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August 24, 2026 | ||
Dear Church Family, Have you ever made a trade in which what you received was way better than what you gave up? Trades involve change, and change isn’t easy. Receiving something greater makes that change easier. I was reading in Luke 5 this morning, where Jesus calls His first disciples. One of my favorite encounters is when Jesus asks Peter and the other fishermen to let down the nets, after they had fished all night without catching anything. As they remarkably begin to catch so many fish the nets are about to break, Peter begins to recognize who Jesus is and how unworthy he is to be in His presence.
As he falls down at Jesus knees, Peter recognizes Jesus’ worthiness and his own unworthiness. I love Jesus’ response; even though what Peter says is true, Jesus tells him not to be afraid. We see His amazing grace in taking this sinful man and giving him something he doesn’t deserve: hope. Instead of turning him away, he replaces his calling with a greater calling. Peter and the others make a trade; they trade in their lives of fishing for Jesus’ greater calling of catching men. They leave everything and follow Him. This is a trade Jesus offers to all of us. Will we live our lives for ourselves or for Him? Sometimes that means changing professions, like Peter. Other times that means doing the same job for a greater purpose. We’re often afraid to hand over control to God, but it’s always a trade for the better. Have you made the trade? Have you surrendered control and given God free rein over your life? Jesus knows that it’s more than just a one-time decision; it’s something we must do over and over, one day at a time. One thing is always true; trading our plans for His is always a trade for the better.
–Pastor Dave ————————————————————————————————– What’s Happening at Gospel Life:Giving Update: Thank you for your continued faithful financial support of the church. Here are numbers for the first quarter of 2026: Q1-2026 (Jan-Mar) Youth Group: All youth are invited this Sunday, April 26th, from 5-7 pm, to the Bronleewes’ house. We’ll have dinner, games, worship, and a Bible study. Columbia Teacher Appreciation Breakfast: We have a special opportunity to provide a breakfast for the teachers at Columbia High School on May 6th. If you would like to contribute to the meal, you can sign up using the link below. You can either bring items to church on May 3rd or to the Bronleewes’ house on May 5th. Upcoming Dates: No Youth Group (May 10th), Graduate Sunday & Dinner (May 17th), Church in the Park (June 6th) Opportunities to Serve: If you are interested in serving in any of the ministries of the church, we would love to hear from you. There is a section of the connection card for you to fill out and turn in to the giving box. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Dave. Life Groups: If you’re interested in joining a life group, we have several to choose from. You can check them out here: Request Prayer: It’s important for us to be praying for each other as a church! If you ever need prayer, we would love to come alongside you. You can always turn in a prayer request on Sundays using the Connection Card, but you can also submit a prayer request online at any time: This Coming Sunday: Previous Worship Services: | ||
A trade for the better.
