Author: EBC

The greatness of prayer is simply an extension of the greatness of God in our lives!  Tim Keller puts it this way, “Prayer is so great that wherever you look in the Bible, it is there.  Why?  Everywhere God is, prayer is.  Since God is everywhere and infinitely great, prayer must be all-pervasive in our lives.”
 
Prayer is what set Israel aside from all other nations.  Moses says in Deuteronomy 4:7, “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?”  When we pray, we are treating God as God.  When we pray, we set ourselves apart from all those who do not know God.  So, church, we must pray!
 
Fellowship of prayer is this Sunday night from 6:00-7:00 in the worship center.  One of our values as a church is that we are devoted to prayer.  Prayer was a common practice when the early church gathered, according to Acts 2:42; 11:5; 12:5, 12.  
 
Church, let’s gather this Sunday night to pray for our ministries, church leadership and family, our community, what’s next campaign, and our ministry plan going forward.  
 
Marriage conference sign-up continues for two more weeks, so register this Sunday.  Created for Connection conference will provide you with practical application for a healthier marriage.  If there is a couple outside the church you would like to invite to this conference, then feel free to do so.  
 
Momentum is back on Sunday, March 29 from 5-7.  There is also open gym for Teen basketball every Friday night in March from 7-9.  And coming in May there will be a momentum Sunday study on Sunday mornings.  Momentum is for grades 5-12.  
 
I am loving our study through the entire Bible.  Someone asked me, “Once you finish this series on The Greatest Story from Cover to Cover, then what’s left for you to preach on?”  Trust me, there is plenty of material in God’s Word to keep me going for a long time! For example, in the summer, I will be preaching on the guide to joyful living from the book of Philippians.  No matter what we face in life, we can choose joy!  Stay tuned!
 
Please note that if you are trying to listen to the sermon online you can click on the link below for the latest sermon as well as previous sermons. Or by going to https://laconiachurch.com/category/audio/
 
Don’t forget, this Sunday night from 6-7.  As Hudson Taylor put it, “Brother, if you are to win…we must go forward on our knees.”
 
Blessings to you, Pastor Brian

A relationship left to itself will drift.  That is true of friendships, family relationships, and marriages.  If there is no intentionality and attention given to a relationship it will eventually drift from closeness.  Created for Connection Conference is for all couples who want to keep from drifting or to reconnect with their spouse.  I look forward to what I will learn about ensuring a lifetime of loving connection with my wife. I am super excited about the marriage conference at EBC on April 3-4 with main speaker Ken Munger who is passionate about sharing some practical, faith-based principles for creating stronger and more secure marital relationships.  
 
Ken Munger will guide couples through honest conversations with each other.  There will be plenty of “couple time,” throughout the conference where it will just be you and your spouse to talk through the material being taught.  There are workshops to choose from as well.  Fill out your registration form and bring it with you this Sunday.  
 
This Saturday there will be a fun activity for all those from pre-k through grade 5.  Black out Night is from 6-8:30 PM at the church.  A couple of volunteers are still needed for that evening.  If you can help, then please contact Bethany Miller of Laura Hollenbeck (or call church office).  
 
Church, I trust that you will set aside Sunday, March 15 from 6-7 for a night of singing and fellowship together around prayer.  The Fellowship of Prayer is an opportunity to grow us as a family and align our hearts with the purposes of God. We can only go forward on our knees. 
 
A four-week Discovery Class begins this Sunday at 9:00 in the fellowship hall.  This is a great class to let you in on our mission, values, and strategy for ministry here.  It also includes an overview of what we believe as a church.  If you want to attend or know someone you can encourage to attend, no sign-up is needed.  Just show up this Sunday at 9:00 (don’t forget to spring ahead). 
 
I leave you with this invitation from Jesus to keep from drifting from Him: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me” (Revelation 3:20).  The call is simple: we must slow down to maintain union and communion with Him. The carrying out of it however, is never easy, but necessary! 
 
Blessings to you, Pastor Brian

“The Coronavirus is a plague sent by God,” Christian TV host Rick Wiles says.  He goes on, “God is about to purge a lot of sin off this planet via the Coronavirus and those who mock God will be punished.”  This statement and others like it trouble me.  Are we in the place to know God’s hand of judgment is behind this? 
 
A better posture than attach God’s judgment to it would be to pray for the people of China and others around the world infected by the virus.  God loves the people of China and desires that all people be brought into His family.  Is it appropriate to speak of God’s judgment in light of this epidemic?  Shouldn’t we speak of God’s mercy?  
 
When bad things happen in the world my mind goes to Romans 8 when it speaks of this world being subject to futility.  Romans 8 reminds us that the whole creation has been groaning since the time sin entered in the world in Genesis 3.  We live in a fallen world.  We groan for the new heaven and earth.  This isn’t heaven.  We aren’t home yet.
 
My mind also went to these words from our Savior’s lips, “Those eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish” (See Luke 13:1-9).  Jesus’ point is that we all deserve to die, not just those who perish in some calamity. 
 
Praise God that we can escape the wrath to come because God in His grace and mercy sent Jesus to take our place on the cross.  The greater disaster than those who die from the coronavirus or any other disaster from this fallen world, is those who perish without Christ.  We have news to share to all: Yes, this world is messed up, but Christ has conquered death and He will raise us up victorious!  Isn’t that the news we are to proclaim to the world?  God loves you and wants you to be in His family forever! 
 
With the heightened media attention on the coronavirus, we can find our own hearts filled with anxiety and paralyzed by fear.  Our peace is found in the work of our Savior who has secured our eternity.  Our peace is found in that nothing takes God off course in His plans and purposes. So, church, walk in peace that our God is in control.   
 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
 
Shalom, Pastor Brian