A longing for friendship existed in the heart of Adam before sin entered the world. It is a consequence of our being created in the likeness of a Triune God. The book of Proverbs provides wise instruction on friendship that is rooted in the nature of God, revealed in the heart of God, and fulfilled in Christ. We focus this Sunday on friendship from the perspective of God's wisdom.
Dressing like a first-grader is fairly simple; all you have to do is button your shirt wrong. You know, button your shirt so that the holes and the buttons don't match up. Get that first button wrong, and there's no way to correct it without starting over. Getting the first one right is the key to getting everything else right. Marrying and raising a family is like that shirt; get the first things right, then the other buttons start to line up in a way that works. We're headed there Sunday with "Family Wisdom". Join us!
'Let's talk about sex.' Our culture sends that message non-stop. We hear it in song, see it in the examples of others, view it on TV. It's a challenge to go a day without receiving some lie about sex and sexuality. It's critical that we also hear the truth of what God has to say; after all, He created sex. His instruction to us on the matter is motivated by love. We need our Lord's wisdom. It's where we are headed Sunday. Join us!
Rev. Dr. Stacey M. Cox
Skillful Living
At times we'll be given a piece of advice that starts like this: "Here's a rule to live by." It may or may not be helpful, but deep down we know that life can be too complex for a simple rule. Skillful living requires wisdom to fill in the blanks moment by moment. Enter the Book of Proverbs where God provides His people with such wisdom - His wisdom. Sunday we begin a 6-week series in Proverbs with a message on skillful living. Join us!
Rev. Larry Piedt and wife Nancy are new to Gainesville, where they recently joined Westminster Church. Larry is an honorably retired member of the Georgia Foothills Presbytery, having previously served under the ministry of D. James Kennedy at Coral Ridge PCA in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Larry and Nancy have been married for 43 years and have three grown married sons and four beautiful grandchildren.
Lee has served for many years as pastor in the PCA, which includes 10 at Westminster PCA in Gainesville. He and his wife, Julie, now make their home in Athens, GA while working part-time and being involved in a local church. They have three children - Kristin, Adam, and Stephen.
Sunday we come to our final parable of the series. If at the beginning of his ministry Jesus trained and equipped His disciples to enter into a harvest where souls would be brought into His kingdom, he concludes his teaching ministry by describing the day when the work would be complete: judgment day. 'When the Son of Man comes,' he said. Jesus made a big deal about it, as does the New Testament, and for good reason: it will truly be a day like no other! Sunday we examine this heart-searching passage. Join us!
A quick look at our nation's highway system and one will notice that all roads make their way to our capitol, Washington, D.C. Similarly, every text of Scripture contains a road that will take you to Christ. In Him we find hope, meaning, and salvation! He is the Good News of the old and new testaments. Jesus himself spoke to this in a story about a householder. Sunday we'll explore this little noticed parable. Join us!
We often think of life-and-death issues as those concerning abortion, euthanasia, or the death penalty. Each of those are certainly categorized as a life-and-death issue, as is the question, "Who goes to heaven?" It's not unusual to hear someone say, 'Last night 18 teenagers were saved at our retreat!' Were they? Or is that an act of "counting unhatched chickens" (Spurgeon)? What did Jesus have to say about the matter? That's where we are headed this Sunday with "Who Goes to Heaven?" Join us!
God gives his people good gifts and gospel opportunities to employ them. Each are gifted with at least one talent, and likely more, to impact our places of influence for our Father's glory. Everyone gets something, and will be held accountable for what they did with what was given. Jesus teaches this in his parable of the talents. Join us Sunday for "Using God's Gifts".
If God is all-knowing and sovereign - and caring - then why bother Him with our needs? Our hurts? Our longings? We bother because He's all of that and more for the Christian. To get this point across, Jesus shared quite the humorous parable about a pesky woman and shady judge. Join us Sunday for "The Parable of the Nagging Widow".
Aaron Mann, Director of Student Ministries
Lost and Found
God created each of us differently. Different backgrounds. Different hobbies. Different passions. While this is a beautiful thing, it can also be very challenging. Ministering to and relating to individuals who are different than we are can often be very testing. In Luke 15, Jesus shares two parables with a mixed group that reveal the tremendous heart he had for the lost. As we will see, there is much for us to learn from the way Jesus responds. Join us this Sunday at 11 AM as we continue our series in the parables.
Andy Nelson last served as Youth Pastor and part of the teaching team at Spanish River Church in Boca Raton, Florida. Prior to that, he served as the Student Ministry Director at Westminster Church. Andy currently works at Eagle Ranch as their Director of Spiritual Life. He and his wife, Emily, have four children. This Sunday Andy will be preaching on "The Parable of the Growing Seed".
If there's one thing we mortals do well it's comparison. We constantly gauge how we are doing by comparing our lot to those around us: She's taller than me, but I'm prettier. He's smarter than I am, but I'm more athletic. And it starts early; just watch kids compare their Halloween candy piles or their take at the Easter egg hunt. She has more than me! He won't share! Jesus was confronted with such a complaint, and it led to one of His most troubling parables. Join us Sunday for "More Is Never Enough."
When the word 'Pentecostal' comes to mind, perhaps you think of Robert Duvall's character, "Sonny" Dewey in the film "The Apostle," who boasted he was a 'a genuine, Holy Ghost, Jesus-filled preachin' machine!' Of course, you might also have visions of week-long camp meetings 'out in the country.' Often Pentecostalism is connected to 'tongue-speaking.' None of that necessarily means one is a 'Pentecostal.' Sunday we celebrate Pentecost Sunday by answering the question, 'What's a true Pentecostal?' Join us!
If you were to walk into the average Christian bookstore and ask for a book on the life of Jesus, most of the books will begin with His birth and end with His resurrection. A few might mention His ascension to be with the Father. But praise God Jesus is alive at work now! And what He is doing at this moment brings fantastic assurance for the Christian. Sunday we celebrate it with "An Ascended Savior!" Join us!
If you had to summarize your life in six words, what would they be? Several years ago, an online magazine asked that question. It was so flooded with responses that the site almost crashed; the responses eventually resulted in a book. What about the man who stumbled upon Jesus' 'treasure hidden in a field' story? How would he answer the question? Or the guy who found the costly 'pearl'? That's where we are headed Sunday in our Jesus Stories series. Join us!
Jesus taught his people to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). And with his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, he shows us what that looks like. He did the same with the stories he told - his parables. The parables he spoke reveal what the kingdom of God - brought near in creation - is and does. For the next several months, we will consider a selection of Jesus' parables and what they mean for believers today. We kick off this Sunday with "He Told Stories". Join us!
Past decisions have present and future consequences. This is true in life, and the storylines of Scripture refuse to hide it. Scripture refuses to present us with a romantic portrait of life. Good beginnings don't guarantee happy endings. Sadly, sin often spoils the story. Case in point: the anti-climactic narrative of Nehemiah 13. Sunday we conclude our series in Nehemiah with "This Is Us." Hope you'll join us!
Want to have fun at the next party you attend? Ask two simple questions: "If you knew you were going to die one year from today, what would you do and how would you want to be remembered?" Now you may not be invited back to future parties, but hopefully those questions will lead to life reflection and reassessment. How about you? How would you respond? Nehemiah 11 and 12 take us there this Sunday. Join us for "We Live for the Lord"!
