I wonder if you remember the Love My Church series from a couple of years back? We looked at what the Bible has to say about the radical nature of church and the gospel call to love one another with the love that God has shown us in Jesus. I wonder if this gospel love is the ultimate motivation behind your involvement in our church? Or is your involvement based more on what you get out of church (consumerism) than what you put in (love)?
I reckon these are testing times for our church. In fact I know they are. We’re all a bit shaken by the possible departure of the Crees and concerned about what it will mean for us as a church. I expect that it will be a time when the quality of our love will be tested. Above all it’s a time when we’ll need to be supremely focused on the true source of our unity, identity and mission – the Lord Jesus.
Personally, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been encouraged by those who have been talking about their hopes to rise to the challenge. I’m praying that God would give each one of us a real and practical commitment to our part in the future of SCPC. And I’m praying for unity – that this will be a season of unexpected growth as we step forward together in “work produced by faith, labor prompted by love and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
How do you see the future of SCPC?
The future of SCPC hey?
Well, I am really sad about the Crees potentially leaving. I mean, I was only a Christian for a year before I moved to Lismore and the church I went to in Tamworth was far from feeling like ‘family’. I will miss Steve’s sermons and his (sometimes warped) sense of humour 🙂 And I’ll miss having Bec and Sam in youth group…they are both such amazing, focused kids. I’ll miss the whole family…it’s lucky that Creek Road isn’t too far away and that they can still come and visit 🙂
SCPC is my church, and I do love it! The teaching is faithful, the focus is ALWAYS on the cross and the congregation really does feel like my family. I love how everyone looks out for the needs of others and seeks to build them up in the gospel. I love how welcoming the ‘welcomers’ are. I loved seeing the youthies step up on Safari Sunday and run the service. I love that we have such a solid ministry and leadership team. There is SO much that I love about SCPC!
Yes, it will be different if and when the Crees leave, but I am excited too (for them and for us). God is going to do big things, whatever the outcome.
It is hard to not be selfish in my thinking and pray that the Crees would stay, but I can rest in knowing that God has known that we were going to face this since long before SCPC was even around…and that’s comforting. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, but it does mean that we can trust that God has gone ahead of us and knows what He’s doing.
I’m also hoping and praying that we will be unified more as a church and that people will ‘step up to the plate’ a bit more (myself included) as we fix our eyes on our faithful God and seek to love and serve Him and his people…even in the midst of change and uncertainty.
Philippians 2:1-18
amen Ray Ray…
that was awesome rach, i agree with you!
i will be hard but God has a big plan then we can ever imagine!