June 2020 – Colona Community Church

Sword of the Spirit

June 28, 2020 by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Good afternoon! If you’d like to listen to Pastor Steve’s message about the Sword of the Spirit, simply click the play button on the audio player below. I’ve also included the Scripture references and links to those verses on Bible Gateway for your convenience.

Call to Worship
Hebrews 4:11-16
¹¹Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that 
no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
¹²For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any 
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and 
spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes 
of the heart. ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s 
sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes 
of him to whom we must give account.

¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended 
into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith 
we profess. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to 
empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been 
tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶Let us 
then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we 
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Preferring Jesus

June 21, 2020 by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Happy Father’s Day! Pastor Steve put together a message for everyone, but especially for the dads out there today. If you’d like to listen, simply click the play button on the audio player below. There is also a list of some of the Scriptures he references with links to those verses on Bible Gateway.

Call to Worship
Philippians 2:1-11
Imitating Christ’s Humility
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, 
if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any
tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-
minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you
to the interests of the others.
⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own
	advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!
⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Praying you have a lovely Father’s Day and a beautiful week.

The Crown of Life

June 14, 2020 by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Here’s the audio recording of Pastor Steve’s message about the Crown of Life from this morning’s service. Simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included a visual recap of all the crowns Pastor Steve has taught about in recent weeks, as well as links to the verses he references.

Call to Worship: Psalm 16:5-11

⁵Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    you make my lot secure.
⁶The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.
⁷I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
⁹Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,
¹⁰because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
¹¹You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Praying you have a beautiful Sabbath Sunday and a blessed week!

Our Response

June 7, 2020 by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Hello Church family! Due to technical difficulties, the audio version of the message is unavailable this week. However, if you would like to read the Scriptures Pastor Steve referenced in his message about how we, as Christians, should respond to what is happening in our world today, I have listed them below with a few notes from the message and links to the verses on Bible Gateway.

Call to Worship: Psalm 91:1-11
¹Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
³Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.
⁹If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;

Our Response

1 Peter 1:6-9: trials prove your faith, and faith brings joy

James 1:2: trials should evoke a joyful response from us

1 Corinthians 10:13: temptation is not a sin, but how you respond may be

1 Peter 1:3-5: we have been given a Living Hope

Job 1:20-22: don’t blame God, learn from Him

James 4:8: the more you lean into God, the more strength He gives

James 1:5: ask God how you should respond to your trials

Joshua 1:9: don’t let fear rule your life

Matthew 6:25-34: don’t let worry consume your thoughts

Romans 12:16-21: live in harmony with one another

Galatians 5:25: walk in the Spirit, not in our own ways