Thoughts from Pastor Tim - November 20

Dear Church Family –

I’ve been reading The 7 Resolutions, by Karl Clauson.  I had to pause over this paragraph:

“Being a disciple or follower of Christ is not a name to claim, a class to take, or rules to follow.  It’s a total and complete surrender of your life to the One who makes all things new.  It’s courageous, honest, brutal, countercultural, and above all, humble.”

Surrender to Christ is a choice God gives us.  We’re not drafted or coerced.  The Bible even uses the language of begging—God begs us, implores us, urges us—to give our lives to Him.

“I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Every Sunday we gather at church to give our lives—our time, our energy, our attention, our honor and gratitude—to the Lord Jesus Christ.

And we gather to encourage and support each other in courageous, honest, brutal, countercultural, and humble surrender to Christ.

The early church was accused of upsetting the world (Acts 17:6).  That’s the power of following Christ!

See you Sunday! – Pastor Tim