The Encourager
“We're Here, It's 2020”
We’re Here, It’s 2020
Jeff Curtis
Well, the new year is upon us. That means that we just finished another year. Each person reading this had good and bad changes in our lives. We lost loved ones and there were babies being born. Life goes on.
The question is “resolutions.” Everyone makes them, whether we call them a resolution or not. We all want to try to some extent to make the coming year better than the last or even the past few years.
There are several changes taking place. First of all, you have a “new” preacher this year. There may be some skepticism about one preacher leaving and another coming in. My “resolution” is to make this change as easy as possible. I want to work with the elders and deacons and members to help everyone here to grow spiritually.
One way we can grow is to use the Bible to best of our ability. The Apostle Paul tells us to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Timothy 2:15, KJV). He also told young Timothy that the Bible is all that we need for every aspect of our life, husband, wife, child, father, mother, Christian. “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV).
Another thing we can do to help ourselves grow is to pray. Again, the Apostle Paul told the Thessalonians to “Pray without ceasing” (1Thess. 5:17, NKJV). I don’t know that he is telling us to constantly pray and never take a break, but I do believe he is encouraging us to pray every time we have an opportunity or whenever the need arises. King David was a good example of a man / leader that prayed. Every time he was to make a decision, he would turn to God is prayer.
Something else that will help us grow in the new year is faithful attendance. Jesus said that where two or three are gathered together in His name, He was there in their midst Matthew 18:20, NKJV. Why would Christians not want to be in the presence of Jesus, the Son of God? The Hebrew writer also told Christians in the first century, who were under intense persecution that they were not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. So many times, we try to justify our missing the services. When we have a “slight” headache, or guests show up, we justify missing. The Christians in the first century were told, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,” (Hebrews 10:25, NKJV). In the same context they were told to encourage and provoke unto love and good works one another, v.24. It is difficult to grow when we choose to miss the assembly of the saints. When we choose to not be in the presence of Jesus.
I hope that each and every one of us will resolve to do better in 2020, self included.
Our Aim
Our aim as a church is to reproduce in this community a church of the Lord Jesus Christ such as was planted and nurtured by inspired apostles of Christ in New Testament times. In name, in worship, in organization, in spirit, and in life, we propose to emulate the Church of the New Testament.
Our aims are not social, political, or economic, but spiritual. Our program is, therefore, spiritual. It is our aim to live and to teach others to live to fit ourselves and others to live eternally with God in a better world than this. We believe in the all-sufficiency of the Gospel of Christ and the Church of Christ to effect this grand and glorious result. We, therefore, in our teaching and practice exalt the Christ, His teaching and His church.
Believing that we save ourselves as we participate with Christ in the salvation of others, we earnestly covet the opportunity to do service to our fellowman. We, therefore, extend to all a fervent invitation to attend our services. Every visitor is our honored guest and will be accorded a warm welcome. We should like to know you personally and for you to know us better religiously.
If you are a visitor to our area, we welcome you to our community and urge that you test the warmth of the members of this congregation. We believe the New Testament simplicity of our worship and the Bible-based teaching in our classes and from the pulpit will challenge your interest and your respect. (Borrowed from Heath Rogers, Knollwood Reminder)
