Dover Assembly of God
9.23.2018 | Acts - Week 19
Locations & Times
Dover Assembly of God
4790 Carlisle Rd, Dover, PA 17315, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Welcome!
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http://facebook.com/doverassemblyThis Week's Bulletin
September 23, 2018
Welcome to Dover Assembly!
We are so glad you have chosen to attend Dover Assembly this morning. It is not by accident that you are here. We believe that God has allowed you to be here so that you might receive all that He has for you. We pray you are blessed as you allow the Lord to work in your life.
THIS WEEK
Today
9:00 am ~ Coffee & Donut Fellowship
9:30 am ~ Sunday School
10:30 am ~ R.O.C.K. Children’s Ministries
10:30 am ~ Worship Service
1:00 pm ~ Spanish Service
Monday
6:30 pm ~ Women’s Bible Study
Wednesday
7:00 am ~ SEE YOU AT THE POLE
6:30 pm ~ FAMILY NIGHT
Saturday
6:00 pm Gaither’s — departing church @ 4:30
UPCOMING EVENTS
Men's Pinball & Pizza Night
The guys will once again convene at Mark Crumrine’s house for a night of great fellowship. It is scheduled for Thurs. Oct 11 at 6:30 pm. Please sign up in the lower foyer and remember to invite a friend along!
Men's Conference
Attention all men of Dover. Mark your calendars for the upcoming conference Oct 19-20 to be held at Trinity Life A/G in Baltimore. It is always a tremendous outpouring of God’s spirit upon hundreds of men. Sign up in the lower foyer. Deadline for registration and payment of $55 is Sunday Sept. 23. Lunch on Saturday will be provided on site and is included in the price.
See You At The Pole
We encourage all of our young people (and parents) to attend the SYATP event at your local schools. This is a great opportunity to pray protection and blessings on our children and their teachers. It is also a great opportunity to share the gospel. Mark your calendars for NEXT Wednesday, Sept 26. Check with your local schools for exact times.
WOMEN OF PURPOSE
Women of Purpose Women’s Ministries – upcoming events:
~ WOP Paint Night is Friday Oct 19 — Please join us for our first ever ladies paint night! Bobbi Jo Blanchard will be guiding us through a night of painting of a lighthouse. Each lady will need to pay only $5 for materials! This is a savings of about $25 for a paint night class! Please plan on joining us at 6:30 on Oct. 19 for a fun night of painting! Sign-up sheet is in the upper foyer. Light desserts. (if anyone would like to bring a dessert, designate it on the sign-up sheet). All materials of paint, canvas, brushes will be provided that night. If you need child care, please designate on the sign-up sheet and how many children and their ages.
~ WOP Christmas Dinner is scheduled for Friday, Dec 14 — More information to follow.
BODY NEWS
Faith Pledges
We are almost there! Only $467.50 more to our first goal of $10,000. Praise The Lord! Please help us reach this first goal. Once we reach the first $10,000, our matching donor will contribute $10,000, which will bring us down to $30,000 due! Please help us pay off this debt. To God be all the glory!
Sanctuary Chairs - Update!
Our chairs are ordered and are en-route!! However, due to the current hurricane, and many ports being temporarily closed, our shipment has been delayed. It appears that they will arrive at the company near the end of Sept. We can expect about a week or so after that to receive them here.
Pastor Appreciation - Sunday, Oct 14
Each year the Assemblies of God designates the month of October as Pastor Appreciation Month. On Sunday Oct 14 the Deacon Board will officially kick-off Pastor Appreciation month at Dover Assembly of God. As we recognize Pastor Jeff, Pastor Keith and Pastor Luis and their wives. Paul Jones will be our speaker that day! We would like to encourage everyone to participate in this month-long celebration in your own special and unique way. We hope that you can use whatever skills or abilities God has blessed you with to bless Pastor Jeff, Pastor Luis and Pastor Keith. Let’s keep this going the entire month of October to show them how much we appreciate everything they do for us. Please mark your calendar and start planning how you might use your talents to say Thank Youto our Pastoral Team.
New Security In Place
Beginning NEXT SUNDAY, our new security system designed to protect the children’s ministries is in place. Both doors leading into the lower level will be locked. The entrance on the right has a camera and buzzer system. You will need to press the alert button and someone on the inside will let you in.
PRAYER NEEDS
Please take time to review and pray for those on this list. Drop them a card or call to set up a time to visit. They will be blessed
Shut-In
~ Helen S.
Prayer Needs
~ Robin Housseal
~ Phil & Murina S.
~ Beulah S.
~ Marian T.
In Sympathy
Keep the family of Donna Schott in your prayers as they mourn the home-going of her mother, RACHEL I. FINGER on Sept 17.
Welcome to Dover Assembly!
We are so glad you have chosen to attend Dover Assembly this morning. It is not by accident that you are here. We believe that God has allowed you to be here so that you might receive all that He has for you. We pray you are blessed as you allow the Lord to work in your life.
THIS WEEK
Today
9:00 am ~ Coffee & Donut Fellowship
9:30 am ~ Sunday School
10:30 am ~ R.O.C.K. Children’s Ministries
10:30 am ~ Worship Service
1:00 pm ~ Spanish Service
Monday
6:30 pm ~ Women’s Bible Study
Wednesday
7:00 am ~ SEE YOU AT THE POLE
6:30 pm ~ FAMILY NIGHT
Saturday
6:00 pm Gaither’s — departing church @ 4:30
UPCOMING EVENTS
Men's Pinball & Pizza Night
The guys will once again convene at Mark Crumrine’s house for a night of great fellowship. It is scheduled for Thurs. Oct 11 at 6:30 pm. Please sign up in the lower foyer and remember to invite a friend along!
Men's Conference
Attention all men of Dover. Mark your calendars for the upcoming conference Oct 19-20 to be held at Trinity Life A/G in Baltimore. It is always a tremendous outpouring of God’s spirit upon hundreds of men. Sign up in the lower foyer. Deadline for registration and payment of $55 is Sunday Sept. 23. Lunch on Saturday will be provided on site and is included in the price.
See You At The Pole
We encourage all of our young people (and parents) to attend the SYATP event at your local schools. This is a great opportunity to pray protection and blessings on our children and their teachers. It is also a great opportunity to share the gospel. Mark your calendars for NEXT Wednesday, Sept 26. Check with your local schools for exact times.
WOMEN OF PURPOSE
Women of Purpose Women’s Ministries – upcoming events:
~ WOP Paint Night is Friday Oct 19 — Please join us for our first ever ladies paint night! Bobbi Jo Blanchard will be guiding us through a night of painting of a lighthouse. Each lady will need to pay only $5 for materials! This is a savings of about $25 for a paint night class! Please plan on joining us at 6:30 on Oct. 19 for a fun night of painting! Sign-up sheet is in the upper foyer. Light desserts. (if anyone would like to bring a dessert, designate it on the sign-up sheet). All materials of paint, canvas, brushes will be provided that night. If you need child care, please designate on the sign-up sheet and how many children and their ages.
~ WOP Christmas Dinner is scheduled for Friday, Dec 14 — More information to follow.
BODY NEWS
Faith Pledges
We are almost there! Only $467.50 more to our first goal of $10,000. Praise The Lord! Please help us reach this first goal. Once we reach the first $10,000, our matching donor will contribute $10,000, which will bring us down to $30,000 due! Please help us pay off this debt. To God be all the glory!
Sanctuary Chairs - Update!
Our chairs are ordered and are en-route!! However, due to the current hurricane, and many ports being temporarily closed, our shipment has been delayed. It appears that they will arrive at the company near the end of Sept. We can expect about a week or so after that to receive them here.
Pastor Appreciation - Sunday, Oct 14
Each year the Assemblies of God designates the month of October as Pastor Appreciation Month. On Sunday Oct 14 the Deacon Board will officially kick-off Pastor Appreciation month at Dover Assembly of God. As we recognize Pastor Jeff, Pastor Keith and Pastor Luis and their wives. Paul Jones will be our speaker that day! We would like to encourage everyone to participate in this month-long celebration in your own special and unique way. We hope that you can use whatever skills or abilities God has blessed you with to bless Pastor Jeff, Pastor Luis and Pastor Keith. Let’s keep this going the entire month of October to show them how much we appreciate everything they do for us. Please mark your calendar and start planning how you might use your talents to say Thank Youto our Pastoral Team.
New Security In Place
Beginning NEXT SUNDAY, our new security system designed to protect the children’s ministries is in place. Both doors leading into the lower level will be locked. The entrance on the right has a camera and buzzer system. You will need to press the alert button and someone on the inside will let you in.
PRAYER NEEDS
Please take time to review and pray for those on this list. Drop them a card or call to set up a time to visit. They will be blessed
Shut-In
~ Helen S.
Prayer Needs
~ Robin Housseal
~ Phil & Murina S.
~ Beulah S.
~ Marian T.
In Sympathy
Keep the family of Donna Schott in your prayers as they mourn the home-going of her mother, RACHEL I. FINGER on Sept 17.
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We ended our study in Acts last week with the new church beginning to expand.
It was first given to the Jewish people, then with some concern from the Jews, it was give to the Samaritans, then with even more concern, it was passed on to the Gentiles.
Up to this point we have had basically Jewish believers (Jews & Samaritans) and some family loosely associated with the Synagogue in Antioch.
It was pushing the boundaries of the Jewish forms and traditions to the breaking point. Eventually, it would have to break off.
The Gentile church would get to the point where it would no longer be bound to the rules of the Jewish faith. At the end of chapter 11, we see the first break.
It was first given to the Jewish people, then with some concern from the Jews, it was give to the Samaritans, then with even more concern, it was passed on to the Gentiles.
Up to this point we have had basically Jewish believers (Jews & Samaritans) and some family loosely associated with the Synagogue in Antioch.
It was pushing the boundaries of the Jewish forms and traditions to the breaking point. Eventually, it would have to break off.
The Gentile church would get to the point where it would no longer be bound to the rules of the Jewish faith. At the end of chapter 11, we see the first break.
We begin to see the peeling off of the Gentiles from the Jewish believers.
Now we come to Acts 12. This is a passage that can both be very exciting and also, very humbling. If you are like me, you probably have read this many times and glossed over one truth to focus on another.
What is that? The sovereignty of God.
Now we come to Acts 12. This is a passage that can both be very exciting and also, very humbling. If you are like me, you probably have read this many times and glossed over one truth to focus on another.
What is that? The sovereignty of God.
A brief history of Agrippa
~ He was the evil grandson of Herod the great who killed all the babies while hoping to kill the Messiah.
~ He was the nephew of Herod Antipas who had John the Baptist beheaded.
~ He was the evil grandson of Herod the great who killed all the babies while hoping to kill the Messiah.
~ He was the nephew of Herod Antipas who had John the Baptist beheaded.
The Jews hated all the Herods, so to try and please them and get them to like him, he started to persecute the new believers.
At first the Jewish leaders like the idea of Herod persecuting the church. They got the government to do what they wanted to do.
And now since they were admitting Gentiles, the persecution was even more agreeable to them.
At first the Jewish leaders like the idea of Herod persecuting the church. They got the government to do what they wanted to do.
And now since they were admitting Gentiles, the persecution was even more agreeable to them.
James would be the first of the original 12 to be martyred.
Remember, this is the same James from back in Matthew.
Remember, this is the same James from back in Matthew.
James was killed with the sword and John would be exiled on Patmos.
They didn’t realize it then, but eventually came to realize that following God comes at a price.
Do we realize that?
They didn’t realize it then, but eventually came to realize that following God comes at a price.
Do we realize that?
Remember we mentioned how the Jewish leaders were liking what Herod was doing because it was helping their cause?
He wanted to make a public spectacle of Peter and also build himself up in front of the masses.
Why else would he do it in public? He hoped this would give him gravitas with the people. He really thought this would be the ticket to having the people like and follow him.
But God. . .
He wanted to make a public spectacle of Peter and also build himself up in front of the masses.
Why else would he do it in public? He hoped this would give him gravitas with the people. He really thought this would be the ticket to having the people like and follow him.
But God. . .
Never doubt the power of a praying church.
Here, we see the forming of small groups of people of like mind and most likely close proximity...the local church.
The Puritan preacher Thomas Watson says this:
“The angel fetched Peter, but it was the church’s prayer that fetched the angel.”
Here, we see the forming of small groups of people of like mind and most likely close proximity...the local church.
The Puritan preacher Thomas Watson says this:
“The angel fetched Peter, but it was the church’s prayer that fetched the angel.”
Peter is slated to be executed the next day in the public square. Would you be able to sleep, if you were chained to 2 soldiers?
Peter was calm and able to sleep for 2 reasons.
1) The church was praying for him. When we pray for someone, not only do we pray for the resolution to the situation, part of the need for which we pray is peace for the person in the situation.
2) Peter likely also prayed for himself. Prayer has a way of reminding us of God’s promises.
He was surely knowledgeable of the Old Testament, especially the Psalms.
Peter was calm and able to sleep for 2 reasons.
1) The church was praying for him. When we pray for someone, not only do we pray for the resolution to the situation, part of the need for which we pray is peace for the person in the situation.
2) Peter likely also prayed for himself. Prayer has a way of reminding us of God’s promises.
He was surely knowledgeable of the Old Testament, especially the Psalms.
If you need peace in the middle of a situation...first let others know of your need so we can pray, and take time to pray yourself and God will give you that peace.
There is power in prayer.
Peter also knew what Jesus told him personally. He remembered God’s promise to him. Back in John when Jesus kept asking Peter “Do you love me? Feed my sheep”
He ended that account with this:
There is power in prayer.
Peter also knew what Jesus told him personally. He remembered God’s promise to him. Back in John when Jesus kept asking Peter “Do you love me? Feed my sheep”
He ended that account with this:
He knew he would die at an old age and that Herod would not be the one to kill him.
He knew he would be delivered, but he didn’t know how or when.
What promises has God made to you, personally? Hang onto them!
He knew he would be delivered, but he didn’t know how or when.
What promises has God made to you, personally? Hang onto them!
God will do miracles but they almost always requires us to do what we can in the natural and leave the supernatural to him.
You need God to provide a job? Get your resume together and look.
You need God to provide a car? Start looking for one and God will direct you.
You need a healing? See what the doctors say and do it and leave the miraculous to God.
You need God to provide a job? Get your resume together and look.
You need God to provide a car? Start looking for one and God will direct you.
You need a healing? See what the doctors say and do it and leave the miraculous to God.
Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, but they had to pass them out and pick up the leftovers.
He raised Jairus’ daughter, but told her parents to feed her.
Jesus raised Lazarus, but they guys had to roll the stone away.
The angel could have dressed Peter and put Peter’s shoes on for him, but he didn’t. He made Peter do it.
God expects us to do what we can do and leave what we can’t to Him.
He raised Jairus’ daughter, but told her parents to feed her.
Jesus raised Lazarus, but they guys had to roll the stone away.
The angel could have dressed Peter and put Peter’s shoes on for him, but he didn’t. He made Peter do it.
God expects us to do what we can do and leave what we can’t to Him.
Has God ever worked in your life in such a way that you couldn’t believe it was happening?
In fact, Peter’s faith and trust had nothing to do with this escape. Apart from Peter trusting God and being able to sleep, his actions or lack of actions were not why he got out.
Sometimes when we pray and more importantly, when others pray for us, God answering those prayers may have nothing to do with your actions, but with the sovereign will of God.
So the angel leaves a bewildered Peter hanging out about a block from the jail. Now Peter had to trust God and use his common sense to take the next step.
In fact, Peter’s faith and trust had nothing to do with this escape. Apart from Peter trusting God and being able to sleep, his actions or lack of actions were not why he got out.
Sometimes when we pray and more importantly, when others pray for us, God answering those prayers may have nothing to do with your actions, but with the sovereign will of God.
So the angel leaves a bewildered Peter hanging out about a block from the jail. Now Peter had to trust God and use his common sense to take the next step.
How often do we look back at situations and realize that God did something miraculous? We didn’t see it then, but in hindsight, we see the hand of God!
We should always try to be aware of God doing the miraculous. Instead of thinking that our abilities or smarts helped the situation, maybe it was God working.
We should always try to be aware of God doing the miraculous. Instead of thinking that our abilities or smarts helped the situation, maybe it was God working.
Have you ever wondered why God delivered Peter but did not deliver James? Both men were Godly servants. The early church surely could have used their wisdom and guidance.
Were there not enough prayers for James? Did God love Peter more than James? I think we know the answer for both of those. “NO”.
The only answer is “the sovereign will of God”.
We do not know the mind and will of God here. We don’t have an answer to that question. Why does God heal one and not another? Why do some face harder trials than others? WE DON’T KNOW.
What we do know is that God calls us to pray and believe. That is all we can do.
Would Peter have been delivered if they didn’t pray? Why would God have put such an emphasis on it in His word if it didn’t matter?
The point is, we do not know how God will answer our prayers. But he calls us to pray and leave the results to Him.
And who knows, maybe the one we are praying for today, is the one that will be answered.
Were there not enough prayers for James? Did God love Peter more than James? I think we know the answer for both of those. “NO”.
The only answer is “the sovereign will of God”.
We do not know the mind and will of God here. We don’t have an answer to that question. Why does God heal one and not another? Why do some face harder trials than others? WE DON’T KNOW.
What we do know is that God calls us to pray and believe. That is all we can do.
Would Peter have been delivered if they didn’t pray? Why would God have put such an emphasis on it in His word if it didn’t matter?
The point is, we do not know how God will answer our prayers. But he calls us to pray and leave the results to Him.
And who knows, maybe the one we are praying for today, is the one that will be answered.
Thank you for joining us!
If you haven't already, be sure to check out our website and follow us on social media @doverassembly! Have a great week!
http://doverassembly.com