A Great Mystery

This morning's Message Outline:

4/19/09 - First Assembly of God

"A Great Mystery"

Ephesians 5:22-33

Christian marriage is not an end in itself. Marriage is God’s living illustration of His relationship with His people – Christ’s relationship to His bride, the Church.

1. Jesus is the Founder and Head of the Church (v23-24)

2. Jesus is the greatest Lover of the Church (v25)

3. Jesus is the Perfector of the Church (v26-27)

Church Membership classes commence Sunday morning, May 17th, at 9.30am. If you attend First Assembly and have not yet become a member we invite you to join us for this 4 week series.

CLICK HERE to download this message as an audio podcast, or listen online streaming, and / or download the full notes.

Phil

Town Hall for Hope event

We are very pleased to be hosting Dave Ramsey's nationwide "Town Hall for Hope".

Next Thursday night, April 23rd at 8.00pm.

[Note: the event is at our church facility -

not at the local Town Hall.]

Last year we ran Dave's "Financial Peace University" training course at First Assembly, and it was one of the best-attended, most talked-about programs we've had. So many people were encouraged and helped very practically with getting their finances in better shape. This is just THE best stuff out there on personal financial management ... bar none ... no question!

What a timely course it turned out to be with what has ensued over the following months in our economy, and the fear and gloom that has gripped so many people as a result.

This one night event is designed to give people back hope, and some real answers and strategies for their families. If you live in the Danbury area, don't miss being with us next Thursday night! If you live further away, this event is being beamed live via internet into churches all over the place so go to www.townhallforhope.com and find out the nearest venue to where you live. There's also a cool video on that page for everyone to watch that will just get you excited about what next week's event is all about.

This is a no-cost event. Just come, and bring all your friends! I look forward to seeing you there.

Phil

Easter's Joy

Yesterday's Message Outline:

Easter Sunday 4/12/09 - First Assembly of God

"Easter's Joy"

John 20:19-20

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is MORE than just a historical fact ; MORE than simply a theological truth; MORE than a doctrinal statement (though it IS all of these things). The resurrection is the most wonderful, practical, liberating comfort for believers. To know that Jesus is alive!

1. The Distress of not Knowing that Jesus is Risen

2. The Distrust of not Believing that Jesus is Risen

3. The Joy of Knowing that Jesus is Risen

CLICK HERE to download this message as an audio podcast, or listen online streaming, and / or download the full notes.

Please Note: We apologize that there is no audio podcast available of Good Friday's message. The full notes, however, can be downloaded at the same link above.

Phil

Quotes for chewing on #3 – Piper: a prayer for eternal perspective

“Fight for us, O God, that we not drift numb and blind and foolish into vain and empty excitements. Life is too short, too precious, too painful to waste on worldly bubbles that burst. Heaven is too great, hell is too horrible, eternity is too long that we should putter around on the porch of eternity."

John Piper, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, p.72.

Do You Think He Will Not Come?

This morning's Message Outline:

Palm Sunday 4/5/09 - First Assembly of God

"Do You Think He Will Not Come?"

John 11:56

So, will He come to Jerusalem? Does He dare? The question is about to be resoundly answered. Absolutely He will come!

1. He’ll come because it was for this purpose that He took on flesh

2. He’ll come because no man holds His destiny

3. He’ll come because this week is the apex of eternity

Once again in 2009 the same question is being asked. 2 Peter 3:3-10.

He will come. Are you ready?

CLICK HERE to download this message as an audio podcast, or listen online streaming, and / or download the full notes.

Phil

Palm Sunday & Holy Week

Tomorrow we begin “Holy Week”, the central event of the Christian calendar. If you’re in the Danbury area we hope you’ll come out and join us at First Assembly for our Palm Sunday service at 10.45am.

My message tomorrow morning is titled “Do you think He will not come?” from John 11:56. A question that was asked in Jerusalem 2000 years ago, that was powerfully answered by God, and is being asked again in 2009. I can’t wait to preach what I’ve felt God putting on my heart for this very special day.

Join us also for our regular Sunday Night Revival Prayer meeting at 6.00pm.

A look forward to Good Friday morning, we’ll be having a one hour communion service together at 9.00am. Our theme will be “The True Agony of the Cross.” A lot of attention has been paid in recent years to the physical suffering Jesus endured at the Cross. Films like “The Passion of the Christ” have emphasized it for us. Jesus DID suffer a horrific death, but the Scriptures show very clearly that the TRUE agony He bore was not primarily the physical torture. Something else caused Him to sweat drops of blood in anticipation. Don’t miss our Good Friday service!

Then our week will climax on next Easter Sunday morning with the celebration that “He is Risen!”

Looking forward to sharing this wonderful week with you, and giving all the honor, praise, adoration and glory to our Savior. He alone is worthy!

Phil

The Uniqueness of God

The Book of Deuteronomy recounts Moses "farewell" at the end of his life. He is preparing the people of Israel to move into the Promised Land under the leadership of his successor Joshua. Moses himself would not go in with them.

The name "Deuteronomy" comes from two words: "deuteros" meaning "two" or "second", and "nomos" meaning "law" - so it is "the second giving of the law". Moses is repeating all of God's requirements to a new generation of Israelites. Their parents had been delivered from slavery in Egypt, but faltered at the opportunity to enter the Promised Land through fear, and so they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years until this new generation came up to once again be given the opportunity to obey God.

That's the context.

I've been musing on Deuteronomy chapter 4 this week, where we read about a number of aspects of God's uniqueness.

He alone is God, and there is none like Him. Of course, in reality there are no other "gods" to even pretend to compare with Him, but even the so-called gods that exist as fantasies in the imagination of men cannot compare with His glory.

Usually, when men get outside the realm of reality and create fictional places and people, they are better, stronger, richer, greater. This is how we entertain ourselves with Utopian bliss. What if a man was indestructible and could fly? Ah yes, Superman! Better than a man with our mundane limitations. Or a James Bond, or a Sherlock Holmes, etc, etc.

But when it comes to God, all of man's wildest imaginations about how powerful such a being might be pale into insignificance beside the reality! The only true and living God is actually greater by far than all that men could dream up. God Himself points this out to us in Isaiah 55:9, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

This truth is all over the Bible, of course, but in this one passage in Deuteronomy chapter 4, just look at the ways that God is shown to be unique:

1. No other "god" is near to His people whenever they call (v7).


2. No other "god" has such righteous law (v8).


3. No other "god" is a merciful covenant-keeping God (v31).


4. No other "god" is a speaking God (v33).


5. No other "god" powerfully delivered a chosen people for Himself (v34).

Check the other religions of the world for yourself! None have a god like the True and Living God, Jehovah.

In all man's idolatrous and imaginitive scheming over 6000 years of history, not ONE of their "gods" is worthy to compare with the glory and beauty of their real Creator.

Phil

Congratulations Alli!

My amazing wife ...

recently completed studies with the Danbury Nurses Aide Training School, and on Monday she sat for the Connecticut State Exam and passed with flying colors! She is now a Certified Nurses Aide (CNA). Tomorrow she's off to add CPR training to her skills. Is there anything this gal can't do, and pack into a lifetime?

Congratulations, honey!

Phil