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Coming to First Free
NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE
PAIDTWIN CITIES MNPERMIT NO 32622
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5150 Chicago Ave S.Minneapolis, MN 55417
F i r s t E v a n g E l i c a l F r E E c h u r c h A C h u r c h F a m i l y P u b l i c a t i o n
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
First FrEE staFF JoEl sutton, sEnior Pastor
Mark MEyErs, youth [email protected]
Jay Pound, associatE [email protected]
BEth Brown. childrEn's Ministry [email protected]
MikE graFF, worshiP [email protected]
dEE huanca & MaurEEn JuarEzFaith coMMunity nursEs
kaitlin graFF, [email protected]
lydia russEll, [email protected]
scott BEckEtt, FacilitiEs [email protected]
First Word
What is your final authority in life? I mean when you are cornered, when you are really up against it, when you are forced to face reality, upon what do you lean?
Let me ask it another way: It is be-tween one and two o’clock in the morning and you get a phone call; it is a police officer. He tries to give you the news gently, but it soon becomes obvious – someone you love desper-ately has been in a terrible head-on collision. The victim – your loved one – suffered a tragic death. How do you handle the grief? What gives you courage to go on? How do you find hope?
Ask those questions to people around you, and you will find a whole slew of different answers, but typically their answers leave them still standing in quicksand. What is your final author-ity in life?
There can be no more reliable au-thority on earth than God’s word, the Bible. This timeless, trustworthy source of truth holds the key that unlocks life’s mysteries. It alone pro-vides the shelter when we are in the midst of the storm.
The Psalmist says to God, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Jesus says, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
J a n . 6 – E a t t h e W o r dE z e k i e l 2 - 3 : 3 ; 2 T i m o t h y 3 : 1 6J a n . 1 3 – G o d W h o S p e a k s i n S c r i p t u r e2 T i m o t h y 3 : 1 6 - 1 7 ; 2 P e t e r 1 : 2 1J a n . 2 0 – G o d ’ s W o r d i s T r u s t w o r t h yG e n . 3 , A c t s 7 , H e b 4 : 1 2 - 1 3 , 2 K i n g s 2 2 : 3 - 2 0J a n . 2 7 – G o d S p e a k s T h r o u g h C h r i s tH e b r e w s 1 : 1 - 4F e b . 3 – G o d ’ s W o r d i n C o m m u n i t yN e h e m i a h 8F e b . 1 0 – G o d S t i l l s p e a k sA c t s 8 , 2 T h e s s . 2 : 1 3 - 1 7
Eat the Word by Pastor Joel
Starting Jan. 24, 2013
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course is coming to First Free. Classes begin Thursday, January 24, 2013, and will continue each Thursday @ 6:30 p.m. for the following nine weeks, ending on March 21st. More informa-tion on how to register for the course can be found at the church website: www.firstfreechurch.org. Click on the Financial Peace University banner, which will direct you to Dave Ramsey's site, which features details on how to sign up for this life-changing course. Registration cost is $89, which includes you and/or your spouse.
Join us for a free preview class on Thursday, January 10th @ 7:00 p.m.
Your moneY. Your StorY. Your life.
Learn God's ways of handLinG money with dave ramsey's Financial Peace University. the averaGe is $8,000 in just the first three months!
In other words, God’s Word is un-like any other book. It is alive. God speaks, and when we make the Bible the authoritative standard in our lives, the compass we rely upon for direction, the counsel we listen to for making wise decisions, and the bench-marks for evaluating everything, then our lives will be transformed. When we move from being just hearers of God’s Word to being do-ers of God’s Word, then we will become a healthy disciple of Christ.
As we move into this new year of 2013, we will be engaging in an all-church campaign called “Eat the Word.” That title comes from Ezekiel 3:1-3, where God tells his prophet to eat His words written on a scroll. Ezekiel obeys, and the scroll tastes “as sweet as honey” in his mouth.
Inside this edition of First Word, you will be inspired with a story of how God’s Word has been trustworthy in Kathy and Randy Solem’s life as they wade through the deep waters of cancer. You will be challenged and encouraged by an interview with Bob and Lois Chapman on their experi-ence of reading through the Bible in a year. You will find helpful informa-tion of where you might start as this new year begins with a Bible reading program.
Here is my challenge: Will you “eat” God’s word this next year? Will you commit to spending time in it dai-ly? Will you love God’s Word, learn God’s Word, and live God’s Word?
Q: How manY timeS Have You read tHrougH tHe BiBle and
How mucH time did tHiS re-Quire?
A: We think that we have now read it about twelve times. Reading the Bible from cover to
cover just never seemed to be on our high priority radar. It was
not until we heard about a program (Discovering the Bible, by G L Addington)
that gave readings from several different sections of the Bible each day, such that you read through the Bible in one year, that we were challenged to do so. We find the actual reading rarely takes longer than 15 minutes a day -- but that’s EVERY DAY. Oh, and we find it re-ally meaningful to discuss what we have read that morning while we eat breakfast together. (Healthy for the marriage as well!)
Q: wHat iS SometHing tHat alwaYS SurpriSeS You wHen reading tHe BiBle...wHetHer it iS a paSSage tHat alwaYS catcHeS Your attention, cHallengeS You, etc. ?
A: Both of us really agree on the first answer that comes to mind. It is amazing what comes alive just for me -- almost every day -- each time through, that I’d never seen, or just forgotten. It’s never “the same old, same old!” You really grow in your love for His Word and for Him.
Q: do You Have a Brief StorY of How a paSSage HaS affected You or Someone You know in a powerful waY?
When I (Lois) was told that I had what seemed to be stage 4 cancer, our emotions went rather ballistic. We had four kids in school at the time. The verse from Ephesians 4 came to our attention: “Always giv-ing thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We felt we needed to obey and stopped what we were doing and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for the cancer. It was hard. The next morning I awoke with a deep sense of joy which brought me right out of bed. That deep, underlying joy remained with us through the whole process, including the 5 hour surgery, even though at a more superficial level the whole thing was very, very stressful.
Q: wHat would You SuggeSt/wHat encouragement would You offer for a Beginner wHo iS juSt Starting to get into tHe word or Starting a plan to read tHru tHe entire BiBle?
A: Have fairly simple and attainable goals. Reading through the New Testament in one year is a good start. We would suggest getting the above mentioned book, Discovering the Bible (NavPress), and only reading the New Testament readings. Then the following year, read-ing through the whole Bible would be the next challenge, using the book’s schedule. A few tips: Have a regular scheduled time, place, a notebook for simple notes, and hopefully an accountability partner or group. This needs to be a habit, like brushing your teeth. Before read-ing ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding as you read.
Eating the Word: A Beginner's Guide. . . a " Q & A " w i t h B o b & L o i s C h a p m a n
Upcoming @ F i r s t F r e e
Jan. 6 at 4:00 p .m.the asante ch i ldren 's cho irJoin us for a very specia l treat as the Rwanda Asante Choir comes
and performs at First Free!
Jan. 7 & 2 1 at 7 :00 p .m.Express ions
Jan. 9 at 9 :39 a.m.WOmen 's B ible study resumes
Jan. 9 at 6 :30 p .m.Creeks ide clubs & z ion youth
group resume
Jan. 10 at 7 :00 p .m.F inanc ial peace un ivers ity
free prev i ew class
Jan. 1 1 - 13middle school student
winter retreat@ Camp Shamineau
Jan. 19 at 9 :00 a.m.Men 's soulshare breakfast
Jan. 24 at 6 :30 p .m.F inanc ial Peace Un ivers ity
Class of f ic ia l ly star ts
Jan. 25-27h igh school student
winter retreat@ Camp Shamineau--Registration
& funds due Jan. 6
jan. 27 at 4:00 p .m.class 10 1 :
explor ing church membersh ipContact the church off ice i f you are
interested in becoming a member of First Free--(612) 827-4705 or at
Isaiah 43:1-3,5--…Fear not, for I have
redeemed you, I have called you by name, you
are mine. When you pass through the wa-
ters I will be with you; and when you pass
through the rivers they will not sweep over
you. When you walk thru the fire, you will
not be burned…For I am the Lord your God.
Do not be afraid for I am with you.
This scripture and promise has really come alive to me. For two years I have struggled with an auto-immune disor-der. In March of this year, my husband Randy was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Two months later we received more terrible news that my mom had uterine cancer and Randy’s mom had uterine and colon cancer. All three family members had surgery and began chemotherapy.
What do you do with this type of news? For me, this situa-tion couldn’t be worse. I am a woman who prefers to have everything in order, preferably neat and tidy. My life is now one big unknown, and it’s in a state of constant change.
Realizing this, I knew the only way to keep me from falling into a pit of despair and hopelessness would be seeking the Lord through extended time in prayer and reading God’s Word. The Good News is this: God’s Word tells me that even though I am not spared from the heat of the battle, I do have the ability to endure and persevere!Why? Because God is ALWAYS with me and He WILL strengthen me and uphold me. (Isaiah 41:10)
I have appreciated my Bible studies on the life of Joseph, David, and Paul. I have the Lord’s divine help, and God will provide me with His grace and mercy to get thru each day, no matter how dark or dreary it looks.
Many days I feel so weak and burdened, but I am remind-ed of 2 Cor. 12:9, "My grace IS sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." In Hebrews 6:18-19 it says that we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the HOPE that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. When I allow God’s truth to penetrate my soul, my mind is renewed and I know deep within my heart that I can be victorious in the difficulties that are before me.
I will continue to trust in the Lord my God and testify to His goodness. I give thanks to Christ Jesus who is sustain-ing me. I encourage you to dig deep into the promises of God and be refreshed by the One who loves you so much.
Digging Deep by Kathie Solem
this january, as a church we wiLL be encouraGinG peopLe to commit to a bibLe readinG proGram as part of a Group-- be it famiLy, smaLL Group, abf, etc.
Eating the Word: Practical Application PLAN from Pastor Jay Pound
This plans involves sixty-five days (instead of a full year commitment) with reasonable, daily reading r e q u i r e m e n t s .
1. major themes
This plan is a full-year plan but with a very manageable amount of reading for each day.
2. first steps readinG pLan 3. Life journaL readinG pLan
This is a whole Bible plan, a full-year commitment, with a signifi-cant amount of reading each day.
We are recommending three plans from YouVersion.com (There are many other plans, and peo-ple can feel free to choose anything they wish) Our main goal is to get people into the Word and to de-velop sustainable habits. With that in mind, choose wisely when picking a plan. Select a reading plan that you will not only be able to complete, but one that may also kindle an increased investment in studying God's Word.
