May 11, 2008 by PastorMark.

#310, Lasting Relationships, Pastor Mark Boucher, Sunday, 05-11-2008

Text: Ephesians 5:25-33
Theme: Love your wife as Christ loves the church … you.

INTRODUCTION:

1. I didn’t really notice it until looking back and considering.
   1. My mother gave so much of herself.
   2. Sometimes she got tired and discouraged.
2. What can we do to help and bless these women?
   1. I want to proceed along the husband/wife relationship.
   2. Some of you are unmarried, single parents, divorced or separated by death.
3. The Bible gives us God’s wisdom concerning relationships.
   1. Paul addresses family relationships and starts with the most important (husband and wife).
   2. In Ephesians, Paul addresses husbands twice as much as the wife.

Text: Ephesians 5:25-33
The repeated pronouncement of Paul to the husbands is “love your wife.
How do we do this? We’re so different.
Theme: Love your wife as Christ loves the church … you.

HOW DOES CHRIST TREAT US THE CHURCH AND APPLY THIS TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.

1. Jesus gives Himself to us.

a. “God built a bridge with two board and a nail.” –a sign

b. “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (v25)

c. *If you have to insist on your own way, you’re not ready for marriage.

d. Jesus gives of Himself for the building up of His church.

e. Agape love does what helps the other.

f. He provides for us in every way without spoiling us.

2. Jesus listens to us.

a. He ever lives to make intercession for us.

b. He hears our prayers and invites us into deeper fellowship.

c. As husbands we need to work at listening.

d. Sometimes, I am preoccupied, but when I listen I benefit from her prospective.

e. Survey of the five major needs of women:

f. Affection

g. Conversation

h. Honesty/Openness

i. Financial Support

j. Family Commitment

k. * This can be difficult because of differences in verbal abilities/

3. Jesus forgives us.

a. “We all stumble in many ways.” James 3:2

b. It is easy to focus on, “how she needs to change.”

c. Conflict management, resolution, and transformation are huge issues in a marriage.

d. Jesus overlooks and forgives.

e. Our faults in the light of God are so much greater than our wife’s faults in comparison.

f. A good marriage is made up of two good forgivers.

4. Jesus remains faithful to us.

a. He will always be faithful.

b. “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful for he cannot disown himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13

c. Faithfulness to our wife reveals our heart to God.

d. We want to be faithful, not just to the vow, but to the person.

e. *Faithfulness to God is not just to the Word, but to Himself.

f. We don’t even talk about divorce.

CONCLUSION:

1. God has mirrors, not for Himself but for us.
   1. People can’t see God directly, but we are to reflect Him.
   2. Our marriage can reflect the glory of God. Don’t distort His image by breaking it up.

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May 11, 2008 by admin.

JOIN US TODAY

• WORSHIP and THE WORD at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
  • Nursery, 4s and 5s, Kids 4 Christ
  • We will share together this morning in Communion.
  • Pastor Mark Boucher, “Lasting Relationships,” Eph. 5:25-33
• HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOMS!
• CHRISTIAN EDUCATION at 10:00 AM
  • There are classes for all ages.
• ALPHA COURSE at 3:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall
• THE TRUTH PROJECT SMALL GROUPS at 6:30 PM

JOIN US THIS WEEK

• MONDAY 7:00 PM—Prayer
• TUESDAY 9:30 AM—Coffee Break Women’s Bible Study
  • 6:30 PM—English for all Nations (ESL)
  • 6:30 PM—Prayer for Israel
  • 7:30 PM—Christian 12 Step
• WEDNESDAY 5:45 PM—A.L.I.V.E. Homeschoolers Prayer
  • 6:30 PM—FAMILY NIGHT
  • Rainbows (girls & boys, 3 up to K)
  • Girls Ministries (grades K-8)
  • Royal Rangers (boys’ clubs, K-12)
  • Impact Student Ministries
  • Effective Personal Soul Winning
  • Adult Bible Study (L.A.B.I.)—Missionaries Scott and Diana Miller (serving in the Middle East)
• THURSDAY 6:30 PM—Ladies’ Night Out
  • 6:30 PM—Church Board Meeting
• SATURDAY 8:30 AM—Vision Quest Seminar
  • 7:00 PM—All-Church Prayer

ANNOUNCING

• PRAY FOR ISRAEL! A group meets the second Tuesday of every month here at the church to pray for Israel. Join in this Tuesday at 6:30 PM. See Gus or Dale Wheeler for more information.
• A CHILD DEDICATION will be held during the 11:00 AM service next Sunday, May 18. Please fill out a yellow application card from the Welcome Center for each child to be dedicated and turn in the card(s) at the office or to an usher.
• THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY will meet in Pastor Mark’s office next Sunday, May 18, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Join any time! For more information, contact Alice Stacy at: astacy@juniper.net.
• VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is coming up July 14-18! There will be a mandatory planning meeting on Monday, May 19, at 7:00 PM. It is very important that all volunteers are at the meeting as T-shirt orders will be taken, etc. There’s still time to volunteer!
• THE NEXT WATER BAPTISM SERVICE will be on Sunday, May 25, during the 6:30 PM Gospel Explosion service. Please fill out and turn in a blue application card from the Welcome Center if you desire to be baptized. You will need to attend a class on the 25th at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary.
• CALLING ALL 2008 GRADUATES! If you or someone in your family who attends Leominster Assembly is graduating, please contact the church office ASAP. We will be honoring them in June and don’t want to miss anyone. Thank you for your help.

HOMETEAMS MEETING THIS WEEK

• Christians in Action (Proiettis)—Tuesday, 7:00 PM
• Branches of Messiah (Wheelers)—Wednesday, 6:30 PM
• YACC for Young Adults (Gardners)—Thursday, 6:30 PM
• Women of Faith (Telliers)—Friday, 10:00 AM
• Pick up directions at the Welcome Center. You are invited!

CHURCH LIBRARY

• The library, located next to the Youth Chapel, is open:
• Sunday: 10:00-11:00 AM, after second service, 6:00-6:30 PM
• Wednesday: 6:15-6:30 PM and after Family Night ministries

TAKE THE LAND OFFERINGS TO DATE

• Beginning Loan Amount: $600,000
• Regular Principal Payments: 9,981
• Extra Principal Applied: 104,136
• Current Loan Balance: $485,884
• At an average $8500/month extra applied each month, the loan should be paid off by Nov 2011.

NEEDS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• Pastor Rafael and Flavia Oliveira have moved into the brown house next to the church. They are in need of furniture for the living room, dining room, master bedroom (they have box springs and a mattress), etc. They also need a washer and dryer. If you can help in any way, please see them or call the office.
• A sister in Christ, Judy Trainque, needs help with light spring cleaning in her apartment. Please call Judy or the church office.
• A family of six in the church is in great need of a car in good running condition at a low cost. Please call the church office.

BULLETIN INSERTS

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May 11, 2008 by PastorMark.

Life is full of challenges, risks, and trials. Fear presents itself at these times, saying: “You can’t do it,” “You will only fail,” “What will people think?” Negative, fearful thoughts threaten to paralyze us but can be overcome by the greater thoughts of God. Here is one from David: “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4). To trust God is always better than fearing people.

Pastor Mark Boucher

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