50 Day Reading Challenge

       How many Bibles do you own? One, two, more?  From my desk alone, as I write you, I see two Bibles on my desk, five on my shelf, one in Greek and another in Hebrew, countless others on my computer and more at home.  I am a blessed man, because my God made me and made a way for me to be in relationship with Him through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on a cruel cross. I am also blessed because the God who made me chose to reveal Himself to me and speak with me through His written Word, the Scriptures, the Holy Bible.

         As children of God, we want to be like Jesus or at least we should.  We struggle and strain in this fallen world looking for answers to life’s most difficult questions, seeking for reasons and for a purpose to why we are.  God has given us all the answers we seek in His Word.  He tells us how to live life with purpose, with intention and with a goal in mind. “Be like Jesus.” 

     Jesus faced every temptation known by man, and He faced those temptations with a heart loaded with the Word of God.  As the devil attempted to draw the attention of our Lord from His Father’s purpose for His life incarnate, Jesus fended off the devil’s attacks by proclaiming in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”  Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3.

       Here is my question, do you hunger for God? Do you want to know Him? Do you want to know how to live life and live it godly? Then take the time and learn from the Master Craftsman of your Life.

                                  Blessings,
                                  Pastor Eric  

Day 1              Genesis 1         Acts 1

Day 2              Genesis 2         Acts 2

Day 3              Genesis 3         Acts 3

Day 4              Genesis 4         Acts 4

Day 5              Genesis 5         Acts 5

Day 6              Genesis 6         Acts 6

Day 7              Genesis 7         Acts 7

Day 8              Genesis 8         Acts 8

Day 9              Genesis 9         Acts 9

Day 10            Genesis 10       Acts 10

Day 11            Genesis 11       Acts 11

Day 12            Genesis 12       Acts 12

Day 13            Genesis 13       Acts 13

Day 14            Genesis 14       Acts 14

Day 15            Genesis 15       Acts 15

Day 16            Genesis 16       Acts 16

Day 17            Genesis 17       Acts 17

Day 18            Genesis 18       Acts 18

Day 19            Genesis 19       Acts 19

Day 20            Genesis 20       Acts 20

Day 21            Genesis 21       Acts 21

Day 22            Genesis 22       Acts 22

Day 23            Genesis 23       Acts 23

Day 24            Genesis 24       Acts 24

Day 25            Genesis 25       Acts 25

Day 26            Genesis 26       Acts 26

Day 27            Genesis 27       Acts 27

Day 28            Genesis 28       Acts 28

Day 29            Genesis 29       Hebrews 1

Day 30            Genesis 30       Hebrews 2

Day 31            Genesis 31       Hebrews 3

Day 32            Genesis 32       Hebrews 4

Day 33            Genesis 33       Hebrews 5

Day 34            Genesis 34       Hebrews 6

Day 35            Genesis 35       Hebrews 7

Day 36            Genesis 36       Hebrews 8

Day 37            Genesis 37       Hebrews 9

Day 38            Genesis 38       Hebrews 10

Day 39            Genesis 39       Hebrews 11

Day 40            Genesis 40       Hebrews 12

Day 41            Genesis 41       Hebrews 13

Day 42            Genesis 42       1 John 1

Day 43            Genesis 43       1 John 2

Day 44            Genesis 44       1 John 3

Day 45            Genesis 45       1 John 4

Day 46            Genesis 46       1 John 5

Day 47            Genesis 47       2 John

Day 48            Genesis 48       3 John

Day 49            Genesis 49       Philemon

Day 50            Genesis 50       Jude

Scripture Memorization Plan

          The Scriptures are a great Gift we have been given. It leads us to Salvation through a presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that He died for our Sins, was Buried, and three days later Raised from the Dead (1 Corinthians 15) to make our Salvation possible. They give us everything we need to live life and live it godly. To write God’s Word upon your heart is a tremendous tool for the Christian, for it is God’s word that brings comfort, confidence, and courage in the face of troubling times. The Scriptures are what all mankind will be measured by.

             The most deep philosophical question that has been asked is, “What is truth?”  It is a question that the most ancient of men have asked in one form or another.  And it is the one in the day in which we live that most confounds men.  Many in our time speak of truth as being relative, “your truth is okay for you, and my truth is okay for me.” But, what good is truth if it is never known as it is revealed by the one who is truth, God.

             Pilot asked Jesus the question in John 18:38, “What is truth?” Jesus had attempted to give him the truth but he was unwilling to accept it.  Jesus had earlier declared it to those who would hear….

           In John 8:31-32, Jesus proclaimed to Jews who had believed in Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Again Jesus confessed in John 14:16, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  And once more in a prayer for the disciples Jesus announced what truth was and is and will always be in John 17:17 ¹⁷ “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

             I challenge you this year to begin to take the word of Truth and write it upon your heart through memorization.  It is not as hard as you might think.  Perhaps you’ve tried and believe you failed, any attempt to memorize God’s Word is not failure.  I would ask you to try to memorize one scripture a week.

How to Memorize Scripture:

1. Write the verse(s) on a 3x5 card with chapter and verse; carry the card with you everywhere
2. Say, out loud, the chapter and verse before and after each attempt to say the Scripture, out loud
3. Stair step the Scripture---learn the Scripture a little at a time example:

          John 3:16 For God John 3:16

          John 3:16 For God so loved John 3:16

          John 3:16 For God so loved the world John 3:16

4. As a new Scripture week begins start the process (step 1-3), over with the next Scripture verse

          Continue the previous week’s verse along with the new verse.

          This will continue until you don’t even need to think about the older verse(s) anymore.

          Then you will only need to review them periodically—dailyàweeklyàmonthly

     5. Keep your Scripture Cards in a 3x5 index card box as you finish each week
         or a use a 2-ring 3x5 index card binder (Office Max or Depot keep these in stock)

v  Don’t be in a rush to get to the next verse at the expense of the one your working on

v  Don’t waste time on a verse you have learned, if you know it move on

Some people can learn several verses in a week with no trouble

 You will get out of your Scripture Memorization, What you put into it!

 Use the Bible translation you feel most comfortable with, it is best to stay with the same translation throughout.

God Bless,

Pastor Eric

 Psalms 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

1. Psalms 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You
2. Romans 3:10 as it is written, there is none righteous, not even one
3. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
4. Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
6. Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
7. Romans 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation
8. Romans 10:13 WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED
9. Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me
10. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
11. John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
12. Heb 9:27 it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment
13. Mark 1:15 The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
14. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
15. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit
16. Romans 14:12 each one of us will give an account of himself to God
17. Acts 4:12 there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved
18. Matt 11:28-30 ²⁸ Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ³⁰ "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
19. Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth
20. Eph 2:8-10 ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
21. Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you
    But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
22. Psalms 82:3-4 ³ Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. ⁴ Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked
23. John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
24. Col 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form
25. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come
26.  2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
27. Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
28. Gal 5:22-23 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law
29. John 10:27-30 ²⁷ "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. ³⁰ "I and the Father are one
30. James 2:10 whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
31. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly
32. Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
33. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name
34. 2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline
35. Matt 12:36-37 ³⁶ "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak , they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
36. 2 Tim 3:16-17 ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
37. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
38. Matt 4:4 MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.
39. Luke 11:28 blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it
40. Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ
41. 1 Peter 5:7 cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you
42. Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation.
43. Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.
44. Romans 12:2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
45. 1 Peter 1:13 prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
46. 1 Cor 6:9-10 ⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate , nor homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
47. Rev 21:8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death
48. 2 Cor 5:15 He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf
49. Romans 8:28-29 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren
50. Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him
51. Matt 22:37-40 YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' ³⁸ "This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹ "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' ⁴⁰ "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets
52. Matt 28:18-20 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , even to the end of the age."

BONUS VERSE

Matt 23:11-12 ¹¹ "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

31 Day Reading Challenge

            Two chapters a day, can you give God two chapters a day?  This Reading Challenge is designed to help you begin the process of daily reading and studying God’s Word.   

As you read, write down any questions you may have and share them with your pastor, Bible study teacher, or mentor. A Reader’s goal is to discover what God is revealing about Himself and about the one who is reading, to include how God expects us to behave in relation to the world and His Church.

If life happens and you miss a day don’t be discouraged, just pick up where you left off. The point is not to force your way through it just to say you did it, but to spend some quality time in God’s Word.  It is better for you if you read a small portion and get much from it than to make up for several days of missed readings and get little if anything from it at all.

            Do you believe what you believe because you’ve been told to? Or do you believe because God showed you in His Word?

Expect God to change you in this process; don’t be surprised at how He confronts you in how you think and what you believe. Remember, His purpose for your life is to be just like His Son, Jesus.

Hebrews 4:12-13 ¹² For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Day 1- John 1… Proverbs 1	Day 17- John 17… Proverbs 17
Day 2- John 2… Proverbs 2	Day 18- John 18… Proverbs 18
Day 3- John 3… Proverbs 3	Day 19- John 19… Proverbs 19
Day 4- John 4… Proverbs 4	Day 20- John 20… Proverbs 20
Day 5- John 5… Proverbs 5	Day 21- John 21… Proverbs 21
Day 6- John 6… Proverbs 6	Day 22- Ephesians 1… Proverbs 22
Day 7- John 7… Proverbs 7	Day 23- Ephesians 2… Proverbs 23
Day 8- John 8… Proverbs 8	Day 24- Ephesians 3… Proverbs 24
Day 9- John9… Proverbs 9	Day 25- Ephesians 4… Proverbs 25
Day 10- John 10… Proverbs 10	Day 26- Ephesians 5… Proverbs 26
Day 11- John 11… Proverbs 11	Day 27- Ephesians 6… Proverbs 27
Day 12- John 12… Proverbs 12	Day 28- Colossians 1… Proverbs 28
Day 13- John 13… Proverbs 13	Day 29- Colossians 2… Proverbs 29
Day 14- John 14… Proverbs 14	Day 30- Colossians 3… Proverbs 30
Day 15- John 15… Proverbs 15	Day 31- Colossians 4… Proverbs 31
Day 16- John 16… Proverbs 16	Happy Blessed Reading

The Pony Express, a Pastor's Ministry, and God's Church

            I love Old Western Movies and have always been fascinated by the young men who were part of the Pony Express. The courage and boldness (and maybe a little craziness) it took to ride their steeds across dangerous country to deliver messages for what often amounted to very little pay. 

          Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “what in the world does a Pastor’s Ministry and the Pony express have to do with each other?”  And “Where in the world did you come up with this?”  Give me just a moment to explain how I view a pastor’s ministry in God’s Church.

          Many years back when I was speaking with a Pastor Search Committee, a dear sweet woman who had served alongside her husband for many years planting churches up in Maryland was serving on the Search Committee.  She asked me the following very pointed question, “Do you see our church as a stepping stone for your ministry?” 

         I wasn’t necessarily caught off guard by the question, because I understood and had seen before what concerned her heart regarding “Ministers” seeking a church.  There are some men seeking to serve God’s church, with the best of intentions I’m sure, who have lost sight of their purpose in serving the Church.

         I quickly answered Mrs. Lucas’ question, “Churches are not stepping stones for pastors, but pastors are stepping stones for God’s Church.”

         As I have continued to ponder my view of ministry over the years and have seen the best and the worst in both “ministers” and “churches,” I believe the Pony Express is one of the best examples to use to explain a Pastor’s role within God’s Church.

         The Pony Express was made up of a very unique group of young men.  Many were mere boys, some starting out just in their early teenage years.  The Pony Express job descriptions often read;

          “WANTED. YOUNG, SKINNY, WIRY FELLOWS. NOT OVER 18. MUST BE   
           EXPERT RIDERS.  WILLING TO RISK DEATH DAILY. ORPHANS PREFERRED"
           -California newspaper help wanted ad, 1860

These were a different breed of adventurers.  Many were living a life of hardship with little to no prospect of a future, roaming from one job to the next, and working for room and board.  The Pony Express promised an opportunity for a change in their life if they survived.  Most of the areas they worked in were filled with bandits, scoundrels, and angry natives who were not fond of strangers passing through their land.

         The idea of the Pony Express is very simple.  You have:  the Author of the Message, the Message, the Horse, the Rider, and the Recipient of the Message.  The Author wanted to get a message to someone (Recipient of the Message).  The Author would hire the Pony Express Company to convey said message(s).  The message(s) where given to the Rider by the Pony Express company branch at one location to be delivered at a set Pony Express branch at another location.  Often times, these branches were far from railroad stations and the Pony Express would be able to deliver the message faster.

        The Rider was obligated in most cases to remain with his assigned message(s) until he delivered it to the Pony Express branch at the destination.  This prevented loss or confusion as to where the Message was to be sent and who was responsible if something went wrong.  The Rider was given a Horse, and along the often lengthy route there were way stations where the Rider could eat, rest briefly and saddle a fresh horse before continuing his journey.  Through inhospitable and dangerous lands these courageous few drove their horses and themselves to exhaustion to fulfill their duty and obligations. Never ceasing until their message reached its destination.

        Please allow me to give you my understanding of a Pastor’s Ministry using the Pony Express as my example. 

 God is the Author of the Message.

John 3:16 ¹⁶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

The Message is the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ¹ Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

And to receive that Message, to have an eternal relationship with our Creator and Savior, to be saved a person must;

Romans 10:9-11 ⁹ ….confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

            The Church is the Rider carrying the Message of God.

Matthew 28:19-20 ¹⁹ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

            The Pastor is the Horse.

Ephesians 4:11-12 ¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

The World is the intended Recipient of the Message.

Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Hebrews 9:27 ²⁷ And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

1 Peter 3:18 ¹⁸ For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

         As the Pastor, my role is to carry God’s Church (His People) and God’s Message (His Gospel) as far as I possibly can.  When I can no longer carry the load, when I have given all I have to my God and to His Church it is time for the Church to saddle a fresh Horse.

         Better men have served before us and better men will follow after us.  Let us build upon the firm foundation of God’s Word that has been laid and strengthen the people of God to stand strong and serve with conviction and commitment.

1 Peter 2:4-6 ⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

           Pastor, you are the noble Steed, your day will come and your day will end.  God’s Message and God’s Church will go on.  Serve them well with all the heart and love you can muster for the sake of the lost and lonely waiting for the hope we carry and for the Name of our Lord Jesus. 

Blessings, Pastor Eric

A Vision for the Church

            In recent days and decades many churches have clamored for warm bodies to fill pews and fill the church coffers by “buying” into the “Consumer Mentality of Church,” but at what cost.

            Large Churches (the term mega-church is relative) have the means, resources and manpower many times over to create a program driven church, meeting every age group's wants and desires.  Books have been written by convention leaders expounding on the greatness of these programs in bringing in and bringing up numbers.  Leaders create research groups and sales teams to study and package what large churches are doing and then sell the concepts to smaller churches who seem to be plateauing or declining.  “If you will just do this, then God will bless you and everything will be okay.”

            But, not everything is okay. When you look deeper into the issue, are we meeting the people’s needs or are we meeting the people’s wants?  What people need isn’t always what they want.

            The Church since its inception at Pentecost thrived and grew without a “40 days to a better you” or “12 steps to a deeper meaning of life” program.  It simply did church, simply.  The Preaching of the Word was paramount, Discipleship was all consuming and Evangelism was a part of every ones daily activity.  It was not enough to do church, it was everything to be the Church.  This isn't to say everyone matured into "super-Christians,"  always growing and always obedient to the Word, all Believers in all times have struggled with complacency and the dangers of compromise.  

            The Church has been given a Great Commandment, to love God and to Love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40) and a Great Commission, to worship Jesus and as we are living life in this world we are to make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Holy Trinity and to teach them all that we have been commanded (Matthew 28: 16-20).  This is what God has commanded, if we do not do these things we have no right as a church to exist.  To ignore this is to be disobedient to our God and partial obedience is still disobedience.

            Church has become far too complicated and we have lost our Love for Christ and our love for one another.  We have segregated ourselves from one another in the common time of worship by creating artificial divisions within our church by creating programs that separate us from one another.  A Professor of mine in Seminary once explained the tragedy of breaking up our Worship of God by segregating our Youth from our adults.  The Youth bring fire with their enthusiasm and boldness. Our Maturing believers in Age bring stability and groundedness in faith.  One without the other brings tragedy to the Body of Christ.  Without the Stability of faith of the older congregation our Youth will burn out quickly and leave.  Without the fire of the youth the older will simply smolder out and grow cold.  We need both to thrive as a body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.    

 

            I believe a vision for the Church is one where the body on the Lord’s Day celebrates together in common worship.  Sunday Mornings the Children remain with their parents until the last special song is sung, then they are released to Children’ Church.  The Children will learn reverence for a Holy God and how to Worship Him in the presence of God’s People.  The Youth should be involved where ever possible within the Worship service to assure them the Church is as much theirs as anyone else’s.  Sunday evening Worship, is to be family time; parents with their children and youth and Mentors alongside the Mentored, a Common body in Worship together.  Sunday is to be a day of Family Worship and rest. 

            Wednesday Night services would be open for Children and Youth Bible studies.  Adults not serving the children or youth will be in prayer and preaching service.

            I believe that people can be saved and make commitments to the Lord regarding Baptism and Church Membership just as much on Sunday and Wednesday evening as Sunday Morning.   I have an invitation to respond to God’s Message at all three services.

            I believe every Church Member should have one Primary Ministry that their greatest efforts are poured into because they know this is what God has assigned for them.  They should have a Secondary Ministry in which they step into and/or assist someone else’s Primary Ministry when needed and a Third Ministry could be to help set up, take down or clean up with others when needed.   Statistically 20% of the people in Church are doing 80% of the work done in the Church.  I believe this is being far too generous and more than likely it is closer to a 10% of people to a 90% work ratio in many Churches.  This often leads to burn out and members quitting all their ministries and fading away right out the back door of the Church in frustration.  We must ask ourselves is it better to do a few things well and for the glory of God or do a whole lot and accomplish little. What is more valuable in the economy of God? 

I believe in these Last Days we need more Worship, more Fellowship, and more Church.