This is the first Lord’s day of February. Welcome to a double-header of preaching series. For several years, I felt compelled, at the beginning of the year, to focus a lesson series on the specific needs of the body of Christ at North Second Street. Over the past two years our focus has been on ordaining elders (Praise God we are set in order!) and COVID didn’t help matters. In 2019, it was “To Whom Shall We God.” 2018 was “Seeking The Ancient Faith.” We focused on the Revelation to John seven years ago and a decade ago our series was “Learning To Love The Psalms.”
For 2023, our February mornings will be dedicated to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. The lessons in the evening will be designed to enable individual Christians to look into God’s revealed word and discover what is good, and acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:2).
Evangelism In The Morning: For the past three years, we have been internally focused on getting God’s house in order. We are blessed to have shepherds and servants according to God’s design for his church. Now that we have leaders, let us get to work in the fields!
With the explosive growth we have seen over the last year, you may be tempted to think, “Why evangelize? We are full already!” We are blessed with wonderful attendance numbers, but in relation to the size of our community, a congregation of 70, 80, or even 100 is less than our Lord deserves. Where will we put everybody? Our God will make a way. Listen to the words of Jesus, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”-Luke 10:2.
Doctrine In The Evening: The word “doctrine” scares some people. They associate the word with harsh lessons, fights over minor issues of judgement, and an endless list of dos and don’ts. But that reflects neither the Scriptures nor the Spirit of the word. The word simply means instruction or teaching. Add the word “sound” to it and you have the idea of teaching that is healthy. If I am to be “sound in body and mind” just means my physical condition is good. Sound doctrine is simply teaching benefits the learner. Much like our bodies are healthy when we avoid junk food. Healthy teaching builds us up and helps us avoid the junk food of false teaching.
Doctrine is part of evangelism, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”-Romans 6:17 (KJV). Doctrine prepares the next generation to stand strong, “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”-II Timothy 2:2. Doctrine draws a line between the faithful and the fallen, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching”-II Timothy 4:3.
I look forward to conversations about good news and good teaching!
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