06/01/08 a.m.: Life-Changing Prayer from Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:42-43.

It’s one of those things – when it is good it is very good but when it is bad…it can be very bad. Music has the ability to lift you to the highest heaven and engage your heart, mind and soul in worship. It can also make you think you’re…well…that you’ve gone the other direction! I can assure you that Sunday evening will be a wonderful experience. Our Celebration Singers along with guest soloists will perform Saviour a wonderful oratorio telling the story of redemption. I trust that you will be present and bring some folks with you. There will also be having a church-wide fellowship following.

It’s that time again. Our Nominating Committee and Committee on Committees will be seeking to fill our needs for the coming year. If you are not currently serving let us know of your interest we would love to put you to work. There are all kinds of needs. Often folks think in terms of teaching or leading some ministry but there are needs for helping with funeral dinners; serving as hostess for fellowships and receptions; if you have a desire to serve in any capacity we will find a place for you! Let me lay out some of the most pressing needs at this time. We have a great need in the bed babies during the Sunday School hour and on Wednesday evenings. We have needs in the preschool Sunday School in the 2 and 3 year-olds. We have the need of a Sunday School Director. If you have skills in organization and scheduling I would love to talk with you about outreach and visitation. There are “out front” and “behind the scene” opportunities. Would you considering joining our team?

I hope to see you and your family this coming Lord’s Day for Bible Study at 9:30 AM and then for worship as we continue our study of the book of Revelation.

Rod

[A Sunday-morning Series. The Revelation of John is the last book of the Bible for Pastor Rod to preach all the way through for the first time. In the introduction to this first message Pastor Rod answers the question "Which eschatological frame-work will you be working under?" You might be surprised by his answer. Indicators from this first message points to this series as a barn burner; don't miss a single installment.]

• 06/08/08: Living Faithfully in the Face of Hostility, from Revelation 1:1-20.
• 06/15/08: The Honeymoon Is Over, from Revelation 2:1-7.
• 06/22/08: The Call to Loyalty, from Revelation 2:8-11.
• 06/29/08: Hollow Boldness, from Revelation 2:12-17.
• 07/06/08: The Danger of Compromise, from Revelation 2:18-29.
• 07/13/08: The Living Dead, from Revelation 3:1-6.
• 07/27/08: A Praiseworthy Church, from Revelation 3:7-13.
• 08/03/08: A Word to an Apathetic Church, from Revelation 3:14-22.
• 08/10/08: Courage in the Storm, from Revelation 4:1-11.
• 08/17/08: Perseverance: The Fruit of Worship, from Revelation 5:1-14.
• 08/24/08: Living In-Between, from Revelation 6:1-17.
• 08/31/08: Sealed for Glory, from Revelation 7:1-17.
• 09/07/08: The Comforting/Terrifying Judgment of God, from Revelation 8:1-9:21.
• 09/14/08: Gospel Courage, from Revelation 10:1-11:17.
• 09/21/08: Gospel Reality, from Revelation 12:1-17.
• 09/28/08: Simple Faith for Complex Times, from Revelation 13:1-18.
• 10/05/08: Glory or Wrath?, from Revelation 14:1-20.
• 10/12/08: Judgment and Defiance, from Revelation 15:1-16:21.
• 10/19/08: Ruin and Rejoicing, from Revelation 17:1-18:24.
• 10/26/08: The Glory and The Terror of Our Lord’s Appearing, from Revelation 19:1-21.
• 11/02/08: Hope for the Future and Courage for Today, from Revelation 20:1-10.
• 11/09/08: The Day of Reckoning, from Revelation 20:11-15.
• 11/23/08: All Things Made New, from Revelation 21:1-8.
• 11/30/08: The Holy City, from Revelation 21:9-27.
• 12/07/08: Unrivaled Glory, from Revelation 22:1-5.
• 01/04/09: Living in Light of His Return, from Revelation 22:6-21.

Some things are just easier than others. There are messages I love to preach. There are passages that are personal favorites and I love to expound upon them. Then there are those texts that are, without question, true and from the Lord which are hard to hear and I can assure you even harder to declare. This past Sunday was one of those. As I spent last week pouring over the letter to the church at Ephesus I found my heart increasingly burdened. It seemed too familiar to me. Its truth hit too close to home. Like the church at Ephesus, I believe there is much to rejoice in concerning our fellowship. We have much to be grateful for. But I could not escape the feeling that like Ephesus we have abandoned the love we had at the first.

Some of that is reflected in the declining numbers for Sunday School. Some of it is reflected in lack of workers to staff the classes we have. Mostly I think it is seen in the fact that we are…well…comfortable. We know what we believe. We are confident in our beliefs. We refuse to compromise, we have no trouble standing our ground, we call error, error but our passion has cooled. Don’t misunderstand me. By passion I don’t mean we jump up and down, wave our arms, stomp and shout. Enthusiasm is not necessarily passion. I also don’t mean we need to cry, turn red or crank up the volume to say we really mean this. Passion is demonstrated by commitment, sacrifice and devotion. Passion is seen in the radiance that comes across your face when you speak God’s truth. Passion is reflected in the fact you tear up when you witness a baptism, hear a testimony or glimpse of the wonder of new found faith.

My purpose Sunday was certainly not to guilt anyone into anything. I don’t want anyone to teach a class or serve on a committee or be involved because they are driven by guilt. I hope your response will be what mine has been. I’m not angry. I don’t feel guilty. But my heart is broken. I want what “ought to be.” I long to be passionate about my faith, my Savior, and my church. The way home is simple. Simple but not easy. Remember. Repent. Return. It’s a start. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

They wrap it all up and come home today.

I read an article recently that talked of the need to “make the Bible relevant.” The author was concerned that sagging attendance, the drop in baptisms and overall decline within our denomination was the result of “irrelevant” preaching. We need to speak to the practical needs of people. We need to address people where they live. I applaud the intent of the writer. I agree that we must address the real needs of people but I don’t know of any better means than the faithful teaching/preaching of the Word of God. I don’t know of any better way to speak to the hearts, minds and wills of people than to expound upon the Word of God and allow the Spirit to convict and convince. I’m of the opinion that the Bible is already relevant. It doesn’t need me or anyone else to make it relevant.

As I’m working my way through Jeremiah on Sunday evenings and Revelation on Sunday morning I’m finding it very relevant! It seems to me it speaks directly to our culture and to the church. The words of the Lord of the Church to the seven churches of Revelation seem to address our pluralistic culture head on. His word to the church fighting to be heard in an antagonistic culture seems spot on to me. Jeremiah’s burden for a “church” that has grown comfortable and set in its ways is at times too close for comfort.

I think the best way to be relevant is to allow the Word of God to speak for itself. As you seek to hear a meaningful and relevant word – I’ll do my best to stay out of the way and allow God to speak for Himself. I hope to see you Sunday.

Rod

See Danny for details.