June 3 - Trinity Sunday

This Sunday, please go to my new blog on our church website.  www.forestchurch.org/blog

Gifts of Grace Part 7 - Compassion - Pentecost

We conclude our series on the gifts of grace May 23 with the gift of compassion.  Just as generosity fuels the Christian faith, so does compassion.  We fulfill the commandment to love our neighbors through compassion.  Compassion means feeling the same thing as someone else, particularly when someone is suffering. Compassion is empathy.
I believe that of all the gifts, the gift of compassion can grow through exercise.  Show compassion for others and you will be able to show even more compassion.  The gift of compassion is like a spiritual muscle.
Pentecost is the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and praise God for the gifts of grace given through the Holy Spirit.  Veni Creator Spiritus! Come Holy Spirit!

Youth Sunday was May 20. Check the cool video they made!

Soon, this blog will migrate to Forest Presbyterian Church's website.  Get a head start and check it out!
God Bless!

Gifts of Grace Parts 5 & 6 - Leadership/Generosity

Last Sunday's sermon was on generosity and leadership.  Generosity and giving fuels Christ's mission in the world. The living church is the generous church.  Some Christians have the gift of generosity as their primary gift.  Their material resources may be great or small.  Their generosity knows no bounds.

Leadership is a popular topic in our world today. So many are concerned with leading, and few are concerned with following.  Yet true Christian leaders are humble followers first.  They follow Jesus wherever he leads.  They take others with them along the path.

If you did not catch the sermon Sunday, I encourage you to go to our iTunes page or to forestchurch.org and check it out.

Gifts of Grace - Part 4 - Encouragement

"It is the wounded oyster that mends its shell with pearls" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can do it!  You're the best!  Keep it up! You'll get there!  I'm there for you!

Have you heard this from someone lately?  Have you said these things to someone else?

The gift of encouragement is crucial to the Christian life.  When we take up Christ's cross, we need others around to encourage us, to keep us going.  Suffering has a purpose; Jesus intends for us to have some emotional help along the way.  When we are wounded or tired, there is healing through the words of others.

Are you an encourager?  Do you have the gift of encouragement?

Gifts of Grace - Part 3 - Teaching

Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.
John Steinbeck


Have you had a favorite teacher?  Someone who really inspired you?  How about at church?  Did someone teach you about your faith?
This Sunday, we're talking about the spiritual gift of teaching. Do you have the gift of teaching?  Has God called you to teach?