Gospel Community

Yesterday I finished my sermon about sharing our faith with some practical steps. In case you couldn’t remember them, or if you missed them, I thought I’d share them again. First, pray and ask God to put someone on your heart and mind. Secondly, pray for that person and specifically ask God to help you find a way to reach out to that person. It might be a call, text, or note. It might be doing something on that person’s behalf, or making something for them. Thirdly, as you build a relationship with that person, share something about your faith. A couple of suggestions: 1) tell them what Jesus means to you, 2) how have you seen God at work in your life, or 3) how has God been at work in someone else’s life lately.

Next week as we look at 1 Thessalonians 3 we’re going to talk about Gospel Community. When people pledge to follow Jesus, they come together to form a community committed to helping one another and others as they live out the gospel.

Remember that on August 10^th we will be joining the Presbyterian Church for our annual service at Funk’s Grove with a picnic potluck to follow. August 17^th will be our Danvers Days service. Then in August 24^th we’ll be meeting back at the NDMC building, but we’ll have a special speaker from African Inter-Mennonite Mission. Lots of opportunities to invite others to attend with you.

Just a note to let you know that things are still quite up in the air with Josanne’s Dad. I’m not sure what that will mean for me this week. I’ll try to let you know if I should need to make a trip down to Lexington, KY. We should know more after Josanne and her sisters meet with the case worker and doctors today.

God bless, Brian

Scripture readings for next Sunday

1 Thessalonians 3—How does Paul describe the Christian community in Thessalonica?

Acts 2:42-47—From this passage, what do you imagine the Christian community looked like?

Psalm 133—What do these images teach us about community?

Galatians 6:1-10—What commands for community stand out to you especially?