Friendship Community Church

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The Pursuit of Happiness

"The Whole Point"

August 18, 2024 • Associate Pastor Ben Sorbello

But they will reply, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.'" ~ Jeremiah 18:12 This is what happens when we forget to follow Jesus Christ. Now that we have finished with our reading of Ecclesiastes, what is the point? What did we learn from the past three months? Are we stronger as individual members of the body of Christ? Are we stronger as a local body of Christ in Dover, PA? Are we making our community stronger around us? Again, what is the point of reading our bibles, coming to worship God, and fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ every week? Why do we get up everyday and live our lives the way we do? These are all good questions to meditate on as we prepare for this week's message from the Holy Spirit of God on Ecclesiastes 12 and, "What's the Point?".

"Wise Investments"

August 11, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it" ~ Haggai 1:5-6 This is an example of a pretty poor investment strategy. It's not that the people weren't willing to work, but that their work - and the time, energy, and resources poured into it - was not benefitting the kingdom of God. The prophet Haggai was sent to confront them, for they were focused on taking care of their personal homes and goals while ignoring what the Lord wanted for His house and His people. So they found that they weren't getting a good return on their investment, yet continued on the same path anyway. Investing in the work of God sometimes involves physical labor, sometimes financial generosity, and sometimes patient waiting, but always with the salvation of people in mind, and always with the Holy Spirit as our guide. It is work that never stops, no matter what age or stage of life you are in. This week at Friendship, we'll see what the Teacher has to say about "Wise Investments", which generally involve a willingness to be disciplined and delay gratification. This will be a message that applies to many areas of your life, so we encourage you to join us.

"A Little Yeast"

August 4, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" ~ Romans 6:23 This verse from the Apostle Paul is such a great blessing, reminding us of how far apart what we deserved and what we actually got from God are. We deserved death because of sin, yet we received everlasting life through Jesus our Savior. Yet, as wonderful as the second part of the statement is, we tend to forget about the harsh reality of the first part. There are real consequences for sin. Sin kills. It steals and destroys. You may not physically die directly from a sinful choice, but every sin is a step toward the path of spiritual death. As people saved from the penalty of sin, we cannot forget that we are also spared from the power and practice of sin. We've been forewarned, and we are aware of the domino effect of each sinful choice, so we must do all we can to avoid it. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about how "A Little Yeast" can permeate an entire load of bread, a metaphorical representation of the reality of a little sin or foolishness impacting one's life far beyond their good and wise choices. Christians must avoid sin at all costs, and reject the notion that the gift of eternal life invites us to keep sinning. Join us for this necessary reminder and challenge.

"Don't Forget to Remember"

July 28, 2024

"In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever" ~ Joshua 4:6b-7 This is one of my (Logan's) favorite stories in the Bible, and in fact is one I used this past Saturday while preaching to our brothers and sisters in Mexico. The picture here is actually titled (pillars of remembrance). God did an amazing work to get the Israelites across the Jordan River during flood stage, and they all knew it was God who did it. But they were now heading into the Promised Land where the current occupants would not want to leave passively and quietly. There were going to be battles, first and foremost over the fortified city of Jericho. The only way this Israelite army would be able to take possession of the land God was giving them was to truly believe He was giving it and trust Him to go before them. This would require great faith, but that's why they needed the pillars of remembrance. The visual reminder of the stones taken from the middle of the flooding river when they walked through on dry ground would help them keep walking by faith in the future tests God would give them. We likewise need such reminders. When we face difficult circumstances, we ought to always be able to look back on what God has already done so that we can trust Him once again. This week at Friendship, you'll be reminded, "Don't Forget to Remember". If you are struggling to believe that you can trust God, come and hear a message out of Ecclesiastes 9 that will encourage you to remember all He has done and is doing.

"Holy Fear"

July 21, 2024 • Pastor Bob Mattern

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith" ~ Hebrews 11:7 Noah's story was a perfect example of faith and fear working together. He had no Bible, no church traditions passed down to him, and frankly, no church at all. He lived during a time of great wickedness and would've been hard-pressed to find anyone who encouraged him in his desire to please God. Nevertheless, his faith proved true when it was put to the test. God warned him of the coming end to all life on earth and told him to build an ark, which Noah knew was just a small wooden chest. But when God gave him the dimensions, Noah suddenly knew God was giving him a chance to save his family. Would he move "in holy fear", which is consistent with faith, or would he do what so many do today and simply assume God won't follow through with consequences? We, like Noah, live during wicked times. But we have the choice, as he did, to stand for righteousness, to let our actions demonstrate that life isn't guaranteed beyond this day, and that if we want to be blessed by our relationship with God, we ought to take Him seriously and do what He says. God would prefer we be motivated by love, but if not, we better be motivated by fear. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about what it means to obey God and faithfully live with the appropriate "Holy Fear". If the recent events in our nation have brought you to a point of realizing your own mortality and the brevity of your life, then join us for this important message and encouragement to walk humbly before our great and powerful God!

"The Benefits of Wisdom"

July 14, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

We'll be talking about the value of life and also a wise perspective on death, since it is the destiny of all who are living. We'll also discuss the folly in trying to return to "the good ole days" and what it means to live with an appropriate fear of the Lord. And finally, we'll talk about how God originally made us, and how we have run away from Him in search of happiness the world's way. It's a trap, but God hasn't let us go yet. He pursues us. Will we stop running?

"Joyless Labor"

July 7, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" ~ Galatians 5:1 We generally take for granted the blessing of freedom because most of us have never lived a single day without it. Thank the Lord for guiding our founding fathers in seeking, defending, and preserving our freedom as a nation. They labored much and sacrificed greatly for the divine purpose that God had given them. While we were all born under the same blanket of freedom which they so tirelessly provided, we have ultimately the same choice today that they had - freedom or slavery? Slavery can be miserable, but we can get comfortable in it because we know what to expect, while freedom carries much uncertainty, and is therefore risky. The early American patriots were willing to die rather than return to the slavery under the rule of a tyrant. For Christians, Christ has set us free, but the devil is always there trying to draw us back into the miserable comfort of what we knew. We must choose freedom, and be willing to labor to preserve it. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about the "Joyless Labor" described by Solomon, who seemingly saw no purpose to all his toils because he didn't submit to God. When we know that God has set us free for us to work within that freedom, it brings joy to whatever we do. Join us as we consider the purpose He has given us.

"A Lesson in Futility"

June 30, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads'" ~ Acts 26:14 That voice was the voice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We imagine that one of the worst persecutors of all time would receive some of the harshest punishment of all time from our Lord. Yet, as the persecutor-turned-apostle stood before King Agrippa to give his defense of the gospel and his ministry, he remembered His Lord addressing not the violence of his persecution, but the underlying problem - Saul's exercise in futility. "Kicking against the goads" was a phrase that came from farming, when an ox would be annoyed by the goad a farmer would use to direct him and would kick against it, which only drove the sharp point of the goad further into his flesh. Our Lord told Saul, and thereby told any of us who fight against His will, that we'll only do ourselves more damage by continuing on such a path. This week at Friendship, we'll discover "A Lesson in Futility" that is contained throughout Ecclesiastes 5 and other Scriptures. When we stubbornly choose to make worship about ourselves and not God, and when we stubbornly pursue things that don't last beyond this life, we are kicking against the goads. Join us and be set free from futile living!

"No Man is an Island"

June 23, 2024 • Associate Pastor Ben Sorbello

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:26-27 NIV Have you ever felt desperate or alone, like the world, and maybe even your own family and all your friends, are against you? Have you felt like you are on an island? As followers of Christ, we are never truly alone anymore. We should take comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit of God, our Advocate, lives in us and with us! Although we are living in the world, we, the followers of Christ, are no longer of the world. We are citizens of heaven (see Philippians 3:20), and if we are part of the body of Christ, more than likely the world will hate us (see Mark 13:13). As part of a local expression of the body of Christ, we are also comforted by knowing that we have brothers and sisters to whom we can turn if needed. So, how can we continue "The Pursuit of Happiness" in a world so often filled with hate? This week at Friendship, we will discuss the wisdom in Ecclesiastes 4, which addresses the reality of being slaves to the world if we are not following Jesus, and the worthlessness or meaninglessness of living that way. Join us for this important reminder to seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit of God!

"Ecclesiastes 3"

June 16, 2024

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease" ~ Genesis 8:22 If you live in Pennsylvania, or anywhere in the northeast really, you've experienced some days where it can truly be said, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change". We get to experience the four seasons, and occasionally all in the same day! In this way, the weather is a microcosm of life. There are many seasons to life, and sometimes you might catch a glimpse of them in the same day. As believers who trust in a sovereign God, this means we cannot get too attached to one season or circumstance, expecting that experience to provide us with the happiness we pursue. Things can change on a dime, and we must receive the changes we cannot control as part of God's will as He oversees our lives. This week at Friendship, we'll hear two different messages out of Ecclesiastes 3, which addresses the seasons of life that God gives to us, as well as the restlessness and vanity of pursuing happiness in the midst of those seasons apart from God. Join us for this important reminder to seek first the Lord and His righteousness!

"Eternity Matters"

June 9, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" ~ Luke 12:20 Jesus shared a parable about a man who had been overwhelming blessed with crops to the extent that he didn't have enough space in his barns to store everything. Rather than focus on blessing others and storing up treasures in heaven, all he could think about was building bigger barns to store it all for years to come so that he can relax. It's very similar to the modern picture of retirement for those who don't seek to serve the Lord. The harsh reality that seemed to escape the rich man was that, at any moment, his life would be over, rendering every thing he planned and saved for in this world absolutely meaningless. This week at Friendship, we'll dig into Ecclesiastes 2 where Solomon begins to consider that harsh reality, understanding that no matter how wisely he plans for life, everything he owns goes into the hands of another upon his death. So we must live like "Eternity Matters", storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Every area of our lives has to be impacted by this spiritual reality. Join us for a necessary shifting of our focus.

"God Matters"

Pastor Logan Ames

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night" ~ Psalm 1:1-2 The Psalmist answers one of life's burning questions right off the bat: What is the secret to happiness? It's actually not that much of a secret - avoid the ways of the wicked and those who mock God, and delight in His good law, making it central to your daily living. That's it in a nutshell. Yet, many who say they believe in God and follow Jesus as Lord still have a hard time being happy, mainly because what they believe doesn't seem to impact their choices. You can believe that diet and exercise lead to a healthier life, but if your health doesn't really matter, you probably won't be healthy. You can believe that saving money over spending frivolously on pleasures is wise, but what matters more - saving for the future or pleasure now? In the same way, your happiness overall will be connected to not what you believe about God, but to whether He matters to you at all. This week at Friendship, we'll begin our brand new series in the Book of Ecclesiastes called "The Pursuit of Happiness", and we'll discuss the theme "God Matters" by looking at the words of a man who sought meaning, purpose, and happiness as if God does not matter. If you've been struggling with the same things and wondering why, you need to join us this weekend!