First Christian Church

First Christian Church of Leisure World teaches from God’s word, the Holy Bible, most often verse by verse. It is a friendly church that welcomes all visitors to join in worship and explore God’s word together, “that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine,” Romans 1:12.

Pastor’s Message

As the church’s study moves to Romans 9, the apostle Paul will once again demonstrate the sovereignty of God, meaning he is in charge of all that he has created and will direct matters as he and he alone pleases because he is God, and as God is righteous and just in all that he does.

In his sovereignty God has elected certain people to belong to himself, both Jew and Gentile. The same Bible that clearly teaches this doctrine of election also teaches us of man’s free will. Man has a responsibility to make a choice to be saved by a definite act of his will. How does a believer reconcile these two conflicting doctrines? The answer is they cannot. That’s why God is God and people are not.

Believers must accept these doctrines as Paul explains in Romans 9-11. Paul makes the case that the Israelites were the chosen people of God. God gave them, as his sons, many oracles and promises including the lineage that would bring the messiah, Jesus Christ. Yet despite that, many of his adopted sons, the Israelites, chose not to believe in God or his son.

Has God, because of this unbelief, given up on Israelites as the children of promise? In Romans 9:6, Paul writes, “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel.”

In Jeremiah 31:35-36 the prophet said, “Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (the Lord of hosts is his name). If those ordinances depart from before me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before me forever.”

That has not happened and will not happen. God has a reason and purpose for his people, even in unbelief.

Weekly Services Sunday services from 9:3010:45 a.m. are traditional services with hymnal music led by Janet Ray with Sherry Parmenter at the piano. Ray, along with Al and Sherry Parmenter, will bring the special music this week.

Saturday services from 9:3010:45 a.m. include contemporary songs of worship, led by Gregory Black with guitar and vocal accompaniment.

Midweek Studies

Melli Herrera leads the Monday Bible Study from 10:3011:30 a.m.

Pastor Bruce Humes leads the Thursday Bible Study from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and the Friday Prayer and Bible Study from 4-5 p.m.

All residents are welcome to attend any service or Bible study.

Scripture of the Week

“For You are my hope O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth,” Psalm 71:5.

Contact

The church is located on Northwood Road behind Carport 125.

For more information, call 562-431-8810.