Christmas Eve Service

We would like to invite you to join the Redeemer Church Family for our annual Christmas Eve Service and Appetizer Hour.  Our Appetizer Hour is a wonderful time to enjoy fellowship and celebrate the season with family, friends and food!  Appetizers begin at 6 pm followed by our service at 7 pm.  If you plan to attend, please sign up to bring an appetizer to share at 

http://www.PerfectPotluck.com/meals.php?t=VUVO4350

We look forward to seeing you there!

"Knowing God" Study Begins

The Mens and Ladies groups at Redeemer Church in Hudson, Ohio will be reading and studying through the well known and foundational book by J.I. Packer, Knowing God this Fall. We look forward to having you join us if you're in the area for a great time of fellowship and edification. Check our website for more details.

Product Description

One of the top 50 books that have shaped evangelicals (Christianity Today, 2006) Platinum Book Award, Evangelical Christian Publishing Association For over 40 years, J. I. Packer's classic has been an important tool to help Christians around the world discover the wonder, the glory and the joy of knowing God. In 2006, Christianity Today voted this title one of the top 50 books that have shaped evangelicals. This edition is updated with Americanized language and spelling and a new preface by the author. Stemming from Packer's profound theological knowledge, Knowing God brings together two important facets of the Christian faith— knowing about God and also knowing God through the context of a close relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Written in an engaging and practical tone, this thought-provoking work seeks to transform and enrich the Christian understanding of God. Explaining both who God is and how we can relate to him, Packer divides his book into three sections: The first directs our attention to how and why we know God, the second to the attributes of God and the third to the benefits enjoyed by a those who know him intimately. This guide leads readers into a greater understanding of God while providing advice to gaining a closer relationship with him as a result.

To Leave or Not To Leave

Recently at least one pastor has advocated leaving the PCA for what he believes are valid reasons.  In response another pastor argued that while those reasons give rise to some concern, they are not serious enough in his mind to warrant a departure.  To leave or not to leave, that is the question.  I believe there are two preliminary queries that must be answered in order to resolve this larger issue.  First, is leaving a church or denomination necessary?  Second, is leaving a church or denomination wise?  Regarding the former question, I am in agreement with the second pastor’s response.  The concerns about the PCA do not necessitate leaving the denomination.  As to the latter question, I do not believe it is wise at this time to leave the PCA.  Indeed, it appears very unwise to depart from one fellowship without being called to a different one.  That is to say, it is never wise to leave any church or denomination for purely negative reasons.  God does not simply drive us away from challenging or difficult circumstances.  He uses them to test, challenge and refine – to sanctify us.  Therefore, we are to stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong (1Cor 16:13).  In other words, be courageous!  We need not flee from anything except sin.  But of course that is dealt with in the first question – is it necessary?  A wise departure always involves being called or guided to something – to a new sphere or opportunity for service, ministry or fellowship.

Let us resist the consumeristic urge to think only of our own tastes and preferences.  Paul says, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves (Php 2:3).  We must look not only to our own interests but also to those of others (v. 4).  Membership in a church or denomination involves a significant degree of commitment.  It means we become part of a family in which we are bound to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to [our] mutual edification (WCF 26.2).  To leave unnecessarily for selfish reasons is never wise.  One of the distinguishing traits of a truly Christian character or a genuine Christian church is loyalty.  We serve and worship a God who promises He will never leave us or forsake us.  Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful (2Ti 2:13).  That kind of fidelity should be reflected in our lives and relations.  I do not mean we are to be loyal at all costs, for sometimes circumstances demand decisive action and a break with ungodly influences.  The formation of the PCA is a case in point.  The churches leaving the PCUS departed necessarily and wisely.  But I do mean that loyalty requires kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other… and above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (Col 3:12-14).  Is it necessary to leave the PCA?  No.  Is it wise to leave the PCA?  No, because God is not calling us elsewhere and loyalty demands that we persevere together.  As for me and our church, since at this time a departure is unnecessary and unwise, we will remain gratefully within the PCA.

Doctrine of the Church Study

Please join us as we begin a new study this quarter in the adult Sunday school class, The Doctrine of the Church. If you missed the first class or would like to listen over the 'net, week one can be heard  or downloaded here. Below is a schedule for the quarter. We look forward to your comments.

            THE CHURCH SYLLABUS

  

1.         KING AND HEAD OF THE CHURCH

1.         Doctrine explained

2.         Lord of conscience

3.         Errors

2.         NATURE OF THE CHURCH

1.         Visible and invisible

2.         Militant and triumphant

3.         Organism and organization

4.         Particular and mission

3.         NATURE OF THE CHURCH (CONT.)

1.         Unity

2.         Catholicity

3.         Apostolicity

4.         Indestructibility

4.         MARKS OF THE CHURCH

1.         Word and sacrament

2.         Belief and practice

3.         Purity

5.         POWER OF THE CHURCH

1.         Spiritual

2.         Ministerial & declarative

3.         Constitution

4.         Terms of admission

5.         Qualifications of officers

6.         GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH

1.         Presbyterianism

2.         Church members

3.         Church officers

4.         Church courts

5.         Church orders 

7.         DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH

1.         Nature

2.         Subjects

3.         Ends

4.         Offenses

5.         Censures

6.         Appeals

7.         Complaints

8.         WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH

1.         Nature of worship

2.         Keys of the Kingdom

3.         Regulative Principle

4.         Worship specifics

   a.         Elements

   b.         Forms

   c.         Circumstances 

9.         WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH (CONT.)

1.         Ministry of the Word

   a.         Preaching

   b.         Reading

   c.         Confessing

2.         Praise and prayer

3.         Collection

4.         Call to Worship

5.         Benediction 

10.       SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

1.         Baptism

2.         Lord’s Supper

3.         Lord’s Day 

11.       COMMUNION OF THE CHURCH

1.         Communion with Christ

   a.         Foundation

   b.         Nature

   c.         Manner

2.         Communion of saints

   a.         Holy fellowship

   b.         Spiritual services

   c.         Mutual relief

   d.         Private property 

12.       MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

1.         Evangelism

2.         Mercy

3.         Education

4.         Women

5.         Children 

13.       HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

1.         NT Church

2.         Presbyterian Church in America

3.         Redeemer Church