Pastor’s Blog (Page 6)

Evangelism is a word that causes some Christians to break out in hives.  Me…evangelize?   It’s not that they don’t want to share Christ, but they have a natural human fear of rejection.  No one likes to be rejected, and there is always the possibility that someone you share Jesus with may not like you because they don’t like Him.

As believers, we have all the resources we need to have victory over sin. Our new Bible study, “Living with the Victory”, acknowledges the reality of chemical dependency, but also the reality of sin, and the power of Christ to free men and women from bondage to sin.

When you think about the resurrection this Easter season, remember that the New Testament emphasizes over and over the place of eye-witness testimony.  All of the evangelistic sermons in the book of Acts, even those to pagans, call the hearers to the fact of the resurrection.

“He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.”  Prov 22:9  The recent economic news hasn’t been fun for businesses or our retirement accounts, or for many who have lost their jobs.  It may, however, be an opportunity the Lord has brought our way so that people who love the world will focus more on things that last. 

“I will pray for you.”  This sentence is one of the most commonly spoken among believers when personal needs are shared.  Sometimes it becomes a thing to say, and follow through is not always forthcoming.  The failure to pray is not so much intentional as it is a lack of discipline.

At the annual business meeting in May, we discussed growing out and growing deeper as a church body.  Growing out refers to missions and evangelism.  Growing deeper has to do with fellowship, the application of truth, ministry in the body, and accountability.

Now that all the films and presentations about Team Africa’s trip to Uganda have been shown, and our thoughts and feelings about that experience shared with the church, it is time to look forward.

As the Christmas season approaches, the world around us seems awash in uncertainty:  economic uncertainty, global instability, wars and rumors of wars.  These are difficult times for many.  In 1985, Laura and I went to the hospital on Christmas day, and the following morning our daughter Charissa Noel was born.

One of the healthiest, most mature churches in the New Testament is the church in Rome. Paul is free to teach them the meat of the Gospel and apply it without the need to rebuke them. Near the end of that letter, he tells us why:

There is one quality we know for certain must be present in a mature church – Love. No Christian fellowship can claim any level of spiritual maturity without love.