Milestones

Friendship Community Church

Milestones

October 24, 2021 • Pastor Logan Ames

How do you feel about long road trips by yourself? If you've got nothing but time, are wide awake, and enjoy the scenery, it can be a good thing. But if you have bad weather, you're exhausted, or you just don't enjoy driving, road trips can be overwhelming. You begin your long, arduous journey and you feel like there is no way you'll ever get there. Having been through many long road trips to western PA, Ohio, and back, I have learned the things that generally get me through it. They include, snacks and soda if I'm tired and need caffeine, Christian music, and watching the beautiful scenery. However, without the doubt the best tactic I use to help me shorten the journey in my own head is paying attention to milestones. Knowing how far and how long it generally takes to get to each significant city, state border, or highway on my journey helps me view my task as "completing one leg of the journey at a time". The same is true in our spiritual discipleship journey. It may seem overwhelming and even impossible at times, but we have to break it into "Milestones" which are more easily attained. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about both looking back at milestones to remember what God has done and also looking ahead to milestones that should be our goals as we follow Jesus. Join us for this important message of motivation!

Multiply

November 21, 2021 • Pastor Logan Ames

It all started with Jesus and a few rejects of Judaism who couldn't quite cut it as disciples in the self-righteous, overtly religious world in which they were raised. They had gone back to their fathers' trades, until a new and different Rabbi came along and promised to change their lives for all of eternity. They had many failures and life lessons along the way, had to die to themselves, follow their Lord, and let Him renew their minds and eventually fill them up with the Holy Spirit. It started with them, but has grown into a worldwide movement of billions covering the past, present, and future. That growth happened because people were willing, against all odds and their own personal safety and security, to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it was with their lips, other times just their courageous living. They willingly risked the lives they were bound to lose anyway in order to MULTIPLY what they had in the lives of as many bearers of God's image as He would allow them to encounter. They did it all by the power and authority of the One who had saved them and sent them. This week at Friendship, we close out our "Run the Race" series with a look at how we too can and must be multipliers of discipleship. It's what we were born again to do!

Approaching The Finish Line

November 14, 2021 • Pastor Logan Ames

Does anyone ever start a workout and the just enjoy it so much that by the time it's over, you can't believe it's done already? If that describes you, I desperately need whatever you're having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! For me, and I would assume for a lot of people, I can't wait for the end of the cardio workout and start thinking about it only a few minutes after it begins. The closer it gets to the end, the more motivated I am to press on. This can also be true with other goals or projects in life that take a long time, such as college degrees, training for certifications, home remodeling or painting, landscaping, getting out of debt, and getting through early childhood with your kids. In each of these things, we must reject the desire for immediate gratification and instead look at the bigger picture. The same is true with our Christian faith and the race we run as disciples. There are a lot of pains along the way and the process can be grueling, but the bigger picture tells us it's not forever. This week at Friendship, we talk about "Approaching the Finish Line" in our race. How does knowing the end is coming help us press on and keep striving for Jesus? Join us this weekend for answers and encouragement!

When We Stumble

November 7, 2021 • Associate Pastor Ben Sorbello

Okay, time to be honest: when was the the last time that you STUMBLED? A good friend of mine and I were walking the other day and she stumbled in front of a strip mall because she did not see the small depression built into the walkway for wheel chair access. We chuckled a little, and I thank God that she did not fall! Many of us have tripped or fallen because of something we did not see or something that came out of nowhere. As Christians, we always have things that come up which challenge our faith and potentially cause us to STUMBLE physically and spiritually. In my MTI class on Tuesday, we were studying the Book of James, and lo and behold, the Holy Spirit of God reminded me of what James said in his letter: James 3:2 NKJV For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to also bridle the whole body. The Holy Spirit through James goes on to tell us that our tongue will make us STUMBLE for sure. It is like a fire and could "burn" someone we are talking to if we are not careful. I recently STUMBLED because of my words and it caused a misunderstanding this week. Thank the Lord I was forgiven! Join us this weekend as we explore what to do WHEN WE STUMBLE and how to continue the race marked out for us!