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Let’s Pray for the Uganda E-team
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Last Sunday we prayed for the team of 22 young men and women who leave this Friday for the village of Kiburara in western-most Uganda. The team will serve our friend, Pastor Moses, and his church through Jan. 14, preaching the gospel at outreach gatherings and leading a youth conference for about 700 youth and singles.
When a similar team from Covenant Life visited Kibuara last year, many heard and received the gospel, and two small village churches were planted in the days following the trip. The team returned to Gaithersburg with news of the dire need for clean drinking water, and the singles of our church proceeded to raise over $40,000 to build three wells (in partnership with Covenant Mercies). These wells now provide clean water to over 3000 people. The money also helped with a building project and the purchase of a portable sound system.
The team has asked us to pray that:
• Many people will hear of and believe in Christ
• the team will proclaim and demonstrate the gospel with boldness, humility and wisdom
• the team will be sensitive to, and obedient to, the Holy Spirit
• God will give them many divine appointments
• the church members and Pastor Moses would be encouraged and strengthened by the team
• the team will have a significant impact on the youth attending the conference
• the team will be characterized by joy, humility, prayer and service
• the team will be protected from any harm, whether spiritual or physical
Let’s regularly lift up our brothers and sisters over the next two weeks as they serve our sister church in Uganda.
December 29 2008 at 3:00 am
The Good Recession: Application
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Yesterday I preached a message called “The Good Recession” from the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12. In it, I asked the question, “How should Christians who believe in a sovereign God think about these times—how can God use a bad economy for our spiritual good?” The bottom line was this: God can use this recession for our spiritual good if we let it awaken us to the folly of greed and covetousness.”
You can listen online or download the message here.
And here are the application questions, prepared by pastor Adam Malcolm:
1. Josh defined covetousness as, “a strong desire to possess something—usually something that somebody else has.” He went on to say that “it’s built on the lie that the quality of your life is measured by how much you have.” Where might this lie be at work in your own heart and life?
2. The Rich Fool built his life around this hope. His driving motivation was his own selfish indulgence. Which of the following warning signs that Josh spoke of would most apply to your life currently:
-A greater concern for self than the needs of others.
-A preoccupation with this life and its comforts and pleasures.
-A pride in your possessions.
-A disregard for your soul and eternity.
3. Ultimately, God works all things for our good (Romans 8:28-9). He is faithful to sanctify us as His dearly beloved children. Josh reminded us that if we allow a shaken financial system to shake our trust in money and possessions, that’s a good thing. How is God already at work in your life in this area?
4. In closing, give God thanks for where you are aware of His grace towards you now, and end your time together praying that God would use the recession to teach us:
-That He is our only hope
-The danger of covetousness
-That our lives do not consist of the abundance of our possessions
-That we need to weep over the sin of greed
December 27 2008 at 1:17 pm
Tomorrow: The Good Recession
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Sunday snapshot: A string ensemble led by Rachael Boer played Christmas music between the services last Sunday.
Tomorrow I will preach the first message of a two-part series, The Good Recession.
Bob Kauflin will be leading our time of singing. We’ll also have the chance to pray for the team leaving for Uganda next week.
December 24 2008 at 10:49 am
What Child Is This?
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Above is a brief slideshow with photos from the first night of our Christmas production, “What Child is This?” To see the slideshow in a larger size. visit this link. (To make the photo descriptions visible, look for the “Show Info” link at the slideshow’s upper right corner.)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” —John 1:14
December 23 2008 at 2:41 pm
Christmas Gift Outreach: Another Great Year
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Something I love to see is members of our church finding ways to serve and bless people in the community. Last year Carolyn McCulley, a longtime Covenant Life member, did just that when she spearheaded a plan to give Christmas gifts to foster-care children in the area. And she’s done it again this year. Thanks to her effort and the generosity of many other Covenant Life members, numerous foster children will receive gifts this Christmas season.
To help you appreciate the effect of this outreach, I wanted to share an encouraging e-mail from Cheryl Banks of Montgomery County Child Welfare Services. Cheryl is the contact person who has helped to connect Carolyn and our church with area foster care families. She writes:
Two years ago we received a call from Carolyn, who wanted to see how Covenant Life could be of help to foster children. Because most of our children do not have much and don’t often have gifts for the holidays, we try to match them with members of the community. That year we didn’t have as many donors, and we didn’t know how we would get gifts for our kids. Then Carolyn called, and Covenant Life adopted every un-adopted child. And your commitment has continued ever since.
This year the Church has adopted more than 150 children, including some recent emergencies we’ve had. One family just experienced a house fire last week, and members of the church have stepped in to provide gifts for the children. One church member, a business owner, contacted us directly to donate money that is usually set aside for Christmas gifts for clients. [That money bought] gift certificates for our teens, who are usually the ones no one wants to adopt.
You know how things fall into place, just as they are supposed to? That has what has happened with Covenant Life and Child Welfare. Each time we have had an unexpected crisis, someone at Covenant Life comes forward. I can only imagine the joy for the children and relief for the parents on Christmas morning….…We will never know how a child will be touched by the gifts we have given, but this act of kindness may affect the child’s world view for a life time. It is profound in its simplicity. I know for myself, as part of the process, I have been deeply touched by the depth of the need of our children and the enormous wave of generosity from your community. It’s what keeps me going throughout the year…
Thank you so much for everything you have done!
Cheryl, thank you for your kind words and for faithfully working behind the scenes to serve these families. We are grateful for the wonderful work you do. And to Carolyn, and all the care groups and individuals who participated this year and last: Well done! “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” —Luke 12:33
P.S. The gifts pictured above were purchased by the Lotinsky Care Group for a family of five.
December 22 2008 at 3:00 am
The Divinity of Jesus Christ: Application
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Yesterday Robin Boisvert preached from John 1:1 on the truth that “Jesus Christ is the Word, the divine Son of God who died for our sins.”
You can listen online or download the message here.
And here are the application questions, prepared by pastor Brian Chesemore, to help you apply the message over the next several days as we celebrate the incarnation of Christ.
1. How does John draw our attention back to creation in John 1:1-3? What do we learn about the Word as Eternal Creator from these verses?
2. In verse 14, something amazing is revealed about the eternal Son of God. What happened?
3. Robin illustrated from the life of Thomas the kind of faith that the Lord commends. How should John 20:28-29 encourage you in your fight for faith?
4. How should this passage shape the way you think about your Christmas week?