4 MB), notes and slides - used by our tech team
  
• Download 120122 Planning Sheet (PDF - 36 KB), for ideas to support the theme this weekend.
  

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.

Video Sermon: Suffer Now, Glory Later

This is the talk I shared with Church Requel on January 8th - 3 weekends back.  Yes, we're running a little behind on posting up these sermon videos.  We are commited to this.  We know as many people watch online as watch live on Sunday evenings!  Thanks so much to Dave Johnson for his dedication in editing and post production.

The Bible teaches about the reality of suffering for Christ-followers.  However, it also talks just as clearly about the glory to be revealed in Christ-followers later. Join me in this video talk as we study Romans 8:17-18 together.

 

Here are the resources to support this "Suffer Now, Glory Later" sermon.  You may want to download the weekend program and follow along.  Or perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Download 120108OUTSIDE (PDF - 73 KB), the outside of our weekend program
• Download 120108INSIDE (PDF - 57 KB), the inside of our weekend program
  
• Download 120108 Suffer Glory TEACHING NOTES (PDF - 109 KB), my sermon manuscript
  
• Download 120108 Suffer Glory TEACHING NOTES (AZW - 17 KB), my sermon in Kindle format
  
• Download 120108 Suffer Glory NOTES SLIDES (PDF - 3.7 MB), used by tech team - notes & slides
  
• Download 120108 Planning Sheet (PDF - 36 KB), for ideas to support the theme
  

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.

Sermon Notes: My Body Will Be Made Perfect

Every week I publish my sermon notes so that you may read them for yourselves.  For my parishioners, this could be a good review from the weekend before.  And it gives you a chance to see what I intended to say! For other pastors and ministers, feel free to borrow and use any of this material.  I'd love for God to be glorified by you incorporating these notes into your own worship.

Listen to My Body Made Perfect

I KNOW part 7: “My Body Will Be Made Perfect” 01.22.12

Scripture:  Romans 8:23 ESV / Video: “I KNOW”

Intro: Whenever we come to that place in our video promo when we hear the line “I KNOW my body will be made perfect,” I almost tear up.  Why? Because that is Rachel Barr reading - whom many of you as (her self-given name) the mom with one leg.  Rachel suffers from a genetic disorder known as Neurofibromatosis or NF1. This disease has slowly ate away at her body, resulting in not one, but 6 major leg surgeries.  Even now she is holding off as long as she can a needed 7th surgery.  So for Rachel, to be able to say - and believe - and hope for - that “My Body Will Be Made Perfect” is no small thing.

 

 Even if you don’t suffer from NF1, you’re body suffers from daily decay.  It is prone to illness and injury and ultimately death.  The Bible promises for the children of God that this will someday be a thing of the past!  What gives Rachel... and you and me... such great hope?

^23 “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:23 ESV

Firstfruits of the Spirit - the same wording that we often give to our “tithes,” we call sometimes “firstfruits.” The ancient idea that we give our produce of our efforts first to God.  Here we learn that the Christians to whom Paul is writing are the “firstfruits” of the Spirit.  In the OT not everyone received the Spirit of God upon his or her life.  Now all Christ-followers receive the Spirit of God.  You - if you are a Christian - are exactly like this, having received God’s Holy Spirit into your life.

 

 There’s more here, though, than that these are just the first Christians.  There’s also the idea that the Spirit is doing something new in your life! You and I also become “firstfruits” when we receive God’s Holy Spirit in our lives.  We become brand new.  We are changed in an instant!

^“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

 This “new” is God in you.  When you receive His Spirit, you also receive a promise, a deposit, of more to come.  You won’t always be the same.

“[The promised Holy Spirit] is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.” Ephesians 1:14 NIV84

Groan Inwardly / Wait Eagerly - Just like the creation that groans for the world to be made right again (our study last week) you also - if you have the Spirit of God in you - also groan in anticipation.  Consider that when the Spirit of God is in you, you become an odd mixture of mortal and immortal... the timeless Eternity somehow living inside the event-driven, time-scheduled human. You know there is more... and you groan toward it!  What is the Christ follower most eager for?

 Our Adoption - a legal term. God has adopted us. Consider who adopts who.  God’s choice. Whoever heard of son adopting father? Already a reality. (Rom. 8:15 / Gal. 4:6-7). A spiritual reality. Here we have a sense of a need for a completed reality. What? the redemption of our bodies!

Audio Sermon: My Body Will Be Made Perfect

Romans 8:23 talks about our redeemed bodies. What will that be like?  Join Pastor Mark as we discuss the physical continuity of our resurrected bodies. Also listen to Rachel Barr's story and why she also groans for her new and perfect body.

Listen to My Body Made Perfect

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

Lots Happening at Church Requel!

Hey everyone!  Pastor Mark here with your weekly update of all the great things happening at Church Requel.  I love the way you are all coming together and enjoying so many events together.  You will definitely want to read through this email so you won't miss a single thing!

Sunday Night Worship. The hightlight of every weekend is when we come together as a church to worship - and this weekend will be no exception.  We'll be singing 3 upbeat worship songs together: "Happy Day," "Shine," and "You Are God Alone."  Trish Trubachik will help us before we sing the last song by reading Psalm 86. Lisa Hatfield will take the Elementary children to their own church service after our singing.

I'll lead the adult teaching time with our focus on just one verse, Romans 8:23.  That verse leads us to consider many others from the Bible which tell us what our resurrected bodies will be like in Heaven.  This will be a most uplifting and encouraging message for every Christ-follower.  

To put the exclamation mark on our teaching time, Rachel Barr will come up with me at the end of the service and will share her own story.  Self-proclaimed as the one-legged mom, Rachel will tell us about her struggles with Neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder.  She will also share with us her own testimony of why Romans 8:23 means so much to her personally.  You won't want to miss this!

Check out all the other cool things happening over the next few weeks at Church Requel:

Photos for Online Directory. Our church photographer, Diana Devolder, does such an awesome job with her pictures.  (Check out her latest photo album on our website!)  This weekend Diana will begin taking pictures of each individual for our online church directory.  This is a project that will take several weeks to accomplish.  When you see her, let Diana know if you want your picture taken this weekend.  Thanks Diana for helping us out.  This should help everyone to learn other people's name a little more easily.

New Automated Giving Plans. Many of you have asked for the ability to establish an automated giving program to Church Requel.  Let's face it... many of us don't carry checkbooks any longer.  Our leadership team has established a new way to support CR financially.  Mary Kay and I have set up our plan weekly, but you can choose to give just one time only, weekly, every other week or monthly.  And you can completely control when you start and stop your plan.  Click here for more details.  Thanks for your ongoing faithful support of our ministry!

Women's Bible Study will wrap up their study of Sheila Walsh's A Life of Worship this coming Wednesday evening, January 25th.  Ladies you will want to join Mary Kay and the others at 7pm - not only for the study, prayer, and fellowship, but also because you will begin talking about what you will study next!  The study will meet at Mary Kay's home, 1216 Butternut Court, 44906.

Men's Breakfast. The men will be meeting for breakfast on Saturday, January 28th at 9am.  We'll meet in the back room of Paul Revere's Restaurant.  (Here's a map.) This is always a fun event for men and boys alike.  Randy Craig will share his own exciting stories of answered prayers this past week. You'll hear how a young lady hooked on heroin turned around and drove two hours to check herself into a rehab facility at the exact same moment that Randy and his friend were praying for her!  Men, come not only to hear Randy, but also to share your own stories of God's faithfulness in your lives!

Winter Jam Concert. Several folks from Church Requel will be heading to Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, January 28th for the Winter Jam Tour.  The concert will include many of your favorite Christian artists including Skillet, NewSong, Sanctus Real, and Kari Jobe.  The cost for a ticket will be $10.  For more details, including transportation and who from our church will be going, talk to Rachel Barr or Lisa Hatfield.

Super Bowl Sunday. It's hard to believe this is only two weekends away!  On February 5th we will be conducting our Super Worship Service at 4pm, rather than at 6pm.  We do this because we know many of you will be invited (or will be hosting) Super Bowl parties that evening.  Moving our worship service to 4pm gives you the opportunity to invite your friends and family to a "Super" Church Requel service first.  This has been a great opportunity to reach our neighbors in the past.  Start thinking now about who you could invite to CR!

PotLuck Sunday - February 19th. It's a month away, but you may want to start on a diet now! The food that you all bring  to our potlucks is amazing!  We have reserved the fellowship hall beneath our chapel area.  We'll start at 4pm with the meal, then our worship will follow.  We have something really special planned for this evening as well.  Get it on your calendar now so you won't miss!

There sure are a lot of things happening in our small church!!!  It's a privilege to be your pastor.  I'm looking forward to seeing all of you Sunday night.  It seems like our church adds another person or two every weekend!  Who do you know that you could invite for this coming Sunday evening?

Rachel Barr To Share Story Sunday Night

I just received really great news.  Rachel Barr has agreed to share her story with us at Church Requel this coming Sunday evening.  Our study this week will be one verse only, Romans 8:23:

"Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies."

When we recorded our themed video for the I KNOW sermon series, Rachel jumped on the recording of this line:  "I KNOW my body will be made perfect."  Every time I see this video and hear Rachel record that line, I know the story that goes behind it.

However, not everyone knows Rachel's story.  Many of you may know her as what she calls herself: the one-legged mom.  What you may not know is how she got that way.  Sunday night we'll learn about her struggle with a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis, or what most of us shorten to NF1.

Over the last two years I have watched Rachel's faith in Christ and in His church grow tremendously.  It has not been easy for Rachel and she'll be the first to tell you that there are times when she really struggles.  If there is anyone, though, who can identify with the groaning of our bodies now and the waiting eagerly for the redemption of our bodies later, it is Rachel.  I am greatly looking forward to hearing her story and her testimony of how Christ has made a difference in her life. 

Share this good news with everyone you see this week.  This will be a weekend at Church Requel you won't want to miss!  - Pastor Mark

Sermon Notes: Creation Groans

Every week I publish my sermon notes so that you may read them for yourselves.  For my parishioners, this could be a good review from the weekend before.  And it gives you a chance to see what I intended to say!  For other pastors and ministers, feel free to borrow and use any of this material.  I'd love for God to be glorified by you incorporating these notes into your own worship.

Listen to "Creation Groans"

I KNOW part 6: “Creation Groans” 01.15.12

Scripture:  Romans 8:19-22 NIV

Video: “Redemption Theology” by 8 Track Productions [2:00]

Intro: Very early in life we learn the concept of brokenness.  Sometimes its just small things, like a child’s broken toy.  Ill. -When I was a youngster my curious younger brother liked to take apart his toys to figure out how they worked.  When he couldn’t put his own toy back together, Todd would proceed to take my toy apart.  Sometimes, though, it’s much more life-changing. Like the death of a loved one.  I lost my grandpa when I was 6.  We learn early on that this world is not perfect, not all good.  Most of us learn to accept the concept of “brokenness.” 

 Somewhere deep inside us, though, we know this isn’t right.  In order to learn “brokenness,” we first must know and believe in “rightness.” The world as we experience every day - the accidents, the evil, the sickness, the dying, the wearing out - isn’t “right.”  Somehow we know deep inside us what right SHOULD BE and that the world doesn’t measure up.

There’s a lot of groaning going on!  We are in a series of talks, “I KNOW,” from Romans 8.  It’s important that we know things about our faith and the world in which we practice our faith.  Last week we talked about suffering.  Let's put today's talk in context.  Within this context of suffering, we learn of 3 groanings:

  (1) Today we study about _CREATION'S_ groaning. (v. 22)

 (2) Next Sunday we'll study about _OUR OWN_ groaning. (v. 23)

 (3) On 2/5, we'll study about  THE HOLY SPIRIT'S_ groaning. (v. 26)

 Romans 8 is remembered by most of us for the victorious message at the end.  Nothing separates us from God’s love.  Paul paints a vivid picture of words before he gets there.  The world’s not right.  There’s a “wrongness” to this place, a wrongness that causes even the inanimate creation to look forward to when things will be made right.

 We learn 3 realities of creation...

PFKBC Purchase 7 New Books For Kindle Archives

Every week or so I update our family members on their Kindle books.  We each keep our own Kindle, but we share an Amazon account together.  I keep track of who buys what.  The cool part is that we can share the books with one another.  Not only does it save us money, but it gives us something to enjoy with one another.  Here is this week's email.

Dear Dad, Jillian, Tim, Jessica, Dave, Jennifer, Mike, Nancy, Patty, Cheryl, Grayden, Mary Kay, Kimberly and Riley:

It's been a busy week for 4 members of our PFKBC - Pierce Family Kindle Book Club.  Dad, Cheryl, Jennifer and Jillian were responsible for picking up 8 new books for our Kindle archives. This brings the total number of books to 923 titles.  This doesn't include our audiobooks and magazines.  What a wonderful resource!

I'm also thrilled because my grandchildren are also learning to love reading.  Grayden has read more books than anyone else in his very large 2nd grade class.  Now Sicily also has picked up the reading habit - reading Jennifer's Kindle every chance she gets. My nephew Riley also told me this weekend he is enjoying reading about Coach Tressel using his Kindle app on his iPhone.  

Kindle Owners Lending Library.  One of the great benefits of being an Amazon Prime member is that each month we are entitled to one free borrowed book.  Because we all share this privilege together let me know if you would like to make use of this feature for the next month.  I will try to be fair is sharing this benefit with all of us who wish to use it.  You say you didn't know we had this feature?  Click here to learn more.  The only thing I would add to this excellent explanation is that you should check with me via email or text first to see if there is anyone else in our club waiting for a book before click on the "Borrow For Free" button.

Other Ways to Find eBook Deals. Quite often I send an email to one of you suggesting bargain books I've found that you might be interested in reading.  Dad wrote me back this week and wondered where I find the good bargains.  I have lots of sources.  Here are a few:

• The Kindle Daily Deal - I have bookmarked this excellent link in my browser and suggest you do the same.  Every day Amazon takes a popular book and knocks it down to $0.99 to $2.99.  Usually the price is 80% less than the normal asking price.  If you check this every day I'd be surprised that you wouldn't find something you like inside of a week or two.
• Pixel of Ink - Sharon Rosen has done an outstanding job since October 2010 of getting the word out on all the free and bargain books from Amazon.  I check her blog out every day to see if I've missed anything.  
• Free Kindle Books and Tips - Michael Gallegher describes himself as an obese, gray-haired, desk-bound guy in Texas... but his work on his blog is outstanding.  He posts many great Kindle deals and tricks every day.
• 100 Books for $3.99 or Less - Amazon's own editors go through and pick out what they think are the best books in the Kindle Store available at the most reasonable prices.
• Top 100 Free Books - Just to make sure I haven't missed anything, about once a week or so I'll click on the tab for the top 100 free Kindle books.  It's easy to do and you can check this from any of your Kindles in the store as well.

New Books Added This Week:  

Audio Sermon: Creation Groans

We greatly enjoyed our time together in worship last evening.  I had so much fun with the children up front with me talking about broken toys. Camryn did such a great job reading our Scripture reading. And Jonathan was so good explaining our new online donation capabilities at the end of our service. As always, I greatly enjoyed sharing our Bible teaching.  I especially enjoyed telling the story of Mary Kay giving birth to Jillian. 

We live in a world of brokenness.  Things aren't "right." Even creation longs for the world to be made right again.  Join me as we study Romans 8:19-22.

Listen to "Creation Groans"

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

YouVersion Sermon Notes Up

Hey everyone!  If you want to bring your iPads, Kindle Fires, Smart Phones, even laptops to Sunday night's Church Requel worship service - you are most welcome to do so!  We even have Bible app stickers for you to attach to the back.  Tomorrow's sermon notes are now up on your Bible app.  Click on LIVE, enter "Church Requel" or "44906" in the search field, and it should come right up.  Or you could check out our notes in your browser window by clicking  http://bible.us/e/GdH.

This Weekend at CR: Creation Groans

Hi everyone! Pastor Mark here with your weekly update about all things Church Requel!  I hope you have had a good week.  I know the snow is coming down now, but we really can't complain, right? When's the last year you remember the snow holding off until the middle of January?

This Weekend. We have lots of great things happening this weekend at Church Requel.  We'll be singing two creation oriented songs that I know you love: "Majestic" by Lincoln Brewster and "God of Wonders" by Chris Tomlin. The children will be joining me up front on the CR platform this weekend. I plan on asking them about their broken toys. (There's a reason - you'll see!) Before the children leave, Cameron Craig (pictured on the left) will read our Bible reading, Romans 8:20-22.  Cameron will do a GREAT job!  You go, girl!  Sunday evening I'll also bring our sixth teaching from Romans 8 titled, "Creation Groans."

Online Giving Now Available. Several of you have asked for the ability to donate to Church Requel with electronic donations.  This is now possible, either as a one-time gift or as a scheduled, recurring donation.  Before we leave Sunday night, Jonathan Pierce (pictured on the right) will show us how to set this up online.  You can check it out here on our Church Requel website.

Next Women's Bible Study.  The ladies will wrap up their study of Sheila Walsh's, A Life of Worship, on Wednesday, January 25th.  Then, in four weeks, you will be getting together for a social evening and deciding what your next study will be.  Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Jan. 25th at 7pm. 

Next Men's Breakfast. Guys you should also mark your calendars for Saturday morning, January 27th.  We've reserved the back room at Paul Revere's restaurant in Lexington for breakfast at 9am.  We'll talk about some of the things we'd like to do as a Men's Ministry in 2012. 

Pictures and Photo Galleries.  Diana Devolder (pictured on the left) has stepped forward to fill a much needed role.  I noticed the excellent photo album Diana produced on her Facebook page about our Christmas Eve Candlelight service.  (If you haven't seen it yet, you should check it out!)  I asked her if she would be willing to do the same thing for our Church Requel Online Photo Gallery.  Not only will she be telling the story of Church Requel through photos, but she has also decided to take pictures of each person who attends Church Requel for our Online Community.  She will be doing this over the course of several weeks and will start the weekend of January 22nd.  Next time you see Diana, let her know how much we appreciate her!

That's enough news for now!  Don't let the snow keep you from coming Sunday night to Church Requel.  We have an awesome service planned.  I can't wait to see all my old friends and many new ones!  It seems like every week we have new folks coming.  Speaking of which, why not forward this email to a friend or family member and tell them to meet you at CR Sunday night at 6pm?

With much affection!  Pastor Mark

Video Sermon: I Am A Child Of God

This is the talk I gave to Church Requel on New Year's Eve a couple weeks ago.  Here are a few unique infobits about this talk you may like to know.  First, I think it may be my personal favorite talk of 2011.  No question it ranks in the top 5.  I really enjoyed my study and delivery of this talk and, it seemed to me, God met me in a marvelous way all week long.  Second, I think some others feel the same way as I have received multiple requests for this particular video release.  Finally - and somewhat humorously - editing this particular video is what convinced me I needed to get back to the gym.  My goodness!

Join me in this video talk as we consider the consequences of being a child of God. What would 2012 be like if every morning, when you wake up, you hear God's Spirit whisper to you: "You is smart. You is kind. You is important?"

 

Here are the resources to support this week's sermon.  You may want to download the weekend program and follow along.  Or perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Download 111231INSIDE (PDF - 54 KB), the inside of our weekly program
• Download 111231OUTSIDE (PDF - 64 KB), the outside of our weekly program
  
• Download 111231 Gods Child TEACHING NOTES (PDF - 120 KB), my manuscript
  
• Download 111231 Gods Child TEACHING NOTES (AZW - 15 KB), notes in Kindle format
  
• Download 111231 Gods Child NOTES SLIDES (PDF - 1.9 MB), used by tech team
• Download 111231 Planning Sheet (PDF - 36 KB), for ideas to support the theme
  

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.

Sermon Notes: Suffer Now, Glory Later

Every week I publish my sermon notes so that you may read them for yourselves.  For my parishioners, this could be a good review from the weekend before.  And it gives you a chance to see what I intended to say!  For other pastors and ministers, feel free to borrow and use any of this material.  I'd love for God to be glorified by you incorporating these notes into your own worship.

Listen to Suffer Now, Glory Later.

I KNOW part 5: “Suffer Now Glory Later” 01.08.12

Scripture:  Romans 8:17-18 ESV

Read: Response to an Insurance Company: (source unknown)

I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block #3 of the accident form, I put “trying to do the job alone” as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following details will be sufficient.

I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was working alone on the roof of a new six story building. When I completed my work, I found that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which fortunately was attached to the side of the building at the 6th floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick. You will note in block #11 of the accident report that I weigh 135 pounds. In my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were 2 knuckles deep into the pulley. 

Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind, and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground, and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Without the weight of bricks, the barrel weighed approximately 50 pounds.

I refer you again to my weight in block #11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs, and lower body area. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain … unable to stand … and watching the empty barrel six stories above me … I again lost my presence of mind and... let go of the rope.

Suffering a difficult topic: Today we consider an unpopular topic: Suffering. Not one of those things you put up on a billboard- “Come to Church Requel and learn about suffering!” My commitment to teach the WHOLE Word of God, not just the parts we like.  Suffering is very real.  Sometimes we suffer just because that’s the way life is.  Death, sickness, deceit, difficulties, hardships face all of us from time to time.  Sometimes it’s other people’s fault. Sometimes, just like the bricklayer, we forget and let go of the rope. Sometimes suffering is part of our Christian faith!

 Difficult topic because we like FAST Christianity. That takes time. We’re in a hurry. We live in a microwave, hurry-up world.  Ill. - I read today that in Hunan Province China, they built a 30-story hotel in just 15 days! How well would you sleep in a building that got the record for being built FAST?  We want FAST faith devoid of difficult issues like suffering.

Especially tough because of false teaching! Sometimes we will suffer even more JUST BECAUSE of our Christian faith!  Is this possible?  Is this a fact? Suffering is difficult topic when we consider that so many preachers are teaching a gospel message that doesn’t include the reality of suffering. A Health and Wealth gospel. A prosperity gospel.  Consider these quotes from Christian teachers whom you would know well:

Video Sermon: I Will Be Resurrected

Here at Church Requel we are working hard to get caught up with our video sermon publishing.  It's definitely something worth doing.  We have more people watching our teaching each week on the web than we have coming to our services.  However, it is a dedication of time and effort.  I thank Dave Johnson who gives so much of himself each week in this video editing ministry!

This talk is from December 11, 2011. Some Christians believe in their future resurrection because they should. Others believe in it because they want to - they hope it will happen. But can we really KNOW we will be resurrected? Join me as we study Romans 8:9-11.

 

Here are the resources to support this sermon.  Perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Download 111211 Resurrected TEACHING NOTES (PDF - 114 KB)
• Download 111211 Resurrected NOTES SLIDES (PDF - 1.8 MB)
  
• Download 111211 Planning Sheet (PDF - 35 KB)
  

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.