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Join Us To Worship GodSunday Morning Service @ 10:30am Speaker: Pastor Brett McCoy This Sunday we will begin a new sermon series on the letter to the Ephesians. The city of Ephesus was a large and important port city in the Roman Empire. This city would have been widely used for trade by the Romans and would be home to many different ethnicities and beliefs. The city also housed the temple of Artemis (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) and was a city, devoted to the worship of Greek and Roman Gods. This was a city known for its worship to other gods. When Paul writes his letter to the church in Ephesus he writes a clear letter about worship, he could have challenged the Ephesians about what they worship but instead he turns their attention to the one who is truely worth their worship. He writes about who we are in Christ, how we came to have that identity in Him, how Jesus has saved us, the responsibilities that every believer has, and how to stand firm in Jesus. Understanding and living out these truths is living a life of worship and this is Pauls encouragment in his letter. This Sunday we will look at Ephersians 1:1-14. This is the opening of Pauls letter to the Ephesians and in this opening he begins with a prayer. Our focus on Sunday will be the content of this prayer and what Paul says about who we are in Christ and how we are to live in light of it. Hope to see you there! |
TEFC Summer Focus
This summer we will be highlighting our statement of faith. As we move forward in this time of transition as a church family it is important to be praying for the Lord to lead and direct us, it is also important to remember who we are as a church. One of the ways we do that is by being reminded of our theological convictions and the greater body that we are apart of. The Evangelical Free Church of Canada is an association of autonomous churches united in a common commitment to God’s evangel –the gospel of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to give us eternal life. To God’s glory, the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Our essential theological convictions are vitally connected to this gospel STATEMENT 5: GOD’S GOSPEL IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE WORK OF CHRIST. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. Our fifth conviction in our statement of faith is all about the salvation that we receive through Christ alone. In Genesis chapter one and two we read about the story of creation. How the creative God we worship brought all that we know to be. We also read of the story of the first man (Adam) and the first woman (Eve). During this time of creation, we see a great harmony in the home of Adam and Eve, there is no evil, no destruction, and no hardship. Adam and Eve have a perfect paradise to live in together, to take care of and to be in the presence of the Lord. It’s a beautiful picture, but everything changes in chapter three when Adam and Eve (tempted by Satan) eat the fruit that is forbidden to them in the Garden of Eden. Through this one act of disobedience sin entered the world, through sin death and decay. Because of this choice Adam and Eve made all people and all generations and the earth itself feel the effects of sin. If we are honest with ourselves, it’s not hard to admit the world we live in is broken. Death and decay are everywhere, poverty and slavery are rampant in our world. Morality and the recognition of Jesus continues to diminish. So much of what is described is caused by sin. Selfishness, idolatry, sexual sin, greed, pride I could go on and on. The fact is, humans left up to their own devices don’t steward their resources, manage their planet, or take care of each other very well. Sin is the prevailing issue in our society. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that “our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Paul doesn’t mention the emperor at the time, or any other ruling entities, he doesn’t mention any individuals or groups of people. Instead, he lists the actual problem…sin along with Satan and those that would serve him. We like to blame certain individuals, political parties, corporations, and different sects of people for the condition of the world and for humanity, but the issue as Paul points out is much, much deeper. Sin is everywhere and sin, as Paul writes in his letter to the church in Rome, leads to death. All sin leads to death and decay. This is why we continue to see the effects of sin in our world daily and will continue to see them until the day Jesus returns. The great hope that we have as followers of Christ is that we know the one who has dealt with sin, who has conquered it. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross is the perfect, all sufficient sacrifice for our sins. He took the weight of our sins upon himself and the cost of our sins (death) upon him. Sin had no power over Jesus, he conquered it. He brought salvation to those who put their trust and faith in him, and his death and resurrection are the only means for that salvation. It can only come through him. Through this salvation we have the power to conquer over sin in our own lives and to be a beacon of light and hope in this dark and depraved world.
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Foodgrains Project
Taber Foodgrains Project: A Christian response to hunger. Since 1997 our project has grown a crop in the Taber area. Proceeds go to support efforts of Canadian Foodgrains Bank. This years crop is almost ready to be harvested! To learn more about the Taber Foodgrains Project visit www.facebook.com/cdnfoodgrainstaberproject/. Canadian Foodgrains Bank is rooted in the belief that humankind is created in the image of God and that it is God’s desire that no person should go hungry. To learn more please visit foodgrainsbank.ca. |
Prayer Meeting
Please join us for a time of prayer. For more infomation visit:
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Staying Connected
We encourage everyone to stay connected with life at Taber EFC. Volunteer Opportunities - Ways to serve at TEFC |
Taber, Alberta Canada T1G 1S6 |