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The Invitation |
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Your existence on this earth is not an accident or a random occurrence. You are here because the God of the universe chose to create life. God created humans to be in fellowship with Him. A person will not find true happiness and fulfillment in life until he or she is in a relationship with God. Human rebelliousness, a desire to live life harmful to oneself and to others, has separated us from God. This is called sin in the Bible. Sin is characterized by destruction and leads ultimately to death. The Good News of the Bible is that God has sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sin. Jesus was cruelly killed upon a cross (crucified) so that we might be offered pardon and accepted fully by God. On the third day after his death, God raised Jesus to eternal life (the resurrection). Jesus is now with God the Father and will someday return to earth to put an end to human history. You can know God and belong to His family right now through giving yourself as a commitment to Jesus as your Lord and Savior. When a person asks Jesus to enter his or her heart a number of things happen. First, your sins are removed (forgiven), and you become a child of God, perfect in His sight. Second, the Holy Spirit (God’s presence in human life) comes into your life to guide you and be present with you. Third, you begin to life your life for God. The Bible talks about this as being born again. And just as a baby needs a family to love, guide and nurture it, you need a Christian family to love you, guide you, and nurture you. The church is God’s provision for an earthly family for His children. The Bible is God’s guide to individuals and the church. If you have made the decision to belong to God by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, then you need to follow that decision by becoming an active part of one of God’s church families. Seek a church that follows the teachings of the Bible, especially the part that affirms Jesus Christ as the only way to be right with God. There are a number of such churches in this area. Countryside United Methodist Church is one that welcomes you in the name of Jesus.
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COUNTRYSIDE |
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Open Hearts. |
