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Weekend Preview – Heaven IS for Real…

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Yes, the title of this post was meant to bait you in…

I know many of you have probably read Heaven Is For Real or experienced something like that and thought, “It was so encouraging to read something like this.”  Actually, when we say something like this it communicates for more than we may intend.  The story told in that book is an experience of someone and we somehow feel as if that experience helps cement reality.

The Bible, though, is as real as any best-seller ever was.  And, this coming Lord’s Day, we will be looking at how Heaven Is For Real in Hebrews 8:1-5.  You see, our salvation is a sure and final thing because Jesus didn’t perform His ministry in an earthly tent…No!  Jesus went to heaven where the real tabernacle was and ministered on our behalf there.  That is reality.  Heaven is for real and Jesus really ministered there and because He did, our lives will never be the same.  I hope this coming Sunday you rest in Jesus as your reality.

Weekend Recap – Suffering…

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We enjoyed a blessed Lord’s Day yesterday on so many levels.

My good friend, Brad Russell, was here preaching from 1 Peter 1:3-9 a message entitled Perspective in Suffering.  Many of us, when facing suffering, act as if some strange thing is happening to us.  But, the Bible is clear about how we can remain grounded in the midst of it.  I appreciated Brad opening his life to us and giving us solid anchors to latch onto in the midst of the storm.  The perspective we have in suffering leads to perseverance based on the Prize we have in the glorious Gospel of Christ.

In the evening, our rain moved on and the temp cooled off and we enjoyed a great night of fellowship at our church picnic.  Fun stuff.  Nothing like unhurried fellowship, tossing the football around and watching the joy on the children’s faces as they played together.  What a rich time.

Hope you had a blessed Lord’s day and enter this week refreshed.

Some Links as we near the weekend…

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First off, Mark Driscoll has a new webpage…and answers a FAQ on his view of alcohol. Tim Keller was critiqued on something he said nearly 3 years ago on the exclusivity of Christ but responded with Gospel-infused grace and clarified his words. Josh Hamilton hit a grand slam last night, which means free carpet and flooring evidently. Both Crestview Bible Church and our children’s ministry, CrestviewKids, have Facebook pages. How about a like? Have a great weekend.

Weekend Preview – My Good Friend

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One of my best friends, Brad Russell, will be preaching for me this coming Lord’s day. Brad is pastor at Old Powhatan Baptist Church in Powhatan, VA. As you continue to think about God and His greatness extended to us through Christ, anticipate blessings from Him as we worship this coming Lord’s Day. Reminder, too, in the evening, we will be having our church pic-a-nic at Herman Bunte Park here in Hutch at 6PM. Please bring a main dish, chair and side or dessert. Have a great week.

Weekend Recap – Simply the Best

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My sermon from 9/11/11 is online. It was from Hebrews 7:20-28 and entitled Simply The Best. God had engraven on our hearts a desire to live for ultimate realities. This is why we tune in to finales of reality shows and championship contests in sporting events. We love the know the best. And, in the case of Jesus, we have one who is the best. There are no denying His amazing qualifications based on what we’ve seen in Hebrews. I hope this message urges you to look to Christ.

Marriage is Important and Good…

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Here’s a couple of marriage links… First off, Trevin Wax highlights an article on the Marginalization of Marriage in Middle America:

At the collective level, the retreat from marriage has played a noteworthy role in fueling the growth in family income inequality and child poverty that has beset the nation since the 1970s. For all these reasons, then, the institution of marriage has been an important pillar of the American Dream, and the erosion of marriage in Middle America is one reason the dream is increasingly out of reach for men, women, and children from moderately-educated homes.

So…marriage is important to the fabric of society. Another great link I came across yesterday was a video Justin Taylor linked to on the good gift of marriage. Watch and be blessed. Today, I don’t know the state of your marriage or your marital status. Whatever the case, though, know that marriage is important to society and it also is a huge blessing from the Lord. May you walk in this blessing.

Weekend Preview – High Priest Wrap

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This coming Lord’s Day, Lord willing, we will gather for worship.  New Sunday School classes begin for adults at 9AM (Ron on Genesis and Conor leading R.C. Sproul’s Holiness of God study).  In the evening, we will meet in small groups and continue to work through Bridges’ book, Respectable Sins.

In the AM, the sermon will wrap up Hebrews 7:20-28 and really leave Melchizedek in the rear view, establishing the supremacy of Jesus.  I can’t do much better than quote what this soaring passage says about Jesus:

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Join me, then, this coming Lord’s day as we celebrate the supremacy of Jesus.

Help the Children…

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Here’s my opinion piece in today’s Hutch News…

Volunteer for the kids 
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 01:38:29 AM

We have returned to school, and again I’m filled with gratefulness for the service that the many teachers, administrators and support staff give to our children and students through our schools. And as we return to school, it’s a great time to give some time yourself to make our community strong. In the 1800s, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that “the greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” Many of us long for our children and grandchildren to have the same (or better) opportunity that we’ve had in our great country. One way that you can help in this is by volunteering in our schools. Many organizations give you this chance. I’m happy to be among the 500 volunteers serving through YouthFriends. We serve 2,000 Reno County students annually. YouthFriends connects volunteers to do things like have lunch with a student, help with reading or academic tutoring, share an interest or a hobby or simply listen. They tailor your time to serve the needs of the students. We are all grateful for the impact our schools have on our children. Why not step out and make a difference yourself and together we can make our community a better place, one relationship at a time?

PHIL AUXIER
Hutchinson

Weekend Recap – Better Priest

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Well, Sunday is complete and Monday Labor Day holiday has begun.  We had a great morning yesterday singing about Jesus’ finished work, fellowshipping together and looking at Hebrews 7:11-19 in a sermon entitled A Better Priest.  The sermon sought to show reasons why Jesus is a better high priest than the old order of Aaronic priests.  It was pretty compelling that because of the power of Jesus’ indestructible life and the better hope He gives in our drawing near to God that He is better hands down.

I hope your Lord’s day was rich and rewarding as you sought the Lord.  Blessings to you this week.