Ten times!

Ten times Isaiah declares God’s opposition to and judgment of self-aggrandizing human pride.
Our “culture of self” is very sick and dying; yet, if we are not careful,
it can continue to call our names, to lure us in.
Let’s listen to Isaiah with souls eager for our prevailing God.

If you read this last week, please read again…

This is not an overwhelming challenge…
… but it is a great one: for the next 11 weeks I will be asking you to read the Book of Isaiah. The entire book. At your own pace, in whatever “version” you prefer, but read it. If it helps to have a commentary nearby, then get a good commentary. (Ask and I will recommend.)

I make this challenge for a variety of reasons:

• Isaiah is rich and deep and wonderful, full of revelation about God, holiness, angels, justice, and the call for God’s people to be salt and light
• No other prophetic book so clearly portrays the coming of Messiah; if you study this book written eight centuries before Christ’s birth, your understanding of the history of salvation will increase and your faith in Jesus will strengthen for you will see how what Isaiah wrote was fulfilled so specifically through the life, suffering, death, resurrection, and promised return in glory of the Promised One
• Suffering is a loaded word and not one we like to embrace; nonetheless, suffering is a substantial experience of living. Isaiah gives context to suffering and hope for relief and restoration.
• This study should, by God’s grace, prepare us well for Advent and our celebration of the Incarnation. It should also serve to prepare us for the Second Advent (which may happen before we finish this series!)
• We need to read the Scriptures purposefully and routinely. A recent survey revealed that only 16% of those who call themselves evangelicals read the Bible daily. Let’s encourage each other in this. Start reading/studying… and talk about it with each other. IF YOU DO THIS, YOU… YOUR FAMILY… AND THE CHURCH WILL BE BLESSED.

News & Announcements:

• PRAYER GATHERING WEDNESDAY @ 7:00 (AT THE CHURCH)
  “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” ~ Martin Luther
• Advocate/Bromenn Prayer Partner for September
  ABMC – Operating Rooms (OR) There are 10 operating rooms at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, one of which is dedicated to heart surgeries. There are also two rooms on the Mother/Baby Unit where c-section deliveries can take place.
• One of the Best Events of the Year!
  Fall Festival @ Irion’s Farm – October 28
• Women’s (Thursday @ 6:00) & Men’s (Monday @ 6:00) Bible Studies starting!
• Our kids are memorizing this verse. How about you?
  ” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father… ” ~ James 1:17
• We are hoping to launch a new Jr. High and High School ministry for our own growing number of young people and their friends. Many of us recall that these years were very important in our spiritual development. We need committed leaders to rise up and love these kids and encourage them in the faith. Interested? See Pastor Dave.

Jesus loved Isaiah. So will we.

For the next eleven weeks (until Advent begins on Dec. 2) we will undertake a holy privilege:
immersing ourselves in one of the most interesting and challenging books of the Old Testament,
and one of the OT books which most obviously prepares the way for Messiah. Jesus loved Isaiah.
So will we.

This is not an overwhelming challenge…

… but it is a great one: for the next 11 weeks I will be asking you to read the Book of Isaiah. The entire book. At your own pace, in whatever “version” you prefer, but read it. If it helps to have a commentary nearby, then get a good commentary. (Ask and I will recommend.)

I make this challenge for a variety of reasons:

• Isaiah is rich and deep and wonderful, full of revelation about God, holiness, angels, justice, and the call for God’s people to be salt and light
• No other prophetic book so clearly portrays the coming of Messiah; if you study this book written eight centuries before Christ’s birth, your understanding of the history of salvation will increase and your faith in Jesus will strengthen for you will see how what Isaiah wrote was fulfilled so specifically through the life, suffering, death, resurrection, and promised return in glory of the Promised One
• Suffering is a loaded word and not one we like to embrace; nonetheless, suffering is a substantial experience of living. Isaiah gives context to suffering and hope for relief and restoration.
• This study should, by God’s grace, prepare us well for Advent and our celebration of the Incarnation. It should also serve to prepare us for the Second Advent (which may happen before we finish this series!)
• We need to read the Scriptures purposefully and routinely. A recent survey revealed that only 16% of those who call themselves evangelicals read the Bible daily. Let’s encourage each other in this. Start reading/studying… and talk about it with each other. IF YOU DO THIS, YOU… YOUR FAMILY… AND THE CHURCH WILL BE BLESSED.

News & Announcements:

•  PRAYER GATHERING WEDNESDAY @ 7:00 (AT THE CHURH)
  “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” Martin Luther
• Advocate/Bromenn Prayer Partner for September
  ABMC – Operating Rooms (OR) There are 10 operating rooms at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, one of which is dedicated to heart surgeries. There are also two rooms on the Mother/Baby Unit where c-section deliveries can take place.
• All Church Fun & Fellowship Picnic
  Here Tonight @ 5:00
• Women’s (Thursday @ 6:00) & Men’s (Monday @ 6:00) Bible Studies starting!
• Our kids are memorizing this verse. How about you?
  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
• We are hoping to launch a new Jr. High and High School ministry for our own growing number of young people and their friends. Many of us recall that these years were very important in our spiritual development. We need committed leaders to rise up and love these kids and encourage them in the faith. Interested? See Pastor Dave.

Celebrating the Life of Margaret Wolf

If you were unable to be present as we celebrated the life of Margaret Wolf, you may listen to the service in its entirety:

If you are having trouble with the media player, you can click this link to play it in your browser or default .mp3 player, or use the link to save and download the file:

http://media.thejake.cc/audio/funeral/Margaret_Wolf_Funeral.mp3