Grateful for the members commitment to attend
We almost had all members in attendance today which is rare. We had all but 2 members attend (who still live in the area). That’s the most we’ve had in a long time. I’m glad they patiently hear me preach God’s Word to them and seek to strengthen each other as we worship God and converse. It’s good to be in a church where we take our covenant commitment to each other seriously. I praise God that many of the members email the church or text me as their pastor when they can’t make it so they are still connected to the body.
Sharing leadership to train leaders
Jun led the gathering today. He tried to do it all and his own, which is quite difficult and burdensome. I know because I do that every month or so. I’m glad that Jun could relieve me and others in serving our church through leading our gathering. Though we can always improve, his service relieves and makes my preparation to each much easier than most people realize.
Today’s sermon
I preached on 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:6. The main point was, “Gospelize boldly.” To “gospelize” is to announce, explain, and apply the gospel to another person or persons. Gospelizing is applying the gospel to both unbelievers AND believers. The text gave us four reasons to gospelize boldly: (1) because we’ve been given a new covenant ministry (2 Cor. 3:7-18); (2) because we’re being transformed from glory to glory right now (2 Cor. 3:18); (3) because we’ve been shown mercy (2 Cor. 4:1-2); and (4) because God shines light in dark hearts through us (4:3-6). I planned on a different sermon with the main point being stare at glory and proclaim glory, but I think the sermon I actually preached more accurately communicates the main point of the passage. The biggest conviction and message from God to me in this, as best I can discern, is for me to boldly commend myself to others as I proclaim Jesus as Lord to others and proclaim myself as their slave for Christ’s sake (4:2 and 4:5). I tried to boldly gospelize a member of my church that I’ve been neglecting and being timid about, but I’m only in the first step of obeying the Spirit in gospelizing my fellow church member.
Encouragement in preaching
One of our members encouraged me in my preaching today. I’ve felt this discontent with my preaching and dire need to for help from God. This feeling of inadequacy is good. But it was bordering on discouragement. So God, who is rich in kindness, used one of my brothers to encourage me regarding my preaching ministry in general. God knew what I needed. I know there’s lots of room for me to grow and ground to regain that I think I’ve lost in this skill, but hearing a member of the church that has covenanted with me to our church and mission is the best encouragement I could hear. I’m off this Sunday at our church but I’m excited to jump back into the pulpit serving our members the message of Haggai in the weeks to come.
Momentum
I feel like CrossView Church is building momentum at this point. I may be wrong, but in my view men are being raised up and growing, relationships are deepening in the church and with our target community (the Shatto Rec Center neighbors), and the Easter celebration is in sight. With one mission team meeting weekly and learning how to engage our community together and two teams getting set to start, I’m excited to see what God is doing in our church fam.
PJ's personal blog. For articles see gospelize.me 