Dear Brothers and Sisters,

How do you know if you are truly saved, or if you are simply fooling yourself by seeking your own gain? John Chapter 6 examines the characteristics of true and false disciples. False disciples are looking for something for themselves while true disciples have one holy desire to do the will of Jesus Christ. They are not fixated on themselves. They want bread from heaven… being unconcerned about the earthly benefits of bread and health. In our text for Sunday, John 6:22-33, we find Jesus confronting the crowd for their unbelief – even though they like what they see in Jesus. They are seeking some form of personal gain. What God is seeking is true worshipers who desire to obey Him, and fellowship with Him regardless of the times and the seasons the Lord ordains. The life and death question that must be asked is, what are you looking to gain? The answer to this question will determine your eternal destiny,

Church membership: Now that we have completed our series, “Joined and Knit Together,” covering the basic elements of healthy church life,  we are now desiring to meet with folks who are interested in becoming members at Hope Baptist. The Elders would like to make appointments with whoever is interested. Please contact one of the Elders to get on a schedule. If you missed any of the sessions you can find the audio messages here

Women’s Mentoring will be held at the Brown’s Barn at 10 am on Wednesday. They will be discussing the second half of the book on productive moms… School-age kids bring their school work and for younger kids, childcare is provided.

Prayer is at the Noah home

The Elders and Deacons and their wives will be departing on Thursday for an Elder Deacon Retreat near Asheville. We will be focusing on how do we bind ourselves together for the spread of the gospel locally and around the world and make that our dominant focus of prayer, conversation and planning. We will be studying 1 Thessalonians 1-5.

Our Songs for Sunday are, 

• I Know Whom I Have Believed (http://opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=315)
• Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts (http://opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=389)
• How Sweet and Awful Is the Place (http://opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=296)
• Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqWiIp_KLUc)
• Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners! (http://opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=393)

Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts
Jesus, Thou Joy of loving hearts,
Thou Fount of life, Thou Light of men,
From the best bliss that earth imparts
We turn unfilled to Thee again.

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on Thee call;
To them that seek Thee Thou art good,
To them that find Thee all in all.

We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread,
And long to feast upon Thee still;
We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead,
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill.

Our restless spirits yearn for Thee,
Where’er our changeful lot is cast;
Glad when Thy gracious smile we see,
Blest when our faith can hold Thee fast.

How Sweet and Awful Is the Place
How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“Lord, why was I a guest?”

“Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”

’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May, with one voice and heart and soul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.

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

Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!
Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Saviour, makes me whole.

   Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Hallelujah, what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my strength, my vict’ry wins.

Jesus! what a help in sorrow!
While the billows o’er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a guide and keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night o’ertakes me,
He, my pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find,
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.