E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

ILLUSTRATION – Nan and I had our wedding anniversary a few weeks ago, and we bought each other cards.  What was interesting was that both of our cards mentioned something about the fact that a wife and a husband are “partners.”  We later commented how as we both were picking out the cards that we almost didn’t buy that particular card simply because of the connotation of the word “partner” today.  Unfortunately the word “partner” is often used to describe relationships that are something less than the biblical pattern for marriage.  But we shouldn’t let the fact that the word is misused and abused when it comes to marriage keep us from celebrating the fact that a man and a woman in a biblical marriage are, indeed, partners.   (more…)

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

Introduction

It’s been an explosive week, literally and spiritually, in our nation. We have been rocked by violence and by accidents this week, and it reminds us of the need to continually pray for our nation, her leaders, first responders, families, and churches. National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 2, and we’re going to do things a little differently this year. I want to encourage you to pull together a small group at your office, at your school, in your neighborhood, at your gym, or wherever you gather with other people. Invite other believers to pray with you. I’ve prepared a leaders guide for you so you’ll know how to lead the group. We’ll have a group meeting here at the church in the Upper Room of the Welcome Center at noon that day. Our nation is broke in ways only God can fix. Let’s cry out to him.

Now we’re talking about some of the famous couples in the Bible, and also celebrating marriage right here in our own church. (more…)

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

INTRODUCTION

Open your Bibles to Genesis 24:62. Today I’m beginning a series of messages on marriage entitled, “Famous Lovers of the Bible.” Maybe you read People magazine or another one of the reputable news sources where you get all the news about celebrity marriages. But believe it or not, there were famous lovers in the Bible. As a matter of fact we have some right here in our church. I’ll highlight two couples each week.

Well the Bible contains many true stories about married couples. Some of them were strong and some struggled. And we can learn from each important truths about how to move from struggling to strong marriages. Today we’re going to look at the love relationship between Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac was the son of Abraham, and became the father of Jacob. In the Bible God is often called the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because they were the first generations of God’s covenant with the Jewish nation from which would come the promised Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And part of that family tree is the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. Let’s read about how their marriage began. Read Genesis 24:62-67. (more…)

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

INTRODUCTION

I invite you to take your Bibles, or the one in the pew rack in front of you, and open it to John 20. As you’re turning let me ask you to take a look at the insert in your worship folder. On one side there’s information about a new series of messages I’m starting next week on marriage entitled “Great Lovers of the Bible.” Throughout the Bible we see marriages … some of them are great, some of them struggled. And we can learn from all of them; that’s what I hope will happen in this series of messages. Now turn the card over. To really give your marriage a boost we are offering the Travis Marriage Celebration, April 11-13, featuring author and speaker Gary Thomas. He is author of the best-seller Sacred Marriage, and for single adults, Sacred Search. You can see details in the worship folder about these events for married adults and single adults. I encourage you to go online and register.

John 20:19 – On the evening of that first day of the week… (more…)

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

INTRODUCTION

We are moving toward the most important week of the year for us as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. It all starts on Palm Sunday, March 24 with our children involved in both services. Wednesday is our Easter Week Lord’s Supper. On Friday we have our Community Good Friday Service as well as our choir and orchestra’s presentation of “Messiah … the Message of Easter.” There are Easter Egg hunts for children on the two Saturdays before Easter. All of this builds toward our glorious Easter Sunday Celebration. We’ll have our regular worship schedule with the Traditional Worship at 8:30am and the Contemporary Worship at 11:00am. Now as you know, due to our construction parking, parking has been a challenge on a typical Sunday. On Easter Sunday our attendance grows by about 50%. So to insure that we have ample parking for our guests and members we will not have SMBS. This will insure that we have plenty of parking for both worship services. This is the greatest opportunity we have each year to invite guests to be with us in church. So we have provided special Easter invitation cards. Grab a handful and give them out wherever you go. (more…)

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download