Gretnalife's Sunday Gatherings

Text: Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:46, Genesis 1:26; 2:8. Key Words: Community, One Another, Together, Interdependence Big Idea of the Message: This week is about living into the call of the church. It will challenge the ways we limit community now, and provide ideas for moving us beyond those limits.

Today's Guest Speaker is Dr. Jayne Wilcox. Jayne is a Professor at Ashland Theological Seminary, as well as the former Moderator of the Brethren Church, and current co-host of the "SHEcclesiology" Podcast. Today's message is on the value of embracing Jesus as your true Shepherd - following His lead, and experiencing His peace.

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3,18; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3; Luke 9:57-62  Key Words: Relationship, Sanctification, Hearing God, Bible Reading  Big Idea of the Message: This week is about bridging our personal “gap” with God by committing to build a dynamic relationship with Him - continuing to move toward Him with purpose throughout our lives.

Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Acts 2:42-47 Key Words: Gathering in Worship, Dissatisfaction, Holiness Big Idea Of the Message: In preparation for our next series - Bridge The Gap - Pastor Rob asks us to reflect on the status of our hearts as revealed by what we complain about. In particular: what are we focused on in our Worship Gatherings.

This week, our guest speaker is Lawrence Matthews. He is the Volunteer Development Coordinator for Region 2 of Mennonite Disaster Services (MDS). The Brethren Church works in partnership with MDS to reach those in need.  MDS's goal is to restore hope for survivors of disasters. They do this by recruiting, organizing and empowering volunteers to repair and rebuild the homes of those impacted by disasters in Canada and the U.S. They strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those affected by disasters. Today, Lawrence will give us incite into how MDS is working in the aftermath of Helene & Milton, and how we can get involved.    

Week 3 Text: Esther 4 Topic: Risk, Courage, The Lost, Worth It, Gospel Big Idea of the Message: Mordecai, and Esther all placed themselves in harm's way to do the right thing. We are called to do the same for the sake of the lost.

Text: Esther 3:8-9; Matthew 5:10-12,14-16; Micah 6:8 Topic: Babylon, Esther, Living in Hostility, Witness, Shine Your Light Big Idea of the Message: The characters in Esther are Jews living in a hostile empire. Their example can teach Christians how to serve even when we are different from the world around us. Application Point: We will learn how to serve God and others, even in a post-Christian world.

Big Idea of the Series: This four-week series explores the story of Esther. Through understanding the book’s backstory and context, we can see that the story is not a fairy tale but an understanding of how God can work behind the scenes with imperfect people in a hostile environment.   Week 1 Text: Esther 1:1–3; 2:5–8 Topic: Esther, Sovereignty, Providence Big Idea of the Message: Esther tells the story of God working behind the scenes to raise a Jewish girl to be queen in ancient Persia. Application Point: We will let God work behind the scenes in our lives.

Text: Deuteronomy 6:1–9 Topics: Shema, Love, Covenant Big Idea of the Message: Love for God is the central command of the Christian faith. Application Point: We must learn what it means to love God because it is the foundation of our faith and the key to building healthy relationships with those around us.

Text: 1 John 2:7–11 Topics: Love, Friendship, Community Big Idea of the Message: Our love for one another is the test of our relationship with God. If we do not forgive one another as God forgives us, then our love for God is in question. Application Point: As Christians, we must evaluate our love for one another based on our actions - including our capacity to forgive.

Text: John 15:9–17 Topics: Love, Relationship with God, Friendship Big Idea of the Message: Jesus commands us to love one another, and he shows us how to do this by giving up his life for us. Application Point: As Christians, we must model our love for one another on Christ’s self-sacrificial love.

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 Topics: Love, Virtue Big Idea of the Message: Love is the supreme virtue in the Christian faith. It is the basis of our relationship with God and others. Application Point: If we want to develop healthy relationships with God and others, we must learn what it looks like to love the way God intends us to love.

Text: John 18:33-40 Topics: Kingdoms, Jesus as King, Politics, Truth Big Idea of the Message: No matter the season, Jesus challenges the rule of the day. When we are called to consider the person of Jesus, our decision affects all that we hold to be important in life. Application Point: Like people in the first century, we are called to give an answer to the questions of who Jesus is and what he means to us. The question “Are you King of the Jews?” is as critical today as it was then.

Text: Mark 12:13–27 Topics: Herodians, Pharisees, Sadducees, Jesus, Disciples Big Idea of the Message: Jesus’s message will bring even the most hardened enemies together as they try to keep the kingdom from moving forward. Application Point: Jesus’s words and actions will push us to make difficult decisions. When we seek him out, we may find that he calls us to abandon some ways of thinking that we hold as sacred. Jesus will reward our obedience, even if it looks to others like our sacrifice was foolish.

Text: Mark 11:27–12:12 Supplemental Texts: Mark 3:1–6; 11:1–26 Topics: Trust,  Big Idea of the Message: We really struggle to trust - people, motivations, and even God himself.  There are many reasons why it's hard for us, but Jesus is worthy of all the trust we can muster - and then some. Application Point: Jesus’s message will challenge everyone, but especially the religious. It is the religious—even his own followers—who will struggle to accept the truth of the person of Jesus. The call to trust is the same today as it was two thousand years ago.

Jesus must be something more than one of the greats. He must be the only source of life we have. We must see in Jesus the only answer to the key questions of life.

Text: Matthew 5:1–12 Supplemental Texts: Matthew 5–7 Topics: New Expectations, Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, Kingdom Witness Big Idea of the Message: We cannot forget that Jesus’s message of good news is rooted in him as the bearer of a new covenant with new expectations. Jesus’s actions were intended to bring about the realization of a hope that only he could provide. Application Point: The expectations of our covenant with Jesus require us to live for His work to be done, but offers eternal benefits that only come through Him.

Text: Proverbs 27:17; Ephesians 4:15-16 Topics: Friendship, Family, Confidant, Compassion, Accountability Big Idea of the Message: Faith-filled friendships offer the gift of confident compassion. Application Point: Faith-filled communities are where we find our friends with whom we can give and receive confident, Christ-centered compassion and accountability.

Sandile is the lead Pastor of the Brethren Church of South Africa. He will share testimony of God's work in him, his family, and the area they are blessed to serve in God's name.

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Mark 2:1–12; 1 Sam 14:1-15 Topics: Friendship, Comradery, Together Big Idea of the Message: Faith-filled friendships offer the gift of comradery. Application Point: Faith-filled communities are where we find friends with whom we can stand shoulder to shoulder and walk through life, those who come to our defense to help us fight our battles.