Leave a Legacy

15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (2 Peter 1:13-15, ESV)

Beloved,

Life is short. We are never guaranteed tomorrow. The Apostle Peter realized that his departure from his earthly dwelling was nearing its end. Although he knew his end was fast approaching, he wanted to prepare his friends for his departure by reminding them of the deep truths of God’s Word. Peter lived passionately and purposefully for the future of the church of Jesus Christ. He knew what he believed and he knew he was heading to eternal glory, and yet, he made every effort so that the church would be able to recall his teachings.

Peter lived for eternity by pouring his life into those who would come after him. He wanted to be sure that they would be ready to live for the world when he departed to glory. I am challenged with Peter’s example. His heart was set on heaven, but he lived for the God’s glory by passing on his wisdom to the generation behind him. Recently, I have seen a theme of stories reflecting on how God has used mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, to pass on their knowledge and wisdom to following generation. It is a great testimony to your loved ones that their teaching lives on through you. Imagine sixty years from today, your children and grandchildren reciting deep truths learned from their grandmothers and grandfathers.

In the twilight of Peter life, he lived for God’s glory making every effort to ensure the future generation would know, believe, and live out God’s Word. Beloved, are we living for eternity by pouring out our lives into those who would come after us? What do you want your legacy to be? Mark Dever writes, “God buries the worker, but the work goes on.” God may bury you and me, but our lives will continue to bear fruit in the lives of those who follow us. Let us follow the Apostle Peter’s example by leaving a legacy of wisdom and love in the lives of those who will follow us.

In Christ,



Pastor Dave

Sacrificial Joy

“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” Philippians 1:17-18

Beloved,

Leadership is a very challenging task. Although all leadership can be difficult, biblical leadership is particularly daunting. The Bible makes tremendous demands of leader, but godly leadership should produce a glad and joyful heart. The Apostle Paul provides a picture of this odd combination of being a sacrifice with great joy.

The Apostle Paul labored hard for the Lord Jesus Christ. He labored to present everyone mature in Christ (Col 1:28). He even defended all that he did for the Lord against false apostles in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. He was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned and stoned. But even after all his hardships, he writes, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Biblical leadership counts it a joy and a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ and His gospel.

Paul says to the church that even if he is being poured out for the sake of their faith, he is glad and rejoices. WOW!!! That is a heart of a leader. Paul realized that he was a slave to the Lord Jesus Christ to be used anyway the Lord deemed necessary. Paul is a leader who is confident in the Lord and His sovereign plan.

Paul not only has a glad and joyful heart, but he urges others to have that same heart. Beloved, do you serve the Lord with a glad and joyful heart even if you are being poured out as a sacrifice for the sake of others? Beloved, we are not our own, but have been bought with a price. The Lord chose to use Paul through imprisonments and beatings and yet he rejoiced. How is the Lord choosing to use you? Whether through blessing or hardship, let us say with the Apostle Paul: I am glad and rejoice!!!

In Christ,


Pastor Dave

Deacon Election

And let deacons also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. (1 Timothy 3:10, ESV)

Beloved,

We are preparing for our upcoming deacon elections this month. I want to encourage you to be in prayer for the church as we elect our new deacons to serve our church. A church’s leadership is very important for the health and unity of the church. Please do not take this decision lightly, but with earnest prayer and thoughtfulness; consider who God has raised up to serve our church as a deacon.

The word deacon comes from the Greek word “to serve.” Deacons are servants of the church. Therefore, consider men in our congregation who have demonstrated service to the church. The first deacons in the Acts 6 were set aside to wait on tables. They were honored to be enlisted to serve the King of kings. Deacons are gifts to the church to serve and care for the needs of the people. Please pray and consider who God wants to use to bless our church through their love and service.

Below are some of the traits listed in our church constitution in regards to a deacon’s character:

· They are to be zealous to guard the unity of the spirit within the church in the bonds of peace.

· They shall serve as a counsel of advice and conference with the pastor in all matters pertaining to the welfare and work of the church.

· With the pastor they are to consider and formulate plans for the constant effort and progress of the church in all things pertaining to saving of souls, the development of Christians and the extension and growth of the Kingdom of God.

· They are to seek to know the physical needs and the moral and spiritual struggles of the church and to serve the church in relieving, encouraging and developing all who are in need.

As our constitution clearly emphasized, serving as a deacon is a high calling. Pray for our current deacons and the future men God will raise up to serve.

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

Hopeful Grieving

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13:14.

Beloved,

This has been a very difficult time in the life of our church. We have lost several dear friends and beloved church members recently. Our hearts are heavy and saddened as we have faced the bitter reality that death brings into our lives. We will experience a variety of emotions as we process recent events in the days and weeks ahead. Although we will battle a barrage of emotions, we must allow God’s Word to help us sift through truth from error. We must hold fast to the Lord and His Word as we grieve. 

 

Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica about the importance of the grief of the Christian. It is natural to grieve and to be filled with sorrow in the face of death. Death is a constant reminder that this world is under the curse of sin. We should grieve the death of our friends and loved ones, but as we grieve we must be governed by the gospel of hope. The grief of the Christian is an informed grief. We grieve in the knowledge of the gospel. We grieve with hope. Paul says, “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”

Notice how Paul speaks the gospel of hope directly into our grief. Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for man’s sin AND he rose again. Jesus has conquered death. Therefore, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. The confidence we have in the face of death is that Jesus Christ has overcome the grave. Our confidence is not in our perfect obedience or strong faith, but in the shed blood of the Savior and in his victorious resurrection. Even when our faith is weak, God is strong.

We will grieve and we should grieve at this time, but our grief is mixed with hope. Our hope is that God will one day, one glorious day, end all suffering and death and restore this fallen world to its former un-fallen glory. Revelation 21:3-5

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

So let us grieve in the hope of the gospel for it is the only grief that will sustain us in times like these.

In Christ,



Pastor Dave