Church family,
Thanksgiving is past, and November is almost complete. Black Friday and Cyber Monday came and went.
In the news there are almost hourly stories of anger, hurt, & selfishness. One person accusing another. Words tweeted, posted – lawyers hired. It appears that even though as Americans we’ve tried to convey “we’ve got it all together”, man is really a mess! What we are seeing is the exposure of the reality of our heart. Man is sinful, in desperate need of a Savior. Be reminded though, the one main difference between you and they, is that you have recognized you are “a mess” and have run to the Savior. The only person who can meet our need is Jesus. He is the gospel message.
Since I have been your pastor, I have preached to you an overall message that “the power of God is the gospel.” There is no other solution to our problem of sin. I have preached on how we need to relate/see God, who Jesus says that He is, what life in the Kingdom of God looks like, embracing God’s Word, knowing our identity in Christ, and now finishing the letter to the Galatians – the good news of the gospel is by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone! Our family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, council members, mayors, and all government leaders all need the message of this gospel!
This Christmas season, pray for and take opportunities to talk about the hope of Christ with others. We aren’t just celebrating the birth of a great man, but a great Savior!
Psalm 115:1-18 (NLT)
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. 2 Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. 4 Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. 5 They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. 6 They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. 7 They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. 8 And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. 9 O Israel, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield. 10 O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield. 11 All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield. 12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the people of Israel and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron. 13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, both great and lowly. 14 May the LORD richly bless both you and your children. 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 16 The heavens belong to the LORD, but he has given the earth to all humanity. 17 The dead cannot sing praises to the LORD, for they have gone into the silence of the grave. 18 But we can praise the LORD both now and forever! Praise the LORD!
Walking with you,
Pastor Brian