“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Bob boldly states that this verse is central to who we are at Messiah. That in everything we do, we want to make sure that it is all to the glory of God. His letter is an awesome letter inviting and encouraging everyone to attend the congregational meeting on Sunday September 28th, at 5:30 pm. Of course there’s a potluck dinner to kick it off (no self-respecting Lutheran function can happen without food). I love how Pastor Bob ends the letter:
“Together we can make a greater impact on people who do not have a relationship with God’s family or the God who created them. Together, we can dent the world. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE!”
How are YOU making a dent in the world? How are YOU making a difference in people’s lives? What could WE be doing to make a bigger dent? Are there any things we should STOP doing? Think about the verse from 1 Corinthians, and then answer the question. Going back to the thought that Bob starts with, do we give God the credit for making a bigger dent, or do we instead recognize our good works, our congregation’s planning, or our charismatic leadership? How should we give all the glory to God? How do we? Do we at all?
I’ll take the posted replies to the meeting next Sunday, so they will be heard… even if you cannot attend.
--- And now for something NEW AND EXCITING! ---
New blogger tools have become available, and yours truly has already integrated them into this blog. The new features are:
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Remember the congregational meeting on September 28th.
Your brother in Christ,
Dave Hoag
I am not part of your congregation, so I was waiting till someone else posted, but nobody has.
ReplyDelete“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
That is indeed the key. And as for what 'dent' we make in the world... we have an effect no matter what we do or don't do. When Diehl was in the Navy, he was told that when he wore the uniform, he WAS the Navy to everyone who saw him; representing the Navy every day. So we are Christian, and people look at us to see what it means to be a Christian. Here is where it shows, the more connected we are to our Father and to our Brother Jesus, the more filled with the Spirit, the more winsomely we represent the truth and joy, unable (who'd want to anyway) to keep it inside us.
Unfortunately, I have met several Christians of whom I said I wouldn't want to be it their church. My current church and the last one we were in before we moved to Guntersville, actually love God and me instead of merely practicing religion. Dave Hoag is the only person I really know in your church, and he has really been that brother in Christ that I have needed so often this year. He exudes unbounding enthusiasm, faith, grateful heart, joy in and love of his Lord, encouraging others always to look to God and how He loves us. He is not practicing religion, he is exulting in the relationship with God accorded us by grace. And gives God the glory for according him, and us, that grace.
A church with such an attitude will be a great blessing to others. A church which merely has a 'program' for growth whether for numbers of people or spiritual growth, will wither people's souls. Meanwhile, your church through brother Dave and this blog, has made a 'dent' for the good in my life. Thank you.