|
 Pastor's Notes
Greetings and
grace to you in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has blessed this summer in many
various ways; youth camp, VBS, We Are the Church studies, open doors and your
faithful attendance have all encouraged me in the Lord. We have new prospect families and many
that need follow up visits.
A.C.T.S. Ministry meets @ 6:00pm every 1st & 3rd
Wednesday of the month to make connections with people the Lord has brought to
ERBC. You can be used of the Lord
to witness for Christ, encourage someone in the Lord and help connect them to
ERBC. Come Allow Christ to Speak
through you!
The 50th
Year of Ministry Celebration Team is very active and doing a great job. The celebration is scheduled for
September 24. Dr. Steve Linginfelter
will be our guest preacher. You
might be asked to help plan, get things together or serve in some capacity in
the next few weeks. Please have a
willing spirit to help make this day special. Be watching for a special edition newsletter!
August brings many
opportunities. Our students will
return to their school’s mission field as school restarts. Please be in prayer for the students,
teachers, administrators and support staff of our schools. We Are the Church study will meet the
first two Sunday nights of August as it concludes on Aug. 13. The Good Shepherd Ministries Family
Reunion Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 19, @ 6:30pm. Please let us
know you plan to attend at the welcome center display. The whistle blows for the AWANA Kickoff
on Sunday, Aug. 20, @ 5:30pm; this is a church wide evening event. AWANA Clubs and Discipleship Training
classes will restart on August 27 @ 5:30pm. August will also be the start of a new
Sunday morning sermon series entitled, “The Musts of the Church,” beginning
Aug. 6, as we look into the Lord Jesus’ letters to the seven churches of
Revelation. This pastor is excited
about what the Lord is doing and planning for August, and hopes you are too.
What is the
Lord’s primary purpose for leaving you on this earth? What is the primary purpose for the Lord
having ERBC at 19470 Elkton Road for fifty years? God declares, “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him
for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” (Isa. 43:7) Truly we exist to bring glory to
God. The Westminster Shorter
Catechism begins with “Question 1: What is the chief end of man? Answer:
Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Certainly we can glorify God in
everything we do as we honor and obey Him (1 Cor. 10:31), but what is the
primary way we glorify God? Is it
not to win others to Christ that others could be called by His name, being a
new creature in Christ to the glory of God! When Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to
His disciples in Acts 1:8, the primary function of the Holy Spirit was not said
to be that of a Comforter or an Assurer, but the Enabler to witness for Christ
where ever the soles of their feet traveled. My thoughts go to Paul and his testimony
unto King Agrippa in Acts 26:16-19 – “But
rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose,
to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast
seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and
from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them
from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by
faith that is in me. Whereupon, O
king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”. You might not be called to travel from
home as a missionary, but God has called you to minister and witness to all
people in His name. To open their
eyes, turning them from darkness to the light of the Lord Jesus Christ; to be a
vessel that the power of God could work through to tell others of the amazing
grace of God that can free them from the power of Satan, and how they can be
forgiven of all their sins by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who loves them
and gave His life for them. Yes,
that they can be called by God’s name and be a member of the family of
God, having heaven for an eternal home!
Certainly Paul never claimed to perfect, but he did testify without
dispute that he had obeyed God’s purpose for him. In so doing much glory had been brought
to God not only by Paul’s obedience, but through the many souls won to
Christ. You and I do not need a
heavenly vision, because we have the Word of God! It is the Word of God that reveals the
primary purpose for us today, “Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
(Matt. 28:19-20) Are you saying
“Amen,” (so let it be) to this purpose? Are you being obedient to God’s
Word regarding intentionally witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ?
By His grace,
Toney
|
