UNITY: In Light of Our Current Congregational Concerns

From Rev. Matt Mitchell regarding the message on February 5, 2012: "This sermon came about as a result of our Session’s recommendation that our church leave the PC(USA) and seek to affiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. I have been preaching through the book of Romans and was planning on finishing Chapter 5, but felt led to talk about what true Unity in the church could and should look like. This sermon is focused on our specific church and our situation, but I believe it also holds truths for the church universal as it seeks to come to grips with a growing secularization and a desire for unity at the cost of truth."

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UNITY: In Light of Our Current Congregational Concerns

John 17:20-26

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³ I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

THANKSGIVING Service - Where Are the Nine?

Our special Thanksgiving worship service held the evening of Sunday, November 20, 2011, included Rev.Matt Mitchell's message, "Where Are the Nine?" based on Luke 17:11-19. Do you remember to be thankful for the blessings in your life?

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Where Are the Nine?

Luke 17:11-19

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Ten Healed of Leprosy

¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy^[a] met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” ¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Footnotes:

1. Luke 17:12 The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin—not necessarily leprosy.