Thoughts From Our Pastors Written by Senior Pastor, Jeremy Peugh
As Christians, our method for spreading the good news of Christ is simple: tell everyone. If people need to hear the good news in order to have faith, we must be willing to audibly explain the truth that we have received. Sometimes, however, we can get trapped thinking that the people around us do not want to hear what we have to say or are unable to understand the message of the gospel.Paul tells us that no matter a person’s background; absolutely everyone can receive the hope and new life that comes from Jesus, because he is Lord of all. Paul also encourages us not to be concerned with who we think will or will not accept our message. From a human perspective, the Israelites should have been the most open people to a Messiah. In reality, the Gentiles were the most receptive.
A person’s background or appearance is not a factor in his or her ability to accept Christ. Therefore, in our mission to grow the kingdom of God over the whole earth, we must be extravagantly generous in planting seeds, knowing that every human heart has the ability to blossom into a new life.
Along with our words we must also live lives that reflect Christ. It is not enough to have one or the other. We cannot just live good lives, nor can we only tell others about the wonderful gift of Jesus. We have to have the two things moving in the right direction. Jesus never says wait till you are perfect to proclaim the gospel, but Jesus does call us to live holy lives. We must try to bring these two areas of our lives together as we witness to all those around us. If you would like to read more about this, Romans 10:12–21 is a great passage.
Romans 10:12 That means that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — Adonai is the same for everyone, rich toward everyone who calls on him, 13 since everyone who calls on the name of Adonai will be delivered.[Romans 10:13 Joel 3:5(2:32)]
14 But how can they call on someone if they haven’t trusted in him? And how can they trust in someone if they haven’t heard about him? And how can they hear about someone if no one is proclaiming him? 15 And how can people proclaim him unless God sends them? — as the Tanakh puts it, “How beautiful are the feet of those announcing good news about good things!”[Romans 10:15 Isaiah 52:7]
16 The problem is that they haven’t all paid attention to the Good News and obeyed it. For Yesha‘yahu says,
“Adonai, who has trusted what he has heard from us?”[Romans 10:16 Isaiah 53:1]
17 So trust comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through a word proclaimed about the Messiah.
18 “But, I say, isn’t it rather that they didn’t hear?” No, they did hear —
“Their voice has gone out throughout the whole world
and their words to the ends of the earth.”[Romans 10:18 Psalm 19:5(4)]
19 “But, I say, isn’t it rather that Isra’el didn’t understand?”
“I will provoke you to jealousy over a non-nation,
over a nation void of understanding I will make youangry.”[Romans 10:19 Deuteronomy 32:21]
20 Moreover, Yesha‘yahu boldly says,
“I was found by those who were not looking for me,
I became known to those who did not ask for me”;[Romans 10:20 Isaiah 65:1]
21 but to Isra’el he says.
“All day long I held out my hands
to a people who kept disobeying and contradicting.”
[Romans 10:21 Isaiah 65:2] (Complete Jewish Bible).
Coming Up At Mount Carmel
Wednesday Food Sign up:So let's talk about food and Bible Study, we would love for you to join us on Wednesday for dinner and Bible study. To make sure we have everything we need, here is the link for this week Wednesday, November 14th. Remember this is the last week of our regular Wednesday night groups.
Operation Christmas Child:
If you missed last Sunday and you weren't able to bring your shoe boxes to the church, you can still put your box together and drop it off on your own. If you would like to still put together a box just use this website to find your nearest drop off location.
Wednesday Night Children's Christmas Practice:
Starting Wednesday, November 28 the children will be meeting for three weeks from 6:30-7:30 pm at the church to practice their Christmas songs. Please remember that dinner is not provided. The children will be performing in church on Sunday, December 16th.
Hanging O’ the Greens:
Sunday, December 2 after church. Stick around to help us decorate the church for the Advent/Christmas season. We need guys and gals to plan to come!
Links Family:
Please, as the Christmas season is quickly approaching, be thinking about our Links family. If you would like to learn a little more about how links works and what we can do, this is a great FAQ.
Family Christmas Party:
Friday, December 14, 6-8pm. Save the date for our all church family Christmas party. We’ll have a free dinner, we’ll decorate Christmas cookies and have a photo booth! This is a great and casual event to bring a neighbor or a friend to!
Offering:
To all those who give during out service or online, THANK YOU!!! The money you give goes to helping our community and the global church. If you missed giving this week, just visit our giving page here and give online.
We also are set up to receive Faith Promise through our online giving here just make sure that you select Faith Promise instead of general offering.
Tithing is a discipline that will strengthen your faith and the church cannot function properly without your support. If you consider Mount Carmel your church home, please pray about being obedient to the Lord in this way.
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Our mailing address is:
Mount Carmel Church of the Nazarene
10060 Carmel Mountain Road
San Diego, California 92129, United States
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