Somerset Church of Christ

http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/avoiding-divisive-pe/

http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/what-you-were-is-not/

Working together as unified members of one body has become more complex than it needs to be! http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/members-of-one-body/

This is actually today's (December 27th). Our streaming program sometimes changes the date on our streams.

It's more important now than ever before that we equip the saints for works of ministry. Church members are typically not taught how to work together to build up the church. The expectation usually falls on the paid staff. This system will always break down eventually. http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/equipping-the-saints/

For those who may have missed it, there are no in-person services, small groups, or activities for the next two weeks. Our online services will continue as usual during this time.

http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/god-with-us/

Good Morning from the Somerset Church of Christ Sound booth! Join us at 10 for our livestream!

Jesus called sinners. He was the Great Physician, intentionally going to those who were most wounded. He made it clear that he came to call sinners, not the righteous. http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/jesus-call-to-sinners/

Earlier we announced that Kristen's dad's viewing was 10-2 on Saturday. That was a mistake. It is from 10-12. We will make the correction with an all call tomorrow as well. Let's be praying for Kristen Lowry and the Waite family.

http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/the-steadfast-love-o/

We are saddened by the death of Bill. He will be missed by all of us.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, this topic is appropriate. We're urged to give thanks in every circumstance. This can be very difficult, especially when the circumstances are devastating. http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/give-thanks-in-every/

Remember to be thankful always! http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/giving-thanks-always/

In case you missed it: Are you using your gifts to bless others? https://youtu.be/lj4prEdya1M

http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/being-stewards-of-go/

Dave and Dp got a new toy to make the livestream easier, so will Dp and Dave listen more to Jimmy or Sleep?

We ran lots of tests today on the live stream equipment and it looks like it's all working great! It always bugs us when we can't deliver a perfect live stream, so we took a few hours today to test, test, test! See you all online Sunday!

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When Jesus told his disciples that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, it's hard to imagine that they knew what challenges waited for them. Very shortly after the ascension of Jesus, the church was persecuted and scattered. Christians were literally meeting in a cave in Antioch of Syria (which ended up becoming the sending church for Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys). [ 236 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/prison-and-persecuti/

There are a lot of really sobering discussions on where the direction of the church is headed. I've quoted Thom Rainer a few times recently because I think he really has a good grasp of trends in the church. Mr. Rainer hosted a podcast today called "Five Reasons Why the Speed of Change Must Accelerate in Your Church in the Post-Quarantine Era [ 227 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/its-time-to-be-jesus/

Is our sound crew hard at work or hardly working?

Paul wrote to the church in Colosse, "For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love" (Colossians 2:1, 2 ESV). There is something special about being together with people, face to face. [ 264 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/struggling-for-others/

Yesterday Thom Rainer published a blog titled Six Reasons Your Pastor Is About to Quit. As a preacher, the title caught my attention. Thom Rainer has been gathering statistics and has consulted with churches for decades and is one of the most respected statisticians on church trends. In the article, Thom says, "The vast majority of pastors with whom our team communicates are saying they are considering quitting their churches. [ 297 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/overcoming-evil-with/

Settling scores is a good idea, when possible. Jesus said, "As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny" (Luke 12:58, 59 ESV). [ 295 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/settling-with-your-a/

Dave is in charge this morning! Join our livestream at 10!

Jesus' famous saying about rest is important: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon your, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV). [ 246 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/rest-for-the-workers/

The kids are braving the rain to raise money for Healing Hands International to drill a well in Haiti! We're proud of their hard work!!!

With the pandemic still at large, many people continue to suffer as a result. The economy has hit people hard, illness and death have taken so much, violence is a reality for others, and on the list goes. In the process, many churches are struggling to find their identity and still others are struggling to pay their preachers and keep the lights on. [ 231 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/character-produces-h/

There's no question that there is a lot of suffering in the world. Many are suffering from poverty, starvation, disease, and thirst. Many are feeling the pain from the recent global pandemic. We've been doing a series on navigating the church during COVID. We're seeing many handle the pandemic well, and many who are not. The Bible has plenty to say about suffering, so we should turn to it for guidance when we experience it. [ 203 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/patience-in-suffering/

"They gave me hope." Yesterday many of you got a call to pray for Eric's family members who lost their 3 year old boy. That little boy's dad shares the experience here.

Christianese is the language Christians speak in Christian circles and it often has inside, hidden meaning. An example of this is, "A sin is a sin." That's "Christianese" for "I don't want to confront this, so don't bring it up again." "Lord willing" often means "I won't be there." And "In God's time" can mean "I'm not really vested in this right now." [ 352 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/in-gods-time/

Almost 1/4 of the way to our goal so far! Thank you to all who are helping us reach our goal to dig this well. This was 100% my 10 year old daughter's idea and she is the one who edited the video. If you've not seen her video, hit the link below and check it out! Please share!!

The calling of the first disciples in Luke is an incredible story. After struggling to catch any fish all day, Peter and his companions went ashore. Jesus had been teaching large crowds of people and got into Peter's boat. Jesus told him to put out a little and Jesus continued teaching the crowds from the boat. When he was done speaking, he told Peter to put out into the deep of the lake and let his nets down for a catch. [ 241 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/fishers-of-men/

Thank you to the kind souls who gave so far! We are WELL on our way to providing fresh drinking water to an orphanage in Ganthier, Haiti. My 10 year old daughter is the brain child behind this project. Check out her video below and consider helping Eden!!

If we actually go through the gospels and look at the glaring consistency of Jesus, we see that he was far more interested in healing than following traditions. Each gospel writer arranged their books with a specific purpose in mind. The stories aren't necessarily chronological as much as they are thematic. In Matthew's gospel, he arranges his stories to fit mathematical equations (he was a tax collector, after all), the discourses of Jesus to mimic the first five books of the Old Testament, and demonstrates how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. [ 303 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/comparing-jesus-and-/

We are getting ready for the livestream! Join us at 10!!

Jesus was about as clear as he could be: the type of person we are is evidenced in the type of fruit we produce. Jesus wasn't into blending good and bad trees together, calling them all good. Instead, he made a clear distinction. "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit" (Matthew 12:33 ESV). [ 308 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/what-are-you-produci/

What caused the church to grow so rapidly that, by 110 A.D. Pliny the Younger was writing a letter to Emperor Trajan about his concern for the "problem" of Christians? By then, most of the pagan temples had been deserted. This was in spite of strong Roman policies that were designed to squelch the spread of Christianity. It really confused Pliny, and he was requesting help from the emperor himself. [ 321 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/what-caused-church-g/

We all heard the phrase, "The devil made me do it." As ridiculous as it sounds, people throughout history have pinned the blame for their sins on other people. "He or she made me do it" sounds about as silly as "the devil made me do it." Ezekiel wrote at length about people bearing responsibility for their own sins. God said, "Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4 ESV). [ 294 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/responsibility-for-s/

Isaiah called out oppression and the mistreatment of the poor. There is a definite theme of repentance that runs throughout the entire book of Isaiah. God is calling out the unrighteous, the oppressors, and those who mistreat their neighbors. In chapter 66, God is saying what Jesus often repeated--that sacrifices are an abomination to God if the hearts are corrupt. [ 184 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/a-humble-and-contrit/

Jesus, in one sentence, summed up the Law and the Prophets: "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12 ESV). That's it. This is known as the "golden rule" of the Bible. But what exactly does this mean? Were it not for the Law and the Prophets, it would be very easy to misconstrue this rule, which is what many people do. [ 198 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/the-golden-rule/

Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, was celebrated seven weeks after Passover. It was one of the three annual pilgrimage feasts where Jews from all over the world made the trek to Jerusalem to celebrate. They were celebrating the first fruits of their crops and would offer up some of the crops as a way to thank God our Father. Jesus was crucified on the Passover, fifty days before Pentecost. [ 294 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/pentecost-revival/

While God's foundation is righteousness and justice, he longs for people to repent. In God's compassion he offers a way for our sins to be removed. God doesn't wish harm on people who sin, but neither will he tolerate continual unrepentant sin. Isaiah preached during a time of great unrest. The people were wicked. They were oppressive. Poverty was rampant and disease was common. [ 240 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/the-lords-compassion/

We are opening our doors for in-person worship this coming Sunday. We ask that people coming use caution, maintain social distancing, and practice good hygiene. We will have Bible classes available for children at 10:00.

Isaiah wrote in the 8th century B.C. to a troubled Israel. Isaiah was bold and didn't back down from preaching hard messages that the people didn't like. Prophets' callings were not easy. Unlike preachers of today, they were not hired as motivational speakers. The role of a prophet was to warn--certainly anything but a glamorous role. During the 8th century when Isaiah preached, Israel was a pagan group of wild people. [ 242 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/fear-not-the-reproac/

Nobody knows the pain of watching a child suffer better than a mother. With Mother's Day around the corner, it is a time to honor mothers. We never want to forget the mothers who struggle on this day. In fact, for me it's always a special day both to honor mothers and to lament with others who find this day to be a struggle. [ 299 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/when-children-suffer/

Hi everyone! Hope you're all hanging in there! As the Governor laid out the framework for a plan to get businesses and churches back to functioning again, we are hopeful that we're seeing light at the end of the tunnel. We will let you know when we are able to start coming together again. Thankfully, our county has experienced very low numbers of confirmed cases with no deaths reported from COVID. This positions us to be closer than other counties for opening back up. In the meantime, we will continue our live stream for you all!!

We don't know much about the seventy-two people who Jesus sent out to preach. What we do know is that he sent them two-by-two, that they were to go ahead of Jesus into all the towns he would be visiting, and that he told them to heal the sick in those towns and proclaim that the kingdom is near. We really have no idea who these people were, what their backgrounds were, or what professions they had. [ 205 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/rejoice-that-your-na/

There is a difference between saying that someone will suffer and saying that someone should suffer. Jesus promises suffering for those who faithfully follow him, but that doesn't mean that he thinks people should suffer. When Paul was on the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Ananias in a dream and said about Paul, "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name" (Acts 9:16 ESV). [ 334 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/the-god-of-all-comfo/

What are some ways your staying connected to others during this time of isolation?

Do you ever think about the circumstances that led Jesus and his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee when they were met by a crowd of 5,000 people? Let's back up a little bit in the text: "He (King Herod) sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. [ 368 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/jesus-attempted-isol/

Can't wait to "see" everyone online today! Class at 10:00, discussing the hope we have in the midst of crisis and at 11:00 the sermon is "Jesus' Resurrection Didn't Have Fanfare."

We're praying everyone is doing well! Let us know how we can serve you during this time of isolation.

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, most churches had special services planned for Easter. Easter Sunday is the most attended church event out of all 52 weeks. Many churches use it as an outreach for people who only bring their families for Easter services. Bigger churches put on Easter plays and some have full production teams. The resurrection of Jesus is definitely worth celebrating! [ 480 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/jesus-resurrection-d/

Morning. Ready for Livestreaming! Starting now!!!

***COVID-19 UPDATE*** The entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is under a stay at home order through April 30th. All in-person events are cancelled until further notice. We will still provide live streaming on Sundays, beginning at 10:00. Stay safe!!

Resurrection Sunday is about to be celebrated around the world. Easter Sunday is a time for us to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It's a time to participate in new life, in the salvation we have and hope in eternal life. But leading up to the resurrection was the betrayal and death of Jesus. It was a dark moment in history. [ 383 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/jesus-predicts-his-d/

**Important Update** We are extending the closure of in-person gatherings and, as of now, plan to return Sunday, April 12th. This is subject to change, so please check our website often for updates. We are following the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Governor's office on social distancing and, most importantly, how to best protect our members who are more susceptible to illness. We will continue to provide online streaming of our worship services and all of our leaders are available, should you need help with anything.

We are ready to go Live!! Join us in a few minutes!

Fine tuning sound and video for Sunday's upcoming live stream! We are working hard to improve each week, because YOU matter!!

When Jesus sent out the Twelve, he "gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal" (Luke 9:1, 2 ESV). This was no small feat for a group of fishermen, tax collectors, and otherwise ordinary people. Jesus could have sent them out to do just about anything, but he specifically sent them to heal diseases, cast out demons, and proclaim the kingdom of God. [ 207 more words ] http://www.somersetchurchofchrist.com/the-apostles-mission/

A HUGE thank you to all of you who participated in our live stream yesterday! 168 playbacks and almost 68 hours were streamed during our service yesterday. We are working very hard each week to improve the quality of our live streams because we want give God our best! Please share, share, share, because there are so many people across the world who cannot meet in person and still want to remain connected to fellow Christians.

Ready for Livestreaming! Join us at 10!

Good morning! We'll be going live at 10:00 EST and are pleased to be able to offer a way for all of our members and others to stay connected as we all quarantine. We're thankful that we are still able to worship together. Please share this far and wide, as many churches have cancelled and do not have live stream capability.

We made the list! See you all tomorrow morning!