What is Your Favorite Christmas Carol?
​For each week of this Christmas season, one of our pastors will be expounding the great Advent truths found in your favorite Christmas carols. Please place the name of your favorite Christmas carol or carols in the box located underneath the world map in the vestibule and we will pick from these carols for this year's Christmas sermon series. 

The Christian Life
​
Free from what?

John 8:36 “if the son sets you free you will be free indeed!
John 8:31-32 “So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you
continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

First, who is qualified to be set free? The answer is given in verse 31.
It is His disciples whom Jesus describes as those who continue in His
word.

Second, how are they set free? Through a relationship with Jesus.
By habitually practicing what Jesus teaches and knowing Him
through obedience to Him.

John 8:33-34 They answered Him, "We descend from Abraham and
have never yet served as slaves to anyone; how do You say, You will
become free?” Jesus answered them, ";Truly, truly, I say to you,
everyone who commits sin has enslaved himself to sin.”

Sin is in all of us such as pride, love of self, envy, greed,
lies, stealing, cheating, adultery and hatred. We condemn
sin in others but justify it in ourselves. Jesus'; teachings,
based on God’s moral laws, identifies our sin and calls us
to turn from it while giving us instructions for leading a
new and righteous life. There is a difference between
hearing a teaching and practicing it. Jesus teaches that
what we practice is evidence of what we serve and if we
serve sin it leads to spiritual death. Yet in John 8:52 Jesus
says “if anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death"
Paul writes in Romans 6:17-18  “But thanks be to God that,
though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from
your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your
allegiance. 1 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to
righteousness";. The apostle writes that “we are free indeed”.

After expressing there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus (Roman’s 8:1) he adds that in Christ Jesus we have been set
free from the law of sin and death (Roman’s 8:2). Because of that new
freedom, we are no longer in bondage to sinfulness, and now we can
choose righteousness.

Lastly, who is it that frees us? Jesus, the son of God. Jesus is the
way, the truth and the life. The reason Jesus can free us is because
He gave His life on the cross to pay our sin debt. As we put our faith
in Christ and turn from sin He forgives our sin and gives us His
righteousness. Those that follow Him are said to be in Him and God
now declares you not guilty and freed from the penalty of sin.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them
into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
(Matthew 7:24)

We encourage Christians to continue in His word. If you don’t know
Jesus he offers this freedom to you, today! Come – all are welcome!
​
Colby Reeves – member
Evangel Church PCA
423 Thompson Road, Alabaster
Sundays SS 9 am, worship 10:15 am
evangelchurchpca.org - livestream

​THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Do I need to join the Church?

The Church was established, on the rock or foundation of faith in Jesus as our
Savior and the Son of God as Peter proclaimed in Matthew 16:16. This is the Rock
upon which the Church is built. The profession described here is not just a
possible truth but a God revealed understanding in our heart by the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 16:17)

Without this foundation, a church is not Christ’s church. This is the main
hinge on which the door of salvation turns. Those who do not hold to this
foundation, though they may call themselves Christians, deceive
themselves, because the Church is a sacred union in Christ. The church is
incorporated upon the certainty and assurance of this great truth. Jesus said
the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church. The good work that Jesus
starts he finishes.

This assures us that the enemies of the Church shall not prevail. As long as
the world exists, Christ will have His Church in it. His truths and ordinances
shall be owned and kept up, in spite of all the opposition of the powers of
darkness. The Builder and Maker of the Church is Christ himself. The
materials and workmanship are His. By the working of His Spirit with the
preaching of His word He adds souls to His Church, and so builds it up with
living stones,

Christ assures us His Church will prevail but just as there are false Christians
there are false churches. Unfortunately, many today seek the Church only to
serve their own interests or needs. They look only for what the Church offers
them rather than seeking to work for God’s kingdom and share the gospel. They
honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from Him.

Also there are churches that don’t take seriously the command to make
disciples and fully teach the scriptures to equip the saints. They water down the
scriptures to conform to the world’s standard. Jesus warned of “spitting"
churches that don’t truly love Him calling them “lukewarm". Christians must be
willing to search for a church that takes Jesus seriously, that teaches and practices
the scriptures, a church dedicated to equipping Christians with a firm foundation
of scriptural understanding. Church membership, attendance, and commitment is
not optional for the true Christian. It is their privilege and joy! Church
membership is the visible means by which we join into the family of God. It is our
home base for learning and ministry. Jesus established His Church for Christians
as the primary vehicle for carrying the gospel to the world. To neglect
participation is to deny Christ and to behave as an unbeliever. Jesus said “ if you’ll
not acknowledge me to men I’ll not acknowledge you to my Father". Christians
absolutely need to join the Church.

We welcome you to come visit with us at Evangel and hear the good news of
Jesus. “ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17) Come!

Colby Reeves – member
Worship Sundays 10:15 am - Evangel Church PCA – Thompson Road
evangelchurchpca.org