Gathering to Endure

Weekly Update – October 20th, 2022

We need each other.  Have you ever thought about that?  Sure you have.  We have talked about it in various ways in the past.  That doesn’t mean it is any less true though.  We need each other.  I’m not simply referring to a basic human need for interaction or the need of others for our physical necessities such as food and water.  Instead, I am talking about the need we have as Christians to endure and persevere in our Christian walk.  That is why God places us as Christians in the church and calls us to gather with each other to worship him.

In the book of Ephesians, the author of this letter, the apostle Paul, makes it clear that God redeems us, as fallen sinners, into a family (Eph. 2:13-22).  There is no lone Christianity.  There is no “Jesus and Me” type of salvation.  Instead, we are made alive and re-made for corporate worship.  As we look towards our final place in the new heavens and new earth, we consider what it will be like.  Revelation 7:9-10 gives us a glimpse:  “A great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 

The great part about the truth of Revelation 7:9-10 is that we get a glimpse into that picture every week when the church gathers.  Now this doesn’t mean that eternity is simply one very, very, long church service.  Instead, what it shows to us when we gather together for worship, is a foretaste of what is to come.  We will be singing and praising our God with a multitude of other believers from all over the world, past, present and future.   

In the meantime, as we gather together, we do so as a means of grace that the Lord uses to cause us to endure throughout this earthly life as we await our forever worship of God in heaven.  As we gather, we are continually reminded of our need for God.  On days when our hearts are least inclined towards the Lord, corporate worship reminds us that “for me it is good to be near God.” (Ps. 73:28).  In this we also grow in assurance that as 2 Timothy 1:12 says, “that I know whom I have believed.”  As we strengthen in faith, regularly gathering together, we then find ourselves “transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Cor. 3:18).  From here, as our joy increases, David Mathis says, “our delight in Jesus expands as we magnify him (God) together with others.” 

All of this means that there is a danger for us when we fail to gather corporately with the church.  There is a danger in our own endurance as we become more susceptible to the temptations of the world.  Without continuous reminders from our fellow Christian brothers and sisters, we begin to slowly drift away from Jesus and forget the saving message that was once communicated to us.  But even more than this, when we fail to gather together, we neglect to serve others in their own faith as well.  Hebrews 10:24 calls us to gather so that we might “stir up one another to love and good works.”  How do we do this?  When we together “hold fast the confession of our hope” (Heb. 10:23) through hearing the word of God proclaimed and through “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19). 

Together we work for each other’s endurance in the faith.  Gathering corporately is the primary means that God uses in this fight.  It is not as though every moment of every day is a crisis. Even so, every gathering is used by God as an opportunity for us to build up one another so that we might persevere in every trial and temptation until that final day when we are all gathered eternally around the throne of God in worship.  Our corporate gatherings are never pointless or wasted.  Instead, God uses the normal and continuous times that we gather for our faith and for His glory.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  - Isaiah 53:6

Announcements:

Volunteers Needed: Volunteers are still needed during the 10:30am nursery time. Check the update or email the office for more information on how you can serve.

Ladies’ Brunch and Crafting: Ladies of the church are invited to the Diaz home for a potluck brunch and crafting at 10am on Saturday, October 22nd. More information can be found HERE and a signup sheet can be found on the bulletin board.

Guest Preacher: Dr. Joe Allen from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) will be preaching for us this Sunday (10/23). Dr. Allen served in South Asia with the International Mission Board from 2007-2021 and now serves as the Assistant Professor of Missions at MBTS. You can learn more about Dr. Allen HERE

Game Night: There will be a potluck and game night held in the Faith Center Gym on October 23rd from 4:00-6:00pm. Bring your favorite game and snack.

Membership Matters Class: On Sunday, October 9th and 23rd there will be a Membership Matters class for those interested in joining FBC. This 2 week class will be held in the library from 6:00 – 7:30pm. Sign up in the hall if you plan to attend. You can find out more about our membership process HERE. 

Budget/Constitution Q&A: We will meet at 6pm on Sunday, October 30th, for the annual budget meeting. We will also be having a question and answer time about the proposed revisions to the constitution.

Trunk or Treat:  On Monday, October 31st from 5:30-7pm, we will host a trunk or treat outside in our front parking lot. We need people who are willing to hand out candy from the back of their cars, others who can help with set up and/or break down, and some who can simply be present to help with anything else that might be needed for the night. There will be a barrel out in the Welcome Center to collect candy. Sign up in the hall to volunteer.

Awana

Join us for Awana Bible Clubs on Wednesday nights. Dinner is at 6:00pm and Awana Clubs are from 6:30-8:00pm. If you are interested in volunteering, talk with Amy Blankenship.

Bible Study

Join us for Bible Study at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. Click HERE for more information.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Home Groups

Home Groups began on Sunday, September 18th. If you are interested in joining one, you can find more information HERE.

Ladies’ Bible Study

Ladies, join us for a Bible study through the book of Exodus on Tuesday nights at 6:30pm. You can learn more about this 10 week Bible Study HERE.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE.