Sunday is Coming!
If you search the science headlines over the past year, you might notice that some physicists feel that progress towards a "Theory of Everything" seems to have stalled…
In theoretical physics, the "Theory of Everything" is a concept that tries to make sense of all aspects of the universe—everything from gravity, to sub-atomic particles, to how light functions, to how the space-time continuum works.
E=MC2
It's been Over 100 years since Albert Einstein was said to have taken a great step toward such a theory with his famous "E=MC2" equation, which brings together energy, mass, and the speed of light… but which also introduced the mind-boggling concept of "relativity."
We might think that something so abstract would have little effect on our day-to-day lives, but have you noticed how much "relativity" is found in our world today?
"Truth" has become relative—it can be 'your truth' or 'my truth.' Everything can be "fact checked" or ignored at our convenience. There are differing versions of "The News," different facets of society, and we lack consensus on what is real or good or healthy.
Relativity has so shaped our world that people can't seem to agree on anything, even what may seem like objective fact.
Actually, "relativity" isn't really a new concept in philosophy… Wise King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, "there is nothing new under the sun." He himself wrestled with inconsistencies of truth and righteousness centuries before Einstein.
In the Gospel of John, at the trial of Jesus, Pontius Pilot famously said, "What is Truth?" quoting the prevailing Greek philosophy of his day.
Maybe Einstein confirmed what philosophers like Solomon have known for centuries: this world is complicated!
Human beings have been searching for a "Theory of Everything" by one name or another since the beginning of time, to try to make sense of life.
While I can't speak to the physics of it, I believe the Bible gives us a "Theory of Everything"—according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:28:
"God is All in All"
A foundational principle associated with this is that "The Gospel Changes Everything"
We must ask ourselves, "Is God our All in All?"
Do we let the Truth of the Gospel shape everything about ourselves?
Or do we let the ever-changing philosophies, fads, or powers of the world shape us?
For Paul and the early church, the shocking fact that Jesus was raised from the dead caused them to rethink everything they thought they knew – at fundamental levels that drastically changed history.
We've been studying the Apostolic statement of faith found in I Corinthians 15 which comes from the earliest days of the church. It relates the foundational details of the Gospel—that Jesus Christ died, rose again, and appeared to many.
This weekend we will once more consider the Truth of the Gospel and what it means for EVERYTHING in our personal lives. We will consider how Paul connects the fact of the resurrection to the bigger picture of what God is doing in the Universe—
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
--I Corinthians 15:20-28
Again, for Paul and the early church, the shocking fact that Jesus was raised from the dead, coupled with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, caused them to rethink everything they had thought they knew about God & the World.
When Jesus came back to life again, they began to put together the pieces of all the things Jesus had taught and did, connecting it to their knowledge of God through the Bible, and came to the realization that YES, AHA, Eureka, Jesus was God in the Flesh, who had fulfilled God's promises of a Messiah who would save His people from their Sins!
And this resurrection power also overflowed into every other belief and practice for the early church, and it can and should shape every aspect of our lives as well.
There were many drastic changes that resulted with the rise of Christianity, and we will consider 4 of them this weekend. From an 'apologetics' standpoint, they give us hope and confidence in the truthfulness of the Gospel, but they also serve as examples of how we must let the Gospel change the way we view everything in our lives as well.
Let us remember that Gospel Changes Everything!
We must let it change everything about us personally, as we declare "Jesus is Lord" and worship God as our All in All!
This Sunday
Prepare your hearts as we worship in the Spirit, proclaiming Jesus as Lord and glorifying God as the All in All.
8:30 Traditional Worship
Rejoice, the Lord is King #370
O Worship the King #104
We Will Glorify #105
All Hail King Jesus #103
Our God Reigns #372
11:00 Contemporary Worship
Child of Love
Indescribable
Scandal of Grace
Reckless Love
Mission Sunday!
Next week (October 27) we will hear about what God is doing through some of our ministry partners in our community and around the world. During Sunday School, our adult classes will be combined together in the Sanctuary for an update from our Compelled to Serve commission.
The 2024 Cumberland Valley District Missionary Celebration is also happening next Sunday, October 27, beginning at 2:45pm. It will take place at the Carlisle First Church of God, just off Interstate 81, College Street Exit 45.
The Keynote speaker will be Mr. Travis Helm, Director of Churches of God General Conference Global Reach. He will share an update on a challenging new ministry in Asia where God has opened a door for our denomination to begin a slum/human trafficking ministry in India. In addition, God has allowed the CGGC to expand into South India with basic children's education, women's ministry, and church planting. As part of the Missionary Project goal of raising $40,000 for missions, they will be earmarking funds for these new areas.
Dr. Michael Walker will also share about the work of the Ministry Training Institute (MTI), which continues to offer classes for individuals preparing for the ministry and for anyone who wants to enrich his/her understanding of various ministry contexts. Many more are in the church program. MTI will also be a part of the Missionary Project.
In recent weeks, we've heard of the devastation caused by recent hurricanes in the Southeast US. If you have felt led to give towards the ongoing recovery efforts, our CGGC denomination has put together a resource to help you consider ways to help: Help the Southeast Recover | CGGC eNews | Churches of God GC
Congregational Meeting
The fall Congregational Meeting is Sunday Evening, November 3rd at 6:00pm. This will be a time of celebrating what God has done in our church and will include election of council members and reports from some of our ministries. Council dockets will be made available this weekend in keeping with our constitution and by-laws.
Absentee ballots are available for those who cannot be present at the congregational meeting. Please contact the church secretary in a timely manner to receive an absentee ballot—
Secretary e-mail: secretary@shipfcog.org
Church Office Phone: 717-532-8421
Church Bonfire & Chili Cookoff!
Our Church Bonfire is happening on November 2nd at Winsome Farms, and we hope you'll plan to be there and invite your friends & neighbors! It's free to attend, and there are many free activities like last year, but as an added part of this activity, we are holding a Chili Cook-Off which will benefit the Circle of Love ministry. There is a cost to enter the chili contest, and a cost to sample the chili entries to help choose a winner. You can learn more at the table in the Gathering Place or on the church website. To learn more and Register for the Chili Cook Off, visit: shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/bonfire/
Prayer Update
Pastor Gary has returned to Hershey once again this morning. Please continue to pray for comfort and healing as he continues to face the ongoing difficulties of pancreatitis.
Communications Updates
The October edition of our "FYI" Newsletter is now available in the Gathering Place or the center section of the Sanctuary. It contains information about upcoming events, small groups opportunities, and giving & attendance information.
If you have information you would like to communicate, communication request forms are available from the church office, in the Gathering Place, or online.
Looking forward to worshipping with you in the Sanctuary or Online this Sunday!
Pastor Rodney Bistline
Shippensburg First Church of God
seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org
Helpful Links:
Online Messages (shipfcog.org)
Care Groups & Sunday School Classes
Weekly Bulletin & FYI Monthly Newsletter (updated over the weekend)
shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html
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