Announcements
LIVING CROSS NURSERY WORKERS: We are in need of nursery workers for each night of the production. If you can help in this vital ministry, please sign up at the Welcome Desk.
LIVING CROSS COSTUMES: If you need to be fitted for a costume or pick one up, please see Eli Fenton, who will be available in the Costume Room before and after Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services.
USHERS & PARKING LOT ATTENDANTS: We are in need of ushers and parking lot attendants for each night of the Living Cross. If you would be willing to serve in this area, please sign up at the Welcome Desk. Contact David Brown (410) 458-8360 for ushers or Bob Keefer (443) 789-8428 for parking lot attendants.
PICTURE DIRECTORIES: are now available for pick-up for those who had their photo taken. Stop by the table in the hallway before or after service to pick up your copy.
From My Heart
The Lord Jesus promised us He would return to take His Church out of this world before the wrath and judgment of the Tribulation Period. Paul tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus….” (Romans 8:1). There are many who preach and teach that the church must go through the Tribulation Period, but I cannot find that anywhere in the Scripture.
If you remember, Noah and his family entered into the ark, and then the judgment of the Flood fell. Also, when Lot and his family were safely out of Sodom, the wrath and judgment of God fell upon that wicked city. And the Church will be “raptured out” and safely taken to Heaven before the wrath and judgment of the Tribulation are poured out upon mankind.
The Lord Jesus also said in Matthew 24:37, “But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Noah’s day was a time when “they were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the Ark.” Notice the implication is that before the Flood, everyone was simply so busy doing their own thing…no one listened to Noah and his message of coming judgment.
I have always been amazed that Noah took 120 years to build the Ark, and during that entire time, Noah was a preacher of righteousness! But, when it came time to get on the Ark, only Noah’s immediate family went into the place of safety! That kind of sounds like our world today, doesn’t it? It is very sad how folks today seem to not be the least concerned about eternity. Folks are more concerned with mortal life here than with the immortal life the Lord Jesus offers.
The day of the “Lord” is surely “at hand,” as Paul said in Philippians 4:5. We do not know exactly when the Lord is coming again, but we have the promise that He is coming again. The Disciples looked for Him to come again in their day, and each of us should look for His coming in our day as well. With our world in the spiritual shape it is in, His return cannot possibly be too far away! We are a world spiraling out of control on so many fronts - and the return of Christ to take His Bride to Heaven, and then unleashing His wrath and judgment against this world for rejecting Him and His Word - is the only thing that I believe will straighten everything out!
This year’s Living Cross is coming up, and I want to encourage you to start inviting folks to come see it! This is a new presentation entitled, “The Prodigals.” Of course, the music will be top-notch, and the Gospel will be clearly presented, so I trust you will get some of the tickets and pass them out as a reminder to your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. Also, please start praying for the Lord to bless this year’s presentation. Have a wonderful day!
Pastor Norris