WELLSVILLE FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER

          

 

               

 

Pastor's words of wisdom... 

 

"Steak and Potatoes Gospel"

 

Ephesians 4:15

 

 

Dr. Elizabeth Corrie, director of a program called Youth Theological Initiative at Emory University in Atlanta, discovered an interesting aspect about young people through her many years of work and interaction with them. Corrie says there is no shortage of teenagers who want to make the world a better place, but many of them simply aren't inspired by the watered-down Christianity they hear at church. Corrie says the "gospel of niceness" -- i.e. a theology limited to the idea that we should just be nice because God is nice to nice people -- can't really teach teens how to confront tragedy. "It can't bear the weight of deeper questions: Why are my parents getting a divorce? Why did my best friend commit suicide? Why, in this economy, can't I get the good job I was promised if I was a good kid?" she says. Teens want to be challenged and they want their tough questions met head on. "We think that they want cake, but they actually want steak and potatoes, and we keep giving them cake." A commitment to challenging young people by telling them the truth, even if WE might think they won’t understand or won’t accept it. Preaching positive, uplifting messages doesn't mean that we ignore the harsh realities of life, or that we gloss over sin. In fact, the apostle Paul even hinted at the fact that, this approach actually does help bring maturity; “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15) We don't pretend life is always a picnic when it isn't. We don't pretend that sin isn't always destructive when it is. We tackle these harsh realities in light of the never-ending, never-changing, all-encompassing gospel of Christ — that's where the positive uplifting part comes in. How do we do this? There's not an easy answer. It means that we ourselves must struggle with life's difficult questions, and we must never allow ourselves the luxury of resorting to mere clichés when answers don't come easy. Have a blessed week…

 

Pastor Curtis 

 

 

 

 

 

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Theme: I Believe in Communion

Remembering the Past

Read Exodus 12:14–20

When you look at your calendar, you’ll notice that throughout the year certain days have been set aside to commemorate or call to remembrance specific events or people.

This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance (Exodus 12:14).

The instructions in this chapter were given the night before Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage. A specific time was to be set aside each year to commemorate this momentous event. They were to share this testimony with their children and grandchildren (Exodus 12:26,27).

When we take part in Communion, we look back and remember the wonderful deliverance provided for us by Christ at Calvary. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Corinthians 5:21). Communion is a perpetual reminder to us of the broken body and shed blood of our Savior.

How long has it been since you shared the testimony of your deliverance from sin? Why not do that today.

Prayer Suggestion: Lord, thank You for Your great sacrifice.

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