September 13, 2024, 2:00 PM
Greetings in Christ and happy Friday to you!
It's been a busy and good week for me.
I've been away from FCC and Lexington some this week.
This past Sunday (09.08.24), I preached the Homecoming service for Freedom Christian Church in Jamestown, KY. That is where my family is originally from. It was nice to go back home to the family roots.
My good friend John Hampton preached for me at FCC. He did a great job! THANKS again, John!
On Monday (09.09.24), I left for the Louisville, KY/southern Indiana area.
I'm excited to be part of a group that will receive ministry coaching/mentoring from John Hampton and David Vaughn over the next 12 months.
This initiative is being funded by a $1 million plus grant from the Lilly Foundation (Eli Lilly and Company) based out of Indianapolis, IN.
We kicked things off with a retreat in the Louisville area earlier this week. The host was Country Lake Christian Retreat. This facility is overseen by the Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY) and is a great place to get away and focus on the Lord!
I got back to Lexington on Wednesday (09.11.24) in time for our Wednesday night meal and Bible study.
It's good to be back home and I'm looking forward to being back in the pulpit at FCC this Sunday!
John Hampton helped kick off our new sermon series of messages.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at the letters found in Revelation 2 & 3 written down by the Apostle John to seven churches in Asia Minor. Here’s an outline:
09.08.24 - Intro (John Hampton)
09.15.24 - SMYRNA
09.22.24 - EPHESUS
09.29.24 - Homecoming & 85th Anniversary
10.06.24 - PERGAMUM
10.13.24 - THYATIRA
10.20.24 - SARDIS
10.27.24 - LAODICEA
11.03.24 - PHILADELPHIA
We all have times when God seems distant. Some have referred to these times as being a "dark night of the soul."
David was called a man after God's own heart, but even he had times when he wondered where God was.
In the Psalms, David frequently cried out about God's apparent absence: "Lord, why are you standing aloof and far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?" (Psalm 10:1 LB) "Why have you forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why do you ignore my cries for help?" (Psalm 22:1 NLT) "Why have you abandoned me?" (Psalm 43:2 TEV)
If the 22nd Psalm sounds familiar, it should. Jesus repeated lines from it while on the cross!
Even our Lord felt times when the Father seemed far away!
Of course, God hadn't really left David or Jesus either, and he doesn't leave you and me. Praise the Lord!
This coming Sunday (09.15.24), we're going to look at a church that was going through some HARD TIMES and I am sure felt like God was far away from them. Yet, through it all, the church in SMYRNA remained faithful to God.
The believers in SMYRNA serve as an encouragement to us. When we're going through hard times, let's remember God is FAITHFUL to His people and His word is TRUE. Hang on to that!
Speaking of this coming Sunday...Did you know that it is "Back To Church Sunday?"
This started a few years ago and is a national church event that happens on the 3rd Sunday of September each year where the churches of America come together to invite their communities to church!
Is there somebody out there that you've been feeling led to invite to attend church with you? This Sunday would be a great time!
May God Bless and hope to see you, Lord willing, this Sunday at FCC -- Bible School starts @ 9:30 am and Worship @ 10:30 am.
In Him,
Greg H.
