Learn-Grow-Become-GO!
Shout it in the assembly.
Shout it to the world. (Psalm 40)
1God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. 3For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,
“In my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest,’”
even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. 4We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.” 6So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:
“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts.”
8Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.
12For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
14So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4 (NLT)
Years ago, I was given some misguided advice. It had been a particularly trying week, I will spare you the details, but I came into a bible study that I was conducting and shared the fact that I was tired – physically, emotionally and yes, spiritually tired. After the study concluded, the individual waited, took me aside and scolded me saying, “You can never let anyone in the congregation hear that you are tired. You are supposed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you are supposed to run and not grow weary et. et.” I think you get the drift. That really shook me because it made me feel weak and even made me question, “Am I filled with the Holy Spirit? What is wrong with me as a pastor?”
This, of course, let me to investigate the “theology of rest” or to use the biblical term, sabbath rest, and I learned quite a few things. The passage above captures rather well the things that I learned. Our rest is in Christ alone. My faith in Jesus as my savior, and the completed work of the cross reconciles me unto Yahweh; thus, I can spiritually flee the world and retreat into His being and spiritually rest – even as the world seems to spin out of control all around me. Stemming from our rest in Jesus comes the other two other aspects of sabbath rest. The first is the promise that completeness and thus, rest, await us in the age to come. We will no longer strive to attain or to achieve. We will not be sick, nor will we tire. We will be glorified with Jesus Christ, partnering with Him in the administration of the new Earth, otherwise known as heaven.
AND… that we are allowed to retreat into sabbath rest as we live and breathe in this age as well. Jesus Christ was divine. I am not. I, like you, are an imperfect spiritual being living in an imperfect spiritual body. I am NOT the perfect vessel of God’s Holy Spirit. I stutter and stumble around trying to find my own way as I am called to help others and, yes, I grow weary – I grow physically, emotionally and spiritually weary.
And now I know that that is not only OK – Jesus teaches me that this will happen and also how to deal with it. Just as I take refuge in the being of the All Mighty – I am allowed to seek earthly sanctuary and rest.
I am sharing my own testimony with you as a pastor and a friend – but this “theology of sabbath rest” stems to every Christian. I would encourage YOU to take a look in the mirror and discern for yourself the state of your spiritual health.
Over the next three weeks, I will not be completing all of my usual tasks at and for the church. I will not be in the pulpit for the next two Sundays. This Sunday, the Sisters in Grace will fulfill that duty and I am so happy and glad to be able to GO to church! The following Sunday, Kelly and I will be away, resting, on vacation. Your council will be fulfilling the duties required of the Sunday gathering. Kelly and I will return June 1 and I will indeed be preaching the following day, but thanks to everybody who helps me with music and prayer – that service will be complete and prepared before I leave.
Can I be blunt? Please do not use the “uniqueness” of the next two Sundays as an excuse not to attend. So many people have invested so much (many of whom are really stretching themselves to do so) to provide for the next two Sundays. May I ask that you honor that and them with your attendance?
In the meantime, I will share the livestream this Friday and next Tuesday – and then take two weeks off. Also, this will be the last Churchtown weekly for at least 2 weeks.
You have 9 members of church council to whom you can turn. You have each other and can make use of the various text groups and the Churchtown Weekly email group – not to mention our times of prayer Sunday mornings. It is a good thing to be a part of a church that actually believes this AND operates like this.
Thank you for your investment.
And thank you for your prayers for me – and for the person who needs Sabbath rest even more than me, my partner, my helpmate, the love of my life and co-minister of the gospel, Kelly; together, we will be celebrating our 36th year of marriage over this vacation. We have been together 41 years. The 17-year-old cook and the 16-year-old waitress have come a long way.
We love you.
Thank you.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
You can now subscribe and listen to the “Churchtown Podcast Network!”
Available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, just search “Turning on the Lights!” and “Churchtown Church of God Sermons” – subscribe and then leave a rating and a review! More folks will see it!
Super shout-out to Mark Cole for making this a reality!
*Audio and video are always posted on our YouTube channel @churchtownchurch (there are actually 1,100 videos there)
Church Calendar
“Chosen” episodes will run Friday nights May 10, 17, 24, and 31 @7pm
Wednesday, May 22 is congregational prayer (changed this month!)
Kelly and I leave for Vacation Wednesday, May 22 (return Saturday, June 1)
Saturday, May 25 – Randy Simpson is outside at 5pm
Randy is back Saturday, June 1 – inside at 6.
SERVICE OF THE ORDINANCE DATES:
July 21
October 13th
November 27th – Thanksgiving Eve.
Remember, the single biggest reason given for why someone attends church for the first time is that a friend asked them!
As always, we continue in prayer for Churchtown, for our community, for the church universal, and for the lost everywhere.
God is good. God provides. Keep your eyes up and on the cross people.
Be well and do good, my friends. And, as always, Keep Looking Up! The lord comes!
REMEMBER THAT!
Opportunities!
We are always seeking individuals to be trained in technology. We would like to develop TEAMS that could rotate weekends.
There is always the opportunity to provide music – join up with the New Song Singers and / or talk to me about a special prelude or piece.
Gather-Grow-Become-Go
Churchtown Church of God
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Welcome to Churchtown!
We are glad you are here!
Today is the Sisters in Grace Sunday of Gratitude!
Prayer and Prelude
“Alleluia! Sing to Jesus / I Sing Praises”
What is Gratitude Sunday All About?
#102, “There’s Just Something About that Name”
#43, Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
#203, “And Can it Be?”
“The Father’s Love Letter”
#29, “Glorify Thy Name”
Scripture Reading
Matthew 5:1-12 (NLT)
Meditation on the Word
#335, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
Our Time of Corporate Prayer
“The Lord’s Prayer”
The Final Word: Matthew 11:25-30 (NLT)
As a “little” church, we are always asking the question, “What CAN we do?” Well, we can start by caring for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of each other.
We CAN serve the next person God places before us.
We CAN invite that person to church!
We CAN be intentional about going to church and strengthening ourselves and the body.
We CAN serve our community and show who Christ is to those who do not know Him.
We CAN PRAY, PRAY, PRAY – and we can REMAIN FATIHFUL!
I Love Being Your Pastor and Your Friend,
Brian
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