Newsletter Devotional: July 22, 2021

On July 11 we started a new Sunday School Class that meets at 11:00AM in the Fireside Room on the book of Philippians. We began by reading Philippians in its entirety, aloud as a class, all four chapters in succession. Then we read together a brief summary of the Book of Philippians as follows: Philippians 1 – The Advancing Gospel, Philippians 2 – Imitate Christ, Philippians 3 – Pressing Onward, Philippians 4 – Rejoice in the Lord.  To end our first class session, several in attendance shared particular verses that had been an encouragement to them over the years, and it was just that, a huge blessing and encouragement to us all! If you haven’t already figure it out, this edition of the weekly newsletter is an open invitation for you to join us each week at 11:00AM in the Fireside Room for a verse-by-verse study of the amazing Book of Philippians!

This last Sunday, July 18, we stepped back a bit before the Church at Philippi had officially began and read aloud the scripture telling the dramatic story of “Saul’s” conversion on the Road to Damascus, (Acts 9: 1-22). I encourage each of you to read this amazing passage today! We wanted to review, reflect and rejoice over God’s transformation and conversion of the author of the Book of Philippians, “Saul” later named, “Paul”. (Acts 13:9)

Next, we read aloud together God’s specific appointment given to Paul by God, through a man of Macedonia, and became known as the “Macedonian Call” from the Book of Acts Chapter 16: 1-40. The man cried out in vs. 9 of Chapter 16, “Come over to Macedonia and help us”. Philippi was the first Macedonian city in which Paul witnessed. Read this account of the birth of the Church at Philippi highlighted by “Lydia’s conversion, who was a seller of purple goods, (vs. 13-15) and also Paul and Silas thrown into prison because Paul had angered the owners of a slave girl who had profited them with her fortune-telling, by casting out the evil spirit within her, (vs. 16-24) and then consequently the conversion of one Philippian Jailer and his whole household. (vs. 25-34)

So, I have challenged each of you to read several passages from God’s Word and I also encourage you to join us on Sunday morning, August 1, 11:00AM in the Fireside Room, for our next lesson from Philippians 1: 6-11.  Charlie Scott will teach my class from the Book of Mark this coming Sunday, July 25, while Teri and I play at the Pacific Ocean on the Oregon Coast!  Lastly, I leave you with one more reading assignment: Philippians 4: 4-7, truly one of my most favorite scripture passages in the entire Bible.

Love you all very much and I look forward to seeing many of you Sunday, August 1

Sincerely,

Pastor Gary