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Welcome to 3rd Culture Living.

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself ” (Philippians 3:20-21). We can’t do everything exactly the same way as we were raised, neither can we simply follow the flow in the cultures where we are living. We are committed to finding a “3rd Culture” in Christ in our daily living! We are not ashamed to live as “foreigners and strangers on earth” and “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. … ” (Hebrews 11:13-16).

“3rd Culture Living” is a lifestyle as a family, a progress to be prepared and equipped as citizens above; it is a way to apply what Apostle Paul teaches “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2).

In conclusion, the Golls’ definition of “3rd Culture Living” is:

We embrace our different cultures and other cultural exposures, to challenge us to renew our minds as we strive to not just follow our assumptions, but to apply Biblical principles in all aspects of our life in dealing with decisions, conflicts, and evaluating beliefs, to be passionate ambassadors for Christ through His daily transformation.

The above is excerpted from “What is 3rd culture Living?“.

Related Links:

Rhyming Sermon Notes: 2023 February

Whether just for my self, or my family, too.
Rhyming notes helps me focus, and then helps us review.

If they bring you a blessing, a meaningful read.
I pray that by Jesus, your spirit is freed.

A free man in Christ, and his bond servant, too.
By His grace, as his child, is our spirit made new!

Color Code:

  • Sunday School
  • Church Service
  • Wednesday Church

If these rhyming notes are a helpful review (or just a fun read), feel free to Subscribe to receive them each time I post.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-02-05
Chris Pierre
Exodus 1: ?-?

Shrewd dealing with the covenant people
From fear that they may go
Confront with worldly wisdom
not God’s effectual wisdom they did show

The world cannot know God,
and the blessings which from him come.
So they seek to curtail God’s blessing to his people
keep them from multiplying, to kill their sons.

The world wants to declare God’s people
to be cursed and stopped and dead.
They stand against God’s anointed
We need discernment and not dread.

If you are in God’s covenant people
You are blessed, alive.
The Egyptians and the world, want to control God people
not acknowledge that under the control of God they abide.

This all contrary to God’s Word
that they would leave supplied.
We need to live by God’s word
to rest and in him hide.

Continuing in Psalm 2, we see the folly of the world.
They want to break control from him
The attempts to control God’s people, is to control God
God laughs at their folly and their sin.

We should not be surprised
when the world tries to confront, curtail, control
They never can confront your God
Though in his plans they play their role

Run to God as your refuge
and he will surely care
He will bring you up and out
all his blessings share

Your job is not to save America
but to point to Jesus Christ.
The world takes action against the Savior
with attacks and pressure, deceive and heist.

The sons of Israel oppressed with hard labor
as a way to oppose God’s plan
But God had planned this all before.
It was all in his powerful hand.

The plan was to knock them down.
But instead they built the cities, and took the blow
This oppression was the precursor
Their freedom was coming, this they did know.

Christ has overcome the world.
As we look to him our faith is grown.
He gives us every spiritual blessing.
In him true life is shown.

They used violence against God’s people.
Violence is a tool of the world.
We see it all through history
And God judges, his power unfurled.

We don’t respond with violence
but turn to Christ in faith
Even if we suffer and die
We trust in what God saith.

The bitterness with hard labor
The world brings trouble, lies and pain.
But God gives strength and blessings.
He is with us in the shadow, his presence we obtain.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-02-05
Pastor Dean Good
Passage

Keep on Rejoicing, Glorify God,
Entrust your soul to Him
We will be attacked and slandered by the world
and tempted into sin.

Our temptation when bad things come,
to question God’s goodness to us.
There is no darkness in him.
His ways and character we can trust.

We may not understand
how his good plans all play out.
But I can trust that he is good
of this I need not doubt.

Entrust your soul to a faithful Creator
And in him rejoice
If the righteous is hard to save
What becomes of the sinner by choice.

The righteous may suffer here
This world with evil filled
But how much more the sinner
their soul is dead and killed.

When we entrust our souls
It’s because we trust God in truth.
We also fear the Lord
He judges sin as proof.

This all lends to thankfulness
to what the Lord has done.
Judgment begins with the house of God
Foundation, ___, Application of his rod.

The foundation of this principle
God is a God of love.
The judgment and law of God
Reflect his love from above.

He is righteous and perfect
His judgments always just.
He calls us to be righteous.
To obey him without a fuss.

He is a God of judgment.
He has made this clear.
God will judge the wicked.
Our purpose to obey and fear.

Christ was judged on the cross for our sins
Undoing the work of Satan, sin and death.
A substitute a spotless lamb
He placed my sin on him, for his final breath.

Galatians 3 verse 10,
the works of law under a curse
None have done a good job
He was cursed on a tree, out substitute, he took it worst.

Romans chapter 5
we have peace with God
Our feelings go up and down
but we are saved from his wrath and judgment rod.

Our sins are taken away
as far as east and west
Christ has given peace
He has given rest.

Judgment begins with the house of God
God calls his people “be holy to me”
We are not our own
Sin brings judgment, but he sets us free.

When God’s people worshiped in their own way
apart from what God prescribed
God will be treated as holy
when they sinned, he judged and they died.

God receives sinners
who come with weeping and tears
God used far more wicked nations
to judge his people for years.

Those who belong to God
Have an obligation to be holy to him
We picture a grandfather God
He is holy and good and judges sin.

When we take the name of Christ.
We become a slave to him.
We become an ambassador.
We become a temple, holy from sin.

The purpose of the cross
not just a ticket to heaven.
But that we would trust and obey
pure and holy ______

God will chasten the son he loves
Uses trials to set our affections on him.
Christ judges his church
Root out those who are not his, but live for sin.

God is exceedingly patient with his children
and gracious with the humble.
Entrust your soul to him.
He’ll carry you when you stumble.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-02-08
Steven
Psalm 149 (Series: Psalms)

Fourth of Five “Hallelujah Psalms”
Focused on Yahweh as King.
All opposition will cease with his reign
As all his people sing.

One through five or one through four.
Can be divided either way.
One through five praises from his people
live for him new each day.

We worship in spirit and truth
with renewed passion and praise.
God called sinners to belong to him.
Why did he choose me to raise?

We may have joy when promoted in this world
But this joy is fading and dead.
Praise with dancing and music
As many through Scripture have said.

Dancing also associated with paganism.
Worship must have praise and self control.
The Lord takes pleasure in His people
and will beautify and save their soul.

God is patient, long suffering
Using pagan nations to humble and bring his people back
“The Lord” here is “Yeshua”
pointing to Christ, through all scripture on track

The praise of God’s people for eschatological deliverance
Working while holding a sword
In Nehemiah praise on the way to the battle
knowing the result based on his Word.

Our battle not against flesh and blood
but in the spiritual world
Anything that stands against Christ
will fall and be bound at his word.

We can praise with an upright heart.
As he purifies us from sin.
If you don’t know this king
Repent and for eternity sing.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-02-12
Chris Pierre
Exodus 1:15-22

The people came, known by God, welcomed by the Egyptians
Blessed, conceived, their numbers grew by many multiplications.

The people now a real concern. The Egyptians with fear and dread.
The people cursed, work them hard, do whatever they said.

The hard labor didn’t work, the people continued to grow.
The Pharaoh has another plan to murder them, not to let them sew.

We do not live by the word of man, but by the Word of God.
Possible or impossible, irrelevant when under his rod.

Believe God’s promise, he will fulfill as unlikely as it may seem.
God had promised to Abraham, the fulfillment would soon be seen.

Man declared righteous, by faith from God a gift.
We must believe, trust in him, in his time our soul will lift.

From death to life, we will pass, when we look to him, believe.
God loved the world, so gave his Son, that we may life receive.

The wisdom of the world, against God’s sovereign plan
God has blessed, the world has cursed, to murder not just ban.

What’s the plan? How will it be done? The midwives now are called.
A daughter – live, A son – destroy. By this have their numbers fall.

The kings of the world, then and today, their call it has not changed.
The call is hidden. Only a few knew. This plan was all deranged.

The call was given within the clan, within God’s  people given.
This deadly call, attack from within, stop the men of war from living.

A hidden call. A deadly call. First against the men.
We see that in the world today, against the men again.

This call of Pharaoh a testing call, what would the midwives do?
Would they live for the world, or be separate and stay true?

“Live by the world, all will go well”, this lie is often told.
“Just listen to the Pharaoh and all will go well.” Be Bold!

The call of worldly wisdom, will come to test deceive.
This may come from within the church, makes it easy to receive.

Jude 12 speaks of the deceit within, that would lead us to sin.
Keep yourself in the Word of God, with his call begin.

The Godly call of the midwives, to live for God and not the world
This open call, not hidden, clear, proclaimed so all have heard.

Living with the fear of God, obey all his commands.
Receive, obey, Do what is said. On his word take a stand.

A living call, for life not death. Let the Hebrews live.
Love God? Love life. The world? Love death. Our love a result will give.

God’s call is a proving call, not “testing” like the world.
It showed their faith in God. Lived by fear of God, what they heard.

God commended them for their faith, gave them children of their own
By this their homes established, by trusting God, they built their home.

Then Pharaoh called to all the world, not in secret to a few alone.
They were all to kill the children, there was no safe place to go.

This was a genocidal call, throw them in the Nile.
You won’t have to hear their cries, Satan worship in this style.

Satan will end up being thrown into the lake of fire.
Do not live for the world’s plans, live only by God’s power.

This is a devouring call, to assimilate God’s children.
Jesus will protect us, all life is from him given.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-02-12
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:17-19 – Judgement begins with the house of God

Entrust your souls to God, in afflictions great and small.
Pray God’s will not mine, and trust him, follow his call.

Judgment begins with the household of God, with difficulty the righteous saved.
But at the end the way is easy, the burden is light, we trust him and our souls crave.

We trust him for he is good. We trust him because of fear.
The true and living God, saved from hell and meaninglessness here.

We entrust our souls to a faithful Creator, On Christ our judgment fell.
Four points to explain that judgment begins, on the house of God it fell.

1. God will judge his own people before he judges the world.
2. God will purify the believer.
3. God will purify the local church
4. God will purify the universal church

God will judge his own people before he judges the world.
He comes and fills his people. Like the temple filled.

You are now filled with the Spirit, an ambassador and slave of Christ.
He is committed to purity, for purity he paid a high price.

God had promised through the prophets, the judgment for sin would come.
Ezekiel 9 in a vision, Israel’s leaders were worshiping the sun.

They thought the Lord did not see them, as they worshiped Satan, other Gods.
They did it there in the temple, Abominations will be struck with the rod.

God called the executioners of the city
Start in the sanctuary, be clean.
The presence left the temple
and stays like that until Christ is seen.

If you are a child of God, holy you must be.
Know and follow the Word of God or judgment you will see.

God died to make you holy, that you may love him, what is true.
He will judge the sin of the believer, though his wrath is not for y ou.

God is extremely patient, though he chastises his son with love.
God alone is holy, he makes us holy as we submit to him above.

I thank the Lord for his discipline, he does if for our good.
We need to purify ourselves, follow him as we should.

The sooner we learn to obey, the easier life will be.
Don’t set our eyes on the things of the world, seek him alone to see.

Do not be bound with unbelievers, we are the temple, God with us.
Cleanse ourselves, in action and mind, our thoughts need be of trust.

Search me Oh God and know me. Lead me to righteousness.
Cleans me of my internal sin, give me a heart of trust.

If you are an unbeliever. God may give you what you seek.
You may have money, success, this will destroy your life, make it bleak.

If any one defiles the temple of God. God, he will destroy.
We see this with Ananias, Saphirah. They lied, put on a ploy.

Peter said “Annanias, how has Satan filled your soul?”
His wife did the same, they both fell dead. Sin had taken it’s toll.

Pride and reputation, seeking glory from men.
This brought the cost of death. Did it once and then again.

When taking the cup of the Lord, we must judge ourselves in truth.
Not taking it unworthily, resulting in sickness and death as proof.

God is committed to the purity of his people, sin must be removed.
If believers are living in sin, They need to repent or by the church be moved.

Many in the church, hypocrites through and through.
They may know that their living for self, the wicked he will remove.

Every secret thing will come to light, the darkness will be known.
The book of Jude shows the church at the end, the leaders lead astray, away from God’s throne.

The church leaders live for the flesh, pointing to God’s grace.
God saved his people from Egypt, then they died as they didn’t have faith.

Jesus judges his church, before judging the world.
There are those in the church, who are living for self and the world.

Is your name in the book of life? Would you rather have discipline over sin?
Lord, help us to be faithful to you. May your life in me begin.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-02-15
Kevin Williamson
Psalm 150(Series: Psalms)
Note: Started teaching through the Psalms on March 2019

Psalm 1, six verses long, meditate on His word.
Psalm 150, also six verses, always praising the Lord.

Where, Why, How and Who, should we praise the Lord?
In his sanctuary, in his presence to adore.

A sanctuary in scripture, both physical and place of rest.
Also in heaven, the Lord himself, the very best.

The veil is rent in two, so we can enter in.
To dwell with the Savior, as he cleanses us from sin.

Praise him in the firmament, from the sanctuary to the heavens.
Praise him for his mighty acts, creation and all else.

Praise him for who he is
for his excellent greatness.

How to praise the Lord, with trumpet, a loud call to praise.
a lute and a harp, a delicate, gentle sound to raise.

Praise him with timbrel and dancing, Miriam also called to praise.
Praise with strings, and pipes and cymbals, call to our voices raise.

Who should praise the Lord? Everything that has breath.
If we don’t praise the Lord, even the rocks will praise from death.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-02-19
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:17-19

We live in a fallen world,
all subject to the pain of sin.
Though this life may have good things,
in the end we die, though believers win.

The unbeliever often suffers for sin.
The believer for righteousness.
We’re called to suffer as we follow Christ
with our eyes on his gloriousness.

Judgment begins with the household of God
He purifies his own
It is through difficulty that the righteous are saved
Jesus came down. He now sits on his throne.

Jesus took God’s wrath,
the punishment for my sin.
Judgment begins with the household of God
to purify his children again.

He is committed to holiness
His children’s purity.
Judgment begins in the household of God
from sin to set us free.

Entrust your souls to God
We can, we should, we must.
Entrust our souls to a faithful Creator
to put on him our trust.

We tend to think of afflictions
in the same way as the world.
1. We need to know our afflictions
come from God, from him unfurled.

They are not accidental
he does not need to explain.
God is God, he does what he does.
We can trust him in joy and pain.

We tend to blame others
or situations as they come
We need to know its all from him
Given with love, from Christ the Son.

2. The afflictions are beneficial
Given from God in love.
The purify his people
a gift from God above.

We are born to a living hope
the joys come after death
We tend to be distracted
We waste our time, energy, breath.

Lusts are our desires.
They naturally come to us.
They more we have, the more we want.
We’re our own enemy in thus.

God breaks our lusts through affliction.
He takes things away, or brings us pain.
It’s in the deep difficulty
that our eternal focus, he does train.

We put our joy, our hope on people,
a business, money, things.
If it all disappeared tomorrow
Would you his praises sing?

Romans 5 verse 1, justified by faith
Peace with God through Jesus Christ
Exalt in Glory and tribulation
Our hope only laid on Christ.

“Hope” is not wishful thinking
setting our affections on his certainty.
Testing produces endurance.
The benefits of afflictions we will see.

3. Our afflictions are evidence of our sonship
That he judges, helps us grow.
Unlike the afflictions of the world
They come when we live for Christ and show.

In all of our afflictions
a godly response is evidence,
is confirmation we’re born again
trusting him in all circumstance.

Hebrews chapter 12
with endurance run.
Like Christ kept his eyes on the throne of God
Keep our eyes on the Son.

4. Our afflictions are just
brought from a holy God.
Our sufferings in this life
fall far short of what we should have from his rod.

We deserve far worse,
so receive his judgment with praise.
Knowing that the judgment is worse
for those who unfaithfulness raise.

You were headed to hell
he redeemed you from the pit
he restores your youth
and gives you all, you need to with him sit.

He’s removed your sins
as far as the east from the west.
We complain in trial
as we don’t see our sin and just want blessed.

5. Our afflictions are light
with eternal destruction we can compare.
When Jesus’ revealed from heaven
every eye will at him stare.

The day of judgment comes
it’s horror, and it is real.
It matters what God said
not only what you feel.

When we know that we are saved
we can rejoice through our pain.
We can learn and grow through affliction
It changes our perspective, keeps us sane.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-02-26
Dave Howard
Exodus 2:5-10

The Lord hears the cries of his children.
the deliverer already prepared.
His plans are good and cannot be changed.
His people need not to be scared.

Jochebed, “Yahweh is glorious”
Amram, sees the baby needs saved.
The times drawing near, 400 years to an end
Follow the Lord in this world that’s depraved.

90% of God’s will
is given clearly in God’s Word.
We don’t need to wait for revelation
to know what to do, if we’ve heard.

Jachabed releases her baby
trusting his life to the Lord.
Trusting the sovereignty and power of God
Holding on to his Word.

Pharaoh’s daughter different than Pharoah.
Has compassion on the child to save.
The pharaoh is wicked and calloused
No one is safe when the ruler is depraved.

When the plagues are afflicting Egyptians
he stays stubborn and doesn’t relent
A river of blood, thank East Palestine,
he is hardened when the deliverer is sent.

Why did Jachabed place the basket there?
Know of the princess or him to hide?
The princess sees the baby, has compassion
After the baby has cried.

The Lord used unlikely situations
to undermine the plotting of men
Genesis 11:7 to 9
at Babel confusing them again.

1 Corinthians 1:27
God chooses weak over strong
To Egyptians the Nile considered sacred
so the princess cam down with her throng

They put their faith in the Nile
God chose it first to strike down.
God is the strong deliverer
He’s the reigning king with the crown.

Miriam offers to help her
find a Hebrew to nurse him to health.
Then Moses keps with his mother
with the protection of the king and his wealth.

God blesses his people
When they live faithful to him
God blesses Jochebed, Moses’ mother
has her baby and payments begin.

Jachabed meets the princess
given Moses and wages as well
able to openly care for the child
at her home even  as other children fell.

Moses trained in the people of God.
Connected with God’s family
The first four or more years of his life
This came back when the oppression he did see.

Jachabed finally brings him to Pharaoh’s daughter
Giving him over to the pagan world.
Physical danger as a baby.
Spiritual dangers now starting to swirl.

Eighty years later Moses still knew his brother
when they met when Moses came back.
It seems he grew up with his family
of his training, his mother was not slack.

Our culture has degraded motherhood
at the cost of children’s training and growth.
The princess gives Moses his name,
Egyptian and Hebrew cultures, he had both.

Moses, “drawn out” in Hebrew.
Moses, “son” in Egyptian his name
He straddled two cultures for all of his life
His choice when he’s older the same.

Exodus 12:38
“A mixed multitude” from Egypt went out
Hebrews along with Egyptians
Left Egypt with quite a shout.

We need to be faithful for his sake.
Not looking for fortune and fame
trusting him to take care of it all
He every day is the same.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-02-26
Kevin Williamson (Dean away)
Romans 12:1-2

Three years ago C19 came
shut the whole world down.
Then riots burning cities
depression rising all the same

The culture going woke around us
history moving faster
Christian living 101
Live with him to last here

A basis for the appeal
Our body a living sacrifice
Quality, Strategy, result
——

Romans 1-11
Doctrine “mercies of God”
Sin abounded, Grace much more
Living sacrifices we are to God

Present yourselves to the Lord
your body a sacrifice
Waiting for his redemption
of our body when he comes twice.

“Living” sacrifice
continuing, not one time
our flesh says “no”, and wants to quit
We must give our best, not just “fine”

The condition of the heart
Obey over sacrifice
A broken and contrite heart
our reasonable service

We need to be made alive.
not living by the world’s systems.
The systems promote Satan’s plans
from before the flood back then.

Before the flood, then Daniel
all bow to the statue or die
Today the pressure to conform
political, economic… or die.

Environmental Social Governance
Gay agenda, Morningstar
Social Credit scores reward/shutdown
Conform or cancel, the day of the Lord not far!

The tribulation coming
get the mark or don’t buy and sell
Do not be conformed to this world
It’s leading us to hell.

But be transformed by the renewing of your mind
a living sacrifice.
A battle being waged for your heart and mind
Fill your mind with the Word, have peace.

The result of the appeal
Able to approve the will of God
90% in God’s Word
the rest will come as we submit to his rod.

Sourdough Part 4: From Dough to Bread

How does this sourdough starter become bread?

If you’ve ever made bread with factory yeast, this will have similarities and differences. The biggest difference is time. 

With factory yeast, when you mix the yeast with warm water it is activated. You then have about three hours to use it before it is fizzled out and loses some potency.

Sourdough is alive and it wants to grow. When you mix the sourdough (which is used as the yeast) with flour and water (and a bit of salt), it doesn’t fizzle and die, it eats and grows!

You should mix them well and then let the dough sit (we use a stand mixer, but real die-hards will use their hands). (My oldest son is a big fan of making all hand-made bread! ) Then over the next several hours you can “stretch and fold” the dough to mix it some more. (We use our hands for this part, to give it some quick folds and mixes) The dough will continue to grow. (It is eating the nutrition in that area of the bread and when you mix it again, it gets a new batch of food to eat.) You can do this throughout the day, and then again before leaving it out overnight for the “bulk fermentation”. (Leave it out in a container with a towel over it so air can come and go, but it won’t collect dust, etc.)

The next morning you will “shape” the dough, by putting it in a bread pan, making balls for rolls, etc. Then let it sit on the counter for a “second rise”. All of this time, it has been eating, growing stronger, calling more friends (good bacteria) to join them, etc.

The second rise will usually be around 1 to 5 hours, but is flexible depending on the temperature and how sour you want the bread to be. 

Note: Sourdough is very flexible and forgiving. You can let it ferment longer (more sour), put it in the fridge (to slow down the ferment to be used later), etc. Once you get the hang of it, you can play around. My 12 year old can now make sourdough bread without a recipe after only two tries. 

When you are ready to bake, put it in the oven, wait for it to bake and Yummm!

My son likes to “carve” for fun designs.
(This picture is before baking.)

How long should you cook it for and at what temperature? That gets a bit complicated. Are you cooking small rolls, or a giant one foot round loaf?  In an oven, toaster oven, an instant pot, in cast iron over a fire, etc.? Do you want a harder crust or softer crust? How high is your oven shelf? (We usually cook at around 420F for 25 minutes, then lower it to 350F for another 10-15 minutes, but this will depend on the size of your bread and your oven.) Once you get started you can see how it goes, don’t get discouraged, and modify as needed. 

Another trick is to use glassware at the beginning. You can lift it up and see the bottom. If the bottom is still pretty light brown, you may want to give another 10 minutes to give a firmer custer. If you like it softer, you can stop the cooking. Play around and have fun! 

We went traditional and cooked in cast iron for Thanksgiving.

Sourdough is very forgiving. It’s a very nice pet, that is full of life, gives you exercise as you stretch and fold, and wants your regular love and attention.

You can also get creative. Just look online for many sourdough ideas. We are homeschooling, with a mix of ages and young children. Our goal is good food in less time. :o) We may do more with “advanced” methods in the future, but for now shoot for healthy and simple. Some people will insist that sourdough must be cooked in a dutch oven (which we’ve done once, and it was delicious and had more of that traditional sourdough look and feel). Some will use ice or a spray bottle to create steam and create a harder crust, etc. We may do these occasionally, but they aren’t needed to have a simple, delicious loaf of sourdough bread. We want you to know that things can be simplified and you don’t need to be perfect!

Dinner rolls
Premade dough, kept in the fridge. Makes for a quick loaf in the toaster oven.

A few changes that you can make are:

  • When you make your bread (not your starter dough), you can use other liquids instead of water (almond milk, the leftover water after steaming sweet potatoes, kombucha, smoothie, etc.
  • You can mix other ingredients into your bread: herbs, garlic, honey, oil, eggs, etc.

There is so much to learn from making sourdough bread. You can play around, and again, it is very forgiving. If something goes horribly wrong and your sourdough should die, it is still just sourdough after all and you can go back to your friend and they will likely have more to let you try again.

Have fun with it! Just like you play with a dog and it can learn new tricks, your sourdough wants time with you and can also learn new tricks and play in new and creative (and delicious) ways.

A few additional resources:

Photo Credits: We rarely think to take pictures, so these are random pictures of our regular baking, likely taken by our children for fun. :o)

Sourdough Part 3: Starting & Feeding

How do you make sourdough starter?

As mentioned above, you can start from scratch with just flour and water. You CAN do this, but for most people, I recommend just finding a friend who already has a strong sourdough starter and ask for a bit of theirs (about 100g will do). This is much easier than starting from scratch. (You can also buy sourdough starter online. This dried starter is similar to asking your friend, but will need a little extra attention at the beginning to “wake it up”.)

Assuming that you already have a mature sourdough starter, you will do the following to feed it!

Mix your sourdough in three equal parts. For example if you have 100g of sourdough starter, you will mix that with 100g of flour and 100g of water.

Water on the bottom, then add Sourdough Starter, then Flour

—

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!

The bacteria in sourdough is smart, it knows what is good for it. 

Flour

You should use whole grain flour to feed your starter. We use whole grain wheat flour. If you try a variety of brands, you will find that for some brands your sourdough really comes alive. It is bubbling and growing quickly! These flours have life. On the other hand, with some flours it may just seem to get by. These flours likely don’t have much life. (Note: Bleached white flour basically has the life and nutrition removed, so is not good for feeding your Sourdough. When making BREAD with the sour dough, we occasionally add a little white flour along with mostly whole grains to make it softer. You can use 100% whole grain flour to make sourdough bread, though it might take a little longer for the bulk fermentation. From the good microbes perspective, it’s like Thanksgiving to have all that good nutrition. This is another area the commercial yeast is not as potent to make the whole wheat dough rise so effectively. 

Water

Chlorine (and other chemicals in city water) are there to kill bacteria and other life. For feeding your sourdough, which is full of good bacteria, it will be better to give them spring water, cooled boiled water (that evaporates out the chlorine), etc.

—

Back to our 100g starter, 100g flour, 100g water. These measurements don’t have to be exact, but it’s good to be pretty close to equal amounts (a kitchen scale can be helpful until you get a good feel for it).

First put the water in a mixing bowl. Then add the sourdough starter.

You can now do a little test called the “sink test”. If the sourdough sinks and sits on the bottom, it is HUNGRY. It wants to jump right in and get started feeding. If it floats, it isn’t so hungry, though it is always happy to eat. (A slightly more scientific look at why it floats when it has been well fed is that it is eating more and making more gas. This gas is making bubbles in the dough and bubbles float!)

After adding the water (100g), then the dough (100g), you will add the flour (100g). 

Now stir it all together. (It may help to have two scrapers to stir with, to fold it on top of itself while also scraping the sides, etc.

You can now store this in a jar with a loose lid or a coffee filter held on with a rubber band (to let air in).

Let it sit out overnight to have the warmth and air to grow. (It will likely double in size by morning.) This stage is usually referred to as bulk fermentation. 

Sourdough Starter ready to rise

What to do with your sourdough after you feed it?

As mentioned, this can be stored on the counter at room temperature or you can store it in the fridge. (The good bacteria will continue to eat and grow and protect against mold, bad bacteria, etc.) There are advantages to both on the counter or in the fridge.

Basically if you leave it on the counter (as many do) it will eat quickly and grow quickly. You will then likely need to feed it every day (including when you use it to make bread). This can result in either a lot of extra sourdough starter, or in your making a lot of bread.

If you would like to slow things down, you can store it in the fridge. This doesn’t hurt the good bacteria, but does slow them down. Then you can wait several days or even several weeks without feeding it. (We have gone on trips for several weeks and come back to a good, healthy sourdough starter.) To store it for a while, you will want to keep your sourdough starter on the drier side rather than a more wet and runny condition. And if possible, you can always bring your starter with you and make fresh bread as you go. 

Chilin’ in the fridge, ready when needed

Note: When you feed your sourdough (using our 100g example), you have 100g of starter dough and added 100g of water and 100 g of flour. This means you now have roughly 300 g of sourdough. The next time you feed it, you can use 100g of the starter. This leaves 200g of extra starter. What can you do with it? Well, you can give it away, sourdough sometimes being called “Friendship Bread”. You can throw it away (or compost it), but that seems like a waste. Or you can make bread from it! (Or you can combine two of those and make bread and give it away!)

That leads to a natural question…

Continue with “Sourdough Part 4: From Dough to Bread“.

Photo Credits: We rarely think to take pictures, so these are random pictures of our regular baking, likely taken by our children for fun. :o)

Sourdough Part 2: Our Journey & Benefits

How we got started

As you may know, Elyse is Chinese and we met while I was living in China for 10 years. Bread is not very common in China, so everything was learned started a few years ago when we came to the U.S. If we can do it… you can do it!

At first we bought good, usually organic, whole grain bread. 

We then realized that we could make our own fresh bread and control what is in it. I didn’t think too much about if this was cheaper or not (though I believe it is), but it got us going on making bread.

We started with a bread machine and carefully followed the directions. (I should clarify. “I” carefully followed the directions. Elyse is better at understanding the principles and creating her own wonderful edibles.)

Bread Machine…
our start with homemade bread

After burning through several bread machines, we decided to buy a stand mixer instead. It’s less automatic, but gives more flexibility and various uses. We still used modern recipes with store bought yeast, etc.

The idea for sourdough came as Elyse was looking into how to promote better digestion and gut health. She wanted to get this started, but with the many other pulls and tugs of life it didn’t get started. (Though we did start Kombucha and Sauerkraut during that time.)

The kick to get our sourdough started came from my oldest son. He saw the idea (aka: science experiment) of growing our own yeast, and working towards making bread dough with just water and flour. We homeschool our children, which means that there is room to explore and learn with what is right in front of us. He and my wife got this started and he was in charge of his sourdough. 

Elyse was doing it along with him, and when the experiment was pretty much over for Elijah’s purposes, Elyse hated to let it die… so kept it going. (As a note: I am basically the reporter on all this. Elyse is the woman in the know, who started truly from scratch and now has a very mature starter.)

Those first weeks getting started were pretty intense. They were starting it in the winter (which we later learned is the hardest time to start sourdough since the cold makes it want to stop growing, but it isn’t yet mature enough to let it do so without having problems (mold, etc.). Elyse was often feeding “Bubbles” twice a day and hand mixing it throughout the day. The nice perk of this was that she hated to waste the extra starter that was formed during this time, so we had a LOT of bread and she got really creative with using it. Yummy! :o)

We keep our house at around 60 in the winter so my two bread scientists found a nice spot next to a heater to keep their dough to attempt to keep it warm.

In the end, and even during the toughest season to get it started, they did it and we now have a very mature starter that we are able to use and pass along (and is able to be used in the winter with no problems).

Benefits of Sourdough

Many people, myself included until recently, will think that “bread is bread”, or, even if they know that white bread is basically “dead bread”, they may think that all whole grain breads without high fructose corn syrup, etc. are basically the same. That described me… but it isn’t true.

In short, we can say that the benefit of Sourdough bread is that it has life! It’s aliiiiive!!!!

No really, it’s alive. It is full of good microbes, good bacteria. It has been fermenting and developing whole colonies and cultures of tiny soldiers that you cannot see, but work powerfully for your benefit. (If you find this to be somewhat revolting, just know that you are eating bacteria all the time, including in fermented foods (sauerkraut, Kombucha, yogurt, vinegar, real cheese, cultured butter, cultured chocolate, etc.). Sourdough, and the other foods just mentioned, just help you to have the good bacteria, etc. to fight against the ones that give bacteria a bad name.

For this reason, in addition to giving you great health benefits, sourdough is mold resistant (that army is ready to fight!). It can be stored for a while, left out in the room without refrigeration, etc.

It can also often be eaten by those who can’t eat other breads. Those little microbes are basically predigesting the bread (my rough description), so it is much easier for your digestion and can help your digestion. Again, thank that invisible, powerful army.

Since 57% of the human body is something other than human, you can imagine the power that adding this mighty invisible army has for your overall health. Many health issues can be prevented and helped by introducing more good bacteria into your body. (I’ll leave it to others to go into details on this point.)

Photo Credits: We rarely think to take pictures, so these are random pictures of our regular baking, likely taken by our children for fun. :o)

Continue with “Sourdough Part 3: Starting & Feeding“.

Sourdough Part 1: What is it? & Fermentation

Fermentation and an unseen army

The past two years have been our family’s years of fermentation (both with learning, as discussed below, and in taking time to develop and grow our own family culture). It has been amazing to better understand the tiny world God created of good and bad bacteria, yeasts, and other microbes living in our environment. This tiny, unseen world, has an amazing power to give us an army to help us fight disease and prevent and cure a wide variety of health issues. 

To quote the BBC  (not my recommended news source), “Human cells make up only 43% of the body’s total cell count. The rest are microscopic colonists.” That other 57% is other microbes. They are also everywhere around us, in the air we breathe, the food we eat, on things we touch, everywhere.

This unseen world causes many to run to antibacterial soaps and antibiotics, but when this world is treated well, and fed the right things, they are our friends and powerful allies. To kill them all (both good and bad) comes at a great cost, and the bad bacteria can come back faster once the good army is destroyed. (My youngest knows “999 NOT good”, to look for on most “soaps” in public places, referring to “Kills 99.99% of bacteria”.) (A friend recently taught us how to make our own bar soap, which has been another fun adventure.)

On the other hand, when we can promote good bacteria, we feed, strengthen and train a powerful army that God gave us, for our benefit and health.

Fermenting in its various forms, does just that. It promotes the good bacteria and strengthens it to fight outside invaders including bad bacteria, mold, viruses, etc.

Clarification: A friend of ours mentioned that there is a place for antibacterial cleansing in special situations. We agree there can be a place to create a super sterile environment at times. Our point is that in most daily situations, and for regular use, antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers, which destroy both the good and bad bacteria, can cause much disruption to this important line of defense in our immune system.

A beautiful thing about how God created the body to work together with beneficial microbes is that there are a LOT of them. If you use antibacterial soaps, etc. on a regular basis, it can disrupt this important balance. On the other hand, if you use them very rarely, in special situations, you will kill the bacteria in one area (good and bad), but the body overall has a good balance and can quickly repopulate the good army.

Personally, we have a bottle of Organic Grain Alcohol (over 190 proof) in the house for if there was a special situation (which we bought when COVID was just starting to spread and we didn’t yet know what was coming), but it’s been sitting there for years unopened. (Organic Grain Alcohol is a more natural way to go over the chemical sanitizers.)

Sourdough

This time, we are going to look at Sourdough.

Unfortunately, many sites and videos that discuss making sourdough bread take it VERY seriously. It should be cooked in cast iron, and carved with a knife to have the traditional sourdough look, and so on. Yes, if you are going to participate in a professional sourdough competition, these will be expected, but to just make delicious and very healthy sourdough bread, it makes it way too complicated.

Cooked in an Instant Pot – Not traditional… but still delicious… and easy!

What is sourdough?

I like to say that sourdough is bread dough made with just flour and water (no yeast!). Simple! 

However, that isn’t really true. It is made without ADDING yeast. God takes care of it with natural, wild yeast!

Actually, sourdough is how most bread has been made since bread has been made. The idea of adding commercial yeast to bread is a relatively new idea that came with the call for greater convenience (replacing greater health). When you read of bread in biblical times it was always sourdough bread. (Unless of course it was unleavened bread, which would have been made quickly, say for example for a quick escape out of Egypt, and wouldn’t have had time for the dough to ferment and rise.) (Note: Commercial yeast can sometimes be used alongside of sourdough if you need the bread to be ready more quickly. Sourdough needs time for the good bacteria culture to grow.)

Sourdough starts with just flour and water. Good bacteria thinks of this as a buffet and starts eating. As you feed it daily with more flour and water, it attracts healthy bacteria and yeast from the air. This process can take from a week to a month to get a good healthy sourdough that is full of good bacteria and natural yeasts. (Note: For sourdough, the two most important microbes are yeasts and lactic acid bacteria.)

This time is fun as you see it start to bubble with happiness and grow as it is fermenting. It is much like taking care of a pet and many people name their sourdough “pet”. (We named ours “Bubbles”, or “Dongdong 洞洞” in Chinese.)

Fortunately, once you have this starter dough created, as you add more flour and water it keeps multiplying so you can give it away. Unless you want to see the process from beginning to end (as we did), you can just get some sourdough from a friend and you are good to go for life. It will keep multiplying and you can keep using it! I have heard that at an Amish wedding one of the traditions is to give the new couple some of the family sourdough as they start their new life and family. This same sourdough can be passed on for generations.

When making bread, you would use the sourdough much like the yeast in a modern recipe. (There are many recipes, etc. online for making sourdough bread, pizza crust, rolls, etc. so we won’t go into tremendous detail here. However, as mentioned, many of these recipes seem to assume that you are going professional, so we will give a very basic, flexible sourdough recipe below.)

Sourdough Pizza Crust (3rd Culture Yummy!)

Photo Credits: We rarely think to take pictures, so these are random pictures of our regular baking, likely taken by our children for fun. :o)

Continue with “Sourdough Part 2: Our Journey & Benefits“.

Rhyming Sermon Notes: 2023 January

Whether just for my self, or my family, too.
Rhyming notes helps me focus, and then help us review.

If they bring you a blessing, a meaningful read.
I pray that by Jesus, your spirit is freed.

A free man in Christ, and his bond servant, too.
By His grace, as his child, is our spirit made new!

Color Code:

  • Sunday School
  • Church Service
  • Wednesday Church

If these rhyming notes are a helpful review (or just a fun read), feel free to Subscribe to receive them each time I post.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-01-01
Dave Howard
Genesis 50:22-26

The brothers fear of Joseph’s wrath
For all the things they’ve done.
Joseph fears God and points to him,
He is the Sovereign One.

God meant for good all that transpired
What has God used for good in your life?
All things from him and by his power
All for good even in the strife.

Joseph never complains though hardships he faced
He trusts God’s sovereign love
He provides for his brothers
Representing God above.

Spiritual maturity
trusts that all God’s plans are best.
As we grow in him, we grow in faith,
And see all our ways as blessed.

God brought the brothers to face their sin
to confront this guilt they had
God brings them to repentance
to be set free and to be glad.

The necessity of forgiveness
reflects God’s work in us.
Man’s evil can be used by God
we need to learn to trust.

Joseph as a type of Christ
right here in verses 22 through 26
Joseph like Christ uses revelation
to reduce fear for those who will accept it.

Though the brothers fear he points to God
God planned this to save many lives
Therefore do not be afraid,
God protected all their tribes.

Jesus points to the house that he prepares
and tells them not to fear
The Holy Spirit will come to them
His voice you will certainly hear.

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin
renews us and he guides
Joseph’s brothers didn’t have the Spirit
Had to hold to the Word and abide.

Today we have the Word
and the Holy Spirit.
But many today rejected this word
They just don’t want to hear it.

Revelation alone does not calm the soul
only revelation received.
We may have a troubled soul.
Have we God’s Word believed?

Joseph’s compassion points to Christ.
He provides for their children as well.
He doesn’t just forgive their sin.
He provides for their families and tell.

Jesus feeds the crowds,
and freely gives salvation.
He heals and raises from the dead.
This gives the Word validation.

Jesus spoke kindly to the people
in truth and full of love.
To some spoke words of life
to others of coming judgment from above.

Jesus acts in love
weeping over death and sin.
Joseph wept over his brothers.
When he saw them again.

If we reject the revelation of God
we will stop to see.
Conviction and direction will cease
on our own we will be

!! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-01-01
Pastor Dean Good
Passage

Last week we saw how God has ceased
to add to his Word.
Even in the Old Testament
His direct word was rarely heard.

Today everyone talks of hearing God
How God led them to that or this.
Biblically hearing a word or receiving a sign
Doesn’t prove it’s from God, that it’s his.

Everything coming together falling into place.
Doesn’t mean that it’s from God’s hand.
Throughout God’s word he states and confirms.
He leads us with a shepherd’s hand.

Lord teach me your way, show me your path
For your name’s sake my path to guide.
Unbelievers may want to have blessing from God
but not to follow and in him hide.

Psalm 32, principles for how God leads,
though there are other ways.
This leading refers to him as a shepherd we know
Not just the Great Sovereign over all men’s days.

The blessing of being forgiven,
Linked with Psalm 51
God’s forgiveness and blessing
His leading and protection is his great one.

In verse 8, God will instruct and teach us,
Instruct us with God’s eye upon.
Who God leads in verse one to seven
Those who have been forgiven, sin justified and gone.

He leads those who have repented,
in verse three to five.
When in sin, God’s hand heavy upon him
In repentance he came alive.

Seek the Lord when he may be found.
When death and trials come
The heart is usually so hard
We don’t turn to the Son.

People don’t want to turn to God.
They just want to feel good, know all’s okay.
The only one with a soul okay, forgiven,
repented with God as his refuge today.

Verses eight and nine, I will lead you
don’t be like a mule.
Instruct… Teach… Counsel
by my word be made whole.

I will “instruct” you.
Be prudent, insight, circumspect.
This speaks to the mind
Focusing on the intellect.

God promises to give understanding
Know the truth in his word.
We can only give explanation
The Holy Spirit can give understanding of what is heard.

His understanding related to repentance.
James 1:21 put aside wickedness and understand.
I’ll teach you (the word Torah)
To “shoot”: to point out the way and send.

“I will counsel you with my eye up on you”
Using wisdom in the situations we face.
God will counsel you with his omniscience
With God there is no risk, not a trace.

God gives his care, his pity.
His eye watching to protect.
God all knowing, all caring
Why would we his counsel reject?

God’s children taught by the Word of God.
Delighting in His Word, him to know.
That person God will lead.
Not by signs. His Word shows us where to go.

Don’t just seek his direction.
Focus on knowing and obeying him.
We on our own are ignorant
We are blinded by our sin.

His leading may be through pain.
Sorrow and trouble on the path.
Don’t be stubborn, just follow him.
We’re children of Grace, and not of wrath.

Be humble before the Lord
Be rich, poor, pain, confort, lost
When we’re led by God
Blessings, Righteousness, Joy and Rest.

God is our refuge
our rock, our comfort, our life
God will lead his people
As we seek him all through life.

!! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-01-04
Daniel Pierre
Psalm 144 (Series: Psalms)

Provision, Protection, and Nearness of God
War, Rescue, Peace on the farm.
Images invite us into the Psalm
Protection, Rock, Shield in the war.

Psalm 18 a similar Psalm
When David in danger before
Focus on God, his power and shield
Rather than fear to adore.

Men quickly come and go.
A shadow just passing away.
Our lives are as nothing, then gone like a breath.
Why does our God care for us today?

The Lord lowers himself, condescends.
Mountains shake, lightning comes down.
Rescue from waters, the waves breaking forth
like with Moses when God led his people around.

Beautiful music, a harp of 10 strings
Like David worshiped at the feet of the Lord.
We give God our best, all that we have
with our words and our works him adore.

Flowers in bloom, Harvest prepared
When God is the God of our lives.
We will be blessed when our heart is for him
in the land and the battle he’s our pride.

He is our God, his people we are.
The blessings are for us as well.
We were far off, brought near by his blood.
In his household, his Spirit has fell.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-01-08
Dave Howard
Genesis 50:24-26

At the death of Jacob,
looked to the promised land.
But the brothers lived in fear.
What might come from Joseph’s hand?

Joseph points to God
The One always in control
He is using evil for good
This truth he must extol.

Joseph will provide for them
and their little ones.
He spoke kindly in truth and tone
Had compassion for all Jacob’s sons.

Joseph is a type,
the ruler of the land.
Christ truly in the “place of God”
Authority in his right hand.

Jesus spoke with authority
“But I say to you…”
Jesus the Son of God
His words and judgments, they are true.

Jesus became poor
that we may be made rich.
Joseph became poor,
An imprisoned slave locked in a ditch.

The brothers bow to Joseph,
before they know and when they do.
All will bow to Jesus.
“Every knee” it is true.

“Abraham, Issac, Jacob”
The first time this phrase is seen.
From here the family grows and spreads.
Joseph’s insights are very keen.

Joseph lived to age one ten.
His job, preserve life, was done.
The Lord not yet called the people out.
God will surely care for each one.

Joseph calls them his “brothers”.
Then, “sons of Israel”
God will bring them to the Land
To take up his bones he does tell.

Joseph stayed in Egypt
Where God called him to be.
He had children and grandchildren.
In this passage that’s all we see.

The people multiply in Egypt.
Pharoah and the people scared.
The babies faster than the midwives,
Joseph saw his grandchildren, as he cared.

Joseph’s first two sons
The sons of Israel.
Promised to take up his bones
to age one hundred and ten his faith was real.

The last words that Joseph spoke
in verse twenty four and twenty five.
He does not share his deads or fears,
but focuses on God who keeps alive.

The Lord will keep his promise.
Joseph knows he always does.
To Araham this was promised
God will keep his word, he must.

I’m about to die.
God will take care of you.
He will visit and come down
in judgment, and salvation true.

God will bring you up
from slavery to freedom in the Land.
You will bring up my bones
Not buried, but in an embalmed casket stand.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-01-08
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:12-19

We are passing through.
This world is not our home.
What does it mean to follow Christ?
to follow in his sufferings, with our eyes on his throne.

Believers already suffering
with more suffering to come.
Peter writes to support, encourage
This testing from God, through the devil come.

These situations are extreme
we’re not of this world, just passing through
They should be expected.
That’s what the world will do.

1. The expectation of suffering for the name of Christ
2. The temptation to be overwhelmed
3. Instruction for those who are suffering for the name of Christ

The expectation of suffering for the name of Christ.
Common around the world today.
Even here if we’re truly faithful
Like Christ we’ll be rejected in what they do and say.

Jesus, hated for his teaching.
All are evil, full of sin.
Everyone needs to repent.
This teaching caused hatred to begin.

“Jesus born of fornication, a drunk with ungodly friends”
They maligned him with accusatory words.
They refused to acknowledge their sin
and turn, repent once they had heard.

Repentance is the problem
We need to confess we’re evil, full of sin.
They slandered and tried to trap him
To test him, cause him to sin.

The world  wants us to stumble.
To show that we’re a fool.
They will try to trap us.
Trust in him to see us through.

They plotted against his life.
Then put him on a cross.
If we are faithful to the truth.
We can expect this same type of loss.

The world it hated Christ.
If they hated him, they will hate us.
Blessed are you when men hate you, in Luke 6:22.
In all this we need to trust.

All the early believers
and the life of Paul.
Demonstrate this suffering.
We will face it all.

The temptation to be overwhelmed
We need not be surprised.
Trial intense and personal
We’re in it, The trial has rised.

The trial brings true threat.
The trial it is strange.
We can tend to be angry, overwhelmed.
The trial’s ultimately by God arranged.

The seeds scattered on the path
some upon the rocks
quickly grow, follow Christ
but with persecution their faith rocks.

Even for the true believers
tempted to be overwhelmed.
We need to expect, embrace it
Know Jesus is at the helm

How does a believer deal with suffering,
for it shall surely come?
Our hope it is eternal.
Follow the example of the Son.

Perhaps a neighbor scoffing.
Perhaps prison on the way.
How do we respond to suffering?
Rejoice, Glorify God, Entrust yourself to him today.

If you don’t do these things
you’ll be bitter, angry, scared.
When we respond in faith
We will see his glory and how he cared.

!! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-01-11
TJ vanWingerden
Psalm 145 (Series: Psalms)

A Psalm of Praise from David
145 to 150 the last Hallel
David, and experienced Psalmist
The praise of God to tell.

An alphabetic Psalm
each line from A to Z.
The Psalm is clear, a Psalm of Praise
To praise the king of kings.

Repent three times a day.
Twice at morning, once at night.
The outline hard to agree.
Tonight four parts to see.

Psalmist devotes himself to praise
People likewise do.
Creation devoted to praise
The Psalmist praising what is true.

Is God the king of your life?
The ruler of all you do?
Why is the king worthy of praise?
Greatness unsearchable through and through.

His greatness we cannot comprehend.
So beyond us, a source of praise.
His mighty acts we proclaim.
From generation to generation raise.

Israel’s Shamah, know the word
pass it along, the lost be reached.
Declare it forth in the world
God’s Word and greatness preach.

Naturally pass it along
as we see God’s hand in power.
Repeated verses and themes.
He’s good and righteous at every hour.

All work together for good
work for the children’s growth.
All creation works for God
his mercies in man and creation, both.

The Lord is near to all
who call on him in truth.
When we come to prayer
do we come in power and truth.

God promises to guard
his children on the way.
The Psalmist confirms his heart to praise.
Confess  and praise the Lord today.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-01-15
Chris Pierre
Exodus Introduction

Exodus, the second book
of the Pentatuke
“Shimoth” the first word
“These are the names”, come take a look

Exodus. “Departure”
“outgoing” from here to there.
God promised this through Joseph
had his bones moved there with care.

Joseph on his death bed
said that God would take care
He’d bring them up from Egypt
Bring them from here to there.

Hebrews 11:22,
Joseph when he was dying, by faith points to this day.
He believed as already done.
He trusted what God did say.

Exodus continues Genesis
Going in and going out
Then through the five books of Torah
a faithful declaration, made sight as Joseph did shout.

The Torah written by Moses.
Evidenced in Exodus and all the Bible.
Moses told to write Exodus ____ and _____
To quote him is not liable.

“The Book of the Law of Moses”
How these books are often called.
God’s testimonies, law, and precepts.
In “The Book of Moses” was installed.

Jesus was later circumcised
according to the Word of God
as written in “the Law of Moses”
It’s not interpreting shipshod.

The Exodus took place about 1445BC.
Written in the 15th Century
After God called him
After he was called at age 80.

The themes of the book
not literary devices
Foundational, Fundamental Truth
???

“Man shall live by the Word of God”
to long for and take it in.
Seek it for my good.
Live by this faith and win.

God spoke and all things were.
Creation, Animals, and Man
God prepared a place and put Adam there
Gave them His Word, gave them freedom, not demands.

2. The people believed a lie.
They followed their eyes and flesh.
Their eyes were then opened.
They saw nakedness, sin, and death.

3. Leaving the place of blessing
into continued death.
With the hope they can return
back with him to live afresh.

Man now perpetual wanderers.
Seeking blessing, a place of rest.
Only to find it leaves them empty
Only in God is the place that’s best.

Once again have life in God
the place of blessing, Life.
This journey true today.
He’s the answer for the strife.

We now live with the promise.
If our human tent torn down.
With God, believers have another.
Clothed with a white gown.

4. God’s covenant promises
Salvation of mankind renewed.
A living hope in life
Their shame through blood endued.

The sacrificial system
How God pointed to the way back
Not because they’re worthy
But due to his grace, though they all lacked.

The glory and the power
The salvation will be revealed.
In God’s work among his people.
God’s promises seen fulfilled.

These promises were not earned.
God promised and did it all.
God worked it in the impossible.
When Abraham was old, ready to fall.

God took Abram to see the stars
when he felt old and no way to grow
God showed him the promise.
This promise his descendants did know.

When time to enter the Land of Promise
They could not go in
Those who had faith could finally enter
Moses sent to warn and deliver them from sin.

Declaration of faith, in Genesis 15:24
God will take care and bring you up
You’ll be slaves 400 years
God always keeps his promises, we can look them up.

This can be hard to believe
in the heart of the battle.
We see God work again and again.
God is driving in the saddle.

We live in a foreign land
in oppression, in a battle.
Do I rejoice in him?
or do my heart and knees both rattle?

Do I trust Jesus in faith?
Know the power of the indwelling Spirit.
Do I believe God will take care of me?
Am I able to hear it?

This faith is not in us.
It’s only in the author.
We need the teaching of his word
and fellowship with each other.

We can ask for wisdom
God promises to give.
God will take care of me,
As long as I in Him live.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-01-15
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:12-19

When we believe God’s Word
He writes it on our hearts
That it may govern all my life
That love will grow and start.

This contrary to the world
That delights itself in lies.
All playing roles in the play of life
Mocking truth, to destroy it try.

You will conflict with the world
Persecution will come
Words or attacks or even death
You’re beating a different drum.

Three main imperatives in this passage
When responding to the world
Rejoice in him, Glorify, Entrust your soul to him
???

Do not be surprised, but do keep on rejoicing.
“Beloved do not be surprised”

1. What we should not be surprised at
2. Why we might be tempted to be surprised
3. Why we should not be surprised.

Do not be surprised,
thinking this is odd.
The fiery ordeal is normal to come
When we stand for truth, for God.

We tend to be surprised
When this happens to us
The refining will come in fire
When Christ we follow and trust.

Why might we be tempted
to be surprised, when trials show.
We may mourn, but can trust in him.
He will walk us through.

When we live a godly way
with honesty and work
We expect blessing, it often comes,
then trials we think we’ll shirk.

But when we teach the truth.
Undeserved trials come.
Suddenly they may occur
From God’s hand they may come from.

It may seem unexpected
or suddenly, in our way.
God works it for our good.
If we’re his, trust and obey today.

We should not be surprised.
The world will reject Christ.
“Good teacher” is okay
but “Lord” will start the fight.

As we share in the sufferings of Christ,
we will suffer like him.
As we teach and reflect the truth
we expose the world’s sin.

The wicked always hate the righteous
His righteousness not ours.
This is not trying and doing better
but being washed and cleansed, our sin taken afar.

2. Another reason to not be surprised
we still need refining.
God uses these lessons to bring us home.
Refined, and before him shining.

How much do I know?
What is truly best?
I don’t know me, the future, his ways.
I need to in him rest.

Hebrews 12:11
all discipline brings pain
but afterward brings fruit and peace
and righteousness in his name.

When we know the truth of his word
That his ways and plans are best.
We can rest in him,
knowing we are blessed.

3. Testing demonstrates our faith
When we persevere in him
We see that he will see us through
And deepens our faith again.

Our faith demonstrated to the world
and even to ourselves.
Demonstrated to angels and demons
perseverance of our faith tells.

4. We’re tested because of his love.
He chastens those he loves.
God is so good even when
evil does what it does.

!! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-01-18
Phil Amos
Psalm 146(Series: Psalms)

Praise to the Lord, I’ll praise the Lord
No matter what may come.
Not trusting princes, mortal man
His days have a limited sum.

Our dependance cannot be on man
His power and resources end.
Trust in God who made it all
With justice and provision to send.

Two kinds of people in the Psalms
The wicked and the righteous ones.
One will stand and one will fall
When all is said and done.

! The Church in Cleveland (Chinese Church), 2023-01-22
???
Written while listening to the sermon in Chinese.

If you can’t love your neighbor
How can you love your God
When I pray for my brother
I’m led to love and with him trod.

If we do obey him
to follow in his way
He will cover us with his love
and go with us day by day.

For those who follow and obey me
The Father will also love
And dwell with us forever
with his presence from above.

How do we know he loves us?
Jesus died on the cross.
When I don’t want to follow him
Can I count this world a loss?

Following him is not hard labor
He is with us on the way.
If we know his love
we delight in him and his way.

NEW SPEAKER – The first speaker sat down and a new speaker started (a different talk)

The wife goes to the brother
she passed on seven times
The Pharisees did test him
Point to God and love, not to their tries.

No matter what may come
I’m to love the Lord our God
the most important relationship
All for him heart, soul, and bod.

Say it, Sing it, Write it
to express our love
We want to know another’s
to give and receive love.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2023-01-25
Nathaniel Lauer
Psalm 147 (Series: Psalms)

Praise to the Lord and say why
The things the Lord has done.
No author given so people guess
Ezra, Nehemiah or David from?

Praise the Lord for it is good
to sing praises to our God.
It is pleasant, a delight
For us to praise each day ???

The Lord restores and the Lord builds
The people scattered, God brings them back.
The Lord bruises and binds up
With him we have no lack

The Lord knows all the stars.
He calls them all by name.
We from dust to dust.
Count on the Lord, not horse and or frame.

Praise the Lord “Hesed”.
He strengthens the doors and gates.
He makes peace on the Land.
Satisfies with bread and dates.

The Lord sends out his Word
Pure, Proven to the earth
Scatters snow like wool.
And frost like ashes. ???

He is God in cold or warm
No matter the situation.
He sends commands, decrees to Jacob
To his people gives Revelation.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2023-01-29
Chris Pierre
Exodus 1:8-10

(These rhymes don’t have the best rhythm.)

“God’s covenant people a concern to Egypt”
But the focus always on the Lord.
Joseph summarized the promise, God will care for and bring you up.
Follow him and his name adore.

When the people came, the Egyptians welcomed in.
Now the people afraid and opposed.
The covenant son forgotten, Joseph’s name is gone
The new kings unnamed, but some suppose.

Possibly from the Hyksos dynasty, foreign invaders in the Land.
or the new Pharaohs after the Hyksos, Ramses and his son.
The government kept changing, instability was the norm.
The kingdom up and down and battles lost and won.

The new king is not the focus, but that Joseph he did not know.
No knowledge of his person, who he was.
The Israelites knew of Joseph, they had bones all set to go
So the new king did what a tyrant does.

The new king had no knowledge of his practice, what Joseph said and did.
How he reigned and ruled, saved life, and provided for all.
He had no knowledge of the people, the family of “the man”
That God was with them, delivering them from the fall.

This new king had no knowledge of the promises that were made
That God would provide, protect and lead them out.
As a spiritual son of Abraham, we are in the promise of the Son
From this world to his kingdom he will call with a shout.

We are living as aliens and strangers from a heavenly home.
The world and rules don’t know  who Christ is or what he did.
They don’t know that he is righteous, and the judgment and lifie revealed
That he’s the prince that will rule over all, when they place their bid.

B. The new kings observation of the blessings of the covenant people
They saw the Israelites more and mightier than they.
He observed that they were more, a “great nation” they had become
But the king saw they were more than the Egyptians, they may not obey.

More numbers means more power, they were mighty in the Land.
The king led the Egyptians to hate and be afraid.
Instead of embracing as friends, they set themselves in opposition.
While the Israelites weren’t enemies, their plans to leave were laid.

When you oppose God’s chosen people, you oppose their God.
God will protect them with his right hand.
The new king changed the view of the Israelites from blessing to a threat.
And against this mighty people they would stand.

The new king observed that they are leaving, not that they would destroy.
The sons of Israel were content just as they were.
It is Israel that brought Egypt power, so they wanted them to stay.
Joseph’s promises that God would bring them out were set and sure.

The departure of the sons of Israel come with judgement it was said.
God promised to Abraham to judge the nation that kept them there.
God would judge the people and give their wealth and power.
When the people left this promise they would share.

The world doesn’t follow, but they see you living holy in the world.
They see the blessing that God brings when you are there.
They see the Psalm One life, the delight is in the Lord’s law.
That we are living by God’s protection, provision and his care.

The wicked are not so, in judgment they will not stand.
The plagues of Egypt will seem as nothing on that day.
The world sees you don’t live like them, and your name they will malign
But God will judge them on that day for sin they’ll pay.

C. Shrewd dealing with the covenant people, A plan for what do to
Part one: confront, deal shrewdly with them in the land
Two kinds of wisdom, ineffectual, but wise men in the world.
and effectual, God’s wisdom by which we stand.

Fleshly wisdom, pushes hard against the Lord, his people and his truth.
Christ the power and wisdom come from God.
Instead of following true wisdom, he attacks God’s wisdom and plan.
they are on the path to destruction, he’ll on them trod.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2023-01-29
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:14-16

Nobody likes to be reviled, Lincoln and James Shield. Attacks and accusations, these will surely come.
Fiery trials will come upon us, Follow, Glorify God, and Trust. Do not be ashamed, but glorify God through the son.

When, Why, and How we are to glorify God? If you are reviled, glory unto him.
Their trial probably not facing death, but their hope it could still dim.

Not just being slandered, but slandered for following Christ. When we preach the gospel, a reaction will come from them.
Anger, attacks frustration, when their error is exposed. The truth brings a response again and again.

I don’t watch that. Do that. Go there. We need to follow Christ.
When reviling comes from the world, We have joy and we rejoice.

Jesus on the cross, hanging on a tree.
The mocking, accusations came, he trusted God and set us free.

When you are reviled for the name of Christ don’t defend, fight, and revile.
Have joy in the trial, live only for God’s smile

Don’t live as a law breaker, taking a dog by the ears.
Don’t be a meddler, guard your mouth and ears.

When standing for the truth, our responsibility we may not known.
Pray and ask the Lord, not as a meddler or just for show.

We explain and walk in truth, but we can’t change every life.
God will change people’s hearts, though they give us strife.

Don’t be a troublesome meddler, this does not with glory come.
Do what is right, the race by his strength run.

If you suffer as a Christian, you need not be ashamed.
Antiach, their base, first called “Christian” as they were blamed.

Why to glorify God? Clear evidence we are blessed.
Not so much to be “happy”, in our Savior rest.

Though in hard situations, we give glory to our Lord
“The spirit of God rests on you”, but his power He’s adored.

The “Spirit of Glory” does rest on you.
Like the glory cloud with Moses, he will see you through.

The world’s rejection of you is evidence of God’s work in you.
If you love the world, it will love you too.

How to glorify God? Do not be ashamed.
Do not be discouraged, depressed, and complain.

If the world’s against you, don’t complain, a martyr become.
But glorify God, knowing this is from him, to contentment run.

The truth will always come out, now or in the end.
Be content in the blessing, or the trials he may send.

Rhyming Sermon Notes: 2022 December

While I may be the only one reading these (that’s fine, and a good review for me), my prayer is that for anyone reading it could point to Christ, and perhaps be a good sermon review if you were there.

Color Code:

  • Sunday School
  • Church Service
  • Wednesday Church
  • Visited a Friend’s Church

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Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-12-04
Pastor Dean Good
??? Passage

People are in darkness, Who God is, what He is like.
They may not pick up a Bible, but interact with his people, a light

We are a light in the world, pointing people to God in Christ.
Our purpose is intentional, With the light of Christ we fight.

Daniel with the Lions, Darius the Mede.
“Your God who you constantly serve”, Your time with him you need.

Early the next morning, the king arose to check.
“Has the God you constantly serve, saved your life, spared your neck?”

Darius proclaimed, all over the land
That everyone should worship God. This was his demand.

This doesn’t mean that all worshiped, But because of Daniel’s light
the name of God was proclaimed, To all the world made bright.

We are called to serve, even as Christ served.
For the Glory of God in all things, from this to not swerve.

the Purpose, Nature, Acceptance, and Significance of our service.
the purpose is to serve God, for ???

Other reasons people serve, they are many though not true.
Think if they’re good, they earn their way, their works will see them through.

To ease a guilty conscience, something from their past.
To cover sin, and look good, not be held accountable at last.

To make a name for themselves, held up as an example
To gain a following, have influence over the people.

Some are to overthrow Christ, to replace him as the focus.
The true Christian is for God’s glory, in all things he is the focus.

Darius’ decree exalted God, not pointing to Daniel’s power
Daniel’s God lifted high, in this unlikely hour.

The attributes of God, the almighty, patient, loving One
His people proclaim his excellencies, this service never done.

In the common things of life, the little things we do.
When done for God’s glory, turn them to gold that’s true.

The nature of our service, What kind of service is it?
It’s not just being sincere, but doing what he demands ???

Using the gift he’s given, serving one another.
Focused on God’s word, by the strength of God, in fear of him, for and from no other.

This service is from him, the power from him comes.
Otherwise for our own purpose, ???

The acceptance of our service, done through Jesus Christ.
All acceptable service to God, is through Christ in life.

Only through Christ, are we even able to serve.
He gives life and empowers to serve, from this he doesn’t swerve.

The reason you have life, hope, forgiveness everything
is through Christ in the faith he’s given, the joy can make us sing.

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit, when he has gone away.
He intercedes before the Father, day after day after day.

1 Peter 2:5, we are being built up to serve through Jesus Christ alone
We come to God, only through Christ, our service and works do not atone

To come to the temple, they brought a sacrifice.
The priest offered it to God, to cover sin’s great price.

Our service doesn’t make us acceptable to God
It’s only accepted by God’s mercy ???

The significance of our service, to God’s glory alone.
No glory or credit put on us, all glory to the One who did atone.

Satan wanted the glory, the power was all for God.
When our heart is changed, we long for him, his glory ???

When you serve for God, everything you do
has great significance, and meaning that is true.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-12-07
Kevin Williamson
Psalm 142 (Series: Psalms)

David, a warrior, respected by men
Crying out to the Lord
Pours out his complaint, full of sorrow and fear
declaring his trouble to the Lord

Overwhelmed with anger, depression, despair
Easy to lash out or hide
You knew my path, tested by the Lord
With the Lord to always abide.

A trap has been spread, on the path that I walk
May they be caught in their own snares.
Look at my right hand, the place of my strength.
It is empty, no one with me shares.

I cry out to the Lord, my refuge and portion
on this earth as long as I live.
Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low
in the peace of depending on God to give.

Deliver me from my persecutors
for they are too strong for me.
Bring me out of prison
that I may give thanks to your name.

The righteous will surround me
Together rejoice
for with me you will deal bountifully.

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-12-11
Dean Good
Membership Class: Salvation Part 2

The plan of salvation, we need saved from our sin
death and condemnation, bring new life again

We need God’s full atonement, through the Lord Jesus Christ.
On the cross he accomplished, without it we’d be lost

How then are we saved? It is not everyone.
Bring saved, past, present, future. Some still happening, some is done.

Elected by God, in eternity past
Still working my salvation while in this world I last.

Will be saved in the future, when I die or when he comes.
Chosen, sanctified, saved from him it is all done.

Regeneration done by God, Given a new heart.
The life of pleasing, seeking God is given a new start.

Justification is legal, not inside of you.
Being declared righteous, based on the work that Christ did do.

What does it look like when you are justified?
Faith and repentance as God your heart does guide.

Faith and repentance, different but together.
The aspects of true life, God did forever tether.

John 1:12 born of God = believe
Acts 13:48 believe the Word in Christ, receive.

Romans 3:28 by faith, not works of the law.
Hebrews 11:1 and 6 without faith can’t please God at all.

“Faith” is not an empty wish, not its own positive force.
“Faith” is believing God through all, better, and worse.

Abraham the common example, believed and went away
He believed and heeded. Abraham by faith obeyed.

Faith has at least three things: knowledge, belief and trust from you.
It’s not just knowing the Word. It’s knowing that it’s true, and trusting him to do.

Get in the wheelbarrow, do I really trust?
Faith will be tested, live for him I must.

True faith casts itself upon the Lord, so they will not turn back.
Whether with others or alone, faith lives for God and will not slack.

Our faith it is not perfect, but truly does believe.
Through the word of God, we trust in Christ, receive.

Eve believed the lie, instead of trusting in the Lord.
We are now told to believe in him, as we know his Word.

Ephesians 2:8 and 9, but Grace, through faith, a gift
We are his workmanship, he will our lives lift.

“All who come to me, I’ll raise up on the last day.”
Declare what God has said, those who believe will stay.

We can’t produce the love of God, we can only preach the word.
We are tempted by the world, God Spirit strengthens what we’ve heard.

Faith and repentance, always go together
Humble before the Word of God, where there is faith there is repentance, that is better.

Proverbs 9:6, forsake fully, turn around
Lord teach me to forsake my sin and walk on solid ground.

How do I live a life, pleasing to the Lord?

Live in the Word, Confess. He will be adored.

Christ can forgive us, because he died for me.
We’ll fail if we hide our sin, If we confess we’ll be set free.

Forsaking our sin, incredibly hard
Our sins and lust control us, we need Christ to be our guard.

Do you believe victory over sin is real?
Faith forsakes sin, does not let it our life steal.

Isaiah 55:6 and 7, forsake sin and turn away.
God will have compassion and forgive your sins today.

People hear the message, “You are damned to death and hell.”
And keep walking in their way, say they believe, and all is well.

True faith will run from sin, by repentance run to Christ
This will bring change, live for him with all their life.

We’re to mourn over sin, not just to rejoice.
It’s not an emotional decision, saved by God’s first choice.

! Grace Church, Medina East Campus – Sunday, 2022-12-18
Kevin Poest
Matthew 2

King of the mountain, rise up and push down.
Play the game as adults, after we are grown.

More than a fairy tale. Facts and prophecy.
He came unexpected, unexpected humility.

King of the mountain, the baby and the king.
This battle goes on, in our lives it does ring.

Herod was appointed, as a king sent from Rome.
He obsessed, killed his family. All to keep his throne.

Next we meet the Maji, educated and wise.
To help the king was their role, Daniel was a Magi.

You are king Herod, killed your sons and wife.
Magii looking for the king, born to this life.

Asked where he was born, when the star appeared.
God warns the Magi. They then disappeared.

Herod killed the boys, to protect his throne.
Caused those in Bethlehem to have a great moan.

Why did he do it? Was Jesus really a threat?
Jesus declared a king, by the magi and prophets.

How will you choose to respond, to the arrival of the king?
Is he a threat to your kingdom, or one of whom to sing?

We can choose to resist him, push him out of our lives.
We can try to soften him, “a good person who tried.”

We can submit to him, have him as our king.
At least in part, but we want to hold on to that one little thing.

Jesus at the top of the mountain, but service is why he came.
Now he’s exalted, he calls us to the same.

What version of Jesus, do you celebrate at Christmas?
The baby, the grownup, or the king that he is?

! Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-12-25
Pastor Dean Good
Christmas Service

Jesus come, he’s born the king
But reigning not yet on earth.
He’s never reigned from birth till now
So why was he king from birth?

Six reasons we call Jesus king
First, prophesied to be
One would come, reverse the curse
a deliverer we’d see.

First prophecy in Genesis.
One would the snake’s head crush.
The following prophecies unfold
from an acorn to a tree that’s lush.

Looking at the prophecy of Balaam
he was called to curse.
God took his mouth to point to Christ
A star from Jacob , a scepter from Israel by verse.

This ruler would crush the enemies of Israel
perform valiantly with this king
Genesis 49, Judah would rule
till from Shiloh this king would ring

David points to this king
Victory over Moab had
Points to the king, who would reign
Over all the earth, over every land.

Second reason called a king,
declared to be one at his birth.
The angel to Mary proclaimed
Her son would be the king of endless worth.

Reign over Jacob forever
his kingdom have no end.
This still not seen, this reigning king
Again this king will send.

Third reason that he’s called a king
Identified himself at his trial
“My kingdom is not of this world”
For this was born and walked this mile.

Forth reason that we call him king
demonstrated at resurrection and ascension
Peter’s sermon in Acts 2
asked the people to pay attention.

Him whom you have killed, God raised to life
David pointed to this truth
Now exalted to the right hand of God
Ascended to God, this gives the proof.

Now waiting in heaven for that day
He’ll reign upon the earth.
The Lord will stretch his scepter first,
Jesus king from birth.

The disciples ask, “Is now the time
the kingdom to restore?”
Now’s not the time, but power will come
when after my resurrection you adore.

The nations still in an uproar.
Raging against the Lord
While Christ does reign in believer’s hearts
His reign still has something more.

The fifth reason we call him king
In the book of Revelation
The kingdom of this world will be
The kingdom of Christ, with grace, peace and restoration.

Peace between nations, no more war
He will be king alone.
Revelation 19, the kingdoms fall
before King of kings and Lord of Lords.

The sixth reason we call him king
He will be king eternal
The curse is gone, the kingdom come
He is king eternal

He is a gracious king
He laid his own life down
Not only for his people
but for those who are against his crown.

While many kings use a lion
our king chose a lamb.
He gives all life and blessing.
All this in our king’s hand.

He calls us to repent.
This a command, not a suggestion.
His grace goes out into the world.
Fear God and give him glory and devotion.

I am behind on typing my notes. These are being posted (backdated) on 2023-03-01).

Rhyming Sermon Notes: 2022 November (GCNO & BSF)

The following are my rhyming notes from November 2022.

It would be great to hear your ideas. When taking notes, there are times that I can’t think quickly enough for how to rhyme it. These are marked by “???”. If you have an idea for how to work that section to make it rhyme, you can put it in the comments. It would be great to hear your ideas. (Put the date of the notes, and enough context so that we will know where you made the change.)

While I may be the only one reading these (that’s fine, and a good review for me), my prayer is that for anyone reading it could point to Christ, and perhaps be a good sermon review if you were there.

Color Code:

  • Sunday School
  • Church Service
  • Wednesday Church
  • BSF
  • Special Event

If these rhyming notes are a helpful review (or just a fun read), feel free to Subscribe to receive them each time I post.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-11-02
??
Psalm 139 (Series: Psalms)

Theme at the beginning, middle, end of the Psalm.
You search me and you know me in every way, all along.

You search at the start. You search at the end.
You search every heart, ????????

We don’t like anyone to know all about our heart,
The Lord knows every heart, before our life’s start.

The believer delights in God’s knowledge, presence, sovereignty and thoughts
and His righteousness, it is him we have sought.

Come to God not saying what I want to learn
but seeking him, for him, my heart to burn

He knows everything, this a delight, not a threat.
He knows our all, better than our own knowledge met

In verses 7 through 12, delight in his presence no matter where I dwell
High or low, near or far God is there, his word does tell.

God holds our hand wherever we go
He guides and protects, his way he does show

Delight in his presence, he’s light in the dark
He leads and protects us, his love it is stark

Our breath is in him, he created, sustains
Our owner, our God, our Spirit he trains

We delight in his thoughts, the truth in his word
In his righteousness, against all the evil whose hearts are not stirred

He judges the wicked, so that peace may come
Without his judgment, evil would grow in its sum

If  you’re born again, you want to be holy
In heaven sin is dead, we will be holy only

Our true prayer will be, “make me like you”
Search me, and try me, lead me to what is true.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-11-06
Dave Howard
Genesis 50:4-14

Jacob knows he’s going to with his fathers be.
Again tells all the brothers to bury him in Canaan, in the future his descendants will be.

He is ready to go, pulls his legs in and let’s go.
Then the mourning starts, Joseph’s and the nation’s, tears will sow.

Grief over death is natural, bring loss and emptiness
Don’t let the mourning overcome, in God have joy and completeness.

When we mourn death, the mourning is over sin
When Adam turned from God, sin and death both entered in.

The righteous and unrighteous, both face the truth of death.
For those who are in Christ, Life doesn’t end at our last breath.

Joseph talked to Pharaoh, to give his father’s request
Then they head to Canaan, to lay his body at rest.

Burials are simple, the body ends in the ground.
The procession and mourning elaborate, full of mourning, and of wailing sound.

Jacob’s request, with my fathers let me lie
In the plot that Abraham bought, that Jacob himself dug for when he die.

Jacob knew this life was not eternal, that he would go away.
He knew he was in the covenant, so he had hope at the end of the day.

In Joseph’s request assures Pharoah he’d be back.
This was not the final move to Canaan, this was not on God’s time track.

God had told Abram for 400 years in Egypt his people would be.
Joseph knew that time not yet fulfilled that land not yet theirs to see.

This death a grief to Joseph, his father passed away.
The covenant line was passing on as they followed in God’s way

They crossed the Jordan River, and took a week to mourn.
This at least 100 days of mourning, a long mourning not to scorn

It ends with a simple burial, his son’s buried him in a cave.
Then return to Egypt, follow where God had them, not for Canaan crave.

Noah in the ark, stayed in till God said “Get out.”
They would have wanted out, but stayed in without a pout.

God made the covenant, Abraham’s sleeping was his part.
But Abraham and his descendants followed God, and played their own small part.

God is faithful to his promise, even when we are not.
We need to wait on his time and ways,  not go against his plot.

Joseph obeys in the short term, taking Jacob back to the land.
Also in the long term trusting God to bring his descendants to the Land.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-11-06
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:10-11

We are all called to serve, God is the judge, not us.
Of our lives we’ll give account, God is holy, he is just.

God gifts each one to serve, speaking, serving by his might
Serving in our giftedness, in the fear and strength to the glory of God. ???????

“Each one is to serve, in his special gift”
God gives variety, for great blessing, not to make a rift.

Gifts of speaking and serving, none of us called to do everything.
All of us are called to do something, do what God has called you to do.????

Do it with joy and energy, unto the Lord
for his glory, and not yours

Let us serve where God has placed us in the body
Varieties of gifts, ministries and effects for his glory.

All part of the body, though not a nose, mouth, ear.
God has made the body to mutually care, suffer, cheer.

We serve within the limits that God has on our lives
Paul served from prison, for God’s purpose strive

We don’t know what Paul did in prison, during the time in Cesarea
We serve within our limits, financial, physical, slave or free.

Let us serve within the doctrinal limitations God has set.
No women elders (no authority or teaching men), do only what God has let.

So what should I do? Look at Romans Chapter 12
Present your body as a living sacrifice to God, to with him dwell.

Everything you do, think, and all you say
Dead to self, live all for him each and every day.

Seek the Lord’s will, day by day, right now, forever
Commit yourself to the local church, all serving one another.

Going on our own, not joining with the church
is going against God, we meet to with others search.

Commit to service in the church, convenient or not.
Service costs something. ???????

Parents, a gift to your children, an example of how to serve.
The children are learning ?????

Serve in holiness and love, not to your own advantage.
Swerve with diligence and perseverance, not only when on the stage.

Serve financially, giving to the needs of the saints
Serve with what God has given, not with selfish motives taints.

Bible Study Fellowship – Monday, 2022-11-07
I didn’t have my notebook.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-11-09
Ken Ellis
Psalm 140 (Series: Psalms)

A Psalm of David, a Prayer against Persecutors
Plea, Praise, Judgement are Yours

David pursued by wicked, violent men
He goes to the Lord in prayer
It’s not just make a list, and work for our end
It’s trust him with every care.

When trouble comes believe in the Lord,
Don’t let your hearts be troubled.
The evil are evil and do evil things.
May their loss and destruction be doubled.

The Lord laughs in heaven at the plans that they make
Men, we are all full of sin.
The wicked they are cunning, and full of deceit
God’s judgment will surely begin.

David prays with a confident heart
You are my God and you hear.
You cover my head in the day of the battle
You to your people are near.

The proud will grow prouder, the evil will grow
Let them be caught in their plans.
The wicket in pride, renounces the Lord
God, all their plans he condemns

For the Leader in evil and all who with him go
Fall into pits full of fire.
David calls for judgment and death for them all
Their judgment will never retire.

Those who are evil, who “cancel” another
Set an ambush for their own lives.
Our confidence is in our God alone
No other no matter how hard one tries.

The upright will dwell in your presence
The Lord will sit on his throne
His people, his children, with with him reign
Our God, he is God alone.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-11-13
Dave Howard
Genesis 50:15-21

Jacob’s final words were a charge to his sons.
He gave the blessings to his son’s, in the covenant each one.

Jacob said a last farewell
to his sons, and then he died.
The great procession went up to Canaan
with a great mourning, the people cried.

A story of death and hope,
Though dying, look to the land.
Be sure to take my bones
When in the land you stand.

The sons now afraid of Joseph
What will Joseph do now that Jacob is gone?
They should have relied on the  covenant
Joseph had blessed them all along.

They now made up a story
of what they feared Joseph may do.
They had a low view of Joseph and God
And their story it was not true.

Who was Joseph seeking to please?
Not his dad, but his God above.
He was seeking to bless, not destroy them
His grace reflected God’s great love.

All the brothers were part of the promise
It was not for Joseph alone.
This fear was not very rational
Joseph’s love and forgiveness had already been shown.

Joseph points to the sovereignty of God
Not to any of his desires and plans.
Joseph was prepared to provide
This was a work of God’s hands.

Christ likewise speaks words of forgiveness
When we come to him broken in heart.
A low view of God and his plans
Gives room for our worry to start.

The thought that Joseph was like them,
Living by passion and lust.
This blinded them to the truth of God’s work
And made it hard for them to trust.

Should we love the things the Lord loves?
Should we hate the things the Lord hates?
Joseph reflecting God’s own heart.
His continued provision and protection he states.

When we avoid the truth God has given
rationality and reason break down.
We see this in the fear of the brothers
We see this in our own world, and country, and town.

When you leave the truth
Deception and fear will creep in.
God can deal with our guilt
as we repent of our sin.

The blessing comes when we trust.
The blessing comes when we obey.
The Lord came to seek and save sinners.
We need not to hide, but trust him to take our sin away.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-11-13!
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:10-11 (11)

Through Malichi God condemned
the people and their sacrifice
We today are called to serve
With our best, our all that’s nice.

We serve not by our own means
but by the means God gives.
1 Peter 4:10-11
tell how to serve and live.

Within our giftedness, in the fear of God.
By the strength he gives, for his glory live. ???

Serve in the fear of the Lord
Looking at the speaking gifts.
Teaching, Preaching the Word of God
with Purpose, that God uplifts.

As speaking the utterances of God
Not meaning the infallibility of the teacher.
Taking the task with sobriety.
Knowing that he has given this responsibility to us his creature.

Teaching the living Word of God
To explain, expand, proclaim
To all the church, adult and child
Teach the Word of God, to everyone the same.

Accurately handle the Word of God
Diligently study, think, and prepare.
Not sharing our own ideas.
Keep our eyes on him alone as we share.

What did God think of the message?
Was his truth clearly proclaimed?
It’s not our interpretation.
We need to “rightly divide” his Word to be trained.

Not simply sharing opinions,
but diligently studying the Word.
What is God saying?
We as his messengers proclaim what we have heard.

Rules for how to speak
according to John Gill
From the text, not into it.
All, not just what we like to feel.

All and only what God  has given.
As God’s Word, not thoughts of men.
With surety and authority
To the Word, we clearly say, Amen!

Clearly, Freely, Laid before men
Not muddled and obtuse
With Godly fear and reverence
Not without plans to abuse

Everything built on the Word of God
Not psychological thoughts and themes
Centered firmly on the Word
Without which the teaching is just empty dreams.

Not centered on music or prayer
as important as they may be.
Centered on the word of God
His powerful truth will set us free.

Ezra read the word of God
From morning until night.
The focus is a pulpit,
not drums or other focal sight.

Reading from the book
translating to understand.
Obey the commandments in the law
On this our faith will stand.

Preach, Proclaim the Word
On this all else depends
“Faith comes by hearing” the Word of God
The truth of the Word of God the Spirit sends.

By the power of the Word
We come to faith and are sanctified.
This is how we grow in Christ
When his word in our heart we hide.

The means by which we’re changed
to the image of Christ
Luther said no Christian gathering should lack
the word of God in Christ.

Dangers of the teaching gifts
Laziness, quickly put it all together.
The fear of man instead of God
Thinking we as the teacher are better.

False teaching can come
they always use the Bible
People are easily led astray
of this we are very liable.

Be on guard over the flock
shepherding the people
False teachers from among yourselves
will rise and profane the steeple.

Pray for your pastor
there is no greater danger.
Before you teach, fall on your knees.
Of humble need the teacher should be no stranger.

Teach with sobriety.
Not starting with jokes or a story.
Focus on the central Word of God
Revealing Christ in his Word for His glory.

Bible Study Fellowship – Monday, 2022-11-14
??
??

Elisha with the prophets
The wife of one who’s died.
Her sons may soon be taken
Elijah told her what was to be tried.

She borrowed jars for oil
She was active and obeyed.
God provided all she needed.
then all her debts were paid.

When our prayers are answered
do we take time to thank?
and then in turn serve others
???

Elisha stays with a couple
They make him a little room
How do I do at serving others?
Welcoming them to with us room.

Elisha says she’ll have a child.
She does, but then he dies.
She’ll only tell Elisha
even though his servant tries.

Elisha lays out on the boy
Seven sneezes come
He wakes up, comes back to life.
She takes her beloved son.

Her worship and faith are evident
her house would joyful be.
Do I praise in prayer?
And his face delight to see?

The’re making food for the prophets
Grabbing wild plants
There’s poison in the pot
With some flower Elisha????

????

God’s extraordinary and miraculous care meets and exceeds our needs. (P1)
God’s extraordinary and miraculous care is a gracious gift. (P2)

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-11-16!
Jonathan Moorehead (visiting speaker)
How to Handle Criticism

How to handle criticism
and the effects it has in life
It can make some people quit, give up
and fill our life with strife.

Godly or ungodly, criticism can be both

Criticism is for your good.
It helps you to see how you are
Other people can see you clearly
even your own heart can from truth be far.

A clear conscience can be deceptive
our heart can lead us astray
God is working all things for good.
To make us more like him day by day.

Criticism will certainly change you.
Make you hard or help you grow.
We need to listen and consider
not blame shift or ignore, but be glad that now we know.

A humble person is thankful,
when others speak, reprove
If we ignore, deny we’re stupid
Our attitude this face can prove.

If we reject criticism,
we are foolish and don’t change.
This will lead to sudden destruction,
and our thoughts can be deranged.

The default should be to listen,
Assume what they say is true.
Be slow to speak, quick to listen,
ask questions and to grow.

Express appreciation
for their willingness to share
Faithful are wounds of a friend
Their bold love shows they care.

Ask other godly people,
Your wife or friend whose close
How have I been proud in life,
give me a healthy dose.

Accept unjust criticism,
for unity with grace.
Entrust yourself to the God whose just,
for we will see his face.

Anticipate your sarcasm.
Make a plan for how to change.
Thank those who have approached you.
In the world, this may seem strange.

Can you call others to imitate
the way your life is lived?
Pray for humility,
and know that God will give.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-11-20
Jonathan Moorehead (visiting speaker)
Romans ???

We were late today so didn’t get notes.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-11-20!
Jonathan Moorehead (visiting speaker)
James 2 – Gospel and Apologetics

The gospel and apologetics,starts with our sin and need.
We are sinful never seeking God, as we have pride and greed.

Jesus takes the wrath of man, God’s full wrath poured out on him.
We are now called to repent, only in him the forgiveness of sin.

We’re pronounced righteous by faith alone, fully for the glory of Christ.
It is a gift, freely given, not by works or efforts or the likes.

So how in James are our works so important?
Context, context important to know.
James about responding to trials,
leading to giving the cost to show.

Dead faith says, but doesn’t do.
Words are cheap, easy to say.
How do we know saving faith, is really, truly, true?

Is there such a thing as non-saving faith?
A faith that knows, but doesn’t save.
The demons know, and they shudder
Non-saving faith knows but doesn’t save.

There are signs of true saving faith
Justification: pronounced righteousness by God in law
Vindication: proving a claim by evidence
Faith is proven by what it does, and how it acts, and what men saw.

If someone says, “I’m a Christian, with faith”
but lives like the devil, it’s not true.
If a brother is poor and living in need,
We’ll see our faith by what we do.

Faith and works are inseparable.
Like a coin needs both sides to be real.
Faith and works must come together.
If faith brings no works, what you say is not the real deal.

Demons have a kind of faith.
They know the gospel and the doctrine of God.
Many “believers” know the Bible
But is God the Lord, the one we follow with love and rod?

Living faith, he uses Abraham to prove
Abraham believed and actions followed.
He then goes further to point to Rahab,
She took great risk and the spies allowed.

Abraham, Rahab, two very different people
God saves his people always the same way.
Faith is how God works in his people.
They both then have generous hospitality.

James and Paul not standing as enemies.
They are standing back to back.
Paul addresses legalistic salvation.
James the libertine idea that we just need faith if our works still lack.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-11-20
Thanksgiving Fellowship Testimonies, etc.

God’s longsuffering at the sin of this world.
Fellowship of believers when our lives are unfurled

God’s provision in trama, all the help he provides
Rest and Growth when with him we abide.

Thankful for Grace Church, a family at rest
The care of the saints, God’s provision is best.

Fixing a house after a parent’s death
Gave opportunity to appreciate that God gave every breath

Sharing the gospel, a chance to connect.
Of God’s story through life a chance to recollect.

Came to the church after got married
blessed by so many and by their care carried.

Expecting a child, the first one to come
God knows us and cares as shown by his son.

This world can be scary, glad God’s in control
With him and through him, we continue to roll.

God in his wisdom leads where we’re to be.
He is with us in struggle, though our eyes may not see.

That God would save a wretch like me, when hell is what we’re owed.
Being the wife of a wonderful husband, and our children all in tow.

Grateful to see my parents, unbelievers though they are.
For everyone in the church, forever we’ll worship from near or far.

Why did God save me, though living deep in sin?
Because he did for his own glory, my new life then to begin.

He provides as he leads us, when the path it may seem long.
He saves us and molds us, and leads us in worship song.

God is joy, his word sufficient. His ways higher than our ways.
God will always be with us. For all of our days.

God saved me this year. Count it all joy in trials.
God calls his children, and gives peace through the miles.

A season of suffering. A season of hope.
He protects us with peace ?????

God led to the church, used you to encourage and guide
Thankful to you to help us in Christ abide.

“Thankful for you, held up in our prayers”
in a season of trials, grateful for your cares.

The next generation growing up in the Lord
trials reveal sin, help us to repent and adore.

Thank God for you, as we start life together.
The ladies of the church, come along to us teather.

God teaching us to number our days
He works all for good, in all of his ways.

The Lord’s given peace, through the truths of the Bible
and through faith shown through works, you have brought us a smile.

The things of this world, though seen passing away
He is our God each and every day.

Where would we be, without the Lord?
His plans they will be, by the strength of his Word.

He saves us provides, when we do not deserve.
I’m thankful for all, who came here to serve.

Children to the faith, it brings a great joy.
Trials point us to true hope, all for his glory.

Look back at my life, away from the Lord
The Lord sent a friend through the Gospel, adored.

Beautiful life, God walks hand in hand.
This family a blessing, it helps me to stand.

Psalm 100 come with worship and praise
He is the one who made us let our voices raise.

God is always faithful, no matter how I feel.
He holds us and strengthens, lets us know he is real.

Deacon, a servant, all the work volunteer.
Grateful for all you do, to serve and to cheer.

Encourage, rebuke, study the Word
The body of Christ, the Word seen and heard.

Thank the Lord for his goodness, all the time, day by day.
He keeps us in the battle, joy in trials today.

Developing perseverance, giving wisdom for all
Every good and perfect gift from our Father does fall.

Bible Study Fellowship 10 – Monday, 2022-11-21
Cary Michalak
2 Kings 6:8-14:29

God protects from every fear, government, and disease
If we let our hope in government rest, it will break and ??????

God sent the message to turn to him.
The nation, Him rejected.
God preserved a remnant
And this remnant he accepted.

God promises to preserve us through the world’s difficulties (AIM)
God Delivers, Steadies and Secures and makes his people ready.

The army surrounds Elijah, his servant cannot see.
God opens his eyes and now he sees the army around in the trees.

As we look at the world we may be amazed
our friends and family do not see.
If they don’t know Christ and follow him
they’re as blind and blind can be.

The enemy blind, surrounded, in the hands of the king.
Kill them? No, but feast them. Let years of peace to bring.

Troubles bring belief in God, to call to or to blame.
God gives warning in danger, to reject or to claim.

Starving in the city, bird dung brings a price.
Elijah says by tomorrow, the situation will be nice.

The servant scoffs at God, Elijah says he won’t eat.
When the food is there, the people rush and trample him under their feet.

God delivers his children through the world’s troubles. (P1)

Elisha says the king will recover, but in fact will die.
He stares and says what Hazel (??) will do as king ???????

Jezebel thrown from a window
Eaten by the dogs, God used Jehu to judge. ????????

Jehu then falls away
Like so many in this life??????????

God steadies his children through the world’s turmoil. (P2)
Kings and prophet pass.
God secures his children through the enemy’s opposition (P3)
God’s plans will always last.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-11-23

We were not there this week.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-11-27
Dean Good
Membership Class: Atonement???

Watched online, not able to take notes.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-11-27
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:10-11

We are born in the world, we are born to serve.
We serve ourselves, our lusts, our ways, get what I want, what I “deserve”.

Actually slaves of Satan, not ourselves when we are slaves to lusts
When Christ comes in and sets us free, we become his slave as in him we trust.

From when we wake until we sleep, and even sleeping itself.
Is all to be for God’s glory, fully, not half for him and half for self.

As we’ve received a special gift, use it for God’s glory and others to bless.
Serve not our way, or the ways of men, but in his ways to serve and rest.

Some calls the same: holy and pure; some calls given to each one.
Our service is measured by how we use what he’s given, what we’ve done.

Bible teachers to teach the world, not our own ideas and thoughts
Teach the Word with power and truth, teach it with fear as we ought.

Teach always in the fear of the Lord, not church, others, family.
Teach by the strength that God provides, as he provides abundantly.

Necessity, source, magnitude, purpose, result, acquisition.
Serving God by God’s strength having no other position.

Our culture always wants to affirm, no matter what we do.
God says how, when, where to serve, and judges what is not true.

Men can do many things, living by their own strength.
It can look good to other men, as we go to great length.

God accepts the one who does God’s will, in God’s way, by God’s strength, for God’s glory.
All can do it by the power of God, for his glory live his story.

We only can live in God’s strength, when we see our own weakness and sin.
Some marks of one serving in their own strength, Let the list begin:

Prayerlessness and Pride, seeking recognition
If no one knew, would you still serve? Living for God on mission.

Complain a lot, even when they serve, this is in their own strength
The source of the strength, what God supplies, a gift from God by grace.

God provides for us to live for him. He gives the gift and strength.
By Grace from the Holy Spirit, his strength from length to length.

The magnitude of God’s strength, abundant, not small or withheld.
He provides abundantly to follow him, he provides, his power never failed.

No one can fight God or thwart his ways, he gives this power to us.
Ephesians 1, from 18 on, can we see the power of God and trust?

The strength of his might, brought in through Christ. Given unto us.
He gives this power that we may serve, serve as in him we trust.

The purpose of this strength, not our glory but his. Serving for ourselves? No power is there.
The world may praise and say “Well done”. But our heart God sees and cares.

He will always supply all that we need, when truly him we serve.
He sees the heart, and provides all we need. ????

How do we know… for him? for self? our hearts will often know.
Often with a sober spirit, quietly and not for show.

From fervent love, given by him, even for those we may not like.
Not complaining, inside or out, but trusting and doing what’s right.

Walk in a manner living for God, bearing fruit for him.
That person will be strengthened, steadfast and patient living for him and not for sin.

The goal isn’t fire for the Lord, it’s enduring to the end.
Not a quick act, but pushing on, only done by the strength he does send.

Patience = suffering long, no matter what people do or say.
If you need a “Good job”, trouble will come, live only for him today.

Joyously, living for him. Not by our natural power.
When living by his strength, we’ll have joy no matter the hour.

Do you think you can do it on your own? By your wisdom, power, and ways?
God calls us to serve only in his strength in the “impossible” all of our days.

If not serving by God’s strength, it’s due to your own pride.
Humble yourself, acknowledge him, only with him abide.

Always acknowledge him, know all good things are from him.
When we see it’s all from him, our joy and freedom will begin.

When you need anything, Ask him for that need.
Ask, Ask, Ask, Ask, Ask. He’ll supply for every need.

Seek the will of God, want all and only what he gives.
Isaiah chapter 40, all is by, for, and from him.
Even when we’re weary, he’ll give the strength to live.

Martha served in many ways. Mary sat before the Lord.
Jesus said only one thing was needful, to know him and to adore.

Bible Study Fellowship – Monday, 2022-11-28
Video from BSF
Introduction to the Prophets

No notes taken.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-11-30
Jonathan Underhill
Psalm 141 (Series: Psalms)

Psalmist feeling helpless, his situation we do not know.
The truth is that he needs to cry out, the Lord will help him go.

Do you feel trapped today? Helpless in a fight?
Let’s look to David’s example, doing what is right.

He first calls to the Lord, not looking first for solutions.
His prayer, a prayer of the saints, is an offering ????

The daily sacrifices, morning and the evening.
Hands open to God, showing honesty and opening.

Leave behind deceit, be honest in the situation.
???

In hard situations, there are things to be aware.
Don’t say things that you wish you hadn’t, some things you shouldn’t share.

Be careful of resentment, of frustration all built up.
Don’t strive for things that are not right ???

Be careful of a “friend” who leads you to destruction.
We want friends willing to correct us, and offer us instruction.

Jeremiah 8:22, Oil on the head, healing and protection,
Not in our own strength, but let God who brings resurrection.

Trusting God to provide, not letting things to rob us
Unbelief – to try our way, not trusting God will bless us.

Depend on our own weakness – when we depend on ourselves.
We need to trust his strength and way, as David here tells.
David’s hope is in the Lord, his eyes on God, not the traps.
We need to shift our focus from the dangers to God’s maps.

Rhyming Sermon Notes: 2022 October (GCNO & BSF)

The following are my rhyming notes from October 2022. They include notes from church and from BSF. I have not edited them after church other than correcting spelling, etc. while typing. You will see some areas with “????”, where I couldn’t rhyme them quickly enough while taking notes and still pay attention to the sermon. The goal is to help me focus while listening, not to have a perfect poem at the end.

I enjoyed the review just now while typing my notes. Perhaps they can be a blessing and nice review for you as well.

Color Code:

  • Sunday School
  • Church Service
  • Wednesday Church
  • BSF

If these rhyming notes are a helpful review (or just a fun read), feel free to Subscribe to receive them each time I post.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-10-02
Chris Pierre
Genesis 49:13-18

Jacob in order talking to sons
Now jumps to nine, Leah’s Zebulun

Zebulun “dwelling”, says where he will dwell
Down at the beach with the ships and the shells.

“Seas” not “sea” at both Galilee and Mediterranean
He’ll have lots of trade and traveling men.

His side to Siden, Aster between.
but Asher never conquered so the prophecy was seen.

Dan won’t be double minded, be like Zehulun focused.
Walk by faith ??????????

Son number nine, Leah’s fifth child.
The son of the Mandrakes, the Son Issachar

Issachar “wages” conceived under hire.
Tradition says a student of the Torah’s desire.

Issachar a strong donkey, Laying between bags or the sheep.
Donkeys are prized, a value to keep

Issachar a worker, between Mounts Tabor and Tilborah
Fertile land to be seen, he lives with hard labor.

At the end of the day our rest is in Christ.
Being found in him now, all the labor is blessed.

Issachar’s sons, understanding the times, ready to fight.
and do what is right.

We can be quick to help, to see others needs.
Carry each other’s burdens, get down in the weeds.

Leah’s sons finished, now move on to the maids.
Dan “the serpent” from Bilhah, for Rachel to aid.

Rachel’s issue was jealousy, from husband divided.
Living for herself, by her plan, “with God sided”.

She says plan from God, though by her way and her plan.
Still left unsatisfied, still wants another man.

Dan included in the blessing, in judgment will sit.
Not a second class son, will judges beget?

Sampson a Danite, strong in the flesh.
Set aside for God’s service, though filled with regret

Dan is a snake, where and what is he doing?
Sampson like Rachel, by the flesh he was doing.

Like a snake in the path, Sampon Philistines struck.
Dan “snakes” and “heals”, a heal biting serpent ????

Dan reflects Satan, a heal biting serpent
Seeing higher goals, through idols do make.

Dan’s territory first stolen from another tribe.
Then a center of idol worship, shrunk away as a tribe.

Not mentioned at the end in Revelation Seven,
But will ultimately be blessed, in the kingdom of heaven.

We wait for salvation, from God’s strength not ours.
Not seeking our plans, but His plans and adore.

Salvation is coming, his reward is with him
Yeshua is here, provide salvation from sin.

Seen by those who were looking, Simon saw and held
Don’t scheme, make your plants, with him we will dwell.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-10-2
Kevin Williamson
Acts 17

How preach the gospel? Culturally fit and water down?
Paul preaches on Mars Hill, culture, truth. ?????

Seven groups to whom Paul preached
In the synagogues the Jews to reach.

Some Jews believe, others reject.
Thessalonica, Berea search the scriptures, God calls his elect.

Different locations, God has prepared
Religious or moralists, with them he all shared.

God fearing Greeks, combine culture and faith.
Jewish diaspora, an influence does make.

Greeks thought Jews interesting, but their ethics respect.
We’ve had the same here Christian influence respect.

Agitators come, set the city to fight.
Rooted in jealousy, attack and accuse, guilt by association, sedition not right.

Teaching the brethren, keep Paul safe and provide.
Then the idolaters and superstitious go stride.

These people are “spiritual” create their own ways
Not knowing the true God, or him to obey.

Teaching the psychologists, out in the market.
Looking for ideas, debate and embark on it.

Debate, self improvement, how handle suffering in life.
Ignore pain or push through it, Epicurean/Stoic. ????????????

Neither wanted resurrection, they want to end pain
Ultimate goal was happiness and gain.

Not seeking excessive pleasure, they knew it brought pain.
Just be happy, and live, and have a small gain.

We hear this today, just be happy, happy place
If you’re happy, I’m happy, as we do through life’s race.

“God wants you to be happy”, the ultimate goal
not thinking of death or what happens to your soul.

The stoics want knowledge to gain it through pain.
The pluralists want new teaching, not just always the same.

Coexist and have peace, we all can agree.
Don’t be too zealous, let everyone be free.

When pluralism enters the church, saying all is okay.
It causes many problems and the church falls away.

Five points of Paul’s message, with introduction start
Paul relates to their interests, he speaks to their heart.

Then he speaks boldly, their ignorance proclaim.
God made the world, all from him by his name.

Not from many God’s or philosophies of men
He points to one God, the conversation to begin.

Acts 7:48 a similar teaching
The most High has all, not needing our reaching.

God made it all, and predestines all men
Our lives and our nations, all are sustained and act through him

God is exalted, only he is holy.
but he lives with the humble and contrite, the lowly

Paul calls them to turn, and to find life in him.
Why does Paul quote their prophets?  ????????????

Knowing literature and poetry can help us relate.
To share the truth of the gospel, and clearly to state.

God is Creator, invisible, unseen.
No idol can replace him, be exchanged to be seen.

The fullness of God can’t be reduced to wood or stone
Judgment is coming, we can be with him or alone.

We don’t want to repeat, we just want to hide
This time of ignorance is over, we need to repent and abide.

God has fixed a day, righteous judgment is coming
He gives proof, resurrection, He is again coming.

The response? Yes! No! Wait. not ready to believe
Mockers and Receivers, preach no matter if they receive.

Bible Study Fellowship – Monday, 2022-10-03
Cary Michalak
2 Kings 15:1-24

Faith has knowledge but also more
following, choosing to live, adore

Faith or Fear, Freedom, Slave
A hard, but simple choice our souls can save

God strengthens those who depend on him (AIM)
King Abijah chose to walk in sin.

What are children learning? What do they believe?
Not only facts and time at church, but a heart that fully can receive.

If God’s not above all else in our lives, our heart’s divided with the world.
Our children will learn to walk away, God’s word won’t be heard.

Call sin for sin, don’t soften blows, call it as it is.
Softening sin can lead to death, ?????????????

Abaju surrounded, called to God in a time of need.
God saved and took the day, ?????????????

Leaders sometimes claim to know the Lord, but the impact is not seen.
Watch their lives and hear their heart, your eyes need to be keen.

After David, kings fell away. Why did God faithfully hold?
He is faithful to his word, his steadfastness makes us bold.

The sacrifice of Jesus, how is it working in your life?
Plans and schemes, how are they working? Trust him with your life?

Someone walking with the Lord, seems to be with him.
Their time with Jesus if not held high, they can fall to sin.

Dependent children: God calls his people to wholeheartedly depend on him.
The Etheopians came to attack and ???????????

When trials come, what do you do? Complain or Joyful live?
Celebrate in trials, through them, God growth does give.

God is with you when you’re pursuing him.
Seek and knock, he’ll open the door, do it time and again.

What is your seeking looking like? Daily pursuing him?
Is your time and effort seeking God, or distracted into sin?

Asa faithful all his life, fell away in the end.
When crisis came he followed the world over God, this is a dead end.

In trials we see our heart. Where does our allegiance lie?
Do we trust in God above, follow until we die?

Sought the counsel of doctors. Replace the hand of God.
Where do I turn to truffles? The world or turn to God?

Faithful Father: God is faithful even when our faith falters.
Lord, this is true, help me believe, my life lay at your alter.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-10-05
Ken Ellis
Psalm 134 (Series: Psalms)

Psalms 134, the last Psalm of Ascent
An exhortation to obey and bless him and not relent.

Pilgrims now all heading home
Discussing the time before God’s throne.

Praise and Glory to God the Lord,
He is the only and always to be adored.

Ephesians recalls some blessings he’s given.
Elected, selected, saved and sealed.

The night shift always on task, alert.
The joyful servants, active, not inert.

God has called us Royal Priests.
Know and serve him, the greatest and least.

Anna, in the temple day and night.
Worship, serve him, have him as her light.

Useless mediations profitless talk
Instead worship, serve him and with him walk.

Christ in the place of our future Glory
Lift up hands and praise, tell his story.

Worship God actively, not passive attendance.
The heart lifted up, with joy and dependance.

All perfect gifts come from God to us,
With his power and love, trust him we must.

Psalm 127 and 128, trust God’s strength and not ours.
Children are a blessing, generations go on for years, days, and hours.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-10-09
Chris Pierre
Genesis 49:19-21

Jacob’s blessing to the next three sons, one verse there for each.
Gad and Asher from Rachel, Naphtali from Leah we’ll reach.

Rachel wanted children, planned in the flesh to do.
Bilhah have a baby, on Rachel’s knees, all came true.

Gad the tested troup, from Leah’s handmaid did give
He will be attacked, east of the Jordan stopped to live.

Living east of Jordan, raided and attacked.
God used this for their good, to repent of the faith they lacked.

They put away their idol’s, turned back to the God they knew.
God relented, gave them strength, gave perseverance, made them new.

The Gadites became warriors, trained for battle, ready to fight.
Captains of the army, David’s mighty men, gave him delight.

If we are true believers, we will be like Gad.
We will be attacked, afflicted, saved by Jesus and be glad.

Whoever’s born of God, overcomes the world.
Our faith, through Jesus Christ, trust in his holy Word.

It is good to be afflicted, cause us to seek refuge.
When we come to Jesus, he never will refuse.

Asher, the blessed bread basket, through Zilpah Leah gained.
Asher means “happy”, for Leah’s happiness was named.

The brothers had gone to Egypt to find food to stay alive.
They’d been kept alive by Joseph, they found when they did survive.

No food can make one angry, rich food to happy make.
Asher would have royal food, give to others to partake.

Asher’s land full of olives, even to this day.
Had no real military, agricultural his land did stay.

Jesus broke the bread, then his body broken.
Through brokenness it came, blessing it was spoken.

Naphtali, the delightful doe, from Rachel’s handmade came.
Naphatali ,means to wrestle, Rachel wanted to win and overcame.

Rachel didn’t see her sin, her selfishness and pride.
Even when Joseph came, she wanted another son at her side.

A doe? A wrestler? A dove will run away.
Naphtali a doe let loose, set free from the fight that day.

Nephtali not a fighter, instead marked by his words.
Beautiful words he used, truth to be heard.

Nephtali, through Barak, wrote of victory in battle.
God will be our shield, with him our faith need not rattle.

Jesus called his disciples from the land of Naphtali.
They brought beautiful words of Life, for all the world to see!

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-10-09
Pastor Mark Rice (Pastor Dean Good is traveling)
Psalm 2

Mandatory evacuation, some stay and some go
Hear the warning, heed or let it go?

Psalm 2 gives a warning, that all the world must hear.
God’s judgement it is coming. Flee to Christ, while he is near.

Psalm 1 introduces the Psalms, Psalm 2 the follow up.
David the king with a little “k”, Jesus the true Kingship.

The peoples reaction to the coming judgment of God.
Why do they rage against him, when he will upon them trod?

Nations and peoples, against the Lord rebel.
Want to overthrow the government of God, not with him to dwell.

The righteous meditate on God’s word, always, day and night.
The nations of the world meditate on overthrowing God by their own might.

The kings and rulers of the the earth stand against God, and his Anointed
They stand together, though they hate each other and are disjointed against God.

“Let us throw off the bonds of God” throw off his rule and hand,
They want to be the Lord, not to listen to God’s command.

Peter and John released from prison, then recall Psalm Two.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak what’s true.

Speak the word of God with confidence, not worried for our life.
Though the world will be against us, and give us momentary stress. ??????

How does God respond? His sovereignty complete.
He sits on his throne in heaven, he works them at his feet.

God will bring revenge, that’s his job and not ours.
He mocks them and will judge, our job to love and preach at all hours.

He speaks in his anger, the righteous anger against sin and sinners.
They are terrified, hide in caves, not like the winners.

God did declare, at the beginning of the earth
That his king, his Son, would give the world new birth.

Mount Moriah, a simple hill, he will make it glorious.
The king installed by God, all will hear his loud voice.

The Son, anointed, committed to the Father’s will.
Glorify the Father, repeating his word, his ways to fulfill.

The Son, always God, not become God at incarnation.
The ruler with authority, for grace, peace and incarceration.

At the transfiguration, God calls Jesus his chosen one.
He will reign and rule, we’re to listen to his Son.

You shall break them with a rod of iron, a command to him from God.
Through the nations look for victory, Jesus will upon them trod.

Iron smashing clay, shattered into pieces.
We cannot resist God, our power it all ceases.

Revelation 2, to the church in Thyatira.
The Father gave the authority, including the church with him to strive.

Revelation 19, look in verse 11,
The rider on a white horse strike and rule from heaven.

Revelation 19:20, sitting on the thrones.
The martyrs reign with him, while unbelievers groan.

The final battle comes, all the saints surrounded.
Fire comes from heaven, the enemies all are grounded.

Why not judge sin now? The final kingdom brought?
He shows the perfect rule on each, the kingdom we have sought.

The books, they are all opened, judgment finally comes
The rebellion all is finished, and death is all done.

The final call to repentance in Psalm two: ten to twelve
When nations and people repent, with him in wisdom dwell.

Listen to the warning, show insight and repent.
If we will flee to Christ, from judgment he’ll relent.

Serve the Lord with fear, Yahweh the king of kings
This fear it brings true worship, his praise forever sing.

Rejoice in him with trembling, embrace him not revolt.
Kiss the Son in adoration, lest he become angry and judgment hold.

Bible Study Fellowship – Monday, 2022-10-10
Duane Linder
BSF 4: 1 Kings 15:25-18:46

Where there is no vision the people perish, when we go our own way
Disaster comes into our life, just as God did say.

But God pursues, and brings us down, convicting us of sin.
He makes us a new man and lets a new life begin.

Ground a new believer in God’s word, let them teach, convict.
Have one God, there is no other, the cost of sin is strict.

Our only hope is Jesus, only him our sin remove.
Last week we watched two kings, cry to God and watch him move.

“God’s pursuing Love”, “God Himself is mankind’s deepest need.” (AIM)
When we walk away from God, this can pass to our seed.

Sin can continue to spiral, getting worse and worse.
But God can intervene, in these verses through Elijah’s verse.

Pray that God would do whatever it takes, to bring us to our knees.
Be it drought and famine, the hard times can truly set us free.

Hosea 2:14, in the desert, God softly speaks.
In the desert, pleasure gone, can lead our heart to seek.

The sovereignty of God, we’re helpless in ourselves.
Only God can give us life, and bring his children to with him dwell.

God’s ends Elijah, “My god is the Lord” to a people who were in need.
“God provides grace to sinners”, this grace can set us free. (P1)

When we are in the wilderness, walking by faith not by sight.
When he calls, will you listen? And obey and do what’s right?

Have you learned that he’s sufficient, to meet all of your needs?
How does this affect your life and your constant plea?

Elijah asked the widow, for food and for drink.
She responded in faith, and saw God provide, he did not let her sink.

Then her son died anyhow, she Elijah blamed.
By God’s power alone, the boy was brought back, through Elijah he was raised.

Someday our bodies renewed, beyond this life of sin.
Jesus resurrection power, he gives life and hope again.

“God provides resurrection power to believers” We need not fear. (P2)
We need not be afraid, as long as God is near.

Obediah, reverent of Elijah, obeys and tells the king.
Ahab is defiant, but listens to bring the prophets of Baal to the ring.

Elijah vs the priests, True God vs idols
God came on with power.

The people say the Lord is God, slaughter the priests of Baal.
Purge the evil from your mists, of God’s glory tell.

“God provides powerful preaching to bring men to repentance.” (P3)
Our heart is still to sin and comes at a great consequence.

When people descend into sin: chaos, conflict, sin.
Our hope is not in the world, but for God his work to begin.

People need to hear the gospel, to solve our biggest need.
Go into the world proclaiming him in word and deed.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-10-12
Jonathan Underhill
Psalm 136 (Series: Psalms)

Psalm 136 a call to praise, his loving kindness is everlasting.
Who God is. What God’s done. These bring praise and singing.

Creation, Redemption, The works God’s done
Now look at who he is, Holy one.

Who is God? A covenant God, his promises he keeps.
The God above all other God’s higher by bounds and leaps.

He who created everything, every knee will bow
Some try to avoid this inevitable truth, but truth will not allow.

Only God can carry out great wonders on the earth.
Creation and Redemption, Create and give new birth

The small wonders of the Egyptians, were small and faced defeat.
The majesty of God’s wonders, no one else can beat.

The universe, clockwork moon, point to the great Creator
The lights above, show times and seasons, and do so with great order.

God destroys the enemies, great kings of the people.
Out of Egypt, into to the land, build his house and steeple.

The natives were giants, the people afraid, defeat them they cannot
God worked his plan, by his great power, divided the land by lot.

We so often forget what God has done, begin to live in fear.
We used to depend on his plan and work, knowing he is near.

The people were in bondage, needing a rescuer.
They from Egypt, all from sin, Jesus is the doer.

The people didn’t leave Egypt and then wanted to return.
God needed to grab them, then help them to learn.

God leads us by still water, through the shadow of death.
He saves us from ourselves, and gives us life and breath.

The people, they were useless, a small and feeble band.
Our master gives us everything, all creation at his command.

Those who think that they have power, miss the power of the truth.
We need to come to him in meekness, trusting him to doeth.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-10-16
Chris Pierre
Genesis ???

Joseph the most blessed brother, Rachel’s oldest son
She tried to do it her way, but fulfillment was not won.

Now the focus is not on Rachel or her sister, but on God’s provision.
Joseph “Jehovah has added”, not her plans or husband’s vision.

Joseph is a fruitful branch, producing fruit for others.
Fruitful in Egypt even before the famine, to save his brothers.

God sent Joseph and delivered, God worked out his plan.
A fruitful plant by a spring, God grew up the man.

God alone can do it, not by our plan or strength
Psalm one reminds us a man in God’s word will be a tree with life.

Joseph’s procurability, growing big and fast
Overgrew the wall, spread to others to help them last.

We can take the gospel, the grace that we’ve received
and overflow to the nations, to those who are deceived.

Joseph new a fruitful branch, before was a firm bow
Provoked by the bow of others, attacked wouldn’t let him go.

That archers provoked him, showed bitterness ??????
The next time we see “bitterness” they’re slaves in Egypt ??????

The archers shot at him, desiring to kill
The archers hostile to him, to hate, to them to hurt a thrill

Jacob says “the others” but Joseph’s brothers, they all knew
They were the archers, and other archers then came too.

Joseph’s bow persisted, he never shot back or hid
He endured in faith, not attacking those who did.

Joseph held fast to God’s promises and word
with Potiphar and prison remembered what he’d heard

Joseph held fast to God, giving glory to him.
Even when he had power, didn’t shoot back and sin.

We may be deeply wounded, can be angry want revenge
We may withdraw or go attack, We need to trust God to avenge

Why does God allow these bad things to come into your life?
We may not understand, but he gives faith in the strife.

The bow provided by the bow of God
God was with him in the struggles, protect and comfort with his rod.

Moving through the darkest valley, God does with us go.
We have a destination, we’ll go through, God’s strength we will know.

A full blessing, a sacred blessing, from God alone they come
A surrounding blessing, God’s everywhere, all knowing, from him they come.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.
A special blessing, double inheritance, Ephraim/Mennassah fruitful tribes.

The same God who was with Joseph, to bless, protect, receive.
That same God is with us, he’ll never from us leave.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-10-16
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:7-11

The atoning work of Christ, covering our sin.
now Christ works for us to grow beyond where we begin.

Follow Christ in suffering, he died the just for the unjust.
Therefore since Christ has suffered, we too will suffer, we must.

1 Peter 4:7-11, follow Christ in sobriety, in light of eternity.
Love one another, serve by God’s strength, his glory to see.

Where love of God is true, service will out flow.
Christ, full of perfect love, sacrificial service he did know.

Christ is a servant, from beginning to end
As followers of Christ, we love and service rend.

Service reflected in his title, Incarnation, too.
in His stated purpose, example on earth to me and you.

Reflected in his ministry in heaven
and his future ministry in his return.

Finally reflected in his call to you and me
Christ, God’s servant, came to set us free.

Christ, servant in his title, called by the Father’s will
to serve and save and bring forth light, to bring life, not to kill.

“My servant will prosper, he’ll be high and lifted up.”
The iniquities all land on him, Christ, the servant, drank the cup.

Servant in his incarnation, poured out himself to death.
Philippians Chapter Two, act not for conceit or for self

Christ emptied himself. What does this mean?
He was still God, humbled himself, in humility seen.

He took the form of a slave, though he would be king.
When he came as a baby, humbly as a man, to death he would fling.

The very Word of God, served to be a slave and die.
His stated purpose to serve, give himself and die.

He gave his life for you, that you might know the God of truth.
Through his time on Earth we see his example from his youth.

Christ did not one moment, for himself, to live.
Teaching, preaching, healing, his life was lived to give.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion served.
We often see him tired, but he pushed through and persevered.

Many work hard for money, serving for their self
Christ worked to give and serve, giving of himself.

My food is to do the will of him who sent
He also served his disciples, his efforts to them rent.

Jesus washed their feet, the work of the lowest slave.
We’re washed in the blood of Christ, daily sanctified to save.

You do to each other, as I have done to you.
Jesus’ present ministry in heaven, still praying and serving me and you.

Jesus at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us.
His future ministry, return in glory, he is the king and judge.

Blessed are the slaves, ready for his return.
He will serve them in his glory, his people he will not spurn.

He called his disciples to service, to love each man as his brother.
We are not here to be great men, to lord it over others.

The temptation leaders have, to Lord it over the flock
A true leader shall be the servant, a slave, standing on the rock.

Not for recognition, money, applause or power live
We are to sacrificially serve, our very lives to give.

1 Peter 4:10-11 use the given gifts to give.
For his glory and dominion, for him alone to live.

Bible Study Fellowship – Monday, 2022-10-17
Jim Miller
1 Kings 19–21

Elijah a letter from Jezebel received.
He would the next day of his life be relieved.

He ran to the desert, under a broom tree.
Ready to die, of his life to be free.

He prayed to the Lord, tired and done.
His zeal for the Lord was real, not just for fun.

An angel provided water and food.
Does it again, to keep up his mood.

As he ran 40 days protected by God
Over the desert to a cave he did trod.

God passed by in the wind, earthquake, fire.
A whisper from God, when Elijah’s situation was dire.

God was near, a whisper can use.
Elijah, why are you here? I am with you.

Our strength alone will fail us. (P1)
but God’s strength alone sustains us.

What is so big in your life, you can’t fix or do it?
Go on your knees, and depend on him, and he will get you through it.

Ahab’s death is told and warned, Ahab still rejected.
Naboth’s vineyard catches his eye, he now feels quite dejected.

Ahab kills him, takes the land, Elijah comes to speak.
Ahab did evil before the Lord, the dogs his blood will drink.

Ahab is humbled, spared by God, the punishment delayed.
The punishment goes to his son, his judgment of Ahab stayed.

Accepting or rejecting the sustaining grace of God has eternal consequences. (P2)
We need to trust the living God, and lower our defenses.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-10-23
Chris Pierre
Genesis 49:27

Benjamin, the wolf, one of Jacob’s favorite sons
First we need to look back and see where he came from.

Genesis 35, God calls Jacob to go,
He has the idols put away, righteousness to sow

Jacob went to Bethel as God did first command,
God blesses Jacob, he’ll in Abraham’s blessing stand.

Rachel then gives birth, the birth severe, she died.
She had another son, all for what she tried.

She named her son Ben-oni, the son of my sorrow,
Remind him he killed his mom, from sin and pain his name did borrow.

Jacob renamed him Benjamin, son of my right hand.
Change the curse to blessing, for him to grow into a man.

Benjamin described, he is a ravenous wolf
A “wolf” in scripture, few and negative.

What does this short negative blessing mean? About Benjamin we know little.
About Benjamin’s descendants we have seen, the blessing a prophecy, ????

Ehud the judge, put a knife in a fat kings belly
Killed hundreds of Moabites, turned their enemies to jelly

The Benjamites rape a concubine, she then cut in pieces.
The Benjamites left handed slingers, in the battle the tribe almost ceases.

Benjamin started bad, but the evening is coming.
Benjamin divides the spoils, the victory is coming.

The Benjaminites wiped out, only 400 men are left.
The Israelites attacked a city, gave virgins to them as a gift.

Saul a Benjamite, David does not destroy.
He blesses Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s lame boy.

We are like Benjamin, full of death and sin.
Only in Jesus Christ, at God’s right hand, new life begin.

Paul the Apostle, started as a wolf devouring his prey.
Hunted the church of Christ, near and far, night and day.

Zealous for traditions, bound men and women, put to death.
Paul a ravenous wolf, ravaging the church with every  breath.

God the Father steps in, through Jesus Christ the Son.
Paul divides the spoils from a battle he had not won.

The inheritance is given, the spoils are divided.
Life in Jesus Christ, distributed through Paul, by Christ guided.

In the morning, hate and murder, the truth of Christ rejected.
In the evening giving life, looking forward, by Christ corrected.

Stop looking at our past, focus on Christ ahead.
Knowing life in Christ, he is risen from the dead.

Forgetting what lies behind, looking to what’s ahead.
Life in Jesus Christ, On firm ground in Christ we tread.

Share the spoil with the wolves, those still living in the dark.
The victory of Christ, in our life can make it’s mark.

The blessings now concluded, each one blessing all
He spoke to them the blessing, each one appropriate to their call.

Each one of them is different, the blessings are unique
God calls and saves and blesses, to each one of us does individually speak.

Jacob’s final command, his departure coming quick.
Bury me with my fathers, in the promised land to stick.

Jacob gathered to his people, they all belonged to God.
We are God’s own people, him our Father, others our family with them trod.

When a believer dies, we are not alone
In the presence of God’s people, with all whom he did atone.

You can’t have the light of life, while with the darkness bound.
We need new life in him, in Christ’s life to be found.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-10-23
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:7

“The end of all things is near” there is an end will come.
This should lead to love and service to God the Son.

Life in Christ has meaning, purpose, value, significance.
In all our work and living, we serve God not live by chance.

Life is work, work, work and die, vain and empty here.
Unless you serve the Living God. With him we have purpose and cheer.

Serving God an obligation, and a privilege and joy.
Christ gave the perfect example, to live and serve with joy.

As Christ was a servant, we are called to serve.
As ones who received the special gift, from our calling not to swerve.

God has provided, commanded, circumscribed and will measure our service.

He provided for each to serve,
What does God want me to do, go serve? His call is not a blur.

He calls each of us uniquely, he knows our special gifts.
He never asks us to do anything, beyond that which he lifts.

God’s provision is from his grace. Not something that we earn.
Not from our performance, his loving kindness does spurn.

God gives calling by his grace, and does his gifts supply.
They should not result in boasting, and by his grace we’ll try.

God has provided abundantly, many types and kinds.
Many gifts and talents, to use and with him bind.

The immeasurable goodness of God, he gives the gift to serve.
He gives more than we can imagine, abundance through his word.

God provides through the Holy Spirit, beyond the gifts all have.
When we are born again, he gives a gift ??????

God alone does save us, there’s nothing we can do.
1 Corinthians 12, the interdependence of me and you.

We together are one body, all of one Spirit filled.
If you are born again, you have the Spirit as God willed.

Our body, the temple of the Spirit, when we are born again.
He teaches, gives assurance and rescues us from sin.

The abilities that God gave, are for his service used.
The gifts are varied, but one God, how distributed he’ll choose.

Serving God equals contentment, with the call God gave.
Serve him whether big or small, he’s the one who will save.

All the gifts are his, to distribute as he wills.
It’s not our choice how to serve, and how us with his Spirit fills.

Four lists of the gifts of God. Some gifts are no longer given.
We need to use the gifts he gives, with his gifts be living.

If you are not serving, you are a hypocrite.
We are to serve in the ways he provides, to serve the body of Christ.

We’re called to serve the local church, not to clean the world.
Our message to the world, repent and turn to Christ. ?????

If we try to clean the world, without turning to Christ
we just make them like a white washed wall, dead though looks quite nice.

Ephesians 4 vs 7, serve and build the church.
Teach the word of God, to grow and glorify him????

Bible Study Fellowship 5 – Monday, 2022-10-24
Cary Michalak
1 Kings 11–14; 2 Chronicles 10–12

Aim: Refusing to seek and surrender to God, is rejecting God.

Four steps to destroy your life, seen in the life of Ahab
Step one don’t seek the Lord, his plans just go and do and grab.

Ahab pretends and asks, 400 prophets who will agree
Step two, surround yourself with friends, who always agree with what you see.

Instead we ought to surround ourselves with those who will call us out.
Those who think differently than us and will warn us with a shout.

Micaiah says the king will die, Ahab doesn’t listen.
The truth is there, and we reject, not living for his mission.

Ahab hides and tries to thwart the purposes of God.
God is supreme, his way will come, he’ll rule with strength and rod.

Divorce, Immorality, Cheating and Stealing, these are not okay.
When we go our way and ignore God, we’ll further and further stray.

It’s easy to destroy our life, follow our ways not His.

Refusing to seek God results in deception, leading to destruction. (P1)

God uses judgment to challenge us and let us know.
Discernment comes when we humble ourselves, this (??swented) it will show.

Refusing to surrender to God brings eternal consequences. (P2)

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-10-26
No notes.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-10-30
Dave Howard
Genesis 49:29-50:3

Begin and end with death, Jacob and then Joseph.
But the theme throughout is hope, this is the hope of both.

The grand burial procession, to a simple burial leads.
The brothers then are worried, Joseph they try to deceive.

Jacob draws his feet up, he has the physical strength.
He then calls his sons, with strength, then goes to death.

Jacob gives the charge, take my body to the land.
Before just to Joseph, now to the brotherly band.

Though Joseph has the faithfulness and power to fulfill this request.
The brothers all in the covenant, all of them by God blessed.

The world in which we live, all vanity unless
There’s something beyond, when we take our final rest.

“Gathered to his people” where Jacob had hope to go.
With Christ we all are gathered. In hell no friends to show.

Jacob then goes the way of all his fathers before.
At age 147, his God in spirit will adore.

Jacob’s death leads to mourning. Joseph’s and the nation of Egypt too.
Though Joseph had many years away from his father, his mourning deep and true.

There is grief in the loss of death, but we need to seek and learn.
What would God have us learn in it, to help us to him turn.

Joseph never questioned God, or doubted his guiding hand.
His father had life in God, though his body returned to the land.

Why should we mourn a death? Even Christ mourned Lazarus.
Death points to effects of sin, and the need for us to trust.

When king Asaph died, he did not consult the Lord.
He went to the physicians, showed where his faith was stored.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-10-30
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:10-11

Every Christian is full time, faithfully serve God’s call.
To be and do as God demands, to live for him our all.

Serve with thankfulness, to the Glory of God in obedience to his word.
No matter who sees, how much you make, obey the word you’ve heard.

How can I praise God? Bring glory to his name?
The only question we need to ask. Live for the Lord who came.

First three points last week,
God provided for, commanded and circumscribed our service.

God will measure our service, he is our true reward.
We are stewards of God’s grace, accountable to obey his word.

What is a steward? What does that mean for us?

Steward, “house manager”, in the culture a “slave”.
A manager for others, for what others gave.

They had freedom in their stewardship, they were not micromanaged.

God brought Joseph to Egypt, he did not know the plan.
He was faithful day by day, faithfully lived as God’s man.

Hard and manual labor, work faithfully with joy.
To the glory of God, work hard, grow to a man from a boy.

Potiphar left all in Joseph’s charge, he did not a worry have.
We too are to be a steward, over all God gave we have.

We are not our own, we are redeemed a slave
Given a new heart, freed from Satan, self, we’re saved.

It all belongs to him, he gives and takes away.
Whether you acknowledge him or not, it’s his to steward each day.

God has given us gifts, given us instructions.
God has given us time, will give reward ????

This applies to all of life, everything we have money, health, position opportunity
everything we have, all for his glory.

He’s given us instructions, told what we are to do.
The written word of God, instructions to see us through.

What God demands and provides, to serve in grace and truth
faithfully with joy, not to stand aloof.

Called to serve as he has said, not in our own way
Eyes fixed on the living God, an example of faithfulness each day.

The living word of God, tells how to do and think
The measure isn’t results, but did our words and actions link.

Many will say “Lord, Lord” and point to what they did.
God calls to obey his word, and in obedience live.

Live faithfully with sound words, the word of the Living God.
Steward faithfully, with him go out and trod.

God has given us time, we do not know how long.
Live today fully for him, don’t say “tomorrow” or further on.

Jesus said, “be alert”. We don’t know when he will come.
Who is the faithful servant, living faithfully for the Son?

Cursed is the slave, who lives for his own way.
The master returns unexpected, the slave doesn’t know the day.

We don’t need to know all the answers, just serve faithfully where we are.
husband, father, plumber, live faithfully for him not a star.

When living faithfully, we have nothing to fear.
The master can return, we’re glad to have him near.

Faithfulness to his call, not one particular job
Don’t hide what God has given, not lazy or a slob.

He just calls us to be faithful, not to greatness in this life.
Not to do what is wicked and lazy, will live a life or strife.

If with God gifts we are not faithful, they will be taken away
God delights to reward those who serve him: here, in the next life, today.

Are you being a faithful servant? Living daily for him alone?
Will you hear, “Well done good and faithful steward?” Christ did for us atone.

Bible Study Fellowship 7 – Monday, 2022-10-31
Duane Linder
BSF 7: 2 Chronicles 17:1–21:3

Aim: The Lord is our salvation

What does it mean to seek, the Lord with our whole heart?
Each one’s story is different, today Jehoshaphat’s does start.

God is the only one who calls, that can change a life.
Some he calls and others not, in this life full of strife.

Faith is something that can be learned, and be caught from others.
Where did you catch or spread along, to other sisters or brothers?

Are you working to spiritually grow, and encourage others to the same?
Walk in faith, by the power of God. Call out to his name.

God draws men to seek Him, turn from sin and obey his commandments. (P1)
Our alliance with God alone, not evil who promise advancements.

Ahab seeks God’s direction… after his plans were made.
He did what he did, not what God said, and at the end of the day he paid.

An evil spirit planned to deceive Ahab so he would die.
But God was in control of all, even spirits who lie.

Jehosaphat is surrounded, then he calls to the Lord.
God saves, pulls the enemy away, that he may be restored.

God humbles all his children that dependence we may know.
Have you been humbled and cried out in tears and repentance sow.

Nothing in this world can save you, it is by grace alone.
Through Christ by faith, a sinner, God can always atone.

Ahab hit by a “random” arrow, directed by the Lord.
God’s words come true, no matter our plans, as stated in his Word.

From this point on Jehosaphat changed following the Lord
Leads the country to fear the Lord, their hearts by him to guard.

The humble and desperate cry out in faith to the Lord for salvation. (P2)
To him we turn and run to him as he our heart will hasten.

Prayer is for us, to align our will to his.
Turn our eyes on God, to know what his will is.

Praise the Lord in battle, trusting in his power.
Seek God, glorify him in the darkest hour.

The battle is the Lord’s, he will fight the fight.
God is glorified, when it’s only by his might.

Even the enemies see, when it’s by God’s power alone.
God calls us to act, to see the weakness that is our own.

We don’t save anyone, only the Lord can save.
Our job isn’t to try to force others hearts, but to humbly come to pray.
We bring glory to God when we put our faith in him for our salvation. (P3)
May God do work in us, for our hearts to hasten.

Rhyming Sermon Notes: 2022 September (GCNO & BSF)

The following are my rhyming notes from September 2022. They include notes from church and from BSF.

I enjoyed the review just now while typing my notes. Perhaps they can be a blessing and nice review for you as well.

Color Code:

  • Sunday School
  • Church Service
  • Wednesday Church
  • BSF

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-09-04
Sunday School – Chris Pierre
Philemon 1:4-7 (Series: Prayers of Paul)

Philemon, a little letter, big issues does address
with Definite Identity: to, from, about and how to bless.

The culture wants to define you, to take on an identity group.
Philemon’s time the same, your identity determined your troup.

Paul was the highest, strictly a Pharisee.
Persecuting lower groups as all of the leaders could see.

To Paul, the Jews and Gentiles, they could not interact.
But here writing one a letter, with care, it broke this fact.

Philemon was a Gentile, successful, wealthy, free.
He was a slave owner, no Jews in his circle would there be.

Onesimus a slave, forced and oppressed
Not considered human, certainly not blessed.

A slave who ran away, who stole when he did leave.
This letter involves all three men: sent, about, received.

Who are you in this letter? What is your identity?
Do you identify yourself with Position, Power, Poverty?

One thing to remember, all in this world will end.
The earthly things all fade away, our identity should not bend.

We’re tempted to identify, in the world, ourselves and value.
These things will quickly pass away, they all will come out hollow.

A question of identity, relationships concern.
Where do I fit? Who is my friend? What do I need to learn?

Faithful Love can change the story, from hate to unity.
Jesus Christ brings all the love we seek, and so can set us free.

The faithful love of God, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Whoever believes in him, is moved from death to life.

The Savior and Redeemer, Promise Keeper, Faithful Love.
He is not dependent on you, His love is pre chosen by God above.

Love not at first sight, but first thought is freely given.
Love given before any good or bad, this Father’s love is driven.

The world’s love is all dependent on the object being “loved”.
Is it useful, good and pleasing, or should it just be shoved?

The faithful Love of God, defines his people individually in Jesus Christ.
When Jesus appeared to Paul, his work’s a useless heist.

Jesus is the identity of Paul, now a prisoner in Rome.
He has given up his all, his identity, his home.

Philemon “beloved”, “brother”, “fellow worker”, family language being used.
“Refreshing”, he is serving his identity is renewed.

Onesimus, the runaway, now changed in his heart.
A “child” of Paul, now helpful, though useless at the start.

Onesimus now back, not a slave, but a brother.
All three still who they are, with one identity changed to another.

These men individually changed, and changed relationally with each other.
Philemon now serving, to each they are a brother.

In faith we’re sons of God, not only slave or free.
God sets us free by his great work, his love we can clearly see.

How does love show with my wife? Distant? Selfish? Ignored?
Am I giving of myself, that she will be adored?

Our heart longs to relate deeply, to be known and yet still loved.
This love comes through God’s people, and ultimately from above.

Our default in our flesh, is to love ourselves, the world.
Though we are faithless, he’s faithful, by his love we’re encircled.

If we don’t experience his love, we need to ask where we have gone.
He hasn’t moved. He is still there. He is the faithful one.

Philemon loves “all the saints”, now Paul sends him a test.
Can you forgive? As a brother embrace? To love like all the rest?

God please give me your love. This prayer I need to pray.
Help me Lord to love my wife, to “do” not only “say”.

Help us to love the Lord, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The means of this love, through our knowledge of God at length.

Jesus in his people. His work in all our life.
We have it all in him. We can love and not have strife.

Can Philemon love the slave? Is his faith in Jesus real?
In marriage relationships and more, it’s based on Jesus, not what we feel.

God created us, with longings in our heart:
Identity, Love, Fellowship, and from him to end from start.

He loves us, Gives identity, only in His Son.
Eternal Fellowship, his love is never done.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-09-04
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:1-6 (v. 5)

A basic theme of the epistle: if in glory, in sufferings we too must share.
The prophets also, how these could work together were confused and unaware.

If we follow in Christ’s purpose, with changed heart and mind.
We want to do the will of God, the world’s rejection we will find.

Not living for ourselves, but only for God’s will,
The world will hate, reject you. Their heart will be revealed.

The world it lives in darkness, they do not like the light.
Their deeds are all for evil, the light they want to fight.

If not physically beaten, all verbally abused.
Blasphemed and reviled, as crazy be excused.

The world’s rejection of the Christian, is truly culpable.
They will need to give account, to the judge who is able.

They judge falsely and harshly, their judgment will be true.
Let this be an encouragement, to stand faithful and true.

Psalm 37 reminds us, to stand firm and not to fret.
Don’t envy evil doers, to pass away is what they’ll get.

Do not be impatient. Wait for the Lord, to inherit the Land
The Lord laughs and slays the wicked, in him we truly stand.

In Christ we’ll stand, the evil judged. They will give account.
We’ll give to the Judge a reckoning, to report the full amount.

Every word that’s spoken. Every deed that’s done.
We’re all stewards of the life he gave, will give account of the life we’ve run.

Jude reminds of God’s judgment, of all our thoughts, deeds, and words.
The evil give account of all their blaspheming, that has ever been heard.

Keep the Creator’s commandments, our only call in life.
Anything outside of this, will cause judgment to bring strife.

Account will be given, to the one they have blasphemed.
His works are good, just, and right, not just as it seemed.

God knows everything, he knows what is true.
All will get what they have earned, this is what he’ll do.

The judge is standing at the door, the people do not know.
The judgement quickly coming, the time not long to go.

The end of all things is near. It’s standing at the door.
Today could be the day you go, our God to stand before.

All will give account, there are none who will escape.
The final white throne judgment, the mourning will be great.

No matter how high you are, how untouchable you seem,
God will know and judge, this is a common theme.

Those who are in Christ need not fear that day.
We’re already judged in Christ, freed from sin that way.

Fear we need not have. There is no fear in love.
As we are controlled by the Savior, we have peace from above.

Love is not that we Love God, but that he first loved us.
His Son the propitiation, giving life at his own loss.

We were under divine wrath, but Christ’s propitiation became.
Took on himself, the wrath of God, made us holy in him the same.

We then will live in service, in love and thankfulness be.
The judgment, wrath of God, we surely will not see.

Repent, you must repent. To turn away from sin,
Accept the gift, the death of Christ, he need not die again.

In Joel chapter two verse twelve, God calls people to repent.
Fasting, weeping, mourning, our whole life to be rent.

For our God is gracious, compassionate and good,
slow to anger, with loving kindness, follow him we should.

Any good in us, is all from God alone.
If we’re trying by our own strength, we will stand alone.

Am I desperate for his leading, his work and his power?
I call out for mercy, seek for him every hour.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-09-07
Kevin Williamson
Psalm 131 (Series: Psalms)

If you say you’re humble, can it really be?
This “humble” is a clear conscience, before the Lord of guilt be free.

David’s brother said he’s proud, when he left the sheep came down.
He waited on the Lord instead of killing Saul for the crown.

Not involved in great matters, not seeking a position that he can gain.
When we look at politicians, sexual corruption often their fame.

Not looking at things too profound for him, thinking highly of his own thoughts.
David stays where God has put, not beyond where God says he ought.

Like a weaned baby prefers food, over mother’s breast.
We need to be weaned from the world, and have peace and in God rest.

The work of weaning from the world, needs the work of the Word and Spirit.
How do we get weaned from the world, when we are living in it?

Seven steps to wean, from the Word this is what to do.
(1) Step one, be humble, depend on him, he’s faithful, this is true.

(2) Don’t aim too high, just walk with God, Don’t strive for all the world.
(3) Hunger for the word of God, Delight in what you’ve heard.

(4) Read God’s word consistently, precept, precept, grow.
This will calm and instruct us, as the Word of God we know.

(5) Be still, and know that God is God, Above him is no other.
(6) Pray and make requests of God, let his peace our lives to cover.

(7) Visit a cemetery, in the house of mourning know our end.
The people had their struggles in life, all that matters is where death did send.

At the end of the day, hope in the Lord, from now forever more.
Rest in God, seek his face, forever him adore.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-09-11
Sunday School – Chris Pierre
Genesis 49

Genesis in chunks, divided by the people.
The final has been “Jacob”, and the promises to Abram’s people.

The Abrahamic covenant, unconditional and unilateral.
Blessings of the land and nations and for all God’s people.

The father’s final words, looking at the setting.
In the Land of Goshen, on the promised land is betting.

The setting, chronological, when Joseph has returned.
Now sharing his last words, from all that he has learned.

The summons of Jacob’s final words, the calling of the sons.
With this call from an authority, everybody runs.

This is a group event, not time alone, a private blessing.
Everyone was there to hear, not one of them was missing.

The speech of Jacob’s final words, telling of the days to come.
Jacob, a prophet, tells the words that from God to him have come.

Two types of future prophecy: fulfilled and not yet done.
The fulfillment now completed, not in the last days to come.

This word of prophecy, also a word of blessings.
Some “blessings” seem a little strange, the “feel good” often missing.

When God blesses with salvation, it often starts with pain.
As we see our sin, and darkness, and break and repent again.

The blessing: they’re in the family, they are known by God.
Though hardships come, God is there, their lives are not slipshod.

Reuben: the firstborn, felled in his flesh, as God arranged
Son of Leah, the unloved, this having Reuben did not change.

The double portion of the first born, already to Joseph given.
His preeminence removed, in the flesh and for sex he had been livin’.

True blessing from God, gives life, reveals our sin.
Everyone already knew, he has slept with Bilhah, to make Leah like a wife again.

At the time of Reuben’s sin, this act had been ignored.
By bringing his sin to light, what has been hidden was restored.

Though the sin would bring difficulties, you are still my son.
The blessings given to Abraham, to you have just begun.

Chronicles 5:1-3, birthright from Reuben to Joseph passed.
Judah became leader. Reuben’s descendants unstable at the last.

In the history of Israel, not one important person came
no king, prophet, leader, they all wishy washy all the same.

No matter what our sin, our defiled minds and hearts
God calls his children his, and the work of redemption starts.

Don’t look down on Reuben, his sins and weakness see.
We too like him, have depth of sin, only Christ can set us free.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-09-11
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:1-6 (v. 6)

Not of this world, as called by Christ, we will suffer in this life.
Run with endurance the race before, with joy in all the trial and strife.

The world rejects, don’t set sights there.
Keep eyes on Christ and on his care.

We do God’s will, we’ll suffer much.
Do the Lord’s will, even in the crunch.

We will suffer the rejection of men,
They’re shocked we don’t follow our lusts again.

Necessary is our rejection in this world,
That from it’s binds we can be unfurled.

Explain/Apply these difficult texts.
Let’s start with Greek, on the words the truth rests.

Peter contrasts these two groups, unrepentant with believers too.
Live for the world, then give account. We’re judged by the world, when we live what’s true.

To world and self, we need to die,
to live for God, when life’s gone by.

“Preached to the dead”, what does this mean?
Spiritual? Physical? What does it seem?

To “Physically dead”, most do agree.
Heard, believed, now Christ do see.

Two purposes why the gospel preached.
Some to be judged, some hearts to be reached.

Those dead and gone, judged in the flesh.
Now with their Savior, they are blessed.

When you walk with God, the Gospel live,
Against the world, judgment will give.

We belong to him, live for his way.
Nothing to hide, fear, prove. Walk with him each day.

Live eternally or eternally judged.
God of the living, to eternal life he’s nudged.

The eternal value of the Gospel preached.
Glory, eternal, worth all to be reached.

The praise of the world, meaningless, all pass away.
What is the profit at the end of the day?

Eternity, we cannot grasp.
Heaven/Hell eternally last.

If we could know what this would mean.
We’d live all for him, not what is seen.

Two people’s hearts may seem the same.
In sacrifice we test their claim.

What are we willing to sacrifice?
Give all for God. Dead to what the world says is nice.

Content in loss of all we have,
Reputation, Health, and all our stuff.

Men’s praise or not, we do not care.
We walk with Christ, he’ll with us share.

Whoa to you, when men all speak
well of you, and your praise seek.

Seek the Lord, have no other care
He’ll provide our needs, his provision share.

The spiritual glory of the gospel know.
Under judgment we’ll never go.

Our God and King, our Shepherd Lord.
We know him, love him, he’ll be adored.

Our heart overflows with Love for God.
Delight in him his joy and his rod.

His yolk is easy, burden light.
Not hard drudgery, when we walk by his might.

When in his presence, we are free.
The joy beyond all that we can see.

The things of earth all fade away,
When we stand in his presence, that glorious day!

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-09-14
Daniel Pierre
Psalm 132 (Series: Psalms)

Familiar themes in Psalm One Thirty-two,
The Davidic Covenant, and Messiah too.

In Second Samuel Seven, David wants to build God a house,
God in turn promises to build David’s house.

Is this about Solomon? Is it about Christ?
To both it is “Yes”. God works it all out in his might.

David overwhelmed by the promises God made.
He points back to God and his glory and his shade

“Remember, Oh Lord, on Davids behalf”
Like Noah said then when people teased him and his “raft.”

Approaching the Lord should not be casually done
We approach him with reverence, not in jest or just for fun.

Israel had been waiting, to know where God would dwell.
David is urgent, to know where God would tell.

The place of the temple, God used David’s sin.
To number the people, and choose how God would discipline.

God stopped the plague, David set up an altar.
That, the place of the temple, God’s plans did not falter.

All through David’s reign he prepared for the day,
the spoil of the nations he set aside for the temple to be made.

How do we serve the Lord, in all we need to do?
Does he have all my time, heart and actions too?

Peace after righteousness always will follow
God gave them his sacrifice, on their own they were shallow.

When we see our sin in it’s depth and might,
we may live in fear, without grace, it’s a fight.

“The Lord has sworn to David” God is in control.
His promises are sure. Him alone we’ll extoll.

If your descendants obey, on the throne they will sit.
They didn’t obey, so their throne it was ripped.

The Messiah is coming, bringing the promise to life
The true Son of David, the Horn is the Light.

His people are priests. His enemies will fall.
The promise expanded to his children one and all.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-09-18
Sunday School – Chris Pierre
Genesis 49:5-7

When God’s children sin, we are children still.
When Reuben sinned, though through consequences, a son by God’s will.

Simeon and Levi, brothers united in rage
in opposition against their father. This background sets the stage.

These brothers were close, they had brotherly unity.
Simeon the son of Leah, she hoped Jacob would now see.

Levi now the third son, of Leah the unloved.
“Levi” means attached, hoping now by Jacob to not be shoved.

Simeon and Levi, swords of violence they did use.
In Genesis 34, rape, trickery, and murder to abuse.

Each brother took his sword, and snuck into the city.
They killed each and every male, on these men they took no pity.

The brothers all then joined the looting, taking all they had.
Wealth, flocks, wives and children and their idols made Jacob mad.

This sin would have great consequence, as Jacob pointed out.
As the other peoples around them, would learn and give a shout.

These brothers were united in their motivation: rage.
Jacob’s curse upon their anger, not on the men at this stage.

James wisely reminds us, be quick to listen, slow to speak,
slow to anger in our hearts as humility and patience we do seek.

God’s anger it is perfect, his justice just and right.
Man’s anger it is violent, devious and looking for a fight.

The rage of man is evidence of their rejection of God.
Psalm 2 shows people united in rage, taking up their own rod.

They think they’re bringing justice, that they’re doing what is right.
But their rage in their own strength, with God sets up a fight.

Jacob despised the brothers deception and the death it brought
Their actions didn’t bring peace and blessing, revenge the nations sought.

The fathers heart declares the separation from the hearts of his sons.
They followed self fulfillment, not after God’s glory run.

God narrowing the path, pointing to Messiah.
The oldest three all aside, all considered a pariah.

When bad things happen to me, When I want to repay
Do I act in my own strength and sin, or trust him and obey?

They thought this act would give them strength, the warriors of Israel.
Instead they both were scattered, their own land did not fill.

When dividing up the land, Simeon in the midst of Judah placed
Likewise Levi given cities, His land harder to trace.

Simeon’s land was barren, and they largely disappeared
Levi supported by the others, but in the end God called him near.

Levi’s curse reversed, it then became a blessing.
When Moses destroyed the calf, all the Levites came to him rushing.

The Levites this time used their swords for God’s will
They stood against their brothers, who with idols did evil.

The Levites sanctified, became holy to the Lord.
Their zealousness to turn to God, became keepers of his Word

The wrath of man deceitful, leading to a curse.
Trust Jesus as the Judge, his ways the best, while ours the worst.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-09-18
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:7-11 (7)

Christ unique as a man, Delighted in God’s will.
As we are called, submit to Christ, with his Spirit he does fill.

We follow Christ in his purpose, to do the will of God.
Follow Christ in his rejection, rejected by the world.

Follow Christ in his obedience, in first Peter four: seven
Two commands are given here, be of sound judgment and sober spirit.

Then in seven through eleven, to be sober, love and serve all for the glory of God.
This is the reason for everything, all else is vain, foolish and slipshod.

To live a life of sobriety. This does not mean being a killjoy.
Sobriety is serious minded, but filled with life and joy.

A life of sobriety lived with an eternal perspective.
This results in a life of temperance, self control and for him to live.

Temperance leads to a life of prayer, from these a life of love.
These finely lead to our ultimate life, the Glory of God above.

All things in life come to an end, the sermon, day, week, year.
Every story, every wait, our life, history and fear.

The age of man’s rebellion is coming to an end.
The consummation, return of Christ, his glory he will send.

Psalm one and two introduce the Bible in its whole.
All of history reflected here, all life and all our soul,

The nations conspire against the Lord, hating law, family, gender.
Anything that reflects his hand, they want to burst and be a bender.

The final chain they can’t burst off, though they surely try.
The end of life, when all is past, the day will come they die.

The end of all when God puts his King on his holy hill.
Satan tried to take and steal, to bend history to his will.

The ten toes of the time of Daniel, the ten kings of the earth
The rock of Christ will shatter, give the earth new birth.

Revelation coming, showing the coming wrath of God.
The reaping of the earth. God reigning with a firm rod.

Judgment / Rewards are coming. God sitting on his holy hill.
The end is certainly coming. All history will be fulfilled.

This end is final, comprehensive. Christ could come today.
The end is near, Christ is enthroned, he could be on his way.

The time is near, it is at hand, our lives they will not last.
Comparing to eternity, this time is going fast.

How should we behave, in light of this sobering truth?
Live for Christ, viewing eternity, living with temperance and the truth.

“Sound judgment”, “Sober spirit”, our mind, life, what we do?
Christ took the demoniac and gave him a sound mind to know the truth.

The world is foaming at the mouth, against all that’s good and right.
We need to fill our mind with his word, on him to set our sight.

We like to see how big we are. We need to see we’re small.
Why God chose to come and save us? He’s great over all.

Sober minded in our hope, First Peter one: thirteen
Fix our hope completely on his grace, when he comes to be seen.

Live every day as if our last. Live fully for his will.
Set our hope on his return, we’ll give account, before him be still.

Be sober, abstain from wine. Stand firm and don’t be bent.
Don’t be drunk for this world, what we do, go, buy and rent.

Live in moderation, what we eat, drink, sleep and own.
Not by our recreation, pleasure we’ll give account of the seeds that were sown.

Enemies of the cross of Christ. God is: eat and own and do.
We wait for our great king, on the end, to keep our view.

Known by lives of self control, for his Glory not for ours.
Living a life of prayer, not self-indulgence at all hours.

If living for the flesh, you will find it hard to pray.
But this life of prayer is necessary, to walk with him each day.

Seeking the will of God, Who He wants us to be.
We need to be in prayer, only in this way to see.

Do you want to live for God? Become a man of prayer?
This quality is powerful, though also very rare.

The opposite of the world: a life that’s known by prayer.
Dependent on him alone, like a child to come and share.

Next week we’ll look at the result. A life that’s full of love.
Loving brother, sister, a love from God above.

Bible Study Fellowship – Monday, 2022-09-19
Cary Michalak
Genesis to Malachi

Don’t go to seminary and lose your faith.
Facts are good, Heart is great.

Israel many inventions has, Immigrants more per capita than any land.
The Holy Land, small and quite obscure, but great things come from this small, rugged band.

God chose Israel, his people to be
Jesus Messiah, from them, to set the world free

Israel’s part in God’s plan matters to believers today. [AIM]
This is true, no matter what men may say.

God reveals himself in two ways: General, Creation, and Special, the Son.
God’s special was varied, to the people and prophets he knew each one.

God doesn’t just want us to know figures and facts,
But to know him in person and to see his loving acts.

The Bible is God’s filter for our minds he has given.
It’s the way we can know, and be open with him living.

God reveals himself so we can know him. [Principle 1]
But why choose Israel if he knew we would fail him.

Why not just send, Jesus straight out?
It’s a continual story, of restoration, no doubt.

Why people? Why Israel? Why you and me?
When we sinned and rebelled, why not just cut us free?

God made a way, to bring us all back.
Promised to crush the head of the serpent’s attack.

God in his grace chose Noah, Abraham, Moses.
Through Israel to all bring the gospel. Let them all know this.

Those of faith, of all Abraham’s sons.
Blessed by God, through them, his purpose still runs.

How did God bring it? Through Israel come?
A Savior, new Israel, God’s one true son.

Jesus repeated Israel’s time.
Egypt, wilderness, tempted, He came out just fine.

Jesus fulfilled, obeyed God all the way.
He came to bring grace, not just law to obey.

Why the law? What’s the purpose? Why did God send?
To point to our sin. Our knees in repentance to bend.

On our own we’re unable to trust and obey.
The law shows us God and our weakness each day.

The Law cannot save us. Only Christ can.
He sent us a Savior, Christ the perfect God-man.

The church continues the mission, though doesn’t replace.
We’re not seen by our blood line, but the blood on his face.

The church to point to him, to know and obey.
Our purpose in life to yield and to worship each day.

Other purposes lacking, they always fall short.
They can distract us, but in the end fall apart.

As we know him and follow, he redeems us from sin.
God redeems the world so we can be with him. [Principle 2]

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-09-21
Dean Good
Psalm 133 (Series: Psalms)

Five points about unity, in Psalm one thirty three.
Unity among brothers is truly rare to see.

Families see each other’s sin and start to annoy.
For example Joseph sold as a slave, by his brothers when he was a boy.

David, the author, had no peace. His home a constant battle.
His brothers and sons against each other, the peace would often rattle.

Unity among brethren through rare, it is good.
And pleasant it always is, when lived the way it should.

Unity is fragrant, like a fire or perfume.
The oil is holy to sanctify me and you.

The world sees this unity and is attracted.
It’s a joy to see how the brethren reacted.

The unity is refreshing, breathing life like the dew.
In dry and arid places where rains are very few.

Unity among brethren it is all divine.
The blessing of God, in him we only find.

Only in God is true unity to be found.
As man dwells with God, in him is our faith ground.

When with God we live, him working in us
Unity is found, this truth is a must.

When we all do live, only for ourselves.
With division and strife, we all are to dwell.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday School, 2022-09-25
Chris Pierre
Genesis 49

A father’s final blessing in verses one and two.
Looking at the acts of God, foretelling what he’ll do.

Addressing the good things, and the bad things too.
Exposing and forgiving sin, God’s chosen will hold through.

Judah the fourth brother, in verses eight to twelve.
Judah will lead his brothers, they will all bow down.

Judah’s leadership is future, the coming not quite yet.
Reuben’s double blessing to Joseph, and the birthright Judah was to get.

Judah’s leadership was spoken, his brothers would confess.
Judah’s name means “praise”, his brothers in agreement would say “yes.”

Judah led his brothers from killing Joseph, he spoke, his brothers did.
He confessed his sin with Tamar, and spoke up when Joseph’s cup with Benjamin hid.

Judah’s words were backed with action, their tribe the first to move.
Judah and his descendants, had leadership that was true.

Judah’s name was adapted by all the brothers, as they are now called the “Jews”.
“Judea” the land of Israel, his name they all did choose.

Judah the conquering lion, pictured, proven, present too.
He is the conquering lion, dangerous to all who oppose what’s true.

David came from Judah. Their enemies he did defeat.
The Lion of Judah coming later, in Revelation five again we’ll meet.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah, worthy to open the scroll.
The stem and root of Jesse, all history he controls.

Judah the Ruling King, holds the scepter and the staff.
The ruling King forever, his kingship it would last.

Judah the king eternal… until Shiloh comes
All people will obey this king, the one who overcomes.

Judah the Blessed One, the coming Messiah King
The final scrolls belong to him, He did the kingdom bring.

His foal tied to the grape vine. He the grapes would eat.
The kingdom of Messiah, has abundance at his feet.

Washing clothes in wine, abundance and conquering King.
He will harvest the earth. Judgment will from him ring.

Clothed with a blood dripped robe, treading the winepress of God.
God has ultimate vengeance, judgment finally coming with his rod.

“His eyes are dull with wine”, abundance in provision
“His teeth are white from milk”, peace in all his vision.

The king came to his own, born in Bethlehem.
Romans destroyed Jewish records, the tribe of Judah can’t be proven again.

These words they are all written, that we may know believe.
Jesus, the Lion of Judah, for salvation to receive.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Sunday, 2022-09-25
Pastor Dean Good
1 Peter 4:7-11

Jesus Christ the obedient Son,
only he is the righteous, obedient one.

We like him to be serious, joyful, sober,
Walk with him till life is over.

Walk in love, it brings all together in right
“Love” hard to define, “agape” means esteem, delight

Love to God, to men, to a food
We use and abuse it, though it is good.

“Love: to consider others higher than self.
Longsuffering, kind, putting others before myself.

True love is supernatural, not based on ourselves.
From the Holy Spirit, when with us, he does dwell.

Love is primary, focused, ardent, merciful, practical.
Do all in love for the glory of God, this our spirit can tell.

Expressing love to all those I meet, speak and do, what and how,
Not to just accomplish my plan, but to esteem others now.

A child barges in just looking for attention.
Treat with patient love, with love to the child mention.

Don’t yell, or shout at others mistakes.
This is the patience that true love takes.

Love over project, plans, expectations.
How do I treat people? What are the consequences?

Love our neighbor, long or short.
How we respond shows our heart.

Love our enemies, bless those who curse.
Concerned for them, not wishing them worse.

Love your brother, a fellow believer.
This is how we are known, How God did deliver.

If we are a Christian, we have love.
Keep it fervent, stretched out from above.

Love doesn’t just talk, Love truly loves.
Not by your effort, that you can do
God truly loves, he does it in you.

Love has eternal perspective, only by God’s strength.
He fills us with his Spirit, for eternal length.

We give to our children, how much more he to us?
The kingdom of heaven, we need to ask and to trust.

When he does it we know, how foolish, angry we are.
We need to ask him, for his glory and power.

Love it is merciful, covers over all sins.
Not ignoring or hiding, but let healing begin.

The wicked often love to expose others sin.
Discuss, amplify and then do it again.

Christ covers our sin, we don’t need to live in shame.
As we cover others sins, we are doing the same.

God has mercy on us, and we can pray for others.
We want mercy for all, to call them sisters and brothers.

Revenge, vengeance excluded, God will make all things right.
We are looking to love, not given to fight.

Hatred wants to divide, to gossip and share.
Of our tendency to hate, we need to be aware.

Do I talk about others sins and mention their wrongs?
This is not love, if it’s what our heart truly longs.

If we don’t forgive, Christ will do likewise to us.
Our sin it is deep, in his forgiveness we trust.

The way we love, he will love us, too.
Am I patient/impatient, harsh/merciful, what do I do?

Elders, looking to give, to help, invite over.
Christians together in the world, from his love , carry-over.

Bible Study Fellowship – Monday, 2022-09-26
Cary Michalak
1 Kings 11–14; 2 Chronicles 10–12

Defense of sin: no harm is done
Solomon went after other gods. He just wanted fun.

God says he’ll take the kingdom away.
Ten to another, two will stay.

Solomon wise, rich and blessed,
but no human ruler can bring true rest.

Our society feels that we can do it.
Education, laws and we’ll see fruit.

Rehoboam looks for advice,
how to treat them harsh or nice.

Jeroboam raises up false gods to worship.
But God’s in control, and has full Lordship.

God raised up adversaries, brought death and loss.
The consequences of sin continued and brought dross.

Adams sin, and David’s too
Solomon’s sin brought damage to the people, it’s true.

Sin causes damage and leads to division (Principle 1)
Jeroboam doesn’t believe God’s promise to use him.

Jeroboam keeps the people from to Jerusalem going.
Saying too much trouble, the inconvenience showing.

Sets up gold calves closer by
Gives a new way for the people to try.

Aaron made this same attempt.
Worship this way, not at God’s tent.

Do we seek convenience as well?
To make worship easy… Does this lead to hell?

Is online worship true worship today?
The Bible shows people together to pray.

Worshiping God within our plans
The Israelites didn’t reject Jeroboam’s ban.

Make it easy, get it done.
Check the box and make it fun.

The impact of sin goes far, deep and wide.
The huge consequences will not always hide.

We don’t know how far it will go.
Do the sins of your parents and friends now show?

God uses sin for his purposes, great.
But sin we are still to greatly hate.

Sin brought Jeroboam’s destruction and end.
The prophet came, this message to send.

The prophet then deceived himself.
Stopped to eat and rest himself.

For his sin he was punished, though deceived.
We need to follow God and his Word receive.

Follow God, not any man.
Don’t make excuses, as we always can.

False teachers will come, saying nice words.
We need to follow what from the Word we have heard.

Jeroboam knew but turned away.
How often do we do the same each day?

Our feelings, desires, we follow and go.
Our actions reveal our heart to show.

We often put up a fake an act.
God knows our hearts, that our faith has lack.

God will not be mocked, ignored, pushed aside.
He’s come to us, with us to abide.

We will reap what we have sewn.
To God the truth will all be known.

Want distraction, pick up a phone.
It all comes back, for sin to atone.

Sin’s destruction escalates when God’s grace is refused. (Principle 2)
Lord, help me to repent, not ignore and refuse.

Grace Church of North Olmsted – Wednesday, 2022-09-28
Daniel Pierre
Psalm 135 (Series: Psalms)

Praise the Lord, why and how
God’s creation and works given now.

Praise, Praise, Praise, Praise, Praise, five times to start
our response to his presence to praise from the heart.

We’re now corrupt, seek our own praise.
Our own character and works to raise.

Draw near to God, it’s a big deal.
a privilege to responsibility, keep it real.

Worship done as God has said,
In truth and life, in love not dread.

Praise the Lord, Praise his name.
“I am” is who he is, his fame.

Servants/Slaves praise him too.
Now called christian/friends it’s true.

He is lovely, our desire one
We long to worship God the Son.

God has chosen, he elects.
Not for our strength, does he select.

Salvation to the Lord belongs.
All souls created and to him belong,
let us now all sing his song.

God is good and he is great.
His ways over, greater we can’t relate.

God is sovereign over all. From history to molecules.
All knowing, all powerful, His will it never stalls.

God has judgment. He has wrath.
He owns each soul and determines each path.

God is irresistible: all nations, all people will know.
God is generous and compassionate: all his good works will show.

God is faithful, everlasting, the only eternal being.
Changless, worthy of our praise. His attributes we sing.

The idols, made of metal, mute, cannot see, hear, say.
Those who trust and follow them will be like them at the end of the day.

Deaf, dead can’t follow God
God’s servants will upon them trod.

Bless the Lord all who revere, bless the Lord from Zion.
God included you and me, to worship the heavenly Lion.

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