Then, for a second time, The Lord told me to go to Nineveh and preach the warnings of his wrath. I knew better than to argue this time. So I made my way to Nineveh as He had asked. The city was so large that it was three days journey in breadth. I entered the city on the first day’s walk and cried, “forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown!”

They believed quickly, proclaiming a fast and putting on sackcloth, from the wealthiest to the most poor, the greatest to the least.

Jonah went to Ninevah and declared God’s message there. This week we are looking at this apparent obedience in Jonah 3.1-5.

*This is a creative rendering of the book of Jonah by Ashley Berry. Download the full version here: word | pdf.

                          

Only then did I cry out to God. And he answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried and He heard me.

“You cast me into the dark of the sea and flood waters pressed in all around me. Your billows and waves passed over me. I have been cast out of your sight, but I will keep my eyes on your temple. The waters surrounded even my soul, and the deep closed around me. Weeds tangled around me and I went into the moorings of the mountains. The bars of the earth shut behind me forever…
But you have brought me out of that pit, LORD. When my soul was faint, I remembered You and my prayer went into Your temple. Those who regard useless idols give up their own mercy. But I will sacrifice to You with thanksgiving and pay what I vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”

And when He spoke to the fish, it spat me onto dry land.

This week, we are looking at Jonah’s prayer in Jonah 2.1-10. We hope you join us and read this section of Scripture before you come.

*This is a creative rendering of the book of Jonah by Ashley Berry. Download the full version here: word | pdf.

                          

Upon boarding I made my way down into the hold of the ship to sleep away the voyage. Though no matter how badly I wished it, the Lord would not allow my disobedience.

As I slept, a storm began, tossing the ship about as driftwood upon the sea and the growing tempest had the hull of the ship screaming in protest. On deck, the mariners were in a panic. Scrambling and crying out to their gods, they even began heaving cargo overboard to lighten the load. Soon the captain raced down to wake me, “What are you doing?!” He yelled, “Get up and call to your God. Perhaps HE will help us!”

Barely awake, I could hear the crew saying, “Let us cast lots so we know whose fault it is that this is happening!” So they cast lots, and to no great surprise, it fell on me. They clamored around me, frantic. “Tell us why this is happening! Where did you come from? What is your country? Of what people are you?”

“I am Hebrew,” I admitted. “And I fear the LORD, the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the land.” They all recoiled in fear. “Why have you done this?” They knew I was running from God. I had already told them. “What can we do to calm the sea?” they shouted. The waters became more wrathful by the minute, roaring and showing the Lord’s power in devastating force. It was the most frightening display I had ever seen! I swallowed hard and knew what had to be done. Was this my release?

“Throw me into the sea,” I told them. “Then the sea will calm. I know this storm is because of me.” They were reluctant at first, not wishing my death and working hard to return to land, but the sea just grew more tempestuous. There was no escape with me aboard. They all cried, “Please, LORD, do not let us perish for this man’s sake. Do not charge us with innocent blood, for you have done as it pleases you!” With all options exhausted, they grabbed me and cast me into the sea, and it calmed for them. Seeing the Lord’s display, the sailors all offered a sacrifice to God and took vows.

As for me, I sank into the depths. But God’s plan was not about to end with my drowning. A giant fish suddenly appeared from the deep and swallowed me at once For three days and nights I sat in it’s dark, disgusting, and putrid belly…*

Join us tomorrow as we talk about Jonah’s heart in this time. And prepare your soul by reading the account in Scripture (Jonah 1.4-17).

*This is a creative rendering of the book of Jonah by Ashley Berry. Download the full version here: word | pdf.

                          

When the Lord spoke to me, He left no room for debate. He said, “Go to the great city Nineveh and confront it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

I failed to heed this command as it seemed to be beyond reason. After all, He is merciful; I knew if I went that He would save them and that they were far from deserving. So I put it out of my mind and, instead, headed for Tarshish- away from the Lord and far from His will. I found a ship in Joppa willing to take me for a simple fee.*

This weekend, we will see how Jonah ran from God’s Word. Read the account in Scripture (Jonah 1.1-3) and join us at Atmosphere as Josh preaches through this section.

*This is a creative rendering of the book of Jonah by Ashley Berry. Download the full version here: word | pdf.

                          

This weekend we are continuing to look at the affect of the Gospel on our daily lives in community with other believers. We’ll be focusing on Colossians 3.11, 17:

Here there is not Greek or Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all… And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

United by the Gospel…

It seems as though we’re skipping around a lot, but the surrounding verses all support the main point of the passage. We are looking at how the Gospel unites us from where ever we come to the community of faith which cannot be divided. This Gospel calls us away from our sin (Col. 3.5-10).

…for the purpose of love

In being united, we are called to love each other. Easy right? God calls us to love, and Paul tells us what that looks like in the rest of the passage (Col. 3.12-16).

Let us love others and flee our sin. Prepare your soul for this weekend. Read Colossians 3.1-17. Learn what it means to put away that which divides the community.

                          

New Series:
We are beginning a new series looking at Gospel, Community and Mission. Over the next 3 weeks we’ll look at each on their own answering the question What is____? (i.e. What is the Gospel?) Then we will take 3 weeks again look at each one and seeking to answer the questions So what? In these three weeks we will get real practical (for example: How do we apply the Gospel, how does it work, how do we speak it?)

For this week What is the Gospel: think and pray through this passage:

2 Cor. 5.21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

                          

“Had Jesus not risen, but stayed dead, the bottom would drop out of Christianity, for four things would then be true.
First, to quote Paul, 1 Corinthians 15.17: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
Second, there is then no hope of our rising either; we must expect to stay dead
Third, if Jesus Christ is not risen, then he is not reigning and will not return, and every single item in the [Apostle's] Creed after “suffered and was buried” will have to be struck out.
Fourth, Christianity cannot be what the first Christians thought it was – fellowship with a living Lord who is identical with the Jesus of the Gospels. The Jesus of the Gospels can still be your hero, but he cannot be your savior.” (emphases mine)
[page 108; Jesus Keep me Near the Cross, Nancy Guthrie]

Why does the resurrection matter? Because without it, “The Jesus of the Gospels can still be your hero, but he cannot be your savior.”

You can purchase this book here for $9.35

                          

This weekend is once again our UAsked sermon where you have the chance to have your questions answered during Atmosphere. If you haven’t asked any thing yet, head on over and do that! The questioning closes tonight, so don’t be late!

Where we get our answers

We believe in the absolute authority of the Bible and echo Paul when he says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Tim. 3.16). The Bible, God’s Word, is his truth, and we must go to Him for that truth.

So whether answering questions about temptations, or Jesus’ skin color, we cling to the authority of the Scriptures and call on Him for wisdom that comes by His Spirit.

Join us this weekend for UAsked.

                          

Matthew 22.37-39 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

What a heart challenge, what a great thing to set our minds, actions and hearts to doing. What if we did this? What would our lives look like?

“Lord, grant that my religion may not be occasional and partial, but universal, influential, effective, and may I always continue in thy words as well as thy works, so that I may reach my end in peace.” Pg 40 Valley of Vision

                          

As we prepare to sit down and eat together at Park Ave. tomorrow night, let’s consider the purpose behind the meal together.

We are coming together to:

• Worship God in Christ by His Spirit and in unity with each other
• Hear the Word of God proclaimed
• Fellowship with each other and meet each other’s needs
• Build our faith

Come, join together with us tomorrow night as we do this and more. Join the community of believers that will be gathered at the Park Ave. Campus. Hear why we need other believers in our lives from the Word of God. Add your thoughts as to how to live in community in light of the Gospel.

May we be united in faith, and meditate on this truth:

I therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call– one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph. 4.1-6)

                          

Galatians 6.14: But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

There are so many different things we may boast in in our lives, but none of them compare to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What have you boasted in in 2009? What are you planning on boasting in in 2010?

*If there is no Atmosphere due to weather it will be posted by 4pm Sat & noon on Sun here on our website and also Facebook, twitter etc…

                          

Galatians 6.2 - Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

This small verse has some profound impacts on our life. Imagine your life with people holding you up in prayer, supporting you in trials, carrying you in times of need.  This is the way it should be, this is how we are to live our Christian lives.

How are you doing? Are you doing this alone? Are you bearing others burdens? Are you allowing others to bear your burdens?

                          

Galatians 5.17 “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

The reason is there is a war inside of you. Allow the Spirit to move in your heart and mind.

Seeaya this weekend!

                          

Galatians 4.31: So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

What a great encouragment for us who call Jesus Christ as King of our lives. We are not slaves. In Christ we are truly free.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

                          

God I’m a man [woman] in desperate need of help
I pray that in your grace you would send help my way
I pray that you would give me the humility to receive help when it comes.

What a great prayer for gospel community. Maybe we should be asking God to send help into our lives so that we can grow up in His grace.

                          

As Bill Legere prepares to share on Orphans and the oppressed children of the world, I would encourage you to meditate upon these passages in preparation for our hearts to be challenged, as we live out the gospel.

Zechariah 7:10-14 | do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” 11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. 13 “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts, 14 “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

Matthew 5.34-39 | Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

                          

Deuteronomy 15.15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.

Just as the people of Israel were brought from slavery, all of us have been brought from Slavery to Sonship, what a blessing!

                          

Meditate on these passages; allow them to change your heart and your actions in life.

Gal. 4.6 & 7 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

To hear the sermon click here.

                          

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