Good afternoon all,

We live in a world that’s marked by pain and pleasure, by sunshine and storms. When the pain and storms come our way it’s a time of distress and suffering that can shake us to our core and affect every part of our being. The gospel though speaks a word of hope through our suffering.

Romans 5:3–5 (ESV) — 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Suffering isn’t wasted in our lives. In fact, Jesus enables us to rejoice as He grows stronger and sweeter within us during suffering. And also the Spirit strengthens and matures us in His grace as we endure suffering. The product is that we can rejoice in God’s work in our suffering.

This weekend at Exchange Church:

    • ECY joining together with Kingdom Day at Shepparton Christian College – meeting Friday at 7:00pm at Shepp Christian College
    • EC Sunday gathering 10:00am

This weekend I’m away and we’ll be blessed where Sean Huggan will be preaching for us. Philippians 4:4-8 “The Choice to Rejoice”.

Please read through Philippians 4 to help zone us in for Sunday’s sermon.

In Christ,