Do you ever have trouble with anger? When someone has wronged you, do you struggle to forgive them? In what is surely one of the most tender scenes in all of Scripture, Joseph “fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept . . . And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them.” (Genesis 45:14-15). The scene of Joseph embracing and kissing those brothers who had wronged him is unsurpassed in the Bible, with exception of Lord loving and even kissing the one who had betrayed him.
Joseph has given us a wonderful model of forgiveness. But don’t be fooled; forgiveness is not easy. We often make forgiveness even more difficult by false assumptions about the meaning of forgiveness. I want to examine some of those false assumptions. Forgiveness is not overlooking the wrong. Joseph did not pretend that nothing had ever happened. Joseph clearly said in Genesis 50:20, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Joseph did not minimize the wrong they had done.
Forgiveness is not excusing the wrong. Forgiveness is not finding excuses for the wrong that was done. What happened was not the result of a bad home environment, poverty or any of the other things that society uses to excuse sin! Forgiveness is not minimizing the wrong. What does Joseph say, “Brothers, don’t worry about it, it was not that big a deal!” Forgiveness never meant that Joseph had minimized the pain of what had happened to him.
Forgiveness is not taking the blame for the wrong. Joseph did not say, “It’s ok brothers; I know it was my fault. I should have never worn my fancy robe of many colors into the field. I should never have told you about those dreams.” Forgiveness did not mean that Joseph had to take the blame for what had happened. No matter what Joseph said or did, it did not excuse what his brothers had done.
Extending forgiveness is hard. But forgiveness is a decision to bring pain to an end. In order to forgive I must let go of my anger, resentment, bitterness, hurt, and pride. Forgiveness is hard but hate and anger is harder. John MacArthur suggests: Forgiveness “means ending the bitterness, [setting anger aside,] and refusing to dwell on the offense that has been forgiven. It is a complete letting go of any thought of retaliation or reprisal.” I like that definition – setting anger aside.
Whom do you need to forgive today? How will you practically take measures towards setting your anger aside and forgiving that person?
Sunday Worship
Pastor Glen will continue the sermon series, Ephesians: Our Identity and Purpose! His sermon this Sunday is “When I’m Angry” based upon Ephesians 4:26-27. Please read this text in preparation for worship.
Called Congregational Meeting
The Session has called a congregational meeting to consider a resolution regarding the purchase of the building and property we are now leasing. The meeting will be immediately after worship on August 28th. PLEASE mark your calendars now to attend this important meeting.
Adult Sunday School
Our Adult Sunday school class will meet this Sunday immediately after worship in the large Sunday school room. Please join Janet Coiner and others for a wonderful time around God’s Word!! We will be studying Mark 9: Mountaintop Experiences and Jesus’ Teachings! Please bring your Bible!!
Exploring Hope Class
Exploring Hope is a great first step for learning more about who we are as a church family and what it means to have a relationship with Christ.
You will hear about Hope’s beliefs, history, mission, vision, as well as learn about ways you can get involved at a deeper level, including through church membership. Our next class begins this Sunday, August 21st and will continue the following Sunday, August 28th. The class is during the Sunday School hour (10:45 a.m.).
Fall Church Picnic
Mark your calendars NOW for our Fall Church Picnic – September 11 at Lake Forest Lodge (AKA McGann’s Cabin) – 21 Page Hollow Lane, Lyndhurst, Virginia (2 miles past the Sherando Lake entrance). You are invited to bring a side dish or a dessert to share, as well as lawn chairs. The church is providing chicken. Please sign-up on the sheet in our welcome center!
Bless Every Home
Let’s ALL participate in blessing every home in our neighborhoods by intentional pray-care-share lifestyles! PLEASE check out the website: www.blesseveryhome.com!
Tithes and Offerings
An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, online giving opportunities are available on the website.
July Financial Report
Offerings: Monthly: $16,821.96 YTD: $116,288.57
Expenses: Monthly: $14,438.34 YTD: $106,870.95
We have also received monies designated for our capital campaign and building fund. In July we received $2,930.84 for restricted giving and $2,215.00 in our capital campaign.
Amazon Smile
Support Hope Community Church by choosing us as your Amazon Smile charity. Simply login to Amazon. In the upper left corner, Click Amazon Smile. If you are supporting a charity already, you will see that name. Click the dropdown arrow. Click “Change Charity”. Search for “Hope Community Church Waynesboro”. Click and select.
Mission Corner
Tim Stewart shared this information about the Dunamis Course from Chris Haynes:
There is a huge problem with false teaching in this area by those who hold to the Prosperity Gospel, as well as to a bit lesser degree by churches influenced by the Bethel Church Movement. On the other hand, there are churches that really only give lip service to the Holy Spirit and see the miraculous gifts ceasing with the 1st century apostolic church. PRMI’s Dunamis Course seeks to bring biblical insight and correction to both extremes.
We had a modest turnout this time, but we had a wide-range of those attending from leaders of the Czech Catholic charismatic movement to Southern Baptist missionaries. Interest seems to be building for the next set of courses scheduled to begin in late fall. Pray that we will really expand the impact of Dunamis as the International Baptist Church of Prague and the Catholic charismatic community really begin to publicize and promote it.
Comfort Care
- Cans of ginger ale
- Small individual packs of pretzels and crackers (or some kind of small salty snack for patients)
- Small pieces of individually wrapped chocolates
- K-cup iced tea & regular coffee (in small packages – we don’t go through Costco size quickly enough)
Missions Team is active keeping in touch with our missionaries and other ministries. Please keep updated! You can visit our website and go to the Outreach Page.
Bible Study Fellowship
Prayer Meeting
Our Weekly Prayer meeting is held at our church facility each Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. We invite you to join with us as we seek the Lord’s face!
August Birthdays
AnnaBelle Severs (8/18); Glen Holman & Josh Lucas (8/20); Tim Stewart (8/21); Noah King (8/23); Dianne Stewart (8/31)