Using this can come off in at least two different ways. It can be a sort of underhanded way of bragging about what you did or what you have... or it can sound prideful that God smiles on you when He doesn't smile the same way on others.
People hear "I'm blessed" in very different ways, usually connected to their own experience. What does it mean when Christians say they are blessed?
How can we make sure we say what we mean?
I pray that your time with us in today's worship encourages your faith and helps you move closer to Jesus as you discover more of his plan for your life.
8:30 am
Live @Raum Chapel UMC
9:30 am
Live @Wesley Chapel UMC
11:00 am
Live @Rock Hall Church
Live online @https://yourrockhall.online.church
This week's announcements:
Some of the Small Groups this fall
Today's Order of Worship
Welcome
Morning Prayer
Opening Songs
Pastoral Prayer
Message
Communion
Closing Worship
Benediction
Songs for Worship
9:30am
We Will Glorify
Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee
I Come With Joy
11:00am
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
How He Loves At The Cross (Love Ran Red)
Message Notes:
Ephesians: #BLESSED
Ephesians 1:1-14
The Problem with being #BLESSED
So how should we think rightly about God’s blessing?
Ephesians 1:1–6
Blessed: Chosen by God
2 Corinthians 9:8
Ephesians 1:7–12
Blessed: Redeemed by Christ
Colossians 1:20
Ephesians 1:13–14
Blessed: Sealed with the Spirit
What blessed difference does it make?
Our response to God’s blessing
Take it Home:
Spiritual Development: Compassion
Each week I will be asking us to try a new spiritual practice to help us grow spiritually. These will help you regardless of where we are in the spiritual growth journey. If you are a new Christian, you will find excitement in learning a new way to connect to God; as a growing believer you will look forward to the challenge; and as a mature disciple you will most likely find these as refreshing moments of worship.
This week, I invite you to join me in practicing compassion as an act of spiritual discipline.
Reflection questions
When is compassion deserved or undeserved?
What attitudes and emotions surface when you relate to emotionally needy or dysfunctional people?
What experiences in your past make it easy or difficult to be compassionate with yourself?
Do you think the attitude that “people just need to work harder and show more initiative in order to get on in life” affects relationships? How?
What is it like for you when people are compassionate toward you?
Spiritual exercises
Become quiet and still. Get in touch with your desire to see Jesus. Read the crucifixion account in one of the Gospels. As you read, become one of the watchers: Mary, a disciple, a soldier, or a thief. What did you see from this person’s perspective? What is it like for Jesus to be abandoned by those he counted on? What is it like for Jesus to find that God is silent? What is it like for him to submit to the aloneness, the pain, the nakedness? What desire drives Jesus to the cross? Let Jesus summon you into prayer.
Construct a timeline of your losses. At each point record how you responded (e.g., anger, denial, blame, withdrawal, depression, etc.). How did moments of compassion come or not come into these moments? Dialogue with Jesus about what you see.
Choose one way you can show compassion to someone this week. After you have done so, talk to someone about what it was like for you to do this.
Draw up a list of the people whose services you receive: teachers, pastors, caretakers, and so on. Next to each name write down any needs you know they have (e.g., personal, financial, physical, etc.). What is God calling you to do? Listen, journal, act.
Consider who the outsiders and disenfranchised are in your community. Choose one of these groups and find out something about them. What do they need? What do they have to give? Where if God calling you to walk in his compassion?
Ask three people who are close to you if they will honestly answer some questions: “How do I come across?” “What is it like to be with me?” “Do I show an interest in others?” “Do I mostly talk about myself?” What do you learn about the way you come across?
From Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun. Copyright (c) 2005, 2015 by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com
This week's prayer focus:
Sunday - Our Mission: God, give us a deep passion for the work of Christ. Luke 4:18-19
Monday - Our Church: God, develop spiritual growth & maturity in Your church. Hebrews 5:12-14
Tuesday - Our Leadership: God, help our pastor proclaim Your Word boldly. 2 Timothy 4:2
Wednesday - Families: God, help couples be faithful to the marriage promises they made to You and to each other. Hebrews 13:4
Thursday - Our Community: God, we thank you for those who serve in our community. 1 John 3:16
Friday - Children/Youth: God, help our young people commit themselves to a life of purity of mind and body. Psalm 119:9-11
Saturday - Adults: God, help our adults find and fulfill Your purpose for their lives. Jeremiah 29:11-14
Merger Prayer Focus: Transition
Pray for our merger team to communicate clearly with people who have sincere questions. 1 Peter 1:22
Pray for those who fear what might be lost, to find peace through faith in Christ. Psalm 34:8
Pray for excitement as we begin to consider new opportunities for ministry. Acts 8:5-8
Pray that our membership becomes bound to our mission rather than our buildings. Matthew 28:19-20
Pray for the process of discerning what spaces our ministries require. Philippians 1:9-10
Pray for an eagerness in our churches come together as one. Colossians 3:14
Bible Reading Plan:
Join us for our 5x5x5 New Testament Reading Plan. 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week, & 5 questions to go deeper.