Campbell River Baptist Church Campbell River Baptist Church

How do we find peace in life? Summer is all about slowing down and relaxing. It is a time when we try to find the peace that we don’t always feel during the rest of the year when work or school or other commitments can make life busy and stressful. Yet the Bible says that we can have peace in the midst of everyday life. This week we look at what peace can look like in our lives, and how we can experience true peace at all times.

One of the strange and wonderful markers of a Christian is a surprising kind of joy. It is a joy that is unique from worldly happiness, because it is not dependant on our circumstances being favourable and it is not self-centred. If you google search “happiness” you’ll quickly see that happiness is a billion dollar industry. It is on the contemporary mind. It’s easy to be swept away in the tide of media that says you deserve your personal happiness above all things. Is this what Jesus says to us? Does God care about our joy, or does he want us to carry our cross? Do we have to give up our toys to carry our cross? How can we find this unshakeable joy that loves others? We can find it through faith in Christ, we can hold onto it through hope in suffering, and we pour our that same joy to others in sacrificial love.

As we begin our series on the Fruit of the Spirit, it is becomes quickly evident that we are in a battle with our fleshly nature. The flesh wants to be prideful, boastful, and arrogant, but the Spirit wants us to be patient, kind, and loving. In our time on Sunday we will explore the first aspect of our fruit, love, and what it actually looks like to live this out in our day to day walk. Paul will also show us the things in our life we may need to give up so that we can love like Christ. God in His LOVE gave up His only begotten son so that we may have eternal life.

Often in Scripture we see people getting tripped up by focusing too heavily on their own needs or their own experiences rather than seeking a better understanding of God’s overall mission.  Acts 13 provides an important example of this and challenges us to always consider God’s kingdom-building plan.

In Acts 12, we see bad things happening to good people. Two Apostles are captured by Herod, and one is executed while the other is set free. But wait, that doesn’t seem fair! At some point in our lives, we will wrestle with the sovereign hand of God, but the question is how do you respond when life doesn’t seem fair? Are you quick to blame God and deconstruct your faith in Him? Or do you turn to the truth of Scripture and trust in who He says He is? As we unpack our passage, let’s pray that God would help us to trust in His providence, that He truly wants good things for us, even if the answer to our prayers is no or not yet.

What does God’s blessing look like in our life? Why do some people suffer so much while others seem to have it easy? Where is God in all of this? In Acts 11:19-26, we explore how to follow the voice of God and recognize His blessings in our lives. First, we consider “What is the hand of the Lord?” understanding it as God’s active presence and guidance. Also, how does God’s hand help us remain faithful and steadfast when we face struggle and hardship? Lastly, Barnabas and Paul are blessed as they are led by the hand of the Lord to equip the church in Antioch. Again, what does God’s blessing look like in our life?
Please pray for Pastor Steve and the team as they prepare the service. We are looking forward to what God is going to do this Sunday!