Sermon Preview
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On Sunday we will open the Word of the Lord once again to that familiar and beloved parable of Jesus known as ‘The Parable of the Prodigal Son.’ Of course, we discover it only in the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 15. This Lord’s Day morning we are going to examine what I have referred to as the ‘second act’ of the parable.
We also need to remind ourselves that this is but one of three parables discovered in Luke 15, each of which Jesus told in direct response to the attitude of the Pharisees and scribes recorded in 15:1, where they “grumbled, saying” of Jesus, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
And you will remember that in the first act, verses 11-16, we learned that the boy we know as the ‘prodigal son’ selfishly and foolishly took his share of his father’s estate, and promptly left for a faraway country where he lost every dime he had in wild extravagance and wickedness. Then, at that very moment when his money ran out, a terrible famine hit that country. And this self-centered young man suddenly found himself in an awful situation. Out of money. Out of work. And out of food! And his plight became so very desperate that he found work feeding pigs on a man’s farm. Soon enough, he was so hungry that he gave serious consideration to eating the “pods,” the beans from the carob tree, that the pigs were consuming!
And you will also remember that this detail, that he worked feeding pigs, signaled to our Lord’s audience that this Jewish boy had descended as low as a Jewish man could go, far down into the abyss of humiliation. This kind of work was seen as an unacceptable occupation, and one completely detestable to the Jews.
And then, the first act of this parable ends with the sad words of verse 16: “and no one gave him anything to eat.”
On Sunday we will turn to the next part of this amazing story beginning in verse 17:
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
What we find here in these verses is a very good view of two key Biblical themes. The first is the amazing change that took place in the prodigal’s heart, such that he determined to return home in the spirit of repentance. The second is the amazing attitude of the father who welcomes the prodigal home with a heart full of mercy and love.
I can’t wait to open the Word with you this Sunday!
All my love and prayers,
Mike
Counselor’s Corner:
Upcoming Events:
August 6, 9 AM – Senior Fellows Breakfast
August 6, 11:15 AM – Senior Fellows Team B Downtown Rescue Mission feeding
August 9, 11:15 AM – Senior Fellows Team A Downtown Rescue Mission feeding
August 11, 4:30 PM – Psummer Psalms recitation
August 12, 6 PM – Women’s Book Club Potluck at Debi Walker’s house
August 20, 9 AM – Senior Fellows visit Larry’s Gun and Pawn for defensive training
September 3, 9 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study
September 4, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study
September 5, 11:30 AM – Women’s Potluck Lunch at Timbers Edge Clubhouse
September 8, 9 AM – Sunday School resumes
September 18, 6 PM – Deacons Meeting
September 20, 6 PM – Marriage Enrichment Evening and Dinner
Order of Worship:
You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here
If you’d like to sing the songs with your family beforehand, the songs for this week are:
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – Hymn No. 92, v.1-4
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah
Have Thine Own Way – Hymn 688 v.1-4
God of My Life, To Thee I Call
Announcements:
Summer Schedule:
Christ Pres is on Summer Schedule, which means Sunday School and regular weekly activities are on hiatus. Our weekly time of fellowship begins at 10 AM, with worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Regular weekly activities resume September 3 and Sunday School resumes September 8.
Nursery, Child and Youth Class Registration
Families, please “register” your infant, child, or youth for the coming year. This will help us as we make plans, buy supplies, and order curriculum. Click HERE to register. Sunday school starts back on September 8th.
Marriage Evening Conference:
Dear CPC Congregation, You are invited to join us for a Marriage Evening Conference on Friday, September 20th! Our evening will include several large group seminars as well as an optional dinner for those interested. Our hope is that the evening will be a time of fellowship with others as well as refreshment for you personally and in your marriage. Registration for the event opens on August 1st and concludes August 31st.
Speaker: Our speaker is Pastor Nate Shurden. He is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. While in seminary, Nate served at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson in Christian education ministry and as Assistant Editor for reformation21, the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. Upon graduation, Nate was called to be Minister of Discipleship and Young Adults at FPC Jackson where he served for three years. In 2010, Nate accepted a call to Franklin, TN to help plant Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. Nate is married to Christy, and they have four young children.
Dinner: We would invite you to join us for dinner! Catered by Carrabbas, we will begin serving around 5:45 and conclude our meal around 6:45. There is no cost for the sessions of the conference. However, for those attending dinner, a $10 per person donation is appreciated in order to mitigate some of the costs of the food. Given the limited amount of space, we are currently reserving the dinner portion of the event for members of Christ Presbyterian Church. Please feel free to invite friends and family to join you for the sessions starting at 7pm!
Details:
Christ Presbyterian Church
Friday September 20th, 2019
Dinner: 5:45 – 6:45**
Session One: 7:00 – 7:45*
Coffee Break: 7:45 – 8:00
Session Two: 8:00 – 8:45
*No cost for the sessions
**A donation of $10 for the dinner is appreciated
Childcare: There will not be any childcare provided at the church during the event. However, if childcare is an obstacle for your attendance, please indicate as such on the RSVP in the registration link provided in this email and we will contact you for assistance.
How Do I Sign Up? To sign up online, please follow the link provided here to register for the event! Please click here. We will also have a sign-up form each Sunday morning during the month of August in the foyer.
Questions: Do you have questions? Please feel free to email Matthew Elliott at matthew@christpreshamptoncove.
Women’s Book Club Fellowship:
Title of book is Even Better than Eden by Nancy Guthrie. Meets Monday nights starting June 10th from 630-8pm at 2 locations
Home of Sharon Daughtry 5726 Jones Valley Dr HSV 256-520 0824
Home of Debi Walker 8538 Sedgebrook SE 256 929-3214
Aug 12th wrap up potluck fellowship for both groups at home of Debi Walker
We will not meet the week of VBS July 15-18
Golf Tournament:
Attention Christ Presbyterian golfers! The men’s ministry of Cornerstone Presbyterian has invited us to participate in an upcoming golf tournament and dinner on August 11, 3 pm at the Hampton Cove RTJ golf trail short course. The cost is $45/person, and the winning team will take home the prized Reformer’s Cup, which does not feature any magisterial reformers and may not actually be a cup. We are still looking for some additional players to join in the fellowship. If you would like to participate, please send your response to Ben Calvert at calvert.benjamin@gmail.com.
Fall Women’s Bible Studies:
Will begin on Tuesday nights starting September 3 and Wednesday mornings starting September 4. We will be doing the Jen Wilkens video study “First Peter (A Living Hope in Christ). “It can be ordered from Lifeway.com. Sign up in the Narthex. Hope you will consider joining us in the Fall.
Slugs and Bugs Children’s Concert
For those of you with younger children, there will be a Slugs and Bugs Children’s Concert at Southwood Presbyterian on August 23 at 6 PM. For more information, click here.
Psummer Psalms:
Everyone in the congregation is invited to memorize one entire Psalm this summer, then join us for a recitation at the church, followed by ice cream, Sunday, Aug 11, 4:30pm. “How sweet are your words to my taste…” Psalm 119:103 Recitation can be individual, or together in a group or family. We had a great group last year–young and old sharing God’s word out loud and with conviction. If interested, email darondrown@gmail.com for periodic encouragement and accountability.
Senior Fellows:
On Tuesday, August 6 at 9 AM the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church House. Guests are welcome. Also both Senior Fellows teams will serve at the Downtown Rescue Mission: Team B will serve on Tuesday, August 6, Team A will serve on Friday, August 9. Each team will meet at 11:15 AM and start feeding at 11:30 AM. Carpools will leave the church at 10:30. On Tuesday, August 20, the Senior Fellows will visit Larry’s Gun and Pawn at 2405 Memorial Parkway SW for defensive training. Plan to arrive by 9 AM. Meet at the church at 8 if you want to carpool. Visitors are welcome Lunch will follow at about 11:30. For more information call 256-503-2853.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Jose Rodriguez, Linda Baxter, Pam Thomason, John Baxter, Pat Galecki, Jim Daughtry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Bryant family, expecting in September, and the Thoms, expecting in November.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA).
Emails:
general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs: benevolence@christpreshamptoncove.org
counsel and ministry needs: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org
Address:
288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763