September 9, 2023

   Dear Road Church Friends,

It seems that churches all across the spectrum have fallen on hard times. More people than ever are asking what value would church attendance add to their life. When Jesus first spoke about building his church, he had this question in mind. He envisioned the Church as having the keys to the kingdom, enabling it to unlock the treasures of heaven and make them available to the whole world. What are those keys and what treasures do they unlock? The answer may surprise you. It’s not about going to heaven when we die. It’s something more immediate. Gather with us for worship and prayers for health, encouragement and vision.

                    SCRIPTURE:                        SERMON: The Keys to the Kingdom

                                                            Matthew 16:19

       I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

          Matthew  18:1-14

       The disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

        If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were thrown in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!

       If your hand or your foot or your eyes cause you to stumble, cut them off or gouge them out and throw them away; it is better for you to enter life maimed, lame or blind than to have two hands, two feet or two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.

       Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, because there are angels watching over them who are constantly in the presence of my Father in heaven.

        Think about this. If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and just one of them wanders off, does he not leave all the others and go in search of it because the life of the one that’s lost matters more than the ninety-nine who are safe. And when he finds it, does he not rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray? Neither does your Father in heaven want to lose a single thing that belongs to him.

HYMN OF LABOR

by Henry van Dyke

Every task however simple,

Sets the soul that does it free,

Every deed of love and kindness

Done to man is done to Thee.

Jesus, Thou divine Companion,

Bless us in our daily labor,

Lead us to our Sabbath rest.

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Norm

This service on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/LujFeIjK-bs?si=fJ-O1Dm8SDCrJMwL