STANDING STONE BIBLE
WEEKLY
January 6, 2025
THIS WEEK
Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week
Joyous Hearts - This monthly gathering for those ages 55 and older is Wednesday morning at 10am. This time includes great conversations, fun, food, and a devotional.
OA:sis - Our time of "One Another: sharing, inspiring, and serving" starts again Wednesday evening with a meal at 6pm. It's an easy way to join with others around a fellowship table (and saves you the trouble of meal prep!). After, you may join in one of the evening offerings: Kidz Club (K-5th grade) at 6:45, LIGHThouse (6-12th grade) at 6:50, and adult options at 7 (Prayer Force, Bible study, or the Pure Gospel presentation).
OA:sis - Our time of "One Another: sharing, inspiring, and serving" starts again Wednesday evening with a meal at 6pm. It's an easy way to join with others around a fellowship table (and saves you the trouble of meal prep!). After, you may join in one of the evening offerings: Kidz Club (K-5th grade) at 6:45, LIGHThouse (6-12th grade) at 6:50, and adult options at 7 (Prayer Force, Bible study, or the Pure Gospel presentation).
upcoming events
Make note of the classes and events available in the near future
Men's Breakfast - Saturday morning, January 18 @ 7:30am. There is also a study before at 6:30am. Note: There is also a men's study on the 2nd and 4th Monday nights at 7pm (Kyle L's house) - they are beginning Ephesians this month.
Jaime on Evangelism - Jaime Farias will share on Sunday evenings, 6-7:15 pm, on January 12th and 26th.
Jaime on Evangelism - Jaime Farias will share on Sunday evenings, 6-7:15 pm, on January 12th and 26th.
the Lord's day
We shared in communion as the body of Christ. We began with music and worshipping our Lord - what a Savior! What a sacrifice!
The message was taken from a parable in Matthew 18 about forgiveness. Jesus is asked how often to forgive and He gives a number - not for us to keep count but to instead show us that God really doesn't keep count. The parable (Matt. 18:23-35) describes a king settling accounts (God will do his with each of us on judgment day). One servant owed the equivalent of $20 Billion. He pleaded for mercy and was forgiven the debt. But, then, he leaves and finds another who owes him the equivalent of $10,000. He has that one put in jail. The king hears of this and jails the servant that had been forgiven.
We then counted up our debt to God, our sin - and it, like that $20 Billion, is ludicrous. Consider Jesus telling us the most important commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). How do we as believers do with this? Did you and I do this for even an hour yesterday? Oh, the sin debt is piled high! But God's grace and mercy are even greater. The Communion Table represents the debt solution... God's forgiveness is so much greater than our sin! Our King, in His character, is compassionate. God the Son paid for our debt through His death on the cross. Of course, we who have been forgiven so much should be willing to forgive. After all, we shared from a Communion table representing the greatest gift of forgiveness ever given to mankind. Wow!
We ended the service with a special ceremony honoring Pastor Ken Buttermore. As we continue to unpack the revitalization project at Ashland Bible Church, Pastor Ken is spending his full-time wrapped up in this. So, in one sense, we said "good-bye" - In another sense we said "welcome back." We honored him with the title of Pastor Emeritus. We are so thankful for his over 25 years of serving the people of Gretna at 321 S. Highway 6. We continued celebrating at the pot-trust lunch after. Thank you, Pastor Ken! We are blessed by a great God!
The message was taken from a parable in Matthew 18 about forgiveness. Jesus is asked how often to forgive and He gives a number - not for us to keep count but to instead show us that God really doesn't keep count. The parable (Matt. 18:23-35) describes a king settling accounts (God will do his with each of us on judgment day). One servant owed the equivalent of $20 Billion. He pleaded for mercy and was forgiven the debt. But, then, he leaves and finds another who owes him the equivalent of $10,000. He has that one put in jail. The king hears of this and jails the servant that had been forgiven.
We then counted up our debt to God, our sin - and it, like that $20 Billion, is ludicrous. Consider Jesus telling us the most important commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). How do we as believers do with this? Did you and I do this for even an hour yesterday? Oh, the sin debt is piled high! But God's grace and mercy are even greater. The Communion Table represents the debt solution... God's forgiveness is so much greater than our sin! Our King, in His character, is compassionate. God the Son paid for our debt through His death on the cross. Of course, we who have been forgiven so much should be willing to forgive. After all, we shared from a Communion table representing the greatest gift of forgiveness ever given to mankind. Wow!
We ended the service with a special ceremony honoring Pastor Ken Buttermore. As we continue to unpack the revitalization project at Ashland Bible Church, Pastor Ken is spending his full-time wrapped up in this. So, in one sense, we said "good-bye" - In another sense we said "welcome back." We honored him with the title of Pastor Emeritus. We are so thankful for his over 25 years of serving the people of Gretna at 321 S. Highway 6. We continued celebrating at the pot-trust lunch after. Thank you, Pastor Ken! We are blessed by a great God!
Prayer Prods
- Connie V with her son Angel in California
- A few still recovering from surgery: Becky, Dave, & Amy
- Those involved in outside ministries such as... jail, our quartet, Aspire, Jaime
- Leadership transition (certification today)... along with the state funeral
- Those under cancer treatments: Kathie P, along with Ron, Joyce & Peggy
- Troubled marriages & troubled finances
