Today, January 22nd, marks the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case Roe v. Wade. This federal case overturned all existing state laws and legalized abortion at a national level. The Roe v. Wade decision held that a woman, with her doctor, could choose abortion in earlier months of pregnancy without restriction, and with restrictions in later months, based on the right to privacy.
While the law has been in place for some time, our nation is divided on this moral issue. Most fall into one of two camps, Pro-Choice or Pro-life. Even our most recent Presidents disagree.
Here’s a heartbreaking statistic for you: In just 37 years, nearly 52 million unborn children have been aborted. A law protecting the “privacy” of women has legalized the killing of our nation’s future. Imagine, we may have put to death great poets, pastors, scientists, or even one of our next Presidents.
Today, 200,000+ Pro-Lifers have traveled to Washington, DC. and will March for Life along Constitution Avenue, up Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court, and to the Congress. They’ve come together to collectively make their voice heard, “Overturn Roe v. Wade!”
My prayer: “God, forgive us for what we’ve done. Give us the courage to stand up for what is right. Remove the blinders from our nation’s leaders. And bring healing to the women who have made this mistake.”
The phrase, “I have a dream…”, rings familiar in the ears of millions of Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is honored today, not only for his famous speech, but for the life he lived. To have a dream for your life is an aspiration that everyone should strive for. Dr. King shared his dream and gave his life for it.
What makes a great dream? Great dreams are not defined by recognition, wealth and glory. Great dreams are birthed out of an insatiable desire to benefit and help others. It is not only the accomplishment of an event, but the contribution to society. It is not about making headlines, but about making history. What is the end result of your dream?
Scripture says in Philippians 2:3-4,
3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Each of us have the potential to reach great heights with God. A great dream in God’s eyes is about laying down selfish dreams and picking up selfless dreams, just as Jesus did.
If your life could be summed up in a speech and it started with, “I have a dream…”, what would fill in the rest of the quotations?
It seems as if there is a church on every corner in every city in America. In this video, Pastor Daniel uses a Google map to talk about what would happen if all of the individual churches stood together as THE Church.
As we continue our study of this great church, let’s turn to Acts 13. Look with me at a few more characteristics of an effective church:
7. The Word of God was highly valued. (Acts 13:1) This verse lists a number of men who were prophets and teachers in the church. Any church that does great things has a focus on the Word and prayer.
8. They were sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. (Acts 13:2-3) This believers heard the Holy Spirit call Barnabas and Paul to be missionaries. What if they hadn’t heard God on this?
9. They were a missions church. (Acts 13:3) Paul and Barnabas planted so many churches with the support of this church. Thank God that these people were willing to send these great teachers out!
Next week we will conclude this series with some closing thoughts.
As a Christian with a biblical worldview, there is only one way to view abortion. It is nothing less than the murder of innocent life. It is good to be reminded of these truths in a secular and God-less society that consistently is replacing truth with convenience. Abortion rights is driven by a feminist agenda that claims to put the feelings and interests of the mother above anything else – including God’s will and the living baby in her womb.
The bible demonstrates that an unborn fetus is a person because a number of bible passages make it clear that God regards conception as the moment personhood begins. For example, Job 10:8-12 and Job 31:13-15 attribute divine value and human qualities to the unborn fetus.
Psam 139:13-16 exalts God for His creative work in the creation of the unborn baby. Isaiah 49:1-5, Jeremiah 1:4-5, and Galatians 1:15-16 all remind us that God can work in the lives of His servants even before they are born.
Do you know someone considering an abortion? Is it you? God has a wonderful plan for every unborn baby. Take time and read God’s Word and realize that Abortion and the Bible don’t mix.
For more information, contact Pregnancy Resource Center. Go to www.pregnancycenter.info or call 770.920.1000.
Last week, we started looking at some of the characteristics of the Church in Antioch in Acts chapters 11-13. (Check out last week’s post here.) These people were showing Jesus to their world and it was making an impact. Let’s look at a few more things that distinguished this body of believers. As we look at these things, think about how you or your church may need to change to become more Christ-like. After all, that is the goal, right?
4. The Church was started by people who were displaced because of persecution in Jerusalem. (Acts 11:19-20) This is significant because many people who have a negative experience want to blame their circumstances, other people and even God for their misfortune. Not these Christians. They realized that God can “work all things for their good” and they began to share the gospel with the people living in the city of Antioch. Are you letting disappointment limit your life or ministry?
5. They stepped across man-made boundaries to share Christ with Greeks. (Acts 11:20-21) I believe these people were praying and asking God for direction for their lives and the Holy Spirit helped them to see the lost people around them. They began to break the box that their ministry had been in because of tradition. Are you willing to let the Holy Spirit lead you in new ways?
6. These believers were ready to put their money where their mouth was. (Acts 11:29-30) These believers heard reports of the financial difficulty of their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem, so they put their faith into action. They took up an offering and sent it with Barnabas and Saul to bless them. Did you notice in verse 29 that it said, “The disciples, each according to their ability…” They all gave as they were able, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but as they were able. Maybe Paul was inspired to write to the Corinthian church because of the example he witnessed in Antioch? The problem with much of the church today is that people are not willing to give according to their ability. Many people choose to give far less than they are able. How has God blessed you so that you can bless others?
We will continue our study of this great church next week…
I have been reading through the book of Acts in my Bible reading plan. As I read Acts 11-13, I wanted to go to Antioch and hang out with the Christ followers there. It seemed like a pretty cool place. Here are some of my favorite things about the Church at Antioch:
1. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26) This tells me that the impact that this group of believers was having on their community was BIG. They were called “little Christ’s” which implies that their lives looked like Jesus’ life. That is awesome. How are you doing at being known as a Christ-ian? Do people see the life of Jesus in you?
2. A bunch of people were getting saved. (Acts 11:21, 24) There was probably a lot of passion for God because of all the newly saved people. New Christians tend to have a contagious zeal about them that I always want to have in my life. Get me around some new Christians! How’s your passion for God right now? Is it less than when you first were saved?
3. News about the revival was traveling fast. (Acts 11:22) I guess this was more of a “vival” because there was nothing that had happened before this to make it a “revival”. Are people in the community talking about what God is doing at your church?
One of the great problems churches have today is credibility. The fact is, we must become what we advertise or we simply have no credibility.
Are we full of love, acceptance and forgiveness, or are we a Country Club for elite members only? Do we quickly forgive others as Christ has forgiven us (Eph 4:32), or do we hold grudges and hope people get what they deserve?
We hold out a promise that says “God’s presence is here” but when people come do they sense His presence in the church (the people)? And, a church without an emphasis on missions and evangelism is actually a contradiction.
These are just a few reasons why a church may lose credibility. We must become what we advertise.
Phil 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
The recent Atlanta floods have left thousands without clean water for drinking, bathing, and cleaning. The Church at Chapel Hill is partnering with Douglas County, Convoy of Hope, and Prays Mill Baptist Church in an effort to offer our community free bottled water.
We are in need of volunteers to help distribute the items. If you are available to help, please reply below and then report to Pray’s Mill tomorrow morning, September 24th, by 9AM.
If you are in need of water, please visit Prays Mill Baptist Church tomorrow. Click HERE for directions.
UPDATE: Things are going well with the water distribution. We’ve had great support this morning and will continue serving through the afternoon. If you would like to volunteer, please call the church office for details. 770.489.5990 Follow @chapelhill on Twitter for live media updates.
Luke 15:2 …”This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Jesus lived with a spirit of hospitality towards those who were not right with God. He invited people who did not look like Him or act like Him. Let’s pray to be the Church who welcomes sinners and eats with them. Let’s pray that God would put in our paths the thieves, drug addicts, sexually immoral and everyone else who needs Jesus. May we welcome them and eat with them; may we be known for that. May we be patient during God’s process of sanctification. Someone once said, “Let people belong even before they believe.”
“Father God, use us to reach out to the lost. Also bring in the sinners, the hurting, the broken and those with hard hearts. We welcome them. Keep us from showing favortism towards those that look like us, talk like us and act like us, but instead show genuine hospitality to everyone you bring in. Let Your love shine through us.”
