North Main Street Church of God
Burning Hearts
1201 North Main Street Ext. Butler, PA 16001 04/09/2023
Locations & Times
North Main Street Church of God
1201 N Main St Ext, Butler, PA 16001, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Sunday Morning
Join us on Sunday Mornings online where you can Check-in/Connect, Give, and Watch along with us.
https://northmaincog.org/online/Know Christ intimately,
Grow in Christ continually, and
Go for Christ daily
Check-in Here
Thanks for joining us! If it's your first time here we'd love to connect with you! Fill out the form below. <br> For our regular attenders, please check in with your name and email, if you need to update information
https://northmaincog.org/online-connection-form/Joining us online?
Thank you for joining us today! Please check in here:
https://northmaincog.org/online-connection-form/
Newcomers to North Main
If you are a newcomer, we’re so glad you’ve joined us! If you’re here in person, make sure to stop by the Welcome Center where we have a gift bag for you with some information about us and some delicious homemade chocolate chip COOKIES. <br> For those online please visit the website below and make sure to click the COMMUNICATION CARD button and fill that out so we can send you a free gift!
https://northmaincog.org/onlineChurch Mobile App
Did you know North Main has a church mobile app? Access videos anytime from your device and never miss a sermon. Securely and easily give your tithes, offerings, and donations. Instantly register for upcoming events, and stay in the know of what's happening. Contact Us at any time with a simple message. Find others in the North Main directory. To download go to:
https://northmaincog.org/app/Bible Reading Plan
Join us in 2023 as we read through the Bible in a year and highlight evidence of “KINDNESS” throughout our daily Scripture readings. Reading Guides and GREEN highlighters, the color that represents KINDNESS, are available at the Welcome Center. You can also access the resources digitally on NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/BIBLE
https://northmaincog.org/bible/
Events
We want to highlight a few events for you today, but feel free to check out our other upcoming events on our website at:
https://northmaincog.org/eventsWe will be celebrating communion together this morning during worship. The ushers will distribute the elements at that time, but for those who need a gluten-free or sealed option, those are available at the Welcome Center.
Give
We thank you for your faithful gifts. You can give online and, of course, on Sundays by using the secure drop boxes located outside the doors of the Sanctuary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
https://northmaincog.org/give/
(Luke 24:13-35)
Yearly Theme: “Kindness is… Action”
Series Title: “Suffering Servant”
April 9th, 2023
There is a legend that Satan decided to get rid of a number of his tools, so he arranged an auction…
“There were envy, deceit, malice, sensuality, enmity, thoughtlessness, and many other tools which Satan had used successfully (priced very low). However, there was one piece marked very high. It was labeled Discouragement.
“‘Why do you want so much for this tool?’ asked one bidder. ‘This tool?’ replied the old tempter, ‘Well, it has always been my most useful one. You can see it has had more wear and tear than the rest. It is used as a wedge to get into a person’s mind when all other means fail. Practically every human being has had this tool used on them, although very few know that I’m the one welding it.'
“As it worked out, toward the end of the auction, no one could afford the price Satan demanded for discouragement, and so he is still using it today.”
Jesus’ disciples experienced great discouragement when He was arrested and crucified. They thought that was the end of the story; the end of the road that Jesus had led them down. However, they neglected to remember ALL that He had told them was going to happen. They couldn’t seem to remember that Jesus had told them that all of this was going to happen when they entered Jerusalem for the last time. So, discouragement ruled their hearts.
Two disciples in particular, Cleopas and his wife, were on their journey back home the Sunday morning after the crucifixion of Jesus, and while on their way, another traveler happens upon their path that joins them in on their long walk home. Let’s take a look at their story today:
Here’s the takeaway:
Key Point: “The truth of the resurrection of Jesus should burn in the heart of every believer.”
There are three main points that we need to explore today:
Luke 24:17-18 (NLT), 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
Luke 24:25-27 (NLT), 25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:32-35 (NLT), 28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”
35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.
“Alexandyr Solzhenitsyn, the famous author and Communist dissident in the early-mid 20th century, was a prisoner in a Soviet prison in Siberia from 1945-1953. He became so weak and discouraged that he wished he would die. The guards would beat, and usually kill, anyone that stopped working. So one day he decided to stop working so that the guards would kill him. As soon as he did, however, another Christian drew a cross where Alexander could see it.
“Alexandyr said that he was encouraged by remembering that God gives hope and courage. He decided to continue working because of a Christian who cared too much to let him give up.”
Like Solzhenitsyn, we too can become so discouraged we want to die, but thanks be to GOD, we have a risen Savior who took our shame and discouragement and nailed it to the cross so that we can have hope and courage to press on in this life. For Christ’s sake, and for His glory we are more than conquerors through Him who has saved us! So if you’re discouraged today – if you’ve lost all hope – don’t give up! Remember the road ahead may be hard, but what awaits us in the end is a reward beyond our wildest imaginations. Jesus took our shame, sorrow, and discouragement on the cross, so that we could be free. Today we live in the light of the cross, and most importantly, the empty tomb, with the promise of everlasting life through Christ Jesus our LORD.
Key Point: “The truth of the resurrection of Jesus should burn in the heart of every believer.”
2. Why do you think it was important for the mission of God to be accomplished that Jesus looked as he did?
3. Who is the “we” Isaiah talks about in this passage of scripture?
4. What about our interactions with the world and others impacts our understanding of our relationship with God?
Why is it difficult for us to reconcile pain with trusting in a good God?
Have you ever felt abandoned or isolated while in the midst of friends?
How have you been able to combat the lie of The Enemy that you are unloved and unlovable?
What is the best way to counteract the lies from the Deceiver?
What value can you find in the ordinary, everyday, comings and goings of life?
How does God ascribe value to those he loves?
APPLICATION
This week, in one sentence, tell someone….
Who you were before you met Jesus,
What He did in your life, and
Who you are now
Jot some notes below to help you gather your thoughts.
MEMORY VERSE:
“He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.”
Isaiah 53:3a
ACTIVITY:
Choose a small smooth stone and write one word on it to symbolize a current hurt in your life. Carry that stone with you this week, making sure you know where it is throughout the week. At the end of the week, either bury it in the ground or toss it into a lake, pond, or river.
Spend some time thanking Jesus for sending your sins into the sea of forgetfulness while forgiving yourself.
Past Sermons
To view past sermons, please visit our website below.
https://northmaincog.org/media-resources/sermons/Contact Us
If you would like to update your information or have a prayer request, please fill out the link below.
https://northmaincog.org/media-resources/contact-us/North Main Street Church of God
1201 North Main Street Ext.Butler, PA 16001 (724) 285-4214 info@northmaincog.org
http://www.northmaincog.org/Give
We thank you for your faithful gifts. You can give online at NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/GIVE, text "give" to (724) 313-2211, and, of course, on Sundays by using the secure drop boxes located outside the doors of the Sanctuary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
https://www.northmaincog.org/giveMonday - Thursday
9:00am - 4:00pm