On Sunday Pastor Eric preached form Acts 6:1-7. He showed us how the early church was pleased by developments in the church which pleased God. Nobody was left out from the blessings of the gospel. More leaders were appointed. And the proclamation of the gospel was prioritized. These are the very things that please us as well.
Creation is singing a song. We’ve been redeemed to join in that song. On Sunday we’re introducing a new song that invites us into the worship of our almighty Creator. Listen to it here and check out the lyrics below so that you’re ready to sing it with us.
PRAISE HIS NAME (PSALM 148)
Verse 1
Reaches of heaven, starry heights
Lights of the evening dancing in silent skies
Brilliance of morning, breaking day
O let them praise Him, praise His name
Chorus
O praise His name
O praise His name
Let all His wondrous works
Declare His praise
Verse 2
Mightiest mountains, peaceful plains
Snowfall and fire, thundering ocean waves
Kings and their kingdoms, age to age
O let them praise Him, praise His name
Bridge
King enthroned in majesty
All things made by His decree
Hear creation’s melody
“Praise Him! Praise Him!”
Everything with life and breath
Everywhere from east to west
Every heart raised from the dead
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Angels echo the refrain
“Jesus, Lamb for sinners slain!”
Name above all other names
Praise Him
On Sunday Pastor Eric shared with us about a set of affirmations the pastoral team has adopted that guide how they serve us. These commitments are all rooted in Scripture and describe how they will work together as a team to bring God glory, love each other, and lead our church. All future pastors will be required to wholeheartedly commit to walk out these affirmations as long as they shepherd Sovereign Grace Church.
Let’s read them, rejoice in them, and pray for God to give our pastors grace to fulfill them.
Last month, we began serving at the House of Hope, a local facility for women and children in need. The Lord has already blessed our time together by giving us ample opportunity to get to know and minister to the women and children there. Relationships are being built, friendships are being made, and the love of Christ is being proclaimed. We’re so thankful we have the privilege of serving these ladies—and we want you to join us! Here’s what you need to know:
We meet at the House of Hope on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.
Pick the dates you’re available and sign up to serve.
Meet at the House of Hope at 6:30pm.
Eat dinner together and get to know the residents.
Leave by 8pm.
You don’t need to bring anything. Just come ready to serve, meet, and love our neighbors. We’ll be there tomorrow (6/8) evening, so sign up fast! If you have questions, contact Andrew Maples or click here to get right to the sign-up form.
Don’t forget to check our Summer Events Calendar! From park days to beach days, we have something going on each week. All activities are family friendly and open to everyone. So, bring your friends, family, neighbors, and anyone else and come join us!
To view the calendar, click the link below. You should also plan to check our Sovereign Grace family Facebook page for updates, reminders, and all the details like times, locations, and event descriptions. If you have questions, contact Kirsi or message the Facebook group.
It’s easy to lose focus on the big picture. Often times, we are only looking at our situation, and we forget about all that the Lord is doing around the world. It’s both encouraging and edifying to habitually step back and look at the big picture.
Our family of churches, Sovereign Grace Churches (SGC), exists to plant and strengthen churches for the glory of God. Our partners are located all across the world. It’s a joy to see and hear the stories of the gospel message transcending cultures, breaking barriers, and changing lives. Below, you’ll find an excerpt from a testimony written by Jeff Purswell, our Director of Theology, about his recent trip to train pastors in Germany. We’d encourage you to check out the SGC Missions blog for more stories like this. You can also sign up for the monthly newsletter to make it a habit to see what the Lord is doing around the world and to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
When most Christians think of Germany, they think of Martin Luther and the birth of the Reformation in Wittenburg. As precious as that history is, my own thoughts of Germany run first to the city of Hamburg and the Arche Church, led by my dear friend Christian Wegert and his remarkable pastoral team. In early May, after 3 long years of Covid-delayed fellowship, I had the great joy of returning to Hamburg to teach a course in their Pastoren Kolleg (Pastors College) and to participate in the college’s second graduation ceremony. Of the many trips I have taken there, I don’t recall a sweeter one…
Of the 23 students who attended my course on Biblical Theology, 21 were from Germany and two were from Ukraine—both now living in Germany as refugees. Four more students joined us via livestream: two from Ukraine and two from Russia. The Arche has affiliated churches in both of these countries, although the Russian churches have had to break off all formal relationships due to government restrictions and surveillance. Despite this, the undaunted, unifying, and hope-giving power of the gospel was palpably present over my days in Hamburg.
I wish I could recount the harrowing stories I heard from the two Ukrainian students, along with our Russian translator, Marina, who has translated every course I’ve taught there. I wish I could introduce you to Michael Ostanin, a 2018 graduate of the Pastoren Kolleg and the pastor of Ark Church Dnipro, who remains in Ukraine, working around the clock to serve wave after wave of refugees with food, shelter, and the hope of the gospel. (SGC’s European fund has been a vital means of support for the work Michael and his church are doing).
More striking than the tragic details of these stories, however, were the heart-felt expressions of unwavering trust in Christ and hope in the promises of the gospel. As Marina told me, “We stand firm on the rock of the one thing they cannot take away.” I emerged from every conversation deeply humbled, but also inspired by the fortifying effects of God’s Word in the lives of these dear saints. It’s difficult to imagine a more rich context in which to explore the glories of Scripture together….
There’s still time to sign up for our Summer Bible Reading Challenge. Sometimes it can be difficult to read the Bible alone. It’s not always easy to know where to start, to understand what’s going on, or even find the time to read. That’s why we read together. Join our Summer Bible Reading Challenge by clicking on the link below. If you want to know God more and get plugged in the church, this is a great place to start.
Each Father’s Day, we bestow our coveted Manliest Man Award on one individual. This award isn’t for muscles and mustaches or boxing and brute. Rather, we give this award to a man who has exhibited the things God desires in men while living to glorify God. This individual’s life is an example of true biblical manhood.
We want to hear from you about how the men in our church glorify God. You can do this by nominating someone to receive this award on Father’s Day. Please fill out the form below to submit your nomination(s).
