August 2020
“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."   2 Peter 1:4

More Than Human

Christians are quick to celebrate the divinity of Christ. Jesus was com-pletely human and completely God. If you cut Jesus, he would bleed. He bled when he was crucified for claiming to be God, or at least implying it. Jesus had the Holy Spirit without measure. He was and is divine. Jesus is God.

However, we are NOT divine! God is God and we are not! We are not even superheroes like batman or superman. Where we see the power of faith though is with the promise listed above - “we are partakers of the divine nature.” Through spiritual rebirth God gives us a spiritual nature so we don’t just have a sinful, or “carnal” nature. Paul told the Corinthian church not to be so carnal, claiming that their jealousies and quarreling resembled the world. He posed the question, “are you not acting like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3) Though we are not superhuman, we are more than mere men and women.

The Holy Spirit gives us a new nature through the process of sanctification. This is not the same as being good-natured, although that can be a consequence of having a spiritual nature. Some people are good-natured that are not Christians, leaving themselves only the sinful nature. They may actually be very nice people. “If anyone be in Christ, they are a new creation,” (2 Corinthians 5:17a) a new person on the inside, with new desires and a new start with a new purpose in life. Born again Christians are different than non-Christians and even “Christians” that have never been born again. Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

The inconveniences and frustrations caused by the coronavirus and social unrest may seem like an excuse to indulge in the sinful nature, but that would be acting like a “mere” human. Christians have the power of the Spirit and the power of love. God wants to cultivate within us the Christ-like character that worldly people don’t even understand. “It is Christ in us, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27b), that makes us unique. We are weak, but Jesus is strong. We can let Christ live in and through us. When we do that, we are more than human. We are still frail and vulnerable, but we offer more than human ability. We have the advantage of sharing in the divine nature.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Mo
 
Worship Services
Saturdays at 5 pm

Sundays at 9 am
Sundays at 9 am
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VBS Cancelled
We have made the difficult decision to cancel Vacation Bible School for this year. We are sad to not offer this program, but feel it is in the best interest of the kids at this time. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Office hours are currently
limited to 3 days

Tuesday thru Thursday, 9 am - Noon

Please call Julie at 419-438-9749 or Pastor Mo at 937-855-7665
if you need assistance at any time.

Clothing and Box Tops
Due to Covid-19 interruptions, we will not be accepting any more clothing donations at this time until further notice. Also, the Box Top program has moved to digital so we will no longer be accepting box tops here at the church.
Ink Cartridge Recycling
We will no longer be accepting ink cartridges for recycling. With the closing of the Defiance Office Max store we no longer have a place to take them. We have appreciated your support of this program over the last few years.
Continue to
Worship God
through Giving
Offering plates are in the back
at each worship service or

Send donations to:
27728 Ayersville Rd.,
Defiance, Ohio 43512

or a donation drop box is available
under the carport at the church
Give online through Tithe.ly
Happy Birthday!

Danny Hoshock - August 4
Blake Carpenter - August 9
Jeff Martin - August 11
Kylee Tressler - August 11
Kyra Waldron - August 12
Taylor Waldron - August 14
Bryan Baldwin - August 16
AJ Loeffler - August 17
Carly Carpenter - August 17
Kaden Booher - August 19
Nicole Castro - August 20
Hayden McConnell - August 28
Rick Edmonds - August 29
Happy Anniversary!

Clarence & Joan Dinnen - August 21
Jim & Dottie Tobias - August 29
Dave & Ellie Adkins - August 30

God's blessing to you on your special day! If you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month, we rejoice with you too! Please let us know so we may add it to our calendar.
School Days
VOCABULARY

Stressing the importance of a good vocabulary, the teacher told her young students, "Use a word ten times, and it shall be yours for life."

From somewhere in the back of the room, came a small male voice chanting,

"Amanda, Amanda, Amanda, Amanda, Amanda, Amanda, Amanda, Amanda, Amanda, Amanda."
DISCLAIMER

On the first day of school, a first grader handed his teacher a note from his mother.

The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents."