Message from Pastor Dennis

Dear Friendship friends,

I'm here in Austin, Texas with my daughter and son-in-law, Dave and Katie Bowman. We are having a family reunion this weekend with part of the family. it will be a great time in this city of barbecue, Tex-Mex, the University of Texas, and Austin City music. It's a vibrant university community. As mentioned earlier Dave and Katie belong to an Acts 29 church that really pushes its people to think missionally about how to live their lives for God's glory, and the good of Austin and the world. Dave is going on a missions' trip to Kampala, Uganda in August where they are working with people on the ground to plant churches, and to work with an orphanage. It's a long term project--the kind of thing I would like Friendship to get involved in. Last week during the World Cup, there was a terrorist attack claimed by a Somalian extremist group. It took place while people were viewing the World Cup. Around 80 lost their lives. But I'm sure that Dave and his team will be undeterred.

I have two families: my family here and you. Both are equally dear. I'm looking forward to seeing my two sisters and some of their family, and an aunt and some cousins. Then in a week I go to Philadelphia to be with my other two daughters, Jenny and Mandy and their husbands and my grandson! Did I mention my grandson?? He's a big joy in my life and one of the hardest parts of being so far away. But the church is generous in giving me this time and so I'm very grateful. Along with seeing family and friends, I'm also working on contacts and gathering resources that I trust will help the church for years to come. Like Paul says, "I thank the Lord upon every remembrance of you."

In my love and prayers,

PD

sermon from July 11th

THE FELLOWSHIP OF BIG DEBTORS
Luke 7:36-50
Series on “The Gospel of Luke”

In this story Simon, “the good person”, “the religious person” thinks that he is a small sinner, a small debtor. He also thinks that the woman of low repute is a big sinner, a big debtor to God. But by the end of the dinner meeting, Jesus turns the tables upside down and blows up Simon’s world and wants to do the same with us. The question is, “Are we ready to have Jesus overturn our most sacred assumptions, and give us a costly, passionate relationship with Himself?”

SIMON AND THE WOMAN
· Simon invites Jesus to dinner but is rude.
· The woman is probably upset that Jesus hasn’t received the courtesies he deserves. She also knows what a big sinner she is, but still feels drawn to Jesus. She breaks all the social rules: she touches him, and breaks an expensive alabaster box and anoints his feet washing them with her tears.
· Have you ever shed a tear for your sin?

SIMON’S RELIGION AND INDIFFERENCE
· Jesus reads Simon’s critical thoughts and tells him a story.
· What if God sent you a bill every month for your failure to love people and love God as the Bible tells us? Religion says do good deeds and you can pay your debt? The Bible says none of us could pay, so God paid in the cross of Jesus.
· The biggest sin are lips that will not kiss, knees that will not kneel, eyes that will not weep, hands that will not serve, a life that will not change, a heart that will not love.

WHAT SIMON GETS AND THE WOMAN GETS
· Simon gets an impersonal religion and a seminar from Jesus and a dig, and an insult.
· The woman gets: (1) A new ability to love; (2) A new ability to laugh; (3) A deep satisfaction; (4) A new ability to love life: (5) A changed life; (6) A new freedom; (7) Assurance of salvation.

TABLE TALK: How is a relationship with Jesus totally different than any religion? How much are you like Simon? How much are you like the woman?


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sermon from July 4th

THE PROBLEM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (AND EVIL)!
Luke 7:18-23; Matthew 14:1-12
Series on “The Gospel of Luke”

Sometimes people hear that if you follow Christ you will have a life of prosperity, and well-being. This story however flies in the face of that premise. It tells the story of “the greatest man” John the Baptist. He had humbly pointed people to Christ and perhaps thousands had been baptized and become followers of God. However, now he finds himself in prison. While in prison he begins to wonder, “Is Jesus really the Christ, the Messiah?” He struggles with doubt, and sends messengers to inquire about Jesus’ validity. Jesus sends word back, “Tell John… the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.” And then Herod cuts off the head of John the Baptist!!! Christians seem to have the same rate of cancer, heart disease, are the victims of injustice as much as others. How can we be strong and have hope and “stand” when the evil day comes” (Ephesians 6)?

• The messengers sent from Jesus to John quote Isaiah 42. What they do not quote is that when the Messiah comes “prisoners will be set free”!

• John is killed by a wicked king who is sexually attracted to a young teenage girl who asks for the head of John the Baptist.

• How shall we handle “the evil day?” You have to know good Biblical doctrine that talks about the mystery of (1) the utter evilness of evil; (2) the utter goodness of God; (3) the utter sovereignty of God. These find their greatest expression in the cross of Christ. You also have to know Christ Himself.

• Read Revelation 6 which describes the lamb who opens the scrolls from which come the four horsemen of death. The good news is the lamb summons and controls them.

• The lamb who is slain (Jesus) and his cross are also the promise that He will also bring in a new heaven and a new earth. Heaven is here on this earth not in the sky!

• “We have to get past the idea that God is most glorified when we are rich, and healthy. He is most glorified when we look around a universe and cannot feel the presence of God and trust him anyway.”

TABLE TALK: How well do you understand the cross of Christ and how it deals with the problem of evil, and yet reveals the goodness and sovereignty of God? Why is this perhaps the most important thing for you to understand in life?

NOTE: Resources for this message: Christ Wright “The God I Don’t Understand”, C. S. Lewis, “The Screwtape Letters”, and Matt Chandler.



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