North Main Street Church of God
Spiritual Wisdom
1201 North Main Street Ext. Butler, PA 16001 11/12/2023
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
For more information about events at North Main such as our upcoming softball games, women’s hikes, classes, and groups, please make sure to stop by the Welcome Center or visit our website at
https://northmaincog.org/eventsBaptisms
Don’t forget to sign up if you’re interested in being baptized during our December 3rd service! Please visit the Welcome Center or our website to sign up.
https://northmaincog.org/baptisms/Men's Choir
If you haven’t heard yet, we want men’s voices for our Christmas Eve services, and special singing talent isn’t required. The first practice is this Wednesday at 6pm in the Parlor, we hope to see you there.
https://northmaincog.org/event/22833219-2023-11-15-raising-the-roof/Poinsettias
You should have been handed a poinsettia order form as you came into the Sanctuary today. The flowers you order will be displayed on the stage for our Christmas Eve services, and you are free to take them home with you afterward. Please drop off your forms with exact payment in one of the offering boxes or to the Church Office.
https://northmaincog.org/poinsettias/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/
(Ephesians 1:15-23)
Yearly Theme: “Kindness is… Appreciative”
Series Title: “Thankful Kindness”
November 12th, 2023
Omar Bradley, one of the Generals in World War II went to World War I and he remembered it as a young man. He served in the U.S. Army and became a General. He led one of the largest armies in history during World War II. He spoke at Armistice Day in Boston, Massachusetts in 1948. He said,
“With the monstrous weapons man already has, humanity is in danger of being trapped in this world by its moral adolescents. Our knowledge of science has clearly outstripped our capacity to control it. We have many men of science; too few men of God. We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. Man is stumbling blindly through a spiritual darkness while toying with the secrets of life and death. The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, and power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living.”
Wisdom is our topic for discussion today. However, not just wisdom, but spiritual wisdom. There is “wisdom,” and there is “spiritual wisdom.” The difference between the two isn’t clear on the surface, but the significance of that difference carries with it the weight of eternity. Wisdom is clarity of understanding and knowledge of that which is true and right, and it is also the ability to make proper judgments based on that knowledge. Spiritual Wisdom goes further in that, the Source of understanding and knowledge is GOD and His Word.
It is spiritual wisdom that Paul desires for the Church at Ephesus to have, and it's to that letter we turn this morning:
Here’s the point…
Key Point: “Strong faith comes through wisdom and understanding of the greatness of GOD.”
What is it that Paul desires for the Ephesians to learn from spiritual wisdom? Let’s take a look:
Ephesians 1:16-17 (NLT), 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
Ephesians 1:18 (NLT), I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT), 19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Now more than ever in our lifetime, we must seek spiritual wisdom from GOD. All other knowledge and wisdom pales in comparison to this. We need eternal insight beyond our own intellect to help us understand what is most important in this life. We need GOD’s divine touch and insight to see that there is hope beyond our current circumstances. We need steady men and women of faith whose Source of strength is found in the stability of Christ who because of the joy awaiting Him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame. There is no wisdom as important as the wisdom that comes from GOD, and we fool ourselves to think otherwise. Seek GOD while He may be found; seek Him with everything you have and all that you are!
Key Point: “Strong faith comes through wisdom and understanding of the greatness of GOD.”
What’s the focus of Paul’s prayers? What’s the connection for Paul between wisdom, understanding, and a close relationship with God?
In verses 18-19, he lists a number of things he prays for them to know. What are they, and why do you think he prays for those things?
The same power that is at work in God’s people now is the same power that did something remarkable in history (v.20-23). What is that power? Do you believe that?
What does it mean for Jesus to fill everything in every way? (v.23)
If you believe that God’s intention towards you is good, what does that do to how you listen to him / follow him?
Some pull away from God when they’re struggling with sin. How does understanding his grace help us to do the opposite?
How do we encourage each other not merely to know about God, but to know God / draw near to Him?
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