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A Word from Pastor John
Idols and idolatry is something that we are constantly dealing with.
The book of Deuteronomy tells us this:
"Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him."
There are five key action words in this verse: serve, fear, obey, listen, and cling. These action words should describe and encompass the ongoing relationship that we have with God.
But how often do we get carried away serving our own interests, or fearing something we see on the news, or disobeying God's word? Are we seeking to listen to God and cling to his word?
It has been said, whatever takes God's place in our life, becomes an idol for us. And we deal with worshiping false idols just as God's people dealt with it back in the Old Testament.
May we examine our hearts, may we examine our lives, and may we allow the Holy Spirit to rid us of all idolatry day after day. Knowing that nothing compares to the true peace and true joy of making God the true Lord of our lives.
Pray For One Another
To request prayer, email mosaicnazarene@gmail.com
or call/text (520) 709-0815
Our pastors and their families
Our board members
The world as we all continue to navigate this Covid-19 pandemic.
Valerie and RJ Thibodeaux
Jim Duplisea
Alice Romano's Great neice, Darian
Vern Rupp's Brother-In-Law, Ed Schaap
Dawn Sundstom and family
Judy McGinnis' dear friend, Mary Rush
Talma Harmon's son, KC
Talma Harmon's nephew's brother-in-law, Troy Price
Phil Hunt
Kamian and KC and family
Barbara Gionfriddo's family
Giselle and TJ Gutierrez
Alice Romano's friend, Chris
Frank Sundstrom's Sister, Andy
Mary Ann's friend, John
The many unspoken requests
Make sure you're a part of our Facebook group to get prayer requests as they come in: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21109057279
Holiness Today
Reflections on Sermon 14: “The Repentance of Believers”
“Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” —Mark 1:15, KJV
My wife and I serve as pastors to an Asian Indian ministry in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In our ministry, we find frequent opportunities to interact with others and discuss our faith in Jesus with our non-Christian student friends on the college campus of the University of Texas. Most of these friends are Hindus. Normally, we share our Christian faith and the importance of repentance; they talk about their faith as well. The Hindu concept of repentance, which is called Prayascitta, involves accepting responsibility for the errors and misdeeds they perform in this life. They believe that by performing certain acts of atonement, they have figured out a way to undo their wrongs.
There is a vast difference between Hindu repentance and Christian repentance. In Wesley’s sermon, “The Repentance of Believers,” he explains repentance in a sensible way. Wesley’s emphasis is on the repentance of believers from the sins that remain in our hearts. After the initial step of justification, believers tend to see repentance as no longer needed. However, Wesley teaches that very soon the new Christian realizes that the sin of pride and self-will is in his/her heart. The sin that remains affects both words and actions.
In Christianity, guilt (or the conviction of sin) and helplessness are two very important sides of repentance. A believer should experience the conviction that he or she is not yet whole. Apart from a realization and an understanding of sin in our hearts, no matter what we do in our own strength, we are unable to deliver ourselves from its consequences.
My Hindu friends, on the other hand, believe that they can get rid of their past wrongdoings through their own strength and power. For them, repentance means they must either go on a pilgrimage, practice fasting, climb 100 steps of a temple, and/or offer fruits and flowers to their deities. As a Christian, I don’t have to perform any such works of repentance.
Both Hindus and Christians believe that there is a need for repentance. However, the question is, are we depending on our methods of repentance, or are we depending on God’s way?
Christianity has the answer—Jesus Christ alone can save us from our sins and purify our hearts.
As believers, even after being justified, we need renewal through repentance (Psalm 139:23-24). Is there a sin in your life that needs to be forgiven? Are you struggling to make atonement for your sin? Let’s not seek atonement through our own efforts; instead, let us find forgiveness through the Lord and repent of any sins that are rooted in our hearts!
Premal Awasarmal is lead pastor at Arlington Naya Jeevan Church of the Nazarene in Arlington, Texas, USA, and Asian Indian coordinator of the West Texas District.
To read the full text of the sermon, click here..
Week 42 (10/11-10-17) Bible Reading Plan
Join us here on day 288. A great place to join the Bible reading plan!
Take bookmarks 9 and 10 in the foyer.
Before you read God’s Word today, seek His help with these 5 prayers:
1. God, give me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. 2. God, let any knowledge I gain serve to help me love You and others more, and not puff me up. 3. God, help me see something new about You I've never seen before. 4. God, correct any lies I believe about You or anything I misunderstand. 5. God, direct my steps according to Your Word.
Click the blue Scripture and it will take you to that chapter!
Day 288: Mark 4-5
Day 289: Matthew 10
Day 290: Matthew 14
Mark 6
Luke 9
Day 291: John 6
Day 292: Matthew 15
Day 293: Matthew 16
Day 294: Matthew 17
Humor... Kinda
Poor Sick Little Boy
Jimmy, a little boy, was in church one Sunday with his mother Linda, when he started feeling sick.
'Mummy,' he inquired, 'can we leave now?'
'No,' his mother replied, 'the service isn't over yet.'
'Well, I think I'm about to throw up.' Marty announced.
'Then go out of the front door and around to the back of the church and throw up behind a bush.' said Linda.
After about sixty seconds,Jimmy returned to his pew, alongside his mother.
'Did you throw up?' Jimmy's Mum asked quietly.
'Yes,' Marty answered, embarrassed.
'How could you have gone all the way to the back of the church and returned so quickly?' Linda demanded.
'I didn't have to go out of the church, Mummy. They have a box next to the front door that says, "For the Sick".
Pastor's Wives Sewing
Two Pastors wives were visiting and sewing their husband’s pants. One wife said: My husband is just beside himself, he does not know what to do anymore and he is so tired and depressed he said he is ready to just give up and resign. The other wife said: I am sorry to hear that because my husband has never been happier. Our membership is growing and we are out of our financial burden, we have such a large and loving congregation. Life could not be any better than it is right now. One woman was mending the seat of her husband’s pants, the other was mending the knees.
God is Left-Handed
Little Philip was spending the weekend with his grandmother after a particularly trying week in infant school. His grandmother decided to take him to the park on Saturday morning. It had been snowing all night and everything was beautiful.
His grandmother commented, 'Doesn't it look like an artist painted this scenery? Did you know God painted this just for you?'
'Yes, 'replied Philip, 'God did it and he did it left handed.'
This confused his grandmother so she asked him, 'What makes you say God did this with his left hand?'
'Well, 'said Philip, 'we learned at Sunday School last week that Jesus sits on God's right hand.'
Scripture of the Week
Opportunities to Give and Serve
Donations are welcome!
Thank you, for your continued generosity of both time and resources. Your gifts make a difference!
Information
For our live Google calendar go HERE
Ladies, update your calendar with these upcoming activities
OCTOBER IS
October is Pastor Appreciation Month! Drop off cards of appreciation and or gifts in the basket provided in the foyer. You may also mail them, put them in our secure mailbox, or drop them by in person during our office hours.
John and Kristen Menkveld - Lead Pastor
Merritt and Bonnie Strunk - Music Pastor
Dee and Debbie Jones - Associate Pastor
Mike and Shelley Butler - Youth Pastor
Walt and Marlene Ballard - Connections Pastor
Mosaic Church of the Nazarene
5431 W Merrill Ranch Parkway
Florence, AZ 85132
~ Mosaic Kids page! CLICK HERE
This weeks subject is: Obey your Parents Ephesians 6:1-3
~ See our services on YouTube! RIGHT HERE
This Week
9:00 am Livestream on Facebook
9:00 am Children's Church
Social Distancing Guidelines
Please keep at least 6 feet apart while sitting in the sanctuary if possible
Please practice social distancing on the church property as much as possible
Sanitizer and masks are available at the front table
If you feel sick or have a temperature, please stay home
Communion elements will be available on a table as you enter the church
Offering will be taken as you exit the church after service
Surfaces will be regularly cleaned and sanitized
Thanks for respecting the guidelines and one another!
