The Mind of the Pastor
It’s foundational. To be foundational means to be of or relating to the basis or groundwork on which something rests or is built. That which must be understood or established at the beginning. The foundation of our thought, and our life, is God himself. It is in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). The big question behind all big questions, has to do with God. His character, nature and being. Just who is God and how can we relate to Him?
Wrap your mind around that! Trying to grasp God in our limited, finite minds, is like trying to capture the Pacific Ocean in a thimble. Who can know Him? The wonder of the gospel is that God wants to be known. He has revealed himself. In nature through the world around us, in our own conscience, having been created in the image and likeness of God, and through His word. But God has spoken His final word, given us His ultimate revelation, in His Son the Lord Jesus who is the exact imprint of His nature, the radiance of His glory (Hebrews 1:3). Thus, Jesus could say, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father” (John 14:9). Our Lord taught as no man ever taught. He taught as One who had authority. His word brought conviction and comfort. In the parables He revealed the character and the nature of God. “This is who I am. This is what I’m like.” We began a series on the parables last Sunday morning and we will continue up into November on Sunday mornings. I hope you will join us. This week we will finish Luke 15 as we look at the elder brother in the parable of “Lost Things.”
Sunday evenings beginning August 13 we will begin an 8-week study of Baptist Distinctives. Why are we Baptist and not Presbyterians? Why Baptist and not Methodist, Church of Christ, Lutheran or Pentecostal? This will not be a time of learning what’s wrong with those people, we will look at what we believe and why. Join us Sunday evenings in the fellowship building for that study.
I remind you, this week, August 6, is our First Sunday Fellowship. Bring a dish or two and stay for lunch after the morning service. There will be great food and sweet fellowship around the table. Sunday morning, we will be observing Christian baptism, so you won’t want to miss that. See you Sunday.
Have a blessed week!
Rod
Wrap your mind around that! Trying to grasp God in our limited, finite minds, is like trying to capture the Pacific Ocean in a thimble. Who can know Him? The wonder of the gospel is that God wants to be known. He has revealed himself. In nature through the world around us, in our own conscience, having been created in the image and likeness of God, and through His word. But God has spoken His final word, given us His ultimate revelation, in His Son the Lord Jesus who is the exact imprint of His nature, the radiance of His glory (Hebrews 1:3). Thus, Jesus could say, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father” (John 14:9). Our Lord taught as no man ever taught. He taught as One who had authority. His word brought conviction and comfort. In the parables He revealed the character and the nature of God. “This is who I am. This is what I’m like.” We began a series on the parables last Sunday morning and we will continue up into November on Sunday mornings. I hope you will join us. This week we will finish Luke 15 as we look at the elder brother in the parable of “Lost Things.”
Sunday evenings beginning August 13 we will begin an 8-week study of Baptist Distinctives. Why are we Baptist and not Presbyterians? Why Baptist and not Methodist, Church of Christ, Lutheran or Pentecostal? This will not be a time of learning what’s wrong with those people, we will look at what we believe and why. Join us Sunday evenings in the fellowship building for that study.
I remind you, this week, August 6, is our First Sunday Fellowship. Bring a dish or two and stay for lunch after the morning service. There will be great food and sweet fellowship around the table. Sunday morning, we will be observing Christian baptism, so you won’t want to miss that. See you Sunday.
Have a blessed week!
Rod