Ambassador Presbyterian

A Question of Preparation: Remember Moses, Look for Elijah, Meet Jesus

Passage: Malachi 4:4-6

The final words of the Old Testament given by God through the prophet Malachi are words of preparation. God has been calling his people to return to him in faith and obedience, and he has promised the day of his coming to refine and purify a people for himself and to bring judgment on all the wicked and evil. His final words give instruction in how they are to live in preparation for that day. He calls them to look back on his covenant commands given to Moses, and to look forward to the coming of Elijah the prophet who would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord himself. These words serve to bridge the gap of some four centuries of God's silence before God would break that silence in the coming of his Son. As we close out our series on Malachi, we will look at how God prepared his people then and continues to prepare us now for the coming of his Son. Join us Sunday as we consider Malachi's call to remember Moses, look for Elijah and how that prepares us to meet Jesus.

A Question of the Future: The Rising Sun of Righteousness

Passage: Malachi 4:1-3

As the book of Malachi comes to a close, God focuses the attention of his people forward towards the day of the Lord's coming. It is a day that will bring cataclysmic judgement for those who do evil. But for God's people, those who fear and trust him, it will be a like a new day dawning, bringing healing, joy and freedom. God closes the Old Testament with a promised sunrise in the future, that begins to show on the horizon in the coming of the Messiah, God's own Son Jesus. Join us Sunday as we consider the day that has dawned in the rising sun of righteousness.

A Question of Service: Burden or Belonging

Passage: Malachi 3:13-18

How do you view your service to the Lord? How do you respond to the call and commands of God to worship him and walk in his ways? For many in the days of the prophet Malachi, that call and command had become burdensome, resulting in words of grumbling and complaining, and wondering if such service is really worth it. But for some, their service flowed out of a sense of belonging, a recognition of God's sovereignty and covenant love for them, that resulted in a heart that esteems his name and encourages one another. Jesus reminds us that "out of the heart the mouth speaks," and God remembers the words and heart attitude of those who trust him, promising them a hope and a future as his treasured possession, promises that remain true for us through the coming of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Join us Sunday as we continue in our study of Malachi and hear God's gospel promises to those who esteem his name.

The Ministry of Encouragement

Passage: Acts 11:19-26

We welcome Rev. Josh Grimm to the pulpit this Sunday. Josh is Campus Pastor for RUF at Queens University in Charlotte, and one or our supported ministers/missionaries at APC.

In our relationships with others it can be tempting to either put ourselves down in withdrawal, or to seek the status of what we think is power or self-importance. Instead, in how God used Barnabas we see a different way of relating to others rooted in the good news of Jesus.

The Beatitudes of Psalm 84

Passage: Psalm 84:5-9

Mr. Chris Ellzey, Director of Ministry at Christ Covenant ARP in Greensboro and student of theology at RTS, under care of Grace Presbytery. The last time we heard God’s Word from Psalm 84 we looked at the first beatitude which described the blessedness of dwelling in the presence of God. This week the Psalmist directs our attention to the second beatitude by focusing our attention on the importance of finding our strength in the Lord. What good news it is to be reminded that as we journey towards our heavenly home, we do not operate under our own strength, but in the mighty strength of our God!

A Question of Generosity: Returning or Robbing

Passage: Malachi 3:6-12

Billy Graham once said, "Your checkbook (we might say today, your credit card statement) is a theological document." It is an indicator of who or what you worship. Jesus put it like this, "where your treasure is, there your heart is will be also." (Matt. 6:21). How we view and relate to money and possessions says a great deal about how we view and relate to God. Indeed, as God confronts his people through the prophet Malachi and calls them to return to him in faith and obedience, the indication he gives of their wandering hearts is their failure to give the first fruits of their harvest and labors to the Lord and his work. God sees this not just as a lack of stewardship, but as robbery against him. Such strong words, however, are not just meant to rebuke, but to lead his people to return and be restored in love to him, and to receive the abundant provision and blessings of his promises. And as God says of himself, he does not change, and he calls us to put him to the test. If you wonder if your heart is wandering from devotion to the Lord, a good way to check is your "checkbook." Join us Sunday as we continue in Malachi and see God address a question of generosity.

A Question of Justice: Refined or Consumed

Passage: Malachi 2:17-3:6

One of the ongoing struggles that those who know and believe God have to deal with is how can there be so much evil, so much injustice in the world; so much prospering of the wicked and suffering of the righteous? And it's a struggle that can quickly turn from genuine concern to guarded cynicism in which we begin to question God's goodness and justice. And as we see in Malachi's day, such a response can be "wearying" to the Lord, trying his patience. But thankfully God does not lose patience, but reminds his people of his covenant and promising to send the messenger of the covenant, the Lord himself, who will exercise justice both in purifying and cleansing his people, and punishing and consuming those who are against him. The question is will we be refined or will we be consumed? The answer lies in the unchanging character and covenant promises of God that are fulfilled in Christ. Join us Sunday as we continue our study in Malachi and consider the question of justice.

A Question of Relationships: Covenant Faithfulness

Passage: Malachi 2:10-16

This week we return to our study of the book of Malachi. God’s people, having returned from decades of exile in Babylon, resettled in Jerusalem and restored worship in the temple, have nevertheless grown cold in their love for God. Despite his covenant love for them, expressed so clearly in chapter 1 verse 2, worship has become a half-hearted ritual, the leaders have turned aside from God’s word and ways, and the people have stumbled and begun to conform to the ways of the world around them. And one area where God’s people were conforming to the culture around them was in their relationships with one another, and particularly in the relationship of marriage. They were approaching marriage (and relationships with fellow believers) with a consumerist mentality, rather than a covenant loyalty. God confronts their sin of faithlessness and calls them back to covenant faithfulness, particularly in their marriages. Join us Sunday as we return to Malachi as he addresses a question of relationships.

A Question of Worship: Faithful to God's Word

Passage: Malachi 2:1-9

The failure of leaders almost always has negative impact on those whom they lead, and nowhere is that more true than in the church. We live in a day where the failure of Christian leaders often on a large and public scale, has caused damage to the life and faith of large numbers of followers of Christ. So when God confronts the decline in honor and devotion and the rise in careless worship among his people through the prophet Malachi, it is no wonder he calls to account the priests whose calling was to lead the people to worship and walk according to God's word. And what he has to say about that calling and the failure to carry it out well, is a serious and sober warning to those who are called to spiritual leadership and pastoral ministry in the church. Join us this Sunday as we continue in our series in Malachi where God addresses the question of leadership among his people, highlighting the curse of failed leaders and the call to faithful leaders.

The Gospel in Four Words

Passage: Psalm 23

Pastor Eddie Brown

Psalm 23 might be called The Gospel According to David or The Gospel in Four Words. If Yahweh, the ever-existent, self-sufficient God is our Shepherd, we truly have all we need. He makes and will make all the dark valleys, even that of death, light and life for us. This and all He has for us is indeed gospel, good news.