Christian Character

Pastor’s Pen,

This Sunday: Christian Character                                                                                           1 Peter 1:13-25  

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Are you doing with them? 


Many people make resolutions at the beginning of the New Year, to exercise, quit smoking, lose weight, and eat more healthy foods. The problem is, those resolutions often fade out of existence by the end of January.


But there are changes that God wants to bring into our lives. He does so through the power of his Holy Spirit who lives within each believer, and he wants to bring about lasting change. We call this Christian character, and it's not so much what you do as who you are, and who you are becoming in Christ.


As Peter wrote to schedule Christians living in the northern part of Asia Minor, he shared some important truths about Christian character that can help us in our lives today. 


He began by talking about the focus: saved people (vs. 1-3) Believers are sojourners in the world, but have been selected by God and made Saints-- that is set apart to God-- by the Holy Spirit.


The foundation for Christian character, which we examined last week, is our salvation (vs. 3-12). We learn three things about our salvation: it is the hope of the future, the joy of the present, and the goal of the past. These truths lay the foundation for what we are going to consider.

*****


We appreciate those who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in in in in in in in in in in in preparation for Sunday worship as well as those who make it possible for us to ‘live-stream’ on Facebook at 10:45 each Sunday morning, and to post each Sunday’s message on our website (www.fccwylie.org) on Sunday afternoons. 


When you enter the sanctuary Sunday, after you are given a bulletin, stop by the communion table where the offering plates are located in the rear of the worship center and pick up your disposable communion cup. Then following the service, please dispose of it in the trash can. (Mark 10:45) 


We continue to hold our Sunday services with all safety protocols and pre-service sanitizing in place. No Sunday school yet, and the nursery is not available.  We are now following the latest CDC guidelines which allow fully vaccinated individuals to go without masks. We use bulletins printed untouched by human hands, with songs, etc. printed therein, and pre-packaged communion elements. Offering plates are located at the rear, or giving can be done online at www.fccwylie.org.


If you still feel uncomfortable attending, feel free to join our live stream on Facebook, at 10:45 AM, which includes communion and the worship hymns. Or the message is available each Sunday afternoon on our website. (www.fccwylie.org)


Christian Character: its’ features                                                                                                   1 Peter 1:13-25     

  • Feature #1: Holiness… (13-21)
    • …that conforms to our Hope 
    • …that confirms to our heavenly Father  
    • …that conforms to our salvation
  • Feature # 2: Love (22-25) 
    • The command   
    • The cause 

Conclusion: (v. 13)

Relish our calling 

Rejoice in adversity 

Read and heed God’s Word 




PRAYER ITEMS: Please check the Prayer list on the Bulletin!

Bruce Moilan—recovery, continued progress dealing with multiple health issues: Also, son Drew, to regain full eyesight 

A B Simmons - pacemaker

Pastor’s brother John Hawkins—off the ventilator

John Royal’s father

Family of Dennis Farr (COVID) 

Darla: health issues; she and other healthcare workers; educators, students

Mike’s son Jesse; Viviana’s son

Shirley’s cousin: lost his wife, heart surgery upcoming

William Martin-colon cancer

Bobby’s 12 year old cousin in Mexico--cancer

Margie Brown-shingles


RADIO THIS WEEKEND:

The Omicron variant of COVID has been spreading like wildfire, leading to a great deal of uncertainty at the beginning of 2022. This weekend on Encouragement Live, molecular biologist Dr. Tom Dooley and life coach Brad Smithart will join host Don Hawkins to help us deal with uncertainty during this troubling time. 

Encouragement Live can be heard Saturday at 7:05 PM central time on American Family Radio (90.9 FM) or (www.afr.net) and on theworshipchannel.org.  Re-broadcast Sunday 9 pm on The Worship Channel. 


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