1/31/2021 Sunday’s Sermon by Nick Perez
The Problem of Forgiveness
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22, ESV
***Join us at the church for a Drive-In Service 10:45, OR streaming on YouTube
Forgiveness
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
(Ephesians 4:32, ESV)
The word for forgiveness (Greek root charizomai) is closely related to the word for grace (charis). In fact, the word can be translated as “deal graciously” with one another. The word means “to forgive on the basis of one’s gracious attitude toward an individual.” At the heart of forgiveness is grace. God forgives totally, to the uttermost because He is gracious. God gives us what we do not deserve (grace) because the riches of His grace are “immeasurable” (Ephesians 2.7). Perhaps the reason we struggle with forgiveness is because we 1) don’t understand grace, 2) don’t believe God is that gracious, or 3) are unwilling to be gracious.
Any way you cut it, where there is a lack of forgiveness among the people of God, at the root is a lack of grace. Church divisions and conflicts are testimony to this. We think we are standing for what is right when we are really standing for our rights. Be careful standing for your rights because God just may stand for His!
Elsewhere Paul writes that love is kind. You will notice that forgiveness is rooted in kindness and tenderheartedness. So unkindness and a hard-heart will hinder our ability to forgive others.
Further, if you want God to forgive you, you must forgive your brethren from the heart (Matthew
18.35).
“In Christ” is the theme of Ephesians. It is “in Christ” that God is able to forgive as He does. Since God in Christ treats us poor, miserable sinners in this way – He forgave and keeps forgiving – then we who are “in Christ” must extend grace and forgiveness to one another since we are likewise in Christ. He is the atonement for our sins and the motivation by which we can forgive the offenses of one another. To borrow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as God has done unto you.
~Nick Perez
Online Resources
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 offers live streaming services.
https://christianchronicle.org/churches-of-christ-offeringlivestream-worship/
“Let the Bible Speak” – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/LetTheBibleSpeak
Coronavirus Response
- 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
Linda Teixeira – mom’s caregiver, Bella, lost both parents
Eddie Vargas – cousin Vance
Anna (Serrano) Vargas – stepmom Liz
Recovering from Surgery
Jim Calibro – and a serious infection
COVID-19
Lynn Albro – friend Anissa hospitalized with COVID pneumonia; nephew Scott hospitalized with COVID & heart failure
Melissa Shook – coworker & coworker’s parents Ramon & Sharon Garcia
Yuri Gomez – Ireri & Enya hospitalized
Charles Cook
John Ford – 30+ employees at City of Modesto
Transportation bus company, including one fatality
Battling Cancer
Brenda Smith – friend Judy has stage 4 cancer
Monte & Sharon Corley – daughter-in-law Mandy starting chemo, upcoming surgery
Cathy Dixon – sister-in-law Nancy
Lyn Brocco – lung cancer
Jacqui Coulter – father, Gene Fisher diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer
Patton Family – assistant high school basketball coach Leo
Griggs
Mason – a teenager in Ripon
Sheila Walls
Grace Whited – 6-year-old at Murphys Church of Christ
Other Requests
Lee Boydstun – pacemaker being replaced Feb 4th
Julie Vergara – grandson Bryce having another bone scan earlier than planned, swollen lymph nodes
Leslie Wilde – having biopsy & tests
Julie Payne – mom Sharon possibly in her last days
Paula Meler – diabetes out of control
Melissa Shook – depression
Eddie Vargas – nephew Noah deployed for 3 yrs to Japan; Dora under Hospice care; Vicki’s sister-in-law is a front line worker & pregnant
Nick Perez – grandmother Ruth Lehnick has congestive heart failure
Helen Potterf – Hospice care
Tonya Barnard – surgery scheduled for Feb 5th
Kari Laguna – leg improving with physical therapy
Leadership / Essential Workers / Unemployed
