5-3-26/BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE

Rom 12:9-14 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

This instruction calls for active kindness, prayer, and wishing well toward those causing harm, rather than seeking revenge or wishing them evil.

This means speaking well of others, desiring their good, and praying for their well-being, even when wronged

Matt 5:43-48 You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'  44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  47 "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Lev 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

5-3-26//Worship Team

4-26-26// Sunday Worship

4-26-26// Practicing Hospitality

Rom 12:9-13 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Gal 6:6-10 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.  7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Hospitality: The verse instructs believers to "pursue hospitality" (ESV) or "given to hospitality" (KJV), which often means welcoming strangers and fellow believers in need.

 A "Hunting" Pursuit: meaning to "pursue" or "chase" hospitality, indicating it is an active effort.

 Loving the Stranger: The Greek term for hospitality translates literally to "love of strangers," emphasizing it is not just entertaining friends.

 An Act of Service: Hospitality is a spiritual duty and a way to express God's love to the world.

Matt. 25:41-46 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;  42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;  43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'  44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'  45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Lev 19:33-34 When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 'The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

Hebrews 13:2: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".

Luke 14:12-14 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.  13 "But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

4-19-26//Worship Team

4-19-26//CONTRIBUTING TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS

Rom 12:9-13 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Let’s give other people a reason to rejoice in hope

Phil 2:1-11 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

"Contributing to the needs of the saints" (Romans 12:13) is a biblical command for Christians to actively share resources, time, and hospitality with fellow believers facing hardships. It implies a partnership where one believer's burden becomes another's, going beyond mere charity to foster deep community and support.

·       Active Sharing: It means entering into fellowship with other believers and sharing in their necessities, including food, clothing, and shelter.

Acts 2:43-47 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Isa 58:10 And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday.

Practical Applications

·       Supporting the Persecuted: Assisting brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith.

·       Local Church Care: Supporting members within one’s own local church community who are in need.

·       Hospitality: Opening homes to fellow believers, especially those traveling or in distress.

·       Active Ministry: Engaging in practical service, such as helping with food, housing, or necessities for those in need.

·       Prayer: Praying for the members of the church. 

4-12-26// Worship Team

4-12-26// DEVOTED TO PRAYER

Rom 12:9-13 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

DEVOTED: proskartereo (pros-kar-ter-eh'-o); to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):

1.     to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one

2.     to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing

3.     to continue all the time in a place

4.     to persevere and not to faint

5.     to show one's self courageous for

6.     to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly

to join, adhere to; to be ready; to give attention, be faithful; to spend much time together

KJV - attend (giveself) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually).

To be "devoted" (from the Greek proskartereō) means to continue steadfastly and give oneself continually to a task, even when it is not convenient.

Luke 18:1-8 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.  3 "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'  4 "For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,  5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'"  6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said;  7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?  8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

Eph 6:18-20 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Watchfulness/Alertness: Staying awake spiritually to God’s leading and avoiding complacency.

Maintaining spiritual alertness and vigilance, staying aware of both God's guidance and spiritual distractions.

Col 4:2-4 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

4-5-26// Cross Decorating

4-5-26// Worship Team