Senior Pastor's Blog

Why do we baptize infants?

kevin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:01:37 +0000

God's blessed our congregation with lots and lots of children! Last night, I brought two of my own up to the church for PoweredUP, our midweek children's ministry for those kids in K-5th grade. They were greeted by many friends. It's exciting to see so many young souls growing in the love of God and each other.

Are you coming to the "family reunion?"

kevin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:53:02 +0000

We try to make family meals a priority in our house. Trust me: it doesn’t always work, and sometimes it’s a hilarious disaster, but it remains a priority. When we can make it happen, we do.

The ritual is pretty simple. After corralling the kids through a day of school, Molly summons the strength to prepare a meal while the punks do homework or play. God bless her. Yikes. It ain’t easy, but she somehow gets it done.

Youth Membership Class

kevin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:32:31 +0000

This Saturday, our youth leader, Patrick, and I will start walking our youth through a membership class specifically designed for them. Meeting over three scheduled Saturday mornings (see our church calendar or bulletin for more information), we will explore three things:

Perspective

Note from PK | Why do we "March for Life?"

kevin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:13:44 +0000

In just a few short days, a bus from Murrysville Community Church will be heading down to Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life. If history is any indicator, there will be empty seats on that bus.

Related Resources

March for Life in Washington, DC

Gospel Transformation, Session 2, starts this week!

kevin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:39:36 +0000

Tonight (1/18/2012), we will start the second 10-week session of our Gospel Transformation Bible study. So, what is Gospel Transformation?

From the publisher:

Bible and the Basics | Session Two Resources

kevin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:02:52 +0000

Here are the resources from our second session of The Bible and the Basics.

These cover the books of history: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Related Resources

Through the Bible in 2012 | January 15-21, 2012

kevin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:20:47 +0000

Here are this week's daily readings!

January 15
Genesis 34-35
Psalm 15
Acts 9:1-19
Matthew 6:16-24

January 16
Genesis 36
Psalm 16
Acts 9:20-43
Matthew 6:25-34

January 17
Genesis 37-38
Psalm 17
Acts 10:1-23
Matthew 7:1-14

January 18
Genesis 39-40
Psalm 18:1-24
Acts 10:24-48
Matthew 7:15-29

Bible and the Basics | Session One Resources

kevin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:52:50 +0000

As promised, here are the resources from our first session of The Bible and the Basics.

These cover the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Related Resources

Through the Bible in 2012 | January 8-14, 2012

kevin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:56:46 +0000

How are your Bible readings coming along? Here are this week's readings in case you're joining us late OR lost your weekly email or the hard copy previously distributed. If it's the later, shoot me an email. We'll get you new copies!

January 8

Genesis 21-23
Psalm 8
Acts 5:1-16
Matthew 4:12-17

January 9

Genesis 24
Psalm 9
Acts 5:17-42
Matthew 4:18-25

Sermon Note | Lean on God's wisdom, not your own

kevin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:39:34 +0000

"Trust in the Lord will all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

- Proverbs 3:5-6

Sermon Note | Ordering your priorities

kevin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:27:43 +0000

Many if not most Americans are very time conscious people. We keep track of time on watches, cell phones, wall clocks, table clocks, business signage, television sets, and computer screens. We set alarms to wake us up and remind us of approaching meetings. We not only notice, but sometimes even take offense, when our friends and associates are late to get-togethers and meetings. If we wait too long in the ATM or fast-food line, we get edgy and irritable.

Sermon Note | Shaping your perspective

kevin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:24:38 +0000

I still remember the day. We were driving home, passing by the local Dodge dealership. Through squinting eyes, I could barely make out the large letters advertising the newest deal on a quality Dodge vehicle. My dad asked me to read it; I couldn’t. Within a week or two, I was wearing glasses – plastic rim, brown, ugly, early 1980’s glasses. Can anyone say chick magnet?

Sermon Note | This Sunday: "When Silence Isn't Golden"

kevin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:08:03 +0000

Growing up, I (maybe like you) enjoyed playing street hockey in the winter. After school, my buddies and I would meet at our friend Jimmy's house. He lived on an almost dead-end street. With only a few cars passing by each hour, it was the perfect setting for a bunch of wannabe Wayne Gretzkys, Gilbert Perraults, and Mario Lemieuxs to battle for an imaginary Stanley Cup.

Sermon Note | Enjoying more, worrying less

kevin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:56:53 +0000

Consider your average day. Maybe today. Maybe yesterday. How much of it did you spend worrying?

Did you worry about finances? Did you worry about juggling the demands of a busy schedule? Did you worry about the results of a medical test, yours or a loved one’s? Did you worry about your job? Did you worry about the well-being of your friends and family members? Did you worry about others’ perception of you?

Sermon Note | Re-evaluating the shape of your life

kevin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:25:47 +0000

We spend our lives doing so many things. I dare say that most of us try to do way too many things. We Americans are often portrayed as a nation of couch-loving, beer-swilling Homer Simpsons, but that’s not what I see as a pastor. I see people burning the candle at both ends almost constantly.

Sermon Note | The Promise of a Fresh Start

kevin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:50:14 +0000

I dare say that we all like fresh starts. We like a clean slate, a limitless horizon of possibilities.

It starts early, too. I see it in my kids. We have crayons scattered all over our house. They’re old, sometimes broken, and scattered. I find them in the couch, under the carpet, behind the bookcase, and sometimes even in the shower! By the way, who “colors” in the shower?

Related Resources

Are You Revolving or Resolving?

Thru the Bible in 2012 | Have you already fallen off the Bible Bus?

kevin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:53:13 +0000

Honestly, how are you doing in our journey through the Bible in 2012? Are you chugging right along, eagerly reading every day? Are you depressed that you’ve already fallen off the Bible Bus, so to speak?

Wherever you are, there is still time to have a great start to the New Year in God’s Word! We’re only on the third day of our journey! Don’t lose heart! Steel your resolve! If you’re behind, you can still catch up!

In case you missed them, our readings for this week are:

Day One – January 1 (Matthew 1:1-17; Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 1; Genesis 1-2)

Note from PK

kevin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:26:13 +0000

Hello, everyone!

It’s a new year! 2011 is almost gone, and 2012 is almost officially underway. Whether you’re rejoicing, grieving, or find yourself feeling a curious mixture of both with the close of the new year, let’s all remember that God is working together all things for the good of those he’s called according to his purpose (Romans 8). We don’t need to dread the passing of an old year or fear the advent of a new one. Our glorious future in Christ is certain, and we’re closer to it now than ever before.

Officer Nominations | How do we recognize qualified candidates?

kevin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:45:55 +0000

The following is the cover text for our leader nomination form, distributed this Sunday. Please review it as you prayerfully consider who God might be calling to serve as an elder or deacon at MCC.

Update| Through the Bible in 2012!

kevin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:23:36 +0000

Hello, everyone!

First, I want to thank everyone who already indicated a desire to participate and even passed along some suggestions regarding our congregation-wide quest to read through the entire Bible in 2012. We are all set to proceed!

Secondly, here is how it’s going to work.

Planting | An update about Jeannette, PA

kevin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:01:05 +0000

This week, our elders will consider the preliminary church planting vision for Jeannette. If approved, we will then share the vision with our deacons and then the church as a whole. A formal request will also go to our Presbytery’s Mission to North America committee later this month. If approved there, it will go to our Presbytery, ideally in January.

Right now, we envision exerting most church planting efforts in 2012 toward preparation. Three things would mark our effort in this coming year:

Through the Bible in 2012!

kevin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:53:10 +0000

Hello!

Yesterday, during our time of announcements, I passed along that we’re planning to launch a year-long campaign to read through the Bible as a congregation. I’d love for you to join us for the journey. Right now, and I am more than open to suggestions, here is what I envision:

A hardcopy reading plan

Participants will receive a Bible reading plan for the whole year in hard copy format. They could then tuck it in their Bible and refer to it on a daily basis. Ideally, we would distribute these in late December.

Sermon Manuscript | When the Beloved are Bewitched

kevin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:46:40 +0000

Here is the manuscript from Sunday's message, "When the Beloved are Bewitched," based on Galatians 3:1-9.

Related Resources

When the Beloved Are Bewitched

Sermon Resource | Luther's "Here I Stand"

kevin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:13:16 +0000

Here is Max McLean's reading of Martin Luther's speech, "Here I Stand." Enjoy on this Reformation Day!

Safe and secure from all alarm

kevin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:41:25 +0000

As Reformation Day approaches, it is good to remember that whenever we seek acceptance before the throne of God by virtue of our works, whether in whole or in part, we reject the death of Christ as insufficient at best and utterly meaningless at worst.   

The Pharisees of the Gospels taught salvation without Jesus. The Judaizers of Paul's epistle to the Galatians taught salvation with Jesus, but also human effort. Paul taught the true gospel: salvation by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.   