Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

This Week At Church Requel: Fickle Friends

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

We are really looking forward to our time together this coming Sunday morning! Last night I enjoyed supporting the sound tech for our praise team, made up of Jeff and Tamira Barnes, Brianna Nourse (formerly Barnes), Dan Logan and Ian Jensen. Sounded good! I love it when we can have a live band too.

Last weekend to prep for Mother's Day. Our kiddos have spent the last two weekends getting ready for Mother's Day. They have BIG PLANS for next weekend. Usually our children sit with their parents on the first Sunday of the month. Not this month. Sunday is May 1st - and I know they will all want to go to KidsMin to finalize their preparations for all the moms next weekend. If you're a parent or grandparent, make sure your children get to Church Requel this weekend!

Congrats to Brianna! As you might have already seen above, Brianna Nourse will be worshiping with us this weekend. She graduates this week from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Yay Brianna! What a year! Brianna married Dylan Nourse on January 2nd. She had her first Broadway audition this past week. And she will perform in Theatre Aspen’s production of Mamma Mia this summer.

What we appreciate most about Brianna, however, has been her humble support of the Church Requel ministry every time she has had the opportunity to worship with us. We wish you the best of luck, Brianna, and pray that you’ll continue to be a shining witness to the power of Christ in your life, wherever life takes you.

Sunday morning we will continue our Luke series by looking at 7:24-35.  Have you ever experienced the disloyalty of someone you thought to be a friend? Have you ever been falsely accused? The subject of gossip? Were your friends fickle in their defense of you? Sunday we will continue our consideration of John the Baptist in jail and see what Jesus had to say. Along the way we’ll discover what makes for a good friend. Want a head start? Here are the Bible app sermon notes.

By the way, did you know that this will be our 18th sermon from Luke this year? We started this past Christmas and have been taking it one verse at a time ever since. What do you think? Do you like this exegetical process of preaching through the Scriptures? This week, we organized all of our Luke sermons into a YouTube playlist. Check it out here. Now you can easily review each week's talk. This makes it super easy to share with your family and friends too!

GREAT News About Our Membership Class. We experienced another first-time ever at Church Requel last weekend. We were expecting 12 people to come to the membership class. Instead, we had 14 people show up! That's a first - to have more come than we expected. It was a really terrific class. Everyone shared their story of how they started coming to Church Requel and why they love their church. 

Encourage the following parishioners in their membership journey - Anna Scott, Amy Watson, Aaron Parsons, Chris Thoman, Tamara Engstrom, Jan Calendine, Ron Bolesky, Ken & Karen Jacob, Tamira Barnes, Ed & Paula Walker, and Fred & Susie Wiegand. Their second session is scheduled for Sunday evening May 22nd starting at 6pm.

Neighborhood Meal - May 14th.  Our next opportunity to serve our free neighborhood meal is Saturday, May 14th. We will need volunteers to arrive by 4 pm and plan to serve until 6:30. We would also appreciate your donations of desserts to share. Please help us be Jesus’ hands and feet as we share God’s love with those around us.

Men's Chorus - May 29th. We’re excited about this month having 5 Sundays! Brandi welcomes all of our singing men to be a part of a very special men’s chorus on May 29th. If you’re a guy and you like to sing, make sure to ask Brandi for a music packet so you can participate!

Mary Kay and I both thank you for your prayers on her behalf. She is really starting to make some progress this week with her stretching exercises. Her arm will remain in a sling for at least another 4 weeks. We are learning how to coordinate our lives with three hands instead of four. All of the meals and cards you sent us were so wonderful. We know we are loved by you all! Hope to see you Sunday morning! In Christ's love, Pastor Mark

Dealing With Doubt [Podcast]

Doubt is a very real response, even for the most faithful of Christians, when we face disappointment and discouragement. In this sermon we consider the story of John the Baptist in Luke 7:18-23, when he was facing his most difficult days. We learn how Jesus provided the fuel for John’s faith, and today for our faith as well.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Click to Listen!

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.

Dealing With Doubt [Video Sermon]

Doubt is a very real response, even for the most faithful of Christians, when we face disappointment and discouragement. In this sermon we consider the story of John the Baptist in Luke 7:18-23, when he was facing his most difficult days. We learn how Jesus provided the fuel for John’s faith, and today for our faith as well.

Dealing With Doubt from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

This Week At Church Requel: Dealing With Doubt

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

Another quick letter to you this week. Mary Kay and I need to be down in Columbus this morning by 9am for her first follow-up doctor's visit since her rotator cuff surgery a week ago Monday. As far as we can tell she is recovering normally. Thank you for your morning prayers on her behalf this morning.

Come Early Sunday! It is important for you to know that we are changing up our normal Sunday routine for worship. 

• Our children will start KidsMin right from 11am. All our children - including the Junior High kiddos - will go to the downstairs fellowship hall. This writer understands they are working on a special Mother's Day project, but I've been sworn to secrecy. Moms - no fair trying to get your kiddos to tell you either! Ha!
• The worship order of service has been changed too. We will celebrate communion together very early in the worship, so you won't want to be late!

I'm so thankful for the creativity of Brandi and Tamira when they plan special events like they have for this Sunday. They even have invented special shorthand names for things. For example this Sunday we will have a "sandwich sermon." Brandi has selected two special songs that work especially well with our topic of doubt. She will sing one song before and another song after. So I suppose the sermon is the meat and her songs are are the bread. Gotta love it!

Speaking of the sermon, we will be talking about how to handle doubt. We'll learn that doubt is a very real factor in the lives of the most faithful Christians. This is especially true when we're going through the difficult times of life. We'll consider the story of John the Baptist in Luke 7. He was jailed and wondering if Jesus really was the Messiah or not. It is a rich passage, full of good advice for us.

We also have a full praise team who will help us celebrate together. This weekend we will be singing our songs together at the end of the worship as a hopeful response to what we have learned in our "sandwich sermon" on doubt. I'm very thankful to Stephenie, Bessica, Chris and Tamara, all who will join Brandi in leading our singing together. Sounds like it will be a terrific worship time together.

Love you all much! Continuing to be Mary Kay's left hand... Pastor Mark

Five Great Powers Of Life [Podcast]

What powers do you - as a Christ-follower - have available to you every single day? Today we examine the story of when the funeral procession meets Jesus in Luke 7:11-17. Not only do we recall a great miracle of Jesus, but we also discover 5 great powers available to us.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download this PDF fill-in-the blanks sermon outline.

Click to Listen!

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.

Five Great Powers Of Life [Video Sermon]

What powers do you - as a Christ-follower - have available to you every single day? Today we examine the story of when the funeral procession meets Jesus in Luke 7:11-17. Not only do we recall a great miracle of Jesus, but we also discover 5 great powers available to us.

Five Great Powers Of Life from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download this PDF fill-in-the blanks sermon outline.

This Week At Church Requel: Five Great Powers

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

What a beautiful week. I understand it's going to be a beautiful Sunday morning too!

We have great plans for Sunday. Joining Brandi on the praise team will be Trish, Brian, Chris and Tamara! I love it when these five folks lift their voices together. In addition to two songs we have sung multiple times before, "How Great Thou Art" and "Good Good Father," we will be singing another song for the very first time: "Man of Sorrows." Really powerful song! I'm glad Brandi picked it!

Nancy will be sharing our announcements. Roger will be leading our prayer time. Cindy, Bessica, Tamira, Karen, Jessica and Dave will be teaching our children. Trish and Brandi will be singing a special song - the recently popular "How Can It Be?" sung often by Lauren Diagle.

Our sermon Sunday is titled, "Five Great Powers of Life." We will study together the passage in Luke 7:11-17, where Jesus raises a widow's son. Along the way we'll discover 5 powers of life that make this life so worth living on this side of eternity. I can't wait to share them with you. How about if you read this part of the Bible between now and Sunday and see how many of these great powers you can find?

This week's letter will be much shorter than normal. My focus this week has been almost entirely on one particular parishioner - Mary Kay Pierce. Her shoulder surgery Monday was much more extensive than we were planning. The good news is that she is responding and healing well. The bad news is that neither one of us have left our family room for very long. She sleeps upright on a recliner and I sleep next to her on the couch.

On this bright and cheery Friday morning I'm thrilled to report she is making progress, but also realize it's going to be six weeks before she can even move her left arm. So for these intervening days, I am her left arm! I've discovered that I can do this! I can be a left arm! Everyone should be good at one thing, at least! For me - it's a left arm specialty!

I'm seriously behind in my preparations for Sunday, so I'm going to cut this letter off early. Thank you all for your many prayers and for your kindness expressed in meals each evening. You all mean more to Mary Kay and I than we could ever express. Hope to see you all Sunday morning, Pastor Mark

Amazing Faith [Podcast]

Often the crowds around Jesus were amazed. Forty-three times in the New Testament we find some one or some group amazed at something. But only once do we find Jesus “amazed.” In this study we learn that Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s faith. Would you like to have amazing faith too? We learn how our faith can be amazing too.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon notes.

Click to Listen!

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.

Amazing Faith [Video Sermon]

Often the crowds around Jesus were amazed. Forty-three times in the New Testament we find some one or some group amazed at something. But only once do we find Jesus “amazed.” In this study we learn that Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s faith. Would you like to have amazing faith too? We learn how our faith can be amazing too.

Amazing Faith from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon notes.

This Week At Church Requel: Amazing Faith

 

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

I've been thinking all morning about how fortunate we are to be together in this particular body of Christ. I never have known a group of people who love Christ more and who love one another more. You live out our mission so beautifully! The short video above is from our potluck this past Sunday. I love the cut of little Theo waving - he is learning early!

Membership Class April 17,24, May 1st. Speaking of belonging - it's not too late to sign up for our upcoming membership class. We really would appreciate you signing up this weekend in the foyer so we can have plenty of time to prepare our materials. This class is a great way to learn more about your church - why we exist, what we're about, what our strategy is. I look forward to sharing this time together with many of you!

This Weekend! We have lots of exciting plans for Sunday. For one thing, many of our children will be leading our worship experience. Leia and Anna will be joining Brandi up front for the worship songs. Plus - a little birdie has told me that many of the kiddos will be invited up to help dance, move, clap and sing along. Sounds like a lot of fun. Elijah will be sharing our announcements. Wyatt will be leading our Bible reading.

Our teaching this week comes from Luke 7:1-10. This is the story of the centurion, who sends a request to Jesus to heal his beloved servant. This centurion tells Jesus that he doesn't even need to come and that the centurion isn't worthy to have Jesus come under his roof. It's enough for Jesus simply to say the word.

Our focus will be on one word in verse nine: "amazed." The Bible tells us that Jesus "was amazed at him." What's so amazing about this, you ask? Many times in Scripture we find this word used, but it's always other people who are amazed at Jesus. The disciples are amazed. The crowds are amazed. Only one time do we read that Jesus was amazed - and it's right here!

Do you want to amaze Jesus? I know I do! Sunday we're going to take a page from the centurion's playbook and discover how.

KidsMin Fun Projects Coming Up! One thing about our kiddos I know for sure - they are a creative bunch! They love their projects! Last week they had the opportunity to learn some giant lessons about Goliath. Along the way they created some shields of faith. Each one was unique.

Why am I telling you this? Parents especially listen up...

The next 3 Sundays, starting April 17th, all our children will be working on some especially fun projects. I'm not permitted to tell you all I know, but let's just say that Mother's Day is going to be pretty special this year. Really. Mark down May 8th on your calendars right now. You won't want to miss!

Ok boys and girls. This week less is more. (Making that video above took most of my time this morning.) Thank you all for your many prayers on our family's behalf. Mary Kay and I are still recovering. We are still hoping she can have her shoulder surgery on Monday. Our family has a special time planned for this Saturday evening, when twenty-five of us will celebrate my Dad's 85th birthday together down at Mohican Lodge. As Dad is often quick to brag, he's still "meek, lowly and humble."

Love you all much! - Pastor Mark

Foundation [Video Sermon]

We come to the end of Jesus’ great sermon and He concludes with this challenge - will you build your life on what I have taught you? We talk about that foundation - what it is, why it matters, how it starts and how it continues. We learn that Jesus is the Architect who has great plans for us, but we have to be ready for Demo Day - getting rid of anything that keeps us from living the Christian life.

Foundation from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download these PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Foundation [Podcast]

We come to the end of Jesus’ great sermon and He concludes with this challenge - will you build your life on what I have taught you? We talk about that foundation - what it is, why it matters, how it starts and how it continues. We learn that Jesus is the Architect who has great plans for us, but we have to be ready for Demo Day - getting rid of anything that keeps us from living the Christian life.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download these PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Click to Listen!

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play or Download in new window.

This Week At Church Requel: Foundation

Good Friday morning Church Requel!

And what a beautiful Friday morning it is, here in the heart of Ohio. We are enjoying a gorgeous Spring day. The flowers have bloomed. The grass has turned green. This morning, the skies are a most spectacular blue! I wish each of you could be here to enjoy it with me.

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24 ESV

Teaching Plans. I'm excited about the great Sunday we have in store together this weekend. I found my study time in sermon prep to be especially satisfying. We'll be considering just 4 verses, Luke 6:46-49. This is the conclusion of Jesus' great sermon and it is packed with great power for us!

Jesus concludes with this challenge - will you build your life on what I have taught you? One of the most important words in this Scripture is the word "when" in verse 48 - "When a flood came..." It's not a matter of if it might happen. Rather it's "when." The storms of life come for everyone - Christian and non-Christian alike.

The only difference for the Christ-follower is that he or she can invest his or her life building a proper foundation that will stand up to the tough times of life.  Sunday we’ll talk about that foundation - what it is, why it matters, how it starts and how it continues. Want a head start? Open your Bible app and click on "Events" and look for Church Requel. Or just follow this link.

Worship Plans. Our praise team for Sunday morning practiced last night. What a great experience for me to share in their rehearsal! Jeff, Brandi, Ian and Tamira really do an amazing job of bringing us into the throne room of God.

Here are the songs we'll be singing (along with links to YouTube versions so you can get started early!) - "Your Grace is Enough" by Chris Tomlin, "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman, "Cornerstone" by Hillsong and "Lord, I Need You" by Matt Maher. This really is an awesome worship set!

KidsMin Plans. Our children will begin a brand new series this Sunday called "Zero To Hero." They will be looking at some of the heroes in the Old Testament. Tamira promises hands on learning including videos, games and crafts. If you have a child in your life, you'll definitely want to have them join us for faith, friendship and fun as we begin this new series.

Potluck Plans. When is the end not the end? On Potluck Sunday! (I know - you were thinking about a much more profound answer.) At the end of our worship experience, we'll all gather for one of Church Requel's famous potluck meals. We'll enjoy food and fellowship. You won't want to miss it. Sheri has purchased a delicious sliced ham for us. The church will provide paper plates, eating utensils and coffee and lemonade. Everything else is up to "luck" and your good preparations. Families bring two dishes to share. Singles bring one dish. No matter what, make sure you come!

Food Pantry Plans. Speaking of food, our food pantry is off to a great start. Ask yourself - is there any good reason why someone would ever leave Church Requel and go home to an empty cupboard? This happens more than we’d like. So we have started a food pantry downstairs, which we will stock with non-perishable foods. When you come to church on Sundays bring some food to share with others, who may be sitting in the pew next to you.

We plan to give Sheri some time on Sunday to talk to us about this new ministry. One thing she will mention is that someone has donated a freezer to Church Requel. Now you can donate meat and we'll store it in the freezer. Check out the above photo to see how far we've come already. Thank you all for your generous spirit!

Membership Plans. It's been awhile since we've offered a membership class at Church Requel. We will conduct our next Membership class over 3 Sunday evenings, April 17th, 24th and May 1st at 6pm. There is a registration / sign-up form in the lobby. You do not have to become a member if you attend the class. But you cannot become a member without attending. Should be a great time together. There is no cost and the class is taught by yours truly.

Personal Prayer Request. Mary Kay was scheduled this coming Monday for shoulder surgery. We've been looking forward to this day for a long time, since Mary Kay cannot raise one of her arms above her head. However, this week she has come down with what we think is a viral infection. She has lost her voice and has a sore throat. We called the surgeon's office this morning - they want to reschedule. They don't want to put Mary Kay under anesthesia when she's already sick. Disappointing for her.

I know there are many other prayer requests within our congregation. Keep praying for one another. We continue to pray for each of you. With Christ's inexhaustible love, Pastor Mark