Weekly Update
Hi GCN Family,
This week, I’m thankful for this: Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has been crowned King forever. His Kingdom has no end. For the people who follow Jesus, our hope and our allegiance lies with the crucified One who overcame death and reigns forever. Let’s live like it.
On Sunday, I invited you to read MLK’s A Letter From a Birmingham Jail. He wrote that letter in response to clergy who reprimanded King for being “too extreme” in his tactics, as he sought to simply fight for dignity and against racial prejudice and segregation. One section struck me as timely for today. May we, church, be a thermostat instead of a thermometer.
“There was a time when the church was very powerful—in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society… By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent—and often even vocal—sanction of things as they are.”
We’re in a series called, The Jesus Way. Here’s the reality: The way of Jesus is the way of speaking TRUTH with GRACE. It’s the way of LOVING ENEMIES while also STANDING AGAINST EVIL. It’s the way of WELCOMING SINNERS, and (here’s the hard part…) that often means OFFENDING PHARISEES.
“Holy Spirit, fill us, empower us, convict us, and heal us. Form us into people who, like Jesus, are thermostats instead of thermometers. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
THERMOSTAT OPPORTUNITIES AT GCN:
You are loved,
Pastor Brian
This week, I’m thankful for this: Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has been crowned King forever. His Kingdom has no end. For the people who follow Jesus, our hope and our allegiance lies with the crucified One who overcame death and reigns forever. Let’s live like it.
On Sunday, I invited you to read MLK’s A Letter From a Birmingham Jail. He wrote that letter in response to clergy who reprimanded King for being “too extreme” in his tactics, as he sought to simply fight for dignity and against racial prejudice and segregation. One section struck me as timely for today. May we, church, be a thermostat instead of a thermometer.
“There was a time when the church was very powerful—in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society… By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent—and often even vocal—sanction of things as they are.”
We’re in a series called, The Jesus Way. Here’s the reality: The way of Jesus is the way of speaking TRUTH with GRACE. It’s the way of LOVING ENEMIES while also STANDING AGAINST EVIL. It’s the way of WELCOMING SINNERS, and (here’s the hard part…) that often means OFFENDING PHARISEES.
“Holy Spirit, fill us, empower us, convict us, and heal us. Form us into people who, like Jesus, are thermostats instead of thermometers. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
THERMOSTAT OPPORTUNITIES AT GCN:
- Serve on the Food Distribution Team every other Tuesday at 1:30pm-3:00pm.
- Serve on the Stewartown After School Program Team every Tuesday, 4:00-5:30pm.
- Serve on the Nursing Home Ministry Team on Sunday afternoons.
- Serve in GCN Kids on Sunday mornings. When you do this, you are loving and discipling future leaders of the church!
- CLICK HERE to see a list of ways to serve. Fill that out and we’ll be in touch with you!
- REGISTER for INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING DAY on February 22nd. Be a disciple who makes disciples.
You are loved,
Pastor Brian
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