Snapshot

Here's a little snapshot of who we are:

We are focused on the Bible as God's communication to us. We want God's clear message to be at the foundation of everything we teach and do.

We're an urban church on the East Side of St. Paul and we seek to be a place where everyone in the community can feel welcome.  We are blessed by God to have a debt-free building to use for His glory (ask us about the story of how He amazingly did this)!  Some improvements have been made recently to the facility for which we are very thankful (some photos below).  We have on-street parking with a small off-street lot available to our south (courtesy of Mariano's For Hair).

We are a small to mid-size congregation with a friendly, personable atmosphere. We strive to be a welcoming church family to all and reach out to our neighborhood. (It's a place where everyone can know your name.)

We're informal, so come as you are.  We try to be real.  We desire to be a place where we can honestly deal with the struggles of life together & seek God's power for change!

There is no expectation for visitors to give financially.  Actually, we don’t pass around an offering plate but allow giving to be more private.

Our "normal" Schedule:  Sunday service begins at 9:30am and goes until 10:45am (nursery and pre-school are available during the sermon).  At 10:45 we enjoy a fellowship/refreshment time downstairs (great & healthy snacks!).  At 11:15am, we offer Sunday School classes for ages pre-school through adults (until around 12:15pm).

We'd love to have you visit.  Hope you can come this Sunday!

More questions? Check out the info in the box above and to the left - or contact us by phone (see contact info to the right)!

God bless you & have a great day!

 Pastor Larry

Invitation

Jesus said:

NEW SERMON SERIES on the TOPIC OF SANCTIFICATION

 We are now in a new New Testament Series on the topic of "Sanctification."   To find out what I mean by this, read the following questions that we will try to answer from our study this Winter.

 

Have you ever wondered about these things?

·         What is the relation between the old nature and the new nature?

·         How can we be "new" and yet battle so strongly with the "old"?

·         What is new about us?  What has changed? 

·         What has not changed?  Why did God leave some of the old?

·         What & how are we to put to death these old things?

·         What exactly is the nature of those things left behind?

·          Do the "sins of the fathers" have anything to do with this?

·         What are the "patterns of this world" in Romans 12:2?

·         Where is the power to see these things change (put to death)?

·          How much is our role & how much God's

·         How are we to handle our emotions?  

o    What do we do with them?  

o    Are they valid?  

o    Do they point to something we need to deal with?

o    If so, how do we do that?

·          What things do we need to remember & deal with - and - what things do we "forget" and leave behind?

·         How do the (scary) warnings work?  Can we lose our salvation? 

·         How do we know if we are truly saved, if our lives don't reflect it?

 

 To begin to answer these, we are focusing our attention first on Romans chapters 1-8.  Generally, chapters 1-3 build the case for SIN (everyone is guilty before our just & holy God), chapters 3-5 tell us that SALVATION (a Righteousness or Right-ness or goodness) is available to us as a gift from God, bought & paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Chapters 6-8 deal with the issue of SANCTIFICATION (how we live our lives after we have been "saved" and before we enter heaven). 

 

These are important & very practical issues for all of us to study.  I hope you will join us in this quest for answers to these sometimes plaguing questions. 

 

 

 The Plan for Each Year

During the course of each calendar year, I try to plan exegetical series from

1) a Gospel,

2) an Old Testament book, and

3) a New Testament letter.

In 2008 we studied John chapters 1-4, Psalms 51-100 and 2nd Thessalonians.

In 2009 we did a topical series on Treasuring Christ, finish 2nd Thessalonians, studied John chapters 5-7, Psalms 101-106 and now the New Testament topical series on Sanctification.

 

See the tab above on the left for "Previous Sermons" to see notes/outlines for some of the sermons.

Little Seeds, Big Plants

Jesus reminds us that planting seeds is important.  They don't always turn out the way we would like, but we keep on planting with the hope that some seeds will be planted on good soil and produce a crop 100 times what was planted! 

Flowers (and mustard seeds) on the right side of the stage represent people we are praying will come to know Jesus Christ.  Roses on the left side of the platform represent people's lives who have been transformed by Jesus Christ (through the 'seed' of His Gospel).  And so we rejoice with the angels!

Keep on planting & don't give up!  Harvest time is coming.  May the Lord send us workers for His harvest!

Luke 10:2  He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Luke 13:19  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."

Luke 8:5  "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.
6  Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.
7  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
8  Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

 

Rate Our Church

Using the following story, rate your experience at the Payne Ave. Church.  Use the email link at the top right of the home page to let me know how you think we're doing?

Pastor Larry

How does your church rate? (source unknown)

A church newsletter mentioned a man who visited eighteen different churches on successive Sundays.  He was trying to find out what the churches were really like.  He said, “ I sat near the front.  After the service, I walked slowly to the rear, then returned to the front and went back to the foyer using another aisle.  I smiled and was neatly dressed.  I asked one person to direct me to a specific place: a fellowship hall, pastor’s study, etc.  I remained for coffee if served.  I used a scale to rate the reception I received.  I awarded points on the following basis:

 

10 - a smile from a worshiper

10 – a greeting from someone sitting nearby

100 – for an exchange of names

200 – invitation to have coffee, if served

200 – invitation to return

1000 – introduction to another worshiper

2000 – invitation to meet the pastor

 

On this scale, eleven of the eighteen churches earned fewer than 100 points.  Five actually received less than 20.  The conclusion: The doctrine may be biblical, the singing inspirational, the sermon uplifting, but when a visitor finds nobody who cares whether he’s there or not, he is not likely to return.

 

Do you think this person's experience is common?  Unfortunately, I found it to be all too true when I visited many churches in 2005.  So, send me your opinion on how you think we rate as a church.  And while you're at it, pray that we would better live out John 13:35  "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  and 2Thes. 1:3  "...the love every one of you has for each other is increasing."  (See Jan. 18, 2009 sermon in "Previous Messages" under the "Sermon" tab on the left.)

Treasuring Christ was our Theme for 2009

What food do you like the best?

What is your favorite thing to do?

What do you look forward to the most?

Where does Jesus fit - in all the things you desire?

The Bible says Jesus is our greatest and most precious treasure.

God invites us to do a "taste-test" and see that He is better than anything in life!

Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."

1Peter 2:2  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3  now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Isaiah 55:1  "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."

Matthew 13:44  "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Matthew 22:37  Jesus replied: "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

Matthew 6:33  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

John 21:15  'When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

Luke 14:25  'Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:  26  "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be my disciple.  27  And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."'

The beginning of our building improvements adventure

Before things look better, they usually look worse. But just remember the end result we're shooting for. It's sort of like us and God. He is committed to making us a "radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Eph. 5:27). But in the meantime, we are in a process. God "began a good work in" us, and "will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6).  May He speed along our progress spiritually as His Church, and with the building too.

We appreciate all the volunteers who have & will help with these projects!

Underneath the Carpet

Under the carpet and under the well stuck & hardened on green carpet backing... is a beautiful wood floor!

No "National Treasure" Here

They were digging, but no treasure - just a cement floor under the back stage!

Goodbye old Red Chairs...

Hello...

New chairs which arrived on 8-10-08!

Praise God for how quickly things can change!

In 2 Chronicles 29:36 it says, "Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly."

Building changes can actually start happening pretty quickly. But how much better that spiritual changes can happen quickly too! Yes, it may seem like a long road of obedience in following Jesus Christ, but change can happen by His power!

2Cor. 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Let's be praying for a spiritual turn-around in our own lives, in the church, in our community and world.

Rev. 21:5 'He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"'

Chairs arrived at 8am the next day!

We didn't plan it this way, but the day after we removed the carpet, the chairs arrived - 8am on Sunday morning (8/10)! Praise God for such great timing & His generous provision for the chairs and for all the volunteers doing a lot of work! Thank you to everyone who has given time, energy, materials & donations.

The next step was to remove the side platforms & the tiles

But... The Next Step didn't go as planned...

Which led to us meeting outside (& other locations) for church!

We could have seen this as an extreme inconvenience - or we could choose to remember that God is still in control and the church is not a building,  He has provided for us in the past & He will in the future.   Besides this,"we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28).  Life is so uncertain, so we will keep trusting, keep praying, and keep on learning - no matter what our circumstance!

BACK in the building after 7 weeks!

Praise God! It's great to be back in our building again. After much prayer & patience, God has allowed us, after 7 weeks of meeting in other places, to return to the building He has given us. We thank Him for His faithfulness and for how He has provided for us generosly in so many ways. May we learn & remember these lessons of God's faithfulness every time we walk through the doors.

1st Chronicles 16:

8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

The side platforms were finally removed

So, we began the work of preparing the cement floor area to be filled in with hardwood flooring.  This has been a slow process.  The carpet on the stage was also removed.  We appreciate & thank everyone who has prayed for, worked on and given towards us getting to this point - and beyond! Thank you very much!

Red Carpet removed in Library & Foyer areas

Walls were prepared for painting, new lighting installed & floors prepared for carpet (Dec. 08)

Great Volunteers have done great work. We praise God for the progress!

In all this we remember that the church is not a building and that the job given us by Jesus was to go into all the world and make disciples (Mt. 28:18-20).  May He enable us to be good stewards of all He has given us, while at the same time loving Him, loving each other, and showing His love to the world.

Building Progress

The office, library, foyer and Pre-School & Nursery Rooms now have new carpeting!

 

Step by Step

Sometimes it is hard to see progress - even in our own lives.  But, like with the floor, we must keep at it & persevere!  God will keep on working & bring it to completion in His timing.

Heb 10:36  "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."

Phil. 1:6  "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
 

The "Re-Finishing" process

Just as the wood floor in the main room needed to have the top layers sanded off in order for it to really shine & look like new - so also God is in the "refinishing" business with us.  He is committed to bring to completion the work He started with us who believe in Jesus.  We all need some continued work!

Philippians 1:6  "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Epesians 4:22-24  "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Floor Finished!

We praise God for how He has provided for the completion of the floor project.  When you see how nice it looks, it's almost hard to remember all the work it took to get it to this point (unless you are one of the guys who put in hours and hours on your knees!).  Thanks to all who labored on this project.

1Thes. 1:3  "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. "

Preparing for the Roof & Sign

On Monday, July 6th, Jay tore off the rock/stucco face around the edge of the roof to prepare for the roof and sign projects.

Roof on, board added

So, then on Thursday we were able to install green treated plywood around the edge to prepare for the sign to be installed on Friday morning (the last day before our installer went on vacation)!  (We thank God for Jay's availability to get this project done!)

Sign being installed

God's timing has been all over this project.  Here is a photo of preparing to put up the sign. 

God's good timing for the roofers

We thank the Lord that the roofers were able to come early (Wednesday instead of Thursday) so we would have day to prepare for the sign - after the roof was done.

SIGN UP! PRAISE GOD!

Our trust is not in a sign.  God draws people to Himself & uses us, His people, to share the message of salvation in Jesus Christ & to demonstrate His love to all people.  A sign is simply a practical tool to let people know we're here, what's going on, and to share a little message of hope.  Psalm 127:1 tells us that if the Lord is not in something, then our efforts are useless.  Our prayer is that God will use us, and in some small way to use this sign, to bring Him glory.  As the Psalm also says, even the protection of the sign is in God's hands.  We leave it in His hands to use & protect.

Psalm 127:1   "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."