Let The Church Roll On

This weeks sermon was “Let The Church Roll On” By Guest Speaker Pastor Jeff

This weeks scripture was Acts 6:7

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

The church exists to accomplish the mission of God. The mission of God is to share the great news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and he has a place for us in Heaven. As followers of Christ it is our responsibility to share the gospel with people. That is our mission. Our mission as followers and as a church always takes precedence over everything else. We are to be God’s representation here on Earth and tell people about His love for them. 

With that being said we have 3 great opportunities to invite someone God has laid on your heart that might need to hear that God loves them and cares for them. The 3 events will be a great opportunity to invite friends, family, or someone that you met that doesn’t know about how much God loves them.  

1. We have our Women’s Bible study Monday nights at 8pm on zoom. We are meeting on zoom so that anyone and everyone can attend no matter where they are. If you need the book link please reach out to us on Facebook and we will get it to you. 

2. The Fall Women’s event is going to be on November 5 at 2pm in the sanctuary. There will be games, devotionals, and food. If you are able to bring a snack to share that would be great. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite someone to the church and enjoy an amazing time of fellowship. 

3. Thursday, November 10 at 6:30 or 7pm we will be having a Friendsgiving!!! This is a wonderful opportunity to invite someone who maybe doesn’t have family or Friends close to them. We can enjoy a great time of fellowship and food. The church will provide the main course, we just ask that everyone bring a side dish to share. Stay tuned for the exact time.    

Lets use these three events to fulfill our mission as followers of Christ and share the good news that he love and cares for all. Below you can find the video of this weeks message from Pastor Jeff.

https://www.facebook.com/FriendsCommunityChurchOrlando/videos/5512615445519313

Join us Sunday morning at 10am as we Worship God together 

53 South Dean Rd. Orlando, FL 32825

Pastor's Blog

This weeks sermon was The Principle Of The Path

This weeks scripture was Proverbs 7:6-27 (Solomon is speaking)

At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. 7  I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. 8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house 9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. 10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11 She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks. 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: 14  “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.” 21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. 22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose 23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. 24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. 26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.

27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.

Your direction, not your intention, determines your destiny. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Satan knows how to trip everyone up. Satan knows how to lead you to make poor decisions. We buy into the lie that it’s just one time, how can it hurt. When we buy into the lie that it’s just this one time we are leading ourselves down a path that can be very dangerous. In order to not fall into that path we need to seek wisdom, because God speaks in absolute truth. The biggest problem we have with seeking wisdom from God is sometimes we don’t like the answer he gives us. God gives freely his wisdom, we just have to seek it. 

Another way we can keep from falling into the “it’s just this one time path”, we need people around us to hold us accountable. You can do this by joining a small group, finding an accountability group or accountability partner. These groups allow you to share with people and have them speak into your life and how your choices can affect you. One last thing you can do is make choices based on long term expectations, not short term gratification. This one is hard because sometimes short term gratification is so appealing and we forget that short term decisions have long term effects. The short term gratification can have everlasting long term effects. Remember to always make choices by thinking about what the end result will be. Don’t let Satan lead you down a path that leads you to death. Be careful of the choices you make and be careful when you think it’s not a temptation. Every choice is a path and sometimes those choices may take you to a destination you may not like. 

Every decision I make is a new fork in the road.

Every decision I make takes me down a new path.

Lord, help me to choose the right path.

As you go through out this week ask yourself these 2 questions 

1. What is it that you want to be the hallmark of your life?

2. How would you want the epitaph that marks your grave to read?

Below you will find this week’s sermon.

https://www.facebook.com/FriendsCommunityChurchOrlando/videos/1484067208764250

Join us this Sunday as we worship together at 10am. 

53 South Dean Road 

Orlando, FL 32825

Patches on Old Clothes

This week’s sermon was Patches on Old Clothes. We talked about the scriptures from Matthew 9:16-17.  

The background for the scripture? The disciples of John asked Jesus - Why do John’s disciples fast, but Jesus’ disciples did not?

Jesus answered with the following:

16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.  17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are saved.

Jesus had been asked by some of John's disciples about why Jesus’ disciples’ ways of worship and living under the law was different from their own. It was a new way to worship God, it was a new way called Grace. Grace comes from the Greek New Testament word charis, which means God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God that we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, nor can ever do to earn this favor. It is a gift from God.

Jesus had just completed a sermon that was not like anything they had heard before. He moved the legality of religion to a relationship through faith in God. In reality, most people prefer law over grace. The law gives you a check list of do’s and don’ts so it makes easy to know when you are meeting the requirements.

But God is not interested in religion, but in relationships.  

God doesn’t want us to just use a checklist in our relationship with him; he wants us to be fully involved like we would be in a marriage or a relationship with our closest friends. God wants to hear and see us daily and know that we are depending on him. God wants a relationship from us that isn’t about just going to church on Sundays, or just giving our offerings and tithes. He wants us fully invested in him so that he can show us the love and care he has for us. God doesn’t want us to just use a checklist when it comes to our relationship with him. He wants our full devotion. 

Throughout this week ask yourself - Are you spending time with God daily or are you checking him off your list of things to do?  Are you in a full relationship with God like it's a marriage, or are you seeing him just once a week? 

Food Packing Event and Girl Friends Lunch

Hi Friends Family,

With all the food needs in the community and world, we have an opportunity to make a difference by packing 10,000 meals here in Orlando. The date is Sunday 9/18 at the church at 5PM. These will be distributed to our local area and also around the world to places of need like Ukraine.

This is a family, friends, and neighbors event where all ages can participate. This is also a great opportunity to ask someone to join you where you can both have fun and see how our efforts can help people in need. With 10,000 meals to pack, many hands will make light work!

If you want to help set up, please join us at 3:30 and we will have some light snacks and drinks so you don't have to pack hungry.

In other news, the next Girl Friends Lunch is October 2nd at 11:30am at the Mills house, and the Girl Friends Fall get together will be Saturday Octoboer 29th at 2PM at the church.

We are excited by all the good things happening at Friends and would love your participation.

Blessings

Greg S

Living the Life

Good Morning, Everyone!

I just wanted to review the last couple of weeks and tell you about the series we’ve been studying on Sunday mornings at 10AM. It’s titled “Living the Life”, and each week we look at a part of a believer’s life and its significance in the life of those that follow Christ.

We would love to have you come to Friends Community Church to worship and learn with us on Sunday mornings.

The first week we spoke about prayer. I asked everyone to do three things when praying and introduced the first two:

1. Pray continuously. Have a prayer life that all through the whole day you are communicating with your Heavenly Father. Take him with you wherever you maybe going and whatever you may be doing. God loves us and wants to be apart of lives. Invite Him to be apart of be a part of every thing that you are involved with.

2. The second week we shared about the Word of God and it’s essential place in the lives of people who have a relationship with Him.

This week we talked about a particular part of Christian life. Before now I had missed its value, so this is the first time I have ever taught on this critical subject. If you missed the Sunday morning service, please go to our Facebook page and you can find all of our teachings there.

The next week we are scheduled to wrap up this series, but I am thinking about other aspects of prayer in the Christain life so this series may continue. This has been such a fun time and a great time as we learn together to worship God.

We love you and pray for all of you.

In Christs name, Pastor Greg