Sunday Preview for October 26

At 9:30 our adult Sunday School class will read the letter to the church of Thyatira. In it there is a woman called a “Jezebel” and she is condemned along with others who are guilty of her adulteries. Was this about desperate housewives in first century Asia Minor or something else?

At 11:00 we’ll be studying a story where Jesus is refused hospitality by a Samaritan village and James and John want to incinerate it because of the offense. Will Jesus say “I love the smell of napalm in the morning?” or have another response?

At 6:00 we have a special ordination service for Eric Dirksen who is planning on planting a church in Davis. We will welcome all the rest of the CRC churches in Sacramento and the service will be conducted jointly by all of the pastors. I am preaching, Derek Zeyl is doing the music and acting as master of ceremonies. Eric will be ordained, he will baptize his youngest son, and we’ll celebrate communion together. It should be an evening to remember. All are welcome.

Preview for Sunday October 19

At 9:30 we’ll look at the strange reward offered to suffering Pergamum Christians of hidden manna, and a white stone with a secret name. Sounds bizarre!

At 11:00 John the disciple decides that Jesus isn’t defending his own spiritual property rights and tries to reign in someone outside their group from doing what the disciples failed to do.

After the 11:00 service we have our annual congregation meeting where we will vote on the budget and elect 2 new deacons and one new elder.

Sierra Leadership Network, November 1

The Sierra Leadership Network is the church based leadership training program of Classis Central California. On November 1 we welcome Dr. Tim Brown, the President of Western Theological Seminary who will give a seminar on Psalms. This will take place at our sister church Granite Springs Church in Lincoln. For more information and the signup sheet download the brochure.

 
Session One:   Psalms as Spiritual Resource.  
In his rabbi style, Tim will talk about psalms used in ancient and contemporary spirituality and what we can learn from that.  He’ll also talk about some unique settings for psalms, like which were used for Passover, pilgrimage, and why.

Session Two:  Praying in Pain
Speaking to our anxiety (think current economic climate!), Tim will guide us through a close look at Psalm 3, when King David was running from his Son Absalom.
As small group leaders, this will help us guide and pray for folks in pain.

Session three:  Optional session for teachers/preachers.   Preaching/Teaching the Psalms
Looking at Peter’s Pentecost sermon (Acts 2) as a model, Tim will help us see how the psalms shaped early Christian preaching.
We’ll also look at Athanasius’ (an early church father) letter to a young pastor on reading the psalms.

Review of October 12

At 9:30 we began looking at what the Spirit had to say to the church in Pergamum (Revelation 2). We worked hard on the question of why God didn’t want the people dabbling with pagan idolatry? Was it because he had rules against such things or was there something deeper involved? If you take the “rules” approach you wind up dealing with legalism and that similarly got harsh treatment. How can we understand this? Audio mp3, Study guide PDF.

At 11:00 we saw how the successes reached early in chapter 9 of Luke are all coming undone. In these verse the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest and Jesus stops them with a shocking answer. Audio mp3, Power Point in PDF.

At 6:00 a small group met to pray for the city. This group was inspired by a series of talks given by Tim Keller that the council has been working through. Here are some outlines of the two first talks: Kingdom-Centered Prayer pt. 1, Kingdom-Centered Prayer pt. 2.

Schedule for Sunday October 12

At the 9:30 Adult Sunday School class we’ll continue in the book of Revelation by hearing what the Spirit says to the church at Pergamum. This church has issues with cultural accommodation. What does that mean? What is really behind it? If you want to get a jump on the class you can download the study guide.

Last week at 11:00 Jesus marked the failure of the disciples. We get deeper into that this week when their faithless silence evaporates in a fight over status and position in this new kingdom they intend to profit from. Jesus stops their argument by taking a child, possibly the same one he just healed, and told them that if they welcome this little child they welcome both Jesus AND his Father, and that the greatest must be the least. What does that mean, really? We hear politicians say “I’m a servant of the people” but we never buy that. Why should we buy it when Jesus says it? Can anyone really do this?  

At 6:00 at church we have our monthly “Prayer for the Flourishing of the City” meeting. We come together to simply pray not for our own specific church needs but for the needs of our community and city.

Media from Sunday October 5

At 9:30 we studied what the Spirit said to the church at Smyrna. That church was the only one not to get admonition. Audio mp3, study guide pdf.

At 11:00 we saw what seemed to be all of Jesus’ success with the disciples come crashing down after the heights of the mount of transfiguration. We also saw Jesus seem to lose his temper and say some really harsh things to his disciples. Was that un-Christ-like of him? If you missed the sermon you can listen to the recording of it and see the Power Point online. Audio mp3, Power Point PDF.

Preview for Sunday October 5

At 9:30 we’ll read what the Spirit says to the church in Smyrna, how they are poor, persecuted and beaten down and why Jesus calls them “rich”!

At 11:00 we’ll continue in Luke 9 where after the triumph of feeding the 5000 and the mount of transfiguration everything seems to fall apart and Jesus seems to lose his temper at his disciples. What does it mean that Jesus loses it and takes it out on his disciples? Could that be right? Come and hear. We’ll also celebrate the Lord’s Supper together.

Audio from Sunday September 28

At 9:30 we discussed Revelation 2:7

Revelation 2:7 (NRSV)

Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.

Audio mp3 Study Guide PDF

At 11:00 Eric Dirksen preached on the story in the book of Acts of Philip baptizing the Ethiopian Eunuch. Audio mp3

Mayoral Forum

The Cabrillo Park Neighborhood Association has arranged two evenings to meet the two Sacramento mayoral candidates. At 7:00pm on October 7 Kevin Johnson will be here to answer questions about his vision for the city. At 7:00pm on October 9 Incumbent Heather Fargo will be here to do the same. This is sponsored by the Neighborhood Association but they also invite the church. pvk