Spotlight

encouragement from eric

Devotional: “The Heart of Christ”

Hello Maple View Family,

Lately, I have been studying more about “the heart of God” and Jesus’s heart for sinners and sufferers. We see throughout Scripture, both in the New Testament and the Old Testament, that God’s heart and Jesus’s heart long for sinners and sufferers. The Father longs for his children to come home, and our brother, Christ, the Messiah, was the sacrifice to make the way for us to come home.

Yet, our rebellious hearts and sinful flesh continue to sin and turn from the Lord. We see this so clearly in the book of Jeremiah.

1:16 “And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.”
2:13 “for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
3:2 “You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom.”
4:14 “How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?”
5:23 “But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away.”
6:7 “As a well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps fresh her evil; violence and destruction are heard within her; sickness and wounds are ever before me.”
7:9 “Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,”
8:12 “Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush.”
9:3 “They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the Lord.”
11:8 “Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart”
12:1 “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?”
13:23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.”
14:10 “Thus says the Lord concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet.”
17:5 “Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.”
18:12 “But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.”
22:13 “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages.”
23:10 “For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right.”
25:7 “Yet you have not listened to me, declares the Lord”

Then in verse 26, right in the middle of the book of Jeremiah, after all the people of Judah, their leaders, and surrounding nations had done, and after all the times they had not listened or turned their backs on God, the loving Heavenly Father still offers them the possibility of repentance.

Jeremiah 26:3 “It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.”

Jeremiah then continues from the middle of the book with what is called “The Book of Consolation”, spanning from chapter 30 through 33. Here, the Book of Jeremiah shifts from the messages of judgment to hopeful promises of future restoration for Israel and Judah.

Across these 4 chapters, the text is best summed up in Jeremiah 31:20.

Jeremiah 31:20 “Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the Lord.”

Christ is always seeking us, always longing for us, because His heart is for us. No matter how many times we mess up, turn from Him, or turn on Him, He still desires a relationship with us. Never think you have messed up too badly, or that someone has done too much for God to desire a relationship with them. We are loved and sought after. We were fought for and bought at the highest price.

So, the question is not whether God’s heart is still toward us. Jeremiah has already answered that question. His heart still yearns for His people. His mercy is still available. His desire is still that we would turn back to Him.

The question is, will we listen?

Maybe you have wandered. Maybe you have allowed sin to take root in your life. Maybe you have convinced yourself that you have gone too far, failed too many times, or disappointed God beyond repair. Jeremiah 31:20 reminds us that God does not forget His children. He remembers. His heart yearns. And He has mercy.

The heart of Christ is not one that delights in seeing us destroyed by our sin. It is the heart of a Savior who calls us home. So today, don't run from Him. Run to Him. If you have wandered, come home. If you are carrying guilt, bring it to Him. If you have been fighting sin, don't fight alone. And if you have never surrendered your life to Christ, know that the God who pursued His people throughout Jeremiah is the same God who sent His Son to pursue us and make a way for us to come home.

We are loved. We are sought after. We were fought for and bought at the highest price.

That is the heart of Christ.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding us that Your heart is still toward us. We confess that, like the people of Judah, we have often turned away from You. We have trusted ourselves, followed our own desires, and allowed sin to take us places You never intended us to go.

But Lord, thank You that our sin does not change Your desire for us to come home. Thank You that You remember us. Thank You that Your heart still yearns for Your children and that You are a God who delights in showing mercy.

Lord, help us to listen to You. Give us humble and repentant hearts. When we wander, draw us back. When we are ashamed, remind us of Your mercy. When we feel too far gone, remind us that we were never beyond Your reach.

Most of all, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the cross, where the highest price was paid so that sinners like us could come home. Help us to trust Him, follow Him, and rest in His love.

May we never take Your mercy for granted. May Your heart shape our hearts, so that we would show the same grace, compassion, and mercy to the people around us.

Thank You for seeking us when we were lost. Thank You for loving us when we were unlovable. And thank You for always calling us home.

It is in Your precious and holy name that I pray.

Amen.

MV Teens

Hello Maple View Teens and Families.

September was a great month with “Welcome Back Wednesdays” featuring guest speakers & leaders, including Kyler Carpenter, Eli Basile, Gage Thompson, Laken Harvey, and Jennifer Taylor. As we move into the new month of October, our Wednesday Night lessons will be titled “Day 1’s”

This 4-week series is all about friendships. The kind of friendships that not only shape who we are today but also who we’ll become in the future. Throughout this series, we’ll explore what it means to create and nurture genuine, uplifting friendships while navigating challenges like conflict, toxicity, and setting boundaries. Each week, the teen will learn practical tools they can use in their everyday relationships. Here’s a sneak peek at the topics we'll be covering:

Week 1: Real Talk – How to build honest and vulnerable relationships.

Week 2: Listen Up – Cultivating the skill of active listening and truly being heard.

Week 3: Handle It – Approaching conflict with grace and understanding.

Week 4: Real Ones – Identifying real friends, managing toxic relationships, and setting healthy boundaries.

During Sunday School, we will continue our walk through Romans and should finish this up near the end of November. After Romans, we will begin going through the Gospel of John.

As for Sunday nights, the Hazelwoods have continued to do a great job leading, teaching, entertaining, and guiding the youth. The month of September began with Bennett introducing us to the prophet Isaiah’s words in chapter 55. He reminded us that no matter how deep we are in sin, God will forgive us when we follow His plan. He also referenced Acts 2:38, showing us how we can receive forgiveness.

Adaline challenged the group with the question, “Who are you?” She encouraged us not to let our mistakes define us and used Romans 6 to help us understand that following God’s plan frees us from our past and gives us new life.

Caleb and Brynley led a delicious group activity, “Baking with Caleb and Brynley.” Everyone enjoyed preparing the pumpkin muffins and working together as a team. By the way, Caleb has the patience of Job!!

We are looking forward to “Baking with Brynley and Caleb,” when they will teach us how to make monster cookies, share camp stories, and learn more about being faith-filled friends. Kyler will finish October with a devotion on “Mat Friends” from Mark 2 and Luke 5.

Barb & Danny want to extend a big and sincere “Thank you” to the parents for sharing your teens with them.

There are more big and fun events coming up for the MV Teens. On Wednesday, October 28th, we will be having our annual costume party. This year's theme has been voted on and will be an “Oops Wrong Event” party. For this theme, guests intentionally show up dressed for a completely mismatched, random occasion.

TCTC Registration closed in October, and it is going to be a great event, as Maple View sends over 20 members to this event. This year's line-up looks amazing, and we are looking forward to seeing the youth grow at this event both in relationship with each other and in their walk with Christ.

We all thank you for entrusting your kids to us. We love them, and we love seeing them grow in their faith. Together, as we partner with you, the parents, we are raising up the next generation of church leaders.

In Christ,

Eric Vance,

Lead Minister, Maple View Church of Christ

MV kids

MV Kids Ministry Update

Hello MV Family!

Fall is here, bringing cooler days, changing leaves, and a new season of opportunities to grow together! We’re so thankful for the ways God continues to bless our MV Kids ministry and for every child, family, and volunteer who is part of it.

September was a fun month for MV Kids! We celebrated the start of our new kid’s curriculum at our annual Fall Kick Off, welcoming around 140 people for a beautiful evening of fellowship and fun.

October is shaping up to be just as exciting! Our annual MV Kids Pumpkin Patch Trip is coming up on October 17. Admission and lunch will be provided for everyone, and each child will get to take home a pumpkin! Families planning to attend should sign up at mapleviewchurch.org by October 15.

We’re also looking forward to Trunk or Treat on October 24! We’ll need lots of help to make the evening enjoyable for the kids in our community. Volunteer opportunities include decorating trunks and handing out candy, running games, and providing baked goods for our giveaway.

And believe it or not, Christmas is right around the corner! We’re currently planning our MV Kids Christmas Program and are excited to begin working with the kids soon as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus together!

With joy in His service,

Rebecca

FAll kick off

Young Adult Worship night

Featured mission

Nestled in the Heart of Appalachia, Mountain Mission School provides a Christ-centered home, first-rate education, and loving family to thousands of at-risk children from all corners of the globe. Nearly every US state and over 80 countries have been represented in our body over the past 100 years.