A Devotion from Daniel
July the 10th we will begin a new sermon series here at Meadowbrook that will carry us through the summer months of July and August. We have spent the last four months in the book of Romans. In Romans, Paul showed us over and over again that this Christian life is unique… it is not of this world. This new sermon series, I hope, will continue this message. Reminding us that we are citizens of Heaven, and that this world is truly not our home. The truth is though some of the most challenging teachings in scripture didn’t come from any apostle. Some of the most counter cultural teachings that we have as Christians have come right from the “horses’ mouth”. It is the words of Jesus that should challenge us as believers the most. When we claim the title Christian, we are striving to be Christlike… no easy task. But the ease of the job is not why we undertake it. Do we really want to reflect Christ in our lives? Do we really want to follow all of His teachings or are we satisfied with jumping on the bandwagon and doing the easy stuff? Do we want the eternal life without the cross? This summer we undertake a sermon series entitled “Things I Wish Jesus Never Said”. Teachings straight from Jesus’ mouth that will challenge popular thought. Teachings that, in truth, life would be easier if we ignored… but we were not called to the easy. If we are ready to bear our cross, we must be ready to follow Jesus’ teachings even when they are the antithesis to everything the world says is right and proper. So, what did Jesus teach about…
– The love of money
– Praying for our enemies
– Hell
– Denying self
– Being accepted by the world
– Denying God before men
– Turning the other cheek
– Our relationship with God compared to friends and family
I do believe that, if we will allow it to, this series will challenge us and expand our understanding of just how extreme being a follower of Jesus can and should be. I am pretty confident in saying that as I prayed over this list of teachings, there is not one among us who can say there is nothing we can learn in these topics. Sanctification is a continual process, let’s keep pushing forward together. Thanks for being my Church family. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Message from Anthony
Song Stories: Abundantly More
Here at Meadowbrook, we sing a lot of different songs in worship. Be it a classic hymn, a well-known contemporary chorus, or something that is lesser known, we sing a variety of songs that help us connect with the Father and worship Him fully. But why so many songs, and why THESE songs in particular? Well, this series of articles is going to attempt to answer those very questions as we explore some of the songs that make up our worship sets on Sunday morning.
Let The Redeemed & Fountains
Every once in a while, you come across a few songs that both draw from the same scripture but inspire us to see so much more than only one element of what that scripture teaches. That’s what we find as we look at two songs by Josh Baldwin. Let’s look at the lyrics of Let the Redeemed and Fountains:
LYRICS: LET THE REDEEMED
VERSE 1:
He led me out of the desert
Brought me into His streams
River of living water
Turned my bitter into sweet
And all my burdens are lifted
You took the shackles off my feet
PRE-CHORUS:
There’s no sound louder
Than a captive set free
CHORUS:
So let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Sing of His promises ever more
Pour out your thankfulness, let it overflow
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
VERSE 2:
There is joy in the morning
Springing up in my soul
There is life worth living
‘Cause He calls me His own
And there’s a hallelujah
After sweet victory
BRIDGE:
You are my Deliverer
The freedom I’m livin’ in
You are my Deliverer
You are my promised land
“Let The Redeemed” Written By: Bobby Strand / Josh Baldwin / Ethan Gregory Hulse / Kalley Anne Heiligenthal
LYRICS: FOUNTAINS
VERSE 1:
I will never forget
The moment I met you
The moment you called my name
Pulled me out of the darkness
Gave me a promise
To never thirst again
PRE-CHORUS:
All that I ever wanted
My heart has found in you
CHORUS:
I have tasted life
Nothing satisfies
Like you do
The fount that won’t run dry
Nothing satisfies like you do
VERSE 2:
I want all that You offer
Your living water
Drink from the endless well
I will sit at your table
Forever grateful
Forever where You plan
BRIDGE:
All my fountains are in you
All my hope is built on your love
All my fountains are in you
With every breath I live for you, Lord
“Fountains” Written By: Tony Brown / Joe Volk / Bobby Strand / Jonathan David Helser / Josh Baldwin
Imagine all that the Israelites went through as they exited Egypt. All they knew was the captivity and oppression they endured under Pharaoh’s rule, but they had just witnessed the power of God deliver them! They had seen God work exactly as He said He would, and now as they stood on the far side of the Red Sea, with the Egyptian army swallowed up by the waves behind them, they tasted their first breath of true freedom. It was a moment of celebration. That is what we should be celebrating each and every day as we awake to a new sunrise. He is our Deliverer, and there’s no greater sound than His people praising Him with joy and thanksgiving.
The song “Fountains” calls us to remember when Christ came into our hearts and set us free, and to let Him continue to sustain us every single day. He is the source of Living Water that refreshes our souls. Our hope truly is found only in His love, a love that we should be sharing with others every chance we get. There’s a whole world of people out there who are still captive to sin, dying of spiritual thirst.
As David says in Psalm 107:2-9:
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.
Never miss a moment to celebrate the freedom you’ve found in Christ, and treasure that memory each and every day. Share that Good News every time the opportunity arises. “And let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”
Kerala Christian Mission – Annual Report 2021
Please continue to pray for the Kerala Christian Mission as well as our other Mission partners in our local area, country, and around the world. Thank you all for your continued support of Faith Promise.
New Meadowbrook Christian Church Website
used treasures to donate to the sale. More details will be shared as we get closer to August.
Off-Campus Youth Group
The MCC youth group is meeting off campus for the summer. The youth have made it to several Meadowbrook family member homes to enjoy time spent together in fellowship, as well as share in a devotion. A text will go out to all the youth parents with the location address by the Wednesday before the following Thursday event. All MCC youth group meetings from June through August will be held on Thursday evenings from 6-8pm.
Also, seven of our youth went to Wolverine Christian Service Camp for JR HIGH camp and one made a decision for Christ! Praise the Lord!
Vacation Bible School – August 2022
Registration for VBS is now open on our website: http://mccrochesterhills.com. Please register your kids for this time of fun while learning about our great and wonderful God!
Young Adults – Bowling Event
The Young Adult Group had a great time meeting up at the Rochester Hills bowling alley. If you are interested in being added to the invite list for future events, or know someone who should be, please reach out to Daniel at daniel@mccrochesterhills.com.
Birthdays
Cindy Esterline – July 9
Eric Klaus – July 12
Tim Howell – July 16
Carol Howell – July 16
Dona Thomas – July 16
Hector Urteaga – July 18
Ken Small – July 19
Sandy Krugh – July 21
Mike Rose – July 22
Brenda Cox – July 22
Harry Thompson – July 24
Joyce Tingley – July 26
Eunice Salminen – July 27
Marian Murphy – July 28
Daniel Sweigard – July 30
Anniversaries
Mike & Sue Rose – July 21
