Minister's Blog

The Fourth Quarter
Lucas and I have been attending a few football games recently and every team seems to make a point of acknowledging the start of the fourth quarter. Often the players or coaches hold up four fingers. They are encouraging one another to finish strong. So many big leads are lost in the fourth quarter. As a fan, I get so frustrated when my team is ahead and our defense begins to implement what many would call a “prevent” defense. This usually involves a reduction in aggressive play. The defense is just trying to hold the lead until the time runs out. So many times this takes the pressure off the opposing offense and they are able to get back into the game and often win.
I am no coach, and my purpose is not to talk football strategy, but I see a lesson that is played out far too often in our Christian life. We can get into “prevent” posture in our Christian life. Our ultimate victory has already been accomplished through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been saved by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are saved, there is no disputing that truth, but the same passage we often go to (Ephesians 2:8-9) find that truth is followed by the encouragement, “for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” No matter which quarter of your Christian life you are currently living in, God has work for you to do. He has placed you and gifted you according to His wisdom in this local body (church) to serve and in your context (family and life station) to be a witness for Him! Pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes to show you areas where you can serve and grow so that you may finish strong!
Church Membership Reconciliation and Visitation
This past month we began to work through our resident church membership once again, seeking to reconnect with absentee members and update our rolls. We have made visits and phone calls that have helped us reconnect with certain members and remove a few from the rolls due to moves or poor communication regarding transfer of membership. While this calls for some tough and sometimes awkward conversations, it is vitally important. As church members, we have entered into covenant with one another in order to watch over and encourage one another as we persevere in the faith. If we are not meeting together and staying connected with one another, that is impossible. We are not fulfilling our covenant obligations to one another.
We have begun to implement systematic, regular church visitation. It is systematic in its approach because we are seeking to work through the entire church roll, visiting those who are disconnected. It is regular because we are going out twice a month for the foreseeable future. If you would like to be part of this effort please reach out to me or simply show up on October 14th or 28th at 5:30pm at the family life center. If you are unable to make visits, but would be able to make calls or write letters, please let me know and we will put you to work!
PLEASE PRAY!
Our Fall Festival is coming up on October 20. Please pray for those who help and those who will be attending. This is always a great time of outreach, but we know the Lord is the one who provides the harvest. Pray our evangelistic efforts would bear fruit and the Lord would be glorified!