The Ultimate Rest
The Ultimate Rest
“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’” – Revelation 21:2-4
When was the last time you really rested?
Rest is an interesting concept. It involves slowing down and pausing, but there’s more to it than that. It also involves peace. After all, how restful is it if you take a break, but your mind is worrying about something?
What do you think of when I say “Sabbath?”
- Do you think of Sunday?
- Do you think of Saturday?
- Do you think of worship?
- Do you think of rest?
Sabbath is a very important concept in the Bible. In fact, you could say that the Bible is all about Sabbath and Sabbath is all about rest.
You may be familiar with the Sabbath Day. It was the last day of the week for the Israelites and was a day of rest and worship. However, the Sabbath Day was instituted to physically, mentally, and spiritually remind the People of Israel about the seventh day of creation, the day when God rested.
God’s Rest
God didn’t rest on the seventh day because He was tired. The concept of rest we see on the seventh day involves completion and perfect peace. God had completed the creation of the universe and everything was good. Everything was at perfect peace with God and all other things.
No Rest for the Wicked
Then sin entered the world and that rest was broken. Creation was no longer at peace with God nor were the creatures at peace with each other. The Sabbath Day was instituted to remind the people of the peaceful rest that was intended for them and all creation. Jesus’ death and resurrection was done to provide a way for true Sabbath to return, giving us peace with God and with each other. Jesus’ return will fully bring back that Sabbath.
Find True Rest
While we wait for that day when there will be complete Sabbath rest, we can still experience that true rest, now. Through faith in Jesus, we are made at peace with God. We do not have to strive to earn our way with Him, simply trust in the work of Jesus. That’s what Jesus means when He says,
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:29-30
You can rest.
- You can rest from the fear and shame of your sin.
- You can rest from trying to earn your righteousness.
- You can rest knowing God will provide for you.
- You can rest knowing God will never leave you nor forsake you.
Heavenly Father,
You have given us peace through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. You give us peace in our relationships through forgiveness and grace. Help me to rest in His finished work. Help me to rest in Your promises until that day when Christ comes again and we experience the full return of Your Sabbath.
Amen.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
You Never Know
You Never Know
“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” – Colossians 4:5-6
When is the best time to share the Gospel with someone?
Because of the way the church sometimes talks about evangelism as this unique thing that we set out to do, we often think of evangelism as something we do on occasion and may even find ourselves wondering, when is the right time to evangelize.
This way of thinking about evangelism has also raised the anxiety level for most people when it comes to the idea. For some, it becomes such a scary thought that they never really want to do it. For others, it becomes a burden because they don’t feel like they are doing it enough (or at all) and they feel guilty.
What if we thought differently about evangelism?
What if evangelism isn’t this separate thing that we do occasionally (or never)?
What if it’s something we do all the time in everything we do?
That’s the idea we see in Colossians 4:5-6. Have wisdom in your interactions. Let your speech be gracious. Season your interactions with salt. Salt makes food taste better. Let your interactions with others “taste” better so people feel good about being around you.
All of these things are part of our witness. They show that we care about others, we have wisdom, and it makes people want to be around us and talk to us. Think of it the opposite way. If someone is always rude or foolish or you always feel your stomach tighten when they come around, are you going to want to hear them talk about Jesus? Are you going to ask them? I don’t think so.
Sent: A Month of Mission
In June we are focusing on Mission in the midst of the pandemic. Things are starting to open up, but there is still a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. People still (as they always do) need Jesus. I want to encourage you to find ways to engage with others over the next month. It may be online. It may be in person. It may be with a gift or a note or and offer to listen.
Let’s be intentional about finding ways to share the love of Jesus with others this month and see what God does in those people’s lives…and in our lives.
Give it a try.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. See what happens. If the opportunity arises where you can share Jesus or, better yet, they ask you why you’re so kind, etc. Tell them it’s because Jesus loves you and Jesus loves them.
Heavenly Father,
Help me to love others and in loving others have the opportunity to share Jesus with them.
Amen.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Order of Service for May 31
Order of Service for May 31
You are invited to worship with us at 11:30 am on Sunday, May 31. Below, you will find the Order of Service so you can follow along and participate in the worship service. If you would prefer, you can also download a bulletin here:
Before we start, please share the live stream on Facebook and invite your friends.
WORSHIP SERVICE FOR MAY 31, 2020 AT 11:30 AM
Welcome
Invocation
Confession and Forgiveness:
P: Come into the presence of God. It is God, Himself, who bids us to come to Him in prayer, especially when we have sinned, so that we may receive His forgiveness. So, we enter His courts with confidence that if we confess our sins, He will forgive us as He promised.
(a time of silence to reflect and personally confess our sins)
C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart and have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ and His suffering and death on the cross, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen
P: The Lord our God is merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Therefore, I announce unto you the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen. Praise God!
Song of Praise and Thanksgiving: Holy Spirit Ever Dwelling
Holy Spirit, ever dwelling, In the holiest realms of light;
Holy Spirit, ever brooding, O’er a world of gloom and night;
Holy Spirit, ever raising, those of earth to thrones on high;
Living, life-imparting Spirit, You we praise and magnify.
Holy Spirit, ever-living, As the Church’s very life;
Holy Spirit, ever striving, Through us in a ceaseless strife;
Holy Spirit, ever forming, In the Church the mind of Christ;
You we praise with endless worship, For your gifts and fruits unpriced.
Holy Spirit, ever working, Through the Church’s ministry;
Quick’ning, strength’ning, and absolving, setting captive sinners free;
Holy Spirit, ever binding, Age to age and soul to soul
In communion never-ending, You we worship and extol.
Old Testament Reading – Numbers 11:24–30
So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again.
However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”
But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.
Second Reading – Acts 2:1–21
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and
glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Children’s Message
Sermon Hymn – Come Holy Spirit (Original Mix)
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav’nly aid And fill the hearts which You have made.
Drive far away our enemy, And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide, no evil can with us abide.
There’s nothing worth more, that could ever come close
Nothing can compare. You’re our living hope. Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free, and my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
Chorus:
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here.
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord. Your presence, Lord
Praise we the Father and Son, And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow the gifts that from the Spirit flow!
Chorus:
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here.
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord. Your presence, Lord
Sermon – “A River Flowing Out”
John 7:37–39
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen
Benediction
Closing Song: I Will Follow
Where You go, I’ll go Where You stay, I’ll stay
When You move, I’ll move I will follow…
All Your ways are good, All Your ways are sure
I will trust in You alone
Higher than my sight, High above my life
I will trust in You alone
Chorus:
Where You go, I’ll go, Where You stay, I’ll stay
When You move, I’ll move, I will follow You
Who You love, I’ll love, How You serve I’ll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow You, Yeah.
I will follow You
Light unto the world, Light unto my life
I will live for You alone
You’re the one I seek, Knowing I will find
All I need in You alone, in You alone
(Chorus)
In You there’s life everlasting
In You there’s freedom for my soul
In You there’s joy, unending joy
and I will follow
(Chorus 2x)
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 31, 12:30 PM – Congregational Meeting
(For all people considering worshiping in person at Faith)
Zoom
June 2, 7 PM – Church Council Meeting
Zoom
June 4, 7 PM – A Time of Prayer
Facebook, YouTube, and FaithWesleyChapel.com
June 5, 7 PM – Online Family Game Night
Zoom
June 7, 11:30 AM – Worship Service
“Sent with a Message…of What God Has Done”
Facebook, YouTube, and FaithWesleyChapel.com
Connect with us:
In God We Trust
In God We Trust
“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” – Psalm 56:4
Where do we find the phrase, “In God we trust.”?
If you said U.S. money, you are correct. It’s actually a pretty amazing thing. Historically, it was the king or career who was praised on the money.
In fact, many national leaders over the course of history have claimed to be God (or a god). The Pharaohs of Egypt and many of the Caesars of Rome claimed to be gods and demanded the worship of their citizens.
In Rome, it was known as Caesar Worship and for the Caesars who practiced it, they required all people in the Roman empire to worship them under threat of death. Can you imagine being a Christian during this time? Many Christians were killed for refusing.
“86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
According to a letter from Smyrna, these were the (translated) words of Polycarp, one of the church fathers who was a disciple of the Apostle John. In his 80s, he was arrested and brought into an arena. The Roman Proconsul actually seemed to want to save Polycarp’s life and pleaded with him to just swear by Caesar and be released. He refused.
The Proconsul then threatened to burn Polycarp at the stake. Polycarp responded,
“You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly.”
According to this account, Polycarp understood what David wrote about centuries before in Psalm 56. It is in God we trust, for God is greater and God is faithful.
Yes, the tyrants of this world may hurt or imprison or even kill us, but they are not greater than the one who overcame death. They cannot threaten with something greater than eternal condemnation nor can their threats overrule the one who offers eternal life.
So, let us trust the Lord in all circumstances, good or bad. He is greater. He is faithful. We have nothing to fear.
Heavenly Father,
Hold me firmly in the faith. Help me to endure even in the face of threat and harm. May I trust in You no matter what.
Amen.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
In Good Times and In Bad
In Good Times and In Bad
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” – Romans 12:15
Who would stand with you no matter what?
Most of us like being around happy people. It can be uncomfortable, however, being around people who are sad, especially people who are mourning. You may not know what to say or do.
The Christian life, like all people’s lives, is filled with ups and downs. There are times when we feel overjoyed and there are times when we feel overwhelmed with sorrow. Yes, we have the joy of our salvation, but that doesn’t remove the sadness of hurt and loss. Rather, it carries us through the hurt and loss.
Together Through It All
Husbands and Wives make a promise to each other to stay with each other in good times and in bad, sickness and health, wealth and poverty. The Christian bond is similar. We, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we also stand together in both good times and bad, joy and mourning.
Sometimes Christians can feel like we are always supposed to be happy. After all, the Bible says to rejoice always. However, it’s alright to feel sad. It’s alright to feel loss. Even Jesus wept. We shouldn’t feel the need to hide that hurt, rather we should feel safe to share it knowing that our church family will share in that sorrow with us and help carry that burden.
What Do I Do?
On the other side, there’s the question of how, as a Christian brother or sister, to share those burdens. We may feel inadequate to help and unsure of what to say or do. That’s Okay, too.
You don’t have to have the perfect response. Honestly, there are times when there is no perfect response. There are some things you can do which can mean the world to someone hurting or mourning.
- Be There – Whatever else you do (or don’t do), simply being present may be the most meaningful thing you can do. I remember reading an article by a seminary professor who got cancer and needed emergency surgery. One of his students came to the hospital to visit. The student was so nervous he stayed less than a minute and didn’t say anything while he was there. He even threw up after he left the hospital room. The professor wasn’t upset at the shortness or awkwardness of the visit. On the contrary, he was immensely grateful that he came.
- Pray – Prayer is a powerful thing. If you can, pray with the person. If you can’t find the words, pray for them in your mind.
- Cry With Them – It’s Okay to cry and you can let them know it’s Okay for them to cry as well. Mourn with them.
- Share Jesus – Jesus is our hope and our life. You aren’t talking about Jesus and God’s love to remove the pain, but rather to give hope that there is something…someone greater than the pain. We mourn, but we mourn not as those without hope.
Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s very hard, but we don’t live it alone. Jesus is with us and so are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us walk together. Let us carry each other’s burdens.
Dear Jesus,
You wept at the hurt Mary, Martha, and their friends felt as they mourned Lazerus. Help us to care for one another and be cared for by each other. Help us to rejoice with each other as well as mourn with each other.
Amen.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Praying Together – May 28 at 7pm
Praying Together, Tonight at 7pm
You are invited to join together in prayer tonight at 7pm on Facebook, Youtube, or our website.
Please submit any prayer requests to me by 6:30pm.
Thank you!

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
The Neverending Story
The Neverending Story
“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” – Psalm 103:17-18
What’s the thing you have had the longest?
I have a box with things from my childhood. There are some drawings, some pictures, and some toys. These things all have some sentimental value, but they will eventually fade. They will eventually crumble.
Nothing lasts forever.
Nothing, that is, except the steadfast love of the Lord. It is from everlasting to everlasting. It never ends. God’s children, those who have faith in Jesus Christ, live in that love and it will keep us forever in Him.
What Will You Hold On To?
Most of us have things we hold on to. That’s fine, but we should even more firmly hold onto God’s love. More importantly, God’s love holds on to us. In fact…
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39
Heavenly Father,
Your love is greater than all things. It never ends. Hold me in Your love until Your return when we shall live with You forever.
Amen.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Nothing Worth More
Nothing Worth More
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24
How much does your faith mean to you?
This is a tough question. On the one hand, it can be good and cause us to re-examine our priorities. Take a couple of minutes to think/talk through these questions?
- How do I spend my time?
- How often do I read the Bible or pray?
- When did I last talk to someone about Jesus?
- Do I serve others?
- Is church/worship a priority?
- How do I spend the money God has given me?
For Paul, he wanted to share the Gospel with people and nothing else was as valuable as that.
What about the other hand?
Before I said, “On the one hand…” So, what about the other hand? Here you go.
On the other hand, questions like, “How much does your faith mean to you?” can lead us down the path of works-righteousness and either pride or depression. We have to remember the position that Paul was speaking from. He was one called by Christ and redeemed by the blood of Jesus through faith.
Paul isn’t speaking as one hoping to saved or desperate to keep his salvation. He is speaking as someone who knows that Jesus died for him, forgave him, and calls him a child of God. He is speaking as one secure in the knowledge that his salvation is not dependent on how well he lives out his faith, but rather the gift of faith that came from God.
This isn’t a message of pride that his life is so valuable because of what he does for God, quite the opposite. He realizes he has nothing to offer. This is a message of realizing what is truly valuable in life., the gifts that God has given through Jesus Christ.
Grounded in the Gospel
So, while you think about the questions above, think about them in light of the Gospel. It’s not, “I have to.” It’s, “I get to.” What amazing gifts God has given you through His Son both in what you have received and the opportunities you now have.
Heavenly Father,
There’s nothing worth more than You. I could never give enough to have what You give, but thankfully, You give it freely. Open my eyes to Your gifts that I may live in them.
Amen.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Repent!!
Repent!!
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:17
Have you ever encountered a street preacher? What was your experience?
When I was in college there was a guy who called himself “Brother Brown.” He would show up on campus from time to time and yell at anyone who had the misfortune of walking by him.
He considered himself a prophet of sorts who was there to call everyone out about their sin. He would make wild accusations against people he didn’t know. Some Christians would try to talk to him, but he wasn’t interested. He would just accuse them of some sins just the same.
You’re Condemned!
Maybe you’ve seen someone like Brother Brown. They only seem interested in telling people they are condemned. I never once saw (or heard of) anyone actually repenting or believing due to their interaction with Brother Brown. He was quick to condemn, but I never heard him talk about forgiveness or Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Jesus Came to Bring Life
If you only heard the Brother Browns of the world, you might think Jesus came to call us out and condemn us. Jesus tells us something different. He says He came not to condemn, but to save.
Yes, we all have sin and we all need to repent, but we repent because of God’s promise of forgiveness and grace. Jesus came to bring us that forgiveness and grace and He accomplished His mission when He died for us and rose again.
That’s a different message than what Brother Brown yelled. It’s the message that Jesus proclaimed. It’s a message each of us can share.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for coming into the world with grace and mercy rather than condemnation and vengeance. We do not deserve Your love and forgiveness and yet that is what You give. I repent of my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. I trust in Your death and resurrection. Help me to share that message with others.
Amen.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt