New Year Preparation

 

From the Pastor:

Happy New Year!

For most, if not all of you, this mailout will arrive just before the new year begins. That’s good news because you will be ready to begin our new bible reading plan for the year and you will be able to prepare for the new sermon series starting this Sunday in the book of Romans. The Bible reading plan that we will begin this year is a two-year plan designed to slowly take the reader through the entire Bible in that time span while also reading either a Psalm or portion of Proverbs daily. This plan even has built in “catch-up” days in case you find yourself falling behind in your reading. I think this plan will be great for us to begin this year because it is slower paced than plans we have tried in the past, which allows the reader to spend time reading the Holy Scriptures at a more contemplative pace. Let me also encourage you to spend time in daily prayer either before or after you have spent time reading God’s Word. Scripture reading and prayer are two of the most important spiritual disciplines that the Christian must devote time to each and every day, and as your Pastor I want to provide you with the ability and the encouragement to accomplish these important tasks every day.

Secondly, let me encourage all of you that are able to join us this Sunday either in person or on the radio as I begin our new sermon series on Paul’s letter to the church at Roman. Romans is one of the most important books in all of the Bible because it explains to us the fullness of the doctrine of salvation in Jesus Christ by faith alone, while also providing us with the practical knowledge of how we are to live as Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly Father. Romans is a rich letter from beginning to end, and I pray that it will help us to not only grow in our knowledge of God, but also that it would aid us in growing in our worship, obedience, and discipleship as we take the time to examine this great letter of the Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.

Lastly, I am incredibly thankful for each and every one of you and the blessing that you have been to my family and I this past year. Lord willing, come April of 2021 it will be four years since the Lord brought me here to serve as pastor of this local church body. The time has passed quickly, but the Lord has been faithful every second of every day, just like He always is. We have had the privilege of adding to our faith family in this past year through baptism as well as others joining us by letter and statement of faith. Through all of the ups and downs of 2020 I am most thankful that God has shown himself to be ever-faithful no matter what may befall us. Of course, we know this to be the case, but to see him constantly reassuring us of this reality time and time again displays how great of a Heavenly Father he truly is. May God bless us in 2021 and may He continue to grow this local body of believers in number and in faith. Sola Deo Gloria!