When we repent and turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we become members of His universal body, the church. This displays itself by belonging to a local body of believers such as CICC. Our expectations of this new faith community are high. There’ll be so
much love and unity. The reality is, it is not always that way. We realize that though we are a new creation in Christ, we are far from perfect. This is why Paul urges, “Make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). That’s hard labor requiring blood, sweat, and tears. However, the work is not to create unity but to preserve it. Christ’s work on the cross resulted in
peace with the Father, peace with one another, and a peace in our hearts. This is the very foundation of our unity. Everyone in Christ belongs to the family of God, beloved and members of one another. As such, we are to strive to keep that unity wrought by the cross. From January to March, we will explore this unity and pray for strength to carry it out in all godliness.
much love and unity. The reality is, it is not always that way. We realize that though we are a new creation in Christ, we are far from perfect. This is why Paul urges, “Make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). That’s hard labor requiring blood, sweat, and tears. However, the work is not to create unity but to preserve it. Christ’s work on the cross resulted in
peace with the Father, peace with one another, and a peace in our hearts. This is the very foundation of our unity. Everyone in Christ belongs to the family of God, beloved and members of one another. As such, we are to strive to keep that unity wrought by the cross. From January to March, we will explore this unity and pray for strength to carry it out in all godliness.
January 5 | Doxology to the Trinity by Carlos Peña
January 12 | Perfected in Unity (John 17:1-26) by Cliff Jenkins (Guest Speaker)
January 19 | The Greatest (Prayer) Request of All Time (Ephesians 1:15-23) by Carlos Peña
January 26 | New Life in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10) by Erwin Carreon
February 02 | Reconciled to One (Ephesians 2:11-22) by Daniel Noh
February 09 | God's Got a Secret to Share (Ephesians 3:1-13) by Carlos Peña
February 16 | Most Audacious Desire (Ephesians 3:14-21) by Carlos Peña
February 23 | Holy Sweat in Spiritual Body-Building (Ephesians 4:1-16) by Carlos Peña
March 01 | The New Way of Christlikeness (Ephesians 4:25-32) by Carlos Peña
March 08 | Greetings of Grace and Peace (1 Corinthians 1:1-3) by Rene Atienza (Guest Speaker)
January 12 | Perfected in Unity (John 17:1-26) by Cliff Jenkins (Guest Speaker)
January 19 | The Greatest (Prayer) Request of All Time (Ephesians 1:15-23) by Carlos Peña
January 26 | New Life in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10) by Erwin Carreon
February 02 | Reconciled to One (Ephesians 2:11-22) by Daniel Noh
February 09 | God's Got a Secret to Share (Ephesians 3:1-13) by Carlos Peña
February 16 | Most Audacious Desire (Ephesians 3:14-21) by Carlos Peña
February 23 | Holy Sweat in Spiritual Body-Building (Ephesians 4:1-16) by Carlos Peña
March 01 | The New Way of Christlikeness (Ephesians 4:25-32) by Carlos Peña
March 08 | Greetings of Grace and Peace (1 Corinthians 1:1-3) by Rene Atienza (Guest Speaker)