The Vision

10 Aug Karen Terry; 5300 Etgen; Snyder 79549 11 Aug Hannah Hull; 5860 W. Hwy 180; Snyder 79549 13 Aug Chiva Pitner; 3003 33rd St.; Snyder 79549 13 Aug Sophia Cerda; 10001 Cherokee Rd.; Hermleigh 79526 14 Aug Kolton Chapman; 3781 Sunset; Snyder 79549 15 Aug Michael Cortez; 4120 Kerville Ave.; Snyder 79549 15 Aug Wanda York; 1212 8th St.; Snyder 79549 15 Aug Ric Allen; 3104 Ave. B; Snyder 79549 16 Aug Brylee Tanner; 311 31st St.; Snyder 79549 18 Aug Reagan Stewart; 2400 32nd St.; Snyder 79549 18 Aug Lane Whitefield; 1601 Hilltop Lane; Snyder 79549 20 Aug Jay Goodwin; 1605 Preston Trl.; Snyder 79549 22 Aug Ryleigh Stewart; 2400 32nd St.; Snyder 79549 28 Aug Logan Whitefield; 2805 36th St.; Snyder 79549 31 Aug Martha Lara; 1021 37th St. #1848; Snyder 79549 August Anniversaries 14 Aug Mark & Trena Whitmire; 2626 CR 317 Snyder 79549 14 Aug Luke & Kathryn Nance; 314 31st St; Snyder 79549 15 Aug Allen & Roxanne Paris; 4009 Irving Snyder 79549 16 Aug James & Janet Wesson; 2201 45th St.;  Snyder 79549 17 Aug Ric & Marcia Allen; 3104 Ave B.;  Snyder 79549

Prayer Requests Marcia Allen-health concerns Betty Andress-(mother of Paula Bowden)-health concerns Paula Bowden-loss of loved one Shanna Covington-health concerns Liz & Tommy DeLoera-health concerns Marc Eilenstein (father of Jennifer Stidham)-health concerns Jane Floyd-health concerns Bertha Gilbert-health concerns Jay Goodwin-health concerns Sam Kitching-health concerns Martha Lara-health concerns Sue Luft-health concerns Darrell Mize-health concerns Patricia Paris-health concerns   Edwin Parks-health concerns  Wilma Prater (mother of Paula Whitefield)-health concerns  John Ramirez-health concerns Augustine Ramos-personal issues Patsy Roe-health concerns Brantley Stephens-personal issues Jennifer Stewart-health concerns Bruce & Karen Stidham (parents of Matt)-health concerns Mike Torres-personal issues James & Janet Wesson-health concerns Andy & Alissa Whitefield-Foster care & Adoption James Whitefield-health concerns Ellen Whitmire-(sister-in-law of Mark Whitmire)-health concerns Evelyn Whitmire-(mother of Mark Whitmire)-health concerns

Sunday in our Bible study we spoke about what it means to fear God, and we noticed that there are a wide range of views on what this means. Some even recounted being taught to be terrified of the Father in the past. We also referenced a sermon by the great preacher Jonathan Edwards from July 8th, 1741. The Title of that sermon was “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” and Edwards could not finish the sermon that day. So many in the congregation were crying out and weeping because they were so terrified of hell based on the words of Edwards that day. I spoke about the abhorrent theology present in the sermon as well. You can read the sermon for yourself, but I want to share a quote from this sermon that illustrates the point. "The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: His wrath towards you burns like fire; He looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire; He is of purer eyes that to bear to have you in His sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in His eyes than the more hateful venomous serpent is in ours.” - Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Effective as this type of preaching may have been, this is not what the Bible tells us about God! Let’s look at 1 John. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.  1 Jn 4:18-19 NIV God doesn’t abhor you. He loves you, and he loved you even when you didn’t love him! This is the very reason that Jesus came into the world; not that God abhorred you and couldn’t even look at you, but he so loved you that he sent his only Son! Notice also John’s admonition that in love there is no fear. Why? Because fear has to do with punishment. And just to be clear, there is no condemnation (punishment) for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1). For those who are in Christ Jesus, there is no fear of punishment! Trying to scare the Hell out of people may make for effective preaching, but it distorts the message of Scripture. God isn’t eager to destroy you. He paid the ultimate price for you! You are loved, you are precious, and as a loving Father he pleads with you to love him as well. And those who have chosen to love him in Christ Jesus have no reason to fear. And yet, we are told that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Prov. 9:10 So what does it mean to fear God? We’ll talk about that Sunday morning. See you there!         Matt