9/6/2020 Sunday’s Sermon by Nick Perez
Close Encounter with the Third Person; Empowered
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8, ESV
***Join us at 10:45 on YouTube for the Sunday Worship Service
Turning Negatives into Positives (3)
Ultimately, turning negatives into positives is centered in Christ. His death on the cross, though a very dark (negative) event in history, brought about glorious results for mankind, specifically the salvation of souls (positive). When we obey the gospel, though we are
dead in our trespasses and sins (negative), we have our sins forgiven and enter into life with God (positive). So at the heart of the gospel is God turning negatives into positives.
Paul explains as much in Romans 5 when he says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Verses 3–5). Make no mistake that suffering is a negative thing. Yet Paul says we rejoice in suffering. How? Why? As Paul explains, suffering leads to endurance; endurance leads to the formation of Christlike character within us; Christ-like character leads to hope; and hope does not disappoint because it is the confident expectation that God has done exactly what He said He would do, namely, pour His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
What Paul is communicating to these Christians in Rome and even to us today is that circumstances are not a measure of God’s love for you and me. The presence of the struggle does not imply the absence of God’s love. On the contrary, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Verse 8). No, circumstances are not a measure of God’s love for me; the cross is the measure of God’s love for me. If I keep this in mind and focus on this during those negative events or in dealing with negative people – God still loves me – we can find the silver lining. ~Nick Perez
Fairmont Park Church of Christ (Midland, TX)
Live Streaming & Recorded Sermons & Bible Classes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FPCOFC/
Website: https://www.fmpchurch.com/
App: (Apple & Android) Fairmont Park Church of Christ
*Children’s resources now available
The Christian Chronicle
The Christian Chronicle has compiled a list of Churches of
Christ nationwide who offer live streaming services.
https://christianchronicle.org/churches-of-christ-offeringlivestream-worship/
“Let the Bible Speak” – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/LetTheBibleSpeak
Praise & Worship Sunday Mornings – 10:45 am
- We are complying with state and county guidelines
- Sunday morning worship is now open, and still online
- Sunday Bible classes canceled until further notice
- Junior Worship canceled until further notice
- Wednesday Bible classes canceled until further notice
- Potlucks canceled until further notice
- Food Pantry by appointment only
- Travelers Motel – food service only
- Shower Shuttle canceled until further notice
- Recommendations – Those who are over 60 or have underlying health conditions are encouraged to stay home.
- Guidelines – If you are sick, stay home. Wash your hands. Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
Contact Info for our Shut-Ins
- Jewel Cherry, 2117 Bridgewood Way, Modesto, CA 95355
- Nadine Greff, Vintage Faire, 3620 Dale Rd, Rm. 25, Modesto, CA 95356
- Betty McGoldrick, 13754 Jasper St., Lathrop, CA 95330
- Russ Ortloff, 511 East D Street, Oakdale, CA 95361
- Evelyn Wood, Bethel Assisted Living, 2345 Scenic Ave., Apt. 323, Modesto 95355
***Please submit additions, corrections & updates to the office.
NOTE: Our Shut-ins are not allowed visitors at this time. Please take the time to send them a card or note of encouragement if you can.
Mourning the loss of loved ones
Heinrich/Biard/Barnes Family – Mary Ellen Heinrich
Vern Cowan – friend Larry Meissner mourning the loss of his wife
The Kampelli Family in India – Pullamma Kampelli
Hasley/Higginbotham/Calibro Family – Jeremy Hasley
Recovering from Surgery
Vern Cowan – second cataract surgery went well
Shirley Poulter
Rosell Wade
Betty Bussey – complications following knee replace- ment surgery
Krista Gray’s brother, Stan Chism – stent replacement & a valve replacement
COVID-19
Joyce Stetler – friend Debi’s father & brother
Rosa Moreno
Eric Wallers – sister & brother-in-law, Fern & Doug Boyle & their 6 children
Melissa Shook – friend’s sister Angela; Bonnie Mulder & family
Nadine Greff
Modesto Gospel Mission – 40 cases
Jean Wallers – moved to a Care Facility
Battling Cancer
Teresa Lett (Linda Clark’s sister-in-law) – Stage 4 cancer
Sheila Walls – PET scan shows improvement
Pam Vanderford – sister Edith
Grace Whited, a 6 year-old at Murphys Church of Christ
Clementina Robles
Dee Rambo
Other Requests
Larry, Carole & April Long – moving to Oklahoma
Melissa Shook – sister-in-law’s grandma, Margaret is in her last days
Jeanette Wilson – on a ventilator in ICU with Bi-lateral Pneumonia, sedated, possible TIAs
Darlene Wengel & son’s family – moving to El Paso, TX this week
Paula Meler – Post Concussion Syndrome; Lee having trouble with left arm
Michael Brown – coworkers have family in the Lake Charles area
Tracy Threlfall (wife of Ripon CoC minister) – has cists that are being tested
Art Turgeon – having another biopsy
Allegria Rice – grandson struggling with depression
Linda Teixeira – mother’s sister has Alzheimers & COVID-19
Martin Moreno (Woodward Park CoC member) – mother’s health
David Tostado – toothache, headaches & neck pain
Traci McEnery – back pain
Yolanda (Travelers Motel resident) – awaiting back surgery
Vickie Laguna – mom, Georgia Springer’s dementia is progressing
Leadership / Civil Unrest / Essential Workers / Unemployed / Fires / Hurricanes
