The Book of Joy 01: Partnership

“Partnership”: In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul shared secrets on how to have more joy in life. These secrets have been helping people experience joy for about 2,000 years now. Listen in on one of the secrets for how to have more joy in life.

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Simply Essential 04: Pouring Out

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Do you ever get so caught up in your own little world that it seems like you are missing out on something bigger? This is the story of a guy who was able to get out of his own way to be a part of something greater than himself.

Matthew 4:19 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

     

John 1:29 ESV

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:36 ESV

36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

John 1:37 ESV

37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

John 3:27-29 ESV

27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

John 3:30 ESV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Genesis 12:3 ESV

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Revelation 22:3-5 ESV

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

 

Simply Essential 02: A Place to Belong

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Mark 3:13 ESV

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.

Mark 3:14 ESV

14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

Peter, James, and John were with Jesus when:
Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5:37, Lk. 8:51), Jesus was transfigured (Mt. 17:1, Mk. 9:2, Lk. 9:28), Jesus prayed in the Garden (Mt. 26:37, Mk. 14:33).
1 Corinthians 15:8
and last of all he appeared to me (Paul) also…
Acts 26:16 NIV

16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.

Romans 1:6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Matthew 18:20 ESV

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Meridian Church of God

We worship together, work together, and live life together right here in your community.  We’re just average people working to raise our families, make ends meet, and continue growing our walk with Jesus.  We like to have new faces in our congregation, and hope to see those new faces come back again and again.  Our church doors are open to you.

Simply Essential 01: Warm

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Sometimes ideas that seem so promising don’t turn out as we hope. Imagine if there is a simple way to a better life…

John 16:33 In this world, you will have trouble.

Matthew 6:34 Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water,that sends out its roots by the stream,and does not fear when heat comes,for its leaves remain green,and is not anxious in the year of drought,for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water,that sends out its roots by the stream,and does not fear when heat comes,for its leaves remain green,and is not anxious in the year of drought,for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

 

John 13:34-35  A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Making Memories 03: Comfort and Joy

Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. This message looks at how the “good news of great joy for all the people” in Luke’s Christmas story meshes with the dark aspects of Matthew’s Christmas story.

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Top 10 things people don’t like about Christmas

10. Cold weather
9. Over-commercialization
8. Awkward encounters with eccentric relatives
7. Excessive weight gain
6. Hearing songs like “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Holly Jolly Christmas”, & “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” over and over.
5. When kids don’t get what they want and throw a temper tantrum.
4. When adults don’t get what they want and throw a temper tantrum.
3. The pressure of trying to find the right gifts and wondering if you have enough money to buy them.
2. Over-crowded stores with long lines and irritable people.
1. The overall let down of unmet expectations.

Luke 1:14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Luke 1:44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Luke 1:46 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”.

Luke 1:58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

Luke 2:10 “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Matthew 2:10 When they (the wise men) saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

Matthew 2:16-18 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.” Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted,  because they are no more.”

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

John Ortberg on the Strange arithmetic of sharing experiences:
When we share joy, it increases.
When we share pain, it decreases.

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

 

Revelation 21:4 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.”

 

The Next Level 3: Was That OK?

Odds are that in some way, you want to improve. This series looks at principles in Scripture that can help us get to the next level of spiritual growth.

2 Peter 1:3-5 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,

2 Peter 1:5 and virtue with knowledge,

2 Peter 1:5 and virtue with knowledge,

Proverbs 16:32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than who takes a city.

Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

2 Peter 1:6 and self-control with steadfastness,

2 Peter 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection,

2 Peter 1:7 and brotherly affection with love.

2 Peter 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Colossians 1:28 Him (Christ) we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

The Power of Be: Become

What do you be when you grow up?  That question posed to kids is about career. Perhaps a bigger question is: who do you want to be?  All of us are becoming someone.  Even when it seems like we are heading in the wrong direction, the good news is that “Who you were is not who you have to be?”  The Bible has some interesting things to see about how we can become who were meant to be.