Aren’t Sundays good?
I like thinking of our missionaries as staff members who happen to be located elsewhere. Rob and Penny Whitty serve in Ghana (West Africa). We also have staff in Africa, but on the opposite side of the continent (Prince and Heidi Sabena in Uganda). Rob and Penny were with us Sunday and it was good to see and hear what God is doing in Ghana and with them in Ghana, but the best part was hearing what God is doing every day and everywhere, including right here.
What is God doing every day, everywhere, including right here? The answer is Isaiah 30:18. And so it serves as our fighter verse for this week.
Three things as we look ahead:
First, this Sunday we will be back in Luke 18. So, read through Luke 18:15-17.
Second, we will gather at the Lord’s table together for communion on Sunday, October 11.
And last, we are planning for a baptism sometime in October. What is baptism? Well, it is something believers do. At the end of the Gospel of Matthew is what is called the Great Commission – to make disciples and baptize them, teaching them to obey or observe all that Jesus has commanded. One pastor put it this way, “baptism is a way to mark disciples,” that is, it is a public display that this is a disciple of Jesus Christ. When a believer is baptized they simply share that their life has been changed, the greatest miracle has happened! They have been saved, by grace, through faith “And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). As a Christian, if you have not been baptized, I strongly encourage you to do so. It is an act of obedience and a moment of great celebration. The gospel (the good news of great joy) is proclaimed.
Community groups are off to a great start! And it is never too late to join a community group. Keep in mind that community groups serve one purpose: each one of you watch out for each one of you. And although there is one purpose, the function of each group varies. Some it is to share life together, others it is simply to connect or get to know each other better; to pray together; to study God’s Word together; or to think thru the Christian life together. Some groups meet Sunday afternoons. There is a group Tuesday morning. Another group meets Tuesday evening. And another group meets Wednesday morning. Two groups have met on Thursdays! This is a lot of community happening!!! And each group is different in function, but the same in purpose. We want these groups to grow, too, but very specifically. We want these groups to grow with “grace and peace multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,” and with unchurched people – those who have no church home or are not saved. So, think of these groups as great for fellowship, but also so good for outreach.
And we have air purifiers arriving any day now. As we are now in the Fall season, keeping the windows open on Sundays will no longer be an option to help with air flow. And these air purifiers are better and more efficient than having the windows open. These are fitted with medical grade air filtration.
I pray for you continually and so look forward to gathering with you often.
-James