Two weeks ago our elders communicated with our church family that we are making a commitment to a more organized and better effort in shepherding the people of God at Patterson Park. In our worship services on Sunday, January 22, we began a short series of sermons on the subject of Shepherding God’s Flock. In the final chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus told Peter to shepherd his flock; feed my sheep. In Paul’s final words to the Ephesian elders, he spoke of his own example to them and admonished them to: Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood (Acts 20:28).
What I want you to notice in that statement is not so much the responsibility of the elders, though we will talk about that, but the reference to whom the elders are to care: the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Though we probably know the facts about the death of Christ, his blood that was shed for our sins, the fact that our redemption from sin was accomplished at the cross, I think we sometimes still lose sight of the fact that we are so treasured by God, so loved by him, so precious to him, that he bought us and made us his very own by the price of the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us. By virtue of Christ’s death on the cross for our sins and our faith in him as our only Savior, we are the church of God. We belong to him. He obtained us with his blood.
Patterson Park Church is not our church, though we often refer to the church we attend as our church. The church does not belong to us, though many of us have supported the church financially. The church does not belong to the leadership, though we in leadership carry a responsibility for the well-being of the church. We are the church of God and so treasured by him that he obtained us by the blood of his Son.
Scripture describes those who belong to Christ the following ways: God’s chosen people; the bride and the body of Christ; a people for his own possession; members of the household of God; a dwelling place for God by his Spirit.
Therefore, the role of Christ’s under-shepherds is incredibly important. We are called to care for, feed, nurture, and lead those whom Christ has obtained by his blood. It is a weighty and sobering responsibility. As our Shepherd, everything God does in our lives reveals his loyalty to us and how deeply he cares for us and for our spiritual well-being. Consequently, the goals and roles of shepherds ought to be the same; to work toward the spiritual well-being of those God has entrusted us to serve.
Our elders look forward to a renewed effort to serving the people of God at Patterson Park Church as Christ’s under-shepherds.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
RESOLUTIONS
Making resolutions for the New Year is a common practice for many of us. Many of our resolutions are an attempt at correcting bad habits of the past year. One web site suggests that the most common New Year’s Resolutions are related to eating habits, physical exercise, financial and time management, etc. For most of us, changes in regard to bad habits in those areas will be healthy and productive.
For followers of Christ, resolutions center around spiritual matters. We resolve to read through the Bible, pray more, get involved in a ministry, and focus more on that has eternal value and brings glory to God.
At the young age of 18 to 19 years old, Jonathan Edwards, a relatively new believer, wrote 70 purpose statements for his life that have commonly come to be known as “Resolutions.” Below are the first of his resolutions, which speaks in a comprehensive way of all his resolutions. Thought the language is characterized by the day in which he lived, 1703 to 1758, the truths he communicates are worthy characteristics for us to embrace.
“ Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.”
May God grant us all the wisdom to know what glorifies him most, and pursue that with all our might.
For followers of Christ, resolutions center around spiritual matters. We resolve to read through the Bible, pray more, get involved in a ministry, and focus more on that has eternal value and brings glory to God.
At the young age of 18 to 19 years old, Jonathan Edwards, a relatively new believer, wrote 70 purpose statements for his life that have commonly come to be known as “Resolutions.” Below are the first of his resolutions, which speaks in a comprehensive way of all his resolutions. Thought the language is characterized by the day in which he lived, 1703 to 1758, the truths he communicates are worthy characteristics for us to embrace.
“ Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.”
May God grant us all the wisdom to know what glorifies him most, and pursue that with all our might.
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