A Monthly Newsletter of Grace Community Church 

September 2007  

"I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:14-15

            The longer I am in the ministry the more convinced I become of the importance and priority of the Church. Our text tells us that the Church is the pillar and support of the truth. The one institution that should be known for truth is the Church. As members of the Church we exist to declare and hold up the truth. Secular organizations change with the culture to remain "relevant". Truth is always relevant. We have a unique message that does not have to change to remain relevant.

            The central theme of that truth is stated in verse 16 in the form of a poem or a confessional. The subject is Jesus Christ. "He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, beheld by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory." Jesus Christ must always be central in our teaching, singing, serving and growing. If we can stay focused upon him then we will never be irrelevant. What the world needs most is to be reconciled with their creator. That reconciliation only comes through Jesus Christ. So, until the whole world has heard of Christ and received his salvation or rejected it, our job will ever be the same.

            As we look forward to another year of ministry I wish to make you aware of the many opportunities we have to grow in the love of God and to share it with a hurting world. The foundation of our ministry is the Sunday morning Worship service.

First, one of the positive consequences of teaching truth and reconciliation is that people respond and become reconciled to God and therefore wish to corporately worship. During this time we have the opportunity to worship the Lord through singing, offering him our praise corporately, fellowshipping and focusing upon the preaching of his written Word. We are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The Church is more than a spiritual body; it is a visible physical collection of believers to join hands for his work. Without weekly focusing upon God we soon focus upon things of the world that will only disillusion us.

The next major building block of the church is what we call the Adult Bible Fellowships (ABFs) and the Sunday school. The focus of this time is to deal Biblically with life issues that affect adults and young people at every transition of life. We encourage every person to participate in this time, as it is vital to body life. In this context believers are given a chance to ask questions and to add the insights that God has given them through life. Relationships are fostered and needs are met in a way that can't be accomplished in the larger formal Worship service. It is here that individual needs are met and the one another's of ministry occur. If you feel disconnected from the body, it is because you are missing this key ingredient. You must make yourself available to experience true fellowship.

Another building block is small groups. They are primarily for training in how to be better servants and teachers. It is the place where every individual can experience pastoral care through lay pastors who have been trained to minister. The small group environment fosters practical sanctification as you live your life in the context of a few friends who help you and hold you accountable. There is a deeper level of fellowship that occurs here as you are taught how to live the Christian life through the power of the Holy Spirit. In these groups you learn how to use your special spiritual gifts in the service of others.

Once a month we will continue with our praise and prayer service on Sunday night, the second Sunday of the month. Each month we meet for a time of singing, baptism, testimony and prayer. It begins at 6:00 pm. Our next meeting will be on September 9th. Please make this a priority, you will not be disappointed.

Our youth groups also provide specialized discipleship for the differing stages our youth go through.  I implore you; commit yourself willingly to these key body life events. These events and ministries in total are what made the early church so vibrant.

The net result of the dissemination of the truth in the ministry of the Church is growth. Ephesians 4:15 says, "speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head even Christ." Spiritual growth comes from speaking the truth. But there is more. Verse 16 tells us what "every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Numerical growth is also a by-product of a properly functioning Church. When the world sees your consistency and your devotion to truth they will beg you for the hope that is in you. However, you will not have to wait for them to beg because you will be so overflowing with how you are growing that you will want to find ways to share your faith. That sharing may occur in your own neighborhood or you will seek to find people in this world who have not yet heard the truth.  

 

In Christ,

Pastor Lew Miller