As I mentioned in our Bible Study time on Sunday night, below are some upcoming dates related to the church plant.
April 4 - Work Day at the church. We will be cleaning in the Fellowship Hall and making preparations for the painting of the exterior of the church.
April 12 - Easter Sunday. We will not be having Bible Study at our facilities on this date. We have been invited to join in worship with Grace Fellowship Community Church on this night. I have been invited to preach. This will also give us an opportunity to thank Grace Fellowship for the gift of the buildings to us and for their financial support of the church.
April 19 - Faith Presbyterian Church, Anniston. I will be preaching in the morning service.
April 25 - Work Day at the church. We have invited other individuals and churches to join us in painting the church. May 2 is set as an alternate date in case of bad weather on the the 25th.
May 3 - Knollwood Presbyterian Church, Sylacauga. I have been invited by Pastor Harris Bond to preach and introduce our church plant to the church in Sylacauga in their evening worship service.
May 17 - Faith Presbyterian Church, Anniston. I will be preaching in the morning service.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
A Glimpse of What Hope Community Church Has to Offer
In one of the churches I served as pastor, I had the privilege of leading the church through the construction of a new sanctuary. Before the new carpet was placed in the sanctuary, we invited the members of the church to bring permanent markers to write some of their favorite Bible verses on the floor. Many of the members took advantage of this opportunity and wrote numerous verses throughout the sanctuary. We did this at the suggestion of a friend who indicated that when we gathered for worship we would be "standing on the promises."
I chose to write several verses in different locations. I cannot remember most of the verses I wrote or where I wrote them. But I do remember one verse in particular. I wrote this verse on the floor underneath the spot where I would be standing when I was preaching. The verse is 1 Corinthians 2:2: For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (ESV). I thought of this verse often as I stood preaching.
As we prepare and plan for the planting of Hope Community Church, we must also determine what our worship services will be like. The verse above is a tremendous reminder of what we are to be about as a church and what our focus should be in worship. We are to be a Christ centered, Gospel focused church. The good news of the Son of God who was crucified, dead, and raised from the dead is to be the message of the church as we worship and glorify our Lord.
I listened last month to a pastor speak about the philosophy of ministry for the church. He told about a conversation he had experienced with a lady who called to ask what his church had to offer her and her family. His answer was very clear and to the point. He replied that he would preach the Gospel, administer the sacraments, and offer the discipline of the church to her and her family.
As we plant the church in Jacksonville, this will be our focus. We will not seek to build the church around programs, a particular style of music, the latest fad of the church growth movement, or any gimmicks which promise to draw a crowd. Our focus will be to teach and preach and sing and declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is in keeping with our purpose statement:
I chose to write several verses in different locations. I cannot remember most of the verses I wrote or where I wrote them. But I do remember one verse in particular. I wrote this verse on the floor underneath the spot where I would be standing when I was preaching. The verse is 1 Corinthians 2:2: For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (ESV). I thought of this verse often as I stood preaching.
As we prepare and plan for the planting of Hope Community Church, we must also determine what our worship services will be like. The verse above is a tremendous reminder of what we are to be about as a church and what our focus should be in worship. We are to be a Christ centered, Gospel focused church. The good news of the Son of God who was crucified, dead, and raised from the dead is to be the message of the church as we worship and glorify our Lord.
I listened last month to a pastor speak about the philosophy of ministry for the church. He told about a conversation he had experienced with a lady who called to ask what his church had to offer her and her family. His answer was very clear and to the point. He replied that he would preach the Gospel, administer the sacraments, and offer the discipline of the church to her and her family.
As we plant the church in Jacksonville, this will be our focus. We will not seek to build the church around programs, a particular style of music, the latest fad of the church growth movement, or any gimmicks which promise to draw a crowd. Our focus will be to teach and preach and sing and declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is in keeping with our purpose statement:
The purpose of the Hope Community Church is
to know Christ and make Him known
through the planting of a PCA church in Jacksonville, Alabama.
to know Christ and make Him known
through the planting of a PCA church in Jacksonville, Alabama.
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