Beloved, (This is how John likes to address his readers…The word “beloved’ is used in 1 John seven times as an endearing greeting.)

This week prayer will be held at the Burkes.

Our scripture focus this week brings us to a transition in the letter. John has been speaking of the dangers within our own hearts. Now, with verse 18 the focus shifts to dangers from within the church. We learn here that our Lord is faithful to cleanse His church, through the departure of certain people who have mixed Christ with other things. Our text this week is 1 John 2:18-23, where it is clear that there will be those in the church, who will be revealed that they deny the sufficiency of Christ.

Pray for evangelistic efforts happening over the next two weeks from Paul Carrington.  Art After Hours: This Friday (July 8), we will be gathering to pray at the NCFIC office at 6:40pm, then go out into the streets from 7-9:30.Last month, there were what appeared to be approximately 5,000 people out in the streets of our town.

Together 2016: Paul, Freddy, Robert & Connor

This event, held in DC on July 16, currently shows there are 316,000 people attending, and the pope will be delivering a message.

We will leave on Friday evening (around 5pm, leaving from church building) and sleep in DC, getting up in the morning to pray then go out into the streets.

Years ago, McArthur, Sproul and a few others put together a great session on “Irreconcilable Differences: Catholics, Evangelicals and the New Quest for Unity”

Evangelicals and Catholics Together?: A Biblical Response – YouTube

In reading “Evangelicalism Divided“, I came across this quote from McArthur in 1997:

“I am convinced that this is only the beginning of a rather larger movement which is going to continue to escalate.  This is happening because of the reigning cry for tolerance, because of the abysmal lack of discernment in the church, and because of the tremendous impetus which the unity movement has.”

Finally… an opportunity to teach your children the New Testament… We pray that the church will engage in “Rediscovering the New Testament Church,” reading the New Testament afresh and hearing a message on each New Testament book from now till November. You can listen to previous sessions here. It works out to a New Testament book per week. This, week we are in Galatians where it is clear that, the cross of Christ is our only hope. Next week, Ephesians where among many things, “We are His workmanship. You can come and hear the session live in Scott’s library or you can listen wherever you are by dialing in to the lifestream. https://ncfic.org/events/bible_survey

The songs are as follows

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Jesus Shall Reign

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

Standing on the Promises

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near,

Join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires all have been 

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord who doth prosper thy work and defend thee!

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;

Ponder anew what the Almighty will do,

If with His love He befriend thee!

Praise to the Lord, Who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee,

Decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee.

How oft in grief hath not He brought thee relief,

Spreading His wings to o’ershade thee!

Praise to the Lord!  O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!

Let the “Amen” sound from His people again,

Gladly forever adore Him!

     Amen

Jesus Shall Reign

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun 

Does its successive journeys run

His kingdom spread from shore to shore

Till moons shall wax and wane no more

To Him shall endless prayer be made

And endless praises crown His head

His name like sweet perfume shall rise

With every morning sacrifice

People and realms of every tongue 

Dwell on His love with sweetest song

And infant voices shall proclaim

Their early blessings on His name

Let every creature rise and bring 

His grateful honors to our King

Angels descend with songs again

And earth repeat the loud “Amen!”

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold Him – born the King of angels

   O come let us adore Him

   O come let us adore Him

   O come let us adore Him – Christ the Lord

Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation

O sing, all ye bright hosts of heav’n above

Glory to God, all glory in the highest

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

Come behold the wondrous mystery

In the dawning of the King

He the theme of heaven’s praises

Robed in frail humanity

In our longing, in our darkness

Now the light of life has come

Look to Christ, who condescended

Took on flesh to ransom us

Come behold the wondrous mystery

He the perfect Son of Man

In His living, in His suffering

Never trace nor stain of sin

See the true and better Adam

Come to save the hell-bound man

Christ the great and sure fulfillment

Of the law; in Him we stand

Come behold the wondrous mystery

Christ the Lord upon the tree

In the stead of ruined sinners

Hangs the Lamb in victory

See the price of our redemption

See the Father’s plan unfold

Bringing many sons to glory

Grace unmeasured, love untold

Come behold the wondrous mystery

Slain by death the God of life

But no grave could e’er restrain Him

Praise the Lord; He is alive!

What a foretaste of deliverance

How unwavering our hope

Christ in power resurrected

As we will be when He comes

Standing on the Promises

Standing on the promises of Christ, my King!

Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring

“Glory in the highest!” I will shout and sing

Standing on the promises of God

   Standing, standing,

   Standing on the promises of God my Savior

   Standing, standing,

   I’m standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises that cannot fail

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail

By the living Word of God I shall prevail

Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises I now can see

Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me

Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free

Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises, I cannot fall

List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call

Resting in my Savior as my All in All 

Standing on the promises of God

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