First Presbyterian Church | Fond du Lac, WI
Christians Serving, Learning, and Loving
May Newsletter _1st Sunday
Survey Result Conflict in the Church Healthy Congregations FDL Session Goals Cong Mediation Process Cong Meeting 04172016 LMPC_04292016 First. Presbyterian.Fond.du.Lac.HC.Brochure First.Presbyterian.Fond.du.Lac.CTS.Brochure
Synod School 2016, an annual midsummer ministry of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (USA), takes place July 24 to 29, 2016 at Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, IA.
The Good Shepherd will wipe away every tear and bring peace to the sheep.
Sermon: “The Good Shepherd”
Theme: We listen to the voice of Jesus and make following faithfully our focus so that we may fully enjoy the love of God.
Purpose: To encourage us to sacrifice ego and trust God’s guidance.
Scriptures: Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd.
John 10:22-30 Jesus says: “My sheep hear my voice and they follow.”
Questions:
What does it mean that Jesus is “The Good Shepherd?” In what ways are we called to be like sheep? What is comforting about knowing that Jesus will guide us? Are we prepared to submit ourselves and follow? Or are we wanting God to be our servant and to do our will? What does it mean to “hear” the shepherd’s voice? Are we doing what we need to do in order to listen to Christ? Are we willing to let Jesus guide us through the valley of darkness? Or are we basing our faith on getting our own way?
Followed by Congregational Meeting to meet with Rev. Bill Blank of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center
Click HERE to listen to the message.
April Newsletter _3rd Sunday
Through the risen Christ the veil of our personal egos, our fears, and our sins are all stripped away. Through the risen Christ we are no longer blind. Christ sheds light on the truth of our lives and the source of our salvation.
Sermon: Jesus Asks: “Do You Love Me?”
Theme: As we allow our ego and control to be stripped away we are able to be fully part of the compassion and love of Christ.
Purpose: The congregation will focus on releasing their sense of power and control in order to be a part of the flow of Christ’s love.
Scriptures: Revelation 5:11-14 The worship of “The Lamb that was Slaughtered” in heaven.
John 21:1-19 Jesus commissions Peter and the disciples to “care for the lambs” of God.
Questions:
When we claim to love Jesus, what is expected of us? How is the love for God related to love for the people around us? If we love God, what is our behavior towards the people created in God’s image going to be? How is Jesus’ love demonstrated towards Peter and the rest of the disciples after they had failed and been unfaithful? Can we truly worship God and be judgmental towards other Christians? What does it mean to submit our attitudes and beliefs to Christ?
Click HERE to listen to the message.
Sermon: “We Shall Believe”
Theme: God invites us to explore and struggle with our doubts so that we can be in a fully joyful relationship with Christ that involves our emotions and our minds.
Purpose The congregation will explore their faith and feel joyful about living in the midst of doubt.
Scriptures: Acts 5:27-32 Peter and the Apostles give account of Jesus to the High Priest and Sanhedrin.
John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to Thomas and breaths upon them the Holy Spirit.
Questions:
How did you come to believe in Jesus as more than simply a “historical figure?” What does it take for Jesus to be someone who matters in our lives today? What steps do we have to go through in order to experience the resurrection? How do we move from “believing” to living our lives based on the knowledge of Jesus? What is your testimony or story of what it means to have encountered the resurrection? What would you tell the officials has been changed as a result of God’s gift of Christ’s raising from the dead? Are you like Thomas, who needed to have an encounter with Chris that opened his mind and heart to believing?
Click HERE to listen to the message.