Zion Evangelical & Reformed Church

Sam Crabtree Speaking at Zion

Posted on November 2, 2012 by blund

We are delighted to announce that Pastor Sam Crabtree, Executive Pastor and Lead Pastor for Life Training at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN will be speaking at Zion on Sunday November 4, 2012. Pastor Sam has served as Executive Pastor and board member of Desiring God Ministries for 15 years. Further, he has recently authored Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise For Those Who Are Not God. This promises to be a rich, Bible-soaked and God-glorifying opportunity!
Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Will the Gospel Shape How You Trick or Treat?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by blund

What are your plans this Wednesday night? Are you just drifting along with what everyone else is doing? Or, are you thinking, “Jesus, how are You going to use me and hundreds of kids going house-to-house for Your glory!??”

You’re invited to read the following article that explores exactly that idea: “Sent into the Harvest: Halloween on Mission.” As you read the article, don’t forget that Zion is hosting a New Life party for kids and their parents this Wednesday night! Soup is on at 6pm, with games, Confirmation, and more to follow.

SENT INTO THE HARVEST: HALLOWEEN ON MISSION
What if a crisp October wind blew through “the way we’ve always done things” at Halloween? What if the Spirit stirred in us a new perspective on October 31? What if dads led their households in a fresh approach to Halloween as Christians on mission?

What if spreading a passion for God’s supremacy in all things included Halloween — that amalgamation of wickedness now the second-largest commercial holiday in the West?

What if we didn’t think of ourselves as “in the world, but not of it,” but rather, as Jesus says in John 17, “not of the world, but sent into it”?

And what if that led us to move beyond our squabbles about whether or not we’re free to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve, and the main issue became whether our enjoyment of Jesus and his victory over Satan and the powers of darkness might incline us to think less about our private enjoyments and more about how we might love others? What if we took Halloween captive — along with “every thought” (2 Corinthians 10:5) — as an opportunity for gospel advance and bringing true joy to the unbelieving?

…What if Halloween wasn’t a night when Christians retreated in disapproval, but an occasion for storming the gates of hell?

Continue reading “Sent into the Harvest: Halloween on Mission”→

Posted in ministry | Leave a comment

Reformation Sunday 2012: Recovering Worship in Spirit & Truth

Posted on October 27, 2012 by blund

Join us on Reformation Sunday this year to see how we are always reforming our worship to be in line with the Word of God.

Our morning worship service will reflect the Genevan liturgy as we look at the Reformation truths of “Priesthood of All Believers” from Exodus 19 and sola fide, “By Faith Alone” from 2 Timothy 1:12. We’ll sing Reformation favorites like “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” and “Old Hundredth.”

Then, be sure to join us at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall for an evening seminar on Reformation worship. We’ll learn what Scripture teaches us about this most important of subjects, and then examine what insights the Reformed tradition of Christianity can provide us for a robust doctrine & praxis of worship. Bring a friend, and be sure to join us!

Reformation Sunday Schedule
9:15 Sunday School
10:30 Reformation Day Worship
4:00 Concord Care Worship Service
7:00 Reformation Seminar: Recovering Worship in Spirit & Truth

Posted in news | Tagged 2Timothy 1, announcements, Exodus 19, Reformation, Reformed theology | 1 Comment

Zion New Life Fights Cancer

Posted on October 11, 2012 by blund

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Is it A Sin to Vote for A Mormon or A Roman Catholic?

Posted on October 11, 2012 by blund

An All-Star team of pastors and theologians discuss this question. Panelists include R.C. Sproul, Al Mohler, Bob Godfrey, Sinclair Ferguson, and Steve Lawson.

May the Spirit “renew our minds” (Romans 12:1-2) by the Word so that we would be able to vote to please Christ!

Posted in Media, resources | Tagged politics | Leave a comment

Praying Kingdom Prayers

Posted on October 3, 2012 by blund

Does your prayer life feel like its in a rut? Always praying for Brother Bill’s cold and Aunt Suzie’s cat? Are your prayers God-sized, Kingdom-motivated prayers?

Henry was an ornery agnostic. His wife, Eunice, was a devout Christian. They lived in a farming community, where a yearlong drought was devastating the local economy. At the request of many of the farmers, the pastor of a local church called the community together to pray for rain. As Eunice was leaving to go to the church, Henry challenged, “Do you really believe that it will rain if you ask for it?”
…
Evaluate your prayer life by answering the following questions. Have you thanked the Lord for His intercession for you? Like our Lord, are you praying ‘not as I will, but as You will,’ even if it costs your life? Are your prayers ‘kingdom-focused’? Are your prayers big enough to honor God? Are you praying for enemies of the cross to be converted? If they will not be converted, are you asking God to restrain them so they cannot disturb the growth of His church? Like the children who prayed for Albania, do you pray for God to change the world? Are your big prayers becoming bigger prayers?

Read the rest of this great article, “What is Kingdom-Focused Prayer?” by Rev. Archie Parrish at Ligonier Ministries.

Posted in ministry, resources | Tagged Kingdom, prayer | Leave a comment

Casting Crowns Concert | Sept 15

Posted on September 1, 2012 by blund

Casting Crowns and Britt Nicole at Clay County Fair on September 15!

“It is a joy to be able to announce such a high-caliber Christian act for the Clay County Fair,” said CCF Secretary/Manager Jeremy Parsons. “I know for many Christian music fans this is another Christmas gift they will enjoy next September.”

Since 2009, Casting Crowns has toured the world consistently delivering music that points believers back to what truly matters… Since its launch in 2003, the band has garnered 23 GMA Dove Awards, a GRAMMY Award and an American Music Award, and 8 chart-topping radio singles. Casting Crowns has sold more than 4.5 million albums to date and has been named Billboard magazine’s top-selling Christian act for the past four years.
See all the information here.

Concert begins 7:30 p.m.

Posted in news | Tagged announcements, Casting Crowns, concert | Leave a comment

Encouragement for Singles and Sexual Purity

Posted on August 23, 2012 by blund

Steve DeWitt shares what he has learned about being single in America, right before getting married (for the first time!) to singles, young people, and all who want to live for God:

I want to speak frankly to the matter of sexual purity. I have fought the fight for purity since my first real girlfriend in 10th grade. That is 28 years. It’s hard to believe. As an adult single in the Christian dating scene, it is frightening to see how little concern there generally is about sexual purity. Yet God’s Word makes it clear, God’s will is for our sanctification – that we control our bodies with holiness and honor. If you would have told the 18-year-old me I would still be dating in my 40s, I would have thought, “Well, at least the temptations aren’t as strong. You’re old. You probably don’t even think about it.” I actually think in some ways it’s harder as an adult than as a college student.

In spite of all the struggles and challenges, purity is worth it. After 28 years of battling this, let me share a few lessons I have learned.

Nothing is more helpful than only dating highly committed Christians
Set wise boundaries, communicate them right away, and stick to them
Stoke the greater passion

You can see what he means at each point in the full talk below.

For those who want a biblical and practical case for the vision Pastor DeWitt is commending, you may want to check out Sex, Dating, and Relationships, by Gerald Hiestand and Jay Thomas (Crossway, 2012).