church

I Am Missing Church!

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 ESV

Oh I know all about meeting online, making phone calls, and watching countless videos but I miss the little things about church. I miss wildly flipping through my Bible’s pages trying to keep up with our young pastor’s messages. I miss seeing the faces of my brothers and sisters and feeling their hugs and handshakes. I miss hearing voices of people crowded into the seats next to ours. I even miss just hanging out after the service and catching up with friends. But more than all these I, miss the hushed moment as the communion plate is passed and together we remember the sacrifice that Jesus made so that we could have eternal life – a life shared together with Him and all the family of God.. Not one of us knows when this Corona virus crisis will be over but when it is I will wager dollars to donuts that there will be tears of joy as once again we enter our places of worship. Maybe we will treasure a little more one of God’s gifts that we so often take for granted -the gift of one another. Maybe this trial by fire will open our eyes and our hearts to see the church the way that Jesus does. He is our Good Shepherd and together we are the flock of God for whom He laid down His life. Maybe this will teach us to appreciate and honor one another more. Maybe when the doors swing open again we will eagerly come and embrace one another because we have been reminded of the value of the church, the Body of Jesus Christ.

Church Growth Through God’s Eyes

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And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.          Acts 6:7 KJV

Nursing home outreach doesn’t carry with it the razzle-dazzle of building programs, youth ministry or Holiday pageants, but it does offer a unique way to connect to our community. That is exactly what we see in this passage from the book of Acts. The number of Christians grew rapidly not because of some church program but because they agreed to work together in unity to take care of feeding poor widows.  Imported from phone 083

In the early days of the church some things brought about growth that we will not be able to replicate (Such as five hundred people seeing Jesus alive after His resurrection). But there are other principles which we can follow in any culture, time or place. Showing the love of Christ by caring for our older generation connects us with their friends and families in a deep and powerful way.  That is not to say that we could simply use nursing home ministry as a strategy to build our church; but rather that amazing things happen when we align ourselves with the heart of God. Ministering in a nursing home blesses not only its residents but also those of us who serve. Teen-agers are reminded that their energy can give a smile or bring tears of joy. Middle aged people find out that the value of their own life will not change with age. Retired folks discover that residents will treasure their friendship because so few ever come to see them anymore. Through His amazing plan God will help His church to grow in numbers as together we draw closer to Jesus Christ.

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The Missing Piece

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When the puzzle was almost together we noticed something missing…. It was the final piece! Ten minutes of searching yielded our prize which had discovered a hiding place under the table! But our victory was short lived because surprisingly even though there was only one open space left the piece we found didn’t fit!

That is when my wife’s sharp eyes picked out the problem. One of the other puzzle pieces had taken its place. The same is also true in the church. Two bad things happen when we try to be something we are not. The place God chose for us remains empty and we also steal the spot that God designed someone else to fill!

Let God fit you in where you belong and the puzzle will show the world the face of Jesus Christ!