Beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ left the Apostle Paul forever changed. How could he not gladly offer himself as an instrument and conduit of the same love with which Christ had loved him?
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).”
People who have seen God’s glory should want others to see it, too, and should want God to receive the glory He is due. To use Peter’s metaphor, living stones should be eager to proclaim the excellencies of the Living Stone and to gather more stones from the ends of the earth (cf. 1 Peter 2:9-10). Not just disciples individually, but churches corporately.
Our third ministry value is The Great Commission (cf. Matthew 28:18-20). Our marching orders are to join the global mission of Christ and His church whose “battle hymn” is, “From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One (Isaiah 24:16).” and we want God to use us to go gather them in!
This Sunday Jason Oakes will preach on our Great Commission ministry value and Walt Harrah will lead our Christ-Centered sung worship. You can read our ministry value here.
As we pray for our Grace family, ask God to help us be more controlled and compelled by this certain future Jesus told us is coming, and more eager to participate in ushering in that Day.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).”
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
Song Link of the Week
The Righteous One by Songs of Grace
Preaching Schedule
SEP 14 God’s Glory
SEP 21 Christ-Centered Worship
SEP 28 The Great Commission
OCT 5 Biblical Preaching
OCT 12 Priesthood of Believers & Elder Leadership
OCT 19 Elder Leadership & Spirit-Led
OCT 26 Diverse Unity & Simplicity
NOV 2 Children & Youth