August 31, 2008 by PastorMark.

#326, A Lot to Learn, Pastor Mark Boucher, Sunday 08-31-2008

Text: Genesis 18-19

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August 31, 2008 by PastorMark.

If we’re not careful, we can allow life to fill us with anxiety and stress. We can even believe that serving God is just another “burden” to bear. God asked His chosen people of Israel, “What have I done to you? How have I burdened you?” (Micah 6:3). Then the Lord reminded the people of what He had done for them to make their lives joyful and free. He saved them from bondage (v. 4), He gave them godly leaders (v. 4), and He turned the enemies’ curses into blessings (v. 5). The Lord never intended for us to serve Him with grudging obligation. After all, He is the One who makes life worth living!

Pastor Mark Boucher

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August 24, 2008 by PastorDave.

#325, God’s Secret Ingredient, Pastor David McIntosh, Sunday 08-24-2008

Text: Romans 1:4-6

INTRODUCTION

1. In the story “A Cranberry Thanksgiving” grandma makes the greatest cranberry bread in the land and a city slicker is trying to steal her secret ingredient for this cranberry bread.
2. Grandma uses something that is so powerful everyone wants her cranberry bread!
3. Well, in a day when many are seeking answers to life we Christians should be demonstrating the power of Jesus Christ in our personal lives to attract others to Him.
4. Instead, multitudes of believers seem powerless against the same forces that destroy the world.
5. Marriages are falling apart, raising children that respect others, anger, bitterness, addictions to sex and pornography are reigning in the land whether you claim to be Christian or not.
6. What is the missing ingredient that will propel us to be genuine overcomes of the sins that destroy in this world? That our light would shine with words & works!

EXAMPLE (Psalm 106:9-16)

1. Read verses 9:11 – “He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; So He led them through the depths, As through the wilderness. He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. The waters covered their enemies; There was not one of them left:
2. V.12-16 on the PowerPoint:
   1. They believed his words & sang his praise (look what God did for me!)
   2. They forgot his works…causing them to not wait for His counsel
   3. This led to lusting after and testing God
   4. God’s consequence is He gives them what they want (but leanness to the soul)
   5. They then envy God’s leaders (Moses & Aaron)
3. Now look at this pattern, God does something they don’t deserve, limited belief and praise, they soon forget, turn from God’s ideas, this leads to lust, consequences and envy.
4. This is a picture of what happens over and over again to believers today.
5. Listen to what James 4:1-4 says; “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasure. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?”
6. Wow, that’s tough, that hurts! What is that secret ingredient that can change everything?
7. How do we live everyday in the ways of our faith? How do break out of this cycle that we see in the O.T. people of God and the N.T. church of believers?

THE SECRET INGREDIENT

1. Romans 1:4-6 – “And who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.”
2. We received GRACE to call people to obedience that comes from faith!
3. The missing ingredient is GRACE. It’s not that we haven’t heard of grace but rather we have misunderstood it.
4. To many believers today, being under grace means that they are not under any obligation to fulfill the righteousness of the Law of God but are under a covering of God that allows them to do whatever they think is right and God will approve…this is grace.
5. We need to receive a fresh biblical understanding of God’s grace for our lives!

GOD’S GRACE FROM GOD’S WORD

1. In Romans 1:5 we saw that we received grace to call people to obedience.
2. Look at Romans 5:21 – “So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
3. We see that grace rules through righteousness it is not a ticket for unrighteousness.
4. Romans 6:14 – “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
5. So one of the main purposes for grace is to help us work out God’s righteousness in our everyday lives.
6. This can only be done through the power of God not the efforts of man.
7. Listen to Ephesians 3:7 – “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.”
8. You see, grace is more than God’s loving favor; it is God’s gift of power to do His will in our lives!
9. 2 Peter 1:2-4 – “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
10. Peter is speaking of multiplied grace as divine power by which we have given great & precious promises that we can partake of the divine nature and not the corruption of lust!
11. From God’s Word we see that grace is a gift of divine power that God freely gives us so that we can obey Him, live in righteousness, overcome sin and partake in His divine nature!

GOD’S GRACE OUR TEACHER

1. If anyone is going to truly partake of God’s grace you have to have one thing…a teachable spirit.
2. Titus 2:11,12 – “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”
3. We learn here that grace is our teacher and we are her students. Grace teaching us (through divine power) to say no to ungodliness & worldly lusts. Grace is not going to just cover over these things, grace teaches us to say no to our way and yes to God’s way!
4. Are you teachable?
5. See the law demands, but gives no strength to obey it, grace promises and gives power to perform for us. The Law points its finger, grace opens its arms.
6. But are we willing to see and be students in the school of biblical grace?

WHERE TO BEGIN

1. Well we know that grace is a gift so you can’t earn it. But there is a qualification that God is looking for.
2. James 4:6 – “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
3. So we see that God considers the opposite of grace is pride.
4. Pride is doing it on my own, pride is reserving the right to make final decisions, pride resists grace!
5. Humility is the key to this incredible gift, daily humility may I add.
6. So here is the first step, completely accept and confess our personal failure and inability to live life in a way that pleases God.
7. With this, we realize our helplessness to do anything good that God accepts, and unless God’s grace moves in my life I really can’t do anything, I am helpless and all the gifts and talents and experience I have won’t do me any good, save for the grace of God.
8. In 2 Corinthians Paul said, “For when I am weak then I am strong,” this is what he was talking about.
9. Humility is realizing that I need God’s help for every decision in my life.

ALTAR CALL

• I would like to open the altars and invite anyone who knows they need the grace of God (the favor, power and desire) to fill their lives like never before that they would become partakers of the divine nature and escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust.
• Grace to say no to this world and yes to righteousness living!
• Grace to obey, grace to grow in faith, grace for self control, grace to overcome!

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August 24, 2008 by PastorDave.

ADULT ELECTIVES FALL 2008 QUARTER
Begins Sunday, September 7, 10:00 - 10:50 AM

WELCOME to the Family
Taught by Pastor Mark
The following course will meet in Pastor Mark’s office.
In this course you will be introduced to the purposes and vision of Leominster Assembly of God as well as the practices and policies of the church. This course is for anyone interested in becoming a member of our church and is a requirement for membership.Class size is limited to 15.

Drawing Closer to God
Taught by Pastor Bob
This course will meet in the Triangle room next to the sanctuary.
This class is for all new Christians as well as any Christian who wants to draw closer to God. God says that if we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. This is your chance to become the dynamic, joyful disciple of Christ that you have always wanted to be. This class is a requirement for membership.

Matters of Christian Character
Taught by Pastor Dave
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
How does a Christian respond to the issues of our day–immorality, tobacco, entertainment, and gambling–and integrity issues such as truth, honesty, and self-control. This class will focus on formulating a belief system and lifestyle with a strong biblical center.

The Teenage Years of Jesus Christ
Taught by Pastor Darryl
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
Calling all parents of teenagers and pre-teens! Discover the priorities of Jesus Christ when He was a teenager here on earth. What better model than the plan of the Master himself.

Financial Freedom
Taught by Manny Onos
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
Each attendee will receive the means to prepare his/her individual road to true financial success and will be thoroughly equipped to remove the obstacles on the road to receive his/her rewards of eternal pleasures, possessions and powers in this present life and in the life to come.

Lessons from the Early Church
Taught by Harry Marshall
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
What you will be studying in this class in some ways is a return to “the basics” of what the Church is supposed to be about. Get ready to discover some wisdom from the Book of Proverbs and hear from the faithful man Job.

Biblical Prophecies, Israel, and the Church
Taught by Fumio Taku
This class will meet at the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School across the street from the church.
This is part two of an exciting course begun last spring. This in-depth study of biblical prophecies, from Genesis to Revelation, will give you a greater understanding of end-time prophecies, God’s love for Israel, and His wake-up call to the Church for prayer, humility, and faith.

CHILDREN’S and YOUTH CLASSES

2s and 3s teachers: Jenn Farnsworth and Christine Salliby
Through stories about Solomon and the temple, kids will discover that church is God’s house and that God wants them to help others. They will also learn about people at church as well as how to be like Solomon and God’s people, who enjoyed going to church. Kids will find out how they can talk and listen to God because Samuel listened to God in the temple. Stories about Noah’s ark and the flood will show kids how to obey God and trust Him to keep them safe.

4s and 5s teachers: Sally Dyer and Heidi Antunes
Students will enjoy amazing stories about how Joseph saved his family, how Rahab risked her life, and how Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land. Peter fishing, Matthew collecting taxes, the Samaritan woman drawing water, and Zacchaeus climbing a tree show how Jesus reached out to people around Him. Through the faith of his great-grandmother Ruth and stories about being a shepherd, being anointed by Samuel, and defeating Goliath, David shows kids how to love God like he did.

1st and 2nd grade teachers: Rick and Joanne Boehm
Kids will discover that God not only created everything but that He also loved Adam and Eve even after they sinned. After learning about faithfulness through stories about Noah’s ark, kids will find out about Babel, the first city built after the Flood. Through Abraham, Lot, and Isaac, kids will explore faith, the danger of selfishness, and God’s provision.

3rd and 4th grade teachers: Debbie Nurnberger and Danielle Caron
Because Jesus healed others, kids will discover He still has the power to heal today. Through Esther, Jeremiah and others, kids will discover that God can be their source for guidance, courage, faith, wisdom, and love. Kids will be reminded that gifts aren’t deserved but instead show God’s love for us through stories about Jehoshaphat, the grateful leper, and the Prodigal Son.

5th and 6th grade teacher: Peter Kovacs
Through lessons about God’s nature, kids will see how He is true to His Word, keeps His promises, and provides a way for us to be in His family forever. Because what believers say and do can be a witness for or against Christ, kids will explore how they can help others gain eternal life. This introduction to the Bible focuses on its inspiration and writers, why we need it, and what it tells us about God.

Middle School and High School
The students will be studying the book, The Teenage Years of Jesus Christ: The Ultimate Pattern for Teenagers Today by Jerry Ross. Through Scripture, the students will study how Jesus himself conducted his life during his teen years and prepared for the work of His Father.

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August 24, 2008 by PastorDave.

Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” It truly is the word of God that is the source of wisdom and teaching! With these alive in our lives the joy they produce causes us to sing unto the Lord spiritual songs from the heart. If we allow the word to dwell in us we will become a people of praise and worship to the Lord! He tells us that He inhabits the praises of His people, so His presence will be strong and life changing! It is my prayer that you will sing unto the Lord today and allow His word to dwell in your life! You won’t regret it!

Pastor David McIntosh

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August 17, 2008 by PastorMark.

#324, How to Get the Most Out of a Message, Pastor Mark Boucher, Sunday, 08-17-2008

Text: James 1:19-25

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August 17, 2008 by PastorMark.

The Apostle Paul accomplished so much in his life. Of course, we know it was the Holy Spirit working through him, but he also needed to yield to God and His will. Paul’s effectiveness can also be attributed to his intense focus of purpose. In Colossians 1:28-29, we read of his “job description” or “life purpose statement” concerning his work. He wrote, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” From Paul’s statement, I realize that a productive, fruitful Christian life requires a tenacious focus on the purposes of God. What is your purpose?

Pastor Mark Boucher

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August 10, 2008 by admin.

Tisha B’av

Sadness and grief are natural, human reactions to a serious loss. It often hurls us into the arms of our God for comfort. We look to Him and trusted friends for help in examining ourselves and our relationship to the lost object of our love. It is through grief that we face the painful reality of losing something that we love, whether it be our parent, our child, our spouse, our friend, or even our childhood, our home, or our health. They are all losses. Besides grieving our own losses, we are touched when a friend is grieving a loss. Even our Lord Yeshua wept when He saw His friends grieving at Lazarus’ death.

Today, on August 10, 2008 (the 9th of Av or Tisha B’av on the Jewish calendar), the Jewish people grieve over the great losses and tragic events in their history. As Christians, we are the spiritual seed of Abraham. Therefore, the Jewish history and family tree is our history and our tree. Her losses become our losses and her mourning our mourning.

I believe that the Gentile Ruth’s heart toward her Jewish mother-in-law was, “Where you go, I will go; where you live, I will live; your people shall be my people; your God shall be my god; and your losses and grief will be my losses and grief.” May the Lord make us sensitive to the pain of our ancestors.

According to the sages, here are some of the tragedies that happened on the 9th of Av:

1. In 586 BC, the First Temple (built by Solomon) was destroyed by the Babylonians. One hundred thousand Jews perished, and millions were exiled.
2. In 70 AD, the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, led by Titus. Again many Jews died and many were exiled. This destruction was prophesied by Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) in Matthew 24:2.
3. In 135 AD, the Jewish Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. A stronghold of over 100,000 Jews was slaughtered.
4. In 1290, an official decree was signed, expelling all the Jewish people from England.
5. In 1492, the large Jewish community in Spain was expelled from the country.
6. In 1914, WWI broke out when Germany declared war on Russia. German resentment from the war set the stage for the Holocaust in which six million Jews were killed.

Let us also remember that although this day reminds us of the hatred aimed at God’s Chosen People, it can also remind us that God has preserved His people, in spite of Satan’s continual attempts to destroy their hope. “Am Y’israel Chai!” (”The Jewish people live on!”). And, indeed, soon, all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26), and we will all rejoice together–forever with our Messiah, Jesus!

“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her (Isaiah 66:10).”

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August 10, 2008 by PastorMark.

#323, When Temptation Knocks, Pastor Mark Boucher, Sunday 08-10-2008

Text: James 1:13-18

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August 10, 2008 by PastorMark.

Sometimes we forget who he is. Christians read about Jesus, listen to sermons, and think about Him often. However, in the midst of a trial, our minds can experience a white out. In Mark 4 we see the disciples crossing the lake at night and Jesus asleep on a cushion. In panic, they awaken Him because of the fierce storm. Jesus got up, rebuked the storm, and challenged the disciples about their faith. Their reaction was “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:41). May we never forget the power of Jesus. If He is in us, we have all we need for life and victory. Let’s show our faith in Him—even in the storms.

Pastor Mark Boucher

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