Highway Tabernacle's E-Bulletin: E-Bulletin 11/3/14

HIGHWAY TABERNACLE ~ RESURRECTION LIFE

Monday, November 3, 2014

“Following Jesus and Loving People”

One of my joyful responsibilities is to teach a group of “next generation” preachers. Each Tuesday and Thursday mornings I get to meet with 15 pastoral students and part of my role is to listen and evaluate their messages. This morning I was blessed by a message by one of these future preachers. Here are some of his thoughts from Matthew 14 about Peter walking on the water toward Jesus. We read that when the disciples in the boat saw Jesus walking on the water, “Jesus immediately said to them: Take courage! It is I. Don’t’ be afraid” (Matt. 14:27). Peter, after Jesus said, “come”, stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus! However, because of Peter’s loss of focus on Jesus, he sank into the water. Jesus picked him up and immediately challenged him with, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (14:31).

From the beginning of sin’s entrance into the world, we have struggled with different types of fear. I wonder how many things have we missed out on because of fear? Jesus can give us the faith we need to walk above our fearful circumstances, but we must take the first step…just like Peter. In stepping out, we also must be aware that fear and faith travel close together. If we wait for every drop of fear to evaporate, we will always stay in our “boat” of safety and sameness.

Another great lesson from Peter’s faith is that, “God doesn’t call us to fail”. Jesus didn’t push Peter under the water, but held him up to begin with, and reached out his hand to pull Peter up when his fear got the best of him. Peter let fear get him wet for a moment, but that still does not take away from the fact that he was the only disciple (that we know of) to walk on water! In the last statement of the student’s message, he challenged us to “leave your towels at home.” In other words, if you have faith in God, he will see you through. With Jesus we can believe the best, not expect the worst.

Pastor Mark Boucher

MONDAY, 5:30-7:00PM, Understanding Children @ Resurrection Life. Please call 215-563-9192 or 215-226-1000 to see if there is still room in the class. Registration is required.

THURSDAY, 6:00-8:15, Clean-up and Work Night (as part of Family Night Ministries) @ Highway Tabernacle.

FRIDAY, 7-8:30PM, FAMILY NIGHT (extended hours for kids and youth who register) @ Resurrection Life. Call 215-226-1000 for information.

SATURDAY, 9:00AM, Junior Bible Quiz Meet #2 @ Resurrection Life Church.

NEXT SUNDAY, 4:00PM, Leadership team Meeting @ Highway Tabernacle.

“Honoring the Past, Changing the Future”

Save the Date! Invite your family and friends. Highway Tabernacle and Resurrection Life are combining services on Sunday, Nov. 16th, for a special anniversary celebration at Highway in the morning service (@ 10:00AM). A fellowship lunch will follow!