As I mentioned this most recent Sunday, September is a good month for us as a church for an annual check up. We transition out of the busy summer months and into more regular routines and rhythms. Together we move into a new year in the life of this church as we celebrate our anniversary. Both of these transitions make for a good time to stop and ask two important reflection questions, (1) “How have I been doing in my devotion to the Lord and to His people and where do I need to grow in the next year?” and (2) “In what ways will I help contribute to the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church?”
Here we are Church, half way through 2023! As we make our way through these summer months with travel/vacation, family visiting, kids out of school, late nights, etc. you may find it more difficult to maintain your regular devotional times with the Lord.
"Church Unity is that state in which a particular local congregation by the effectual operations of the redemptive grace of God has attained and maintains as its prevailing climate a fundamental oneness and harmony of understanding, affection, purpose and activity while unashamedly expressing diversity and individuality in areas that do not disturb the unity but rather enhance it" - Albert Martin
June marks one year of having served on staff as one of your pastors and I am incredibly thankful for you, church. It has been a year filled with grace, deepened affections, and many answered prayers. Reflecting back, I’ve certainly made plenty of mistakes, learned valuable lessons, and identified areas in need of so much more growth. In all of this though, you have been gracious, kind, patient, and supportive. You all have continually displayed the character of God towards me (and the other elders!) and I want to thank you for that. It is truly a joy to serve you!
“We desire to see the people of Hampton Roads treasuring Christ through churches that reflect the character of God, the diversity of our cities, and display a healthy witness of the Gospel to our neighbors and the world.”
Hampton Roads Fellowship (HRF) was planted out of this vision. In the next two posts we will be focusing on our vision for community. Specifically, why we as a church are committed to intentionally maintaining our unity in Christ as well as pursuing and cultivating diversity.
I recently finished reading through Andrew Murray’s short, but very powerful, booklet titled Humility and wanted to share a few of my favorite quotes with you. I pray these will help increase your affections for Christ today and be helpful reminders in your own fight for humility. May the Lord keep us humble under His mighty hand and give us grace to in humility count others more significant than ourselves!
A rather unlikely comparison the Lord led me to this morning was between Babel and the church. In Genesis 11, we read that “the whole earth had one language and the same words.” As a result, there was incredible potential to what God’s image bearers could accomplish together! God said in Genesis 11:6, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them” (emphasis added). The problem with sin though, is that it robs us of God-given potential.
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