Sermon Preview:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Those of you who have lived in Huntsville for a while know that aside from being the ‘Rocket City,’ Huntsville is also known as ‘The Hockey Capital of the South.’
Years ago, when UAH fielded an NCAA Division 2 Men’s Hockey program, the Chargers won two national championships. And then there is the success of minor league professional hockey here in Huntsville. Anyone who has ever attended a Huntsville Havoc game knows how well the city supports the sport.
I would also venture a guess that when most people reflect on the sport of hockey they think about . . . fighting! The fisticuffs that go along with the game are often enjoyed more than the skating and puck handling!
All of this reminds me of that old joke about going to a boxing match, only to see a hockey game break out! Fighting just goes with the sport.
Well, there is at least one Epistle in the New Testament that has fighting as it main theme and purpose. The inspired letter written by a man called “Jude” has one fundamental exhortation for all those who are believers in Christ. In the third verse of the one-chapter note, Jude enjoins all Christians to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Paraphrased, this means that all believers in Christ, not just the professional theologians and apologists, are to fight for the faith. And it’s not that we picked the fight, but rather that the fight has come to us! For those my age and older, Billy Joel’s hit song, We Didn’t Start the Fire, might be playing in your head!
In verse 4 Jude says that the conflict started when “certain people” entered the church with teaching that twisted “the grace of God,” contorting it into “sensuality.” With such a poisonous distortion of the gospel seeping into the fellowship of true believers, Jude orders every Christian into the war. In the same way that fighting just goes with the sport of hockey, the war for the truth always accompanies true Christianity.
On Sunday we will begin our series of messages from this little New Testament letter. So, make sure to bring your skates and sticks, and especially your boxing gloves!
Also on Sunday, we will be blessed by a visit from our missionaries to Ireland, Seth and Jessica Lewis. Seth will be giving us a missions report in worship, and they will also have a display set up in the narthex where you may learn more about their work for the gospel in Ireland.
I love you all so very much,
Mike
Announcements:
Summer Schedule:
Sunday School is on hiatus and will resume September 11. During the Summer, fellowship will begin each week at 10 AM, with our regular service of worship beginning at 10:30 AM.
Youth Group Summer Fellowship Schedule:
Ultimate & Pizza (Church House) – Thursday, July 28th
Pool Night Cookout & 9 Square (Location TBD) – Thursday, August 18th
Senior Fellows:
The Senior Fellows will meet 9 AM, Tues, July 5 for breakfast and a devotional in the Family Room. Visitors are welcome. They will also have a game night at the Church House on July 19 at 5:30 PM.
Women’s Ministry:
Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on July 7 beginning at 11 AM at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself. If you have questions or transportation needs please contact Pat Galecki at 256-244-0612
Men’s Golf:
We will have a CPC men’s golf outing at Robert Trent Jones Hampton Cove course on July 30 at 8:30 AM. We will play 18- holes on the par 3 course and then eat lunch at the clubhouse. A sign-up sheet will be forthcoming. When you sign up put an “A”, “B” or “C” by your name. “A” for frequent golfers, “B” for golfers that play every now and then and “C” for never play. Organizers will make equally matched teams of 3 or 4 (depending on how many play) and we’ll have a friendly competition. Each team will take the best score for each hole. The par 3 course will be a lot of fun for all levels of golfers so I encourage everyone to participate. Approximate cost for the golf is $18.00 and a cart is $13.00. POCs are Joey McCool (josephrodneymccool@gmail.com) or David O’Neil (davidconeil.al@gmail.com)
Career/Singles:
Career/Singles meet on Sundays at the Daughtry home at 5:30 PM.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Juergen Haukohl, Collins Bailey, Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, and Elizabeth Holton. Additional details may be found in the Ministries/Prayer Requests section of the church website.
Expecting: Please pray for the Thornhills (August); the Thompsons (September); the Elys (November).
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.
Online Donations:
If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:
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