Pastor's Corner: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?

  Sow-Sow Living : The Word, the Work, and the World! Mark 4:1-20 Introduction:   The preacher said, “… Of the making of many books there is no end… ” (Eccl 12:12). A lot of ink has been put to paper discussing the mission of the church. Why are we here? What does the Lord expect us to do? It is great to come together for worship and fellowship as we do on Sundays. Times of more intimate fellowship and learning as in Sunday School or community groups are good and encouraging. Is that the heart of it? Those are certainly good and necessary things, and we’ll do them forever and more fully in God’s presence one day. But what are we called to do now that we won’t be able to do in heaven? Share the Good News, the Gospel of God’s amazing grace, with the world! Remember Mark 1:14,15, after John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, “… preaching the gospel of God,   15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in ...

  Discipleship 101: The Family of God Mark 3:31-35 Introduction : We had a great time visiting some friends from our former church in Maine…  We stayed with a couple of different church families. It was really good to see those friends, part of our church family for over ten years. Even so, what did we say on our return? “It is good to be home!” We are part of a family here as well .  Yes, our daughter and son-in-law, and grandchildren live nearby. But the sermon title today is “The Family of God.” God has designed the church, the local community of faith that gathers for worship, Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. We bear each other’s burdens. We pray for one another. We encourage and equip each other for reaching our world with the Gospel. God would use us to bring those in our “sphere of influence” into His forever family. [Remember: 95% of those who believe come to faith primarily through an existing relationship.] That is God’s plan. As we have said before, “Th...