New Morning Mercies

Today, I am privileged to be at Cornerstone University's Church Ministry Fair.

In praying and thinking about this opportunity, I pray that students at Cornerstone or any other college will pursue opportunities to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, personally and with other believers.

This morning, at Cornerstone, I want to let students know about Trinity Baptist Church and, even more than that, encourage them to get plugged into a Bible-preaching local church. Not just showing up on Sunday mornings but looking for opportunities to be encouraged and to encourage others.

The gathering together of believers reminds us that we are weak and were created for fellowship.

Forsaking the gathering together of believers demonstrates an independent, self-centered mindset.  

Also, each of us needs to seek ways to grow closer to Christ personally. 

This begins with being in the prayer and the Word. 
A help is Bible-centered books and devotionals that point us to Christ.

One devotional book that has been so helpful to me has been New Morning Mercies by Paul Tripp.

Here is the August 30th devotional that focuses on pride.

Grace smashes your pride, but it gives you more reason for confidence than you have ever had before. 

It is a statement of complete assurance and confidence, spoken by a man whose pride had just been smashed. 

Nebuchadnezzar was the arrogant king of the conquering nation of Babylon. He not only had devastated Judah and taken its people as his captive servants, but he had taken implements from the temple to be used as tools of idol worship, which he commanded everyone in his kingdom to render or face death. The extent of his pride is captured by these words: “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” (Dan. 4:30). But while the words were still in his mouth, he was dramatically humiliated by the One who alone has true glory and majesty. By the power of God, Nebuchadnezzar was “driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws” (v. 33). 

The pride of the king had been destroyed by the finger of God. We don’t know for sure how long Nebuchadnezzar was in that humiliated, animalistic state, but we do know that when he rose out of it and his senses returned, his choking arrogance had been replaced with confidence. Are you confused at the distinction? Well, read these words and compare them to what Nebuchadnezzar had said before: 

At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the king of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Dan. 4:36–37) 

Nebuchadnezzar was confident in the position and power he had been given, but the old pride had been broken. You can see this in the fact that what he once took credit for building, he now praised God for establishing. Nebuchadnezzar did not minimize or deny the power and splendor of his reign, but he did not say as he once would have said, “This is from me, about me, and for me.” You see, pride takes credit for what it could not achieve on its own, while confidence stands strong because it recognizes the power and presence of One greater. Only divine grace can lead you from one to the other. 

For further study and encouragement: Ephesians 3:7–8  

"Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,"

 

New Morning Mercies Feb 1

Today was an especially helpful New Morning Mercies devotional by Paul David Tripp.

FEBRUARY 1

Sure, you’ll face difficulty. God is prying open your fingers 

so you’ll let go of your dreams, rest in his comforts, and 

take up his call.

Think about the words penned by Peter near the beginning of his New Testament letter: “Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:6–7).

As he opens his letter, Peter gives us a past-present-future summary of God’s redemptive plan, but his interest is really in what God is doing right here, right now between Christ’s first and second comings. Of all of the words that he could use to describe what God is doing now, he selects these three: grieved, trials, and tested. These are three words that most of us hope would never describe our lives. None of us gets up in the morning and prays, “Lord, if you love me, you will send more suffering my way today.” Rather, when we are living in the middle of difficulty, we are tempted to view it as a sign of God’s unfaithfulness or inattention.

Peter, however, doesn’t see moments of difficulty as objects in the way of God’s plan or indications of the failure of God’s plan. No, for him they are an important part of God’s plan. Rather than being signs of his inattention, they are sure signs of the zeal of his redemptive love. In grace, he leads you where you didn’t plan to go to produce in you what you couldn’t achieve on your own. In these moments, he works to alter the values of your heart so that you let go of your little kingdom of one and give yourself to his kingdom of glory and grace.

God is working right now, but not so much to give us predictable, comfortable, and pleasurable lives. He isn’t so much working to transform our circumstances as he is working through hard circumstances to transform you and me. Perhaps in hard moments, when we are tempted to wonder where God’s grace is, it is grace that we are getting, but not grace in the form of a soft pillow or a cool drink. Rather, in those moments, we are being blessed with the heart-transforming grace of difficulty because the God who loves us knows that this is exactly the grace we need.  

For further study and encouragement:
James 1:2–11. 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.  For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Four Months and a week and a half.

The last four months have been the most challenging time in my life so far. 

We very much appreciate the prayers and support from so many people. 

I’ve written several blog posts and many personal journal entries during this time. 

The following quote from today’s New Morning Mercies has proven true over and over again.  “In grace, he leads you where you didn’t plan to go in order to produce in you what you couldn’t achieve on your own.”

The big thing that has made this time so challenging has been processing through some of the details and reasons for two ministry transitions in a little over a year. While both were mutual, neither was easy, especially as it relates to reflecting upon my personal shortcomings and differing ministry philosophies.  
I have been struggling with how these shortcomings and differences would impact future ministry opportunities. 

After 

- much praying and journaling (see 01.01.19 post), 

- what seems like walking miles of the rows of car parts at my current job, In On Time Logistics, 

- talking (personally and online) with friends and mentors, 

- getting connected with a great church family at Trinity Baptist Church (see 01,31.19),

- continuing with a consistent devotion plan when I oftentimes didn’t want to,

- taking some big steps to limit social media usage (see 02.17.19 post), and

- seeking counseling through a biblical counseling center, 

I have begun to get a clearer sense of direction. 
Through both transitions, I have learned some valuable lessons about myself and ministry.

We are still not sure what God has next for us but we also are sure that God is the Great Provider and that he has given me a desire to pastor his people.  

I also believe others have confirmed this.

Please pray for us as we seek God‘s will and direction for the future as it relates to ministry or whatever He has for us.  
We don't know where God is leading or what He has for us but we do know He is there.

Pray also that we would, through his strength, continue to glorify God in our current circumstances.

The One Great Thing

During the different transitions and challenges over the last two years we have been blessed by so many people's emails, gifts, conversations and prayers.

While I have greatly appreciated these words of encouragement, one of the statements I have heard and needed to process through is that God must have something great in store for us.

Over this weekend I have been reminded in Sunday's message at Trinity Baptist Church (one of the Verses was Luke 9:23-25), this week's Fighter Verses (Matthew 20:26-28) and yesterday's New Morning Mercies devotional that the great thing in this life is God Himself - not the dream job or just a job you can do well.

Whether I am working in a factory, a non-profit organization, an office, a church or wherever, I am thankful for Jesus Christ.

Changes in Work

Next week I start transitional work at Mol Belting.  I will begin working at this factory from November 5th through the end of December.  I am not sure exactly what I will be doing but I do know it will be very different than what I have done for the last eleven years.
Mol Belting is aware that I am in the process of searching for a permanent job and has been very flexible and helpful.
I am thankful for how God has provided this job to help me and my family.
I would very much appreciate your prayers as I begin this new phase of life.

Below is a summary of several personal journal entries over the last three days.

This Saturday there was a lot going on emotionally for me.

The shooting at the synagogue in Pittsburgh.

When I heard the new Saturday about the shooting, I was saddened because there was another tragic shooting.  What added to my sadness in this specific situation is that it happened in a city I know and love very much.  There are still a lot of things I am trying to process through but I do know this SIN IS UGLY!  For a person to walk into a synagogue, yell anti-semitic statements and then begin shooting people is so wrong and sinful on so many different levels.  

The 14th anniversary of my dad's death.

My dad was 56 years old when he died.  Eight years before that he had a work related injury, a deflated lung, that caused him in one day to go from work crazy hours to not being able to work at all.  That injury that changed his work life happened when he was 48 years old.  Before that day my dad was a workhorse.  I remember him coming how covered in coal dust.  We would often take the long way home so he could check the barges docked at North Star.  Did you catch the math?  56 - 8 = 48.  He stopped working at 48 years.  I am 48 years old.

While I know my work transition has not been as drastic as my dad's, the impact of both of us having big work related changes at the age of 48 has been a huge over the last couple of days.  

At 48 years old, I am sure my dad was not expecting a deflated lung that day at Northstar Transfer.  There were so many hard things after that day.  Three and a half of no work and no pay.  A lot of doctor visits, a couple of near death experiences and some very hard times emotionally for him, my mom, my sister and me.  There were also blessings.  The two biggest blessings were a much slower pace which provided opportunities to spend time with dad that we would not have had at his previous work pace and opportunities for my family to see and show how God works even the most challenging times out for His glory.

At 48 years old, I was not thinking I would be working at a factory in a time of job transition.  There are several positions in ministry organizations I am waiting to here from and I am checking on renewing my expired teacher certification.  We don't know what God has next for us but I am continuing to remind myself that God has it under control.  I know that is true but I need to continually work to remember and live it out. 

To be very open and honest, over the last three days I have cried a couple of times each day.  Sometimes those tears have been because I miss my dad - remembering something about him or thinking about something I wish he was here for like the kids' sporting events.  Sometimes those tears have been because I wonder what God has in the future for me and my family.

Here are some quotes New Morning Mercies on October 28th.

You have two ways of looking at life.  You can look at all your internal and external challenges from the perspective of your track record and present catalog of abilities or you can look at them from the vantage point of the sufficiency of the work of Jesus on your behalf.

Don't give way to the fear of inability when the work of Jesus has supplied you with everything you need.

God, help me remember that Your divine power has given your children everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3).  All too often I look at life with me as the focus.  Remind me to see that that life is about Jesus and what He has done.  Amen.

Dad and Krista working in our Dominican Republic apartment

Some specific prayer requests:

• Pray for my testimony at Mol Belting
• Pray for my knee.  It is continuing to get better but still isn't 100%.
• Pray for wisdom as I continue to look for work.
• Getting together teacher recertification information
• Waiting on the ministries and jobs I have sent resumes to
• Pray as we decide on a church home

If you want to keep up with what is going on in our lives, click on the Personal tab on the site or go to http://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/personal

Good Reminders on October EIGHTEENTH!

From today's New Morning Mercies

I originally wrote "Today along with the last couple of days were challenging," 
but then I realized the last two summers have been challenging.  
Leaving a ministry, moving to a new state and a new ministry.
Then, leaving that ministry after a year.
Now, processing through what is next for me and my family. 
Some challenging circumstances but I am thankful for reminders, 
especially like the ones today, of the fact that God is bigger than any circumstance.

As Krista and I have been prayerfully considering what is next for my job, 
I have decided to not pursue a church ministry position.  
This has been a difficult decision.
It has also made the job search this last two months especially interesting because the search process has changed from September to October.
I have realized this shift while difficult is necessary.
Two of the biggest realizations I have been working through are
(1) my identity is not and must not be found in my role as a pastor.  I am first and foremost a child of God, saved by grace.
(2) even if I am not serving as a pastor, I still have many opportunities to glorify God as I serve people and make disciples who make disciples.

Here are two great October 18th reminders.

One of my favorite quotes from The Gospel Primer is from the 18th entry.

For the gospel is the one great permanent circumstance in which I live and move; and every hardship in my life is allowed by God only because it serves His gospel purposes in me.

And then here is October 18th devotional from New Morning Mercies

OCTOBER 18 

Don’t give way to discouragement, feelings of futility, or waves of fear, because the Father has graciously chosen to give you the kingdom! 
There are so many reasons to be discouraged in this fallen world, it’s a wonder that anyone is happy. It’s discouraging to watch your marriage turn cold and distant. It’s disheartening to be betrayed by a dear friend. It’s disappointing to lose the job you worked at with such commitment. It’s depressing to face a sickness that you’re not sure you’ll ever lick. It’s hard to face the rebellion and rejection of one of your children. It’s discouraging to hear so often about corruption in politics and government. It’s disheartening to have to be concerned about crime and injustice. It’s tough to deal with the weaknesses of old age. It’s hard to be mocked and rejected for your faith. It’s sad to see your church become more a place of controversy than gospel healing. It can seem as if everything in your life is in the process of decaying or in danger of going bad. People die, dreams die, flowers die, and marriages, churches, jobs, and friendships go bad. If you look around, this old world that God created isn’t doing very well. In many ways, it’s a hard, discouraging place to live. The downward spiral of the fallen world can get to you. It seems that everything is impermanent or in the process of falling apart.  

But that’s not all that is discouraging. It often seems as if you’re powerless to make much of a change. You do everything you can to restore your marriage, but it just seems stuck. You know you don’t have the power to change other people and you have limited power to change situations. It so often seems that you’re a witness to or affected by things you have little ability to alter.  

So where is encouragement to be found? It’s found in grace, as depicted by these beautiful words: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). With these words, everything changes. These words tell you that it’s not you against a world gone bad. Yes, you are a citizen of this world and you are touched by its brokenness, but as you are, you must remind yourself that you are the citizen of another kingdom. Your King rules over everything that would discourage and disappoint you, and he rules for your good and his glory. What is out of your control is under his rule. What you don’t understand is under his careful administration. But there is more. While everything around you seems impermanent, this kingdom will have no end. Long after the kingdoms of this world have been destroyed, you will reign with your King in his kingdom forever and ever and ever. 

For further study and encouragement: Luke 12:22–34

We would appreciate your prayers and help as we continue this adventure.

If you want to keep up with what is going on in our lives, click on the Personal tab on the site or go to http://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/personal

Thankful for Family and Friends

Saturday's work crew from West Cannon, Northpointe, Toledo and Pittsburgh

We are very thankful for friends and family who came out to help us move.  Our new apartment is about 15 minutes away from where we were living.  FIFTEEN MINUTES closer to the kids' school.

• Krista's mom and dad
• My mom and Bill
• a friend from the Dominican Republic
• a friend from Baptist Bible Seminary
• a friend from Northpointe Christian School (a friend of mine was there on Saturday and four of Joel's friends helped pack up on Friday)
• a lot of friends from West Cannon Baptist Church.

Friday's work crew from Northpointe

During this transition time in our lives, one of the challenges is not having a church "home."
At the same time, individuals from West Cannon Baptist Church and Northpointe Christian School have been extremely helpful.  We also appreciate people from Emmanuel Baptist Church who have asked about how to pray and looked for ways to help from afar.
We have visited several different churches in the Grand Rapids area the last two months.  While we are very much looking forward to settling into a church, it has been an encouragement to visit several different Bible-teaching churches.

Recently we were talking with the kids about how they respond to the question of what church are you attending.
One of the kids answered, "No where."
Another one answered "Everywhere."
And the third one answered, "I don't know."

While prayerfully looking forward to where God will have us I am also amazed at how God has used people from West Cannon Baptist and Emmanuel Baptist Church.  I am very thankful for people who "understand what it really looks like to represent the grace of the Redeemer in the lives of the people whom he puts in our paths."  (New Morning Mercies, October 11)

Actually, today's New Morning Mercies devotional is a great reminder of who the church is.

So many people who attend evangelical churches on Sunday have little life commitment to the work of those churches.  Most pastors would be thrilled if the vast majority of their people were every-Sunday attenders and committed to financially supporting the work of the churches.  But all this sadly falls far below God's wise design for his church.   Think about it:  you will simply never be able to hire enough professional ministry people to cover all the ministry needs in a given week, no matter what size your church is.  It is no wonder problems are left to grow until they reach intense levels of complication.

All God's children have been called to the same position.  We've all been called to be his ambassadors.  Remember, the only thing an ambassador does is represent.  God's plan is to make his invisible presence and his invisible grace visible through his people, who incarnate his presence and carry that grace to others.  That's God's call to every one of his children.  There are to be no self-satisfied recipients, no consumers.  The body of Christ is designed by God to be an organic, constantly ministering community. 

A Different Kind of Birthday

Monday was a different kind of birthday.

On my (David) 48th birthday which fell on Labor Day, it was challenging to not be preoccupied with the fact that I need to find a job.

During my last several weeks of teaching the Genesis class, we looked at some misused verses of the Bible.

Romans 8:28 - "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

AND

1st Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it."

Before beginning the study, I asked the class leadership team about doing a different study.  Part of the reason I asked was that I thought with the possible transition it would have been very difficult for me.  I am glad they said to stick with this study.  In God's sovereignty, he used it in my life.  

The Fighter Verses have also been an encouragement to me.
Krista has been an encouragement to me. 

New Morning Mercies and The Gospel Primer have been great helps.

The past Sunday's sermon from Chapel Pointe was an amazing blessing.  The message was entitled How to Get Out of a Cave from Psalm 57.

With all of these big helps and great reminders, our current circumstances are still hard.
NOT impossible BUT challenging.

In posting pictures of our family at the beach, the museum and other places, I in no way, shape, or form want to create or communicate a fake facebook idea that everything is smiles, beaches, and carousel rides.

I don't really know how to best share moments of late night prayers, challenging parenting moments, and packing stacks of boos that seem like they were just unpacked and organized.  I don't even know if all of these moments need to be shared on social media.

Actually, here is a short video of the river in downtown Rockford where I have gone for some night prayer times.

Two specific verses have reminded me why I want to share the story of how God is working in the Rodgers' family.

1st Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost.

AND
1st Peter 3:15
But in your hearts revere Christ as LORD.  Always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do so with gentleness and respect.

About 8 years ago I wrote that this blog “is meant to show what God has been doing in, for and through us.  We do this for the purpose of GLORIFYING GOD and HELPING OTHERS GROW.”  It is my prayer that my Facebook page, this blog and even more importantly my life will glorify God and help others do the same.  

For more updates on our family, click on the other links at drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/personal

UPDATE: God has it figured out (08.30)

This quote has especially explained the Rodgers' family life recently.
I really hope to use this post to give an update of what is going on right now in our lives and how we are really trying to live out the Biblical truth in this quote.

A lot has happened in our lives in the last 16 months.

Transition out of ministry at Emmanuel Baptist Church (June 2017)

Move from Toledo, OH to Grand Rapids, MI.

Transition into a new ministry at West Cannon Baptist Church (September 2017)

Lived at three different addresses in Grand Rapids.

Transition out of ministry at West Cannon Baptist Church (August 2018)

Coming in October 2018 - Moving out of the house we have been renting. 

Needless to say, life has been a whirlwind.

I share this to give context for some of the decisions we are prayerfully thinking through and planning.  A couple of weeks ago, I shared prayer requests and updates related to school, my work, our housing, and church HERE.
Here are the most recent updates on Housing and My work.

Housing

As it relates to housing, we are going to need to find a new place to rent by the beginning of October.  Our search area has changed because we are not necessarily looking for something in or near the Rockford area.  The main factors are cost and proximity to Northpointe Christian School.  We are so very thankful for people that have been praying for this and sharing suggestions with us. 

David’s work

I have updated my resume for ministry and rewrote it for non-ministry positions.  Once again I am thankful for people who have been helping with this process.  I am going to be looking for work in the Grand Rapids area.    

We don't have a lot of time as it relates to housing decisions at the same time we don't want to unwisely rush into the next thing. 

• Having two ministry transitions like we have had in a short time has been difficult.  Krista and I want to be sure we are ready as a family and individually for a full time ministry position. 

• I would love to have a job that would use my gifts and passion for teaching and training.  The non-ministry resume has this particular focus.  I do have severance pay through October so are being taken care of for the short term and don't need to take the first thing that comes along. 

• We know that by the end of September we need to have something.  This might be a ministry position, a training job or whatever I need to do to provide for our family.  Lord willing and for the kids' sake we would like this to be in the Grand Rapids area but we know it might not be.  

• God has it figured out.  Please pray for us a we make big decisions, seek godly counsel, and live life for God's glory. 

 In sharing these updates I want to be clear.  Things are challenging right now - very challenging.  I would like to say that my reactions to my kids and Krista are always godly and not based on my feelings of frustrations.  I would like to say that I haven't had any "pity parties" and I spend all my waking minutes singing praise to God with a smile on my face.  These things are not true.
August 25th New Morning Mercies devotional had two statements that I want to remember and remind people.

Real faith never calls you to swindle yourself into thinking that things are better than they are. Biblical faith is shockingly honest and hopeful. 

It wasn’t the naïveté of faith that propelled [Abraham, Noah, David, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Peter]. No, it was the clarity of faith that caused them to do what they did.

I have used the Piano Guys song "It's Gonna Be Okay" as a real-world example of the "thinking that things are better than they are."  The song is very fun.  The men are very talented.  The message seems very positive.
BUT its message falls VERY SHORT.  I am thankful that God is working things out in this life for His glory and my greater good.  Not so that my circumstances will be okay.

I think about the contrast between the message of the world with the message of the Gospel.
"All I have is Christ."

Sing for God

You were hardwired for love, so everything you decide, desire, think, say, and do 

is an expression of love for someone or something.

March 28, New Morning Mercies Devotional

This devotional includes 1 John 2:15-17 and reminders over and over again that we all are lovers and we were created to love God.

Today's Fighter Verses devotional reminds that God made us to be worshippers and to sing songs.

God made us to sing songs.  But left to ourselves we often sing to be praised.  Psalm 96 urges us to use our voices not in order to earn praise, but in order to give it.  Three times David tells us to "sing to the Lord."  This repetition signals, "Pay attention!"  God created vocal cords to give praise to him.

This week's Fighter Verses and Fighter Verses devotional, along with today's New Morning Mercies devotional remind us of the biggest fight each and every one of us has each day - Who will I worship?

The two main questions we discussed in tonight's Fight Night study were

1. What is the singular focus of Psalm 96:1-3?
2. What is a "new song?"

The very strong singular focus of Psalm 96;1-3 is the Lord.  This is very obvious for several reasons

1. We are told to "sing to the Lord" three times.
2. We are to proclaim what He has done all the time ("day after day").
3. We are to proclaim what He has done to everyone.

This "new song" is not necessarily the idea of replacing the old with something new.  It has a new "fresh" everyday idea to it.  Lamentations 3:22 - 23 says "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

All of this is an important reminder for churches, church leaders, and church members this Easter weekend.
It is very easy to forget the focus and the audience of Easter.  
The focus is Jesus Christ and his victory of sin, death and the devil.
The audience is God himself.  

Here are two articles that have challenged my thoughts about Easter Services:
Seven Critical Issues Easter Services
6 Ways to Manage Easter Expectations

Your Walk With God

When Pastor Chuck asked me about preaching this Sunday, I

I knew what I wanted to preach.

A message that I have been passionate about repeating at WCBC.

A message that I believe will be helpful for RFMC going into 2018.
Below are notes from the sermon and 
some additional resources that I didn't share.
HERE is the audio of the message.

The passage is Hebrews 10:19 - 31.

The questions are

Why SHOULDN'T you go to church?

What ISN'T the church?

Who IS the church?

Why SHOULD you go to church?

Why SHOULDN'T you go to church?

Not to look good for others.
Not to win favor with God.

What ISN'T the church?

Church is not a physical location.
Church is not a program or service time.

Who IS the church?

A Biblical definition of the church taken from the book of Ephesians is...

People who gather together in submission to Jesus Christ as Lord.  
(Ephesians 1:22-23)
People who were dead in sins being made alive in Christ 
(Ephesians 2:1-6)
People who were far from God, without hope and 
now in Christ Jesus have been brought near by the blood of Christ 
(Ephesians 2:11-13)
People who have been saved by Jesus Christ 
(Ephesians 5:25-32)

Why SHOULD you go to church?

We meet together as followers of Christ to remind each other of
what we have in Jesus Christ
and
who we are without Jesus Christ.

Disciple-making is rigged. from Emmanuel Baptist Church on Vimeo.

REVIEW

Why SHOULDN’T you go to church?

For selfish reasons

What ISN'T the church?

Programs or a Building

Who IS the church?

Those who have been saved by grace and are submitted to Jesus Christ.

Why SHOULD you go to church?

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-should-i-go-to-church

To glorify God

To help others glorify God

From the Gospel Primer 

"The more I comprehend the full scope of the Gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died, the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow-Christians and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in my life."

Books referred to 

The Gospel Primer

New Morning Mercies

The Trellis and The Vine

Corporate Worship is an Identity Reminder!

Tomorrow's (October 21) New Morning Mercies Devotional is straight from the Your Walk With God Is A Community Project study I am leading on Wednesday nights.  Over the last two weeks we have been talking about how to walk into church.  I posted about this last week "How are you planning to walk into church."

Below is the full devotional for October 21

Corporate worship is designed to remind you of your identity in Christ 

so that you won’t waste your time looking for identity elsewhere. 

It’s so easy to be an identity amnesiac. It’s so easy to forget who you are in Christ and what you have been given as his child. It’s so easy to shop horizontally for what you have already been given vertically. It’s so easy to give in to fear, to give way to shame, or to allow yourself to be weakened by guilt because you forget the present benefits of Jesus’s finished work. It’s so easy, in the hardships of life, to forget that nothing is powerful enough to separate you from God’s love. When you are struggling, it’s so easy to forget that if God gave you his Son, he will also give you everything else you need. It’s so easy to fail to live in light of the fact that Jesus didn’t die just for your past forgiveness (praise God that he did) or your future resurrection (what hope!), but also for everything you are facing in the here and now.

It’s so easy to forget that every trial sent your way is sent by a Savior of grace as a tool of grace to advance the work of grace in your heart and life. It’s so easy to forget that because your life has been invaded by the grace of the One who is the “I Am,” it is impossible for you to ever be in any situation, relationship, or location by yourself. It’s so easy to forget that God really does live inside you in the powerful convicting, protecting, and enabling presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s so easy to forget that God loves and accepts you no less on your worst day than he does on your best day. It’s so easy to fail to remember that because of the grace of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, you are never left to the limited resources of your own wisdom, righteousness, and strength. It’s so easy to fall into fearing what grace has already defeated on your behalf.

It’s so easy to feel weak in the face of temptation and give way to what grace has given you the power to resist. It’s so easy to wonder if God is near and if he hears. It’s so easy to question the goodness of God in times of trouble. It’s so easy to ask yourself if God has forgotten you when you compare the trouble of your life to the seeming ease in the life of the person next to you. It’s so easy to think that life can be found somewhere outside of the Messiah. When life seems out of control, it’s so easy to forget that Jesus Christ rules over all things for his glory and for your good. It’s so easy to forget who you are and look for identity elsewhere,

So God has ordained that we should gather again and again to remember again and again who we are and what we have been given. His church is a tool of grace, a vehicle for remembering, so that we may celebrate and grow.

Tripp, Paul David. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (p. 295). Crossway.

Saturday's Devotion & Rejection

This week I am daily posting verses and resources to help us keep our focus on God.
These resources and this past Sunday night's sermon were meant to build upon Pastor Doug's morning message "The Joy Placebo" from Isaiah 5:11-17

Today's Devotion and Rejection verses are Hebrews 10:24-25
These are about meeting weekly as a church family and it more so much more than that also.  This is what the Wednesday night "Your Walk with God is a Community Project" study is about.
For information the different classes and times go to www.westcannon.org/ministries
Note that some of the class times have changed.

Here is part of a devotional entitled A Lifestyle of Community.  To read the whole devotional, click HERE

A gospel amnesiac is someone who, in the middle of the duties and responsibilities of everyday life, forgets their identity in Christ and the new morning mercies they’ve been given by grace. In other words, every Christian who ever lived is a gospel amnesiac! 

It’s so easy for us to forget the gospel. That’s why the author of Hebrews tells us to stir one another up. By meeting regularly and encouraging each other, we’ll be reminded of the Lord Jesus. It’s much harder to forget the gospel when you’re surrounded by community. 

But if I’m honest, I don’t always like the idea of Christian community. First, it tells me that I’m not the independent person I think I am. I want to be like Frank Sinatra and say, “I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way.” 

God ordained Christian community precisely because I can’t face life on my own. The fallen world will bring me to my knees, and if I did do life my way, it would be a complete and utter disaster

You can also read about seven ways church members should prepare for a sermon at http://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2016/04/seven-ways-church-members-should.html

For other Devotion and Rejection posts, go to https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search?q=Devotion+rejection