We will be using the following songs and passages from the Word of God in our corporate gathering this Lord’s Day. Please prayerfully use these resources to prepare your hearts to “come into His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).
The Word of the Lord: Psalm 121 Deuteronomy 5 Habakkuk 2:2 – 4 Proverbs 23:15 – 22 Titus 2:1 – 15 Numbers 6:24 – 26
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs: I Lift My Eyes In Christ Alone Oh How I Love Your Law Doxology
Means of Grace: Congregational Prayer Sermon: Titus 2:4, 12 Rev. Brian J. Lund “Discipleship At Zion Part III”
We are excited and hopeful for what God is going to do in our young people next week! Fifteen senior high students and three chaperones will be traveling across the Midwest and down to Kentucky for a mission trip. We are praying for a wonderful week as they partner with YouthWorks for next few days.
We are so grateful these short-term, youth mission trips are possible. We pray that this encourages a culture of missionary zeal, sacrificial love, and outreaching service in our youth and church. We know trips like these would not be possible without the sacrifice of our chaperones, the encouragement of the families sending their kids, and the support and provision of our congregation! Thank God for all of His blessings!
Would you please commit to setting aside time to pray for our team? Below are some suggestions for how you can commit the team to God’s mercies each day.
Prayer Suggestions:
Saturday: Pray for safety on the road, team bonding over the fun at Six Flags Theme Park, and for God to shape these individuals into a strong group of trust and Christian love.
Sunday: Ask the Lord to bless them as they worship in a local church, journey to their mission site destination, and begin to interact with YouthWorks staff on site in Kentucky
Monday: Intercede for relationships that they will begin to form with YouthWorks volunteers, as well as students from across the nation they will be laboring along side of
Tuesday: Pray that God would be working in the hearts of those the Zion youth will be ministering to, that the Lord would have been preparing their hearts to be served, and that it would bear eternal fruit
Wednesday: By grace, intercede for the team that the Spirit would be bonding them together in unity, for God to keep them safe on the work site, and this trip would awaken a heart for missions and the lost in our students
Thursday: Pray for God to move in the hearts of our young people, drawing them to faith in Christ, that they would return transformed by the Spirit of God to live for him by faith unto faith
Friday: Ask for God’s blessings as they say goodbye to new friends, and that He would grant them safety as they being the trip back home
After the Trip: Pray for God to stir your heart to ask the chaperones & students about what they learned, that Zion would continue to be a church that reaches out and prioritizes missions, and that Jesus would seal the lessons our students learned into their hearts to live for Him
It was a wonderful blessing this past Duesey Days! Not only was there wonderful weather for the community celebration and all who were involved, but our church mission pork booth was a smashing success. By God’s grace, several thousands of dollars were raised, many happy smiles and full bellies were provided, and a good time was had by all!
A huge thank you to Lorrie Stromer and her husband, Dave, for their leadership and organization. Thank you to all the volunteers, donations, and folks who helped behind the scenes. We are grateful to our community, the Chamber, and local resources that make this event possible. Ultimately, we give thanks and praise to the Lord, from Whom and for Whom all of this exists.
Enjoy some of the pictures. Lord willing, see you next year at Duesey Days 2023!
Are you willing to take a stand for what is right, even if it is unpopular? Will you commit to the truth, even if all around say that it is a lie? What happens if you do what is right, but you end up suffering for doing good? If someone wrongs you, will you strike back, or turn the other cheek?
After the Dobbs court case that overturned Roe v. Wade, Christians have had several issues to consider. Previously, we have seen what God’s Word has to say to the issue of “sanctity of life.” We will want to consider other truths from God’s point-of-view in the future, but now we ponder turning the other cheek.
Michael Lawrence, a pastor with many of our same doctrines, lives and pastors in Portland, OR. Recently, he wrote for The Gospel Coalition on what he and his church experienced after the Supreme Court decision: “When the Mob Shows Up the Monday After Roe.” He records what happened to his church property, the caring pregnancy center they support, and the city block that has their buildings:
After circling the block, a group of well-prepared and fully masked individuals broke off. Using umbrellas and masks to shield their identity from security cameras, they smashed almost every ground-floor window on the side of the building that had not yet been boarded up, and covered the building in vile graffiti aimed specifically at Christians.
The damage was done in just moments. With the rest of the marchers, whose mass largely shielded the vandals from view, they then marched back to the park, shedding their black Antifa-style clothing on the way. They got in their cars and left, but not before some drove around the block, taunting the police, calling them “pigs,” and telling them to solve “real” crimes.
The level of organization and coordination was striking, including sending a “scout” 30 minutes before the rally to photograph the security cameras and note how to avoid being identified.
One reporter covering the event was assaulted by several in the crowd with umbrellas and mace, but thankfully was not seriously hurt. A few window A/C units were damaged, and there’s a lot of glass to replace and graffiti to remove. But in answer to the prayers of many, there was no fire, no serious injuries, and no further attempts to damage the building. We don’t take this for granted. A little more than two weeks ago, one of the centers operated by First Image in a nearby suburb was firebombed and declared a total loss.
What does the Bible say to pro-life issues and principles around abortion?
Any day now, a ruling from the Supreme Court could change one of the most important decisions that affects abortion and the “sanctity of life” movement in America. On May 3, 2022, a document was leaked from the SCOTUS deliberation process where Justice Alito quoted as perhaps writing for the majority in stating, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled…” If Roe v. Wade, a decision from 1973 that made abortion legal in all 50 states, should be overruled this summer, how should Christians and the Church respond?
Since the leaked document, conversation and hysteria have reached loud decibels in our civic discourse. Many people would argue that Christians should stay out of political issues, and that the Scriptures have nothing to say about abortion.
Recently, progressive Jewish writer Jeffrey Salkin wrote in Religious News Services that Americans must keep religion out of the abortion debate. Asking “Should religion influence abortion policy?”, Salkin argues that theological claims should not become laws for a nation.
Other people would argue that Christians ought to be silent about “sanctity of life” for the unborn due to biblical silence. Not once, across the sixty-six books of the Bible – is the word “abortion” mentioned, and the fact that Jesus and the prophets never talk about this issue is proof that God does not have a final opinion for people to follow.
But is that really true? Does God’s Word really not have anything to say about abortion? The rest of this article will show the overwhelmingly clear Scripture passages that address these important topics.
By showing these Bible verses, we don’t pretend that there are no questions left. Christians of good will can still debate important issues: should laws be left in state’s jurisdiction? How should the medical community regulate doctors who violate the Hippocratic oath? How can we love our neighbors who are devastated or fearful if Roe is overturned (a subject for a future article)? What needs to change in adoption policies?
Despite these questions, the following Scriptures make it clear: we serve the God of the living, who calls us to love our unborn neighbors. Read these verses, followed by a brief explanation, and tell us what questions you still have, or what impression sacred Scripture left on you!
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Genesis 1:27
[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Every person is created in God’s image, regardless if they are in the womb or out. People’s rights and dignity come from being in His image, not if their mother chooses to give them life, or if they are in the womb or out.
Exodus 20:13
[13] “You shall not murder.” The Bible allows for manslaughter, accidental death, or capital punishment. Murder is the taking of innocent life with intent, and unborn children do not deserve to be killed.
For the summer of 2022, Pastor Brian will lead a discussion through Carl Trueman’s new book, Strange New World. This book is provided free while supplies last. Want to grab a book? Let us know!
We will be using the following songs and passages from the Word of God in our corporate gathering this Lord’s Day. Please prayerfully use these resources to prepare your hearts to “come into His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).
The Word of the Lord: Ezekiel 36:27 Romans 8:5 – 9 Acts 2:1 – 4 Ephesians 1:13, 5:18 Numbers 6:24 – 26
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs: Come Thou Fount Spirit of the Living God, Fall Fresh On Me Behold The Lamb Doxology
Means of Grace: Holy Baptism Congregational Prayer Sermon: Spirit in Ephesus and Zion Holy Communion
Sometimes art so perfectly marries music and the message, it can almost take your breath away. The Spirit of God is the breath of God, and this hymn, Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God is a sensational testament to this beauty of God’s truth and art.
On Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, when God poured out His Spirit on His Church in Acts 2. In the fire of purifying judgment, the tongues that proclaimed the Gospel in every language, and the supernatural power, the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for each of us individually, and the Church as well.
Do you have God’s Spirit for yourself? Have you been born again (John 3:3), born of the Spirit (John 3:8), been made a new creation (II Cor 5:17), received regeneration (Matt 19:28), been born of God (I John 5:1)? We cannot be saved, and we will not see the Kingdom of Heaven, without the new birth. Pray for God to make this change within you! Attend church worship, Bible studies, give your heart & mind to His Word, and behold how God transforms you!
And Zion as a church needs the Spirit as well! We need God’s Spirit to discern the truth and be led into life, and not to succumb to the flesh and death (Rom 8:5 – 8). It is the Spirit Who produces His fruit of love, joy, peace, life, self-control, and so much more, as opposed to the fruit of the flesh (Gal 5:19 – 26). The Spirit and the Church bid us follow into eternal life (Rev 22:17), so ask yourself this: is the Holy Spirit and His Church of the highest priority in your life?
Good worship music helps us orient our minds & hearts to the above truths, so may we sing the following words with such zeal. As the Nicene Creed reminds us, the Holy Spirit is “the Lord and Giver of Life,” so may our souls live in the Spirit as encouraged by this hymn.
Holy Spirit, living breath of God, Breathe new life into my willing soul. Let the presence of the risen Lord, Come renew my heart and make me whole. Cause Your Word to come alive in me; Give me faith for what I cannot see, Give me passion for Your purity; Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within, May Your joy be seen in all I do. Love enough to cover every sin, In each thought and deed and attitude. Kindness to the greatest and the least, Gentleness that sows the path of peace. Turn my strivings into works of grace; Breath of God show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation’s birth, Giving life to all that God has made, Show Your power once again on earth, Cause Your church to hunger for your ways. Let the fragrance of our prayers arise; Lead us on the road of sacrifice, That in unity the face of Christ May be clear for all the world to see.
Zion Evangelical & Reformed Church 