First Portico Service

August 22nd
11:00 am
Portico Church

Today was our first Sunday morning service! So awesome! We've been meeting as a church body for several months already, but today was the first Sunday morning service meeting as Portico Church!

So, we're meeting in a building that the Salvation Army used as their headquarters until last year. The sanctuary is already set up with a stage and pews. We met last night from 7-9 to set up and run through worship for the morning. Even though the place is set up like a church, there is still a lot to do as far as getting all the trussing up. Last nights set up was fairly easy because we haven't got our sound system in yet, so hopefully by next week. :) There are also two childrens rooms that were set up and made ready for the kids in the morning!

Because we don't have our sound system yet, we had acoustic worship. Tracy led worship with Rachel on vocals and me on guitar. I think God really met us there! Then Mark preached from Ephesians 2. He talked about how we used to follow the ways of the world and were hopeless. How if we weren't living for God then we were living for the ruler of the Kingdom of the air, who is Satan. We could not be good enough for God. BUT... "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Eph 2:4,5 Gods grace saved us. Grace isn't deserved and can't be earned. I love it!

I have to say, my favorite part of the service was when Mark was talking about how we were hopeless, then we get to verse 4 and it says, "but". It was at this point in the service Mark gave the quote that I hope he will be remembered for for the rest of his life: "God is the creator of big but's." Yeah - that quote will live on and on... :).

I have to say that I am certainly honored that God called me to serve in Portland. Honored and humbled. I think about how I get to be a part of what God is doing here, and I look at the people I get to do it with and I thank God! I know today is just the beginning. I can't wait to see where we are in a few months or years. Can't wait to see the lives that will be changed. Can't wait to see how Gods name will be glorified in Portland. It happened this morning. At Portico Church.

Paul's Last Lessons

Second Timothy. Paul’s famous last words. This would be his last letter - his final charge to Timothy. Paul was sentenced to death for his belief in Christ. He was leaving Timothy the most important things he could think of. Paul knew his time was running out. He knew these would be his final words.

As I was reading through 2 Timothy this week, I decided to make a list of all the things Paul instructed Timothy to do in this final letter. Thought it would be a good way to see all of the things Paul thought were the most important things to tell Timothy:

· Fan into flame the gift of God that is in you (1:6)

· For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love and of self-discipline. (1:7)

· Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord (1:8)

· What you heard from me, keep as a pattern of sound teaching (1:13)

· Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you with the help of the Holy Spirit (1:14)

· Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2:1)

· Entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others the things you heard me say (2:2)

· Endure hardship like a good soldier (2:3)

· Reflect on what I am saying, the Lord will give you insight into all this (2:7)

· Keep reminding them about these things (2:14)

· Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2:15)

· Avoid godless chatter (2:16)

· Flee the evil desires of youth (2:22)

· Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments (2:23)

· The Lords servant must not quarrel (2:24)

· Gently instruct those who oppose you (2:25)

· Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of (3:14)

· All scripture is God-breathed (3:16)

· Preach the word (4:2)

· Be prepared in season and out of season (4:2)

· Correct, rebuke and encourage (4:2)

· Keep your head in all situations (4:5)

· Endure hardship (4:5)

· Do the work of an evangelist (4:5)

· Discharge all the duties of your ministry (4:5)