FEBRUARY 2017 PASTOR'S POINTS
Dear Church Family,
I have been writing an article for the Oakleaves for over ten years now and almost without fail I always start it the same way: “Dear Church Family.” You know that is what we really are. We are brothers and sisters in Christ! We have been adopted into God’s family as we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
We are called to do life together. And we do not have to guess what that looks like. God’s Word is clear on this matter. I have been reading a book called Follow Me, by David Platt. And this month I want to share an excerpt out of this book for you to consider. Platt shares…
“Biblically, a church does not consist of people who simply park and participate in programs alongside one another. Instead, the church is comprised of people who share the life of Christ with each other on a day-by-day, week-by-week basis.”
“We are to live alongside one another for the sake of one another! The Bible portrays the church as a community of Christians who care for one another, love one another, host one another, receive one another, honor one another, serve one another, instruct one another, forgive one another, motivate one another, build up one another, encourage one another, comfort one another, pray for one another, confess sins to one another, esteem one another, edify one another, teach one another, show kindness to one another, give to one another, rejoice with one another, weep with one another, hurt with one another, and restore one another.”
“These “one another’s” combined together paint a picture not of people who come to a building filled with customized programs, but of people who have decided to lay down their lives to love one another.” And at the end of all of this we find this understanding of what the local church truly is. “The church is a community of Christians who love one another and long for each other to know and grow in Christ.”
This is a big part of us being effective in making disciples here at Oakhill. We need to belong to a community in a “life group”. “True community exists when we are individually surrendered to God, collectively serving together, and willingly sacrificing for the good of each other.”
I love you and I am thankful to call you all family.