3 kings?

For so long we have looked at the '3 kings' in Matthew 2. We have sang the songs, and even recreated them in our Christmas Pageants. But Matthew 2 is not just a Christmas story. In fact, what Matthew was trying to communicate had nothing to do with the '3 kings'. Rather, he uses this group as part of his larger story.... Matthew 2 is about 3 groups of people rather than the three kings.

Herod -

Magi -

chief priests and teachers of the law -

This Sunday, as part of our Great Suggestion sermon series, we will discover and go deeper into a familiar story of our faith. Join us.

the great suggestion

The Great Suggestion

How has the Great Commission ever become the 'great suggestion'? At Tabernacle, we take the words of Jesus very seriously when He asks us to, "Go and make disciples of all nations." In fact we base our lives, mission, and purpose around it. Some may believe that the Great Commission is just a tagline to the end of Jesus' ministry. However, if you look closely with us through the Gospel of Matthew, you will see it is something that defines who Jesus was. Join us in this journey together.

learning to fly

"life is a preparation for eternity." Rick Warren

This week at Tabernacle we are going to investigate what it means to "learn to fly".

Søren Kierkegaard the Danish religious philosopher and minister, wrote a multitude of works in the middle of the 19th-century. Among his papers, is a story he wrote entitled the Tame Geese. In this story he asks one to imagine that these geese could, like us, talk and think and do the kinds of things that we do.

The geese went to church every week. Each week they were inspired by a powerful, motivating sermon by the high goose. The sermon always went the same. The high goose would tell the assembled geese of their high destiny and about what a high goal the Creator had appointed geese for he had given them wings. As he said all this, the geese would honk and squawk their approval. The geese curtsied and the ganders bowed their heads in honor of the great words. With their wings, the high goose told them, they could fly anywhere they wanted around the world. They were most pleased to hear this. And each week after church, as they dispersed, the geese would ...waddle ... home.

I want to fly. Some glad morning when this life is o'er. I'll fly away.

patience

As we sit and wait for this storm to hit us, I want to encourage you to be in prayer. Many pray for different things during a time or natural disaster or crisis, but I wonder how often we pray for patience?

I don't know what will happen to our house or to our church. I don't even know when we will be allowed back into the county, so I must be in a mode of waiting. In this waiting, I need patience. In the rebuilding process we must be patient.

Tomorrow we will not be in church, but that does not mean that we cease to be the church. Love those around you. Care for those in need. No matter what happens, we will move forward together.

I want to encourage you to remember your church this week. Many churches are having to cancel their services which means that the offering which supports the ministry of the church will not be taken. We give to God through the ministry of the local church so lives could be changed. The ministry will continue and it needs your support. Please consider this in your giving.

the waiting...

"The waiting is the hardest part."

How are you at waiting? This Sunday at Tabernacle we will discuss what it truly means to wait and why we are called to do so. As we prepare to worship together, I want to draw your attention to a beautiful quote by Paul Tripp. Dwell upon these words...

“Waiting on God isn’t about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It’s part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn’t to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn’t simply about what I’ll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I’ll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He’s promised. Through the wait He’s changing me. By means of the wait He’s altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait He’s causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom. And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands”

Isaiah 40: 28-31

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.”

Gospel & Tom Petty

A lot of people have been coming up to me and asking me, "What is the world does Tom Petty have to do with the church?" These are all people who haven't been able to make it out on Sunday, but I believe if you come you will discover for yourself. I want to encourage you to come on out and find out how the Gospel and Tom Petty are much closer than we would think.

This Sunday we are looking at the song, Refugee.

He says very simply - You don't have to live like a refugee.... Find out more this week at Tabernacle.

J.U.N.E. Project

It has been a great week up here in Pottsville and Reading, PA. Over 145 people have been serving these communities all week in different mission projects while having a lot of fun throughout. The theme was beautiful - "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news."

Check out more about the JUNE Project at www.juneproject.org

This Sunday at Tabernacle - Love is a Long Road.