Pastor Chase Riebel’s message “Off with the Old, On with the New,” was drawn from Ephesians 4:17-32. We have gifts at our disposal to use against the enemy: Grace, evangelism, preaching, and teaching. Every Christian is tasked with using these tools against our enemy. Our enemy is strong, smart, and crafty, but Jesus is stronger than the enemy and He has put the sword (word of God) in our hands.
All Christians have a special part to help the body of Christ, the church, to grow. We often think that we can keep parts of our old life and survive but Paul exhorts us to get rid of these things. We were made to be like God. Use encouraging speech, be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.
Larry Wittmer gave the communion meditation from 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. He mentioned that the church has recently shown an outpouring of love to his family and it was quite appreciated, but in looking at the love Christ has shown mankind, he wondered if that outpouring could be applied outside the church. Christ’s love is beyond anything we can offer but we can offer our love to the person that may have cheated us, or stolen from us, or even lied to us. Do we have the love to do the unexpected? Christ has shown us what crazy love can do. We should follow His lead.
Worship service was led by Petra Billings accompanied by Mike Billings, Isla Billings, Ben Prasko, and Speed Elsasser. The congregation was introduced to a new praise song “Tend” along with “10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord),” “Indescribable,” and “Mighty To Save.”
