Gospel Chapel GF

Life in Paradox (Ecclesiastes 7:15-29)

Life has many questions and mysteries. We have a hard time coming to terms with some of the realities we experience, but experience them we will. Life is unpredictable. Humanity is sinful. Wisdom is elusive.
But in this passage - as much as Qoheleth is despairing of finding any definitive answers - there are also three responses to God that can help us navigate the questions: stand in reverent God; live to please God in faith; and don't blame God because He made us upright, but we pursue life without him - and that has consequences.

Facing Adversity (Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14)

As we look back on 2019 and 2020, can we say (or sing) with confidence "This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it"? Some days that's easy, other days it's difficult. As we transition to the second half of Ecclesiastes, Qohelet points us to the fact that all our days, good and bad, are in the hand of God. He is sovereign in and over our lives. We don't know where our story is leading or the legacy we will leave behind. We don't know what tomorrow brings, but God does - and we need to consider that carefully.

God's Faithfulness is No Dream

This Advent season we have focused on the dreams God used to communicate with Joseph and the Wisemen. Five dreams ensure the direction, the protection, the provision for the infant Jesus. With those, there are five citations of Scripture that Matthew uses to support the idea that the story he is telling is intimately connected with the past. God is faithful, and this is no dream. The Messiah has come, and as readers - even the first readers - the reality is that the Mission of the Messiah has been completed. The world has changed.

A Dream into Exile (Matthew 2:13-18)

The Magi leave, without going back to Herod - as they were warned in a dream. But Herod is not going to let this go - he will remove any and all real or perceived threats to his power. So Joseph is told in a dream what to do and where to go. Again, Joseph responds to the Lord's instruction with obedience and faith. Again, Matthew paints a portrait of what it means to be a disciple.

The Magi (Matthew 2:1-12)

The second scene Matthew provides regarding the birth of Christ is the arrival of Magi from the East. Their journey is a journey of faith, a journey of revelation, a journey of obedience and worship. As they journey and get closer to their goal, their joy increases...and they don't stop until they find Jesus.

Joseph's Dream #1 (Matthew 1:18-25)

Joseph. We don't give him much thought in the life of Christ. He appears in Matthew's birth narrative, and as a side character to Mary in Luke 1-2. However, Matthew shows us how the birth of Christ came about along with how Joseph walked in obedience to the direction of God. Joseph is a model disciple, obeying everything the Lord commands (Matthew 28:19-20).

Contentment: Elusive & Possible (Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9)

Content and peaceful. That's what we'd like in our lives. But there's so much noise and stress in our world-inside and out. Qoheleth admits that, for the most part, our lives are marked by strife and strain. But he also points us to a reality that can lead us to embrace the peace of God that passes all understanding.
We are at the half-way point in Ecclesiastes. Advent starts next week (December 1), so we will be taking a four week break. The messages in December will focus on Matthew 1-2, and the Dreams of Christmas.

Blessings Graduation (November 17)

One of our ministries at Gospel Chapel, Blessings, has been helped along by MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) for the past 11 years. They have provided great mentoring and support as this ministry has grown.
The original intention was for MCC to partner with us for five years, and then there would be a transition as the ministry and position of our Community Cares Coordinator grew.
The time for that transition has arrived, and today we celebrated the ministry of Blessings. Pastor Doug Dunbar introduced the ministry of Blessings, and then our MCC supervisors, Sophie and Jess, spoke of their involvement and the blessing it has been to see the ministry of Blessings grow and flourish.