RECAP: GET! IT! OFF! based on Colossians 3:1-11
Jesus Christ has come to set us free. But in order to walk in that freedom, Paul told the Colossians they had to do two things: take some things off and then instead put other things on. For unless we are willing to get rid of some things from our lives, we will continue to live in shackles of our own making, akin to the shackles Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge had built for themselves. And when we live in a state of sin, we actually keep ourselves in bondage and limit the freedom God has for us. So how do we live in freedom?
- Get your mind off earthly things. The Hebrew word for mind is the same word for stomach. A recent John Hopkins study confirms this reality, showing that the brain and stomach are linked (ever have an ice cream pity party?). If our appetite is for things of this world and our sinful nature, our brains will do whatever it takes to fill that hunger. So in order to stop the cravings, we need to retrain what we set our hearts on. We need to replace earthly things with spiritual things and go from our appetites for earthly pleasures to a hunger for the kingdom of God. We have been raised with Christ; we can overcome!
- Put to death your sinful nature. Our mind is driven by our appetite. We can have a new focus and goal to strive toward, but unless we put to death the sinful nature, we will gravitate toward them. There is an old Cherokee story that says each of us has two wolves within, one predisposed toward good, and the other toward evil. The wolf that wins is the wolf that we feed. If we feed our sinful nature, that will come out; if we starve our sinful nature and feed the Spirit, that will be victorious. We can’t feed our flesh and our Spirit at the same time! Avoid the trap of minimalizing sin; because of sin, the wrath of God is coming. Watch out, especially for sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, and idolatry!
- Rid yourselves of destructive behaviors. Paul then challenges us to dig deeper, to move beyond the surface. Beyond the obvious, we also need to tackle anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language. These are all common today. But what if we took them off and encouraged instead of destroyed, or built up instead of torn down? Every time we destroy with our mouths (or fingers) we grieve the Spirit of God.
- Take off your old self. We are new in Christ. Don’t cling to our old ways. Satan wants us to return there, to make us believe we will never be good enough for God. But allow God to renew you, to shape you in his image. You have died with Christ and you have been reborn!
- Remove all prejudice. Paul was adamant that all can receive the forgiveness of God, that everyone could have the opportunity to respond to God’s grace. Do we believe it too?
Questions for Reflection
1) What is our greatest priority? Where is God in relation to that?
2) What sin is the greatest trap for you? Can you release it to God?
3) Who have we destroyed with our words? How can we repair that today?
4) Do you live as one who has been redeemed?
5) What barriers need to be destroyed in our community?
Upcoming Service
This Sunday, Pastor Ryan will continue the series in the book of Colossians with the sermon titled, “Put It On!,” based on Colossians 3:12-17. Even though we are free in Christ, we have to intentionally put some traits on to walk in that freedom. How should a person of faith be distinct from everyone else? Come or tune in Sunday to find out!
Daily Bible Readings for October 25 – 31
October 25: 1 Timothy 1:9-11 What should we get rid of? Why?
October 26: 1 Corinthians 5 What do we need to get rid of? Why?
October 27: 2 Timothy 2:1-7 Why do we need to get rid of things that ensnare us?
October 28: 2 Timothy 3:1-9 What do we need to keep our distance from? Why?
October 29: Ephesians 5:1-11 What should we keep our distance from? Why?
October 30: Philippians 2:6-11 What should we put on? Why?
October 31: Ephesians 6:10-18 What should we put on? Why?
This Week’s Events:
Thursday, October 27–Funeral for John Bennington (office closed); meal in Fellowship Hall after service
Saturday, October 29–Men’s Fellowship Breakfast @ Thomas House, Dayton @ 7:15 am
Saturday, October 29–Fall Festival Outreach from 10 am to 1 pm
Sunday, October 30–Instachoir sing during service!
Sunday, October 30–Chasing the Lions Bible Study at Pastor Ryan’s, 3:30 pm
Monday, October 31–Pastoral Epistles Bible Study @ 7 pm
Upcoming Events:
November 4 – 5–Beaver Creek Cares weekend
Sunday, November 6–First Sunday Breakfast & Offering & Daylight Savings Ends (turn clocks back an hour)
Sunday, November 6–Worship Team Meeting after service
Sunday, November 13–Crestmen leading worship service
Sunday, November 20–Stewardship Sunday
Sunday, November 27–Hanging of the Greens
Announcements:
BIRTHDAYS NEEDED!
If you are a newer attendee at Beaver Creek, please call the office or leave in the offering plate your birth date so we do not miss anyone!
Beaver Creek Cares
For Beaver Creek Cares, we once again will be taking a collection for Strength in Peers. The list of items is attached to this email. If you would like to make a monetary donation instead of purchasing items, you can give the money to either Winnie or Diane, and they will shop on your behalf!
New this year are exam care packages for our college students. There is a table in the basement filled with index cards of specific items (such as cup of ramen). Please take the card, purchase the specified item, and return it with the index card by Friday, November 4 of Beaver Creek Cares. We will purchase any missing items during the Operation Christmas Child shopping Friday evening. Let us bless our six college students!
Schedule:
Friday, November 4
6:30 pm Soup & Sandwich Meal
7:15 pm Vespers
8:00 pm Operation Christmas Child Shopping
Saturday, November 5
9:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Activities including: Shoebox packing, Strength in Peers packing, Exam Kits, Teacher Appreciation Gifts, Trash Pickup
2:00 pm White Birch Bingo (awaiting confirmation)
Bible Study Opportunities!
The Chasing the Lion Bible Study will continue on Sunday, October 30 @ 3:30 pm at Pastor Ryan’s. This study meets every Sunday at 4 pm.
Pastor Ryan will also continue the study on the books of 1 and 2 Timothy. Paul shared his heart with Timothy and gave him instructions for himself and the church after he was gone. Most of these letters are reflected even today. How can we live our faith? I encourage you to dig deeper into these two short books! We will meet on Mondays in the church library from 7 pm – 8 pm.
Take advantage of one of these two Bible studies today! If you would like to participate in the Timothy Bible study, please email Pastor Ryan or call the office.
Call for Worship Leaders and Children’s Story
We are still in need of both worship leaders and children’s storytellers. If you would like to serve, contact Alice Over (worship leading) or Tammy Stine (children’s story).
Chili Cook-Off Winners
We had a wonderful council meeting and chili cook-off! The winners by category:
Chili (only 2 points separated!)
1st place–Winnie Wilfong
2nd place–Alice Over
Soup
1st place–Reba Kline
2nd place–Bonnie Sue Eckard
3rd place–Phyllis Simmons
Dessert (3 way tie broken by amount of 1st place votes)
1st place–Reba Kline
2nd place–Michael Over
3rd place–Heather McAvoy
Fall Festival & Beaver Creek Cares–Candy Request
Our outreach team is planning a fall festival for the church and community. Fall Festival will be Saturday, October 29 from 10 am to 1 pm. Beaver Creek Cares will be November 4-5.
For both, we will need individually wrapped fun-sized pieces of candy (Halloween style) for both the kids for Fall Festival and for the teachers for the appreciation gifts during Beaver Creek Cares. You can bring the candy to the narthex. We need lots and lots of candy!
Fall Festival
Fall Festival will take place Saturday, October 29 from 10 am to 1 pm. This will be a community-based outreach to reach children and young families in our areas. We will have several different activities:
Carnival games (with candy prizes)
Pumpkin painting
Costume contest
Food (hot dogs, chips, drinks, popcorn)
Hayride
Many hands make light work. We will need three different sets of volunteers for the event:
Friday afternoon to help with washing pumpkins and setting up indoor games (around 2 pm)
Saturday to help with the event
Saturday early afternoon with clean up (arrive around 1 pm)
There is a more detailed sign-up list in the narthex. Please sign up where you can help. We also need volunteers to help pass out flyers once they are ready. Let us come together and let the families in our community know Beaver Creek cares!
Also, there are a few flyers left in the office. Please take as many as you would like, and especially pass them out to families with children. We need to get the word out about the event! I have also attached a copy of the flyer to this email.
Call to Prayer
Let us continue to pray for our nation in the following ways:
1) National return to God
2) Repentance of personal sin
3) Repentance of corporate sin
4) Healing for the brokenness of relationships
5) Our leaders
6) Revival
7) Guidance for our congregation in the days ahead
Idea Box!
What do you want to see at Beaver Creek? What are some ideas you have for the long-term growth of our congregation? Any outrageous outreach ideas? Please either email Pastor Ryan or write them down and place them in the brown suggestion box in the narthex. Dream big!
Nursery
The Christian Education Team is looking for volunteers for the nursery during the Sunday School hour. If you are willing to help, even if it is just for a Sunday, please reach out to the Christian Education Team and let them know.
Four Ways to Give!
1) Mail your tithe into the church office
2) Drop it by the church office on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, 9 am – 1 pm
3) Our online giving platform: https://beavercreekchurchva.churchcenter.com/giving
4) Drop off in the offering plate on Sunday!
Prayer Needs
Continue to Keep in Prayer our members in Skilled Care Facilities: Mary G Miller, Shirley Miller, Stanley Suter & Carolyn Wine
Sandy Bennington (health, plus to the entire Bennington family for John’s passing — prayers of comfort and peace)
Patsy Dastoli (health)
Elijah Tucker Dean (health)
Natalie Dodge (health)
John Fix (addiction)
Cindy Heatwole (health)
Bob Hess (health)
Tori Jackson (peace)
Mark Martin (health)
Barbara Meadows (health)
Betty Miller (health)
Mary G Miller (health)
Mary M Miller (health)
Tami Plaugher (health)
Dan Rhodes (recovery from surgery)
Lottie Ritchie (health)
Ann Simmons (health)
Crystal Smith (health)
Whitmore family (various)
Mary Whitmore (health)
Shelvy Wittig (health)
Owen Wright (health)
Pastor Ryan Cooper
Beaver Creek Church