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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 Evangel Christmas Open House! Join us for hors d'oeuvres and fellowship- bring a dessert to share! This coming Sunday December 5th 5-7 p.m. The Old Post Office in Alabaster 633 11th Ave. South Alabaster, AL  The Christian Life
What must I do to receive eternal life? “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life”. (1 John 5:11-15) “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did”. (1 John:3-6) As we study scripture, it becomes obvious that to know, believe, obey, have faith, trust and love of Jesus are all foundational for Christian life. How can we think that these describe us if we do not study and do what Jesus tells us? This is hypocrisy. John tells us that these terms are defined by the effects they have on the way we live? “If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him”. (1 John 2:29) The ability to live righteous lives comes from knowing Jesus and having a relationship with Him. We know Him through the study of His word and, equally important, through prayer and practice of his word. “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God”. (1 John 3:9) John makes it clear that it is through our desire to obey that we can know we have eternal life. John does not say that perfect obedience saves, but rather our desire or struggle to completely obey God is evidence of our salvation. “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:3-5) The world represents evil and all that opposes God. We overcome evil through obedience. John is not speaking of the kind of burdensome obedience that fills us with grief and robs us of joy, but a victorious obedience. You are precious in God’s sight as one in Christ. His commands are meant as a blessing to you. It is no accident that Jesus portrays his disciples receiving eternal life because they hear his voice and follow him. (John 10:27) “I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly”. (John 10:10) If the Holy Spirit is drawing you to Jesus stop doubting and believe. “and whoever comes to me I will not cast". (John 6:37) You can overcome the world and have eternal life today! All are welcome. Come! Colby Reeves - member In person Sundays 8 am and 10:30 am or livestream 10:30 am. Evangelchurchpca.org – 425 Thompson Rd. Alabaster 205-664-0889 Calling all kids! (5 years old and up) Registration Here Join us on Tuesday mornings this summer as we learn how to be the light of Jesus in our world. We will meet in the Evangel Gym for games, crafts, snacks, and Bible teaching from 9:45 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Invite your friends and join us on June 8, 15, 22 and July 6, 13 ,20. Please call or text Kim Collins for more info (205-616-6341).  The Christian Life
What does it mean to be “In Christ"? Galatians 3:26, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith”. The term “in Christ" refers to a new standing before God. In this new standing, God views a person as forgiven and clean because of the sacrifice of Jesus. All of us have been born into sin and are separated from Holy God. Romans 3:23 tells us that, “All have sinned and fall short". Romans 6:23 teaches us, “The penalty for sin is death". Without Jesus Christ we all face eternal punishment for our sins. In John 14:6 Jesus says “No one comes to the Father except through me”. Thankfully, God in his mercy provided a way for people to be set free from sin. This is accomplished by Jesus paying our sin debt and giving us His righteousness. Our sin is placed on Jesus and His righteousness is credited to us. This was the exact purpose of Jesus coming to earth and dying on the cross. In John 12:27, Jesus said, "Now my soul is in turmoil, and what should I say—'Father, save me from this hour'? No! It was for this very reason that I came to this hour.” God sent his own son to pay our sin debt. In obedience to God, Jesus came and lived a sinless life. In doing so, He was found worthy to be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of all who would place their trust in Him. As Jesus died on the cross, God placed all our sins on His son. This was marked by three hours of darkness covering the earth. He was buried in the tomb for three days and then the disciples discovered that He had risen! After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to the disciples and others on several occasions before ascending up to Heaven. This resurrection from death was proof that Jesus was the Son of God and His death was the final payment for sin. Now, when someone hears the gospel and sincerely trusts in Jesus their sin debt is placed on him and exchanged for His righteousness for entrance into Heaven. It’s like he removes our filthy garments and wraps us in perfect and pure new sparkling white garments. We are wrapped in his righteousness. We are now seen as righteous as Christ or “in Christ". All those in Christ have the same standing as Jesus and are sons and daughters of God. They will live forever with Him. The Bible teaches that we are given salvation by faith alone. However, it also clarifies that the fruit of true faith is obedience. In John 3:36 we learn, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life”. In John 11:25 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” This is the good news, the gospel of Christ that we celebrate at Easter. You can have a new life “In Christ"– Come! Colby Reeves – member evangelchurchpca.org – 8 am and 10:30 am in person or 10:30 am livestream. All are welcome! 425 Thompson Road Alabaster |
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