If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. Genesis 31:42

As a kid, I loved going fishing with my dad. We lived by the ocean and my dad found a 12-ft tin lifeboat off a ship and bolted a 9.5 horse-power outboard motor on it. We would cruise the bay trolling for ‘the big one’.  It wasn’t the size of the boat or motor that excited me…it was the size of the fish we regularly caught. Three-foot long Spanish Mackerel, mid-size tuna, and a plethora of other salt-water dandies was our common reward!

Occasionally, we would run into trouble. One time we raced (I use that word loosely…it was a 9.5 hp engine!) back to shore just as a huge tropical storm hit. Another time, the motor gave out as we were chasing a swordfish and had to paddle a looong way back to shore. Actually, that little engine failed us more than once!

Do you know what I never felt in those moments of trouble? Unsafe. As I reflect on it, I realize that maybe I should have felt insecure, some fear, or at least a little anxiety, but that was never my experience. I think I know why. I was with my dad. There’s just something about having my dad with me that makes me feel protected. He’s trustworthy and strong, and his presence always provided a sense of security, no matter how big the waves were.

This week we consider the Presence of Protection from Genesis 31. I encourage you to read it and count how many times the word “father” is used (hint: you’ll need more than all your fingers). As you do, consider the theme of protection and the power of God saying He would be with Jacob.

Then be sure to arrive early to hear the Advent reading at the beginning of the service and then worship the One who promises to never leave us, and that He will be with us to the end of the age!

Pastor Nate Newell

Pastor Nate Newell

²⁵ As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country.” – Genesis 30:25

Have you ever just wanted to go home? It’s a desire that can come over us at any age. When we’re young, the desire can come over us simply because we’re tired. As we get older, homesickness can set in on trips or summer camp stays. As adults, long business trips and lengthy deployments of service can cause us to miss our families. My first taste of homesickness struck when I went away to college. Honestly, I loved being away from home. The initial liberation that accompanied living away from home for the first time distracted me at first. But after the newness wore off, I had this quiver in my gut that could only be satisfied with a “visit back home.”  The only problem was, as a poor college freshman, I didn’t have enough gas money to make the trip. Hold that thought.

As we come back to Genesis, Jacob begins longing for home. Frankly, I would say it’s about time that he does. After all, his “short trip” has turned into an unforeseen 14-year stay. In some ways, it can seem as though, in the midst of paying off his debt to Uncle Laban, Jacob has grown a family and built a life for himself where he’s at. But alas, it’s not his home. Deep in the heart of Jacob is the memory of God’s promise to take him back home to the land of Promise. BUT, there’s just one problem… Jacob doesn’t have the “gas money to get home.” What? You don’t see that part written in the story? Well, all I’ll say is take a look again at Genesis 30:25-43 and come Sunday ready to have your mind blown yet again by the faithfulness of our God.

This week’s message is entitled “Echoes of Provision.” All of us are longing for home. One day we’ll all arrive with our homesickness quelled but only through the provision of the Lord.

Love you Church!

Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated…Genesis 29:31

And God listened to Leah…Genesis 30:17

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her…Genesis 30:22  

My wife does this amazing thing when I go on trips. It just happened again last week when I traveled to Dallas for a training. She sneaks little notes in my bag and places post-it-notes with sweet messages on my books that I take with me. It is a wonderful way to remind me that I am not alone, that I am loved, and that I have someone waiting for me to come home. There is great power in being reminded that I am not alone and that I am seen and valued by her. I have a great wife!

The two wives of Jacob lacked this kind of loving reassurance in their marriage. (Hint: it was never supposed to be 1 man and 2 women in marriage!) Instead, one wife was unloved but could have children, while the other was loved but couldn’t have sons. It was a soap-opera level mess of a family!

In spite of the mess, they made God say that He saw, heard, and remembered them. These are critical words that show that God is a covenant keeping God and is faithful to His faithless people. Join me as we learn this truth in the story of the Presence of Tribes (Genesis 29:31-30:24) this Sunday.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Pastor Nate Newell

²⁰ So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. – Genesis 29:20

I can still remember the first time I saw Robyn. She walked into the room with a grace, strength and dignity equal to her beauty. Her posture and stride told me she was a confident woman who approached life with a purpose and a plan.  As I got to know her, she was someone I respected and admired. Honestly, I never thought of dating her  because I wasn’t in a position to do so and frankly, by my assessment, she was way out of my league. Nevertheless, as the Lord would have it, circumstances changed, and we began to date. As our relationship grew and marriage came into the picture, we made the commitment that I would finish school before taking our vows. That meant waiting for what felt like an eternity. It wasn’t. But I can assure you, it was the longest couple years of my life.

Hopefully, you won’t be surprised to hear me say, “It was so worth it!”  It was worth the wait, because she is worth it. She is everything I perceived in that first impression and so much more. I can easily say I’d do it all again. But I’m also willing to admit that I’m glad the wait wasn’t longer. I don’t want to imagine having to work and wait seven years like Jacob did. I’d love to tell you that the story of Jacob and Rachel is one great romantic tale of innocent love, but alas, I’d have to overlook the many selfish and unfortunate circumstances surrounding their union to do so. Frankly, their marriage journey was a bit of a soap opera.  How bad was it? Well, let’s just say Jerry Springer would have gladly welcomed all parties on his show. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, be sure to check out Genesis 29 to see for yourself.  The good news is that the Lord loved Jacob even more than Jacob loved Rachel. And rest assured, the Lord waited even more patiently than Jacob. Why? Because Jacob was worth it, and so are you.

Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter

¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” – Genesis 28:16

Have you ever woken from a sleep so deep that you forgot what day it was? Ah, those sleeps are the best! It happens to me pretty frequently, especially on Monday mornings. There is nothing like a good sleep after you’ve expended yourself in a hard day’s work. While I don’t often get to bed as early as I’d like, there is a point nearly every evening when my need for sleep begins to compete with whatever it is I’m trying to accomplish. My eyes get heavy, the book or remote begin to fall out of my hands, and I think to myself, I should probably go to bed. But, for whatever reason, I never seem to go to bed the first time it happens. For as much as I like sleep, I always seem to push it off. Which inevitably means when my head hits the pillow… I. am. out. cold. Literally, within seconds. And typically I don’t wake up until at or just before my alarm. Indeed, on the best of occasions, I’ll wake up from a sleep so deep that I think I’m late for school.

This week, in Genesis 28, Jacob lays his head on a rock and falls into a deep sleep. It’s a sleep that contains an incredible dream which includes a visit from the LORD. The sleep was so deep and so profound that he woke with a completely disorienting sense of where he was and who he was with. Take some time and check out the text. It’ll be a familiar story to many of us but, man, is it incredible! This week the message is called “Presence of Glory.” And wow, what I wouldn’t give to have a dream like the one we’ll study together this week. So, hey, go ahead and get some deep, forget-where-you-are sleep. And when you wake up, remember it’s Sunday. Then come ready to reorient yourself in some incredible theological truth.

Love you Church!

Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter

²⁶ Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” Genesis 27:26

Kiss your kids. It’s advice I received when I became a dad, and it’s advice I pass on to other new parents. I love my dad more than I can say, but frankly, he was not the kissing type. In typical blue-collar fashion, he expressed his love mostly in side hugs, which often ended in playful headlocks and nuggies. I’m not sure how much I appreciated them at the time. But now, looking back, I wouldn’t give a single one of those exchanges back. There is just something about healthy parental affection that makes a child feel loved, significant, and secure.

To be loved as a child into adulthood is a gift. And what’s the return for the parent? Well, in addition to blessing your child, there is the hope that you might be blessed by their love as you age. You see, there comes a point of transition when a parent kissing their kids gives way to kids kissing their parents. I haven’t quite gotten there with my dad, but I will tell you that it feels good to say, ‘I love you’ to each other amidst ‘real’ hugs! Nevertheless, in my mind, I can see the day when I will kiss my dad, even if it’s on his forehead. Age has a way of softening our inhibitions, doesn’t it?

And so, kiss your kids. My sons will always know they can kiss their dad if they want. They liked it when they were young, it gets a little gross in the middle years, but in the end, nearly everyone wishes to kiss their mom and dad. I know some of you would do anything just to have that privilege again.

I wish I could tell you that the above verse was a sweet moment of parent and child affection. Indeed, Isaac kissed his son, but unfortunately, his affection—tainted with favoritism—planted seeds of division that caused his son in this instance to lean in and steal his father’s blessing with a kiss of deception. There is much to be learned from this moment in redemptive history, not the least of which is when you kiss your kids, be sure you kiss them with sincerity and unconditional affection. For a day of transition is coming when they will choose to kiss you. May that day be one of affection, joy, and sincere blessing. I encourage you to read Genesis 27 and come ready to dig into this unbelievable text.

Love you, Church!

Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter

²³ And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” – Genesis 25:23

Have you ever held a newborn and wondered what they’d become? Maybe you’ve watched them smile or furl their brow in between wispy little sleeping breaths and wondered, “What could they ever be dreaming about?” Swaddled tightly within those nursery blankets is incredible potential waiting to burst forth, like a butterfly from a cocoon. What will they become? Time will ultimately reveal what divine providence already knows. Every person is born with a purpose and for a purpose. We all have the power to have an incredible impact in this world.

The question is, will our impact be positive or negative? The reality is, we all have a choice. The Bible makes it clear that we have a free will to choose. We’ve all seen or heard of siblings growing up to choose two opposite moral paths, despite their “identical” upbringing. What’s sometimes confusing is how our free will resides amidst the tension of God’s sovereignty and divine choice. Divine providence assures that I will ultimately fulfill my purpose while free will makes me responsible to faithfully pursue it.

This juxtaposition is the tension we will feel in this week’s passage. The message title is Presence of Division, and it tells the story of the conflict between Esau and Jacob. We meet them as two babies in their mother’s womb. Two boys who will grow to follow opposite paths. Neither is perfect. Both are sinners, but one was indiscriminately and unconditionally chosen by God to carry on the line of promise while the other chose to live a life following the indulgence of his flesh. Frankly, it’s a sobering story with perplexing theological depth that ought to cause us to pause and marvel at the incredible wisdom and grace of God. Take a moment to read Genesis 25:19-34 and consider how purposefully and intricately God’s grace was applied. And then thank Him that He chose to extend that same grace to you.

Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter

7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. – Genesis 24:7

Our God is a sovereign God of providence. You see, in His sovereignty, He has the power to do as He pleases, and in His providence, He has a good and perfect plan for all that He does. Our God is faithful over all the affairs of the universe. In short, our God makes things happen.

With this in mind, consider this famous quote from Astronaut Jim Lovell.

“There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.”

Impressively, Jim was one of the first three men to ever fly to and orbit the moon. I wonder how much of that mission he made happen? Did he build or program the rocket, or ever “wonder” who did? Did he “watch” as others set the rocket in place for launch? Or did he set the course for orbit and prepare all the arrangements for the capsule to return to Earth? Indeed, someone “made” those things happen. Please don’t get me wrong, there is no doubt that Jim was an impressive man in his own right. After all, he was an astronaut who played a pivotal role in “making” a great American accomplishment happen. The point that I’m getting at is anything we make happen is dependent on other things that someone else made happen.

You see, to “be a person who makes things happen” is to realize we’re dependent on others to make things happen. Providence says that at the center of all events is our God who actually makes things take place. Yes, God uses us. But make no mistake, everything we experience is working to fulfill the plans of our sovereign God who providentially makes things happen.

This week we are going to see God’s providential work on clear display. Take some time to read Genesis 24 and consider how God sovereignly orchestrated the events to fulfill His providential promise. Whatever we learn from Jim Lovell’s quote, it’s reassuring to know that when it comes to providence, God neither wonders nor watches; He makes things happen.

I can’t wait to see what He makes happen this weekend.

Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter

¹ After these things God tested Abraham… – Genesis 22:1

One of the more annoying aspects of my childhood was having my Saturday morning cartoons interrupted by the “E-B-S”. Do you remember this? It always seemed to happen right in the middle of my favorite shows. The screen would black out, multi-colored horizontal stripes would appear as a robotic voice would say, “This is a test. For the next 30 seconds this station is conducting a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.” Following that announcement, the most annoying sound in all the world would blare through the tv for what felt like minutes. Ugh! If you lived through it, you can probably still hear it. It was so annoying. You see, the point is, before I reached kindergarten the “E-B-S” was teaching me that tests are not fun and horribly inconvenient.

Tests were disruptive as a child, they were challenging throughout school, and they can be downright painful in adulthood. With this in mind, how does it sit with you to read that God tested Abraham? How does it feel to know God also tests you and me?

As we’ve studied through the life of Abraham, we’ve witnessed him endure a number of tests. Each test Abraham faced served to strengthen him for the next.  And now as our Echoes of Promise series comes to a close, we are going to witness a faith-filled Abraham face the test of all tests. Frankly, God is going to ask Abraham to do the unthinkable. He’s going to ask him to give up the very thing he’s longed for… He’s going to ask him to give up his one and only son. As you read Genesis 22, I want to warn you that you are likely to feel very conflicted. As I studied it, there were a number of things that caused me to scratch my head and study harder. I can’t wait to share with you what I’ve learned.

Let me say, the key in it all is it to remember that God made a promise, and He is working out His purpose. As we prepare for Sunday perhaps this quote from Warren Wiersbe will help our perspective, “Our faith is not really tested until God asks us to bear what seems unbearable, do what seems unreasonable, and expect what seems impossible.”

Remember, God’s testing is always for the proving and strengthening of our faith. God’s tests are always for our good. While we will not face the same test as Abraham (Praise God) we can learn from his faith in the promise and purpose of God.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

You’ve got to meet my dog, Maverick. He’s a 1-year-old, 70 pound, energetic black Labrador Retriever. He’s quickly making his way up the “man’s best friend” chart…currently in the Top 10. When he chases a ball at full speed, it’s poetry in motion. When I come home from work, he’s the first to greet me at the door and immediately ready to play. And when I go out the door, he’s always ready to come with me, begging with his eyes, urgently standing by the door, and if he could talk would be saying, “pick me, pick me, I’m ready to go with you wherever you want!”

The best (and sometimes worst…hey, strengths can present as weaknesses) thing about Maverick is that he ALWAYS wants to be with me. If I leave the room, he rushes to follow behind me. When I walk down the hallway, he’s right by my side. And as annoying as that can be at times, when I go on vacation his presence is missed.

Presence is powerful. God made us to need presence. Sometimes it’s filled by a dog, sometimes by a friend, definitely by family, and we always need God’s presence. Wondering if God is present in our life is quite common. When we wonder this, it not only feels lonely, but can be discouraging and destructive. We need a fresh reminder of God’s promise that He is with us always (Matt 28:20).

Genesis 21 is a powerful story of God’s presence that will bring delight, a stronger faith, and a surer hope. Check it out before Sunday.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Can’t wait to be with you this Sunday!

Nate Newell
Pastor of Ministry and Mission Development

² And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. – Genesis 20:2

It’s like Groundhog Day! Do you remember the movie? The year was 1993.The actor was Bill Murray. The plot was about a self-centered weatherman named Phil Connors who finds himself stuck in a time loop covering Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA. Antics ensue as the day repeats itself and he lives the same situations over and over again until he gets it “right.” The movie has become a bit of a phenomenon and its title has developed into a descriptive cliche to describe a situation that repeats itself.

So now, with this in mind, go ahead and read Genesis 20. Am I right? Doesn’t it feel a lot like Groundhog Day? Haven’t we studied this passage before? The answer is no and yes. No, we haven’t studied this passage before, but yes, it sure feels like we have. The reason it feels this way is because Abraham literally makes the same mistake he made in Genesis 12 when he took his trip to Egypt. Now 25 years later, he takes a trip to a different location but finds himself committing the same sin with the same repercussions as before. Never-the-less as we learn, our God is gracious.

While it’s easy to shake our heads at Abraham, the truth is we live a lot of days committing the same pattern of sins. In essence, from a broader view we all tend to live our own series of spiritual groundhog days. The question we’ll tackle in this week’s message is, how do we break out? How do we get it “right” and move beyond the recurring sins that beset us. O’man, I cannot wait for this week’s message. Freedom awaits.  Breakthrough is coming. It’s time to crush the echoes of past sins in our lives.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

Genesis 19:1 – 
1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening…

Some passages of Scripture are just hard. There is no way around it. There are stories that are simply difficult to teach in Sunday School church. And when we do teach them we typically, and with good reason, share only the “age appropriate details.” If you’ve grown up in church, you’ve sat through these lessons. You’ve listened to Mrs. Snodgrass retell the account of man’s sin.  You’ve watched on as God’s response was captured in images on the flannelgraph board.  These stories and these images are often branded in our minds. And what accompanies these memories is the sanitized version of the story we received.  

Again, to be clear, age-appropriate lessons are good; but as we grow and mature, it is crucial to go back and revisit the text in its fulness. Honestly, it’s not always enjoyable. Often it’s hard. As I studied Genesis 19, most commonly known as the story of “Sodom and Gomorra,” I was blown away by the weight of it. It was so different from my Sunday School memory. It brought emotions that didn’t fit the happy songs that we sung. As I read it, I found it to be hard. I found it to be dirty. I found it to be ridiculous. I found it to be real. Ultimately, I found it to be good. 

We come to church to worship God and learn the truth.I’m so grateful to be in a church that wants to hear the clear truth. So with this in mind, this week’s sermon comes with a disclaimer that real hard truth is coming. Real sin. Real pain. Real disgust. Real judgement. Real penalty. Real life. My gracious appeal is that you prayerfully prepare your heart for this text. Additionally, while you know I work hard to keep what’s spoken from the pulpit to be suitable for most audiences, the subject matter this week does merit parental conversation. Please read the text and decide at what level your child might need to be prepared for the story. As a gauge, the level of detail will not exceed, yet also not be any less than, what would be suitable for a professional 5pm news source. 

As an encouragement, I want to assure you that, while this text is more graphic than the Sunday School version you may have learned, it is also not as hopeless as some make it out to be either. As a matter of fact, you’re going to learn that this is a MERCY story. I assure you that each and every one of us will see ourselves and those we love in this text. We will see ourselves for who we are. We will come face-to-face with that we deserve, while at the same time receiving all the mercy that we don’t.  Real people need the real Bible to address real issues in their real lives. This week we get real. So please, let’s get ready. Read, pray, worship, and come ready to receive mercy from the Lord.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

– James 2:23

Life is simply better with a friend. A friend is someone we laugh with, cry with, and shoot the breeze with. They are someone we ought to be able to confide in and trust. Which is why keeping secrets, even “good secrets” from a friend can be very difficult. I’ll never forget playing trucks in the dirt when my friend Chris said he had a secret he couldn’t tell me. Whoa, wait!  In my little mind, I’m thinking, “What do you mean you can’t tell me?” We are friends. This is what we do. We play trucks in the dirt and tell each other “stuff.” Apparently, he thought the same thing because without much prodding he “spilled the beans.”  My parents were planning a surprise birthday party for me at…(Are you ready for this?)… Chuck-E-Cheese!

Oh my word! Get out of here?! This was unbelievable news. How was this even possible?!  My mind was on overdrive as my little heart beat with excitement. When my mom called me inside to get cleaned up to go “somewhere,” I was beyond excited. I remember taking the fastest bath a boy could take just to be sent back for a second one because the dirt from afternoon play was still on the backs of my arms and legs. When I showed up, Chris and a few friends from school were there, we played all the games, we ate all the pizza, we jumped in the ball pit, it was incredible. To this day, as far as I know, my mom never let on if she knew my friend “ruined” the surprise. Looking back now, I’m not sure how she couldn’t have known. What I’m certain she did know was that her son’s birthday was simply better with friends.

As we come back to Genesis 18, it’s incredible to consider that Abraham is called a friend of God. He’s going to eat, walk, and talk with God.  And amazingly, God, by His own prerogative is going to share His plan with Abraham. Unlike my exciting news above, the secret information God shares with Abraham is quite heavy. But God has called Abraham. He has a relationship with Him. He’s entrusting knowledge of His plan to Abraham, His friend who has believed and been counted as righteous. Friend, how mind-blowing is it that we too are friends of God who have received knowledge of God’s mysterious plan? Take some time to read Genesis 18:16 and consider how life is better now that we are called friends of God.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

⁴ Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Genesis 18:14

The question is rhetorical, of course. Is anything to too hard for the Lord? The answer of course is, no. There is nothing our God can’t do. A crucial question that isn’t rhetorical is, do we believe it? Do we believe that God is able to (__Fill in the Blank__)? Our life and outlook change when we realize that there is nothing we can put in the blank that is beyond God’s authority and control.

So, what’s your blank? What’s the thing that you need to trust God for? As a husband, I’m trusting God for my marriage. As a dad, I’m trusting God for my boys. As a pastor, I’m trusting God for all the wonderful things He’s doing at our church. As a leader in GCC, I’m trusting God for all the churches in our network. As a friend, I’m trusting God to bless Pastor Ed as He transitions to Mission Church Myerstown. As a preacher of God’s Word, I’m trusting God for this week’s message. Wow! Typing these sentences is good for my soul. I’ve got more sentences that I could type, but it’s powerful to state what I’m trusting God for and to believe that in all of these matters my God is able. Nothing will ever be too hard for Him.

These are some of my blanks, but what about you? Would you take some time to complete your sentences? Write them down. Read them back to yourself. Pray and tell the Lord what you are trusting Him for. And then praise Him for being an all-powerful God.

Speaking of being all-powerful, this week’s sermon is entitled, “Echoes of Power.” To prepare for Sunday, take some time to read Genesis 17-18:15 and take note of God’s power and grace. It’s likely there will be aspects of this passage that are familiar. As you read, note how personal and tender the Lord is towards Abram and Sarai or should I say Abraham and Sarah? In all of their waiting, they are learning that nothing is too hard for the Lord. Are you learning the same?

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

“…You are a God who sees me.”

– Genesis 16:13 (ESV)

Have you ever tried to make yourself invisible? It sounds crazy I know. But the reality is I’m surrounded by little men who believe at one level or another that it’s possible. Just the other day I came home to “find” the three youngest playing hide and go seek. One was counting, and the other two were working hard to become unseen. Given their difference in age, each of them possess a different level of disappearing prowess. For my littlest guy, he simply closes His eyes and “poof” he’s gone. While my older boys know it doesn’t work like that, one of them does still seems to think that their blanket has the power to make them undetectable so long as they lay perfectly still. The third, our true Houdini, believes a true disappearing act that wins every time requires the willingness to hide in a dark closet for as long as it takes to win.

Honestly, it’s pretty entertaining to watch. The other day, as I saw a blanket rustle and a foot sticking out from behind the couch, I thought to myself, “they honestly think they can’t be seen.” And as I laughed, I thought to myself, “what does God think of us when we try to hide from Him?”  We may not try to hide in the way that my boys do. In all reality, they are much better hiders than we are. I mean stop and think about it. In a true pragmatic sense, they have a much better chance of hiding from one another than we do of hiding from God. Nevertheless, we still hide. We still run. We still try to live our lives outside of God’s line of sight. We might not believe it’s literally possible, but many times we act as though our lives are hidden from God.

This week, we will see that our God sees us. Not only does He see us but also He comes to us. And when He arrives, He does so with great punctuality. Our message title this week is Echoes of Punctuality from Genesis 16. Take some time to read the passage and notice how the God who sees is punctual with His providential plan. And notice the trouble we cause when we act as though He’s not looking and we try to take matters into our own hands.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

⁵ And he [The Lord] brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars…

– Genesis 15:5-6 (ESV)

When is the last time you looked at the stars? No, I mean, when is the last time you slowed down and took them all in? I remember as a child laying on my back and staring. On a rural Appalachian mountainside, the sky seemed to engulf me as if suspended in a galaxy of stars. At times the sky felt so near, like I could reach out and touch my finger on a galaxy or grab Orion’s belt of stars. Other times, even a full moon, hung low to the ground, felt so far off. There is just something about the night sky.

It’s true isn’t it? In my mind’s eye, the stars hang on a banner of wonder. I feel small yet profoundly significant when I look up. Small because the galaxy is endless. Significant because, even in a universe this vast, God chose to make me. Come on, that’s amazing. If the creation of the universe were a small project, it would change the way we view our God. But it’s not. It wasn’t. To our knowledge, the sky is infinitely vast. Just as we have no way of discovering its end, neither can we exhaust our understanding of the God who created it. And now, think that God made you too. He sees you. And He has a plan for you! How do I know? Because He says so. As a matter of fact, He says so in the passage we will study this Sunday.

Wow, I cannot wait for Sunday. As you read the verse above, imagine yourself being brought outside by your God and gazing upon the stars in the company of their Creator.  Now imagine, as you look on, God says each of those stars marks a person that He is going to redeem. Truth like this and more awaits us as we study Genesis 15 this week. The message title is Echoes of God's Providence. As you read Chapter 15 and contemplate His providence, consider that the God who had the power to create the stars also has a plan for every person who looks upon them.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹³ Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. ¹⁴ When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. ¹⁶ Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

– Genesis 14:13-16 (ESV)

Do you like a good rescue story? From kittens up high trees to Saving Private Ryan, a dramatic story of rescue resonates with us. I think we love these stories for a couple reasons. We empathize with those in need of rescue because we have been in situations where we needed to be rescued! We feel "all the feels" that those who may lose a loved one may be experiencing. We also like stories of rescue because many of the best things about humanity are on display: courage, risk-taking, creativity, sacrifice, and love.

The Bible is an amazing story of rescue made up of lots of little stories of dramatic rescue attempts. From the parable of the shepherd that leaves the ninety-nine to search for one lost sheep, to using a whale to rescue the worst missionary ever from his sinful stubbornness; from using a shepherd boy to save a nation from defeat to a menacing giant, or a worship team to conquer an invading army, to the ultimate rescue performed by Christ dying on a cross and then rising to life to save sinners… Our God loves to rescue!

This Sunday we see another echo of God’s promise to Abram is His protection. We will see the danger of presuming upon God for protection while experiencing the beauty of how God enacts protection and rescue for each of us. Take a look at Genesis 14:1-24 (I dare you to try to pronounce all those strange names aloud!) and see how we hear the echoes of protection from this story.

Can’t wait to unpack this amazing story with you!

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Nate Newell
Pastor of Ministry & Mission Development

⁸ Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.

– Genesis 13:8 (ESV)

“Blood is thicker than water.” 

If you are familiar with this phrase, than you know it means, “family bonds are stronger than other relationships and circumstances.” The saying is obviously alluding to family loyalty. Loyalty by and large is seen as a positive virtue. However, in applying this phrase, the quality of virtue is defined by the character of the family. In other words, the phrase “blood is thicker than water” has a different connotation in a family of philanthropists vs. a family of criminals. While their actions are obviously different, if living true to the phrase, their core motivation is essentially the same… family first.

In a sense, Abram is living the phrase in a truly redemptive way. I’d love for you to take some time and read Genesis 13 to see if you see what I’m seeing. Abram is placing a premium on his relationship with his nephew Lot. He’s applying selflessness in a way that’s markedly different than how he acted in our study last week. It truly appears as though Abram has had a heart change. Where did this change come from? Well, remember how God’s not slow but patient? Remember how God showed up and bailed Abram out after he’d dug himself a hole in Egypt? You remember? Well, now it appears that Abram is paying it forward. God’s provision for him is moving Abram to live selflessly toward others.

If you’ve read the passage and said, “Pastor, I’m not so sure I’m seeing this passage quite the way you’re describing it,” it’s totally ok. There is so much more going on in this text than meets the eye and I cannot wait to unpack it with you!  From now 'til Sunday though, here is what we all need to know is this: God provides! Our message title this week is Echos of Provision.  Have you experienced a provision form the Lord recently? Did God provide that provision through the family of God? After all, “blood is thicker than water.”  – Selah.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹⁷ But the Lord…

– Genesis 12:17 (ESV)

It introduces a turn of events. It’s often the center point of a significant plot twist. When things are rough it’s a word you absolutely want to see or hear. It’s only three letters long, but this word is incredibly powerful. The word of course is… BUT.

Think about all the times in the Bible we read, “But God…” Think about how good results, people are spared, enemies are defeated, and wars are won because things were trending negatively… BUT GOD stepped in to act & reveal His ultimate plan. Over the years I’ve heard these "But God" occurrence described as “But-ology.”  But-ology is the theology of the word "but" throughout the Bible.

And while the Bible is full of “But God…” moments it thrilling when we also experience them in everyday life.  Have you had any moments like that recently? You know, moments when it seems like there was no solution, BUT GOD showed up and showed the way. Perhaps you had a need you couldn’t meet, BUT GOD provided. Maybe it was a relational conflict you couldn’t resolve, BUT GOD extended grace. The "But God…" possibilities are as endless as the struggles we face, but when He intervenes, it’s crucial that we declare that we would have been left helpless, BUT GOD showed up. Take a moment and give Him praise.

Well, as you can probably guess, our passage this week includes some “But-ology.”  As we pick up Genesis 12 we find Abram backing himself into a pretty hopeless predicament, BUT GOD shows great patience toward Abram and redeems him out of the mess he put himself in. I’d love for you to take some time to read Genesis 12:10-20, but I want to warn you, the events that transpire are quite shocking. As you read, take some time to consider how patient our God is. We’d all be lost… BUT GOD…

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹ Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ² And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

– Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV)

This week we begin a new sermon series, Echoes of Promise. Today, I went to the Worship Center to pray in anticipation for Sunday. As I look back over all that has transpired in that room these past weeks, my heart is overwhelmed. God is at work! He’s called us to arms. He’s been working in our own hearts so that we prayerfully battle for the hearts of others. In some ways I didn’t want our last study to end, while at the same time feeling a strong sense of anticipation for what’s next.

What’s next? Genesis is next. We move forward by going back to the beginning. Honestly, tackling Genesis is a weighty endeavor. It’s the origin. The foundation. It provides the basis for all that is and foreshadows all that is to come. It declares the character of our God and allows us a glimpse into His divine design. This series is called Echoes of Promise because the events, truths, and principles in Genesis still resonate among us.

I ended my time in the Worship Center by clapping my hands. It created a splash of sound waves that echoed through out the room. The beautiful thing about an echo is that it’s different from a reflection. A reflection is an imitation of the original, while an echo is the bouncing back of the original sound. And as I stood within the echoes of my original claps, I couldn’t help but think how on Sunday the room will be filled echoes of the original truths of Genesis. You see friends, what makes preaching God’s Word powerful is not the voice of the human speaker, it’s that the truths read from the Bible are the original words of God. My word! That blows my mind!

This Sunday, we'll study God’s promise to a man named Abram. He’s a man not unlike you and me. But God chose him. God spoke to him and made a covenant with him that has echoed through our history and among us today. Friends, please take some time to read Genesis 12:1-9 and allow the truths of God’s Word to echo in your heart.

Sunday is coming. Let’s gather and echo praises to our God!

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

²³ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

– Ephesians 6:23 (ESV)

Benediction (Noun) –

1. A closing utterance of blessing & good wishes
2. The form of blessing pronounced by an officiating minister, at the close of a divine service.

This Sunday we come to the benediction of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. As you can see above, benediction is a spiritual way to say "goodbye." I’m all for doing things in spiritual ways, but I can never see myself getting excited about a goodbye. In fact, let me just say it… I hate goodbyes. I know that they're necessary. I know that they can be good. Yes, I know the saying, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” But if I can be honest, I’m beginning to believe statements like that are just made up to make us feel better about unpleasant situations. Anyone one with me?

Nevertheless, here we are saying goodbye, even if ever so spiritually to another sermon series. And what an incredible study it has been! Ephesians is one of my favorite books in the Bible and my hope it has become dear to you as well. I pray you’ve received a clearer and more firm grasp on the fact that God has called you. I pray you're spending time in your chair celebrating your position in Christ. I pray you're gaining confidence in your walk with Jesus and learning to rely on His Strength to help you stand firm in the spiritual battle. Speaking of prayer, to finish our study, we must pick up where we left off last week, praying. This Sunday we'll close things out by following Paul’s instruction to celebrate our salvation, walk in unity, and fight the spiritual battle; thus, we will worship, pray, and take communion together. I encourage you to arrive a little early as you won’t want to miss a moment of this service! And as we do may these key verses from our study hold true…
 

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

While we say goodbye to our series, we forge ahead in our calling to make disciple & multiply churches who live loved and sent to the glory of God.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

– Ephesians 6:18-20 (ESV)

There's nothing better than hearing my boys pray. We’ve encouraged them to pray from the time they were wee little. Even now, I can hear their little voices praying out adorable phrases to God. I could write paragraphs filled with stories about the cuteness that's flooded our nighttime routine over the years. Right now, we have a 14, 10, 8, and 5-year-old. Each of them now are able to pray at different levels of understanding and expectation. Ty, our oldest, now prays very differently than our youngest Joshua, while our two “middles,” Elijah and Isaiah, are fostering their own relationship with Jesus.

As I have the privilege of listening to to my boys pray, I often wonder how God hears their prayers. Even more, I wonder how God listens to me when I pray. In a similar way to how I’ve seen my boys grow, has God seen maturity in me and in the way that I speak to Him? Has the frequency and the way that I pray come to Him with the perseverance that He calls me to in this week's text? As we draw near to closing our study in Ephesians, we come to see that prayer is at the heart of the spiritual battle. Whether you pray like a 5-year-old or a 95-year-old, the secret to victorious, battle-tested prayer is found in this week's text. Verse 18 calls us to pray in the Spirit. Wow! Do you pray in the Spirit? Are you sure? Trust me when I say, you're not going to want to miss this week's message! I’m praying it will be a powerful & Spirit-filled Sunday.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹⁷ …and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

– Ephesians 6:17 (ESV)

I have two friends who make fun of me whenever we get together for something that happened four years ago. They came to Malaysia to help with a ministry project and I was not only excited to connect with friends from half-way around the world, but also to show them things that were a part of my life in a foreign country. At the center of this excitement was food.

You see, I’m a bit of a foodie and Kuala Lumpur is a fusion of food from all over the world. So, it was a pretty regular occurrence that I would tell my friends that I was taking them to my “favorite” restaurant each night. It made sense to me, but not to them. Tonight is my “favorite Iranian food,” tomorrow is my “favorite Indian restaurant,” then my “favorite Malay food stall,” and for lunch “the absolute best Yemeni place,” and along the way we’ll hit the “best shawarma stand” before trying “the best durian from the cart around the corner.” The joke is that I don’t know what the word “favorite” means, and I regularly take many jibes on what the next “favorite” food place will be. 

The simple fact is, that whatever you delight in, you will likely want to share it with those you love. Mission Church fam, I love you and can’t wait to share with you my love for God’s Word. It is the Sword of the Spirit, the final piece of armor that we are to put on so that we can withstand the attacks of the enemy. As Jeremiah says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words become to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16 ESV)

And you can join me in sharing a favorite verse! This Sunday, during the worship set, you are invited to share a verse with the congregation during our open mic Scripture reading portion of the service. Take a moment and think of a verse that has helped you in spiritual battle. Prayerfully consider reading it publicly when cued by the Worship Leader.

The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Come learn what it means to receive it and use it to stand firm.

Can’t wait to share with you one of my favorite things! Until then, take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Nate Newell
Pastor of Ministry & Mission Development

¹⁷ …and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

– Ephesians 6:17 (ESV)

Alright, confession time again, I don’t like helmets. Obviously this fact does not set me up well for preaching this coming Sunday. To clarify, I do wear helmets (you’ll hear more about that Sunday). What I’m saying is I just don’t enjoy wearing them very much. In almost every context, I find them restrictive, hot, and cumbersome. In recent conversations, I’ve found that I’m not alone in my sentiments. The reality however is that whether I’ve liked them or not, the benefit of wearing them generally far outweighs the inconvenience.  Think about it, the helmet protects our head. A hard hit to the cranium can mean, lights out.  As my dad would say… “You’ve got to protect your melon.” 

So, if we’re in a situation where we need a helmet, it’s best to make sure it’s a good one. A simple Google search reveals that organizations devote time to inspecting helmets. Motorcycle helmets are DOT approved, I believe sports helmets are inspected by NOCSEA, while OSHA has clear stipulations for hard hats on job sites. Whatever you think about the alliterated organizations is secondary to the point that a lot of scrutiny is shown toward anything that claims to protect our head. We instructively know how precious our minds are. They are worth protecting.

The other byproduct of having a good helmet is how it gives us confidence. Our boys have “play” football helmets and inevitably they each had a time when they put one on and tried running me over. Why? Because helmets have a way of invoking a measure of security and courage in us. I think I could go on but you’ve probably already begun to make applications. This Sunday, we'll learn about the Helmet of Salvation. But unlike other helmets, its a joy to wear, it’s not cumbersome, and indeed, it does provide us the spiritual security we need to courageously fight he spiritual battle we are currently in.

Friends, I’m telling you, you're not going to want to miss Sunday. The helmet is arguably the pinnacle of the defensive armor. All that we’ve been learning is going to come together in a climactic way.  I’m confident you’ll walk away with a clear battle plan to celebrate your victory in Christ!

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

– Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)

If I said the word “fire”, it would likely generate a multitude of responses.  Maybe your child accidentally pulled a fire alarm, maybe you were a volunteer fireman (thank you for serving your community!), or maybe you really enjoy campfires, hanging out, and roasting marshmallows.

Years ago, I went through firefighting training.  The exciting part was going into a building that had a real fire and we worked together to extinguish the blaze. The classroom portion of the training involved learning about the Fire Triangle. Every fire has three elements: fuel, heat, and oxygen. If you can remove one of those elements, you can extinguish the fire. That’s why those red canisters around buildings, and maybe your home, are important. They contain carbon dioxide which removes oxygen from the fire. They are accessible but aren’t effective if not used properly.

This Sunday, we will be studying the next piece of armor, the shield of faith. The Shield of Faith is vital to our Christian life if we're going to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy. Just like carbon dioxide fights many common fires, our faith is what God has provided to combat the attacks of the evil one and allows us to stand firm and victorious.

I look forward to opening God’s Word with you together on Sunday and learning about how to extinguish the darts of the enemy!

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Ed Bley
Pastor of Ministry & Care

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace…”

– Isaiah 52:7a (ESV)

Have you ever heard the phrase, “peace out?” I am pretty sure, depending on the generation you grew up in, you may have said it a lot. It seems like it is also one of those phrases that comes and goes and never truly disappears. I looked up the definition of the phrase and based on what I could find most all agree that it is a phrase signaling one’s departure. It is the same as someone saying, “I’m outta here!” It seems kind of odd that a word that most often identifies the presence of something is used to highlight the absence of something. But then again, true peace is absent in the hearts and lives of people when Jesus is absent. Friends, the good news of the Gospel tells us that Jesus has come and has brought us peace! 

In our text this week, Paul will remind us that the Gospel has brought us peace. So we stand firm knowing that wherever we go, and whomever we encounter, the Gospel will be the sure foundation and right solution. Peace has happened vertically so that peace can be experienced and lived out horizontally. Church, our world needs peace, and it needs a savior who is not flashing the “peace sign” and then heading out, rather He has come and is offering it to all.

Can’t wait to unpack this text with you this week! Please read the whole section in preparation for your time together this Sunday (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Take some time to listen to the worship set, and ask the Lord to prepare your heart to receive His truth.

Love you Church,

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus & Small Groups Pastor

¹⁴ …and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

– Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)

If you know a military historian, they love to talk about the different weapons, warfare strategy, and technology used during each war. If you study the different wars, a lot of warfare has changed. We have moved past the days battle lines in formation to the modern warfare that takes place today. The power and accuracy of the weapons, the intelligence gathering, and the communication have drastically changed through the centuries of war. But one piece of equipment has not drastically changed: the body armor. In any war, there is always a need to protect your vital organs. Through the centuries, too many casualties have come from lack of protection to these vital organs. Even though the modern equipment may look a little different from body armor of the past, the fact remains that we still use strong materials to protect the most vulnerable parts of our body from attack.

This Sunday we continue our series, entitled Called, as we zero in on the next piece of armor from God. Specifically, we will be looking at the Breastplate of Righteousness in Ephesians 6:14. God has provided body armor for our vital organs to be protected from the spiritual battle that rages around us.

Take some time to listen to the worship set to prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jared Schnapf
Pastor of Next Generation & Discipleship

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…

– Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)

Have you ever taken the witness stand in a court of law? Twice in my life I’ve placed my hand on a Bible, raised the other, and affirmed that I would “swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” To satisfy inquiring minds, it’s probably best I add that both testimonies were given for two incredibly positive occasions: the adoptions of my sons. And while I couldn’t wait to testify, my excitement failed to quell the prodigious feeling that accompanied swearing an oath in a court of law. Despite the joy, I couldn’t help but have this twinge of fear that I was going to say something wrong. Perhaps that’s why they added the phrase, “so help me God?”

What ever the case, as I prepared for this week’s message on the armor of God, I was reminded of swearing to tell the truth. Why? Well, because this week the piece of spiritual armor we are studying is the Belt of Truth. The truth in view here is all things true. You see, because we know God is truth, it’s correct to say that all true truth is indeed God’s truth. As we take up the armor we will learn how the Lord empowers us to  discern what is true and tell the truth ourselves. To bring this Pastor’s Note full circle, the Belt of Truth will enable us to know and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, through the power of God. It turns out that last line, “so help me God,” is incredibly profound. Our ability to fight with truth in the spiritual battle is only possible through the power of Christ in our lives.

I’m fired up to be back with you this Sunday! Take some time to listen to the worship set, read Ephesians 6:10-20, and ask the Lord to prepare your heart to receive His truth.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

– Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV)

What’s the most intense battle you’ve ever been a part of? I ask the question that way because I assume that all of us have clashed with someone or something in our lives. Battles can range from the “rock-paper-scissors” variety where the winner gets the last stick of gum, all the way to the life-and-death battles fought between opposing armies and nations.

I’ve had my share of fun and not-so-fun battles, but I’d have to say the least enjoyable of all the “fun” battles I’ve willingly participated in is, paintball. I have terrible aim. I freak out and run away with my tail between my legs when I’m being shot at (which isn't smart because then I open myself up to even greater chances of being shot in a spot where my clothing is not thick enough to prevent welts). And because I’m not “into it,” I don’t have all the fancy protective equipment, automatic weaponry, and strategic experience of the people who probably see me as an easy target with my lame rental gear and body armor made of 3 old sweatshirts and my “lawn-mowing" tennis shoes.

Why am I going on about all this “battle” talk? As you can see from the verses above, this week’s message is all about the spiritual battle we are in as Christians. You see, unlike my experience with paintball, we have every reason to engage in spiritual warfare with confidence and courage, knowing that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. This is the first message of a summer-long series entitled Called: Stand Firm, which will bring us right to the end of the book of Ephesians. This series will function like a spiritual boot camp, showing us how to stand firm, the nature and tactics of our enemy, the weapons of our warfare, and the strategic position and posture that will give us confidence as we fight. I encourage you to prayerfully read Ephesians 6:10-20 and prepare your heart to engage in battle by listening to the worship set.

Can’t wait to see you on Sunday!

Brett Lovern
Pastor of Worship & Arts

⁵ Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹ Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

– Ephesians 6:5-9 (ESV)

It was a dark, fall night and I was driving for what seemed like ages down a gravel road in the middle of no-where central Pennsylvania. A light rain was falling and a heavy fog blurred my headlights. The GPS said to keep going, but I was lost as I looked for the Airbnb that a large group of extended family was renting for our nephew’s wedding. The all knowing GPS voice said I had “arrived” but leaning forward in my seat and squinting my eyes all I could make out were some dim lights between two very haunted looking buildings. Disoriented and with “this is the best setup of a chainsaw massacre” mentality, I didn’t want to be there, let alone have to put on a brave face in front of my kids and walk up to the door. Everything about the situation had me off-center.

We all laugh about it now. The GPS was correct. The old house was restored beautifully. The family fellowship is a great memory. The light of day removed all the disorienting fears.

Sometimes we get to a part of Scripture that makes us feel the way I did that night: disoriented, confused, a little afraid, and mistrusting of the GPS. This week’s text is one of those. The instructions to slaves and masters initially doesn’t feel right. Why the Apostle Paul instructs slaves and masters how to act instead of cancelling the whole idea in a fit of rage at first doesn’t pass the smell test. However, once the light hits the pages of this passage, the fears about trusting God’s Word, the beauty of what it accomplishes, and the security of trusting God is found in Christ-centered living.

We are Called to Christ Centeredness in Ephesians 6:5-9.  Take some time to read it and begin to think of how being centered in Christ impacts every part of our lives.

Can’t wait to unpack God’s Word with you tomorrow! Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart for then.

Love you Church,

Nate Newell
Pastor of Ministry & Mission Development

²³ After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

– Acts 18:23 (ESV)

Is there someone in your life that you may not see often, but because of the closeness of the relationship and the dynamic nature of their personality, you’ always encouraged by their presence? How about the fact that when you spend time with them, it’s as if the time between the last visit is incredibly short? The Apostle Paul toward the end of his second missionary journey was traveling back toward Antioch and Luke tells us that along the way he went from place to place and strengthened the disciples. I have to believe this not only meant that he taught them, but that he also loved them and had a deep connection to the people that he came in contact with. As a matter of fact, in a few instances, while writing back to the churches he visited, he references such deep friendship and love for the people. He reminds them of how it has impacted his life and theirs. Do you have people like that in your life? I hope so. I believe this kind of unity brings great joy to the Lord and is a testimony of how He is building His Church and connecting lives.
 
This Sunday we have the pleasure to welcome Pastor Dan Hammer from Harvest Bible Chapel Annapolis. Pastor Dan and his family have spent the week with us alongside other regional GCC pastors and their families. He is such a good friend, brother, and partner in ministry. Dan is often refreshing our church and I’m convinced that the Lord will speak to our church through him, and we will all be strengthened as a result.
 
So, we will take a break from our series in Ephesians to hear from Dan. His text this week is Luke 10:38-42. This is a familiar passage and Dan is going to challenge us to consider how critical it is to sit at the feet of Jesus and avoid being pulled away from His presence. I encourage you to read the text, pray, and prepare your heart to hear from Gods Word.
 
I can’t wait to hear from Dan, see you Sunday Church! Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart for Sunday.

Love you Church,

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus & Small Groups Pastor

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

– Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV)

Everyone begins as someone’s child. While this statement is simple it is also deeply profound. The truth is, we never outgrow the effects of this reality. Each of us, for better or for worse, are forever marked by our parents. Last week I was reminded of how deep of a connection I feel toward my own.

Early Thursday morning, just prior to beginning my sermon prep, I was rattled by a text from my mom asking me to call her cell phone. When I made the call, I accidentally called the house and heard my father’s voice on the other end. Immediately, I knew something was wrong because, well… he never answers the phone. When I asked him what was wrong, he said my mom had fallen and was in the hospital. Immediately, my heart sank. I got off the phone with him and called her without a moments delay. It was great to hear her voice and to know she was receiving care. As she allowed me to pray with her, I felt the unique weight of praying for my mom.

Yes, I’m a pastor, but I’m first her son. I’m her child. I was immediately reminded of the implications of Ephesians 6:2. We never really outgrow the responsibility of honoring our parents. On this occasion, it was an honoring through prayer, but in the days that followed, the honor was expressed through daily phone calls to see how she was doing. I’m glad to say she’s home and recovering well form her fall, praise God!

Ephesians 6 reminds us that everyone is first someone’s child. As Christians, no matter the state of our earthly relationship, we can rest assured that we are children of God who are called to honor Him above all. And, as we’ll learn on Sunday, one of the ways we honor our heavenly Father is by honoring our earthly parents. This week we will learn what is means for parents to cherish their children and for children to cherish their folks. Take some time to read Ephesians 6:1-4 and contemplate this thought: your Father allowed you to enter this earth as someone’s child.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart for Sunday.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³ However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. – Ephesians 5:32–33
 
Have you ever heard a man or woman say that the other is a mystery? It’s often a statement made when one can’t understand the ways of the other, in regards to a budding relationship. Can you hear the comments? “Why hasn’t he called…?" "Is she ever going to text me back…?" "Are they interested in a relationship or not…?” In exasperation they cry out, “Ugh, why are men… Why are women such a mystery?” Have you ever been there? Indeed.
 
It’s fascinating that we use the word mystery to describe our lack of understanding in relationships. As a matter of fact, it becomes down-right ironic when we stop and consider mystery is the word the bible uses to describes marriage itself. You see, if a relationship or marriage has ever been difficult to understand, take heart because you’re not alone. 
 
Inside the mystery of marriage is an incredible theological truth that’s difficult to understand. Beyond the fact that God created male and female unique from one another, there is the glorious picture that emanates from the relationship that functions as God designed. You see, it’s a mystery how men and women can be so different yet come together so beautifully.  It’s a mystery how God implanted His attributes into the husband and wife that they can reflect His glory. It’s virtually unfathomable to grasp how the husband and wife can adorn the gospel and serve as a symbol to the watching world of God’s redeeming love. My word. It’s a mystery how a man can love his wife as Christ loves the church and how a wife can respect her husband as the church honors Christ.
 
Well, if you ever wondered how this mystery works, our text this week is the key. This Sunday as we study Ephesians 5:21-33, we will come to grasp how the mystery of marriage fits into the mystery of the gospel and how it strengthens the mystery of the church. Are you curious about all these mysteries? Good. Let’s come together this Sunday and learn how the Lord is calling us to Cherish our Relationships.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart for Sunday.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹ …walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

– Ephesians 4:1 (ESV)

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

– Ephesians 5:15-21 (ESV)

Growing up in the Appalachian sticks, I didn't have sidewalks in my neighborhood. If you wanted to go for a walk you’d either take a hike in the woods or you could walk along the berm of the road. If you’re not familiar with Central PA vernacular, berm is the word we use for the side or shoulder of the road. Never-the-less, sidewalks or not, the school bus only came up to the railroad tracks, which then left my friends and I with about a half mile walk home after getting off the bus. Fortunately, my grandfather picked my sister and I up most days, alleviating the walk. But honestly, some of my most vivid childhood memories are from the days we all walked along the berm together.

There's something about walking with others. With some intentionality and at the appropriate pace, a walk can be a real relationship builder. When Robyn and I purchased our first home, I remember being so excited that it was not only in a neighborhood, but it also had sidewalks. No more berm-walking for us. In our early years of marriage we burned laps into the sidewalks of our community walking hand-in-hand. The memories of cool, summer nights and long conversations are still etched in the most accessible places of my heart and mind. Why? Well I guess it’s because wether young or old, the habit of walking is a great way to grow a relationship.

As we we continue our study in Ephesians, we're in a portion where we are learning to walk with the Lord. Imagine if you will, the Lord taking us by the hand and walking with us in the love, light, and unity we’ve been learning about. It’s here in the closeness of our walk that we come grow inner communion with the Lord. This Pastor's Note reminds me of an old hymn I grew up singing that says:

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
O’ the joys we share as we tarry there
None other has never known

Friends if you would take some time to thank the Lord for walking with you. Thank Him for His presence and leasing in your life. And also take some time to prepare your heart as we will be worshiping and partaking in communion together with the Lord.

This sunday is going to be a special Sunday full of worship and response. Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart for it. I can’t wait to walk together with you as the Lord leads us!

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

– Ephesians 5:1 (ESV)

Imitate (Verb) – To copy or take as a model.

Hey, have you heard? The sequel to Top Gun has been released. I don’t go to the movies often. When I do, it’s usually because my teenage son has bribed or persuaded me to take him. Honestly, I’ve got nothing against going to see a movie and I certainly love spending all the time I can with my son. My issue is, nothing released in recent years has excited me enough to want to want to sit still long enough to watch it.

But I’m telling you something happened when I saw the trailer for Top Gun. I was immediately drawn in. Memorized by nostalgic memories from my childhood. I was lost if but for a few moments in the happenings of the 80’s. I envisioned my 10-year-old self in the back yard “imitating” the main character, Maverick, as I flew my fighter jet. I felt the slap of the windmill high-five as my best friend and I shouted… “I’ve got the need… The need for speed!”

Come on, I can’t be the only one?! Did anyone else imitate action heroes when you were a kid? Even now, I find there is something refreshing about watching a child play, pretend, and imitate heroes. Perhaps the innocence of such play inspires us to consider that there are still heroes worth imitating. I want to believe that, don’t you? Well, I hope you do because it’s true!

God has given you a Hero to imitate. It’s Him. How amazing is the verse above? We are being commanded to imitate God as beloved children. As children imitate their heroes. As a child copies their parents, we are called to copy / imitate God. Now, obviously there are parts of God that we can’t copy; He is God after all. However, the text could not be more clear God delights in us imitating Him by walking as Jesus walked. Friends, take some time to read Ephesians 5:1-14 and consider what it means to imitate God. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart so that you can come, worship, receive His Word, respond, and leave the service copying the life and walk of His precious Son, and our Savior, Jesus.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

– Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Have you ever pulled out a picture of yourself from a long time ago? I mean long enough that there is a clear difference in how you looked then from how you look now. What are some of the things that you notice right away? Is it the hairstyle or the quality of the picture? Maybe it’s the “glamor shots” logo in the bottom left corner? Or do you say something like, “What was I thinking wearing that outfit?” There are a few pictures floating around of me from a long time ago that when I look at them, it’s clear to me that I am not that person anymore and I dress much different. So, whatever you feel about change, when change is that obvious that it causes you to pause and chuckle at yourself, it’s clear that something has occurred.

Last week in the text we were told that the way we learned Christ was that we have been called into the process of putting off the old person, being renewed, and putting on the new person. In Christ, we all have this reality at work within us. Often the change is subtle and at other times the change is significant. But, nonetheless, over time if we were to look at our lives, we should see a different person. In Christ, a change has occurred, and the new person puts on new garments in place of the old. Paul will walk us through some practical examples of how this change takes place and what it can practically look like in our lives.

I can’t wait to dig into this text with you! See you Sunday.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus & Small Groups Pastor

¹⁷ Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ But that is not the way you learned Christ!— ²¹ assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

– Ephesians 4:17–24 (ESV)

Do you like change? This seems like an innocent question, right? Imagine you’re asked this question at a job interview. Does it change your answer? Obviously, it shouldn’t. Your feelings about change ought not change due to the circumstance. The problem, however, is we know our answer can be misinterpreted. If I say I like change, will I seem discontent and always tempted to the next thing? If I say no, will it communicate that I’m stuck in my ways and difficult to lead? Such judgements are unfortunate. The reality is you can “like” change but not “need” it, just as you can not like change but still be willing to endure and even pursue it for the sake of betterment.

Honestly, for me my answer is an unflinching yes, and no! Ha! I wonder how that answer would be interpreted in an interview? Guess what, it doesn’t matter. I’m in a love-hate relationship with change and that’s how I feel. You see, I love changing things that I feel need to be improved. I will move the living room furniture around dozens of times until it’s aesthetically and functionally “perfect.”  And then once it’s reached that point, I don’t “like” it to be changed ever again. There have been occasions where I’ve tried moving it again just to move it back. Somehow, in my mind, I enjoy changing things until the point that my vision for it is complete. And, because it’s complete, it then doesn’t need to be changed again. At least, not until a new vision needs to be realized. Said another way in my mind: change is bad when it leads to digression, and it’s good when it moves toward betterment; but it’s always best when it leads to completion.

And while my vision is susceptible to a great deal of human flaw we can take solace in the fact that God’s vision for change is perfect. This week, in case you haven’t noticed, we’re on the subject of change. God is calling us to change. The beauty is He’s the source of our change. He has a vision for us to be formed in the likeness of His Son and He will not stop changing us until that vision is complete. The question we will answer this week is, how does that happen? And how do we participate with God in His changing of us? I can’t wait to work through Ephesians 4:17-24 with you and discover how we change together.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, – Ephesians 4:15

“Grow up!” I remember the words well. My elementary school recess was filled with boys who needed to grow up and certain girls who told us we needed to do so. They were right. My friends and I were immature. I can only speak from my experience, but it seems we, like many boys, had to learn that being rude, hyper-competitive, and gross garners the wrong kind of attention from girls. I don’t think I need to go into detail. I’m sure you can imagine the kind of boyhood antics that merited the snarky refrain.

In my school, the girls were way more mature, and we boys were flat out annoying. So, when I hear or read the words “grow up” it always takes me back to the third grade in Mr. D’s class. He was a great teacher who treated us fairly but didn’t take any nonsense. When certain boys acted up, he corrected us. And when certain girls had enough, he’d encourage them to hang in there. In essence, I guess you could say he encouraged the girls to speak the truth in love and the boys to grow up so we could get along and he could live in peace.

Wow. Now there’s a noble thought that can still be applied to many situations in our adult lives. Beyond the boy/girl stuff I experienced in elementary school, this is a goal for all of us. Speak the truth in love to one another so we can grow up and become more like Jesus. If you agree, you will not want to miss Sunday.

Our passage is Ephesians 4:7-16 and the title is, “Called to Completion.” In other words, called to mature and fulfill God’s call, purpose, and plan in our lives. Take some time to read over the text and consider how the Lord has gifted, equipped, and called you to mature and serve him. I’m so glad I’m not who I was in elementary school and I’m even more thrilled to realize that He’s still working on me. Join me this Sunday for another opportunity to grow.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹ I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

– Ephesians 4:1-6 (ESV)

Urge (Verb) – To earnestly persist & / or persuade someone to do something.

I have a confession. Frankly, it’s quite embarrassing for me to make this admission. There has been a matter in my life that my wife has frequently confronted me on. On more occasions than ought to have been necessary, she has urged me to tend to my laundry basket on my side of the room. I can’t quite explain why I’ve had an ongoing struggle with this responsibility. Truthfully, there is no excuse for my dereliction of duty. Well, actually, that’s not true. I’m full of excuses. But they're not legitimate and it would be more embarrassing to list them all. At the end of the day, I had to find the motivation and commit to putting my clothes away. And you’ll be glad to know that I’m making great progress!

While it might first appear that I’m making light of my laundry issue, the reality is, it actually says something about me. At the end of the day, I want to be a man of my word. If my wife asks me to put my clothes away and I say that I will,  I want her to trust that I will do what I say. I'm motivated by the fact that what i do reflects upon who I am. And conversely, who I am will influence what I commit to do. In a real sense that is where we are in our study of Ephesians. This week we build upon who the Lord has called us to be and we will begin to discover what we are also called to do.It’s going to take motivation and commitment, but the beautiful thing is Lord has promised to empower us to do all things great and small for Him. Whether that be preaching a sermon or simply putting our clothes away. The Lord is calling us to mutual commitment.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…

– Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)

Have you ever had dinosaurs in your house? Not long ago our house was full of them. It could have become a really treacherous scene if our youngest son hadn’t been there to corral and tame them. While the rest of us couldn’t see them we were assured the ancient beasts were under control and we were safe.

Wait, you don’t believe the story?! Well, If you need some more evidence that dinosaurs reside on our property all you would need to do is join Joshua on one of his back yard fossil digs. To join the expedition you simply need to bring a small shovel, spoon or stick, and dig wherever the budding paleontologists tells you. Before long, the power of your imagination will have you collecting an incredible haul of flood induced Noaic-era remnants. Oh the things you’ll find! Are they rocks, bottle caps, or tyrannosaurus teeth? The more you let your mind wonder, the more you’ll find.

The more you play with a four year-old, the more you’ll be reminded of the power of child-like wonder. Our minds are capable of envisioning things amazing things and dreaming big. Of course, while our dreams as adults don’t include dinosaurs as much as they used to, they can include God-sized accomplishment goals that seem just as unrealistic.

You see, in our passage this week, the Apostle Paul is going to teach us to pray confident prayers that call upon our powerful God who is able to do “far more abundantly more than all we ask or think!” In other words, when it comes to fulfilling God’s call and serving Him on Mission, it's ok to dream gospel-sized dreams for making disciples and multiplying churches. Can you imagine the Lord doing more than we could ever imagine? Take some time to read Ephesians 3:14-21 and stop and consider the kind of prayer that leads to the glory of God being unleashed in our church far beyond all we could ask or think.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.

– Ephesians 3:7 (ESV)

How did you get where you are?  

Without context this question can be answered a number of ways. For example, I’m in Lancaster. So, I could answer that I got here by moving from Altoona. More specifically, I’m sitting in my office at 651 Lampeter Road. In this case I could answer that I got here by driving from my house this morning. To be even more specific, I’m sitting at my desk just after lunch. So, I could answer that I got to my desk by walking from the kitchen.

You’re probably getting the point by now, but let’s emphasize it just a bit more. Think about where you are in life. How did you get where you are? Honestly, for me, it's been a long journey from Altoona to sitting here at this desk writing a Pastor's Note in preparation for Sunday’s sermon. Wow! The question takes on a whole new significance when you think of it from that vantage point. How about for you? What's your journey been like? How did you get where you are?

Interestingly, in the verse above, the Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that’s it’s the grace of God that’s gotten him where he is. And while this may seem like the right answer for a “minister,” as he calls himself, the reality of his answer takes on a whole new meaning when we realize he’s sitting in a prison cell. That’s right. Paul will be the first to tell you he got were he is, even prison, by the grace of God. He knew it was all part of his calling.

It's important to notice that he says he was called to be a minister according to the gift of God’s grace and he’s able to carry out his calling through the working of God’s power. And friend, the same is true for you. You are where you are by the grace of God. And He has you there because He wants to use you right where you are. This is true for every single person He has called. In our text, Ephesians 3:1-13, we're going to see how the Lord has given us all a common cause. In preparation for Sunday's sermon take some time to consider where you are and how you got there. And then pray and ask the Lord to show you His grace and give you the power to serve Him where you are.

See you all on Sunday in the Worship Center at 651 Lampeter Road.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

³ [Jesus] presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

– Acts 1:3 (ESV)

It’s here! This is it. It’s Passion Week.

Have you ever wondered why it’s called Passion Week? Well, the word passion comes from the Greek word Pascho which appears in Acts 1:3. Here, Luke records an interaction Jesus had with His disciples after His death, burial, and resurrection. As you read, Luke writes, ^“[Jesus] presented himself alive to them after his suffering [Pascho] by many proofs…” Here we can see the word means suffering. Thus, Passion Week, also known as Holy Week, is a time when we observe the events that led up to Jesus’ sacrificial work of redemption. From His triumphal entry to His glorious resurrection, and everything in between, this is Passion Week.

As followers of Jesus, this is a deeply significant time full of highs and lows as well as sorrow and praise. Ultimately as the week unfolds, Old Testament allusion and redemptive foreshadowing moves us to reflect and revere the work of Jesus Christ our King. My experience has been the greater our understanding of Christ’s work, the greater our appreciation and expression of praise.

And so, our goal beginning this Sunday is to immerse ourselves in these events asking the question, “What kind of King?” What kind of King endured Passion Week for us? This Sunday we’ll embark on the journey beginning with Palm Sunday where we’ll celebrate Jesus as Meek & Majestic in the Triumphal Entry. Then, through a daily devotional we will look at the events that transpired leading up to Good Friday where He’s proclaimed as Righteous yet Rejected. And then next Sunday, we’ll once again allow our hearts to explode in praise as we celebrate Jesus Christ as Risen & Reigning!

Church, I’m telling you, I can hardly wait! You are not going to want to miss a thing. Each devotional and every service has been prayerfully planned to lead us in fuller appreciation and worship of Jesus. You can get a head start and prepare yourself for this Sunday by reading our text, John 12:12-19 and listening to the worship set.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

– Ephesians 2:13 (ESV)

Raise your hand if you hate being lost. If you didn’t actually raise your hand, don’t worry, I can see it lifted high in your heart. How can I be so sure you raised it? Because absolutely no one likes being lost. However, if you ever are lost, may I advise you to consider raising your hand. You see, when I was young, I was taught to raise my hand if I was lost. It may seem silly at first but for a small boy lost in a crowded mall at Christmas, it was the best advice I could ever have been given.

I’ll never forget the feeling of holding my mom’s hand one moment and being completely separated from her the next. For whatever reason, I didn’t realize it at first and simply began wandering off. When I came to my senses and realized what had happened, I’d wandered a long way off and had no clue which direction to go. I was surrounded by people but felt helpless and alone. I had been to the mall before but had no idea where I was. I was lost in a sea of people and commotion. With tears streaming down my face I remembered, “raise your hand.” I raised my hand and told a store worker I was lost. She took me to a counter and called my mom over the loudspeaker.

I learned a few things that day. First, my time frame for being lost was shortened by raising my hand, admitting I was lost, and seeking help. Second, I learned that when I was lost, I wasn’t alone in my pursuit of being found. My mom was looking for me even more profusely than I was looking for her. And third, when I was reunited with my mom, I wasn’t in trouble, I was hugged and loved.

As I look back on it, I do have to say, as much as I hated being lost, I really did love the feeling of being found. Friends, in a sense this is at the heart of Ephesians 2. We were all once lost and far away from God. But He pursued us and moved in us to raise our hand of faith in response to His grace. We will see this week in Ephesians 2:11-22, when we were found He welcomed us in love to a new community so that we would never be lost again.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

– Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)

Workmanship (Noun) – That which has been created or brought into existence.

The word "workmanship" in this text has always captivated my attention. The idea that we are are God’s creation is an amazing thought. But what’s even more remarkable is that the context of this verse implies that we’ve been created a second time. In other words, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). In addition to being created and physically born, we were also “born again” and created new in Christ (John 3:7) when we were saved.

To be clear, when God knit you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139), He did so with the utmost purpose and care. Being created in His image means you possess dignity and worth. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches that every life is precious and valuable. The issue, however, is that our first birth was also marked by sin passed down through the generations from Adam.

At first glance, one might be tempted to think that being born in sin would devalue our worth.  However, as we’ll see in this week’s passage, nothing could be further from the truth.  Ephesians 2 teaches that "even when we were dead in our trespasses and sins [God] made us alive in Christ Jesus.” Verse 4 tells us that our God did this “because of the great love with which He loved us.” In other words, God’s love for us in the midst of our first created state is the very reason He sent His Son to die for our sins that we might be born again! BOOM! WOW! Please read that sentence again!

And in our rebirth, Ephesians 2 says that we are his “workmanship.” The Greek word for workmanship is where we get the word for “poem.” It’s a word that can be used for varied types of art. Catch this… another way to say you are God’s workmanship is to say you are His masterpiece. This makes sense because, in our recreation, we are created in Christ Jesus.  And this week we’ll see in these 10 verses that this is all by God’s grace! I cannot wait to walk through this familiar passage with you. My mind has been blown once again at the depth of the truths that are here for us to cherish. Speaking of cherishing, this week’s message is entitled, Called to Cherish God Grace.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

I thought I had beat the system and had overcome my genetics. I made it past the 3^rd Grade without needing glasses! Everyone on my dad’s side of my family has had an eye exam that revealed their need for specs in 3^rd Grade. But not me. I had somehow slipped past the eye glass gene and was scot-free. Until blinding headaches in college struck revealing my need for, you guessed it, glasses. 
 
I wore glasses for about 10 years until I was given the opportunity to have LASIK surgery. The eye doctor told me that he could fix my eyes to see distance clearly, but there was one downside. This procedure guaranteed I would need reading glasses by the age of 40. No problem! Until I noticed I needed lots of light to read a book and had to hold the screen further from my face. Then, I did the unthinkable and increased the size of the font on my Kindle! It was a blatant admission that my eyes had grown dim again. Reading glasses are now never far from my reach.
 
Just like our physical eyes, the eyes of our hearts can grow dim. Which is why Paul prays that “the eyes of your heart be enlightened.” Even after the surgery of salvation (old hard heart removed and a new heart of flesh inserted), our "heart eyes" can grow dim, causing us to stop seeing and knowing God fully. Paul prayed this would not happen to the Ephesians, and it is a prayer we need today as well.
 
We are Called to Comprehend in Ephesians 1:15-23, which requires the "eyes of our heart be enlightened." Will you take time to read this prayer and then ask God to enlighten the eyes of your heart to comprehend this Scripture and what it reveals about God?
 
Can’t wait to see the Lord in our study together!
Here's the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Nate Newell
Pastor of Ministry & Mission Development

¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

– Ephesians 1:11-14 (ESV)

Have you ever received an inheritance? If you haven’t, it may be easy to think of a scenario through the framework of a classic movie where a long lost relative leaves a large sum of money to a person they’ve never met. While the sensationalism of this plot tempts our minds to wonder, the chances of it happening are slim to none. And as they say “slim has done left the building.”  
 
However, if we pause and consider receiving an inheritance from a more realistic perspective, we begin to see how significant and meaningful the gesture really is. Depending on your stage of life, the thought of leaving an inheritance might be closer to your reality than receiving one. Choosing an heir or being an heir is an overwhelming task. In either case, the giver and receiver of a heartfelt inheritance is an intimate and personal transaction. The level of love, trust, and appreciation demonstrated between the entruster and the entrusted is remarkable. Often, it’s not the resources themselves but the recognition of the relationship that means the most. 
 
If we can begin to get our minds around the relational component of receiving an inheritance, it’s then that our hearts can begin to more fully appreciate the point of the passage above. Verse 11 says, “In Him (Jesus) we have obtained an inheritance.” Then again in verse 14 it says we have a “guarantee of our inheritance.” In both cases the inheritance is pointing to the relationship and the reward we have in Christ. 
 
As you will hear tomorrow, the Sealing of the Holy Spirit is our seal, assurance, and “down payment” of our inheritance. He is the relational pledge of Christ’s presence in our lives today until we receive the full inheritance of living in His eternal presence forever. The Holy Spirit was given to awaken our spirits to the reality of Christ’s return that we might long for a day when we reign with him as joint heirs in all eternity. Oh friends, this truth is rich! God has personally chosen you to receive and become an inheritance in Christ. And the assurance of this reality is found in the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Is He in you? Have you received Him as a guarantee? Come this Sunday and celebrate the reality of His presence in your life.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart for this week's celebration.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

– Ephesians 1:7-10 (ESV)

This past week we had a birthday in our house. Number one turned fourteen! It’s crazy how quickly time moves. As I looked at my oldest, it was hard to grasp that we’ve had the privilege of parenting him for nearly a decade and a half. Fourteen birthdays. Fourteen parties. Fourteen cakes. Fourteen “Happy Birthdays!” I think you get the point. The only problem was this year his birthday was not so “happy.” Sadly, my main man was sick on his birthday. 
 
In addition to not being able to go to school, despite trying, the poor guy just wasn’t able to muster a typical birthday spirit. We were kind of left in a weird quandary. Do we still try and press through with all the happy traditions we commonly share as a family? As we processed what to do, we were reminded how birthdays are very much a whole family affair. While all of our spirits were a bit dampened by the postponement of festivities, one younger brother actually burst into tears when he realized we might not have cake (Can you guess who?)! To older brother’s credit, he pushed through. We at least sang and everyone but him had cake. Said younger brother was able to dry his eyes with a birthday napkin just prior to devouring his cake.  
 
Ty is now feeling better. This weekend we will make up for his birthday downer with a party filled with all the happy traditions his actual birthday lacked. Oddly enough, this experience actually reminded me of another birthday that included sickness. Stop and think about it, friends. As Christians, the Bible says we’ve all been born again. We each have a spiritual birthday. And on this birthday, we all went from being dead, sick in our sin, to being redeemed and made whole by the power of the gospel. 
 
The Scriptures say that heaven had a party for you on that day. If you are like me, you may not have quite grasped just how significant that day was. If we did, we would have stopped and joined the angels’ festivities. Here’s the point, this Sunday, in our study of Ephesians, Paul is going to continue enlightening us on how we need to celebrate God’s work in salvation. He reminded us last week the Father chose us to save us. And now this week, he’ll share how Jesus redeemed us that we might experience a spiritual birthday. In other words, this Sunday is going to be a celebration of God’s saving work. 
 
Despite the circumstances that surround us, let’s come ready to praise God for healing us from sin and giving us a life full of the Spirit. 
 
Let’s come celebrate our spiritual birthday!
Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart for this week's celebration.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

When you have something to celebrate, what do you do? The dictionary says we should “acknowledge it with a social gathering or enjoyable activity.” Let me add some color to the definition from celebrations I’ve observed:

• The THUMP, THUMP, THUMP of the bass cascaded through my walls from the music of the party next door. Flashing lights flooded my windows attempting to outdo the sound of the exclamations of merriment. Celebration is expressive.
• Three hundred potted sunflower plants in full bloom and six feet high turned a church gym into our wedding reception. Celebration is cause for abundance.
• A simple dining room bursts with vibrant colors from streamers, balloons, confetti, hats, and a banner with a number on it. Celebration should bring out extravagance.

With respect to the dictionary, celebrating isn't just acknowledging, it is doing so with expression, abundance, extravagance and much more. Ephesians 1:3-6 says we are “Called to Celebrate the Father’s Choosing." Once you see what we are called to celebrate, you won’t have to manufacture the happiness necessary for celebration.

You are invited to the celebration this Sunday. Here's the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Nate Newell
Pastor of Ministry & Mission Development

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 1:1–2

“Alright Church!  Grab your Bibles, and open it up to the book of Ephesians.”

It never grows old. This week, we will do it again. As we’ve done so many times before, we will open God’s Word and begin the study of another book of the Bible. Why do we get so excited for sentences like the one above?Because the God who “calls” us to salvation also “calls” us to study His Word so we can live the life and fulfill the mission He’s “called” us to. As is hopefully clear by now, the theme of our series is “Called.”  

The word “called” is used in a variety of contexts but, for our purposes, as modeled in the opening sentence, it’s best to think of it in regards to being pronounced, invited, and/or authoritatively summoned. Through the study of Ephesians, the apostle Paul is going to “call” us, the Church, to realize the fullness of our calling in Christ. Together, we’ll be reminded of our call to salvation, call to service, call to sanctification, call to spiritual battle, and ultimately our call to victory in Christ.

Church, if you’re anything like me, you could use some good news. Frankly, one reason I’m excited for this study is that Ephesians is one of the most positive and encouraging books in the Bible. Of course it is, right?! How could a book about God’s purpose and call on our lives not be packed full of good news? So let’s end with the “call” we started with.  “Alright, Church! Grab your Bibles and open it up to the book of Ephesians and give it a read.” If you sat down and read it straight through, it probably wouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes; and I can assure you, you’ll be as fired up for Sunday as I am.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter

Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

³⁵ And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” – Luke 9:35

“Daaaaaadd…. (Fill in brothers name) is not listening.”  As you read the sentence it probably didn’t take a great deal of imagination to hear it in the tattling tone with which it echoed up our basement stairs. Tattling in our home can be essentially defined as the rare yet “enjoyable” act of reporting a sibling’s disobedience or wrong doing. In nearly every instance it includes the report of a “dearly loved” brother who stumbled in judgement and chose not to “listen” to his mother or father.  While this is not a pastors note about tattling, the line, “so and so is not listening” does give us a picture of what it means to truly listen. We all know that listening in this instance is more than a matter of hearing. It’s clearly a matter of obedience.

A voice that is to be “listened to” is one with authority. So when God the Father says of Jesus, “This is my son, my chosen one; listen to him” we can be sure that it is a clear and resounding pronouncement of Jesus’ power and authority.  Does that sound familiar? I hope it does. In week one of our series we learned how Jesus sent out the disciples with power and authority to preach the gospel. Now this week we will see how the goal of gospel proclamation is to point people to the reality of Jesus’ glorious authority and power.  Our text (Luke 9:28-43) is an amazing passage that describes Jesus’ transfiguration. In it we’ll see how Jesus’ Glory captivates and compels us to live “SENT” and how Jesus’ Glory is both the motivation and the goal of evangelism.

Friends, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve had the privilege of writing a pastors note in preparation of preaching. Wow, how I’ve missed this privilege. I can’t wait to dig into God’s Word that we might learn and “Listen” to his voice. Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Love you Church.

Sent with you,

Jerry LingenfelterSenior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” ~ Psalm 40:3

When I was in Bible college, I took a class called “Redemptive Cinema.” The premise of the class was that redemption is not just a biblical category or a theological concept to define but a real and present fiber woven into our being, into the hearts of people. Redemption shows up in all forms of art. Why? Because people, whether knowingly or unknowingly, have it rooted deep within their heart and are longing for it and will express it. The class specifically looked at the art medium of cinema. Redemption is a theme in movies all of the time. Needless to say, the class has caused me to inspect and evaluate every movie I watch and look for the theme of redemption in them all. Even movies we watch as a family. (Let me just tell you how eager this makes my family to watch movies with me.) Most recently, it showed up in our family movie time in “Horton Hears a Who”.

If you have not seen the movie, let me summarize it. Horton is an elephant who belongs to a community of animals. He discovers another community of creatures, living on a speck of dust. He then must convince the other animals that what he has come to know is true, all the while being ridiculed and potentially exiled for his belief. He must take a stand. Meanwhile, down on the speck in Whoville, the Mayor discovers that Horton is the source of their “natural” disasters and must convince others that Horton exists and can save them from disaster. I won’t ruin the rest of the story, but do you see a theme here? Both Horton and the Mayor of Whoville are playing similar roles, and they both are looking to the other to “save” them or their livelihood.

Friends, we all desire redemption in some form. We are all seeking something outside of ourselves to fill the gap within us that we know exists. For the believer, God has placed this song in our mouth that shouts that redemption has come; and we have placed our trust in the LORD. Courageous evangelism is allowing the song of redemption to be heard and pointed at Jesus. This week in our text, Luke 9:18-27, Jesus will tell His disciples that to make a stand for Him, to follow after Him, will require a cross. However, Jesus desires that they have incredible clarity on what that means first!

I am fired up about this text and how it will fuel our evangelism and witness to our world!

Also, here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

See you Sunday, church!

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus & Small Groups Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” – Psalm 103:13
Picture this scene… one of my children who had been playing outside has just come into the house crying with blood running from their knee. My wife, Jenn, and I handle this situation very differently.

Jared (through an inquisitive voice with the gift of exhortation): “How did this happen? What did you do? Who did this to you? Were you showing off again? Did you build another homemade ramp?”
Jenn (through a comforting, empathetic voice with the gift of mercy): “Come here and let me help you and take care of this. What kind of Band-aid would you like?”

Ok, so I gotta embrace Psalm 103:13 a little more! My wife tends to default to compassion with children quicker than I do. A compassionate person doesn’t get annoyed with interruptions and welcomes those who are in need or hurting. I am so thankful for a Savior who has shown compassion on me and on us! Compassion was a primary motivation of Jesus’ ministry to the crowd. This week, we will see how Jesus is able to teach the disciples that a compassionate heart will lead to helping hands. This specific narrative in Luke 9:10-17 is a well known one as Jesus feeds the 5,000. I have heard this story from childhood and have taught this story to children through the years, and now we look at it in a fuller context of living sent.

If you have been sensing that evangelism is in your head and are struggling to connect it to your heart and hands, you are not alone. We will see Jesus has another powerful training session for His disciples and also for us about how to live sent and how to serve the crowd.

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Jared Schnapf
Pastor of Next Generation & Discipleship

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Have you ever felt stuck and trapped by your own ignorance to solve an urgent problem? This happened to me a few weeks ago, and it was a horrible feeling. It was a Saturday evening, and we realized that we did not have any water coming out our faucets. I started to troubleshoot the problem and found that no shower, toilet, or faucet would produce water. The possibility of showing up to church without a shower produced a sudden urgency in my family. Some were concerned about smell, others about the state of our hair, while others seemed wholly unbothered (I’ll let you guess who!). The short of it was that I was not going to be able to solve the issue in my own knowledge, skill, or power.

So, I called my landlord, who had me flip some switches, change the filters, and generally look for problems. We finally realized we needed to call the plumber. Hello, Saturday night after-hours service call bill! This was going to hurt! When he called back, he directed me to look at the gauge on the pressure tank (the mechanism that keeps water supplied to all the faucets, toilets, and showers). It was at 0…problem identified. He then told me how to manually hold the switch and restore pressure to our water supply system. We had been rescued! Saved from a weekend service tech bill. Saved from offending church friends with offensive odor. Saved from messy hair!

“I’m so glad you showed me!” I exclaimed to my plumber-savior.

How much more will those who are spiritually lost shout their gratitude to those who Jesus sent to Show the Curious?

As great as we imagine that could be, it’s normal to feel ill-prepared to show who Jesus is to people who are curious about Him…to feel like evangelizing is out of reach. But what if there were some clear, practical steps that any one of us could take? What if Jesus knows our weakness and gave training to His followers, like you and me, to do the work of evangelism? This Sunday, we will explore Luke 9:7-9 where Jesus does just that, He teaches us how to Show the Curious.

I can’t wait to show you!

Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Nate Newell
Pastor of Ministry & Mission Development

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. – Luke 9:3-6

As we ramp back up to worship together this Sunday, here is the Pastor’s Note from last weekend.  We will be continuing in our series entitled Sent as we focus on the pursuit of Courageous Evangelism.

Several years ago, I worked for a financial services company. After studying for three months and passing an exam, I traveled to their home office to develop skills in sales and financial planning. Then, they sent me to a region in the county where I would approach the residents, door-to-door. The goal was to obtain their phone number so I could follow up with them when I came across a promising financial investment. A good day was when I obtained 25 phone numbers. Some people were not thrilled with answering their door and closed it abruptly. Others listened politely but weren’t interested, and then there were those who were willing to engage in a meaningful conversation and we exchanged numbers. Those experiences, while challenging at times, taught me to rely on my training, deal with people’s objections, and offer financial solutions to their situation.

This Sunday, as we continue our series entitled SENT, we’re going to study the training of Jesus’ disciples as we focus on the pursuit of Courageous Evangelism. In Luke 9:3-6, Jesus is sending His disciples out to a region they were familiar with. While they had watched Jesus engage in ministry, now it was their turn to do ministry and learn valuable lessons they would use for the rest of their lives.

I am excited about opening God’s Word with you and learning what Jesus wanted His disciples to learn on their first mission trip. Let’s continue to pray for those the Lord has put in our lives who need the gospel and pray for opportunities to share Christ with them.

Looking forward to a great morning of worship and time in God’s Word together with you. Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Ed Bley
Pastor of Community Life

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. – Luke 9:3-6

Several years ago, I worked for a financial services company. After studying for three months and passing an exam, I traveled to their home office to develop skills in sales and financial planning. Then, they sent me to a region in the county where I would approach the residents, door-to-door. The goal was to obtain their phone number so I could follow up with them when I came across a promising financial investment. A good day was when I obtained 25 phone numbers. Some people were not thrilled with answering their door and closed it abruptly. Others listened politely but weren’t interested, and then there were those who were willing to engage in a meaningful conversation and we exchanged numbers. Those experiences, while challenging at times, taught me to rely on my training, deal with people’s objections, and offer financial solutions to their situation.

This Sunday, as we continue our series entitled SENT, we’re going to study the training of Jesus’ disciples as we focus on the pursuit of Courageous Evangelism. In Luke 9:3-6, Jesus is sending His disciples out to a region they were familiar with. While they had watched Jesus engage in ministry, now it was their turn to do ministry and learn valuable lessons they would use for the rest of their lives.

I am excited about opening God’s Word with you and learning what Jesus wanted His disciples to learn on their first mission trip. Let’s continue to pray for those the Lord has put in our lives who need the gospel and pray for opportunities to share Christ with them.

Looking forward to a great morning of worship and time in God’s Word together with you. Here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.

Ed Bley
Pastor of Community Life

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹ And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority… ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. – Luke 9:1–2

Happy New Year!

Here we are again. One year gives way to another. While the tick of the clock strikes at the same pace, the passing of time seems to pass more swiftly than ever. In many respects, 2021 feels like a bit of a blur. As is the case with every year, there were highs and lows, victories and defeats, and of course fun. More than ever, I’m reminded that Jesus promised us “life to the fullest.” On this side of heaven, life to the fullest has got to have much to do with living life full of the Spirit. And of course that means living a life full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Now more than ever, my soul longs for this kind of fullness. How about you? Do you desire the same? To be clear, I’m not talking about a porcelain, hide-the-heart, fake-the-funk, kind of smiley life. I’m praying 2022 brings us all a fresh, authentic, and integral encounter with God. The kind of encounter that leaves us soul-shaken, mind-stirred, and soul-filled with the fullness of God Himself. Do you believe it’s possible? I do, and I’d like to challenge you to join me in praying for it to happen! May 2022 be a year when our eyes are off of our circumstances and fully on the glory of Christ.

As we enter the uncharted territory of 2022, how attractive will lives lived to the fullest be to our uncertain world. As the world looks for answers amidst darkness, it is crucial to remember that we’ve been sent to shine the light of Christ. This January, we begin a new Series called SENT. It’s going to be an intensely practical 6 week study of how Jesus trained His disciples to live sent and share the gospel. Take some time to read our core text, Luke 9:1-37, and see if you don’t begin to get as fired up as I am about what’s in store. Now’s the time. The Lord has called you to live life to the fullest. It’s a life full of purpose. A life FULLY SENT! As you prepare for worship, here is the worship set to help.

Love you Church,

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Dear Mission Church,

Christmas is only two days away! Is there anticipation in your home? I know there is in mine. I’ve heard numerous screeches of excitement accompanying the thoughts of opening presents, Christmas break, and even checking out people’s Christmas cards. My hope is certainly on the rise as I think about the opportunities to make memories with family, serve our community, and be together as a church family to worship Emmanuel, God with us!

With that in mind, I can’t wait to be together for Christmas Eve Communion and Candlelight services at 3PM, 5PM, & 7PM on Friday, December 24. Click here to save your seats. Then, at 9AM & 11AM on Sunday, December 26, the celebration continues with Family Christmas All-Worship Services complete with Christmas carols and encouragement from God’s Word. For all of these services, childcare is provided from birth to pre-K, with K-5th grade joining us in the services.

A great way to prepare for these times of worship together is by checking out the worship set for Sunday and reading through John 1 & Luke 2 to be reminded again of the hope that Jesus brings.

Merry Christmas, Mission Church!

Pastor Brett
Pastor of Worship & Arts

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” – Genesis 11:4 (ESV)

Have you ever acted on a really bad idea?

My childhood is filled with stories of me acting on ideas that were better left in my head. Growing up on the side of a mountain in western Pennsylvania allowed a boy’s imagination, along with a lot of trails and time, to invent precarious scenarios.  Foolishness and pain were frequent acquaintances and I got to know them well.  Two broken arms, a few fractured fingers, a broken leg and some cuts allowed my to try out a variety of colored casts, splints and bandaids along the way.  Most of my bad ideas typically involved speed and height.  As I got older, my ideas typically ended in broken ramps, mangled bikes, wrecked dirt bikes and rolled over ATVs.  Such is the life of a boy who grows up in the woods.  On one occasion when I was hill-climbing with my dirt bike, I was dared by friends to take on the highest and steepest one in our area.  The name of the climb was “Dirty Harry” after the crazy man who was delusional enough to first attempt it.  To that point I was having a good day and felt brave. And in a moment of misplaced confidence I agreed to attempt it.  Having a pride that wouldn’t allow me to back out, I remember sitting at the bottom of the hill looking straight up at the rocky trail that had a boulder at the top thinking this was a very bad idea.  As I hit the throttle and popped the clutch, I remember being bounced and thrown as I attempted to stay on my injury bound machine.  As I neared the top of this death trail, a weightless sensation came over me as my front tire came over my head and I was thrown backward.  After catching hold of a root I watched helplessly as my motorcycle lost it’s fenders rolling end over end down the impassible hill.  In that moment it was confirmed both to me and my friends that climbing “Dirty Harry” was my worst idea to date.

This week we are going to be studying man’s worst idea to this point in Genesis.  And if you’ve been following along you know that’s saying something.  Building a tower might not seem like the worst idea on the surface, but I assure you as we study the text and consider the reckless event from God’s point of view, we’ll come to see how heinous an act it really was.  Take some time to read Genesis 11:1-9 and see if you can begin to discover the foolishness of the activity for yourself.  Much like my friends learned from my example and didn’t attempt to climb the hill that wrecked me, so too is this account here to warn and instruct us as well.  Trust me, you will not want to miss this final message in our series entitled, “Echos of Confusion and Clarity.”

See you Sunday Church. Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare to worship.

Pastor Jerry

Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) ¹⁹ These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.” – Genesis 9:18–19

How large is your family tree?

Some years ago, I began to dabble on the website Ancestory.com. I found it to be a remarkable resource that enabled me to research and build out my family tree. I was surprisingly captivated. Obviously, I began building my tree with my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents but soon the information at my fingertips had me journeying into the lives of people I had never met yet whose name I bore. I learned how my name is topographical, meaning my forefathers came from the town of Lingenfeld in Germany. And from there, I worked backwards following my line’s migration. It turns out that my ancestors arrived in the United States by way of the Chesapeake Bay, came through Maryland and into Bedford County before settling in Altoona.

How about you? How large is your family tree? I guess the real question is how much of your family tree are you aware of?  Because the the reality is that all of our trees are just as large in that they all lead back to the same place. You know, at the top of my tree I wrote my name, Lingenfelter, just as you would write your name over yours.  However, if we were able to truly complete both of our trees, we’d all have the same name at the top, right?  According to the verse above, all of our family trees lead back to Noah. What an incredible thought. This week, our sermon is entitled Echoes of Names and Nations. We will learn that from the name of Noah came all the nations of the world. If there is one thing a good ancestry research project contains, it’s drama. And this study is no exception. The passage is absolutely mind-blowing. Take a look at Genesis 9:18-10:31, and you will see what I mean. Just as God used the name of Noah, He has a challenge for us in regards to the power of our names as well.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare to worship.

Love you, Church!

Pastor Jerry

Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” – Genesis 9:13

It was the entertainer, puppet, and deep thinker, Kermit the Frog, who asked the now iconic question by way of song…

“Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what’s on the other side?”   

In light of this week’s text, this actually sets up as a pretty profound and appropriate question. What is it about rainbows? When you listen further to the words of Kermit’s song, he highlights in the first verse how some people try to convince us that rainbows, while visions, are only illusions with no deeper meaning. But our green friend goes on to set the record straight by melodically insisting that there are more to rainbows than meets the eye and that “someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me.” Ha! Who knew a stuffed amphibian could challenge us to think so deeply?

Whatever you think about Kermit’s song and its intent, it does raise a good question. “Why are there so many songs about rainbows?” What is our fascination with them? Not long ago, our boys spotted one outside of our house and of course came running in to tell us. We had to stop everything and go look. Why? Because there is something about a rainbow. And this week, we are going to dig in and find out what it is. If you think you’ve plummeted the depths of this story and topic in Sunday School, I’d like to encourage you to reconsider. Frankly, my mind has been blown by my study this week. What I thought was going to be a straightforward and relatively simple message has turned out to be one of the most challenging in this entire series. Take some time to read the Genesis 8:20-9:17 and “see what’s on the other side” for yourself. God’s Word is absolutely incredible, and I cannot wait to share it with you.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare to worship.

Love you, Church!

Pastor Jerry

Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“And God made a wind blow over the earth and the waters subsided…” – Genesis 8:1

It’s fall. I know it’s fall because the wind is having it’s way with the leaves at my house. No matter how often I sweep or blow off my back deck you can rest assured that it will need to be cleared again within hours. The leaves are everywhere right now.  The wind blows them into every nook and cranny around the exterior of my house. Window wells, door jams, the top of our gutters, the patio, and my truck bed are all prime spots for leaves.

How powerful does a fall breeze need to be in order to carry leaves to their resting place? I guess the answer depends on how ready they are to fall. The slightest puff could easily release a leaf to the whim of gravity as it floats to the ground. Similarly, I find myself asking how strong was the wind that moved the waters after the flood? Certainly, we’ve all felt gusts that can empty an entire tree, but what kind of gust blew over the earth and moved the waters to their place as the waters of the cosmic flood subsided? Come on friend, let your spiritual mind float in wonder.

If you’ve been captured in the story of Noah, you are going to love this week’s text. This week, Noah’s hope is fulfilled as God moves the waters to their post-flood resting places. This week, we are considering the “Echos of Hope.”  Take some time to read Genesis 8 and consider how God rewards a faithful and hope-filled Noah. And then ask the Lord to strengthen and renew your hope as you wait on Him to do the impossible thing you identified last week.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“And God made a wind blow over the earth and the waters subsided…” – Genesis 8:1

It’s fall. I know it’s fall because the wind is having it’s way with the leaves at my house. No matter how often I sweep or blow off my back deck you can rest assured that it will need to be cleared again within hours. The leaves are everywhere right now.  The wind blows them into every nook and cranny around the exterior of my house. Window wells, door jams, the top of our gutters, the patio, and my truck bed are all prime spots for leaves.

How powerful does a fall breeze need to be in order to carry leaves to their resting place? I guess the answer depends on how ready they are to fall. The slightest puff could easily release a leaf to the whim of gravity as it floats to the ground. Similarly, I find myself asking how strong was the wind that moved the waters after the flood? Certainly, we’ve all felt gusts that can empty an entire tree, but what kind of gust blew over the earth and moved the waters to their place as the waters of the cosmic flood subsided? Come on friend, let your spiritual mind float in wonder.

If you’ve been captured in the story of Noah, you are going to love this week’s text. This week, Noah’s hope is fulfilled as God moves the waters to their post-flood resting places. This week, we are considering the “Echos of Hope.”  Take some time to read Genesis 8 and consider how God rewards a faithful and hope-filled Noah. And then ask the Lord to strengthen and renew your hope as you wait on Him to do the impossible thing you identified last week.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“… And the Lord shut him in.” – Genesis 7:16

I’m not a fan of tight quarters. You won’t find me spelunking any time soon. Where I’m from in western PA, I’m told that we do have some pretty amazing caves. I remember exploring one, ONCE! It was dark… and tight… and not fun. While I was crawling through, I realized the inability to turn around and go back is what freaked me out the most. On another occasion, I had a closed MRI. If you’ve ever had one, you know what it’s like to be slid into that tube and be told to hold still while a machine rumbles around you. It was for my good. I checked out healthy; but the experience was, again… although not as bad as spelunking, not fun! Tight quarters just aren’t my thing. I like sunshine, open air, and the ability to explore and roam about as I please. The idea of a cruise for example is a big NOPE. People say don’t knock it till you try it. Well, I have. Robyn and I experienced a short cruise on our honeymoon. The boat was huge and beautiful. It had pools and dining and every type of fun imaginable. While I did have fun and certainly enjoyed the time, I would not run back to do another one. As big as the ship was, it was tiny compared to the ocean it was floating in. As stable as it was, I can still remember eating dinner as it rocked back and forth in a stormy and rough portion of the sea.

Now you may look on cruises a little different than me, but can you imagine the moment God shut Noah, his family and all the animals into the ark? The Bible is clear that it was no cruise. Not even close. It was a floating vessel of salvation that required deep trusting faith on Noah’s part. This week, we are going to see how calamity echoes our need to trust God. Take some time to read Genesis 7 and consider the faith and trust demonstrated by Noah and the incredible faithfulness of God in carrying him through.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“… Noah walked with God.” – Genesis 6:9

There is something about seeing an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand.  Can you see the picture in your mind?  The sight is so soothing in an age of disconnectedness.  Years of longevity felt in the tender grasp of weathered hands. Decades of closeness made obvious in the natural resting of intertwined fingers.  Evidence of battles fought, and journeys won embodied in their slowing stride. They are right. They are true. They are a picture of every heart’s desire to walk through life with another.

We all long to walk with…  Every person, no matter our situation in life, whether young, old, single, married, divorced, or widowed, we all long to walk with others.  We all need and even crave the walk of companionship. In certain seasons it can be a friend, a sibling, a parent, a child, a spouse. But in every season, God is there with an open hand.  Genesis 6:9 says Noah walked with God.  And based on the text we are about to study; his walk must have been exceptionally close.  In the loneliness of a dark, sin-filled, hostile, and corrupt world, Noah found strength and victory in his relationship with God.  This week we witness Noah walk with God as he navigates the “Echoes of Corruption.” Take some time to read Genesis 6.  As you do, consider your time in His Word as a walk with God.  And as you listen to the worship set for Sunday consider that the God who walked with Noah is the God who also protects and guides you as you go with him.

I cannot wait to walk through this text with you!

Love you Church,

Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Why is Uncle Jimmy really my uncle, but ‘Uncle’ Bob is not?” I asked my mom in great confusion.  As a six-year-old missionary kid who called all the adult missionaries “uncle” or “aunt,” I had a lot to sort out. Living on the other side of the world from actual family meant the people who really were my family and the people around us who we ‘adopted’ as family were given the same title. It was confusing.

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” – Genesis 4:9 

Snarky – (adj.) critical or mocking in an indirect or sarcastic way, smug 

Snarky is one of those words where the pronunciation fits the definition. The word “snarky” just sounds snarky. It rolls off the tongue in a way that feels unnecessarily smug. As I’m sure you’ve experienced at some point, “snark” functions as a sibling to sarcasm. Like fraternal twins, they look and act slightly different but often dress the same.  They often get along with one another but rarely play well with others. Some would say they have their place and can bring a well-placed laugh to a party, but too often they just aren’t nice.

Too much much sarcasm and snark can lead to trouble; and for sure, they are to be avoided at all cost in certain situations. I can give you a whole list of times when it’s best to stay away from them. But at the top of the list, without a doubt, the number one time NOT to be snarky is when talking to God. Can I get a witness on this? I can see all of your hands go up. Yet, sarcasm is exactly the tone Cain uses when talking to God in Genesis Chapter 4.  Given the context, his words and tone reveal a lot about his heart. You can almost see the cold insubordinate posture of his heart as the snark rolls off of his tongue. Wow. Who talks to God this way? Unfortunately, people like Cain still do. And those same people will bear similar consequence.

This week, as we continue our series in Genesis our sermon title is Echos of Consequence. After the entrance of sin, the world was gripped with consequence. Man and the ensuing generations would all bear the consequence of the fall. And unfortunately, no time is lost before the affects become overwhelming dark and grim.

You know the story. Cain kills Abel. But have you ever considered the lessons the Lord has for us in this account?  This week, we will learn what not to do from a man who did it all wrong; and we will also learn one thing that we all must do that He did not. Take some time to read Genesis 4 and take note of the the mountain of consequences that came upon the man who snarked at God. May we do the opposite. May we come surrendered and ready to worship our God.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” – Genesis 3:8–9

“16… 17… 18… 19… 20… Ready or not, here I come!”

When I was a kid, my friends and I loved to play hide and seek outside. As we got older, we found ways to make it harder. We extended the count, added a “home base,” and allowed a “found person” to run back to home base to be counted safe so long as they weren’t tagged. This was all well and good; but things got super interesting, when we were finally able to play in the dark. As you may know, I grew up in West Central Pennsylvania, on the side of an Appalachian Mountain. There, the night is as dark as black is night. And the only lights to aid in the search were the ones hung by God in the sky. As I look back, it was scary and probably not all that safe. More than a few bumps and bruises were collected from running into trees and tripping over roots. But man, it was fun! Why? Because the darkness gave us a lot more places to hide!

As we come to this week’s text, we see the folly of sin. It’s a heartbreaking scene to witness Eden become but an echo in the lives of Adam and Eve. It’s actually hard to wrap our minds around the thought of going from perfect fellowship with the eternal God to trying to hide from Him. Sin is full of folly. Even a child knows that hiding in full daylight is futile. Yet here we have Adam and Eve hiding from their God in the Garden that He created for them.  Here in Genesis 3, we get answers to what’s gone wrong. From the Garden there resounds the simultaneous echoes of severe consequence and promises of redemptive grace. Once again, my heart and mind are blown away by the truth of God’s Word. Buckle up, friends, and get ready. I’m counting down the minutes until we get to dig into God’s truth again.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” – Genesis 2:7

How conscious are you of your breath? During the normal span of a day, like when I first wake up or go about normal routines or sit at my desk, I am often oblivious to it. Other times, I’m keenly aware. Like when I’m at the gym gasping for air or when my nose is stuffy in the midst of a wretched allergy season. The necessity of breath to life goes without saying. In some senses, when we pause to ponder it, there is a mystery and an awe that accompanies it. Every living being will have a first breath and will have a last. And we would do well to regard every one that’s in between as a gift.

Can you imagine being at the beginning and witnessing God breathe life into Adam frame? Wow! What an amazing thought. I’ll never forget being in the delivery room for my boys when they gasped for their first breath. The cry of life that pierced throughout the room is amongst the most beautiful sounds I’ve ever heard. Breath means life. And that life is sustained by the God who supplies us with our every breath. This week, Moses takes us to the moment of life.  This week, we witness God breath life into man. Have you ever wondered why? Why did God do it this way? Why did He form him out of the dust? Why did the personified mouth of God breathe into Adam’s nostrils? What does it mean and all the more, what purpose does God have in giving life to Adam at all? Make no mistake, Adam and Eve were given the breath of life to fulfill a purpose and so were you. Take some time to read through Genesis Chapter 2 and notice God’s purposes for man. Get ready, Church. This week’s passage just may take your breath away. So be sure to take a deep one and brace yourself for God’s life-changing Word.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” – Genesis 1:31

Good. (tob) (adj. n.) – that which is pleasing, beautiful, useful, and/or SUITABLE for the purpose it was intended to serve.

Playdough time is a mess; but if you ask my kids, it is O’-SO-GOOD! They love it. And what’s not to love? I can relate to my kids’ delight over it. It is a toy that is “pleasing, useful, and suitable” for any child who doesn’t mind smudge under their fingernails. Nevertheless, I must admit that I had a mixed view of the dough when I was a kid.  Even now, I can feel the texture of squishiness, smell the distinct scent of oddness, and even recall accidentally learning of its salty taste. While playdough has a strong upside in the toy department, it does have some drawbacks after it’s been used. For example, I can remember creating Bible scenes in my Sunday School class and being frustrated when the colors stuck together. Perhaps it speaks to my temperament, but cleaning up playdough was often a chore that outweighed the fun. And that’s not to mention the amount of disappointment I often felt when I’d open a container to find multiple colors of dough mixed together. But on the flip side, I must admit, if you’d given me a fresh set of unopened playdough canisters in my “runners class,” I would’ve happily worked hard to give you a Genesis 1 creation scene that was “very good” in my 4-year-old eyes.

Friends, this week we are going to witness God create everything and call it good. Last week, we learned that He created Ex-Nihilo, that is, out of nothing. No time. No space. No Matter. Nothing stuck to His hands, everything was crisp and sharp and every detail was just as He intended it to be. Everything He created was good. It was all suitable to Him and for Him. When I think back to my Sunday School, playdough level understanding of the creation story, I can’t help but feel just as overwhelmed today as I did then. Even as I would have tried to capture “very good” then, I’m all the more in awe today as I contemplate what that means that God created EVERYTHING very good. I cannot wait to dive into Genesis Chapter 1 and discover the Echos of Creation with you.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1

Echos.

Echos can rouse a myriad of emotions within us. If you’ve ever yelled into the darkness of night, you know they can be ominous. If you’ve clapped your hands at the lip of the Grand Canyon you know echos can be awe-inspiring.  If you can remember the voice of a parent reverberating throughout the neighborhood, calling you home as the streetlight came on, you know such echos bring a significant nostalgia. The beautiful thing about an echo is that is not a reflection of the original sound but the very remnant of the original. The faint yell you hear coming back to you in the dark woods is your own. The clap that volleys through the canyon is the bouncing of the very sound wave that left your hands. And the voice that echoed in conjunction with the coming on of the streetlights was the very voice of the parent who called you.

This week, we begin our series, Echos of Eden. As we’ve done many times before, we will open our Bible to a portion of God’s Word with the anticipation of hearing His words.  Only this time, we will be turning to the beginning, to Genesis.  Can you hardly wait to read and absorb the very words and events that set all things into motion? The creation of the world, the corruption of sin, the catastrophe of the flood, and the confusion of Babel are among the events that echo answers into the confusion of our present time.  And in every echo, there is the resounding promise that the God who created all things will also restore all things through the work of His Son.

This week, we begin with Genesis 1:1, the Echos of Eternity.  Genesis is a story about our eternal, all-powerful, all-sufficient, all-loving, and all-holy God. As always, we come to the Bible to worshipfully delight in the knowledge of our God. May our desire to have a proper understanding of Genesis be motivated by the desire to have a richer and clearer picture of our perfect, creator God.
Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.  I can’t wait to BEGIN this study with you.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” – Matthew 7:28–29 (ESV)

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!­

Brett Lovern
Pastor of Worship & Arts

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” – Matthew 7:24–27

Nobody wants a foundation problem. I’m glad to say that none of the homes we’ve owned has ever had one.  However, that’s not to say we didn’t have a scare in our current home. Shortly after purchasing our home, a major storm rolled through the county. Think “wind blowing horizontal rain falling in measurable inches” kind of rain.  I remember getting the call while sitting in my office when Robyn ever so graciously said, “Get your tail home, we’ve got a problem with all of this water.” And of course my immediate thought was, no, no, no, no, No, No, NO, NO, NO!  I rushed out in the storm, all the way home praying I didn’t have an issue with a leaky foundation.

Well, to my surprise, what I came home to find was a waterfall of water falling up over my downspouts directly into my basement window wells. While the matter was urgent in the moment, I was relieved to learn I didn’t have a foundation issue. I simply had a clogged gutter issue. It is simply amazing to see the potential damage a fistful of leaves and debris can cause.  So I called a trusted friend, bucketed out the window wells, cleaned out the gutter, and spared my basement from disaster.

I’d love to tell you that it didn’t happen again, but the truth is that another storm rolled through before I could tend to the source of the clog. And of course, more leaves clogged the spout and the entire process was repeated. Isn’t this just like life? I knew what I needed to do. I was even in motion to do it. But I didn’t get it done before we were at the mercy of another storm. I’m happy to say that again the basement was spared; but I’m even happier to report that it is not only spared but also safe because gutter guards have been securely installed on the gutters. And they work.  Even the recent downpours of rain that accompanied Hurricane Ida were accommodated and victoriously directed away from the house as the architect originally intended.

The point of this story is that our foundations need to be protected. All the more, our spiritual foundations need to be inspected to be sure they are firm and securely established on the Rock of Jesus.  Listen, storms are coming. It’s not an if but a when. The winds of trial will blow. The rains of hardship will batter us like waves of a storm; but when our faith is strong, we can trust the gutter guards of the gospel to redirect the flood away from the firm foundation we have in Jesus.

O’ man. I could preach right now! This week, we conclude the Sermon on the Mount with the familiar parable of the house built on the rock versus the house built on the sand. Please take some time to read Matthew 7:15-27 and consider what we need to do to inspect the security of our salvation. Friends, my hope and prayer is that some homes get established on the Rock this week. Would you pray with me for people to place their faith and trust in Jesus? After the full Sermon on the Mount, the invitation is there. I can’t wait to worship the Rock of our salvation with you this week.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!­

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13–14

Decisions, decisions. Life is full of decisions. Depending on how you’re wired, you might love deciding ALL the things. On the other hand, maybe you wish you could say, “It’s been a minute,” since you’ve had to make one. Whatever the case, decisions are ever before us. Even now, I’m trying to decide if it was wise to use slang phrases like, “All the things”and “It’s been a minute” in a Pastor’s Note. I could decide to change it, but I think I’ll leave it for fun.  After all, if you’re not tracking with the phrases, you can always ask a student or google it. You decide.

Alright. That’s enough. By now I hope you get the point. Decisions are everywhere.  We are constantly making them. Sometimes they are large, while the majority of the time they are small. Right now, I’m literally making a decision with every stroke of the key pad, in which case each small decision is seeking to fulfill the larger decision to construct this Pastor’s Note. Such is life. Big decisions can direct us in making many more decisions. This week, Jesus is going to call us to make a big decision. It’s a decision so large that it will direct every other decision we make for the rest of our lives. Consequently, it is a decision that we not only need to make with great caution but also one we must protect with caution once we’ve made it.

From the passage above, you can see the decision before us is no laughing matter. It’s a fork in the road of life that we all must come to. It’s a decision with eternal consequences. The way we choose will lead to life or death. This week’s sermon title is “A Different Kind of Caution” because that is exactly what we must use. In preparation for Sunday, it’d be very helpful to take some time and read Matthew 7:13-20 and consider the caution in Jesus’ words.  Honestly, friends, this text has stirred a strong desire in me to see true decisions made this Sunday.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!­

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” – Matthew 7:3

So it’s probably obvious why the word brother stood out to me in the verse above. As a dad of boys, the scenario described in Matthew 7 is one I’ve witnessed play out a time or two. Now to be clear, my boys most certainly love each other. It’s just that there are times when that love is demonstrated rather fiercely. For example, it probably comes as no surprise that boys tend to get hurt often. And when they do, of course, someone else is always to blame. Inevitably, a tear-filled victim comes to tell on his alleged assailant. Honestly, I am continually amazed at how one brother can unwittingly incriminate himself while telling on the other. Regardless of the circumstances, we parents of course are to overlook the fact that it was a legitimate accident and pay no mind to the reality that they were all doing something they were not supposed to be doing. You been there? Please tell me my home is not the only place where logs hang from teary eyes. The reality is, friends, we’ve all been there because we’ve each been on both sides of this scenario.

Isn’t it true that where you find family you also find tension? Where you find siblings you find levels of comparison and rivalry? Perhaps now is a good time to point out that WE are FAMILY. The Bible makes it clear that members of the church are BROTHERS and SISTERS in the Lord. The good news though is that Jesus calls and empowers us to be a different kind of family. To be a family that does not judge one another, the kind of family that looks to the grace and goodness of our Father, and a family that relies on gospel grace. This week’s passage, Matthew 7:1-14, is a very common text that is greatly misunderstood and misapplied. As you read through the passage, take some time to ask the Lord to soften our hearts and enlighten our minds to the truth and challenge He has for us this week.  Honestly, my mind was blown by my time in study this week, and I cannot wait to share it with you, MY FAMILY!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!­

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

What makes me anxious? I now have two teenagers learning how to drive! My daughter earned her Learner’s Permit last week, and I’ve entered a whole new stratosphere of worry. While on vacation earlier this summer, I took her out for a couple pre-permit lessons. After the first outing, she proudly told her mom, “I got up to a whole 20 mph!” We have a long way to go…and a lots of opportunity for anxiety. I’m feeling anxious just writing about it!

Philippians 4:6 says we are not to be anxious about anything. (Which makes me certain Paul had no experience teaching a teenager how to drive the horse cart.) And when Jesus taught about anxiety in the passage we will study this week, He said not to worry about life. Since He wasn’t in the habit of asking us to do the impossible, what did He mean? This Sunday, we dive into this complex topic of anxiety and find a simple, straight-forward teaching about  stress, insecurity, worry…whatever makes us anxious. Until then, I’ll be hyperventilating in the passenger seat, gripping the dash with white knuckles while stomping an imaginary brake pedal as we careen down the roads of Lancaster County at 20 mph!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Pastor Nate Newell

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21

My son has a Pound Puppy he named Blue-da. In case you’re wondering, it’s pronounced just as it appears, “Blue-da.”  We have no idea where he came up with the name. We agree that it’s an odd name but gladly embraced it after feeling relieved to learn he was saying “Blue-da” and not “Buddha.” Nevertheless, he loves the thing with his whole four-year-old heart. It’s not always by his waking side, but it’s never far away. He travels with Blue-da, plays with Blue-da, and most importantly he sleeps with Blue-da. While we know this will not always be the case, for this brief season of life, Joshua treasures Blue-da. Evidence of his affection is never more obvious than the regular evening hunt we all engage in to find the dog. After all, how is a four year old to get to sleep if he’s not clutching his plush toy of choice? On one occasion Blue-da went missing. It seemed as if he’d run away and with it went Joshua’s little heart. Tears flowed down his flush red cheeks as he protested our abandoning of the hunt. Having looked everywhere, we labored through our bedtime routine and tucked our heartbroken little man into bed. It was obvious that wherever Blue-da was there Joshua’s heart was also.

Can you relate? I can. The funny thing is, when I was a kid I had a Pound Puppy too. I carried it around and loved on it just like Joshua. Obviously, you and I have grown out of our Pound Puppy plush toy phase, but have we really grown out of treasuring things? This week, as we continue our series on The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is going to be addressing that which our heart treasures. This message is often preached in relation to money, but I’d like to challenge us to consider it in a much broader context than that. As we prepare for Sunday, I’d like to encourage us to read Matthew 6:19-24 and consider what it is we treasure most. Is it an earthly or a heavenly treasure? How have you accumulated it and what place does it have in your heart? This Sunday, I trust that we will see once again how Jesus is our greatest treasure and just how it is that we can store up for ourselves treasure in heaven.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!­

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY PM PLAN
6:00 PM  – Night of Worship under the tent (Lancaster Campus) – Bring a Lawn Chair

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹⁶ “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:16–18

Do you have a favorite meal of the day?

Seeing that each traditional mealtime has good things going for it, it may be hard to choose. The allure of lunch, of course, for the needed midday “pick me up” it delivers. However, as good as lunch is, I’d propose it serves as more of a prince of meals to the queen and king. I mean, think about it, who hasn’t skipped lunch for a queen’s breakfast or abandoned it to save room in anticipation of a kingly dinner? And while dinner is most certainly the patriarch of meals, I must argue that it’s way too pretentious to be my favorite. Listen, not every dinner is stuffy, but if there is going to be a stuffy meal amongst the three, it is more than likely going to be dinner.

So, what does that leave? The queen of meals- breakfast of course! Hands down, breakfast is by far my favorite meal. It’s as easy as frosted mini wheats, as fun as smiley faced pancakes, and as hearty as a packed omelet. What’s more is that in a family with four boys, the casual nature of breakfast provides us the best shot of eating out in a restaurant without incident. Beyond all these reasons, I must admit that breakfast is my favorite simply for the fact of how satisfying it is. You see, my morning routine typically begins with an early morning cup of coffee. I drink it on my drive to the gym followed by a full breakfast when I get back home. Needless to say, by the time I get to it, I’m hungry and so ready to eat! You see, they call it “break-fast” because it’s the meal that breaks our fast from the evening before. It tastes so good because I’m hungry.

This week’s passage is on the topic of fasting. It’s not a topic that is addressed very often, but in the passage above you can see that Jesus has some expectations regarding it. The reality is, God created food. Food is enjoyable and frankly necessary for life. God created us to enjoy and need it, which makes fasting a fascinating spiritual practice. I think if we are honest, many Christians would have to admit that they haven’t quite grasped the concept, let alone the spiritual benefit of biblical fasting. Just like my experience with “break-fast,” most people don’t like to be hungry. And frankly, it’s perplexing to consider why God would want us to fast and be hungry. If I can be perfectly honest, I’ve not been looking forward to this particular passage, but now having studied it… look out! My heart is so incredibly full and overwhelmed. I am blown away by what I’ve learned, and I cannot wait to share it with you. Trust me church, come hungry because the Lord is going to feed our souls.
Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!­

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.” – Proverbs 20:22

CRASH! 

I hear a sound in the basement of a large lego tower crashing to the ground. Next, I hear a very classic conversation between two brothers close in age:

Son 1: “I’m telling mom that you knocked my tower over!”

Son 2: “No, please don’t tell her. How about you knock over my tower…and then we’re even?”

Son 1: “Fine… but I really liked my tower.”

This conversation has been one that has happened in many basements for many generations. One person messes up another person’s items, and they feel the next logical conclusion is to receive justice by reciprocating the behavior.

We understand when the Bible says “an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” means the punishment or retaliation should match the crime. Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 5:38-39 when He says, “You have heard it said an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth, but I say to you…” What? There is a “BUT” after eye for an eye? That’s right! Jesus will ask His followers to a different standard of how to love someone. This week, we will be looking at Jesus’ words for living differently in this world through applying Jesus’ standard for love. I have been challenged in my preparation for our passage this week. Will you be praying now that the Lord will be preparing your heart to receive Jesus’ challenge for what it means to love our neighbor? I look forward to walking through God’s Word with you this Sunday!  Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Pastor Jared Schnapf

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ – Matthew 5:37

My grandfather used to take me with him to auctions from the time I was young.  He’d go early, and I loved to look over the items with him prior to the sale. Then we’d sit and wait for “our” desired items to come up for bid. I was always fascinated to watch. As the auctioneer rolled through his chant, my grandfather would move his index finger ever so slightly to confirm his bid. When he wanted out of the bidding, he’d simply look away as the auctioneer chanted in his direction looking for his finger to motion in affirmation. It was like he and the auctioneer had their own language consisting of two words, Yes and No.  And to my knowledge, at the end of sale, there was no going back. If you said Yes, you picked up your item and paid off your bid; and if you said no, there was no negotiating after the sale. In other words, I suppose you could say that there was an auction ethic that said let your Yes be Yes and your No be No.

In the verse above, Jesus is not speaking in reference to an auction, but He is indeed addressing a matter of integrity and ethics. This week, Jesus is addressing how His followers are to be people of their word. We are to be those who keep our commitments. We will see how Christ’s commitment enables us to keep our most precious commitments as well.  In preparation for this Sunday, it will be helpful to read back through the Sermon on the Mount from the beginning to our passage this week (Matthew 5:1-37).  As you read, notice Christ’s commitment to His followers in the beatitudes and consider how His blessing enables us to remain committed to Him, our families, and our word.  My prayer is that the Lord will use this challenging text to strengthen our church, minister to our relationships, and move our hearts to resolve this Sunday. Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SUNDAY PM PLAN
6:00 PM  – Night of Worship in the Tent (Lancaster Campus) – please bring lawn chairs

REGISTER KIDS OR SAVE A SEAT IN THE HIGH RISK SECTION – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. – Hebrews 12:1

Pulling Weeds.  I get assigned that job around the house.  Maybe a little too often for my liking.  It’s certainly a necessary task and it makes wherever they have been pulled look a lot better.  I get caught sometimes (by guess who) not taking the time to dig out all the nasty and stubborn root systems supporting these stubborn and pesky pieces of ugly green growth.  It’s work to do that.  I would rather get my manly weed-wacker out and just cut them off.  But they’d be back in a couple days, smiling at me again.

Our hearts and the sin “which clings so closely” reminds me of those weeds.  If I don’t get to the source of the problem, the heart, the old sinful patterns just keep coming back.

I believe this was also the point Jesus was making as He dealt with the two issues of the heart we will be talking about this Sunday, anger and lust.  Jesus’ desire in the text (Matthew 5:21-30) is to get to the root of the problem and create a new standard that provides freedom and joy.

I look forward to opening up this passage with you and seeing the Holy Spirit excite us with grace to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church!

Ed Bley
Pastor of Ministry and Care

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

Register My Kids or Save A Seat In The High Risk Section Here

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Now from Miletus he [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.” – Acts 20:17

I love spending time with friends.  All the more, how refreshing is it to catch up with friends you love but haven’t seen in a while? Frankly, I find it remarkable how certain relationships are resilient beyond any length of distance and time. Such relationships are those with whom you’ve made memories, accomplished goals, and reached life’s milestones. In the realm of the Christian life, those we have served with in the work of ministry and mission can hold that kind of place. There is nothing that galvanizes a relationship quite like the shared experience of seeing the Lord show up in the heights of worship, the depths of prayer, and in the trenches of ministry.

Do you have a friend like this?

This weekend, I have the privilege of introducing you to such a friend of our church. This weekend, we are in for an incredibly refreshing and special treat as Dave Harvey, the president of The Great Commission Collective, will be here delivering God’s Word to us. Dave is here to spend time with our church, encourage our elders, and equip the East Coast pastors and wives who will be in town Monday – Wednesday for a regional retreat. I’m coming into the weekend expecting for our time to be much like that described in Acts 20 when Paul met with the leaders from Ephesus. As a matter of fact, as we take a break from our “Different” series, Acts 20:17-25 will be the very passage Dave preaches from. His message is entitled, “The Audacious Claim of the Gospel.”  Get ready, church. You are going to be fired up by the missional charge that’s coming our way. I can’t express how excited I am for you to be inspired, encouraged, and fueled up by our friend. Trust me. This is a not-to-be-missed kind of weekend.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

See You Sunday, Church!!

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority and not as their scribes.” – Matthew 7:28-29

I love great preaching. The reason is not because of the crafty organization of a man’s words but rather because it enables me to better understand the meaning of a text and walk away changed. Great preachers essentially get “out of the way” and point us to the unchanging, eternal, and perfect Word of God. I pray every Sunday that, whatever side of the pulpit I am on, I walk away astonished and marvel at Jesus and His Word even more than the week before. I believe that we can come expecting to be changed by His Word and marvel at the unchanging truth it presents. Are you fired up for Sunday yet?

The above text is the result of the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest preacher that ever lived. Now, what they did with their astonishment and what we do may be different perhaps. However, I am praying that, as we continue on in the series and hear more from Jesus, we will be astonished and experience the kind of life-change that Jesus intended. This week, we are looking at Jesus’ introduction to His sermon. Every great sermon has a clear proposition, and Jesus is going to lay out a clear statement that will grab the audience’s attention and have them hanging on every word that follows. Read Matthew 5:17-20 in preparation for Sunday.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church!

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus & Small Groups Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

UPDATED REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. – Matthew 5:13–14

“One of these things is not like the other…”

While we are seeing this line on a lot of (humorous or not so humorous) memes these days, Sesame Street fans know it was first made popular on the show. It was a recurring segment where three items of strong similarity were grouped on the screen with a fourth item that was clearly DIFFERENT.  Perhaps you remember.  A playful voice would sing this song of instruction as the items would move about on the screen:

“One of these things is not like the others,

One of these things just doesn’t belong,

Can you tell which thing is not like the other

By the time I finish this song?”

As you may remember, the “one thing” that did not belong was meant to be obvious enough for the core Sesame Street demographic to identify it and then cheer along with the other children on the show. The ease of the exercise is precisely why the line above has made its way on to contemporary memes that seek to highlight striking differences.

What’s the point? We are the “one thing.”  We are called to be different from the world.  We stick out. We are not supposed to be like the others. Our virtues, actions, and way of Christian life is to stand in stark contrast to all the other ways of the world. This Sunday, we will look again to Jesus’ teaching which is famously known as The Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus instructs His disciples to be different…to be distinct…to be not like the others…to be salt and light…to be a potent and piercing force in a dull and dark world.

Having studied the Beatitudes in our BLESSED series last summer, we look forward to now studying through the rest of Jesus’ earth-rattling sermon. As the weekend approaches, allow me to give you an inside scoop. The Beatitudes are key to the the rest of Jesus’ sermon. They are not just a nice list of virtues. They are the attributes that Jesus empowers His disciples to portray as we live as salt and light in this world. They are what make us “not like the others.” Take a few moments and read through Sunday’s text to see for yourself.  Man, I cannot wait for Sunday!  May we all come and go DIFFERENT!  Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

UPDATED REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. ¹⁷ I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  – 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18 (ESV)

I hate goodbyes. I’ve never been good at them. I can still remember the post youth retreat blues I felt growing up. The trip would always start awkwardly, but then you’d get to know people.  After some games, meals, lessons, singing, and a couple of late nights together, I’d get into a groove with new friends just in time for the week to end. Then we’d hop back on the bus to head home and milk all the fun we could out of the ride, before having to say our awkward goodbyes.  Part of the response, I’m sure, was due to exhaustion; but the car ride home and the day after the retreat were always so “meh.” Looking back, only a few of the students attended my school and there were also a few who didn’t attend our church either. Simply put, I missed my friends; and I couldn’t wait for the next occasion that we could all hang out again.

I’m not sure how Paul felt about goodbyes. The reality is that he was saying it often. Even as we learned in our study of the Thessalonians’ letters, Paul would travel to a new town, pour our his heart thru proclaiming the gospel, and make new friends who became spiritual family just to have to say goodbye and turn around and do it again. I wonder if he ever had post-retreat-like blues? In the case of Thessalonica, something tells me he may have. He loved this church in a special way, and he made it clear that he longed to be with them again.  And while he wasn’t physically present, his affection for them oozed out of these letters. I also wonder, as these letters were read to the church, did they have a sense of Paul’s presence? And did they feel any level of sadness as Paul’s words of goodbye were pronounced in the benediction?

Well, this week we will have the opportunity to ponder these thoughts together, for alas we come to the close of another New Testament letter. Studying God’s Word never gets old.  Immersing ourselves in the context and imagining the relationship between the author and recipient are a vital part of wrestling with the author’s intent in our study.  In an odd way, if you allow your self to be drawn in, we can feel the impact of Paul’s goodbye as we bring our Confidence series to a close. While I hate goodbyes, the truth is that much can be gleaned by the quality of a meaningful goodbye. Take some time and read these final verses and consider what core truths Paul desired to leave with the people he loved.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church! I’m so glad I get to see you on Sunday!

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus) with Myerstown Campus attending in Lancaster

4:00 PM – Annual Ministry Celebration under and around the tent (please bring lawn chairs)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

UPDATED REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

As for you brothers do not grow weary in doing good. – 2 Thessalonians 3:13
Don’t grow weary.

Live for Jesus.
Die to self.
Pray without ceasing.
Study to be approved.
Honor your spouse.
Train up your children.
Love your neighbor.
Forgive your enemies.
Work hard.
Do good.
Be generous.
Turn the other cheek.
Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart.
Put on the full armor of God.
Stand firm.
Fight the good fight of faith.
Bear one another’s burdens
Speak the truth in love.
Confess your sins.
Grow up.
Live at peace.
Be patient.
Be angry and do not sin.
Forgive.
Keep watch on yourself.
Warn a brother, restore a brother.
Fight the good fight. Run the race.

But whatever you do, don’t grow weary in doing good. As you read through the list above, aren’t you glad the Lord is our strength?  In our own power we would most certainly grow weary.  Knowing that even on our best days, tiredness can set in, how much more do we need the Lord in the midst of difficult circumstances. This week we will be studying this verse in its context.  If you haven’t done so before you might be surprised.  While the principle for not growing weary in doing good is a principle that can be applied to the list above, it is an admonition that was applied to a very specific circumstance.  It was a statement that was encouraging and challenging the church to stand up and follow through on its core convictions.

That’s why Paul says, “Don’t grow weary in in doing good.”  Don’t grow weary for doing the hard, awkward, disappointing, and downright discouraging thing.  Please take some time to read through our text (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).  But please allow me to forewarn you, this passage is a doozy.  While it will challenge us, I’m also certain that the Lord will strengthen us so that we will not grow weary but rather grow in our confidence in Gospel Conviction.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you Church!

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

UPDATED REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:5
How are you with directions?  I like to think I’m good with them, but my wife might have a slightly different assessment of my navigational abilities. Honestly, if you twisted my arm, I’d have to begrudgingly admit that she’s right. As much as I can hold my own with a GPS, the truth is that I can get pretty turned around without it. Ok, let me stop hedging and come right out with it. What I’m trying to say is that I’m “directionally challenged.” Wow, there it is. I said it out loud. I wrote it here in my pastor’s note for the world to read. I feel better and worse at the same time! (Ha!)

The good news, however, is that the Lord gave me a wife who is quite good at it. And as I’ve sought to humble myself, we’ve become a strong traveling pair. Typically, I like to drive while she sets the GPS, relays the turns, and makes sure I actually go the way I’ve been directed. As we work together, we’ve come to enjoy our times in the car and typically reach our destination without much drama. The bottom line is that the trip always goes better when I follow her clear directions.

Speaking of clear directions, this week we will be studying 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 to gain clarity regarding the gospel’s work in our lives. As you take time to look over the text, be sure to consider the clear direction Paul is giving the Thessalonians and us. And as we come together this Sunday, ^“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

UPDATED REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” – 2 Peter 1:15

How is your memory these days? I’ve always been enamored with those who seem to have a photographic memory. While some may question the legitimacy of this phenomenon, I prefer to imagine what it would be like to have this quasi super-power. I remember the first time I witnessed my college professor write a full paragraph word for word on the board from memory. Having apologized for forgetting the book, he slowly and deliberately moved the dry erase marker across the board, while rubbing his head. As we all looked at each other with amazement, he apologized further for it taking him so long. He went on to explain that he was recalling the paragraph to mind in Hebrew and was slowed up by translating it into English for us. Are you kidding me?! Three quarters of the class could hardly remember the reading from the night before, and this guy was recalling the image in Hebrew and translating it for us common people. Needless to say, our minds were blown; and he became an instant legend on campus.

Whether we have that kind of memory or not, the ability to recall God’s Word is crucial. In the passage above, the Apostle Peter essentially says, “I’ll do whatever it takes for you to learn God’s Word and never forget it.” How precious of a resource is God’s Word. Having the ability to learn and and leverage core doctrine is such a stabilizing force in our spiritual lives. This week, as we continue on in our study of 2 Thessalonians, we are going to see what happens when we don’t recall core doctrinal truths. The Thessalonian church, with all of their strengths, had not fully grasped the truths Paul taught them regarding the end times; and it proved to be detrimental to their faith, hope, and confidence. Take some time to read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and get ready to dig into what we call eschatology (the doctrine of the end times). You won’t want to miss it. It just might blow your mind.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SUNDAY PM PLAN
6:00 PM  – Mission Night of Worship (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“To this end we always pray for you…” – 2 Thessalonians 1:11

• Hyperbole (n) – an exaggerated claim not meant to be taken literally

Have you ever met someone who always speaks in hyperbole? Do you see what I did there? In a sense, hyperbole is overstating a point to make a point. And the word alwaysjust happens to be the perfect adjective to transform almost any statement into a hyperbolical phrase. Hyperbole is a powerful communication and literary tool. If you don’t believe me, just stop and consider how many arguments powerfully escalate when hyperbole is used. For example, have you ever frustratingly said, “You always (fill in the blank)!” How was that received? Typically, it’s reciprocated with an equal or greater frustration of, “Really… ALWAYS?!”

Now to the contrary, consider how hyperbole can be used to make a positive point. In essence that is exactly what Paul is doing in 2 Thessalonians 2:11. When he says, “To this end we always pray for you,” we all understand that he hasn’t stopped everything in life to do nothing but pray for this one church. What he is communicating is that, “I pray for you as often as I can.”  He’s communicating a love and concern for this church that is worthy of a hyperbolic declaration. You see, Paul is consoling this church. He’s seeking to comfort and encourage them in a time of hardship and pain. It makes sense, doesn’t it? When a person needs consoling, we’d say, “I am praying for you non-stop!”  We’re not lying; we’re communicating the depth of our concern for the person. This Sunday, we are going to gain “Confidence in Gospel Consolation.”  In the midst of heartache and pain, God offers us promises that will console our heart. With the journey we’ve all been on, I am “confident” that this text will meet you right where you are. Take some time to look over this week’s passage (2 Thessalonians 1:5-12) and consider the relief and consolation the Lord has promised to you.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you” – 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Alright, church! I am so glad to be back. Man, have I ever missed you all. As we jump in and kick off 2 Thessalonians, I am captivated by what Paul includes in his greeting to the church when he writes, “We ought to always give thanks to God for you.”

Responding to that opening phrase might make this the simplest and most straightforward pastor’s note I’ve written to date. I read that and immediately sympathize and relate to the Apostle Paul. He missed the church. He longed to be with his people. He wanted to be in their presence. He longed to worship with them, open the Word, and proclaim the excellencies of God. But as we’ve learned, while he had to be away, the time apart caused him to be all the more grateful for the people he loved. And his gratefulness was expressed in open thanksgiving to God.  What was Paul thankful for? The rest of the passage this week will reveal that he was thankful for the Lord’s work in the church’s life. He was thankful that the Lord was strengthening them in a difficult time. He was growing their faith and increasing their love for one another; and he was hearing how their confidence had grown despite the oppressive and difficult circumstances they were enduring.

Have I mentioned that I missed you? Well, let me say it again, because I have. And in saying that, let me also say, “I thank God for you!” I thank God for our church. I thank God for our incredible leadership team who faithfully serves.  And I’m especially thankful for our pastors who all can handle the Word of God so faithfully. It’s been a pleasure to be fed and encouraged these past two weeks as Pastor Nate and Pastor Brett finished up 1 Thessalonians. But now it’s time to begin the second letter. Take some time and read through it. 2 Thessalonians is only three chapters long. You’ll get the big picture and for sure get fired up for the weeks of study that lay ahead.
Let me say one last time, “I thank God for you!”  See you Sunday!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6  

Completion. What a beautiful word. One of the simple pleasures in life is seeing something, even something small, come to completion. Every time I hear the “DING” when I check something off my to-do list on my phone, it’s like winning a small victory. But when we accomplish something that has taken a long time, it’s even better. College was that thing for me. On my life journey, I managed to squeeze four years of college into 13. I started in 1993 and graduated in 2006. Obviously, there were some bumps and diversions along the road, but perhaps the most daunting of those bumps was the final thing I needed to pass to get my degree… a piano proficiency exam. I’m a guitar player and piano is a whole different animal. But by some miracle of grace, my professors, after what I thought was an abysmal failure to display anything that looked like “proficiency,” decided to give me a passing grade. And not long thereafter, I walked across the platform and received a degree that, at some points along the way, I thought would never come.

In some ways, this experience in my life mirrors the experience many of us have in our Christian lives. When it comes to being sanctified, which essentially means growing to become more like Jesus, the process often takes much longer than we think it should, contains many bumps and diversions along the way, and includes tests that seem next to impossible. But there are also people who come alongside us to help us, experiences that strengthen and shape our character, and ultimately a God who, by His grace, accomplishes the work He began in us.

This is what we will study this coming Sunday in the final verses of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 is such a powerful passage! I encourage you to read through it to see how Paul breathes one more word of confidence into this group of people that he loves so dearly. I pray we will leave our time together with a greater confidence in our faithful God who promises to complete His work in us!

And as always, check out the worship set, especially the new song, “He Wears a Crown” – it’s so good!

Brett Lovern
Pastor of Worship & Arts

SUNDAY AM PLAN

9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES

Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18 (ESV)

Have you ever been in the midst of a moment and just knew it was special?  Have you ever looked around at a group of people and had the sense that the bond you held with them was uncommon?  Have you ever been moved by and committed to a cause that was larger than you?  As I ponder these questions, I’m moved by the fact that I can say yes to them based on my experience with you, my church.

Sometimes we can lose sight of just how special church is.  We can miss that it belongs to Jesus, that He’s building it.  He’s present in it. He’s presiding over it. That He’s guiding, protecting, and preserving it until He returns for it.  It’s amazing to consider what the disciples had in their mind when Jesus said, “He would build His church.”  Do you think they could have ever imagined the impact we now feel some 2000+ years into the future? Whether they could or not, we can be certain that they knew the moment was special, their bond was uncommon, and that the cause Jesus was calling them into was larger than them.  Jesus promised to build His church, and He has chosen to use us disciples to do it.  From the original 12 to a global movement that meets in churches of all shapes and sizes around the world, we, the church, share a common bond in Christ.

This Sunday, we are going to gain “Confidence in our Gospel Community.”  We are are going to be reminded how the Lord has given us a place and that we play a part in strengthening His Church. Take some time to read the passage and consider how this text was written to every member of the church and recognize just how special, uncommon, and great our gospel community is.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SUNDAY PM PLAN
6:00 PM  – Mission Night of Worship (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

THE END OF THE WORLD(!) is a topic that causes many different reactions. Some start humming R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)” while others replay scenes from the movie “2012” in their head. Did you roll your eyes and get sleepy trying to remember some dude’s plethora of charts? Or maybe it causes you to order another bucket of freeze-dried food and check that everything is in order in your apocalypse bunker. There are many emotions and responses to the idea that the world will end.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians because they had some pressing questions about the end of the world. In chapter 5 he answers their questions and teaches what a proper response to the End Times is for a Christian. Are you living in light of the end? Does the fact that Jesus and judgement are coming influence how you are living today? This Sunday, we will find out how to move from confusion to Confidence (or out of over-confidence) in Gospel Calamity…don’t worry, it will be a chart-free experience!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Nate Newell
Interim Pastor of Ministry & Mission Development

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

^“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:1 

When I read this verse, I’m reminded of the days my boys learned to walk. Each of them learned in their own way and in their own time. Yet no matter how long it took, you can be assured that the response from Robyn and I was the same when each of them finally took their first step. There is something about that first step that causes a parent to lose all self-restraint. Cheers, tears, and applause fill the room as a measurement of just how incredibly pleasing this event is.

Ok, with this in mind, let’s read the verse again. Did you notice the part where our walking and pleasing God were tied together? How amazing is it to consider that God our Father is pleased when we walk with Him? Further, He delights when we grow in our walk. Friend, does it reassure you to know that God is there for your every step? He was the One who called you to Himself and empowered you to take your very first step.  He was there in the early days when it felt as though you were stumbling and crawling by in your understanding of spiritual things.  He strengthened and empowered you as you learned to place one foot in front of the other and to grow to the place where you could run to Him.

What a joy to know that our walk can bring pleasure to the Lord. After all, why wouldn’t it? He made you. He’s at work in you. Every spiritual step you take is a reflection of His great grace. As you progress in your walk, it is evidence of His divine faithfulness and goodness. This week, our passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 and our message title is called, “Hope in Gospel Conduct.”  As we prepare to dig into this passage, I’d like us to anchor our thoughts in verse one and remember that God our Father delights when we, His children, walk in the truth.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:5 (ESV)

We are living in an overwhelmed world. At least that is how it appears. The tone in our culture, the volume on the news, and the blaring of horns on routes 222, 283, and 30 all point to people who are living on the red-line, boiling point of life. While living with a heart filled with angst and stress is nothing new, we do appear to be in an acute season of unprecedented pressure. Now to be honest, did the fact that I used the word “unprecedented” give you angst just in itself? Seeing as how it’s become a bit of a trigger word, I felt a little anxiousness myself even as I typed it.

With all this said, perhaps it’s best for me to get to the point before I send us all over the edge. So let me get to it by asking, “Who’s been your go-to person through this time?” Have you had people who you can go to hear you out, calm you down, and check in on you when needed? Another question that’s equally important is have you had the privilege to be this person for others? You see, this week’s message is all about finding confidence through Gospel Concern. It’s amazing how you and I can be used by the Lord to encourage and strengthen others just by expressing and acting on our concerns for others. To prepare for Sunday, take some time to read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 and take note of the level of Paul’s concern for the church and the actions he took to be sure they were aware of his love. Friends, let’s pray we can become that kind of Church.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SUNDAY PM PLAN
6:00 PM  – Mission Night of Worship (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24

I grew up on the side of an Appalachian Mountain in west-central Pennsylvania. In many respects, it was a boy’s dream. I was surrounded by woods, animals, and countless miles of ATV and dirt bike trails. There was opportunity for endless fun; but unfortunately, the only thing missing was friends. It’s not that I couldn’t make friends. It’s that, for a good portion of my growing up, I didn’t live near very many kids my age. But better than a friend my age, I had a “Pap” who lived down the road. My childhood is filled with memories of many summer days spent with him. Time spent working in his garage, rummaging in his shed, digging holes, riding on his tractor, and cruising in his big ‘ol station wagon with the AM radio on. My grandfather loved me, included me, taught me well, and treated me with respect. Looking back, he was more than a mentor. He was my pap, my friend. I’m a stronger, better, and more Christ-loving man because of him.

Do you or have you ever had a relationship like this in your life? Who are your people? Who do you love being around? Do you have people who lift your countenance, make you better, and bring you joy? Even as I write this, I realize that good friends can be hard to come by. But the reality is that the gospel has the power to make good friends. As a matter of fact, the gospel has the power to make people, who would otherwise not ever get along, experience a connection that is stronger than any earthly relationship. This week, the Apostle Paul is going to address the confidence that comes from our gospel connection. To prepare for Sunday, you can check out this week’s passage in 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 and note the depth of the connection that Paul feels towards the church. As we read, it’s encouraging to note that these gospel bonds are just as true of you and I today.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” – John 15:20

Are you motivated by challenge? I was reminded today that not everyone believes they are. While this may seem like a simple yes or no question, a deeper reflection may cause our answers to be more nuanced than we first thought. When we first consider this question, it’s easy to think of those who love living under the weight of immediate pressure. They’re motivated by deadlines, high bars, unexpected obstacles, and significant opposition.  Perhaps here we could think of a star athlete in the “proverbial clutch.”  However, we would do well to consider another group of people who live under a more self-imposed pressure. These are the methodical planners who perform ahead of schedule and work at a strategic pace, leaving margin for those unexpected obstacles. In this case, we can think of the savvy coach who prepares for the game.

In this scenario, both the player and the coach are motivated by the challenge of winning the game. It’s just that their approach to tackling the challenge is different. You see, the question isn’t whether we are motivated by challenge but rather HOW are we motivated by challenge?  All of us have our way of approaching challenges.  And frankly, that is a good thing because challenges are a part of life. As Christians, we especially know challenges are to be expected. Jesus reminds us in the verse above that challenge, and even persecution, are part of the Christian experience. This week, in our “Confidence” series, we will learn HOW we can all face “Gospel Challenges” with gospel strength. In preparation for Sunday, I’d love for you to read over the passage (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16) and consider the words of confidence Paul is delivering to the church in Thessalonica. Packed in these verses are truths that will you help face the challenges of life with gospel hope.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

I have heard it said before that, when law enforcement professionals want to be able to identify paper money that is counterfeit, they do not study the fake bill but actually labor over the real thing. It is said that, if they know for certain what is the real thing, they will have no trouble identifying the fake version. I have never seen or held a counterfeit dollar bill, but I’ve got to imagine that I would have a hard time figuring it out.  In the above passage, Jesus is telling His disciples that it should not be hard for people to know if we are the real deal or not. The above passage is taking our faith from something we declare to something we live out and is visible to those around us. Loving people is hard work; and relationships take effort, time, energy, and commitment! Jesus commands us to love one another. Right before this verse, He says the model for the kind of love He is talking about is the same as He modeled for them. Jesus loved these men, and He loves you!

The Apostle Paul loved the people of Thessalonica, and they knew it! He had an unwavering commitment not only while he was among them but also now in writing back to them. He was writing to encourage them to remain committed and confident in the Gospel. He reminds them of the strength of their relationship, the reason why he came to them in the first place, and the example he left behind. One of the most encouraging aspects of this letter for me is Paul’s genuine and personal approach to how he is exhorting them. As we continue to move through this letter, I pray you will be encouraged by that same thing too. I can’t wait to dive into this text with you this week, church!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

You are loved!

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers ”
– 1 Thessalonians 1:2

Words are powerful.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The words we speak have meaning, and they matter. Words give insight into the soul of a person and reveal the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Integrity is measured on the truthfulness of our words. Courage is weighed in the confidence of our words, just as cowardice and insincerity is revealed in the inconsistency between our words and actions. We know words are powerful because some words never leave us. For better or for worse, we can replay words in our minds that either strengthen or weaken our confidence.

So now in light of this, let’s think again of Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers.”  Consider the life-giving power in these words. Something tells me that Paul meant every word. He said that he was thankful for them, and He was. He said that he prayed for them, and He did. Why? Because words matter. And in this instance, Paul reminds us that the power of our words travels both vertical and horizontal. His prayers went up, and his words of encouragement went out to those he loved. Here, Paul affirms and confirms the salvation and spiritual faithfulness of the Thessalonian Church.

This week, our message is titled, “Confidence in Gospel Confirmation.”  Together we will be leaning into 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 and gaining confidence from Paul’s words. Take some time to read the passage and consider the power in Paul’s words.  And as we prepare for Sunday, let’s examine our own lives to measure whether Paul’s words could be applied to our lives and our church to affirm our faithfulness as well.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. – 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 (ESV)

Confidence (n.) – the belief or feeling that we can rely on someone or something.

This week, we start our new series called “Confidence.”

Confidence is a precious commodity. It speaks of dependability and trustworthiness. In today’s world, many people’s confidence has been shaken. Perhaps you can sense the fog of skepticism in the air that shows no real sign of lifting.  People, organizations, establishments, and entities we once trusted with little thought or question are now in the cross-hares of doubt. I read an article recently which stated the cultural shift we experienced around the turn of the century placed us in a post-modern, post-truth culture. Now we find ourselves in another cultural shift, which is ushering in a multi-media heavy era of post-reality. In other words, postmodernity caused many to question what is true. And now culture finds itself not only questioning what is true but also asking what is real? Friends, it’s easy to see why confidence has been shaken.

With all of this said, how important is it for us as Christians to find our confidence in the Lord? Now more than ever, we need to fill our hearts with the Confidence of Gospel Hope. As the verse above says, the goal of this study in 1 & 2 Thessalonians is to “establish our hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” This week, we will kick off the series by bolstering our confidence in our “Gospel Calling,”  Man, I can’t wait to jump into this!!

Take some time to read 1 Thessalonians chapter one and come ready to gain Confidence in Gospel Hope.
Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. – 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 (ESV)

Confidence (n.) – the belief or feeling that we can rely on someone or something.

This week, we start our new series called “Confidence.”

Confidence is a precious commodity. It speaks of dependability and trustworthiness. In today’s world, many people’s confidence has been shaken. Perhaps you can sense the fog of skepticism in the air that shows no real sign of lifting.  People, organizations, establishments, and entities we once trusted with little thought or question are now in the cross-hares of doubt. I read an article recently which stated the cultural shift we experienced around the turn of the century placed us in a post-modern, post-truth culture. Now we find ourselves in another cultural shift, which is ushering in a multi-media heavy era of post-reality. In other words, postmodernity caused many to question what is true. And now culture finds itself not only questioning what is true but also asking what is real? Friends, it’s easy to see why confidence has been shaken.

With all of this said, how important is it for us as Christians to find our confidence in the Lord? Now more than ever, we need to fill our hearts with the Confidence of Gospel Hope. As the verse above says, the goal of this study in 1 & 2 Thessalonians is to “establish our hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” This week, we will kick off the series by bolstering our confidence in our “Gospel Calling,”  Man, I can’t wait to jump into this!!

Take some time to read 1 Thessalonians chapter one and come ready to gain Confidence in Gospel Hope.
Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

⁶ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. – 2 Corinthians 9:6 (ESV)

Our God has called us to the work of multiplication. We have a saying around here that living things grow and growing things multiply. Indeed, we long for Mission Church to be alive and growing in our commitment to Jesus.  Ultimately, as we grow in Christ, our goal is to multiply our impact for the mission of Jesus. We long to make disciples. Is there a greater joy than seeing more people saved, strengthened, sanctified, serving, and worshiping the Lord? No way! It is the absolute best.

The bottom line is that the Lord desires to multiply our impact for Him.  The question is how?

2 Corinthians 9:6 tells us that we reap what we sow. If we want to reap a harvest of impact, we must sow seeds of impact. If we want to reach our families, then we need to sow love and gospel grace. If we want to impact our communities, we need to be willing to spend time and give ourselves to serving others. If we want to strengthen our church, raise up leaders, and commission church-planters, we will need to make significant investments of time, training, and treasure to accomplish the work.

This week, we are going to learn that the road to multiplication is paved with generosity. God loves a cheerful contributor, and I believe He’s calling us as a church to invest ourselves in His mission. God’s Word is so clear: the greater our investment of faith, the greater the missional multiplication will be. Friends, this principle is not foreign to us. When we are passionate about something, we give ourselves to it. For example, last night I dropped my son off at an off-season training event for soccer. He wants to get better and be more useful to the team so that he can “multiply his impact” in order to get more playing time and help his team win. Will it work? All I can say is that he will reap what he sows.The more he gives to the effort, the stronger his growth and impact will be. The same is true for us and the mission of God. As we generously commit to the mission, commit to maturity, and commit to ministry, the inevitable result will be Christ working through us to multiply His Kingdom to the glory of God. Man, I am fired up for Sunday!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” – 1 Peter 4:10

Have you ever heard the expression, “Jack of all trades, master of none?” This phrase highlights the idea that a person is interested in, gifted in, or even chasing after a myriad of things but does not specialize or focus on any one thing. I had my first job at age 14; and since then, I have had more jobs and employment experiences than I can count. Everything from washing dishes to working in a cemetery to a sales director. I even had a short job where I sold organs (the musical kind). Safe to say, I have heard the above expression about myself enough times. While I would not change anything about my past, there is one thing about my present that surpasses all of it: I am fulfilling and stewarding the very gift the LORD has graced me with. I am humbled and incredibly grateful for what I get to do in service to Him and His Church!

In the above passage, Peter wants us all to know that we all have been given a gift to steward for the mission of Jesus. Do you know yours? There is something incredibly special about knowing how God has gifted you, knowing that Jesus came to serve you, save you, and send you to use your gifts for His glory! That should motivate you, and I hope it does!

This week, Church, we are going to learn that Jesus sends us all on mission with a gift; and I can’t wait to unpack a few verses that teach us about what that means and what it looks like to live on mission, using our gifts together to push the mission further!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare your heart for worship.

Love you, Church. See you, Sunday!

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (ESV)

Happy Saturday, Mission Church!

Have you ever found yourself wanting to be like someone else? I mean, not in a bad way, but really looking up to them, respecting them, and aspiring to emulate their better qualities? When I was in elementary school, that guy for me was George. George was in high school and lived in my neighborhood. He was really nice to me and would even let me hang out with him behind the elementary school where he would practice kicking field goals (which, in my tiny world, seemed like 60-70 yarders). He also was an announcer for the high school football games; so he got to sit in the press box, which I thought was the coolest thing. I remember thinking, “Someday, I want to be like George,” and I always looked forward to going to his house to see if he could hang out. For the life of me, I’ll never know what possessed this cool high school guy to give the time of day to a scrawny, annoying little third grader like me. But I do know this… spending time with him made me feel special, and it made me want to be a better person.

Friends, if that’s not a picture of our relationship with Jesus, I don’t know what is! It often blows my mind that Jesus wants to have a relationship with me. He’s the creator and sustainer of the entire universe; yet He desires personal, one-on-one time with me. He’s actually created me with a longing for that relationship with Him. And, as I relate to Him, as I spend time with Him, He changes me. He molds me and shapes me. He matures me.

This is the next topic we’ll consider this Sunday in our sermon series, Commit to Mission. What does a commitment to maturity look like? Why is it necessary? How do we become mature? There are lots of practical issues to consider in answering these questions; but at the heart of the matter is what Jesus says in John 15:5, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” I am so excited to share with you what God has been teaching me this week. Let’s prepare our hearts by asking God to show us what abiding in Him means for us, and by listening to the worship set.

I can’t wait to be with you all tomorrow!

Brett Lovern
Pastor of Worship & Arts

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“I Thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” – Philippians 1:3-5

Well January is off and running, 2021 is here! This is the time of year people are known to make resolutions, promises, or commitments. You know it’s been said that most people fail at resolutions not because they plan to fail, but they fail to plan. Catch that? A large majority of these new year commitments never succeed because there is not a plan in place. I can think of a number of times where I had good intentions and what I thought was a great idea; but because I did not plan well, I did not understand how to begin or measure the end, so I failed. There are a vast number of gym memberships that go unused, meal plans that never make it to the menu, or books that go unread because instead of one at a time, I try to read five. Making successful commitments often, if not always, happens because there is a plan, a purpose, and a mission.

The divine success of the mission of Jesus and His Church brought great joy to Paul. He knew the plan; he understood the purpose, and he was committed to its mission. Why? Because he knew that Jesus began the work and would complete the work. We can and should have this kind of confidence in the mission as well. You see, It is with this confidence that we commit ourselves to the mission of Jesus. Knowing that He is the author of the mission, knowing that He brings purpose and instruction to the mission, and knowing that He promises to complete the mission. This should bring us great joy as well as unite us, as we partner together to commit to the mission.

Church, our commitment to the mission of Jesus is the foundation of who we are as disciples of Jesus. Let us commit to coming together under the Word of God this week. Whether you are online or in-person, I am confident that the message Pastor Jared has for us will challenge us and call us to commitment! Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

See you Sunday, Church!

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; ²³ they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22–23

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. – Psalm 37:5

Happy New Year, Church!

Wow. How good has it felt to say, “Happy New Year” these past two days?  Honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever looked forward to the turn of the calendar more than I have this year. How about you? We all know things aren’t going to magically change simply because we are now in 2021, but yet there really is something special about the early days of a new year. They have a way of drawing our attention to the truth of Lamentations 3:23 that declares [God’s] mercies are new every morning.

How real and new does God’s mercy feel to you today?  Amidst the nostalgia of this new year, I trust we can all recount the faithfulness of our God. When we identify the Lord’s hand in difficult seasons like this past year, it strengthens us to trust Him all the more knowing the that His steadfast love never ceases. Did you catch that? His steadfast love never ceases. As sure as the sun comes up, it serves as a reminder that our God remains committed to loving us, His children.

As we say goodbye to 2020, isn’t it great to know that our God was with us through it all?  And as we press in to 2021, what is our proper response to a God who is committed to be with us every moment? For sure, it is to commit our every moment back to Him. Our theme and goal for 2021 is “A Year of Commitment.”  To kick it off, for the month of January, we will be focused on strengthening our commitment to Jesus and His mission. This week, we will learn why the theme of Commitment is perfect for this year. Then over the next four weeks, we will learn to commit to Jesus’ mission, maturity, ministry, and multiplication. To prepare for Sunday take some time to read Romans 5:1-5.  As you read, consider what the passages reveal about God’s purpose for trials. With all the trials that were seen in 2020, God’s purpose for trials makes Commitment the perfect goal for 2021. I can’t wait to explain more this Sunday!

Check out this video that introduces out New Sermon Series, “Commit to Mission” and be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4

Greetings Myerstown Campus!

I hope you all had a warm and memorable Christmas.

You know, a new year is coming and another year is going. Do you look forward to this time of year? Flipping the calendar, making goals, evaluating old ones and anticipating all that was…

Perhaps this year is a bit different. Maybe you really don’t want to look back and are eager to burst forth and leave 2020 long behind you. Perhaps you are surveying the world around you and maybe you’re anxious about the new year, new hurdles, various degrees to challenge. You know, just before the verse above, Paul reminded the Philippians that they would always face challenges, enemies of the cross and those who just didn’t understand the Mission. To that, Paul says “Rejoice… always…” How could he say such a thing? Because he knew where the help came from, he knew who to look to.

Church, let’s gather this Sunday and rejoice. Before the year passes us by and we step into another year, let us gather together and worship! This Sunday will be a unique time for us to rejoice, reflect, and respond together on all that the LORD has done.

Take a few minutes and read Philippians 4 and listen to the worship set in preparation for Sunday.

I look forward to seeing you then!

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1–2

Merry Christmas, Mission Church!

I can’t wait to worship Jesus with you this Sunday!

Brett Lovern
Pastor of Worship & ArtsSUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Friday, December 25, 2020

Merry Christmas! He chose to make His home in us!  |  John 3:16

 
Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Christmas brings all of us the opportunity to have peace with God.  |  Matthew 2:11 & Romans 5:1

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Jesus, bring it all to peace.  |  John 14:27

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

His law is love and His gospel is peace!  |  Luke 4:18-19

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Monday, December 21, 2020

Peace on earth among those with whom He is pleased…  |  Luke 2:14

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

^“And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.” – Luke 2:18 (ESV)

Have you ever witnessed something really hard to believe?

Apparently, situations like this happen a lot at Christmas time. I mean, at least that’s the impression I get while watching Christmas-themed movies and shows. For example, of the few Hallmark Christmas movies I’ve seen, each of them had an unbelievable event as its central theme or as its climactic resolution. We watch these shows, knowing the plot is far-fetched. But it’s Christmas, and everyone knows that Christmas is a time of wonder. It’s a season when we can stretch the boundaries of rational thought and go with the whimsical. Who doesn’t love a conflict resolved through a Christmas miracle? While I love the sentimentality that is captured in these cinematic tales, my hope is that we don’t apply the same passive embrace to the true and “traditional” Christmas story.

When we read Matthew 1 and Luke 2, it is easy for us to envision the events as if they were unfolding in a Hallmark movie. We watch on, witnessing an event that is hard to believe but full of divine sentiment. A virgin having a baby, angels magically appearing in a field, and both low-class shepherds & high-class Magi belonging in the same redemption story all make for a nice tale. But it’s so much more than a tale. It challenges us to exercise belief not only in a sentimental movie kind of way but also in a “this is true, revolutionary history” kind of way.

Stop and think about your Bible. If you have it, feel free to hold it in your hand. What you’re holding is not a script. It is true history as penned by men moved by God. What we read can be hard to believe, but rest-assured it has been trusted and believed for centuries. Why? Because  the prophets’ hope led to the angels’ joy which brings us this week to the shepherds’ wonder.

You see, before the gospel authors bore witness of the Christmas story through the writing of their gospels, God had the lowly shepherds witness it firsthand. What they saw was hard to believe, but it did not stop them from sharing the wonder with all who would hear.

Friends, this is our challenge: that we would hear the account of the shepherds, join in their wonder, and then share that wonder with the world. Our passage this week is Luke 2:15-20. And be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Friday, December 18, 2020

In the darkness we were waiting without hope, without light; ‘til from heaven You came running, there was mercy in Your eyes!  |  Isaiah 9:2

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Thursday, December 17, 2020

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord!  |  Isaiah 61:10

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy…  |  Matthew 2:10

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

My soul magnifies the Lord! He has done great things for me!  |  Luke 1:46-49

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Monday, December 14, 2020

Good news! The Lord has come!  |  Luke 2:10

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” – Luke 2:10

Good news of great joy.

Could you use some great news? Who couldn’t? In a day when we are overwhelmed with news content, why is good news so hard to come by? I’ve watched and read a lot of news over the years and the pattern has typically been after a flood of bad, sad, and disappointing news, there would be one good news story. For example, at the end of the nightly news I remember Tom Brokaw saying, “we end this broadcast with a good news story.” A heartwarming feel good tale would follow. It would tug at your heart strings, make you smile, and at times, bring a tear of joy to your eye. As a kid I often wondered, if these stories made us feel so much better than the “bad” stories, why didn’t the news simply tell more of them?

When the angels visited the shepherds in the fields, they didn’t just bring good news, they brought good news of great joy. Great joy equates not just to “make you smile” but “make you jump to your feet and celebrate” news. What kind of news does that? The news of a Savior coming to save the sins of the world kind, of course. This week as we consider the appearance of the angels to the shepherds, it’s helpful to consider the shepherds didn’t have the easiest of lives. In many respects they were from a cast of people who didn’t receive a lot of good news. But on this night, joy was delivered by the most unlikely of newscasters – an angel who spoke as a credible source on behalf of the Lord.

This “story” is a common one, but I can’t wait to stop and consider fresh how God sent lofty angels to lowly shepherds to deliver the most incredible news ever told. Jesus Christ the Savior of the world has come. Can you believe it? Isn’t it good news?! Come on, let’s jump to our feet in great joy and celebrate the Lord together this Sunday.

Take some time to read Luke 2:1-15 and reflect on the message of the angels’ song; how it fills the shepherds with joy and changes their lives forever. And be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Friday, December 11, 2020

We once were slaves in misery, ’til You appeared and set us free! Hallelujah! Hope has come!  |  Galatians 4:4-7

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Thursday, December 10, 2020

What hope we hold this starlit night, a King is born in Bethlehem!  |  Matthew 1:23

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Hope has a name, His name is Jesus!  |  Philippians 2:9-11

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

You keep hope alive!  |  2 Corinthians 1:10

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Monday, December 7, 2020

Join in the song of hope, this is Christmas!  |  Romans 15:12-13

We pray these devotionals are a blessing to you throughout the Christmas season.
Please share with your friends and family.

Have a great day. You are loved!

– Mission Church Leadership

Tradition. (noun) // That which is passed down from generation to generation. 

Traditions, we all have them. We’ve all received and passed on Christmas customs.
Do you have a favorite Christmas tradition? Of course, you do.  But how do you choose? There are so many. There’s decorating, music, shopping, baking, stockings, presents, parties, tv specials, concerts, Christmas carols, and church services. You know the list could go on and on. Have you ever stopped to consider how we arrived with all these traditions? When you consider the original story, you almost have to stop and wonder where did all the elaborate traditions come from?

To be clear, I love Christmas. There is something about the typical hustle and bustle of this time of year. So many of the traditional sights, sounds, and annual festivities are designed to draw us together, capture our attention, and direct us to the birth of Jesus. Typically, my thought has been any tradition that draws attention to Jesus is good with me. Bring them on! However, this tradition-rich season is having a little different effect. It’s actually begun to remind me just how untraditional this year has been. For sure, there is little doubt that this year’s end will be unlike any we’ve seen. And so, you see, we are calling this series Traditional Christmasbecause in this very untraditional year there is one tradition that will not change.

My favorite tradition is found in the nativity. At our home, Robyn has one made of olive wood, which she purchased in Jerusalem over twenty years ago. It’s simple yet profound. Very modest yet rich in communicating the truth that’s been passed on for generations. That is tradition, right? Tradition is that which is passed on from generation to generation. This year, we will pass on again the truth of Jesus. We tell as we should the simple story of Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, and of course the baby. It’s a story that we are commanded to pass on; and in this way, it is a tradition that will always be and will never change. Come on, friends, look deeply into the nativity. Let’s journey again through the passages that we know so well.  But let’s do it with a fresh sense of delight. Let’s come as we traditionally do with a longing to receive the hope, joy, peace, and love that is to be passed on in the story’s telling this year.

We’ll begin this week in Matthew 1:18-25 where we will find “Hope in the Prophet’s Voice.”

Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV)

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ²³ “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Let’s enjoy a traditional Christmas together. Also, be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

³¹ Remember me, O my God, for good. – Nehemiah 13:31

How dramatic are these final words recorded by Nehemiah?

Perhaps it’s the nostalgia that sets in every time a series comes to an end, but this simple prayer by this simple man is hitting me deeply.  Once again, the Lord has used His Word to meet us where we are. He led us to the perfect book for the perfect time to guide and strengthen us when our walls of faith needed it most.

When Nehemiah learned of the devastation in his land, I trust you could relate. When he received his call, were you able to consider your own? I hope so. When he, a simple cup bearer, stepped out in faith with a plan, I trust you were challenged to do the same. When he we was given the strength to stand up to the opposition, I hope you were strengthened. When Nehemiah persevered and received all of the provision he needed to complete the wall, did you celebrate? Friends, God’s Word is powerful and living. We must consume it even as it consumes us in its truth.  Every expositional voyage through the Scriptures ought to be a journey of spiritual renewal and life change.

And now, as we come to the end, Nehemiah’s last words ring loudly: “Remember me, O my God, for good.” As we come to the final chapter, we can look back and recount all of the work the Lord has done. We can see clearly now that the physical walls were only pointing to the greater walls of faith. These final words of Nehemiah reveal to us that, with all the work he’d done in the city and in the people, in the end he was still concerned with his own heart before God. “Lord remember me,” is a simple petition to receive the Lord’s grace. His request to “be remembered for good” was his way of saying, “Lord, this was all for you.”  For in the end what would it matter if he’d restored the walls in the city and in the lives of others if he’d neglected his own?

This week, as we close the series, we will be reminded that, when it comes to building walls of faith, the work is never done. While we can rejoice in all the Lord has done, we mustn’t rest because there will always be those who seek to tear down our walls. That’s why this week we will learn what it takes to keep persisting in our faith so that, in the end, like Nehemiah we can pray, “Remember me, O’ my God, for good.”

Take some time to read the final chapter of Nehemiah and consider how persistent Nehemiah needed to be to finish well. Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you church, and I can’t wait to see you Sunday.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14 (NASB95)

I love finishing things.  There is just something about completing that final task, checking the box and moving on to the next goal.  Of course crossing the finish line of completion is not always easy.  It seems there are always twists, turns, and unexpected obstacles that pop up and push the goalpost further away.  For example just last night our family played a game that wouldn’t end.  Please know that I love playing games with my family.  And I could certainly enjoy the comedy that accompanies my boys’ competitiveness for hours.  But as bed time approached and the desire to win mounted, the dad in me couldn’t help but think of ways to get this plane of fun landed before the night ended in a crash.  What I came to learn part way through our game of “Memory” was that two games had been combined into one and cards were missing.  So instead of playing match with 48 cards, we were trying to remember the whereabouts of cards amongst a pattern of 93.  Needless to say the night was dragging on until mom had the brilliant idea of turning cards and letting them face up so that matches could be found more expeditiously.  In no time the game was COMPLETE.  And in a turn of grace the two middle boys beat the rest of us in a tie.  Game night ended in perfect peace.

Needless to say, not every goal in life is finished as perfectly as our game night.  For sure major obstacles can stand in the way of important pursuits.  This week we find Nehemiah so close to completing his ultimate goal of restoring and repopulating the city of Jerusalem to the glory of God. However, unsurprisingly, he comes up against one last obstacle that needs to be overcome before the task is finished.  Take some time to read especially the beginning of Chapter 11 and the end of chapter 12 to see how the Lord saves the day and is honored in the end.

When it comes to building walls of faith, like Nehemiah and the Apostle Paul in the verse above, it’s crucial that we press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus.  I can’t wait for this Sunday as we dig into God’s word as we always do and this time celebrate the crossing of a significant finish line together.  Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you church and I can’t wait to see you Sunday.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant”– Jeremiah 31:31 

This week in Nehemiah 10, the people of Jerusalem sign a covenant before God. In layman’s terms, to covenant is to make a commitment, to give our word, or to make a promise. Have you ever made a promise you couldn’t keep? It’s painful to admit, but we’ve probably all been there. You said you’d be home, but work ran late. You promised to do it, but you completely forgot. You said you’d have it covered, but you ran out of time. The list can go on.

The disappointment and shame of a broken promise has the power to frustrate the securest of relationships. Which leads me to ask, “Have you ever made and broken a promise with God?”  If you have, you’re not alone. As we saw last week, the Bible is full of people who covenanted with God and failed. But the amazing thing about redemptive history is that our God was merciful and faithful to forgive those who repented and sought His forgiveness.

Have you ever wondered why God forgave Israel even when they broke His covenant over and over again? How about us? Do you ever wonder why He forgives us even when He knows we will fail again? Well, it’s because of the verse above. God is able to forgive those who broke the old covenant because He had His eye on the work of His Son who would fulfill the old covenant and usher in a NEW one, full of grace! Jesus paid the price for every broken promise, while giving us the strength to strive forward in a new one.

This week, we learn that “Building Walls of Faith” includes relying on the promises of God to keep our promises to God. Our heart of faith is to result in a holy life of faith. This Sunday, we will work to examine our hearts and make proper commitments to the Lord.

I am fired up for this week’s passage, and I can’t wait to dig into this text with you! This is where the rubber of our faith meets the road of our lives. Take some time read Nehemiah chapter 10 and consider the covenant the people signed before God. Then, consider areas in your own life where you might need to do business with the Lord as well.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you, Church

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Hello,

We are excited to worship with you this weekend and have an announcement regarding our services.

After showing mild symptoms, one of our pastors, a staff member, and a key volunteer were told by their doctors to get tested for COVID-19.

After careful thought and prayer, the elders have made the decision to move our Sunday services ONLINE ONLY until there is further clarity. The elders and pastors continue to rely on Biblical principles while navigating this season.

As much as we don’t like this, we are confident that God is sovereign and is working out His plan. We are eager to see how He uses our weekend services and this situation to bring great glory to Himself.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding. We’ll see you online at 9:00 or 11:00 AM this Sunday at live.mission-church.com.

– Mission Church Leadership Team

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” – Psalm 19:7a

Have you ever been to a “revival meeting”? When I was younger, I experienced two different revival meetings. The first was a tent revival in a field at the local mall. My friend and I stopped in to see what was happening there one night, and it was “interesting” to say the least. A very fired-up preacher, a few people on stage leading in worship, and even fewer people in the seats that were set up.

The second was a week of meetings held at my church where a different preacher came to share messages intended to fire us up for God and His Word and to call us to deeper a commitment to Him. I remember a very good turn-out of people to these meetings, as well as an admiration for the passion of the preacher.

What I don’t remember about either of those “revival” meetings was any noticeable change in me or any of the people who attended. Stephen Olford, a well-known pastor for many years, said “revival is the sovereign act of God, in which He restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith, and obedience.” Revival is something that God alone does by His power and sovereign will. It is not something we can plan or conjure. But we can pray and then trust God with expectation to do what He wants to do.

What we see in Nehemiah 8 this week is essentially a description of a revival. The people who have just finished rebuilding the wall now experience a “time of refreshing from the Lord” (Acts 3:20) that will mark them forever.

Can I encourage you to do 3 things to prepare for Sunday?

1. Take time to read Nehemiah 8 and make note of all that the people experience, and, most importantly, what they are responding to (there’s a hint in Psalm 19:7 above).
2. Pray with expectation for God to use our time together on Sunday in a powerful way in everyone’s lives, especially your own.
3. Listen to the worship set here, especially the new song, “Authority.”

I could not be more excited to be with you this Sunday, church! It’s going to be a great day!

Pastor Brett Lovern

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. – Philippians 3:12

Press on. These two simple words make for a great life motto. Think of all the ways this phrase can be applied to life’s circumstances. When life is hard, press on. When life is good, press on. When life is uncertain, turbulent, high, low, or anywhere in between, just simply press on. We can press on because we see such a focused and victorious posture in the hearts of leaders throughout the Bible. In the passage above, the apostle Paul says straight out, “I press on.” With all the apostle Paul had been through in ministry, he knew there was more to come. He knew Jesus had claimed him as a member of His family and called him to serve on mission. I love Paul’s perspective of pressing on. Paul had endured shipwrecks, beatings, trials, and even death, but still he said, “I press on.” On the other hand, Paul had seen great victories as well. He’d preached the gospel and saw many people saved and many churches planted. In many respects, Paul was a victorious hero who’d faithfully labored in building a strong church network. Yet still he says, “I press on.”

What’s the point? Well, many points can be made; but the one I’d like us to consider is how Paul pressed on to the end of his life. As long as he had breath, he knew there was more to pursue. More growth in his relationship with Christ, more opportunities to preach, more churches to plant, and more leaders to equip and appoint. Bottom line, he pressed on to the end. He didn’t allow defeat or victory to slow him down. Paul knew nothing of retirement. Working hard to kick back was not part of his life’s plan. He simply wanted to enjoy and serve Jesus with his every breath. You get the sense that Paul was a mixture of contentment and ambition. He found joy and rest as he pressed on in the strength of Christ.

As we study the book of Nehemiah, we find that he was a leader much like Paul. He pressed on. He pursued God’s call and endured despite difficulty and challenge. This week, we are going to see that all pay off when Nehemiah hits a major milestone of PROGRESS. The progress of completing the wall is so significant that one may think the story could end this week. However, we are going to learn that Nehemiah presses on; and we will soon see that the real work is just getting started.

As we prepare for Sunday, take some time to read Nehemiah 6:15-7:4 and consider how Nehemiah responds to the great progress report. Can you begin to see the spiritual priority beyond the physical wall? O’ man. I cannot wait to walk through this text and learn how you and I can experience progress in the Lord and still press on.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you, Church

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources
  ¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. – Philippians 3:12

  Press on. These two simple words make for a great life motto. Think of all the ways this phrase can be applied to life’s circumstances. When life is hard, press on. When life is good, press on. When life is uncertain, turbulent, high, low, or anywhere in between, just simply press on. We can press on because we see such a focused and victorious posture in the hearts of leaders throughout the Bible. In the passage above, the apostle Paul says straight out, “I press on.” With all the apostle Paul had been through in ministry, he knew there was more to come. He knew Jesus had claimed him as a member of His family and called him to serve on mission. I love Paul’s perspective of pressing on. Paul had endured shipwrecks, beatings, trials, and even death, but still he said, “I press on.” On the other hand, Paul had seen great victories as well. He’d preached the gospel and saw many people saved and many churches planted. In many respects, Paul was a victorious hero who’d faithfully labored in building a strong church network. Yet still he says, “I press on.”

  What’s the point? Well, many points can be made; but the one I’d like us to consider is how Paul pressed on to the end of his life. As long as he had breath, he knew there was more to pursue. More growth in his relationship with Christ, more opportunities to preach, more churches to plant, and more leaders to equip and appoint. Bottom line, he pressed on to the end. He didn’t allow defeat or victory to slow him down. Paul knew nothing of retirement. Working hard to kick back was not part of his life’s plan. He simply wanted to enjoy and serve Jesus with his every breath. You get the sense that Paul was a mixture of contentment and ambition. He found joy and rest as he pressed on in the strength of Christ.

  As we study the book of Nehemiah, we find that he was a leader much like Paul. He pressed on. He pursued God’s call and endured despite difficulty and challenge. This week, we are going to see that all pay off when Nehemiah hits a major milestone of PROGRESS. The progress of completing the wall is so significant that one may think the story could end this week. However, we are going to learn that Nehemiah presses on; and we will soon see that the real work is just getting started.

  As we prepare for Sunday, take some time to read Nehemiah 6:15-7:4 and consider how Nehemiah responds to the great progress report. Can you begin to see the spiritual priority beyond the physical wall? O’ man. I cannot wait to walk through this text and learn how you and I can experience progress in the Lord and still press on.

  Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

  Love you, Church

  
  Jerry Lingenfelter
  Senior Pastor

  SUNDAY AM PLAN
  9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
  9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
  11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

  SAVE MY SEATS FOR SUNDAY ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

  REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

  SUNDAY RESOURCES
  Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

  • Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
  • Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14

Perseverance (n) : Doing something despite difficulty opposition and or delay. 

Perseverance is a matter of pressing on. It’s about deciding we are not going to give up. It comes with an “I’m going to finish or die trying kind of attitude.” Do you have it? It’s easy to think we do when things are going well, when we are operating in our strengths, or when challenges are held at bay. Perseverance is one of those attributes that are measured in the moment, much like a stress test. A stress test in a structural sense measures how much weight a structure can bear. Think about a bridge. Engineers work hard to calculate a weight limit, but at some point it fulfills its purpose and must be tested by the weight of vehicles passing over it.

When it comes to life, do you know your weight limit? Do you know the extent of what you can bear before you stop persevering? Come on, if we are honest, we all have a limit. We all have physical, emotional, and spiritual limits that are beyond our ability to persevere. Despite popular memes and encouragement cards, God will give you more than you can bear. And when he does, our only hope is to rely on Him. I’m sure we’ve all been there. There are days when we have to look to the Lord and admit we want to quit, confess we’ve considered bowing out, and own the fact that we simply can’t do it without His help. Friends, this is the heart of the gospel.  We can’t, but Jesus can. Our ability to persevere in life is found in Jesus. He strengthens us to overcome sin. He focuses us despite worldly distractions. He encourages us in moments of anxiousness and despair. We are able to press on because Jesus Christ has called us His own.  And what He calls us to, indeed, He will strengthen us through.

And so this week, we will see that perseverance is a needed trait in building walls of faith. With all that Nehemiah has been through, he’s about to face even more difficulty and direct opposition.The story this week gets wild. Check it out for yourself. Consider just how brash and crafty his enemies become. As you read Chapter 6 vs. 1-14, please take some time to consider the example of perseverance that Nehemiah is. Note what he’s facing and how he’s able to persevere through it. I’m blown away and fired up about this week’s text, and I cannot wait to walk through it with you!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

SUNDAY PM PLAN
6:00 PM  – Mission Night of Worship (Lancaster Campus)

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR OUR ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

¹⁰ According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.  – 1 Corinthians 3:10 (ESV)

When I was in high school, I spent my summers working as a laborer for a masonry company.  It was good, hard, and honest work.  There are days now when I miss the feel of the trowels and the sounds of the mortar slapping onto blocks.  More than anything though, I miss the people that I did the work with.  Specifically, I miss working alongside Joe Dale.  Joe was a skilled and tenured block layer who owned the company.  My job was to work directly with him and supply everything he needed to keep his hand to the job. I’d mix mortar, fill buckets, and scale scaffolding to deliver buckets of cement and block so he wouldn’t need to divert his attention from laying block for any reason.

Over the years we learned to work incredibly well together.  His job was to lay the block and my job was to supply him with the resources he ordered.  You see, my job of serving him was possible because he had already arranged for the worksite to be supplied with the sand, cement mortar, water, and block needed to complete the job.

Think about it… my job was to prepare and place resources in a position to be used by the very master builder who had supplied them.  WOW!  This is very similar to the picture we gain from the verses above.  Jesus is the supplier and master builder of the mission.  He supplies all we need and is Himself the master builder who constructs His Church.  You know what that makes us, right?  We are the faithful laborers in-between.  Our job is to take all the resources the Lord has given us and position them to be used by Him.

You see, this week’s passage is about the Lord’s provision. This week we are going to witness how He provides all we need to fulfill His mission.  As you read Chapter 5, take note of how the rich nobles abused the Lord’s provision while Nehemiah leveraged it to bless God’s people and fulfill the mission.  As we prepare our hearts for Sunday, let’s pray that the Lord will teach us and guide us to steward His provisions well. Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR OUR ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” – Psalm 18:1-3

Protection is one of those things you don’t think you need until you have it, and then often you realize you’d rather not live without it. Maybe it is even hard to admit that last part, just ask my kids. Watching my kids grow and get older, they are becoming not only more adventurous but also more independent. They no longer cling to me for protection as they take their first few steps. They no longer hide from approaching crowds of people that they do not know, and the first day of school isn’t so intimidating anymore. While they are happy to be “free,” I am saddened that I am no longer the protector of and from all things. My protection over them is changing. Although it may not look like it used to, I nevertheless desire to protect them as best as I can because I love them; and I’ve lived through enough hurt to know it does not necessarily feel good.

All of this teaches me about the character and nature of our great God. He is our protector. David directs our attention to the reality that God is our refuge. This term literally means a safe and secure shelter. Our God is safe.  This means He is trustworthy, and what He protects will never be vulnerable or exposed. Our God has provided the safe security of a salvation so true, so enduring, that from now until eternity, He is worthy of our trust. Because of all of this, David says our response is worship! Nehemiah is leading the people of God to accomplish a physically grueling task; and if the weight of the job isn’t enough, here comes some dissenters and those who have an opposing agenda. However, Nehemiah knew that their God was their strength and their fortress and able to save them from their enemies. Why? Because God proved it before, and He will do it again!

I can’t wait to worship the LORD with you, Church, and dig into Nehemiah Chapter 4! Also, be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR OUR ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

“For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” – 1 Corinthians 3:9 

People matter to God.

Please read that sentence again. The word “people” is purposefully chosen. Of course, people are made up of individual persons and indeed God does care for us individually. However, in this instance, saying that people matter to God highlights the fact that God cares for us collectively as well. He desires His children to be unified. In the Old Testament, He called His nation to be organized around His law and statutes. And today, He calls His Church to work together as an adorning light of gospel mission.

So when we say that people matter to God, the word “people” is plural on purpose. This week, we will be looking at how Nehemiah called the people of God to join together in partnership to fulfill the mission of God. Friends, you may not recognize it at first reading, but there is so much for us to learn from this week’s text. We are going to see how all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for all of life and godliness. I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses this text to galvanize us for the mission of building these walls of faith to the glory of God.

Please take some time to read through Nehemiah Chapter 3 and consider any principles of partnership that rise out of it. Also, be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.
Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR OUR ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

⁹“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

Are you a planner?

I’m going to go out on a limb and say you are, even if you don’t think you are. If you stop and think about it, all of us plan at one level or another. For some, you love to make “not planning” your plan, while others love to geek out over Excel-spreadsheeting every detail of your life. Whether you land at either of those extremes or somewhere in between, I find that planning becomes much easier for everyone when we’re planning something we are passionate about. What is that thing for you?

This coming Sunday, we are going to see how Nehemiah’s passion for restoring the wall drove him to craft an incredible plan to accomplish his calling. Passion is just a feeling without action, and action is just expended energy without a plan. Within the spiritual realm, a plan is just a waste of time if God is not in it. The passage above reminds us that we ALL plan, every one of us. But in the end, it is the Lord who establishes our steps and fulfills His plan. The key then is to be sure that we are passionate about the things of God and that we are looking and relying on Him to craft our plans so that we can build strong walls of faith.

Take some time and read over Nehemiah chapter 2 and see if you can begin to build a list of practical principles and instructions for constructing a faithful plan. I’m excited for us to be a church that continually answers the call of the Lord with passion and prayer-filled planning. This week, let’s lay another course on the wall together.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

SUNDAY PM PLAN
6:00 PM – Mission Night of Worship (Lancaster – outside under the tent with baptisms – please bring lawn chairs)
6:00 PM – Mission Night of Worship (Myerstown – inside)

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR OUR ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

¹¹ Now I was cupbearer to the king. – Nehemiah 1:11

Have you ever made a decision that radically transformed the direction of your life?  For sure we’ve all done things outside of our comfort zone and gift set, but I’m referring to a choice that was only possible through deep faith.  So, have you?

This week we begin a new Sermon series called Restored: Rebuilding the Wall of Faith.  It’s a verse by verse study through the Book of Nehemiah. The book is named after it’s central figure, Nehemiah.  A man who sets the bar pretty high for making a faith-filled, life-altering, radically-redirecting life decision.

What I love about Nehemiah is that he’s an unknown guy who is introduced in the book as the son of an another unknown man (1:1).  Nehemiah is so unknown that you can search your entire bible and not find him mentioned anywhere else.  He’s just a simple guy working a government job.  As you can see in the verse above he’s the cupbearer to the king, a job which requires high character and low skill.  The job carries one responsibility… taste the kings food with a smile on your face.  Aside from the risk of unlikely poisoning, that is a pretty cushy job.

What lies ahead for us is a story of how our extraordinary God can use “ordinary” people to accomplish remarkable feats to fulfill His purpose in redemptive history.  God’s going to uproot Nehemiah and take him way out of his comfort to strengthen God’s people and fortify Jerusalem through the restoration of it’s city walls.

What does a cupbearer know about leading people and building walls?  The better question is what kind of FAITH did Nehemiah posses to make this kind of life-altering decision to be used by God? It was a faith that was as strong and thick as the wall he was called to build. Nehemiah was able to build a wall because a wall of faith was already built in his own life. And friends, that’s the goal for you and me, that we would look to the Lord over the course of these next 12 weeks and get to work rebuilding the Wall of Faith.

I cannot wait to tear into this book with you.  Take some time to start reading through it yourself.  Read as far as you can but for sure take a look at chapter 1 as that’s where we will be this week. Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you Church. Let’s get Building.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR OUR ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Friday, September 11, 2020

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Monday, September 7, 2020

Philippians 1:27 (ESV)

²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Partner (n.):

• a person who shares or is associated with another in some action, endeavor, and/or commitment.

Partnerships are a part of life. In a sense, you could say they are unavoidable.  We’ve experienced them from childhood. I’m sure we can all speak of poor and positive experiences in this realm. In school we loved being partnered with the smart kids and hoped to avoid the slackers. Yet somehow it seemed the smart kids often got paired with the slackers while all of us in the middle grappled together to figure out the assignment. In the end, you just hoped to have a partner who strived with you side by side to complete the work.

When you look at Philippians 1:27, you realize that what we long for in a partner is what the scriptures call us to for the sake of the gospel. You see, gospel partnership is a real thing. The Apostle Paul prays for those who are working with him near and far. He prays that they would stand strong and firm, that they would strive WITH him side by side, and that they would “share and be associated” for the faith of the gospel.

This Sunday is Mission Partner Sunday. Having just examined our Six Pursuits, this week we will be inspired by Pastor Dan Hammer, one of our key gospel partners in our region. Dan was commissioned and launched from our church five years ago to plant Harvest Annapolis, which has grown into a strong gospel-centered church with whom we are great partners. This week Dan will be preaching through Philippians 1 to inspire each of us in the work of gospel partnership as individuals, families and churches.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you, Church

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR OUR ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Friday, September 4, 2020

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Monday, August 31, 2020

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20–21

I live in a house full of imagination. Four boys have a knack for dreaming up all kinds of imaginary scenarios to occupy their time. Just the other day, the youngest, who just turned three, was taking his brothers on a hunt for hidden dinosaur eggs. Days are often filled with flying superhero adventures as the middle boys wear masks and jump on the trampoline. While our oldest is kind enough to play along from time to time, we see his mind taking him into other more mature avenues of creativity.

Whatever the age, the Lord has blessed us with a mind capable of creativity. God has given us the capacity to dream, to cast vision, and to see things in our minds at an incredible level of detail. How about you? Do you still dream? If so, what about?

Here at Mission Church, we dream about bringing glory to God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission. We know this mission is to make disciples. Specifically, we say that we long to “grow as disciples who are loved and sent to the glory of God.”  There is so much in this sentence. Can you begin to imagine and think of all that could be accomplished if we truly believed and lived this way? Actually, go ahead and take some time to think about it…and then consider Ephesians 3:20. How amazing is it to realize that whatever you’ve imagined and thought will pail in comparison to the plan God has for His Church? How AWESOME is that?!

I cannot wait for this Sunday. It’s our Fall Kickoff. Whether you’ll be joining us on campus or online, let’s recalibrate and recommit to declaring that Mission Church is “Still On Mission,” no matter what comes our way.

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you, Church

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR OUR ON CAMPUS WORSHIP GATHERINGS – CLICK HERE

REGATHERING DETAILS – CLICK HERE

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything you need for Sunday is available on the Mission Church App under Sunday Resources or on our website.

• Mission Church App – mission-church.com/app
• Mission Church Website – mission-church.com/sundayresources

Friday, August 28, 2020

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Monday, August 24, 2020