We are well on our way toward the much needed renovations to our facilities here at St. Andrews Road. The architectural plans are being completed. The financing has been approved. The elders are receiving financial gifts, promises, and pledges from our members. God is blessing us in and through these difficult economic times. Our Christian brothers and sisters in the past sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears to give us what we have today; a place to worship God in spirit and in truth that is beautiful, comfortable, and more than adequate for our needs. The best way to show our gratitude to these who have sacrificed so much is to offer our own sacrifices to those who will follow us. May we all follow our elders and deacons in their sacrifices for the future of the church that meets at 425 St. Andrews Road! May we all be able to say: “I am. I have. I will.”

Our Sunday morning lesson series, “The Greatest Thing in the World – The Christian Life,” has been challenging to us all. We have looked at Sin – How Terrible, Grace – How Marvelous, Salvation – How Wonderful, Life – How Short, and Eternity – How Long. This Sunday morning, we will conclude this series with a lesson entitled “God – How Good!” I hope you will be here for this very special concluding lesson. If you would like to read ahead, read Matthew 6:25-34. This passage teaches us how to think, how to live, and why.

We introduced our new Sunday evening series last week with a lesson that asks every Christian to lift up our eyes (John 4). Jesus taught his disciples not to wait but to look up to see the fields that were white with the harvest. He reminded them that they were not alone in their work that they were only building on the work that others had begun.

We, too, must lift our eyes to look at the harvest of family, friends, and neighbors who are searching for help, hope, and the answers to the questions of life.

God asks every Christian to climb up higher (Luke 19). Zacchaeus was a man who wanted to…needed to see Jesus. He had to overcome the crowd that obstructed his view as well as his own limitations (a small stature) to see Jesus.

We, too, must climb up higher in order to overcome whatever it is that is obstructing our view of our salvation which is in Jesus Christ. In the letter to the Hebrews (12:1-2), we are instructed to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us” so that we may run the race before us.

God asks every Christian to launch out further (Luke 5) in our obedient faith in God through Jesus Christ. After Jesus taught the multitude, he asked Simon to launch out into deep waters for a catch. Simon did what Jesus asked even though he had toiled all night and caught nothing. He caught so many fish that both his boat and his partners’ boat began to sink.

We, too, must launch out deeper in our Christian walk with God. Remember what God wrote to us in Ephesians 3:20-21: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

This Sunday evening, we will look at the first lesson from our series entitled: “1st Century Success in the 21st Century.” The First Century church was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Their courage and deliberate daily preaching and teaching of the gospel of Christ proved to be the power behind the tremendous growth of the church. What about us in our day? Are we ashamed of the gospel of Christ? I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!