Murray
Presbyterian Messenger
April 2009
Dear
Church Family,
On Sunday we will be entering one of the most important
weeks of the year for those who hold to the Christian faith. During Christmas we celebrate Christ’s birth
and God’s entering into history in human form.
On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. But what does it mean to be resurrected from
the dead?
Jesus’
resurrection was not just a resuscitation of his body. Lazarus was brought back to life, but he
eventually died again. Those who are
resurrected will not die again.
Resurrection leads to life eternal in the kingdom of God. The second thing we need to understand about
Christ’s resurrection is that it was bodily.
The biblical witness and the Christian church—down through the
centuries—have held that Christ’s bodily resurrection validates his claim to be
both Lord and Christ. New Testament
scholar William Cook wrote,
It
[the resurrection] substantiates the proposition that His life and death were
not just the life and death of a good man but that He indeed was God incarnate
and that by His death we have forgiveness of sin.
In I
Corinthians chapter 15 the apostle Paul says that if Christ was not raised from
the dead than our trust and faith in him is “worthless.” For Christians the resurrection is
foundational for our faith in Christ.
In the ancient world
there were many who rejected the resurrection.
It’s the same today. For many
years critics have been attacking the orthodox understanding of the resurrection
in favor of new views. They argue a host
of alternative theories to explain what happened to Jesus after his
crucifixion. Christians need to be aware
of such views and learn how to respond to questions posed.
It is important to be an
informed believer and to grow in our knowledge of the faith. Recently, there have been several books that
have defended the historicity of the resurrection. These books answer questions that people have
and are based on solid research. I
recommend Gary Habermas and Michael Licona’s The Case for the Resurrection
of Jesus (2004), William Lane Craig’s The Son Rises (2001) and Reasonable
Faith (2008), and Lee Strobel’s The Case for Easter (2004). There are numerous other books I could point
you to, but these should get you started down the right track.
The phrase
“a mind is a terrible thing to waste” applies to us. We must not live our Christian lives in
intellectual neutral. I encourage you to
read and research the issues concerning our Lord’s resurrection so that you can
give an answer for the hope you have in Christ.
Moreover, we must remember that our faith is not just about
evidence. Our faith is also about our
hearts. Participating in the realities
of God is foundational for faith. May
your heart and mind be renewed this Easter as you walk with God in humble
obedience.
In Christ,
Jeff
Peggy Etherington:
Prayers for Peggy and her family as they mourn Gary’s passing. (2518 Overlook Cir. Beaver Lake, NE 68048)
Charlotte
Mars: Prayers for Charlotte and
her family as they mourn Paul’s passing. (1918 Beaver Lake Blvd. Beaver Lake,
NE 68048)
Betty
Tepner: Prayers for healing and strength for Betty and
strength for Dixie
Craft. (5309 Crogans Way Rd. Council Bluffs, IA 51501)
Karen
Savage: Prayers for healing and
strength. (P.O. Box 17 – Murray, NE 68409)
Don
Loftin: Prayers for healing &
strength. (9500 Milford Rd.-Beaver Lake, NE
68048)
Dave, Jenny, Samantha & Ella Cook: Prayers of strength for the family &
healing for Ella.
(9923 12th Street – Murray NE 68409)
Additional
Prayer Concerns:
Cathy
Balfour
as she battles cancer. (11509 A Street-Avoca, NE 68307)
Nickey
Johnson: Prayers for her parents, especially her Mom.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thoughts & Prayers for our
shut
ins:
Lottie
Johnson: continual prayers. (1750
S.20th Street
# 118-Lincoln, NE
68502)
Mildred
Moritz: continual prayers. (1300
Avenue D-Plattsmouth, NE 68048)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Remember
the members of our Armed Forces, who are serving overseas and stateside:
Philmore
Williams
*******************************
Continued
Prayers of comfort for:
The
Family of Charlotte Mars
The
Family of Peggy Etherington
Easter Study Resources: Evidence for the Resurrection
1. Gary Habermas and Michael Licona,
The Case for the Resurrection of
Jesus (Grand Rapids: Kregal Publications,
2004)
2. William Lane Craig, The Son
Rises: The Historical Evidence for the
Resurrection of Jesus
(Portland: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2001)
3. William Lane Craig, Reasonable
Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics
(Wheaton:
Crossway, 2008)
4. Lee Strobel, The Case for
Easter (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004)
____________________________________________________
MEMBERSHIP CLASSES
If you are
interested in attending a Membership Class - Pastor Jeff McDonald will be glad
to talk to you! Please call (402)
682-1439
********************************************************************************
Join
the Women’s
Circle every
month, on
the second
Wednesday, at the church at 7pm!
This Month: April
8th
********************************************************************************
Krista and I want to thank everyone for the cards and the
condolences after
hearing about my grandfather’s passing. We really appreciate you prayers
and support. The funeral was
held at Douglas Avenue Presbyterian Church in
Des Moines, Iowa. The pastor
preached from 2 Timothy 4:6-8 where Paul
talks about fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and
keeping the faith.
It was a real celebration of his life. Thanks again for your words of sympathy.
Jeff
and Krista
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EASTER EGG HUNT
The Murray/Beaver Lake Lion’s Club will be hosting an Easter Egg
Hunt on Saturday, April 11th at Tyson Park in Murray. The event will begin at 10:00am. Please take your kids (up to 4th
grade) and their friends to this fun event!!
****************************************************************
Mexican Fiesta Sunday & mini pie
sale!!!
Sunday, April 26th
Please
come to the “free-will donation” Mexican fiesta dinner and mini pie sale
following the church service!!! All
proceeds will go to the manse kitchen remodel!
*******************************************************************
PYF
Please join the youth group on
Sunday, April 5th at 6:30pm at the manse
for food, devotional and games.
************************************************************************************
Apportionment
Please prayerfully
consider assisting the church with apportionment this year ($26.94) Thank you.
***************************************************************
FOOD PANTRY
for April
Join
the “Sack Attack!”
Help
take a bite out of the need to help the hungry of Cass County!!
Remember
to fill your sack with food and return it to church
as
soon as you are able!!
If
you do not have a sack, they are available at church ~
the
suggested items list is in each sack.
*********************************************
Praise Worship Night!!
Please come and join your family and friends
for contemporary worship fellowship and music ~
One Sunday each month
****************************************************
*Denise Ayers is always looking for Liturgists.
If you are interested, please let her know. If she asks you – please participate and know
that your service to the church is appreciated.
A special Thank You to all who have done so in the past.
*******************************************************************************************Please visit our website at www.murraypresbyterian.com
to see the weekly bulletin, congregational life, and the monthly newsletter!
*************************************************************************
Anniversaries
Happy
Anniversary to:
Terry & Sue Buresh 4/4
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to:
Brian
Johns 4/1
Ella Cook 4/2
Kara
Eldred 4/2
David
Clawson 4/7
Grant
Nickels 4/8
Kyle
Nickels 4/8
Wesley
Nickels 4/8
Ben
Sachs 4/8
Grace
Weisz 4/8
Carson
Honaker 4/10
Walt
Price 4/10
Larry
Bonnema 4/14
Mike
Honaker 4/16
Rachel
Heylmun 4/17
Nancy
Wagner 4/19
Paul
Waters 4/19
Kirsten
Clawson 4/20
Tim
Savage 4/20
Herb
McCaulla 4/22
Jocelyn
Deterding 4/25
Where we’ve been in the Bible: Study Guide
(Paul’s Letters)
2 Corinthians (written about AD. 56)
-Corinth, Greece—major ancient commercial
center. Corinth has been referred to as
the Las Vegas of the ancient world.
-Paul defends his ministry against false
teachers—Judaizers.
-In 2 Corinthians Paul focuses on the
centrality of the cross.
-Paul encourages the Corinthian Christians
to be generous.
-Paul trusts in God for strength when he is
weak and things are difficult.
Philippians (written about A.D. 61)
-Philippi, Macedonia (Northern,
Greece). Military retirement community.
-Very generous in their giving.
-Paul calls the Philippians to imitate
Christ’s humility.
-He also instructs them to not put
confidence in ritual, but rather in Jesus Christ.
-The quarrel between Eudia and
Syntyche. Paul pleads with them to agree
with each other in the Lord.
-Paul tells the church at Philippi to put
into practice whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and
praiseworthy.
Colossians (written
about A.D. 61)
-Colosse—located in what is today
southwestern Turkey.
-Small town. Various cults have an extremely strong
presence in the community.
-Paul stresses that Christ is the Supreme
creator and ruler of the universe.
-He teaches that Jesus is not just a way to
God—Jesus is God.
-True fullness is to be found in Jesus
Christ and not human traditions—festivals, religious diets, etc.
-Paul urges the Christians in Colosse to
pray constantly and share their faith.
Philemon (written
about A.D. 61)
-Paul wrote this letter to a wealthy man in
Colosse named Philemon.
-Paul writes a very warm and appreciative
letter to Philemon asking him to welcome back a slave named Onesimus.
-Onesimus had apparently stole money from
Philemon and then ran away.
-Onesimus had a life
changing conversion to God and somehow became friends with Paul in Rome. Now Paul wants Philemon to welcome back
Onesimus as a brother in Christ.
1 Thessalonians (written
about A.D. 50)
-Thessalonica, Macedonia (Northern Greece).
-Thessalonica was a large commercial center
and a major seaport.
-Earlier Paul had started a riot there when
he visited the town and preached the “Good News.” (Acts 17)
-Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonian
Christian’s faith, defends his own ministry there, and rejoices that the
Thessalonian Christians have accepted the word of God as it truly is the word
of God (ch. 1 & 2). These believers
are doing a great job of sharing the faith.
-Thessalonian Christians are being
persecuted by unbelievers and tempted by Satan, but their faith is remaining
strong (ch. 3).
-Paul gives instructions in Christian
living—live a quite life, work, earn respect from outsiders by how you live
(ch. 4). Avoid immorality and love each
other
-Paul explains what will happen to
believers—both the living and the dead—at the time of the second coming of
Jesus (ch. 5). Encourage one another and
build each other up.
Submitting Information ForThe Bulletin Or
Newsletter
If
you have information that needs to be put in the Congregational Life or
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