Due to impacts from the storm, our Sunday Worship Service will be at 10:15 a.m. at The Avion Event Center at 1733 E Northrop Blvd Chandler, AZ 85286. Childcare will be provided for ages 0-3. There will be no Equipping Hour. Evening Service and Student Ministries will meet at 6pm at the Avion Center.

Love Like Your Father AND Scheduling Information

Jacob Hantla April 15, 2025

Originally emailed to Student Ministries families on 2025-04-15. Event dates and schedules below refer to that time.

Dear Parents of Student Ministries,

Below find the summary of the sermon and some important upcoming scheduling information:

Love Like Your Father
This week, Student Ministries met and I preached a message on Matthew 5:43-48 entitled Love Like Your Father (not like the world). Jesus continues His correction of the Pharisees' distortion of God's law and standard in a way that helped me see sin I was personally unaware of, giving me the opportunity to confess and pursue obedience. I pray that is the result inthe students as well. 
We followed this outline for the passage
  1. Reject Fake Love (43) 
  2. Reflect the Father’s Love (44-45)
  3. Reject Selfish, Worldly Love (46-47)
  4. Reflect Your Heavenly Father’s Perfection  (48)
Jesus contrasts the common practice of loving those who love us with the radical love He exemplifies, pointing believers to their Father's example: He causes His sun to rise and the rain to fall on both the just and the unjust. This common grace is a daily testament to God’s patience and mercy toward a rebellious world. Each morning we receive reminders of God'slove toward enemies. These sun-and-rain reminders should call to mind Jesus' words as he hung on the cross dying for us, his enemies, "Father, forgive them!"

With God's grace in view, Jesus' followers are called to love our enemies, and pray (from the heart) for the good of those who want to hurt us. This kind of love is not something we can muster on our own. It requires a heart transformed by the gospel, a continual gaze upon the cross, and a reliance on the Holy Spirit. It’s a love that forgives, prays for, and seeks the good of those who may seek our harm.

You can listen, watch, or read the sermon at on our website. The discussion guide contains the outline and some helpful questions that I hope help you follow up with your students. I encourage you to take the time to ask them what they are learning and to help them understand and trust in this amazing grace given by our Father and live lives affected by it.

Scheduling
For planning, here are some important upcoming scheduling notes
  • 4/20, Easter – No meeting
  • 4/27 – Meeting as usual
  • 5/4 – Meeting as usual
  • 5/11 – All-church gathering. No separate Student Ministries. New 6th graders move into Student Ministries
  • 5/18 – Meeting as usual
  • 5/25 – Meeting as usual
  • 6/1 – Final Student Ministries Gathering of the Schoolyear!
  • 6/5-6/8 – SUMMER CAMP! (Please register)
We will take a summer break from our Sunday-night Student Ministry meetings. When in town, please plan on coming to the Evening Service with the rest of the church body. Keep an eye on your email for details on fun, smaller gatherings and activities during the summer; however, no regularly scheduled events will occur until the new school year in August. 

I can't believe that we are getting so close to the end of the school year and camp already. This year has flown by, and as I consider it, I praise God for how he has blessed and grown me, the leaders, and so many students. Thank you for entrusting us with this immense privilege. Serving in this ministry is my joy!

Your servant for His glory,  
-Jacob Hantla