I played basketball in high school for a very good program, one that won more games in the 1990s than any other high school program in Indiana. On our reversible practice jerseys were the words “Respect” on one side and “Pride” on the other.

Those were themes our coaches stressed repeatedly. Have respect for  every opponent you face, but also have pride in your abilities and your team.

I don’t think there was anything necessarily wrong with those ideas. But they did open up the door to the bad kind of pride and bravado that are bad traits.

Spiritually, pride is a serious issue. Scripture speaks to its dangers time and time again, even repeating several times across several different authors that ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Our small group ‘flock’ at church last night studied this issue of pride.

One passage we looked at was one I hadn’t realized related to this topic, Psalm 119. It’s widely know for being the longest chapter in the Bible. It’s also famous for it’s descriptions of God’s Word and Law. When you study it closer, you find out it is one big Hebrew acrostic, with each stanza beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. And now I realize it also offers some great insight into the problem of pride. In fact, it offers us a solution to the pride problem that all people struggle with.

It repeatedly contrasts the pride and proud people with the author who cherishes God’s Word. Vs. 21, 51, 69, 78, 85 all focus on this contrast. What that teaches me is, God’s Word  is the answer to our problem of pride. Loving God’s Word will neutralize any sinful pride in our hearts. Embracing God’s Word is the key to humility.

Sure there have been many examples of Bible-believing Christians who have created a lot of damage  in their ‘fight for Truth’. But do they truly love God’s Word or do they love their positions about or from God’s Word. Love for God’s Word creates a thirst to study in more and more. A love for the Word of God will lead us to the realization that it is complex and not always black-and-white. A love for Scripture will give us a desire to continually learn. A love for the Word of God will help us find answers and absolute truth, but it will also prevent us from thinking we have ALL the answers figured out. And a love for God’s Word will translate into living by God’s Word, as David says, “with my whole heart I keep your precepts” (119:69).

The more we love God’s Word, the more we will understand who God is. And the more we understand who God is, the more we will fall in love with Him. The more in love with God we are, the less in love with ourselves we will be and all semblances of pride will fade away from our hearts.

Cornerstone Gospel Church is a non denominational (non Pentecostal) church seeking a lead pastor.  We are located in Vienna, WV, a small family friendly community in the beautiful Mid-Ohio Valley.  We recently celebrated our 30^th Anniversary, have had three pastors in those thirty years, with our most recent pastor being called away to serve elsewhere after two years of service with us.

Cornerstone Gospel Church is seeking a pastor who is a preacher-teacher, is highly relational and has a passion to reach the lost in our surrounding community.  We are looking for a pastor with experience who has a Masters/Seminary degree and will lead in the spiritual growth of our church family.

Our church has a dynamic praise and worship team and children’s ministry.  We have a heart for missions locally and abroad and are eager to take our next step.

For more information, job description, or to apply, please see churchjobs.net.

First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Frankfort, IN-We are actively seeking a full-time Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Connection for our 300 member congregation.

FEPC is seeking an individual who will assist our Senior Pastor, our Session and our congregation with discipleship renovation, giving direction and oversight to connecting our congregation to fellowship and discipleship opportunities.  The best candidate for this position is one who

• Has a vibrant, growing relationship with Jesus Christ
• Exhibits a life of Christian integrity in the home and community
• Has a passion to live, teach and share the gospel
• Has a heart for pastoral ministry and leadership
• Is approachable, collaborative, a self-starter, and a good communicator
• Possesses and uses gifts of teaching/preaching, leadership and service
• Is ordained or ordainable in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church

FEPC is a body of believers seeking to Focus on God, Equip God’s People, Proclaim Christ and Change the world.  We have a rich heritage of 175 years in our community, and are constantly striving to better be the church God has called us to be.  

Primary Responsibility:  Discipleship

The Associate Pastor will place a priority on helping members of our congregation understand their call and giftedness to ministry; lead, train and teach others to lead in ministry; provide organization and oversight of well-defined discipleship ministries to all ages (special emphasis to be given to youth and children’s ministries); utilize gift of teaching on a regular basis.

Secondary Responsibility: Connection

The Associate Pastor will maintain relationships with the entire congregation; working with our Pastor, our Director of Care Ministries and our Elders to foster a sense of connection and belonging within our congregation.

If you believe God is calling you to serve in such a ministry, e-mail your resume, cover letter and PIF(template of which is available in the forms section of www.epc.org)  to the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee in the care of Chairman, Joel Wilson, at joeldwilson@hotmail.com and/or mail to First Evangelical Presbyterian Church 352 W. Clinton St. Frankfort, IN  46041 (Attn: APNC Chairman Joel Wilson).

More information about our church is available in the Church Information Form which is available through the Office of the Stated Clerk.

Full Time Pastors (Bi-lingual Speaking)

Evangelical Chinese Bible Church (ECBC) is a diverse, multi-generational, family oriented church. Currently has opportunities for full-time pastors in various areas of adult, young adult and youth ministry both in our English and Mandarin ministries. We are seeking gifted, energetic and motivated pastors with a deep passion who aims to carry out the vision of ECBC well into the future. Final ministry portfolios for each pastoral position will be defined based on the mix gifts and passions of the candidates considered.

For more details visit   www.ecbc.org/english –> resources –> job posting.

To apply please email resume, cover-letters, a statement of faith, a personal testimony and ministry philosophy to ECBC Pastoral Search: dyoung@ecbc.org

The Student Activities Board (SAB) at Grace College is partnering with Owen’s Supermarket on East Center Street to host the first ever Super Market Sweep, Give ‘Till You Drop event on Wednesday, December 7, from 8-11p.m.

The Super Market Sweep is an evening for students and community members to give back to the Warsaw/Winona Lake community.  SAB is asking students to form teams of any size and collect coupons as well as raise money to spend at the Super Market Sweep.  On December 7, teams will come to Owen’s Supermarket, 2211 East Center Street, and spend their money by purchasing food items for the Christmas season.  The food will be collected and donated to local families in need as well as other local organizations.

Prizes will be awarded to the team that saves the most money as well as the team that purchases the most items.  Financial donations have been provided by Mission Point Community Church, New Horizon Community Church, and DePuy Orthopaedics.  A special thanks to Owen’s Supermarket and manager, Charles Neuwirth for partnering with SAB to host this shopping spree.  Join the Christmas spirit by giving this year, come shop the Super Market Sweep on December 7!

For more information on the Super Market Sweep, Give ‘Till You Drop event, please contact Kearstin Criswell at criswekn@grace.edu.

Cornerstone Community Church started in January 2011. It is exciting to see God’s many blessings, both in spiritual growth of those attending, as well as tangible gifts such as financial stability and facilities. He has provided above and beyond and we are excited to continue looking to Him for guidance and direction and praising Him alone for Cornerstone!
As a new church, there many things to be excited about but also challenges that we face as well. Our desire is to equip believers in their walk with Christ so that together, and individually, we will effectively share the gospel of Christ with our community.
We desire for the written Word to be taught to all ages. We have Sunday School for youth and adults on Sunday morning prior to our Worship Service. In addition, an Awana program was started in the Fall of 2011 to reach youth, not only in our church, but also those in the community as well.
We anticipate that as God leads we will acquire a permanent facility, either building a church building or obtaining a building to convert to a church. Currently, we have been blessed by the ability to lease a large suite at a local mall. Our suite has a worship area (seat 80+), two Sunday School rooms and a pastor’s office. In addition, the owner of the mall allows us to use an additional space for Sunday School and a large “gym” area for our Awana program.

Mission/Statement of Belief:
Mission: To know Christ and make Him known to all.
Statement of Beliefs:
1. There is one God, the Creator and Preserver of all things. He exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2. The sixty-six canonical books of the Bible as originally written comprise God’s inerrant Word. They are the sole authority for what we are to believe and how we are to live.
3. Mankind, created in the image of God, fell into sin in Adam and is now sinful both by nature and by choice, the outcome of which is eternal death. From this condition we can be saved only by the grace of God, through faith, on the basis of the work of the Son, and the agency of the Holy Spirit.
4. The eternal Son became incarnate by being born of the virgin Mary; He is both true God and true man. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as our substitute, shedding His blood for the remission of our sins. He rose bodily from the dead and will return again bodily to complete His saving work and to consummate the plan of God.
5. As believers who have turned to God by faith in Jesus Christ, we are accountable to God for living a life separated from sin and characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. It is our responsibility to contribute by word and deed to the mission of the church.
6. The church is a living organism comprised of all believers in Jesus Christ. We are to engage in the building up of the Body of Christ through the ministry of the Word, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and the practice of believers’ Baptism by immersion, resulting in a visible testimony to the surrounding community.
7. At the time of God’s choosing, the bodies of all persons will experience resurrection: believers to a state of eternal joy in the presence of God, and unbelievers to eternal punishment.
Additional Information:
You may visit our website at www.FairburyCornerstone.com or our Facebook organization page at FairburyCornerstone.

Position Title: Senior Pastor
Our church has been served by guest preachers and interim pastors. As a new church, we have not yet had a “permanent” pastor.
Major Responsibilities of the pastor:
Our desire as a church is to grow in Christ by knowing and “doing” the Word. Most importantly, the pastor should have a life and testimony which reveals a growing walk with Christ as an individual. At Cornerstone, the pastor-teacher should have a passion for sharing and teaching the written Word in an effective manner. As a smaller community, establishing relationships
with people who attend the church and with those in the community will be important to help mature and equip believers.

Skills/Strengths:
We feel that it is vital that our pastor is gifted in preaching/teaching in an effective manner.
Relationship building skills and the ability to disciple people individually is also important at Cornerstone as we grow.
As a new church, it is important for the pastor-teacher to encourage and to come alongside those in the church. We do not anticipate a pastor to need to “do it all.” At Cornerstone, we believe in the importance of each believer using their God-given gift to minister to the body, and will continue serving God in ministry alongside the pastor. At the same time, we fully respect the position of leadership that is bestowed upon the pastor-teacher.
Salary: $36,000
Housing: $6,000
Benefits: $6,000

Description: We anticipate the entire financial compensation package to be $48,000/year. The division of this total amount, specifically regarding the housing allowance, is flexible. The cost-of-living in Fairbury, specifically in housing, is much less than most areas of the nation.

Grace College’s  Student Veteran Lounge is designed with military students and dependents in mind.  Located in the Gordon Recreational Center, it offers students a comfortable place to study, rest, or relax.

Equipped with computers, internet access, and comfortable leather furniture, the lounge is an ideal place to write a big paper or prepare for that upcoming exam.  Specially for military members, our computers are outfitted with Common Access Card readers, so that students can use Department of Defense websites to do things like complete Computer Based Training courses or check the status of their education benefits.

The lounge features several amenities which make it attractive to the many off-campus members of the college’s veteran community.  The kitchenette, complete with a beverage-stocked refrigerator,  microwave, sink, and Keurig coffeemaker can save students time and money by allowing them to prepare their own food on-site.  Additionally, the Veteran Services staff keeps the kitchenette stocked with a variety of convenience foods.  The student-in-a-hurry can choose from a number of quick and easy meals at a reasonable price.

The Student Veteran Lounge is a fantastic facility created especially for the Student Veteran’s Organization.  As a member of the Veteran Services staff, I urge you to take advantage of it!  It is only one of the many benefits that come with being a military student at Grace College.

-Marshall Vondy