A Big Neon Sign

 O, how exciting to be setting off up the hillside together to listen to the greatest message ever given, ‘The Mountain Sermon’!  And to hear it from the greatest preacher that ever lived… Jesus himself!  This Sunday we are going to begin a new series called ‘A Kingdom People’, looking at Jesus’ longest recorded teaching from Matthew 5, 6 and 7. Here Jesus has words that will form a group of ragged followers into a people who are alive with the essence of the new Kingdom. His purpose is for a people who look like him and act like him in the world, a people who will carry these seeds of Kingdom, planting them wherever they go, filling the earth.   

 If you want to know how to live - here it is written down on paper. All good then! No problem! Let’s just get on with it... But as we read it, we have a growing realization, a sinking feeling, a desperation… I CAN NEVER LIVE LIKE THIS! Jesus says things like, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Oh, Shoot!  There are things written here that I fail at every day it seems… What hope do I have? And then the real clincher, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” I am lost!! Without hope! Doomed!

 But, wait a moment - on the mountainside, there is one speaking, the preacher on the mount, full of grace and truth. It’s as if, the dawning revelation of our helplessness is meant to point us to the helper, our poverty a great neon arrow lit up in the night, pointing to the savior. Right at this moment of history dawns a new day! What we could never do before is met by the one who can do it perfectly and invites us to draw on him and lean our full weight on him, to live ‘in him’. This is a moment of great excitement, thrilling joy!

 This mountain sermon is something that we can never live and yet something that we can totally live and must live. In ourselves… impossible; and yet our total lack, points us to the savior, and coming to him starts a new creation, a new being, we become new - and the promise of old becomes a living reality… “And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules… and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36:26-28). Is this not the most incredible thing ever!!

 So, as we come up the mountain, to see a new way of living, let us keep our eyes firmly on the preacher on the mount, the one who has given his very life to enable us to walk in his ways. I’m excited… Are you??

Love to all,

Andrew

(pastor/team leader at Kootenay Christian Fellowship)

Growth Group Start Ups!

Our Small Groups, where we experience growing in God together will begin again Wednesday, Oct 7 in various locations and times. Check out the Sign-Up Sheet on Sunday and select your group.

There will also be a Young Adults Growth Group that will begin Wednesday, Sept 16 in The Lookout. There is also a sign-up sheet for this group.

Next KCF Potluck Lunch Sunday

Join us Sunday, Sept 27 at KCF right after our Sunday gathering.

Celebrate Recovery Returns this Fall!

For anyone with Hurts, Hang ups or Habits.

A Christ-centered 12 Step Recovery Program

Are you ready to embark on a journey of real and lasting change?

Begins Sept 29, Tuesdays, 7pm at the Lookout, 520 Falls Street.

Inquiries to Calvin – spring.10@hotmail.com

 

Thanksgiving Meal

ODB is now receiving donations of turkeys in preparation for the Annual Community Thanksgiving meal. If you would like to take part by volunteering, please contact Tyler Bethune at ODB tyler@odboffice.com

Tithes and Offerings for Cheerful Givers!

May God richly bless you, as 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 is a part of your life.

For those who are wanting to support our Church with offerings, it can be done by etransfer to office@kcfoffice.com, through our website via PayPal, or by calling in to the office with a credit card or mailing in your cheque. Thank you for your continued giving to the church with your tithes and generous offerings.

 

The Lookout

The Lookout space for our vibrant children’s ministry is now being used! A big thank you to all who have contributed time and resources to make this happen.

There is still a need for financial support. You can help and leave a legacy for generations to come. Please consider financial donations of any amount. Please etransfer to office@kcfoffice.com or provide a cheque or cash at the office marked children. Thank you.

 

Our Daily Bread

If God is leading you to help someone not be hungry, to have a safe place to go for community, and to experience the love of God, please consider Volunteering or sending Our Daily Bread a financial gift today.

Etransfer: odb@odboffice.com

Here is a video link that captures the heart of ODB. We hope you can take a moment to click on the link and watch it. We also invite you to share this link everywhere. https://youtu.be/BNJbNrIdQkY?si=I5Yip9tu08MoYKvf

Anne-Marie Rasmussen – Administrator