Tag: God

Events, News

Summer 2024 Activities

susiejfox

We hope you’ll join us for one or more of these activities happening during this summer:

.We are hosting a Summer Christian Service Corp (SCSC) team this summer from June 20 – July 17, 2024. These two college age girls will undergo training before joining us to assist with nursing home chapel services and volunteering at the Storehouse for Jesus food pantry in Pataskala in addition to helping with most of the activities below.

Look for us at the Pataskala Fireworks scheduled for June 29, 2024. We’ll have a booth set up with lots of fun crafts for kids as well as church information, a friendly smile and bottles of cold water for everyone.

We are hosting a Bible Club in the Park on July 10-12 at Pataskala Municipal Park in the pavillion from 1-3pm each afternoon. We will explore how Jesus Cares For Us, Jesus is Strong, and Jesus Saves using the Gospeltopia curriculum from Children’s Ministry. Lots of fun with skits, crafts, games and refreshments.

On July 15 & 16 at 4-6pm we will be having a DRIVE-IN PRAYER event at the church located at 12161 Broad Street SW, Pataskala, OH 43062. Just drive in to the parking lot and we’ll pray with you. You don’t even have to get out of your car!

And in August 5-9, 2024 at 6-8pm each evening we will be having Vacation Bible School using Lifeway’s Breaker Rock Beach materials. Kids will be challenged as they discover that God’s truth never changes, everyone needs Jesus, and learn to speak the truth in love. Lots of fun with crafts, Bible stories, songs, games and refreshments of course!

You can find out more about any of these events by calling the Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist Church at 740-927-0574. See ya there!

Sermon Audio

Yearning for Him

meathodman

Sometimes I bring my dog, Piper, with me to the church building. He’s not much trouble and he really enjoys it. Plus, he never fails to let me know if we’re no longer alone in the building. It would be nice to know if, for example, an axe murderer had come in to get us. So far that hasn’t happened, I am happy to report.

There are several things he does that are very entertaining as I go about my pastor-y business. Probably my favorite is putting his two front paws on the chair of my arm and staring at me because he’s desperate to climb up in my lap. It’s all he needs in his life. Once he has that moment of snuggling and ear-scratching, he seems to think, he can get on with his life of doing dog things. Sniffing, napping, etc, etc.

It’s a simple example, really. He loves me so much. He understands on some basic instinctual level that the food, love, play, comfort he has comes from my wife and I. Plus, I take him on the long walks each evening that he desperately loves. Sometimes I think he “gets it” more than I do.

Near the end of the 22nd chapter of Matthew, someone famously asked Jesus about which commandment was the greatest. Do you remember what he said? He told him, “love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”1

Folks, this is so very important! I often find myself so worried and upset that many or even most of our churches have become little more than Jesus-liking social clubs. Churches are slipping away from the truth and becoming like the world because there is no root to them. They like Jesus enough to come and “do” church as long as football isn’t on.

But church isn’t what’ we do. It is who we are. Jesus cannot be a once-a-week deal. It needs to be an ongoing desperation for Him. Every day. Every hour. Every breath.

I must ask: have we lost our passion for Jesus? In the midst of all this wealth and comfort have we forgotten that every scrap of food that crosses our lips is a gift? Are we failing in our devotion?

Piper has it right. Let us yearn to walk with Him. Let us find our desperation to spend each moment loving Him. It is the greatest commandment. It is, in fact, the very meaning and purpose of our lives.

-Pastor Chuck

  1. Matthew 22:36-40