02/24/12 & 03/01/12 THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
HOMESICK AND HOMEFOLK 02/24
Have you ever been away from home, family and friends? When you are in a foreign land you can have spells of homesickness. Then, after weeks of separation from all that is familiar and precious, you receive a letter from a loved one, or special cookies in a "care package," or a person from "back home" (even a stranger) visits, and your heart is warmed and your spirit is lifted. There is even more comfort and encouragement when you live among like minded fellow sojourners.
God has given us the Church (the local body of believers), to ease the pain of, "Homesickness." When the fellowship is vibrant and constant, it is like heaven on earth.
SCHEDULING FOR SUCCESS (3/1/12)
Sometimes we are not able to get together with our local church for worship, study, fellowship and ministry, because of sickness, uncontrollable events or travel. This is why we need to make every effort possible to gather when we can, with an eager, submissive and loving spirit. We need to avail ourselves of every opportunity to obtain all we can from God when the body gathers. We need it, others are depending on us and God is worthy of our best.
We should align our week and set our schedule in order to give our full attention to the services we attend. Worship, study, fellowship and ministry times should be given highest priority, since God has arranged these times for us to praise, learn, grow and serve. Be on time, be alert, be hungry for His word, be submissive, be eager. Come with open head, heart and hands and all the more as the day of His return approach (He. 10:25).
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
A friend recently was singing the praises of TV evangelists and the service they provide to shut-ins. What a shame, what an indictment, that a church would neglect or abandon its own people, who are incapacitated, and give them into the hands of strangers.
The Church not only provides the atmosphere for Christians to grow in grace and knowledge, it also provides service to people in need, like people who are shut in and the elderly. It is a shame when a church neglects the needy and shuns its responsibility to do the work God called it to do.
Upward and Onward in Jesus,
Pastor David L. Gould
Have you ever been away from home, family and friends? When you are in a foreign land you can have spells of homesickness. Then, after weeks of separation from all that is familiar and precious, you receive a letter from a loved one, or special cookies in a "care package," or a person from "back home" (even a stranger) visits, and your heart is warmed and your spirit is lifted. There is even more comfort and encouragement when you live among like minded fellow sojourners.
God has given us the Church (the local body of believers), to ease the pain of, "Homesickness." When the fellowship is vibrant and constant, it is like heaven on earth.
SCHEDULING FOR SUCCESS (3/1/12)
Sometimes we are not able to get together with our local church for worship, study, fellowship and ministry, because of sickness, uncontrollable events or travel. This is why we need to make every effort possible to gather when we can, with an eager, submissive and loving spirit. We need to avail ourselves of every opportunity to obtain all we can from God when the body gathers. We need it, others are depending on us and God is worthy of our best.
We should align our week and set our schedule in order to give our full attention to the services we attend. Worship, study, fellowship and ministry times should be given highest priority, since God has arranged these times for us to praise, learn, grow and serve. Be on time, be alert, be hungry for His word, be submissive, be eager. Come with open head, heart and hands and all the more as the day of His return approach (He. 10:25).
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
A friend recently was singing the praises of TV evangelists and the service they provide to shut-ins. What a shame, what an indictment, that a church would neglect or abandon its own people, who are incapacitated, and give them into the hands of strangers.
The Church not only provides the atmosphere for Christians to grow in grace and knowledge, it also provides service to people in need, like people who are shut in and the elderly. It is a shame when a church neglects the needy and shuns its responsibility to do the work God called it to do.
Upward and Onward in Jesus,
Pastor David L. Gould
