At 9:30 we began our work on the letter to the church in Philadelphia. The one in Asia Minor in the first century, not Pennsylvania. The letter talks about “the key of David”. Audio mp3. Study pdf.

At 11:00 we read Isaiah 60 and 61. These were strong words given at a dark time and they speak of a kind of audacious belief not merely in some heavenly peace but in the renewal of all things. Audio mp3. Power Point PDF.

At 9:30 we finished up our treatment of the city of Sardis with the questions of the white clothing and the comment about blotting out names from the book of life. Audio mp3. PDF Study Guide

At 11:00 we began our celebration of Advent. We looked at the story behind the famous Christmas verse of Isaiah 7:14: “a virgin will conceive…” MP3 audio, PDF version of the sermon Power Point

At 9:30 we worked on the promised coming of Jesus both in judgment and deliverance to a church that has for centuries ceased to exist. Audio mp3. Lesson Guide PDF

At 11:00 we asked what Evangelism is via the perspective of a Sacramento news and review piece. Unfortunately mike problems spoiled the audio recording but here is a PDF of the Power Point.

At 9:30 we’ll look at John’s letter to the church at Sardis for another week. The church at Sardis seemed to be a thriving church on the outside but the Son of Man considered them “almost dead” and had no praise for them. Here Jesus warns that unless repent he will come like a thief, at an hour they’re not ready for him. What does that mean? To others he promises white clothing. What is that about?

At 11:00 we’re going to interact with an article in the Sacramento News and Review (http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=880788) as we consider Jesus sending out 72 to announce that the kingdom has come near (Luke 10:1-9).

Also at 11:00 we will once again have a guest worship leader Jason Squires from World Vision.

At the 11:00 Worship service we looked at Jesus’ crushing remark to one would-be disciple: “let the dead bury their own dead, go and proclaim the kingdom of God!” Audio mp3, Power Point PDF

At 6:00 Carmen, Corinne and I met to pray for the city. We had a wonderful time together.

Nov 16

At 9:30 we began to work on John’s letter to the church at Sardis. We got some of the preliminary historical matters out of the way and went deep into the nuance of the word “tyreo” as in “Remember then what you received and heard; “tyrei” it and repent!” The NIV and the NRSV translate it “obey” but we discussed where that word takes our hearts and offered some alternatives like guard and keep. Neal Hand suggested “cherish” which I thought was very good. Audio mp3, Study Guide PDF.

At 11:00 we finished up the three hard sayings of Jesus at the end of Luke 9. This one Jesus declares that anyone how after putting their hand to the plow looks back is UNFIT for the kingdom of God. Very strong words. We talked about Lot’s wife looking back, and the rabble in the desert murmuring for the meat of Egypt. Audio mp3. Power Point PDF.

We also installed 3 new office bearers! To see pictures go to our Facebook page. (You have to on Facebook to do this, then just search Living Stones Christian Reformed Church and join it as a "fan")

At 9:30 Adult Sunday School we will finish up our study of the letter written to Thyatira in ancient Turkey. We’ll talk about iron rods smashing clay pots, the morning star, and what it means that this little church was commanded to “observe/keep my works until the end”.

At 11:00 we will see Jesus bid someone to follow him, receive an excuse that nearly all would deem reasonable and acceptable and hear Jesus respond with “let the dead bury their own dead!” Ouch. Hardly a story of “Jesus meek and mild”.

At 6:00 pm. we’ll have our once a month “pray for the city” prayer meeting here at church. At this meeting we focus on asking God to bless our city and its people.

A week from Sunday, on the 16th we will install our new office bearers: Corinne Meeks as elder, and Reggie Fair and Donna De Vries as deacons.

At 9:30 we once again looked at the letter to the ancient church of Thyatira and talked about economic temptation and how Jesus frees us. Audio mp3, Study guide pdf.

At 11:00 we saw the Son of Man, King of the world noting that while the rules of the world live in palaces, he was homeless. He didn’t say it in a way to shame us, or in bitterness, just how the world “ages” are in conflict. We saw how we in freedom can leverage the age to come while we live in the midst of the age of decay. Audio mp3, Power Point PDF.

• May 13: The Life of a Prophet
• May 20: God's Dilemma
• May 27: What is a temple for?
• June 10: Founding Hell in the Promised Land
• June 17: The Subversive God
• June 24: New Branch, New Hearts