Bible Reading – Week 2
Monday, January 9 Genesis 12-13
Tuesday, January 10 Genesis 14-16
Wednesday, January 11 Genesis 17-19
Thursday, January 12 Genesis 20-23
Friday, January 13 Genesis 24-26
Saturday, January 14 Genesis 27-29
Pastor’s Weekly Article
We have a number of exciting opportunities for growth and service during the month of January. I hope that you are praying for our “Rebellion of the Heart” weekend. Many of our adults and students have devoted much energy and prayer in preparation for this special emphasis.
While “Rebellion of the Heart” weekend is focused primarily on students and parents of students, there are ways for all of us to benefit from this special event. Of course, we need volunteer support throughout the weekend. If you are willing to serve, please email Bruce McGee (bruce@lawrencevillefbc.org).
I also encourage you to attend one or more of the sessions. While the content is designed with a certain audience in mind, all of us need to know more about the pressures that our students and their parents face. By exposing yourself to youth culture, you prepare yourself to be a more effective mentor, and you prepare yourself to pray more diligently for our students.
A full schedule for the weekend is published on our website. Click here to be redirected to our website. If you have any questions about “Rebellion of the Heart” weekend, please contact Bruce McGee.
Bible Reading – Week 1
Sunday, January 2 Genesis 1-2
Monday, January 3 John 1:1-3; Psalm 8; Psalm 104
Tuesday, January 4 Genesis 3-5; Proverbs 8
Wednesday, January 5 Genesis 6-7
Thursday, January 6 Genesis 8-9; Psalm 12
Friday, January 7 Genesis 10-11
Pastor’s Weekly Article
On Sunday, January 2 we begin our journey through God’s Word. If you do not have one of our Bible reading guides, they are available at various points throughout our church campus.
Many races are won or lost at the starting line. I am praying that all of us will start strong and be diligent in our Bible reading. I pray particularly for those of you who are not accustomed to setting aside a few moments each day to read and study God’s Word. Devote yourself to the daily discipline of Bible reading. I am confident that the Lord will bless you richly.
When I accepted the call to serve as your pastor, I signed a document that outlined my job responsibilities. When I signed this document, I agreed to share my general work schedule with the members of our church.
In the past I have devoted a good portion of my time each Monday to sermon preparation. Over the past three years, I have discovered that I am not ready to put pen to paper on Monday mornings. I now do most of my sermon preparation on Thursdays. I want to inform you of this change because I do most of my studying and writing away from the church office.
My administrative assistant, Lee Tarrer, always knows where I am, and she always knows how to reach me. While I may not be available for meetings and appointments on Thursdays, I am always available if you have a ministry need.
Next Sunday I will share my annual “State of the Church Address.” I am looking forward to a wonderful 2011. I consider it a great blessing to serve you as pastor!
Pastor’s Weekly Article
As the Body of Christ, we serve one another. This week I spoke with a member of our church who has been struggling physically. I asked her if any of our members had provided a meal for her and her husband. She replied, “Oh yes!” In fact, I got the impression that she was surprised that I even asked the question. With her tone she said, “Don’t you know the people in our church? Of course they have provided meals for us!”
Thank you for making service to one another a priority. As a child I remember singing these words, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” Those who reject Christ as Savior can criticize the church on a number of points, but may they never be able to say that we do not show love toward one another.
The mission of our church is to reflect God’s glory in all nations. While our core mission pushes us to focus on the unchurched and their need for the Gospel, we understand that we also reflect God’s glory as we serve one another.
Are you serving the Body of Christ? If not, I hope that you will contact me or one of our associate pastors. As we serve the Body of Christ, we bless one another and the Lord blesses us.
Christmas Eve
On Christmas Day we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. The birth of Jesus is not a legend; it is a historical reality. Over two thousand years ago, an angel appeared to a young woman and told her that she would give birth to a son. Imagine the pressure that Mary and her husband-to-be, Joseph, felt when the angel revealed that this child would be the Son of God.
On this night we join with millions of Christians around the world in a grand birthday celebration. We should each consider what the birth of Christ means for us personally. The Bible tells us that we live in a state of sin. Even though we see the evidence of God all around us, we choose to ignore him. We focus on what we want, and we ignore his laws. Because of our sins, we are separated from God.
Jesus came to give us hope. Jesus came to show us God’s love. Jesus came to demonstrate God’s glory. He invites us to join him on an epic journey. This baby in a manger became obedient to death on a cross so that we might have life. When we trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, our relationship with God is restored. Sin no longer binds us; we are now free to follow God. We join with the Apostle Paul saying, “But thanks be to God! He gave us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Thank you, God, for sending your Son.
Operation Christmas Child
Click here to read a great article about Operation Christmas Child.
This year our church collected nearly 200 boxes that we will be sent children around the world. Each box includes a presentation of the Gospel written in the child’s language.
