We explored Genesis 30 and 31 last Sunday!  Pastor Luke was quick to add these chapters are somewhat 'messy', meaning the world was so broken during that time.  But according to Jesus, have no fear!  We're reminded the book of Genesis is about God stepping into this brokenness in spite of humanity.  God's faithfulness - the Redeemer is coming.  God continues to provide!

 Pastor Luke notes three provisions in this text:

1.  Materials / Property / Riches / Seed (geneology)

2.  Protection over Jacob - God does not abandon him in spite of himself

3.  Grace and certainly Mercy!  "Grace is getting something you don't deserve - Mercy is not getting what you deserve"

An important quote in this sermon simply cannot be missed... "It's not the quality of their faith - it's the object of their faith."  We looked at Jacob's continued sin, and God's continued provision.  Interesting how, since the beginning of humanity, this still applies to our lives.  Listen for yourself:

Youtube for entire recorded Livestream https://youtu.be/2bJI3kmnLdc

Vimeo Channel https://vimeo.com/804900333 - sermon only

Spotify Podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uwzrwbTahTupmFz1AqTLH?si=98dbbb10b54347f4 - sermon only

Welcome to our weekly Liturgy!  We hope you continue to find it useful to see the way plan to worship our King in advance!

SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2023

ORDER OF WORSHIP:

Call To Worship - 1 Chronicles 16:8-9

Responsive song - Praise to the Lord the Almighty

Song of Assurance - Come Behold the Wondrous Mysterey

ANNOUNCEMENTS / OFFERTORY

PASTORAL PRAYER

RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READING:  Psalm 107:33-43

Responsive song - How Great Thou Art

SERMON -  Pastor Luke Wartgow  "Wrestling with God" Genesis 32

Song - All I have is Christ

Doxology - sung together

BENEDICTION

Until we meet, have a blessed week!

We're so excited to do Baptisms on the 26th for our church family!  If you have questions about baptism - such as why?  How?  Do I need to, to be saved?  Please set up a time to speak with one of our Pastors - just email us here and we'll get back to you!  admin@carsonvalleybiblechurch.com

If you're ready to test the water, sign up at the Connect Desk!

1 Peter 3:21-22  "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him."

Last Sunday, our beloved Ken Douglas announced he would be stepping down as Elder for Carson Valley Bible Church.  If you missed celebrating his long term committment serving at CVBC, you can watch the clip of that portion of the service here:  https://vimeo.com/808409870

Although we will miss him in some regards, he and Sharon will still be active in our church family!  If you know him, you can't keep a good man down!  If you'd like to sign one of the cards with your good wishes, they will be available at the Connect Desk this weekend...

All of us thank you Ken, for your dedication and service all these years!

Our church family is continuing to grow in Christ, and in our relationships with each other.  If you'd like to be a part of that, come and join one!  Right now there are 3 groups, getting bigger by the minute, which means yes!  We will have to add another!  :)

If you're not plugged into one, we are praying you are able to do so.  Jesus taught us having regular fellowship with other believers is so beneficial. There is a group for all schedules, even bi-weekly.  Try one out - you won't be disappointed!

  These groups are weekly or bi-weekly that meet to discuss the previous sermons being taught at CVBC.  Held at CVBC member's homes, or at the church due to weather lately!

Here is the schedule...

Wednesdays

This Community Group meets at 6:00pm in the Foothill and Waterloo Road area.  This group meets every other week.

Thursdays

Both of these groups meet in the Minden area at 6:00pm.  One meets every week, the other meets every other week.

These groups are special and always open for new attendees!  For more information, address, etc., please reach out to us here at the church - we'll direct you to your new best place to be during the week!  admin@carsonvalleybiblechurch.com.  

Hope to see you there!

Meet our new missionary team and hear about their awesome work at Love Justice International!

Here's the schedule for all of our weekly CVBC Bible studies...

Tuesdays

* UPDATE*  This study will continue, Tuesdays at 5pm with "Blessed Hope"! 

Fridays

Men's Friday 9am bible study from "Only Two Religions", a new study about Creation by Peter Jones. 

Ladies Friday 9am bible studies every other Friday, from the Dr. Steve Lawson series, "Rejoice in the Lord" - a look at Paul's book of Phillipians.  If you haven't studied this incredible author's work, you will learn so much in this in depth study!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact admin@carsonvalleybiblechurch.com.  Have a great week!

This week, you can see what we are singing by reading the Liturgy column above.  We're choosing to feature

"All I have is Christ"

Was written in 2008 by Jordan Kauflin, a pastor at Redeemer Church of Arlington, Virginia, and edited by his father, Bob Kauflin, the director of Sovereign Grace Music and pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville, Kentucky.

We could not write about this song any better than this 2015 article, published in Desiring God - "An Interview with Bob and Jordan Kauflin" https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/all-i-have-is-christ.  There is even a photo of Jordan's notebook, with the lyrics!

As we are learning in this section of each week's Newsletter, we are seeing that modern day hymns are coming about much the same way as our centuries old hymns.  God's people, wanting to share what they personally know about our Lord, with other people - who may, or may not know, our Lord!  

Let's take a look at these lyrics:

This week I've been thinking about all of our church family studies from the book of Genesis - we're now to chapter 32!  There's many metaphors I can use to describe my thoughts about Genesis, such as last night when the high wind from the storm was blowing all the rain sideways into my window in the middle of the night, which sounded like screeching glass, to the brightest sunlight I've ever seen, coming through the window a few hours later.

That is only from one day!  But when I study and really look at the applications of the book of Genesis in my personal life today, I would have to say 'greater still'.

No matter the walk I took, the way I took it, my walk in life from a teenager until now has been protected.  I have seen in Genesis that I am not the only one that God has protected.  I'm also not the only one who didn't deserve this protection.  I deserved nothing - I had turned my back on a personal relationship with the King.  

Unless I needed something from Him...  

A decade or so later, after making my own Genesis style 'mess', I had to turn around and see it for what it was.  And certainly, I did not deserve the open arms of our Lord, nor expect to be received like that!

Ends up, I had no say-so in where I am at today in my walk, my faith, my life.

It was all a part of God's plan - without my permission.  

I had no knowledge that it was even there.

Now as I look at my life, being 'mature', and I see those times that the things I prayed for and wanted and did't get, was the grace of God, much like generations in the book of Genesis from Abraham to Jacob, and beyond.

Better yet, I also see the hand of protection during my racetrack career, and especially my EMS career.  Both careers had a definite element of danger, different kinds, but certainly a high percentage of danger!  Perhaps this protection from God is soley so that I can sit down and write for encouragement and support of other's walks?  I have a little plaque in my office that says Esther 4:14 - "Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created".  My hope is that at some point, you can sit with this truth and thank God for the same protection in your life.  Even if you don't realize the impact it has had.

God protected in the past.  God protects today.  

And you can be sure, He will protect in the future.  With or without your permission.

Till He comes again,

Julie

"Greater Still" Brandon Lake:  https://youtu.be/DIPAnaMBkUs