November 9, 2025
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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Criticizing the church is a very commonplace practice today. There is seemingly an endless supply of critics who air out their grievances against the church in the public forum. To be sure, some grievances are legitimate. Some grievances are imagined. That the church sometimes (often?) falls short of its stated ideals is sad, but not surprising. The church, after all, is made up of justified saints who are simultaneously flawed sinners. We are growing, but not yet fully grown up.
The Apostle Paul certainly understood that the church routinely falls short of God's expectations. One only needs to read his many letters to the New Testament churches to see that every single church had significant deficits. And Paul, of course, never shied away from calling out legitimate issues in the church.
However, Paul was also full of gratitude for the very flawed churches. See 2 Thessalonians 2:13–17, for example. "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." And Paul never ceased to pray for the believers. "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word."
In our minds we are the heirs of the Protestant Reformers who boldly protested against the church's failings. But what drove the Reformers, not to mention Paul and Jesus, was not merely their outrage over the failures of the church, but their love for the church combined with a constant prayer of thanks and intercession. Grace is not required to complain. But to give thanks and to love the church, that is the mark of true grace in the heart.
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Growth Resources
This year: Please see the full list of 2025 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
In November we are reading "Philippians (Reformed Expository Commentary)" by Dennis Johnson.
This week: We are reflecting upon Shorter Catechism Qs. 57–60.
Everyday: Noted pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson posts a short reflection every day, each around 5 minutes long. "Things Unseen" cover various aspects of the Christian life, worship, and theological topics in a very accessible and edifying way. We encourage you to incorporate this into your daily life. Please see this page for more information. There you will find links to various podcast platforms as well as YouTube page.
Upcoming Events and Notices
November 9 (Lord's Day): Please join us for fellowship meal after church.
November 12 (Wednesday 7 PM): Please join us on Zoom as we study Esther chapter 2. Meeting ID: 884 9003 6844. Passcode: 5sUpUi.
November 16 (Lord's Day): Please join us for Sunday School lesson from "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith" Ch. 64, "Faith."
December 14 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for Advent Carols and Celebration after the worship service.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).