All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

We do a lot of Bible study at church and in our homes, but for what purpose? Contrary to all the jokes, there will be no quiz at the pearly gates: your name is either in the book of life or not! Certainly Scripture can bring us comfort and hope, but it is meant to do much more than that. We study the Bible because God has good things for us to do in this life that we cannot do without His transforming and equipping: teaching us what is truly valuable, rebuking our sinfulness, correcting our self-centered ways of thinking, and training us in righteousness, so that what we do can be seen to be done through Him. God breathed His Spirit into Scripture for this very purpose: so that we can know and participate in His grand and glorious mission of saving the world.  

“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word, by which we are equipped to do Your work. Enable us to humbly accept its teaching, rebuke, correction, and training, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

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BEST (OR WORST) CHURCH COFFEE SHOP NAMES
As church coffee shops increase, so do place names playing on Christian and Biblical terms
to push caffeinated beverages. Here are 15 of the best—or worst, depending on your opinion of puns!

He Brews

Jehovah Java

Eternal Perks

Holy Grounds

Halle-Brew-Jah 

Tongues of Fire

Bean Redeemed 

Brew unto Others

Great Awakenings

The Bean-Addiction 

My Cup Overfloweth

Jesus Loves You a Latte

Pressed but Not Crushed

Shadrach, Meshach, and A-Bean-To-Go

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Roast

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The LORD equip and energize you this week! 

In Jesus, 

Pastor Kirk

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14) 

We’re still in the darkest days of the year, when many of us get up in the dark and get home in the dark. It’s a great time to remember all of the imagery in Scripture comparing our Savior and His salvation with light illuminating darkness. Not only does light guide us, keep us safe, and cheer our spirits, it allows us to clean what would otherwise be unseen and to value what would otherwise be worthless. Some day we will live with God in eternity, where we will walk by the light of the glory of God and there will be no night. Until then, we live as children of the light, guided by the Light of the World, always seeking to overcome the darkness and reveal God’s glory

“Heavenly Father, thank You for enlightening our hearts with Your Spirit. Enable us to see through the darkness of this world and reflect the brilliance of Christ, our Light and Salvation, that other may be brought into the light, in Jesus, amen. 
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LIGHTEN UP

A few days into the new year, a woman found her husband in their bathroom.

He was sucking in his stomach as he weighed himself on the bathroom scale. 

The woman thought, “He thinks he will weigh less by sucking in his stomach.'' 

So, she rather sarcastically said to her husband, ''That's not going to help.'' 

Her husband said, ''Sure it will. It's the only way I can see the numbers.''
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Voicemail message: "I’m not available right now, but thanks for calling. 

I am making some changes in my life as we begin the new year. 

Please leave a message and your number after the beep. 

If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes."
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The LORD guide you in the changes and challenges of this new year!

In Jesus, 
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Pastor Kirk