A few months ago, we handed out surveys asking the congregation what we needed to do moving forward and what topics you would like to see taught. At the top of the list on things to do was to appoint more elders and to appoint some men to serve as deacons, something this congregation has not had in quite some time. Last week we confirmed three new elders: Garret Blomstedt, Oliver Bush, and Tracy Mimms. And we confirmed two deacons: Paul Rice and Sam Gonzalez. Please keep these men and their families in your prayers as they begin to serve the Lord at this congregation in these positions.
Among topics of study, the most requested were elders and deacons, clarification of husband of one wife, and the Holy Spirit. Next was “minor prophets”. We have addressed these over the past few months through sermons and in our Bible Studies on Wednesday Evenings and Sunday Mornings. Our study through Galatians on Wednesday’s deals a lot with the active work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s life.
The next tier of requested topics of study were (in no particular order): marriage, prayer, forgiveness, miracles of Jesus, and the Sermon on the Mount. In beginning lessons on these topics, I quickly realized that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, addresses, to some extent, a lot of these topics. So, this Sunday we will begin a sermon series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This week’s lesson will be an overview of this sermon.
God’s Word tells us to teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). The emphasis being on teaching that is safe and healthy; teaching that will lead to peace and to mutual edification (Romans 14:19). There is no more sound teaching than the words of Jesus, so over the next several weeks we will dig into Jesus’ words and teaching as recorded for us in Matthew 5-7. And I pray that each of us will take time away from the assembly to dig into Matthew 5-7 in our personal Bible study as we seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
Praying everyone has a blessed week😊
In Christ,
Gary T.