Pre-Service 3-25-2018 - The Art of Being Led

This week we will conclude our Shepherding the Flock series. The sermon text will be Hebrews 13:7,17:

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

We will also take time to remember the events in Jesus' life which we celebrate today as Palm Sunday, the week before Easter.

Here are some passages we will look at:

• Matthew 21:8-11
• Matthew 27:21-23
• 1 Timothy 2:1-3
• Philippians 4:9
• Ephesians 5:21

Pre-Service 3-18-2018 - Fixing the Holes in the Fence

This week Pastor Todd will continue his series on Shepherding the Flock. We will look at these two verses from Ephesians 4:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

The main idea is that the leaders build up the Body so each member is prepared for works of service.

Questions to consider:

• Do most people think of the church as a place to prepare us for service in the world? If not, how do they think of it?
• What service (or ministry) are you being prepared for?
• When and how does your involvement in church prepare you?

Since the message is about building up the Church, we will use the song O Church Arise after the sermon. We don't sing this song very often and the lyrics require some reflection to understand fully. Take some time to read over the first two verses.

O church, arise, and put your armor on;

Hear the call of Christ our captain.

For now the weak can say that they are strong

In the strength that God has given.

With shield of faith and belt of truth,

We’ll stand against the devil’s lies.

An army bold, whose battle cry is love,

Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war, to love the captive soul,

But to rage against the captor;

And with the sword that makes the wounded whole,

We will fight with faith and valor.

When faced with trials on every side,

We know the outcome is secure.

And Christ will have the prize for which He died:

An inheritance of nations. 

Pre-Service 3-4-2018 - Am I Good Enough?

Today we will continue our series on Shepherding the Flock. Pastor Todd will look at the list of qualifications of godly leaders and what it means for all of us.

The main passage will be Titus 1:5-9. (Click the link to read it online.)

Other passages we will look at are:

• Titus 2:1-2
• 1 Timothy 3:11
• 1 Peter 2:9