Pine Grove Christian Fellowship

 NEW!  Sunday, November 15 -- A call to all members, this is our congregation's official annual meeting. We'll vote on church council positions (elders, deacons, trustees, and committee heads), and the 2010 budget. The meeting will take place immediately after the morning service.

The morning sermon will be on Christ's commitment to the church, from Matthew 16:13-26.

Sunday, October 25 -- The last Sunday in October is "Reformation Sunday." We celebrate the great tradition that is more than a tradition. Almost 500 years ago Christendom was "reformed," thanks to the work of Martin Luther. So much was wrong in the church, and it had strayed far from its biblical message of salvation by grace through faith. We're going to learn some thing about the challenge Luther faced, the way he came to evangelical faith, and the impact he has had on us today.

Some might say "It's all just theology," without relevance for today. But Luther has been judged one of the three most influential people of the last thousand years. He has had an impact on everyone, not just Christians. The message will be on Romans 3:19-31. Read it ahead of time if you can, and begin chewing on it.  

Sunday, October 18 -- This is "Pastor and Wife Appreciation Month," and the church is sending Steve and Barbara to the Annual District Pastors' and Wives' Retreat in Ohio. Be in prayer for a refreshing time for both of them, and for the Service at PGCF with Bill McFarland preaching on doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. 

Sunday, October 11 -- We've looked at the setting of "the greatest story Jesus ever told," and have seen that he was speaking to two audiences. One the one hand, there were "tax collectors and sinners," who were regarded as "outsiders" and who would have identified with the younger son in Jesus' parable. On the other hand, there were the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who were regarded as "insiders" and who would have identified with the older son. Remember that the first climax of the story came with the younger brother's welcoming home party, but unlike the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost son, this story didn't end there. Jesus had turned the tables on his audience. Suddenly, the "outsider" was on the inside, and the "insider" was on the outside. 

This is more than a story. It is the truth about everyone. Now, we look at what this story says about…

…the nature of illusions – We cling to illusions for security.

…the nature of God – Father implies a relationship.

…the nature of forgiveness – Forgivers have a family resemblance to their heavenly Father.

…the nature of sin – It's twofold, both acts and attitudes.

…the nature of lostness – Have you ever been lost?

Sunday, October 5 -- If you've been following, please forgive my not keeping up with this page. On September 20, we began looking at "The Greatest Story Jesus Ever Told" -- the story of the "Prodigal" son (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus packed so much into that story, and week by week we're unpacking it and doing our best to read it in light of his time, our time, and in light of the gospel. 

On September 20, we noted that not only was this the third story about something that was lost (lost lamb, lost coin, lost son), all three of these stories were told to a specific audience. On the one hand, Jesus' listeners were "tax collectors and sinners," who were symbolized by the younger son who left home. On the other hand, the "scribes and Pharisees" were listening, and they were symbolized by the older brother. Thus, Jesus told this story to outsiders, and insiders, and both categories have much to learn from the story. 

On September 27, we looked more in depth at the younger brother. Because this story follows two other stories about lostness, we tend to think the climax of the story comes where the younger son is found by his father. But that's only the first of two important climaxes. So, where are we? We're at the point where the Pharisees have about had it with this story, because the father in the story has restored his wayward son, a son that deserved justice, punishment, and even to be regarded as dead. Yet, on his return home he finds mercy and grace.

And now, the story goes on. This Sunday, October 4, we'll get past the first climax and on to the second climax.  If the Pharisees were disappointed in the first climax, they haven't seen anything yet. The older brother, like the Pharisees, expected justice and punishment. How does he handle matters of mercy, grace, and joy? Which brother are you most like? Come Sunday and find out. 

Sunday, September 13 -- We've finished the five themes of Colossians, but there's one more point to be made from Colossians. It tells us that everything is all about Jesus. Yes, Colossians is "Christocentric," that is, Christ-centered. Here are the five themes of Colossians we've covered: 

1. Christ is Central
2. The Supremacy of Christ 
3. Redemption and Reconciliation Through Christ 
4. Christ is History's Main Thread 
5. Christ is the Secret to the Believer's Maturity

But with all this Christ-talk, we still might not understand Christ unless we look at the underlying idea for everything St. Paul said in his letter to the little church in the city of Colossae. And that underlying idea is GRACE! Only two points to this week's sermon: His Banner Over Me Is Grace.

1. Grace is the subtext of our lives
2. Grace out-produces law in the fruits of righteousness

It's the grace of God that makes Jesus central, supreme, and Lord.  Come, join us as we worship -- declare the worthiness of --  our Lord Jesus Christ.

Special music this Sunday will be provided by Karen Marsh, daughter of Russel and Ruth Johnson. 

Sunday, August 30 -- Christ: The Thread of History, from Colossians 2:6-15.

We live within history, but what does that mean? Where is history going?

1. Our faith is not man-made (v. 6-7) Jesus is Lord of Creation.
2. Our faith is solely dependent on Christ (v. 8-9) Jesus is Lord of Redemption.
3. Our faith is history’s main thread (v. 10) Jesus is Lord of Consummation.    

Sunday, August 16, meet the Denningtons from nearby Waterford, PA. -- everyday people who are also missionaries with OMS International! 

Through two trips to Haiti with Men for Missions, they discovered that God calls everyday people to missions. Bud had worked as an Ironworker for over 30 years and was a volunteer fireman. Jane is a commercial seamstress, and also a paramedic. In Haiti, Bud will be serving in maintenance and construction and Jane will be serving in hospitality and teaching English.

The lesson of the Denningtons is that God not just looking for doctors, pastors, or Bible translators. He's looking for people willing to learn and willing to use the gifts He has given. Come this Sunday and find out how God uses everyday people in missions. Check out their blog for more information at bjdennington.blogspot.com, and join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM.

Also, note -- the all-church picnic will be at 1:00 PM at the McFarlands', 2090 Fox Hill Road. Bring a tureen. The forecast calls for nice weather, but there will be a tent for shelter just in case of rain. Come one and all -- this is always a great time.

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Sunday, August 9 -- The Supremacy of Christ, from Colossians 1:15-20. Christ is Supreme... 

1. Supreme over Creation (1:15 -- The firstborn of all creation) –
2. Supreme Lordship (1:17 -- He is before all things) –
3. Supreme Dominion (1:16 -- All things were created through him and for him) –
4. Supreme over the Church (1:18 -- He is the head of the body, the church) –
5. Supreme Power (1:19 – For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell) –

Sunday, August 2 -- Beginning a sermon series on Colossians entitled "It’s All About Christ." This week, from Colossians 1:15-23, The Centrality of Christ.

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What is "regeneration"? It's what Jesus was talking about when he taught Nicodemus about the new birth, or being "born again."  Where did this idea come from? What does it mean? Should it change a person? Find out during morning worship in June. 

The disciplines: Since the first of the year we've been studying the disciplines of the Christian life. With "The Discipline of Service" on Sunday, June 7, this series came to an end, and we're now talking about "regeneration," or Jesus' teaching on being "born again." But, apart from regeneration the disciplines offer only moral improvement, not a life changed at the heart. So, we'll take one Sunday (OK, maybe two) to review the disciplines, and how they relate to the new birth.