Continued Growth
Continued
Growth
Our patio is lined with pots of plants. Each sitting within range of automatic sprinklers. For almost two months, my family will be traveling, but we want our grass and plants to continue to live and thrive while we are away. Without watering, our grass would die, our plants would shrivel and we would be starting over again in the Fall.
Last Sunday, our church members met and agreed to handle the functions of the Sunday service so that Christian fellowship, worship, and Biblical preaching can continue through the summer. Far from automatic sprinklers, living and professing covenant members of a local body were entrusted with the hands-on practical tasks of gathering, hosting, welcoming and facilitating Christ-exalting worship and biblical teaching.
Why?
Wouldn't it be easier to just "switch off" our gathered service until the "professional" comes back. Aren't you taking a tremendous risk leaving the function of your church gatherings in the hands of non-ordained, unlicensed laymen? After all, what about the wolves!?
Let Jesus' church be his church
The Lord's call on my life over the past five years is that a church would be planted, not an event. Today, we have a beautiful and maturing group that is growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This miracle of Spirit-led presence is something that a pastor cannot conjure up, nor does he divest of himself to others that they would depend on him. The miracle of Jesus' abundant life is seen in humble submission to the Word of God and God's people. This is something that only the Spirit can do and RIC is witness to it in these days.
A couple Sundays ago we installed three deacons. One of the primary marks of deacons drawn from Acts is that they be filled with the Spirit and of good repute (Acts 6:3). These men know their charge, as do their families. They desire to grow and learn this role well. I couldn't be more confident in them.
The Lord has always been building his church. This summer, we will prove his sustaining grace, his empowering strength, and his generous provision. As my family and I have the joy of telling American churches about the work of God in his church in Rome, so he will keep those he's called, and that which he has built.
So I'll bring us back to the theme of the church address that begins every email...
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ”
Loren