The Shepherd's Fold Apostolic Church

We will be having a special Christmas Eve Service starting at 7:00 pm Sunday, December 24, 2017  Come and join us for a time of worship and celebration of the Lord Jesus Christ's birth!

Matthew 9:9-13 Matthew was a tax collector. Back then tax collectors were considered thieves because they usually took a portion for themselves. In verse 10 of this reference it says: "Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples."  He sat with these sinners.  They were interested in what Jesus had to say. The Pharisees of course taunted Him, wondering why He was sitting with tax collectors and sinners.  Jesus remarked: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.....I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."  In other words, if you already consider yourself righteous, you are denying the access that Christ has granted.  Jesus called everyone but not everyone came.  He made access to all, but not all took the opportunity.  Here the tax collectors and the sinners took advantage of that access. ...

From Sister Suzanne Parsons' Sunday Message- 12/3/2017 John 12:21: "Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.'" These men wanted to see Jesus.  That was their priority, their plan. We also must lay aside some things and go seek for God. We need to know that He is alive. We need to know that He is alive inside of us! Matthew 13:14, 15: "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them." Sometimes we don't want to "hear" but with the Spirit our ears and eyes are open. We NOW have eyes to see and ears to he...

Psalms 24:1-6 Verse 3- "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?" Today, like never before we need to know what it means to ascend the hill of the Lord. We must have those clean hands and a pure heart.  We know all kinds of technology today- but all of our knowledge won't take us up to the hill of the Lord. Matthew 5 tells us that the pure in heart will see God. All through the Bible it talks about having a pure heart. And yet, how many people, including Christians, do not have a pure heart.  Our thoughts and imaginations are impure due to what we are putting into our minds- TV, computer, music- just to name a few. We must have a pure heart and a pure mind. 2 Timothy 2:21- "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master." Isaiah 1:16- "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eye. Cease to d...

Recently Elder George Parsons brought a message on being witnesses from Isaiah 43:10. That word "witness" doesn't just mean speaking to others about Christ. What it really means in the true sense of the word is to be "the demonstration of Christ" on this earth. We can tell others all we want, but the true witness is one who demonstrates all the attributes of Christ- one who demonstrates His power here on this earth- today!  Verse 16 tells us that the Lord makes "a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters."  He demonstrates His power in the earth.  He did it back then and now today He is doing this through His believers. We, as Christians, are to be His witnesses in the earth today- to be a demonstration of the power of Christ to the world today- through our lives.  The world will see and know that God is at work in the world today. Are you being His witness today? (Taken from George Parsons message 11/17/2017)

John 20:23   "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Forgiveness means- "freedom", "send forth", "liberty" Acts 7:54-60 tells about the stoning of Stephen. Saul, later named Paul was there and was a part of it. But as Stephen was dying, he said- "Lord, do not charge them with this sin."  He was forgiving those very men who were killing them, including Saul.  This act of forgiveness released Saul and allowed God to save him and use him for God's glory. We don't realize what a powerful act forgiveness is.  When we forgive others, even though they may not ask for it- or- deserve it in our eyes- we are releasing them into God's hand.  Unforgiveness causes bondage on both the person who was offended and the offender.  Mark 11:25, 26 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also ...

Remember that we are beginning to collect gifts for the families of Ronald McDonald House for Christmas.  These are to be new items and unwrapped.  The staff at the RMcD House put them in their Christmas room and the individual family members pick out what they want for their family for Christmas.  Then the staff wraps them and distributes them. Items for adults that are normally a great gift are: gloves scarves footies or anything that you think an adult would enjoy for Christmas. May God bless you as you give!

Come join us for our annual Christmas Cookie Swap & Fellowship Saturday, December 2 4:00 pm Shepherd's Fold Apostolic Church 1714 Schrock Road Columbus, Ohio 43229  1.     RSVP – Letting us know what kind of cookie you are bringing.   We are trying to limit duplicate cookies 2.    Make 4 dozen of one kind of Christmas cookie. One dozen we will taste – YUM. Three dozen are to swap and take home as an assortment. 3.     Men can come BUT they must bake cookies too! Wives can bake cookies for them (if asked nicely J ). 4.    Bring your recipe to share (also for an ingredient list for those with allergies). 5.     No store bought cookies, No plain chocolate chip cookies. No no-bake cookies. 6.    Dress Christmassy. Not required. Ugly Christmas sweaters a plus!!!   We will serve finger foods. If you want to bring one, please do.    171...