North Main Street Church of God
Sunday Service - Message: Joy in Unity
1201 North Main Street Ext Butler, PA 16001 Sunday, March 29, 2020 10:30 AM
Locations & Times
North Main Street Church of God
1201 N Main St Ext, Butler, PA 16001, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Welcome
We are so glad that you joined us today at North Main Street Church of God. At North Main we exists to develop completely committed followers of Christ who... <br> Know Christ intimately, <br> Grow in Christ continually, and <br> Go for Christ daily
Broadcasts
North Main is broadcasting several events online throughout the week, including Sunday’s messages, Children’s church, and Bible studies. We have several platforms we share this content on, but all of it is updated daily and available through our website (www.northmaincog.org). There you will have access to all the information about current events at North Main including our Sunday messages. If you’re not able to access these, please call the church and we can mail you a transcript or CD of the sermon.
Office
We are working remotely from home during this time, but the phones are still being answered and our mailbox is being checked daily. If you’re in need of anything, please don’t hesitate to call us at 724-285-4214, Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Masks
Our community has asked, and we have accepted and opportunity for us to serve in a practical way! We will be sewing masks for our healthcare workers. If you would like to sew masks and need the pattern, we would be happy to provide you with one. If you have completed masks for donation, we have a box you can drop them off at the box located in the Office vestibule at North Main.
Serving Community Partnerships
As they continue doing and serving in ministry, some of our Community Partners are in need:<br> <br>The Lighthouse Foundation: gloves, hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, toilet paper, monetary donation and volunteers. <br> <br>Grace Youth & Family: monetary donations needed.<br> <br>Any donations can be left at church vestibule and Lisa will gladly deliver. Please contact Lisa and let her know you’ve dropped donations off. <br><br>Lisac@northmaincog.org thank you!!
Events this week
Our events will be broadcasted on our Facebook or Youtube pages, but you can access them afterward on our website. Please contact ChristyP@northmaincog.org about group options or individual opportunities.<br><br>Sunday: <br>10:15am Worship & Message<br>11:30am Jump Start Zoom call<br><br>Monday:<br>10:00am Prayer & Fasting<br><br>Tuesday:<br>1:00pm Bible Study with Pastor Brandon<br><br>Wednesday:<br>10:00am Worship Challenge<br><br>Thursday:<br>10:00am Preschoolers & Kindergarteners Online<br>6:30pm Youth on Zoom<br><br>Fridays:<br>Outreach to your neighborhood and church family on your own<br><br>Saturdays:<br>10:00am Prayer walk around your community/neighborhood on your own<br><br>
Giving
We have several ways to give securely: by mailing your check to the church or texting “<amount> NMGIVE” to 30131. <br>You can also go to our website link below
https://www.northmaincog.org/giveFollow us on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuApCyP3BFPQgSwdhAFSdgFollow us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/northmaincogThe Joy in Unity - John 17:1-26
Yearly Theme: “Joy is…”<br>Series Title: For the Joy…<br>April 19th, 2020
What is “unity?”
unity[1]
Noun, plural u·ni·ties.
1. the state of being one; oneness.
2. a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one.
Vesta Kelly said, “Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.”
One of the greatest challenges in this world, one of the greatest challenges in the Church, is “unity.” But, why is this? Why is unity so hard, especially in the Church? Well, the simple, but profound, answer to that question is that there is an enemy that is bent on destroying any and all unity, community, and peace, not only within the world, but especially in the Church. Call him Satan, the devil, whatever you like, this enemy is so consumed with destruction that he will stop at nothing in order to subtly or blatantly wreak havoc on humanity for the purpose of drawing people away from God.
We come today (the Sunday after Easter), to a passage that Jesus prayed the night before He was arrested by the Temple guards. Along with His disciples (minus Judas Iscariot who had left the group in order to betray Jesus), Jesus prayed this prayer of unity over the disciples, and all those who would become disciples because of His, and their, message. He says this just after telling them that everything is about to change. He prays this prayer of unity just after telling them that they would have sorrows and troubles of many kinds, but to take heart because He has overcome the world. Listen to the words of Christ this morning with a fresh ear…
[1] Dictionary.Com Unabridged Based on The Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020.
One of the greatest tools of the enemy within the Church is division. If Satan can (and he often does) divide the Church, then he can hold sway over the direction of peoples’ hearts.
What can we learn from this passage of Scripture that could keep us moving in the right direction with unity?
1. There is unity between God the Father and Jesus.
John 17:4-5 (NLT), 4 I brought glory to you here on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
2. The truth of Jesus’ words brings unifyingjoy to those who hear and understand them.
John 17:13-14 (NLT), 13 “Now I am coming to you. I told then many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they did not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.”
3. True unity is rooted in the truth.
John 17:17 (NLT), Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
I contend, that apart from unity, there is no joy. Jesus the great Unifier/Reconciler between us and God brought us great joy by offering us so great a sacrifice. In Christ, God has pulled out all obstacles and all rituals and freely offers us a path to salvation and wholeness. Apart from God there is not unity, and apart from God there is no real, lasting joy.
It’s time to be light and salt once more. It’s time to work toward being one as Jesus and the Father are one. It’s time, once again, to share in the glory of God the Father and Jesus Christ, by reflecting the light of Christ to the world around us and drawing others to Him. It’s time to work together, not because it benefits us in some practical way, but all because it glorifies God in every single way.
Key Point: “Unity with God through Jesus, and unity with the Body of Christ (the Church), is the catalyst for true joy.”
North Main Street Church of God
1201 North Main Street Ext.Butler, PA 16001 (724) 285-4214info@northmaincog.org
http://northmaincog.org/