WRESTLING
SCRIPTURE
WITH *Please stand if able.
CCLI # 182374
Are Christians Exclusive? John 14:1-6 (ESV) • Dan Aikins preaching
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
8:30 AM BLENDED WELCOME
Dave Steane
*SONGS OF PRAISE *PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Rachel Poysky
SONG OF PREPARATION MESSAGE
Are Christians Exclusive? (John 14:1-6 ESV)
Dan Aikins
RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE
9:45 AM CONTEMPORARY
MESSAGE
Dan Aikins Trevor Harris
Musicians in these services: Lindsey Darnell and Michael Middleton, worship leaders • Daniel Amaya, bass • George Heathco, guitar • Asher Pudlo, drums
PRELUDE
Two English Tunes
WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP
C. Hubert H. Parry & Harold Darke
Dave Steane
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less What A Friend We Have in Jesus
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
#379; Vs. 1, 2, 3 | Solid Rock #403; Vs. 1, 3 | Converse
Rachel Poysky
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from The Apostles’ Creed ANTHEM OFFERTORY MESSAGE *HYMN OF RESPONSE POSTLUDE
A Mighty Fortress
#260; Vs. 1 | Ein’ Feste Burg
Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him!
arr. Fred Gramann (b.1949)
The Lord Is My Light
Frances Allitsen (1848-1912)
Are Christians Exclusive? (John 14:1-6 ESV) To God Be the Glory Praise to the Lord
Young Adults: Let’s Go Bowling! Mix and mingle with other 20s & 30s from MDPC. Bring $10 cash or you can Venmo. So we can reserve enough lanes, RSVP through our Facebook Group (MDPC Young Adults) or text Christyn.
Kids’ Meals & Family BINGO Night The monthly Kids’ Meals service project, a delicious, affordable dinner, then Bingo - stay for the whole thing, or come for any part! Everyone is welcome.
Call or text Christyn Knoop for info: 281-734-0914
MOPS This Fall Moms: Are you looking for friends? A tribe? Rest? Do you have kids ages birth to kindergarten? This is for you! MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) supports and equips moms through connection, solid content, and fun. If you are longing for a place to belong or a place to connect, we have a seat for you. Childcare provided.
Saturday, Aug. 4 | 4:00-6:00 PM | Bowlmor
11:15 AM TRADITIONAL
*HYMN OF RESPONSE
HAPPENING AT MDPC
Tara Reynolds Are Christians Exclusive? (John 14:1-6 ESV)
GIFTS OF GRATITUDE
*HYMNS OF PRAISE
WRESTLING WITH SCRIPTURE Are Christians Exclusive? John 14:1-6 (ESV) • Dan Aikins preaching
WELCOME MOMENT OF CONFESSION
Sunday, June Sunday, July 24, 29,2018 2018
Dan Aikins #485; Vs. 1 | To God Be the Glory arr. Paul Manz (1919-2009)
Musicians in this service: Gulf Coast Campanile • Megan Berti, soloist • Emily Borling, guest organist & Campanile director • Charles Hausmann, conductor & hymn leader
This week, please pray for these MDPC Ministry Partners: LIFE Houston (Local Infant Formula for Emergencies) provides baby food, formula, and essentials like diapers, wipes, and bottles to families facing difficult circumstances. It’s the primary (sometimes only) referral source for other social service agencies, hospitals, and clinics that serve children younger than one year old. lifehouston.org Little Angels Ministry provides gift bags for newborns in the high-risk nursery at Ben Taub Hospital. The bags include handmade cross-stitched T-shirts, knitted caps and booties, and a prayer request card to mail back to MDPC. Contact Sandy Griffith with questions or to get involved:
[email protected] Renewing Our Minds seeks to reconcile people of different faiths and cultures in the Balkan region by studying the teachings of Jesus. Participants are chosen based on leadership potential, with the hope they will return to their home countries and impact their spheres of influence. forumforleadership.blogspot.com WEEKLY FINANCIAL UPDATE The Red Rose is in honor of 2018 Operating Budget $ 11,600,000 Expected Income to Date $ 4,976,071 • Benjamin Ashcroft Miller, born July 19, 2018, to Actual Income to Date (7/22/18) $ 4,928,336 Laura and Andrew Miller. Benjamin is the grandson Current Income Deficit $ 47,735 of Susan and Rick Ashcroft. Needed to Meet 2018 Budget $ 6,671,664
All-Church Lunch Next Sunday Choose from salmon or roasted chicken, or Waldorf chicken salad. There’ll be chicken tenders for the kids! Sunday, Aug. 5 | Adults $10, Children $4
Full menu and more: food.mdpc.org
FISH INISH for Rising Freshmen & Friends! Join MDPC Youth for a pool party, games, and dinner to get to know other freshmen and the high school staff. Wednesday, Aug. 8 | 5:00-7:00 PM | Member Home
Registration ($10): fishinish.mdpc.org
Summer Movie Series from Prime Timers Beat the heat while enjoying these acclaimed films. Everyone is welcome, free of charge. Close captioned. Select Wednesdays at 3:00 PM | Amphitheater Aug. 1 – I Can Only Imagine (PG)
Review movie content & suitability at pluggedin.com.
Wacky Wednesday Water Day! Preschoolers, bring your parents for a day of water fun! So that it’s a special time with your preschooler, we ask that elementary-age children not attend. Wednesday, Aug. 8 | 10:00 AM-Noon
Register by August 3: wacky.mdpc.org
We’re All in This Together! Psalm 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity...” Save the date for Annual Teacher Training for all volunteers in discipleship, teaching, or leadership ministry! It’ll include lunch, prayer & commissioning, and breakout time with your ministry area. Sunday, August 12 | 12:30-3:00 PM
Details will be sent out soon.
Wednesday, Aug. 8 | Starts at 4:30 PM
Details: bingo.mdpc.org
Every other Thurs. starting Aug. 30 | 9:30-11:15 AM
Learn more and register: mops.mdpc.org Are you a working mom? We’ve got a MOPS for you, too! Check out workingmops.mdpc.org for details.
Communion More Often? Do you want to experience The Lord’s Supper more often than normally offered at MDPC? Come for an extra communion service in 11:15 worship next Sunday. Next Sunday, August 5 | 11:15 Worship | Sanctuary
Heads Up for Soccer Season! Boys and girls, pre-K to 5th grade, are invited to play in the volunteer-coached Christian Sports League. Practices begin the week of Sept. 4 at MDPC. Games: Saturdays, Sept. 22–Nov. 10 Early-bird $120: jersey, socks, picture, trophy
Register by Aug. 26 to save: sports.mdpc.org
Men’s Life 2018: Core Training The all-new ML curriculum is about the foundational principles that strengthen the core of what makes us men. Invite a buddy to this 12-week series and rebuild the inner workings of your life. No matter where a guy is in his walk with Christ, Men’s Life is for everyone! Tuesday Mornings, September 11-December 4 New Time! 6:30-7:45 AM (Breakfast at 6:00 AM)
Details and registration: ml.mdpc.org
Know the Bible Better with Pastor Pods MDPC staff teachers, seminarians, and pastors paired up for a podcast series on the Wrestling with Scripture summer series, tackling some of the toughest texts of the Bible! All five episodes are available now:
Loving God. Proclaiming Christ. Living Generously. Engaging All. 11612 Memorial Drive | Houston, Texas 77024 | mdpc.org | 713-782-1710
pastorpods.mdpc.org
with SCRIPTURE
2018-2019: A Study of Genesis Five Weekly Day/Time Options • Begin September 6 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Colossians 3:16
Details and registration: wordandworship.mdpc.org
First Three Fall Sundays... August 19: Kickoff Sunday
Our fall programing kicks off, including Pastor Alf’s new sermon series: ALL IN! Pick up a FOCUS newsletter to learn more about opportunities to study, serve, and grow!
August 26: Harvey Remembrance For those who wish to commemorate the events of last fall, MDPC will host a morning of special moments for reflection in the Prayer Chapel. Come & go as you wish, 9:30 AM12:30 PM. Details at remember.mdpc.org.
September 2: Labor Day Lunch Join the fun for our annual holiday lunch, grilled out by the Pastors and Elders.
A CHURCH-WIDE STUDY Begins Kickoff Sunday, August 19 This fall through early spring 2019, hundreds of MDPC members and friends are exploring Romans together. If you’re in a Sunday School now, it’s likely your class leaders have signed on for the study. If you’re currently unaffiliated, new Sunday and weekday study groups are forming (details at the link below). No registration is required. Simply show up and begin the life-changing journey toward freedom in Christ!
romans.mdpc.org
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Retired Navy SEAL and bestselling author Chad Williams is our speaker. You’ll enjoy great food and an afternoon of relief with other guys who’ve been through the same ups and downs of this past year in Houston. If you have a buddy who needs encouragement, bring him along!
We need your help! Nominate candidates to serve as Elders on MDPC Session.
Who do YOU know that would make a
GREAT MDPC ELDER?
The Nominating Committee seeks your help in nominating members with gifts that equip them for leadership at MDPC. Please prayerfully consider whom God may be preparing to serve as Elder, and then submit his/her name using the online process at or the printed forms found throughout the campus. Submission deadline: Monday, August 27 nominations.mdpc.org
Juice Box Collection Drive for Kids’ Meals
D
uring the summer, Kids Meals’ continues its daily sacklunch deliveries to children in its program, but ALSO brings a meal for all their school-age siblings. Help KM meet its summer demand (4,000 juice boxes per day) by bringing 100% juice boxes to church on Sunday, August 5, and dropping them in donation bins located around campus.
Join MDPC in Fighting Childhood Hunger!
Saturday, August 25 11:45 AM-2:00 PM
Whether you’re a believer, questioning, or maybe wouldn’t even call yourself Christian, if you want to explore faith in an open, honest, accepting forum, Alpha is for you.
Starts Tuesday, September 11 6:30 PM • Free Dinner and childcare provided. alpha.mdpc.org
11:45 – BBQ Lunch 1:00 – Chad Williams 2:00 – Book Signing
Register: relief.mdpc.org | Cost: $20 (includes lunch)
Fear is a normal human emotion...but what do we do with it? Pastor Beth Case and Amanda Grace Caldwell, LPC, guide us in seeking an answer.
Next Sunday, August 5 11:00 AM | Amphitheater
SERMON NOTES
WRESTLING WITH
SCRIPTURE
Sunday, July 29, 2018
with SCRIPTURE
Hear MDPC pastors and teachers dig in to the topics: pastorpods.mdpc.org
Are Christians Exclusive? John 14:1-6 (ESV) • Dan Aikins preaching
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” This verse from John 14:6 often generates strong emotions. For some, it points to the certainty of salvation in Jesus. For others, it is the cause of “Christian exclusiveness” or intolerance. Today, we’ll wrestle with this passage, exploring the context of Jesus’ words and the effect they had on the disciples. 1. When you read John 14:1-6, what thoughts and feelings immediately come to the surface?
2. Christians are sometimes accused of being “exclusive.” What do you think people mean when they level this accusation? Has someone ever brought up this idea in conversation with you? What was that conversation like?
3. Should Christians ever be “exclusive”? Why or why not?
4. Dan explained in the sermon that Jesus’ first intent with these words were to provide comfort for His distraught disciples. Why were they distraught? Do you think these words would have brought comfort to someone in their situation?
5. Dan argued that Jesus’ declaration of Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” not only comforted His disciples, but also launched the disciples to be people of comfort into the world. How might passages like Genesis 12:1-3 and John 14:12 support this?
6. What might it mean for Christians to be people of comfort in the world? Do you think Christians can be people of comfort and still hold on to the claim that Jesus is the only way to the Father?
7. Do you agree that for Christians to be people of comfort in the world they must first be people who can be trusted by those outside of Christianity? What does it look like for someone to trust a Christian? How can Christians develop trust with people who would not call themselves Christians?
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church 11612 Memorial Drive | Houston, Texas 77024 | mdpc.org | 713-782-1710
