Weekly Update |   June 15, 2023

Weekly Newsletter 06/15/2023

Greetings!

Beloved, let’s talk about our ability to be patient, meek, and compliant. In Philippians 4:5 we find an interesting Greek word (ἐπιεικής) that is translated as “reasonableness” in the ESV. This word talks about the ability of a person to have a generous heart, to be gentle, courteous, attentive to others, sacrificial, modest, patient, and compliant. Basically, this is the opposite of being irritable, rude, and arrogant. In other words, if you are a Christian, you will be a pleasant person.

Now ask yourself a few questions:

• Who or what irritates you the most?
• What things around you irritate you?
• Could this be something part of your own character?
• Maybe these are friends, family, or society?
• When are you most irritated?
• Could this be after work or when resting?
• How do you express your irritation?

Remember the last 3 times you were irritated or annoyed and analyze what happened and how you behaved yourself. Write this down. When we write things down on paper, we tend to formulate our thoughts better.

Beloved, this is merely an example of the necessity of needing to work with our own heart. Thus, don’t be sad when you may fail at this. Remember the main goal, to glorify God in your life, and if your character isn’t changing, then it’ll be harder for you and those around you to work towards this goal.

Analyze the following situations and make note of those things that irritate you the most:

• When something goes not according to your plan
• When people around you don’t do what you’d like them to do
• When those around you make mistakes
• When others are slow in understanding or valuing or accepting your point of view
• When you don’t receive the respect or attention of others
• When some disagree, criticize, oppose, rebuke, or correct you
• When others are ineffective
• When some push through and insist on their own point of view
• When people disregard you or don’t yield to you
• When you’re not left in peace
• When your rights are ignored
• When you don’t receive what you want
• When those around you ruin your plans
• When you’re told “no”

Take the serious step and ask your close ones to assess you in light of these situations. This will be a good starting point for change!

Study the following passages from Scripture and determine what needs to happen for you to overcome irritability:

• John 17:17
• Acts 20:32
• 2 Timothy 3:15-17
• Colossians 1:9-11
• Proverbs 16:32; 29:11; 19:11; 27:12; 28:28; 19:19; 22:24, 25
• 1 Timothy 4:7
• James 1:2-5; 4:6
• Philippians 1:12-19
• Romans 5:3-5; 8:28-29
• Ephesians 5:20
• 1 Corinthians 10:13

On behalf of the elders of GFC,

Dmitriy Zherebnenkov

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine: gfchurch.com/ukraine/

The Scripture memory text – Philippians 1:27-28

²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 

²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:

• Thursday (7:00 PM) – Evening service is canceled due to VBS
• Sunday services:
  • Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
  • Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM

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