Target Practice

Soon the leaves will begin to change colors and Fall will be here. During this time each year, I find myself regaining composure; I guess because of all those Youth Ministry years. It was to me – January - the beginning of the new year (school year!) I think for a lot of us it is the same way. Summer is over and we are getting back to our regular schedules - things begin to slow down (yeah, right – at least in our minds.) But it is obvious because church attendance typically picks up from where it left off in early May!
With this in mind, I want to tell you about our next Sunday morning series. We will be looking at the book of 1 Thessalonians. The title of the series is “Target Practice”. Paul’s letter is to Christians in Thessalonica, but his letter is not like the letter to the Corinthians (which we just finished.) Instead, Paul writes to encourage them to keep living like they had been. Simply put – “Stay on Target.” We want to stay on target as we seek to live as people who “Seek First HIS Kingdom.” In order to stay on target we have to keep living as a Christian…we have to keep practicing. So to do this we must have ‘target practice’! We will spend the next 6 weeks talking about how we can stay on target.
Are you ready for practice? We will ‘practice’ our ‘Aim. We will be “Sighting in the Target” [1:2-10] – (what is the target?), “Aiming for perfection” [2:1-16] - (What is the bull’s eye?), “Aim for the Goal” [2:17-3:5] – (What does encouragement looks like?), “Aim to fill what is lacking” [3:6-13] – (What do Christians do after choosing Jesus as Lord?), “Aiming for a holy life.” [4:1-12] – (What do I do with a holy life?) and the last week we will look at “Aim for the future” [4:13-5:11] – (Why spend time aiming for the target?)

On your mark, get set, AIM!

God gave the Church!

I am over-whelmed when I think of God’s plan to make HIMSELF known through the Church on the earth. I am humbled while proud! I can not think of a greater honor in life than living for HIM every moment of everyday.
God gave the Church…to touch the world with HIMSELF. Have you ever thought about that? God gave the Church…to show HIS Love. God gave the Church…to end hunger. God gave the Church…to bring joy. God gave the Church…to heal marriages. God gave the Church…to bring order to the chaos. God gave the Church…to show us Jesus. God gave the Church…to teach us HIS Word. God gave the Church…to honor the KING. God gave the Church…to teach worship of HIM. God gave the Church…to you and to me.
WOW! So I wonder if God gave the Church…then what should I do!
God gave the Church… so I should go to church for HIM. God gave the Church… so I should learn to worship HIM. God gave the Church… so I should honor the KING. God gave the Church…so I should learn HIS Word. God gave the Church…so I should see Jesus. God gave the Church…so I should have a life of order. God gave the Church… so I should have a healthy marriage. God gave the Church…so I should have joy. God gave the Church… so I should be fed. God gave the Church…so I should love HIM. God gave the Church…to feel HIM in the world.