As the weather forecasts continue to worsen, Chesterfield County has once again closed all buildings for the weekend.  Because of this, we are unable to meet at Swift Creek Elementary School on Sunday.  We have weighed all possible options, and because of the deteriorating weather, have decided to cancel this Sundays service instead of seeking a different venue.

As I stated last week, this does not mean you cannot worship God.  God’s mission through His Son, Jesus goes far outside of the walls of our auditorium and into each of our lives.  As we dig out from this third snowstorm of the year, please keep all those around you in mind.  Maybe there were missed opportunities last weekend, or there will be new opportunities available this time.  Our neighborhoods are ripe with people, and will be busy with activity once the snow ends.  Be active and be visible for God to allow you to take part in His great mission.

Keep in mind that we WILL be meeting next Sunday, February 14 @ Swift Creek Elementary @ 10 am. We will continue through chapter 4 of Galatians as we conclude our 3-week Freedom mini-series with “Freedom to Dream.” This is a message that will cast a vision of the fact that God has a greater plan for our lives than we could ever imagine, and through Jesus, we have the freedom to dream big for the Kingdom of God.  You do not want to miss it! It would be a great way to start your Valentine’s Day.

As you go through this weekend and the following week, build relationships and invite people to the Village so that they can hear the Gospel.

Also, keep in mind that as the church is scattered throughout the week, we have many choices in community groups.  This is the greatest way to begin to build relationships within the church, and strategize with others how God can use your life on His mission!

Do not lose heart, and make sure you are there next Sunday as we begin to dream for the Gospel!

Steve
The Village
www.villagemidlothian.org

I have often heard the phrase, “God is a God of second chances.” Just the other day, I was driving down the road and I noticed a church sign that bore the exact phrase. We are a culture that loves second chances. Most of us would love the ability to have a second chance at something that we have failed at in life.

The question though must be asked, “Is God a God of second chances?” This desire for a second chance at life has bled over into our understanding of the Gospel, and muddied the way that we view the grace of God that is offered through Jesus. I understand our desire for a second chance, because we all fail and fail hard. We want to pick ourselves up and have another go at whatever we are doing, but is the Gospel about second chances?

What if we fail the second chance? Is God a God of third, fourth, and fifth chances? What happens if we never get it right? The core problem with viewing the Gospel as God’s way of giving us a second chance is that it leaves us in the driver’s seat to either fail or succeed. This goes to our very understanding of the Gospel. Forgiveness and grace do not work together to grant us another chance. If they did, then we would still be doomed. No matter how many chances are afforded to us, we will fail. Our desire to redeem ourselves will lead to nothing short of disaster.

A view of God as a chance-giver leads down a road that reveals God to be a cosmic Joker, because all our chances will lead to is constant stumbling. So is there hope? The Bible does not present God as someone who gives new opportunities for us to succeed, but rather He is a God who ensures success by His own works. This is especially true in the person and work of Jesus, who 2 Corinthians 1:20 presents as the absolute security of all the plans of God.

What does this mean about our failure though? It means that we must cease to view God as someone who enables us to succeed, and rather view God as our success. God does not promise a second chance. Instead, He promises an entirely new life through the hope of Jesus. Another chance implies the potential for more failure. This is not the Gospel.

We are transformed through the redemption that is delivered through Jesus. Redemption as well as the new life through it does not depend on our efforts. When God redeems, He redeems wholly, to a new life. Instead of another chance, we receive a new path in which God lays out the way in which to live, through His power and His Spirit. Will there be problems, hardships, suffering? Yes, but that is not a second chance coming to a close. It is a way for us to let the hope of the Gospel shine through our lives. Will we be disobedient and attempt to leave the path that God has made? Yes, but through that, we show our dependence on the Gospel for repentance and restoration.

I don’t need another chance from God. I need something that doesn’t depend on me. I need something sure, something that cannot fail. I need a redemption that only God can deliver. That is what we have in the Gospel of Jesus.