Grace Harbor Community Blog

Easter was all about the implications of the resurrection. This Sunday we’ll return to 1 John, where, interestingly, there is one implication: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another.” 1 John 1:6-7 . Our lives must change in light of the resurrection, otherwise:

1. We do not walk in the truth: we do not have fellowship with God.
2. Without fellowship with God, it is impossible to have fellowship with each other.
3. By extension, relational difficulties are caused and healed depending on our walk with God.
4. So, we must think rightly about God and act accordingly.

See you Sunday!

Is inativity a word?  I’m not sure inattentivity is either…  It’s the state of being inattentive.  Or, perhaps, the status quo for many of us when it comes to catching God work.  The entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem in John 12 (in fact, John 12:1-20) are examples of how often we can miss God working, for all kinds of reasons.  This Easter season, let’s turn our ears toward listening and our eyes toward seeing what God is doing.

James 5:12-20 presented a clear challenge for us as a community: grow in authenticity and spirituality. We should be a confessing, correcting, graceful, praying, truth-telling people. Jesus calls us to a different life, one not commonplace in the world.

Participation in this new, different life is shown to the world through baptism: a symbolic act that shows unity with Christ in death (to the old life) and life (new life in Christ). On Jan. 27 we will join together with Middletown Baptist Church (Middletown, RI) and New Hope Church (Norwich, CT) for a joint baptism service. This will be held at Middletown Baptist Church: 1818 W. Main Road, Middletown, RI. The service begins at 10:30am on Sunday the 27th. If you would like to be baptized, let Andy (ahaynes98@gmail.com) know. Next week, Jan. 20, we will gather at the George Hunt H.E.L.P center, 119 Mathewson Street, Providence. Read the post below for ways to bless the people at the H.E.L.P. center.

This year we have the opportunity to read the entire Bible.  Let’s do it.  God’s word is unchanging, and the more we hold of it in us, the more we understand what we see around us.  Last Sunday we talked about undistracted devotion: committing to reading  the Bible in 2008 will help foster just that.

And now, for the change.  January 13 and January 20 Grace Harbor will gather at 119 Mathewson Street, Providence, RI 02903.  This is the George Hunt H.E.L.P center, which provides services and job training to the most needy in our community.  They have offered their facilities free of charge, which is a tremendous blessing.  However, we desire to be a blessing to them as well.  They are in need of men’s clothes, as well as socks and underwear (any sex there).  How about filling the offering plate with socks and underwear the two weeks we’re there?  If you wish to contribute financially just write Hunt Center on the memo line of your check.

Last, we are still working on details for a baptism service while the Courtyard Marriott is being renovated.  If you have not been baptized and would like to be please let Andy, Steve, or Dave know.

The Bible is full of people who do what is right and suffer for it. It doesn’t seem fair, but God doesn’t promise fairness but Justice. The main way of honoring God in difficulties and suffering is to live out truth. To do that, we need to know truth, and to know truth we need to read the Bible. Here you can find several guides to reading the Bible, and helps for reading it daily. These are plans for reading the whole Bible, or the New Testament, in a year. Truth should shape our understanding of our circumstances. Too often we let our circumstances shape our view of the truth.

James 4:11-17 and how we want to be God (and take His authority) .

1.The sin of Judging out of our Spiritual Pride means we judge the law and not the person, making ourselves God (v.11). Here’s some other scripture on Judging: Matthew 7:1-5 , When we judge the law, we are hearer’s and not doer’s. Here’s the Scriptures to compare: James 1:22 and James 4:10-11. But, we are to help each other out and work toward redemption, judging pronounces “you’re guilty!” and offers punishment. Redemption works toward restoration. Here’s some Scripture about redeeming: James 5:19-20,  2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 and Matthew 18:15-20 (notice the steps to urge repentance).

2. We talked some about freedom of conscience: Romans 14 speaks to this issue, the verse we looked at was 14:13.The sin of Spiritual Pride in self-reliance and not God-reliance (James 4:13-17) Here’s some Scripture about planning and trusting God: Proverbs 16:9 and Acts 13:44-47, 15:36-40, 16:6 .

Feel free to email andyhaynes@graceharbor.net if you have questions about this.

Last, here’s the advent reading for this week. Take time this week and read this Scripture and think about Christ and Christmas and the Promise of Hope! Isaiah 11:1-10

Last Sunday we looked at 5 realities to rejoice and be thankful over: the Bible, Jesus, Grace, Family, and Church. Feel free to post any thanks you have for these realities.

Next Sunday we will look further into the book of James in the New Testament. The passage will be James 4:11-17 and the contrasting idea in this passage is the Authority of God and human (our) responsibility.

See you Sunday!