We're talking about doing some different things in worship. Perhaps a traditional worship at the 8 o'clock service, a Saturday night worship time, a Spanish language worship on Sunday afternoon. We're reaching a lot of new people from different backgrounds. Most of that growth is occurring in the 11 o'clock and 12:34 services. We must build on these growth points and find others. It's a time-tested fact that when you start something new you bring in new people. It works in Sunday School, starting churches, and worship services. So ... there are more changes on the horizon. Many of these changes will most likely not affect most in our church. A few of the changes may affect everyone. I don't know. I just know this: We are God's church. We are an army. We have a mission. We have a battle to win.
The most important thing in all of this is that we love each other. We can survive many theological debates. We can overcome any philosophical differences. We can work through different opinions about strategic planning. We can find consensus on most methodological issues. BUT WE WILL NOT SURVIVE ONE DAY IF WE STOP LOVING EACH OTHER.
In the letter of First Corinthians, Paul addressed all the problems that the Corinthian church was experienceing (and there were a lot of them). At one point he stops talking about the problems and he says this: The most important thing is LOVE (1 Corinthians 13). You can survive anything as long as you never forget how to love each other.
As we look toward the many exciting changes God may have for us in the coming years I want to call you to increasing prayer, sacrificial service, and above all, an enduring LOVE for each other.
Without God's LOVE, we will surely fail.
With God's LOVE, we will surely have victory!
blessings,
pastor ellis
no survival without love. Nice.
Posted by: Tom | October 08, 2006 at 02:18 PM