As we celebrate the 4th of July barbecuing, beaching, and watching fireworks I am struck with two ways we are blessed with citizenship only by God’s amazing grace. One is a citizenship we share with our fellow Americans. The other is a citizenship shared by believers in Jesus - a heavenly citizenship!
Our citizenship as Americans is appropriately celebrated by giving thanks to God. It is a citizenship that provides us with earthly freedoms. Freedom to speak. Freedom to vote. Freedom to live with relative security and peace. And most importantly, freedom to worship our Lord Jesus without censor or intrusion from our government. Like anything on this side of heaven, the USA has flaws and injustices, but we must thank God that we are richly blessed to live in this country.
We have a second citizenship. We are dual-citizens. Not only are we Americans, but we are citizens of heaven. We are children of God, co-heirs with Jesus, and in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us we are citizens of heaven for eternity! This citizenship is greater than our temporal citizenship of this country. We can rejoice and look forward to an eternal, heavenly home in perfect fellowship with God. A citizenship of final peace and joy with Jesus!
So celebrate this 4th of July. But make it your ultimate priority to celebrate our heavenly citizenship in weekly worship and fellowship to the God who is the giver of all good and perfect gifts!
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." - Philippians 3:20
- Pastor Curt
Theological Word of the Week:
Christian Ethics
Any study that answers the question, “What does God require us to do and what attitudes does he require us to have today?” with regard to any given situation.
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Upcoming Events
Children's Ministry
This week Rock Kids will be digging into the story of when Moses saw God's holiness, found in Exodus 33-34. The kids will learn the Bible point "God is special, and he has the ability to change us." This passage focuses on God's holiness. We're using a more kid-friendly term for holiness: special. We want to help kids know that God is SO special, that Moses' face glowed just because he spent time with God. And that same special God can meet with and change us!
-Cameron
Sermon Topic - July 7
Genesis: Beginnings
Genesis 2:4-15
“To Be Human”
Lectionary Readings
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Psalm 45:10-17
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
May 2019 YTD