Pastor’s Note 10/27/22

 

 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

(Mark 12:31a)

 

Let me ask, “Are you a good neighbor?”

 

In this day and age, you could move into a new house and live there for years without even learning the names of your neighbors—including those who live right next door!

 

Being a good neighbor is somewhat of a lost art in our society today. In fact, over the past few years during COVID, keeping your distance was encouraged but it has created a world where more and more people are isolated and independent. We can do most of interacting in the world virtually with shopping online and deliveries right to our door.

 

But Jesus calls us to do love our neighbor and loving our neighbor means that we know them and know their needs.

 

So pray for your neighbors. Go out and learn their names. Offer them a plate of cookies or ask if they need something from the store when you are on your way.

 

I pray that the Holy Spirit moves powerfully in and through your neighborhoods. I’m excited to see what God will do!

 

Have a great rest of the week and let me know how it goes with your neighbor.
 
 


Pastor’s Note 10/20/22

 

 

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31

 

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19, 20

This weekend we will be having a New Members Class and it is a chance for folks that are new to the church to learn a bit more about our church, about what it means to be a Christ-follower, to ask questions and to consider being a partner with us in our church ministry. I thought it would be a good chance to remind all of us about our calling as a church, or to put it another way, our mission as a church.

 

“Love God, Love People, and

Make Disciples of Jesus”

 

As many of you know, our mission statement consists of this simple, three-part phrase. The phrase has as its foundation the two verses that are above, one from the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus was asked about the Greatest Commandment and the other from the Gospel of Matthew, as Christ charged the church with the task of making disciples of all the nations.

 

As we live out our calling, we do so by living out these three phrases:

 

We Love God . . .

  • When we abide in Him, trusting in Him;
  • When we worship Him with all of our being through serving others;
  • When we take time daily to develop our relationship with God through Spiritual Disciplines like prayer, meditating on His Word and hiding His Word (memorizing Scripture) in our hearts.

 

We Love People . . .

  • When we are in authentic relationships with others;
  • When we put other’s needs in front of our own;
  • When we our generous with our resources toward others.

 

We Make Disciples of Jesus . . .

  • When we study the Scriptures together, engaging in thoughtful Biblical reflection;
  • When we are intentional in making disciples;
  • When we hold each other accountable.

 

There are other ways that these phrases can be fleshed-out to include other actions, but these are good starting points for each of us to live out our mission statement with each other and with our neighbors who live in close proximity to us or live a continent away.

 

Have a great rest of the week and I hope to see you on Sunday.