OUR LIBRARY
Welcome to the Church Library
We invite everyone to stop by the library (located in the south hall of the main building near the Information Desk) and see all the wonderful resources available for check-out.
We have a current selection of books, DVD’s, CD’s, Audio book selections and more!
We do not have a Librarian on site, but the Library is open on Sunday mornings from 9:00 am to Noon to assist with all library needs and questions.
If you have questions, please call the office during Business Hours - Mon. through Thurs. 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
SPIRITUAL GIFT ASSESMENT
Get Ready to Grow!
The results about our spiritual giftedness are not final, so don’t get discouraged with them. You are a growing believer in a growing church. Your ability to serve Christ can grow. This means you can develop your spiritual gifts, especially when there is a desire to do better. For those under age 20, or those who have recently been saved, these answers may not reflect your desire to serve Christ. You have might not have had time to learn your strengths and failures. Until you know your limitations, you won’t accurately know yourself nor will you accurately take this test.
When you get ready to interpret your abilities, notice your two or three strongest gifts. This is your Gift Mix. Don’t look for just your strongest gift; study how one gift relates to the other.
Remember, God’s plan is to “use you,” where you are usable. This Assessment will help you discover where you are most usable. When you know your gift, then place yourself at God’s disposal to be used by Him.
But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
-Ephesians 4:15-16
LIFE'S GREATEST QUESTION
What is….Life’s Greatest Question?
Life’s Greatest Question is, "How can you know, for certain, that you have eternal life with God?"
God says in his Word, the Bible, that you can KNOW…
I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God
so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13
The good news is that you can know, for certain, where you stand with God.
Jesus Christ came to earth for this very reason.
The following Spiritual Truths can give you assurance of eternal life.
TRUTH #1: EVERY PERSON NEEDS GOD'S FORGIVENESS.
Why? Because we have sinned against God by rebelling against his laws.
1. SIN IS BREAKING GOD’S LAW, AND EVERYONE HAS BROKEN GOD’S LAW.
The Bible says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
2. SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD.
"Your sins have separated you from your God and your sins have hidden His face from you ..." Isaiah 59:2
3. SIN MEANS MISSING THE MARK.
"For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all" James 2:10
Because God is perfect he requires perfection. Since none of us is perfect, we can never try hard enough
or be good enough to earn a place with God. We have missed the mark.
TRUTH #2: BECAUSE GOD LOVES SINFUL PEOPLE HE HAS PROVIDED ONE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE.
God’s way to eternal life is not Religion (church membership), Ritual (baptism), or Righteousness (doing your best).
God’s way to heaven is by embracing his grace through faith in Jesus Christ as your only hope.
The Bible says, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
THE EQUATION OF SALVATION:
Jesus’ Death + Jesus' Resurrection = Full Payment for my sinful rebellion against God.
When Jesus Christ died and rose from the grave, He paid the penalty for ALL our sins. This makes it possible for everyone – including you – to receive eternal life. However, Jesus’ death and resurrection will not save you automatically.
EVERY PERSON HAS A DECISION TO MAKE - A STEP OF FAITH TO TAKE.
TRUTH #3: YOU CAN RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE RIGHT NOW - BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
1. Recognize that eternal life is a gift. "... the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23(b)
You can only have the gift of eternal life by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. Realize that to receive the gift of Salvation you must admit your need as a sinner and be willing to turn from your sin (repent). Repentance is turning away from your sin and turning toward Jesus Christ. "Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out." Acts 3:19
3. Receive Jesus Christ personally into your life by embracing him as your King.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift - not from works, so that no one can boast."
What is preventing you from following Jesus Christ as your Lord and King, right now?
If you will confess your sin to God and ask him to save you, Jesus Christ will give you eternal life and begin his work in you.
The words are not magic, but if you are serious, you can pray something like this; "Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and I need to be saved. I know that I cannot save myself. I repent of my sinfulness and thank you that your death and resurrection are the payment for my sin. I am placing my faith in Jesus Christ alone and ask you to save me by your grace. Thank you Jesus, for hearing my prayer. Thank you for saving me and giving me eternal life. Amen."
The Bible says, "If you confess with your mouth, "'Jesus is Lord'" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
If you were sincere in your repentance and you desire to know and follow Jesus Christ for the rest of your life, you can be sure that you have Eternal Life. Why? Because God keeps His Word. In John 6:47, Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life." The Bible also promises in Romans 10:13 "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Also, the Bible says in 1 John 5:13 "I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
Note: This is only the beginning.
After I receive the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ, what does God expect of me?
1. Make your profession of faith in Jesus Christ public by following Jesus in believer’s baptism by immersion.
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It is a great first step for a new follower of Jesus.
"So those who accepted his message were baptized, ..." Acts 2:41 -
Jesus commands it. It is the first step of obedience to Him.
Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples … baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19 -
Jesus was baptized to set an example.
"When Jesus was baptized, ... a voice from heaven said: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased."
Matthew 3:16-17
Just as it pleased God when Jesus was baptized, God is also pleased when you choose obedience and get baptized? -
Baptism pictures the death, burial and resurrection of God’s Son.
"Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life." Romans 6:3-4
Note: Baptism follows salvation, not before.
2. Actively attend, support and connect with other believers in a local Bible-teaching, Christ-centered, church.
"... not neglecting to gather together, ... encouraging each other, ..." Hebrews 10:25
3. Read your Bible, beginning with the gospel of John, pray, and share Jesus with others who need Him.
"I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you." Psalm 119:11