"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." (Psalm 119:105)

We offer this tentative listing primarily for our worship leaders and their preparation. However, we also hope it will encourage everyone to read the Scripture passages in advance as you listen for God to speak.

Sep 29 – Politics and the Kingdom of God: God’s Design for His Co-Rulers (4-6) – Genesis 1:26-28; Romans 1:16-25 (sections 4-6; first “governing” term in the Bible is “have dominion over”; Adam works the garden; Adam names the animals; This is God’s call to co-rule with Him under His authority for the good of creation. Sin destroys our right relationship with creation so now “dominion” is an exploitive term; Romans 8 – all creation waits for our redemption because it cannot be redeemed without us. We will co-rule the new creation as God intended with the old creation.)

Oct 6 – Politics and the Kingdom of God: God’s Sovereignty Over Human Governments – Romans 12:17 – 13:7; Daniel 2:21; 4:17 (sections 1-3, 7-9, 12; God’s sovereignty over evil; “They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer”; putting limits on evil; promoting justice; God gives authority and will hold all accountable for how they use that authority; injustice will be righted on the Day of Judgment in the Kingdom of God; God seeks to save even evil rulers)

Oct 13 – Politics and the Kingdom of God: God’s Political Identity for Christians – 1 Peter 2:9-17; Philippians 3:19-21 (sections 13-14; Aliens, Foreigners, Strangers, and Citizens of Heaven in this world; believers belong to the Kingdom of God, but offer submission/obedience to laws, respect, honor and active support for the welfare of the state; limits on our obedience—we must obey God rather than men wherever there are conflicts for our obedience)

Oct 20 – Politics and the Kingdom of God: God’s Call to Live Faithfully in Unfaithful Times – 1 Kings 18:1-15; Daniel 6:7-11; (sections 10-11; Serving for good within an evil authority/government; Obadiah; Daniel; Joanna; those of Caesar’s household; civil disobedience of the Israelite midwives in Egypt; )

Oct 27 – Politics and the Kingdom of God: Jesus Christ Reigns – Revelation 22:1-5; Revelation 3:21; Ephesians 1:20-22; (sections 15-16; many think Jesus does not reign, but will someday reign. They call people to repent so they are ready when He does reign. But the Gospel is that Jesus reigns now, and we call people to repent to live in that truth (to live in the Kingdom of God now), and one day Jesus Christ will be revealed as the true King of kings and Lord of lords, when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess He is Lord. And then we will reign with Him, fulfilling God’s intentions; Jesus sits at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, powers in submission to him; The kingdom of God will prevail and we will reign with Christ)

Nov 3 – Generous Heart:  The Principle of Grace – 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”; stewardship and giving; generosity based on depth of love for others; God’s undeserved love poured out on us overflows in us to become generosity and love towards others, apart from earning or deserving it)

Nov 10 – Generous Heart: The Principle of Manna – 2 Corinthians 8:10-15 (“The goal is equality, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’”; “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.”; God’s provision poured out according to various and specific needs; trusting God’s promises on a day to day basis; contentment with what we have; discovering a sense of security in God’s provision rather than in greed and hoarding)

Nov 17 – Generous Heart: The Principle of Integrity – 2 Corinthians 8:16 – 9:5 (“which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself…We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.”; “Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.”; giving thoughtfully and intentionally in order to prepare our hearts and minds; giving as a spiritual discipline; wisdom and discernment in our generosity)

Nov 24 – Generous Heart: The Principle of a Happy Heart – 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) We give cheerfully when we trust God will provide for our needs; We give cheerfully when we recognize how God uses our giving to transform us; We give cheerfully when we recognize how God uses our giving to change others)

Dec 1 – Thanksgiving weekend – Advent: “Wonderful Counselor” – Isaiah 9:1-7 (miraculous power and perfect wisdom of Christ; turning our darkness into light)

Dec 8 – Advent: “Mighty God” – Isaiah 9:1-7; Colossians 1:9-14 (Jesus Christ is fully God; strength of Christ; mighty to save and rescue and deliver us from our enemies)

Dec 15 – Advent: “Everlasting Father” – Isaiah 9:1-7; John 10:22-33 (Eternal Ruler over His family; “The Father and I are one”; everlasting in his reign, unlike other kings; And his reign is characterized as being brought into His family)

Dec 22 – Advent: “Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:1-7; Ephesians 2:14-18 (Prince of Shalom; reconciling us to God through the cross; healing divisions by His blood; overcoming all injustice and wrongs and making them right)

Dec 29 – (5^th Sunday one service; NO meal) “How we should and should not serve God” – 1 Peter 4:7-11 (we don’t serve to give something to God, as if it didn’t already belong to Him; we don’t serve in order to justify ourselves before God; we don’t serve in order to gain glory from people, but to give glory to God; we give glory to God by serving in His strength and in the gifts He provides)