CLOSING IN PRAYER

After 5 months, we came to the close of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. How did he finish off what is arguably the most complete outline of the Christian life in all the Bible? Did he say, “Now go out there and do it! You got this! Go be the church through whom God is working in the world!” No. Far from concluding with a call to get out there and do our part to make all the blessings of Ephesians a reality, the Apostle concludes with a call to prayer. He does so because we need God to make any of Ephesians work. We can’t put on God’s armor, have healthy marriages, enjoy peace with one another, or be God’s church without God’s help. Prayer is how we connect ourselves to God and all that he’s doing. So it’s to prayer we must turn if we want to be the church God is using to do his work in the world.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EVERY 1ST & 3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Every 1st & 3rd Friday of the month at 7pm, three different groups meet throughout our city to share in the joy of Jesus, care for one another, and apply the gospel to each other’s lives. This week, our small groups will be discussing the reality of spiritual warfare and encouraging one another to rest our souls in the victory of Christ.

Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moment in the life of our church. Make it a priority to attend one this Friday.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

FEBRUARY 18 IS THE DEADLINE

A few weeks ago, we started participating in a fundraiser for Livingwell Pregnancy Center, a local nonprofit dedicated to loving mothers and loving their babies - those already born and those yet to be born. This is important work and it strikes near to God’s heart for the most vulnerable among us.

Don't Forget to fill up your bottle with coins, cash, or checks and bring it to church this Sunday! This will conclude our Baby Bottle Drive Fundraiser.

FEBRUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 18

Every Tuesday we publish a blog post to lay out in one place what’s going in the life of the church for the upcoming week. See below for a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16: SMALL GROUP

• 7:00pm - Houlton, Roenicke, and Erkelens Home

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

JOIN OUR TEAM, COLLECT SPONSORS, AND WALK WITH US

This March, join our team, as we partner with LivingWell to spend the morning walking together in support of their ministry and the women and babies they serve!

In order to participate, we encourage you to start collecting sponsors! All the donations you collect will be used to support LivingWell’s center - offering free women’s health services to the community and support groups for those suffering from past pregnancy losses.

JOIN JIM’S TEAM

Our very own, Jim Cunningham, is our Team Captain. When you register for our team, make sure to put “Jim’s Team” in parentheses after your name. Everyone who raises $25 will receive a t-shirt, and the Cunningham’s have graciously offered to provide a prize for whoever on our team raises the most money. To register and download your sponsor form, visit the site here.

For any questions regarding our Team, please feel free to reach out to Jim Cunningham here.

THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

In Ephesians 6:10-20, the new set of clothes we put on in Christ includes armor for battle. Satan and the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (6:12) are real and really intend to oppose the progress of the gospel, the progress of our growth in Christ, and the pursuit of peace within the Church. But, even as the struggle is real, we “take up the whole armor of God” (6:13) and fight with confidence that we will win because Christ has already won. We look to him and are strengthened to stand firm in these evil days because he’s already stood underneath the wrath of God, the curse of death, and all the hatred of the devil and emerged victorious on the other side.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

A DINNER THAT REPRESENTS THE LIFE WE SHARE

Daylight savings Sunday is coming and that means our annual all-church Communion dinner is around the corner as well. Mark your calendars for March 10th at 5:00pm as we switch gears from our regular Sunday service for a special evening centered on the Lord's Supper. We will eat and drink together as we meditate more deeply on our Savior's sacrifice.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PREPARE

Not only will we share in the eating of a meal. We’ll share in the preparation of the meal. This is an event that requires all hands on deck. More details to follow on how to prepare and what to bring so keep an eye on the blog.

ALL GUYS 15 AND OLDER ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

Every second Thursday of the month, the men of our church gather together to sit under God’s word and spur on each other’s walk with Christ. All guys, 15 years and older, are invited to participate in a conversation where "men talk like men" about God. Join in at the 4th Street Market patio at 7:00 pm.

FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUARY 11

Every Tuesday we publish a blog post to lay out in one place what’s going in the life of the church for the upcoming week. See below for a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8: Men’s Meeting

• 7:00pm - Fourth Street Market Patio

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

GOD’S WORK IN THE WORLD THROUGH OUR FAMILY OF CHURCHES

From Dave Taylor, our Director of Global Missions in Sovereign Grace Churches:

Psalm 121.1-2 says, ‘I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.'

As we pray, that’s who's listening and that’s who we get to come to! The LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. The One who will not let our foot be moved, who is our shade at our right hand, and who neither slumbers nor sleeps. The LORD is the One who will help us and so as we pray, what a privilege and what an opportunity it really is!!

With that in mind then, here are some ways that you can be praying for all things Global Missions in the month ahead…

1. Please pray for the five churches in Pakistan that have recently become Sovereign Grace ‘Candidate’ Churches. After many years of friendship, we’re so pleased by this development. Please be praying for these churches, all ‘Amazing Grace Churches’, along with their six pastors who are beginning the ordination process this month.

2. Please be praying for Bob Kauflin as he heads over to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to serve at our Ethiopia Pastors College (Trinity Fellowship Pastors College), February 6th-11th. During his time there Bob will be teaching on the practical theology of worship, as well as leading a night of worship at Trinity Fellowship and running a songwriters intensive. Please also pray for the brothers who will be heading over from our Church in Zambia for this special time for our African Churches.  

3. Please pray for the Sovereign Grace Leadership Team as we lead a retreat, February 5th-7th, that will include all of the US Regional Leaders. Asking God to freshly envision, strengthen, and equip these leaders for the important role that they play. They are such a fine group of men.

4. Please pray for David Del Castillo, Pastor of Gracia Soberana Iglesia Cristiana in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, as he prepares to lead their very first Church Retreat, February 11th-13th. Their guest preacher for the time is Jacobis Aldana, one of our Pastors in Colombia, and the topic is ‘The Centrality of the Gospel’. Please pray that God meets with this dear Church in a powerful way at this retreat, through worship, preaching, and much fellowship. 

5. Please pray for Bob Kauflin, Jeffrey Jo, Myself (Dave Taylor), and the Sovereign Grace Music Team as we put the final preparations in place ready to lead three events in Manila Philippines in March. With over 3000 people already registered across these three events, please be praying for our remaining preparation. 

6. Please pray that wherever we find ourselves in the world, that God would give the members of Sovereign Grace Churches a renewed desire, and opportunities to share the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ with the unbelievers in our communities, colleges and workplaces. The gospel is powerful, and so may we tell of it, and then watch and see all that the Lord may do. 

… Thank you so much. May His great and glorious grace abound to us all!