What a great weekend of ministry!
I participated in the Cultural Encounter and discovered much more about the cultures and religions in the Nashville area. As the nations are coming to Middle Tennessee, missions look much different today.
We had a great Mother’s Day service, with my wife Beth sharing an inspiring message for Moms, in which we all benefited.
SERMON
FULL SERVICE
We had another visitation of severe storms in middle Tennessee. I am weary of this. My heart breaks for those impacted negatively by winds and floods.
An increased population in our region, spread across more land, means certain interaction with natural weather phenomena. Do we have more superstorms due to global warming? Perhaps. Is there more concrete preventing absorption in the soil? Most definitely. The waterways can be controlled by dams for some time, but those limitations are eventually exposed.
We are under God’s sovereignty on the land and under the sky. As technology advances and humanity progresses, we still cower from the storm. May this vulnerability keep us humble under God’s great providence.
Sunday’s service was uplifting. It was great to have Pastor Aubrey back leading us in worship music. His team blessed us!
My message was from John 15:9-17, as we asked, “Am I a good friend to God?” It was a message that called us to evaluation, and I am using the Scriptures to hold myself accountable. Watch, listen, and be blessed!
WATCH SERMON
WATCH FULL SERVICE
On May 1, 2024, the United Methodist Church (UMC) lifted the ban on ordaining gay clergy at their General Conference. While this is not surprising, it is still jarring.
CIL Church believes that active, unrepentant homosexual behavior is contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures. While Christ calls us to love all people, that love should lead people to repent of sin. I feel sorrow that so many in the UMC ignore Scripture or reinterpret such passages that prohibit homosexual behavior.
It is worth noting that about 1/4 of UMC churches already left the denomination over this issue, with “… about 7,600 church congregations disaffiliating from the denomination since 2019 (see article in Christianity Today).”
Since I am not a part of the UMC, I am under no obligation or expectation to comment on this change. However, as a church historian, I must point out this monumental shift in what was the third-largest denomination in America. This decision further illustrates the divide in the American church, as many churches and believers have shifted from what Christians have always believed.
As a pastor, I want to be clear about where our church stands on this issue at this time of shifting, as I did earlier in this article. Our church’s official position is stated on http://www.cil.church under the categories “What We Believe” and “People.” You can access these statements on human sexuality at this link
May the love of Christ continue to draw us to repentance and holiness.
What great services we had today at Christ Is Love Church. We looked at Philip’s ministry to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) and discovered God’s movements in our lives. If you missed the service, be blessed by these videos:
SERMON ONLY
FULL SERVICE
It takes courage, fortitude, grit, a stick-to-it resolve, and a learn-from-your-mistake mindset to build something significant. It takes minimal effort or intelligence to tear something down.
KEEP BUILDING your faith, family, friend group, career, business, academic profile, company, health, project, church, or whatever God has put on your heart.
Builders don’t quit.
I am so glad that Christ Is Love Church joins other Hendersonville churches for the Hendersonville National Day of Prayer event.
On Tuesday, April 23, Mayor Jamie Clary proclaimed that the City of Hendersonville would join the federal government in declaring Thursday, May 2, 2024, a day of prayer. Pastor Jacob Bell and I were honored to join other local pastors at the Hendersonville Board of Alderman and Mayor (BOMA) meeting for the public reading of this declaration.
Since 1952, the US Congress has declared the first Thursday of May the National Day of Prayer. This act follows a tradition that began at the roots of America. I am so happy our church, city, and nation take time to pray.
Please join us on Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 am at First Baptist Hendersonville, in Wilson Hall, for a citywide prayer event.
It’s been over six months since Hamas made a cowardly attack on civilians because they wanted to start a war. Hamas set the predictable trap – creating an impossible situation through hostages and the embedment of Hamas militants in Gazan populations.
The Israeli army is not perfect and has taken responsibility for their grave mistakes. But, they have been honest.
While the images of death and suffering in Gaza are unbearable and display the sin of war, the heaviness of these images will not sway my alignment with the Jewish people.
I stand with the Jews thoughtfully, not mindlessly. The Jews are a gift to the world, yet the anti-semitic spirit lives on in each generation.
Israel was provoked to respond. Though the gravity of the response may be debatable, the justification of a response is not. Israel must eradicate Hamas. I pray that as many innocent lives as possible will be spared as the evil of Hamas is dealt an irrecoverable defeat.
On Monday, April 8, Pastor Jacob Bell underwent the approval process for Ordination with CIL Church and Converge MSC, facing a council of pastors, leaders, and peers. We are thrilled to share that he received unanimous approval!
I love working with Jacob Bell because he is a faithful pastor, Christian leader, and close friend. This Sunday at 6 p.m., CIL Church will hold a special ordination service to acknowledge God’s call on his life.
This service is an open invitation to the wider Church as we celebrate the call of God upon Jacob’s life. You are invited!
Childcare is available upon registration for ages four and under. Register for childcare here:
https://cil.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2267100
Dress clothes are appropriate but not required.
Join us to celebrate God’s call!
CIL Church is adding a THIRD service for Easter weekend!
SATURDAY, March 30 at 6 PM
Sunday, March 31 at 9 AM
Sunday, March 31 at 10:45 AM
Easter is an incredible way to honor Jesus Christ! Easter is a time to regather those who have not been to church recently and welcome new people to a relationship with Christ. Easter reminds us that we are a spiritual family, expecting the family to grow!
For the Saturday service, we will have childcare for ages four and under only.
The Easter egg hunt for the kids will be during the two Sunday services.
Invite someone you care about to this life-giving service.
He is risen!
Aaron's Angle 