North Main Street Church of God
Love your Enemies
1201 North Main Street Ext. Butler, PA 16001 04/21/2023
Locations & Times
North Main Street Church of God
1201 N Main St Ext, Butler, PA 16001, USA
Sunday 10:27 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 2024 as we read through the Bible in a year and highlight evidence of “GOODNESS” throughout our daily Scripture readings. Reading Guides and PURPLE highlighters are available at the Welcome Center. You can also access the resources digitally on:
https://northmaincog.org/bible/
Parent and Child Dedication
Our church commits to partnering with you as you strive to raise your children in the ways of the Lord & teach them to know, love, & serve Jesus. The next child dedication service is coming up on May 14th with a required class beforehand. Registration is required so make sure to go to Welcome Center or website below
https://northmaincog.org/dedicationGraduation Sunday
On Sunday, June 2nd during the Sunday morning service we will be celebrating our 2024 High School, Technical School, and College Graduates! To sign them up to be celebrated and prayerfully commissioned please visit:
https://www.northmaincog.org/graduateServe Isaiah 117 House
As a Community Partner of Isaiah 117 House Butler North Main is hosting a respite night for foster families in Butler County and we need YOUR help! We expect nearly 50 hungry children to fill our church on May 17. We need donations of Hot Dogs, Buns, Cookies, and Juice Boxes. Donations can be dropped off at the office any time between now and May 15. Please visit NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/EVENTS to sign up and let us know what you’re bringing. Paper copies of the form will be available at the Welcome Center.
https://northmaincog.org/event/23319096-2024-04-18-isaiah-117-respite-night-donations/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/
(1 Samuel 24:1-22)
Yearly Theme: “Goodness is… Genuine”
Series Title: “Giant Slayer: A Man After GOD’s Own Heart”
April 21st, 2024
As we continue our series on David in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel today, we come upon a scene when tensions have run so high between King Saul and David that David is now on the run from Saul in the wilderness region of Engedi near the Dead Sea. Hiding out in caves with a few of his loyal men, David is trying to escape the wrath of Saul who seeks to kill him in a jealous fit of rage. Saul sees David as a threat, and thus, an enemy, and pursues to eliminate him and any chance he might have at taking the throne of Israel away from him or his own family. David, however, wishes Saul no harm. Though Saul has become an enemy, David does not desire to lay a hand on him but instead trusts in GOD for his future. But what is David to do, when an opportunity arises that seems straight from GOD to take Saul out? Let’s read and find out…
Key Point: “Mercy comes from a heart of goodness.”
What can we learn from David’s chance meeting with Saul in the cave at Engedi? Let’s break it down:
1 Samuel 24:4 (NLT), “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’ ” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.
1 Samuel 24:4 (NLT), “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the , to do with as you wish.’ ” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.
1 Samuel 24:16-19 (NLT), 16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 18 May the
In the book entitled Context, Mary Marty retells a parable from the “Eye of the Needle” newsletter. She writes,
“A holy man was engaged in his morning meditation under a tree whose roots stretched out over the riverbank. During his meditation, he noticed that the river was rising, and a scorpion caught in the roots was about to drown. He crawled out on the roots and reached down to free the scorpion, but every time he did so, the scorpion struck back at him. An observer came along and said to the holy man, ‘Don't you know that's a scorpion, and it's in the nature of a scorpion to want to sting?’ To which the holy man replied, ‘That may well be, but it is my nature to save, and must I change my nature because the scorpion does not change its nature?’”[1]
You may not be able to change the nature of your enemy, but you sure can surrender your nature to an all-loving GOD who for our sakes, even while we were His enemies, laid down His life so that we could be saved.[2] Once we realize how much grace and mercy we’ve been given, how much more should we also be willing to give grace and mercy to others, even our enemies? This is the very nature of GOD, and should be the nature of every believer in Christ. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, lays it out plainly for us:
Romans 5:6-8 (NLT), 6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Key Point: “Mercy comes from a heart of goodness.”
[1] Joseph B. Modica.
[2] Romans 5:10.
How might David's decision to spare Saul influence your approach to conflict resolution?
What does David's reaction to cutting off a piece of Saul's robe reveal about his character?
What qualities does David exhibit that are essential for effective leadership?
How does Saul's response to David's act of mercy contribute to the narrative?
How does the dialogue between David and Saul enlighten the theme of mercy and forgiveness?
What do Saul's final words to David teach us about recognizing and acknowledging good in others?
How does this chapter illustrate the theme of respect for God's anointed?
In what ways do you see God's divine intervention in this chapter?
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