THIS SUNDAY we will be finishing our January series looking at our church covenant. This week's focus will be on paragraph four, Endeavor to Love One Another as Christ Loves Us.
As we think about loving one another, we must understand that this starts with understanding the saving love of Christ toward us.
I implore you to begin, continue, and end your preparation for this week in prayer asking the Lord to reveal to you in greater measure the love of Christ. Seek this knowledge in fervent pleas to God that the Holy Spirit would graciously show you more of the love of Christ. For this is the only path to loving one another as we have been called and commanded. Use Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 to guide you in this.
Passages to Read:
John 13
Ephesians 2:1-10
Ephesians 5:1-2, 25-30
Colossians 3:12-17
1 John 4:7-21
Meditations/Questions to Ask
Do you truly know the love of Christ? Have you experienced it (Rm 5:5)? Does it control you (2 Cor 5:14)?
Do you truly know the depth, danger, and destruction of your sin toward God?
Do you truly love the saints (Col 1:4)?
Outline of the Series
Our church covenant is four paragraphs long, and we will take one week per paragraph
Entering into Covenant with One Another - Ephesians 4, Hebrews 8
Walk Together in the Unity of Love for the Advancement of This Church - Eph 4:11-16
To Advance the Kingdom of Our Savior - 1 Thessalonians 1
Endeavor to Love One Another as Christ Loves Us - Colossians 3/Ephesians 5
Be constant in prayer regarding our commitment to covenant with one another for the sake of Christ and His church.
Ozarks Bible Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ
We shall strive by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in the unity of love for the advancement of this church. We shall strive to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, to help those in need, and the spread of the gospel into all nations.
We also endeavor to promote Godliness within our homes; to religiously educate our children and seek the best welfare of all who enter into this local body of believers. It is also a high aim to seek the salvation of mankind and to be just in our dealings with all people. We shall be faithful to our word; avoid all backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the abuse of intoxicating drinks in order to be effective in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further endeavor to love one another as Christ loves us; to pray for one another and come to the aid of the brethren in sickness and distress. We will work to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
January Catchesim Question and Answer:
Question 32: What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace in which He pardons all our sins (Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7), and accepts us as righteous in His sight (2Co 5:21), only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Rom 5:19), and received by faith alone (Gal 2:16; Phi 3:9).
MISC NOTES
The Bible Reading Plan has been updated for the New Year
See our new song of the month of February below The Love of God.
DAILY PRIVATE/FAMILY WORSHIP
Seek daily communion with God through scripture reading, prayer, and singing. Click on the resources below.
*This Week's Hymns Playlist - Spotify
*This Week's Hymns Playlist - YouTube
"I feel it is far better to begin with God—to see his face first, to get my soul near him before it is near another." - Robert Murray M'Cheyne
SONGS
New Hymn of the Month
Lyrics:
1 The love of God is greater far
than tongue or pen can ever tell;
it goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell.
The wand'ring child is reconciled
by God's beloved Son.
The aching soul again made whole,
and priceless pardon won.
Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
the saints’ and angels’ song.
2 When ancient time shall pass away,
and human thrones and kingdoms fall;
when those who here refuse to pray
on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
all measureless and strong;
grace will resound the whole earth round—
the saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]
3 Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill, and ev’ryone a scribe by trade; to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]
BE IN PRAYER
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Family: Justin Burrow (We will get back into the habit of praying for church members/families on a weekly basis. This will be in alphabetical order.)
Reformation and Revival: that the Holy Spirit will reveal more of the love of God to us through Jesus Christ. (Eph 3:14-21)
Unreached People Group: Hmong Shua in China
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