Romans 11

Chip will be preaching this Sunday morning on Grandparent’s Day. On Sunday evening we will resume our study through the Book of Romans.

We are beginning Chapter 11. Let me encourage you to read the chapter before Sunday night so that you can have some idea about what we will be discussing.

Grace, foreknowledge, election, salvation, Israel are heavy theological subjects that need hard thinking and meditation. Bro. Gordon

 

A Glimpse of Heaven

This past Sunday, August 30th, the Eastwood and Agape congregations gathered together to worship in two languages, with one focus. What a privilege it was to get a glimpse of what heaven will be like when people from ALL languages will be worshiping around the throne – from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. We enjoyed singing together as we alternated between English and Spanish. Pastor William Jaimes delivered a message titled “Give Me a New Heart, Lord!” You can listen to this sermon at the following link. http://eastwoodtulsa.sermondrop.com/sermons/1729-Give-Me-a-New-Heart-Lord-

Maria Collier blessed us with special music, a blend of gospel and mariachi. Perhaps the highlight of the service was the blessing of seeing two new believers follow in obedience in baptism. What a joy to see Pastor William  baptize his own son, Fernando. There was a delicious lunch fellowship following the joint service.

Thank you to everyone that helped serve in different areas Sunday, and thank you for helping our Hispanic congregation feel a part of the Eastwood family.

Blessings, Bro. Kyle

Worshiping with our lives…Not only with our music.

 

The Presence of God-This Sunday

This Sunday we are going to continue to look at the presence of God. I am thankful for everything that God has done for me and everything that He has given to me. I want to be just as satisfied with HIM and His PRESENCE alone.

I want to identify with the Psalmist when he says, “You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence…” Psalm 21:6. I want us to experience the presence of God to such an extent that His presence [and nothing else that He might give us] makes us exceedingly glad!

See you Sunday!

g

 

Have You Been With Jesus?

This Sunday we are going to look at the impact the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit had on the early believers. You might want to get a head start by reading Acts chapters 1-4.

The question I pose in the title of this BLOG intrigues me and convicts me. People could tell that the disciples had been with Jesus. There was a distinct difference in them.

Can people tell that you and I have been with Jesus?

g

 

The Cross and the Believer

We know a lot about the blood of Jesus and its cleansing power; it cleanses us from all sin. This Sunday we are going to look at the power of the Cross to deal with us.

“I have been crucified with Christ” Galatians 2:20. How does the Cross affect the believer? Do you recognize daily that you have been crucified with Christ?

See you tomorrow…g

 

Faith Week Unplugged…

Eastwood’s student ministry started this year with a bang at Faith Week Unplugged. Starting Friday evening on January sixteenth, five student ministries from the surrounding area gathered in Eastwood’s sanctuary for worship and exhortation. Kyle Spencer and Eastwood’s worship team led students into a time of praise. Then speaker Brad Fogarty brought a message from John, and artist Megan Schmitt painted pictures that illustrated the Bible passage.

The theme for the weekend was “Fruit Happens,” and as Brad took the students through John fifteen, they learned that fully remaining in Christ was essential to becoming a healthy, fruit-bearing Christian. Friday evening ended with pizza and fellowship while a total of twenty three
students and youth leaders from as far away as Missouri stayed in the Family Life Center overnight to get ready for Saturday’s activities.

Faith Week Unplugged continued into Saturday with a “fishing trip” to Woodland Hills mall. At the mall, students put their faith into practice by handing out
tracts and witnessing. That evening there was another round of great worship and teaching from Kyle Spencer and Brad Fogarty. Then, students enjoyed a small worship concert from Phil Blount and his praise band, “The Class.” Students shouted and jumped as they worshiped the King.

Sunday morning was the final day of Faithweek Unplugged. Kyle Spencer led worship, Megan Schmitt painted, and Brad Fogarty brought the entire congregation a message from Isaiah chapter eleven. It was clear that God’s presence was in the room, as people made decisions ranging from first-time salvation, to recommitments, to church membership.

Eastwood’s student ministry is now looking straight ahead into this summer’s Faith Week camp. As the students return to school and finish out their academic year, pray that the Lord will keep them strong and firmly attached to Jesus.

Julia Small

 

Prejudice

Give me some feed back on the message from Sunday. Do you think that Christians is general are guilty of the sin of prejudice? How about you? I really checked my heart to see if I am secretly holding feelings of prejudice. Peter was definitely guilty. God had to send him a vision (Acts 10) to correct his prejudice. Jews and Gentiles, blacks and whites, legal/illegal immigrants, the list is long. There is nothing wrong with strong feelings of nationalism and patriotism. America is a great country. But we need to remember that God has blessed us because He is good; not because we are good! He chose Israel and made them what they are but they have not done what He said. He has blessed the USA. But we are not doing what He says. I fear that our immorality (whatever form it takes) makes us candidates for judgment not blessing. We need to repent as individuals and a nation. Nations are represented in heaven. But only the REDEEMED of those nations. “Nations” don’t automatically go to heaven. Only believers from those nations.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands… Revelation 7:9-10

Hey, you may have the most unlikely neighbor in heaven. You can choose who you live next to here but we are all together there!!

g

 

Changed Lives this Sunday

We will continue our message series “Changed Lives” this Sunday morning by looking at a blind man called Bartimaeus and how he is healed and changed by Jesus Christ. You might want to get ready by reading Mark 10:46-52. The Bible talks about two kinds of blindness: physical and spiritual. By far the worst kind is spiritual. Religious people are often blind to the truth. Jesus encountered them throughout His ministry. We are living in a culture that has trouble with seeing and receiving the truth. However, let’s not be proud and think we know it all…pride leads to spiritual blindness…

g

 

share jesus without fear

The second session of “Share Jesus without Fear” begins this Sunday night (10-19-09) at 6:00. If you missed the first session we have the DVD that you can watch at home. The daily Bible study book that goes with the course is a great way to increase your passion for having faith conversations with your friends, co-workers, or person X.

What are your greatest fears when it comes to sharing Christ? Who are you most confortable having faith conversations with?

g

 

Wow! What a Lord’s Day!

What a great day we had at Eastwood yesterday.  The choir sang the greatest song ever written (in my humble opinion), “A Mighty Fortress is our God” and sounded great.  Thanks Kyle and choir for all the work you guys do in order to lead us in worship.

Bro. Gordon spoke on preparing to “fish” again.  These are indeed exciting days around here as we prepare to refocus on sharing the Gospel on a more regular and intentional basis.  There is nothing more exciting in this world than sharing the greatest news the world has ever known with those who so desperately need to hear it.

In the evening Gordon continued his teaching through the book of Romans (we are now in chapter 5).  The message was entitled “Qualifications for Salvation” and was a great reminder of our need for God’s grace and the amazing work of the Spirit in our lives.  If you weren’t there, please get the tape!

As I said at the beginning, we had a great day at Eastwood!  Invite your friends to join us next week as together we seek to follow after God!

J