Volume 2021: Edition 2
Food for thought: A Church Family
Hello everyone, and welcome back. Thank you for continuing to read our updates as we draw close to God and dive into His word together.
This week we are looking into what it means to be a church family. In a family there are parental figures and children living together as one unit. In the church family there is this same kind of unit, but with God the father as the head of our unit rather than a set of parental figures. In the eyes of God, we are all His children, each uniquely created for His honor and glory. Therefore, each member of a church works together as a family of brothers and sisters under God the father.
The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27 said that the church is one body in Christ in which each of us is a part of. As members of the church, we each have a role in taking care of one another, holding each other accountable, growing spiritually together, and encouraging one another. "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy"
(1 Corinthians 12:26). This does not just apply to the members of a church, but to everyone regardless of what we've done, where we've come from, and who we are: "whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:13). We are each created in His image to love and be loved as He had commanded; love being His ultimate commandment: John 13:34; Matthew 22:37-40; and Mark 12:28-34. It is through the sacrifice and eternal love of Christ that saved us, that heals us, and that brings each of us together, and it is love that makes the way and the foundation for us as individuals and as churches to be one body in Christ.
So what does it mean to be a church family? It means to love one another as children of God and to support and build up one another as one strong and loving family unit. This is what we are called to do as followers of Christ. Just some food for thought....
We are grateful to have you with us as readers, church members, and interested guests and we are always open to any suggestions and volunteers for our website, newsletter, and future activities. We hope to see you at our Sunday services, and stay tuned for our coming newsletters' and updates at church, at bible study, on Facebook, and on the website weekly!
Upcoming Events
Special Thank You
We want to say thank you to the Berthoud community and the members who make burritos and participate in the Burrito sales every other Saturday. The burrito sales contributes towards the church for maintenance, repair, and supplies. Thank you for your continued support of our burrito sales and thank you to our members for the effort you put into the sales. We are so grateful to you all!
Special Prayers
Sister Lopez and Gloria's Family for the loss of their family member Ernesto
Sister Mary's Niece for healing
Sister Mary for her Birthday this past Saturday, July 17th
Brandy Salazar for her Birthday this coming Tuesday, July 20th
Alyssa, Nicole, and Latrail for a safe trip
Weekly Devotional:
Seek to live in God's love
Scientifically love can do amazing things to the human mind and body. It can lower blood pressure, improve skin, heal wounds faster, improve your overall immune system, overcome depression, beat stress, reduce anxiety, and add years onto your lifespan.
Love is as essential as oxygen.
While most of us experience love from family, friends, and partners, this type of love is not perfect. In some cases, it may not even be considered an unconditional kind of love (love without limitations/borders). Humans are naturally imperfect, and we can hurt not only ourselves but our loved ones with our own versions of love. While love in itself is powerful, it can be distorted.
However, when we come back to the source of love itself, the love from God the Father and the selfless sacrifice of His son Jesus, there is an unconditional, eternal and perfect love always residing in the deepest depths of our being. You will not find a more lasting love in the world around you, in circumstances, or in human relationships than the gold mine of love deep within you, waiting to be tapped.
God's love not only covers a multitude of sins: both yours and others', but heals broken bodies, broken minds, broken hearts, broken lives, and broken relationships. His perfect love decimates fear and clothes the body in the light of His presence. He infuses meaning into your mind and harmony into your heart. Look at other people through the lenses of love and see them from God's perspective. We are each called to love one another as He has loved us, and only with God will we be able to find a perfect love that heals us, completes us, and draws us out of the dark.
Love is powerful in itself, but dwell on just how much more powerful it is from God who is the very source of love....
1 Peter 4:8 Psalm 139:1-4, 23-24
1 John 4:18 Revelation 2:4
1 John 4:18
Verse of the Week:
"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
(Zephaniah 3:17)
Questions?
For any questions or suggestions regarding our newsletter please email berthoudfoursquarechurch@gmail.com or call (970)405-3053
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