Welcome to First Christian Forest Grove! Since 1882 First Christian Church has been a lighthouse of God's love on the corner of 19th and Cedar in Forest Grove.The building has changed over the years and the congregation has grown in size, but the timeless values of Faith, Hope, and Love found in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ are still alive and unchanging here.

             9:3o am 

      SUNDAY SERVICE IN THE                 MAIN SANCTUARY

      Masks and social distancing        required

             11:00 am

SUNDAY DRIVE-IN PARKING  LOT SERVICE broadcast over your CAR RADIO.  Hand-held radios avalable for those without cars

SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR OUR

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY DEVOTIONAL

FOR THE ONLINE SERMON    THIS WEEK Click HERE OR ON THE "SERMONS" TAB  

( NOTE: Due to Bandwidth limitations the online sermon and the in-person sermon will not be the same length. Click the "Sermons" tab on the right and scroll to the bottom of the page for the online sermon)

 CLICK HERE  or on the "NEWSLETTER" TAB for the April Newsletter

        We confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and Lord and Savior of the World

    

                                

                                         Chance

                               by Rev. Spencer King

                               First Christian Church

                               Forest Grove, Oregon

Psalm 139:13-14 “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;”

“I think I'll just roll the dice and take my chances.” I've heard people say that, or something similar to that, all my life. Do you believe in chance? I don’t. Do you believe that most of what happens to us in this life is simply random happenstance, or do you believe God is in control?

I believe in the sovereignty of God. That means God is in minute control of everything. The Bible supports this belief; for not even a little bird can fall from the sky outside of the will and plan and control of God (Matthew 10:29). You are not a random accident, you were always meant to be. The things that have occurred in your life are either a part of the predetermined will of God or part of the permissive will of God.

The Bible tells us that it is not God's will that any person be lost. (2 Peter 3:9) The Bible assures us that God never tempts us to sin and never approves of sin (James 1:13). The Bible contains one account after the other of individuals, and even whole nations, that voluntarily departed from the will of God and suffered horrible consequences. So that doesn't mean that evil is somehow caused by God. It certainly is not!

That does mean, however, that while you and I have a choice we only have that choice because God allows it. If God so desired, according to the Bible, He could start or stop anything. God desires a relationship with us based upon our freely given love. For that to happen we must have choices we can make outside or apart from the will of God. After all, I can't have a true relationship with my computer because my computer does not have free will. I can program my computer to “say” a lot of loving things to me but that would be wholly unsatisfying. Real relationship relies upon choice. 

God knew about you before you were formed in your mother's womb. There is but one of you. The experiences of your life occur to strengthen you and grow you up, to teach you, and to mold you into the image and likeness of Christ. But events can never have any profound effect upon our lives if we believe them to be meaninglessly random. At every moment of every day ask yourself, “What is God teaching me in this situation?” 

Don't waste the pain, learn from it. 

Spencer