Genesis 29:16-30

Have you ever gotten stuck seeing yourself through the eyes of others? Living through the perspectives of those around us deadens a sense of self. Such was happening to our hidden hero in today’s passage. This story in Genesis forms a key beginning in the life of our spiritual ancestors, and it shapes an entirely new trajectory for our lives of faith. It begins as a saga of exclusion and pain; it becomes a story of resiliency, determination and redemption. Join us!

Today’s sermon is the third in our current series: Our Journey through the Bible. Catch up on the first two you might have missed by visiting our website www.fbcdecatur.com, and be sure to join us for our future sermons in this exciting series. The next two weeks will be taken from the book of Exodus chapters 1-4 and chapter 20. We encourage you read ahead through these chapters for your preparation; you can also enjoy watching the Pixar movie, The Prince of Egypt for well-researched background in history, architecture and geography.

We moved quickly, but thoroughly! From this single verse in Genesis 2, we continued our Journey through the Bible with the key insights into our Human Condition. In Dust and Spirit we are created; we struggle and we succeed. We fail, falter and occasionally rise good and right places. We also are Naked, exposed and vulnerable in this unpredictable world. As a result, we too often make decisions based out of our Fear. We struggle with Competition and Pride. And yet, like Abraham, we continue to be called to be a Blessing.

Join us for these remarkable “Seven Words of Truth.” The Bible speaks; let us listen and respond accordingly!

We begin our Journey through the Bible with this very appropriate creation story of Genesis 1. In doing so, we discover a trajectory of expected responses to our scriptures. The expectation here and elsewhere: wonder, faith and responsibility. Join us as we explore this remarkable beginning to our Bible. And continue with us each week as we will be sharing this biblical journey together through the spring.

Next week: Seven Words of Truth, Genesis 2:7

In preparation, read Genesis 2:4-25; Psalm 19:1-6

On our Old Time Religion Sunday, we enjoyed the bright and bouncing rhythms of old time Appalachian bluegrass traditions. Woven into the music of the banjo, dulcimer, guitar, mandolin, bass (and even accordion), our homily today (a little shorter version of the sermon since our pastor is playing in the band!) wrestles with discipleship. How do we best fulfill our callings in life? As we hear the interactions Jesus has with Mary and Martha in this passage, legitimate questions arise. Join us as we learn together about what following Jesus entails, and how we can be better disciples by hearing carefully the dual lessons from Jesus’ teaching.

Enjoying Fruit (of the Spirit)

Galatians 5

Summer is the time for fresh fruit. It’s also the perfect time to probe a bit more deeply into what the Bible calls The Fruit of the Spirit. We have so many parallels to the value of fruit for us physically and the value of these biblical spiritual fruits. We will also explore the bright contrast between these very positive attributes and states of being, and another very negative list. Join us for this great learning opportunity that will also inspire you for your week ahead to enjoy your fruit!

Psalm 42

We all have them; those inevitable times in our lives when we feel alone, abandoned, afraid, angry … The Bible is very honest about how hard life can be. Psalm 42 is a perfect example. As with many of the Psalms that are considered laments, or cries of sadness, loss and questions, Psalm 42 provides a powerful template for hard times.

Whatever your state right now, hear with us a four part offering of hope Psalm 42 provides. When you feel the way the Psalmist describes, you are not alone. You also have a recipe for hope. Join us in our worship to find out more. And may your coming days be blessed as a result.

John 21:15-19

Failure, competition, inadequacy … Do those words feel like they might fit your experience with the world on occasion? Each of these very human dynamics is at work in our passage for today’s sermon. See how Jesus meets Peter. Listen carefully to their fascinating dialogue. And join us as we learn how Jesus meets us where we are.