A weekly look back and look forward from Pastor Wayne
Looking Back:
This past Sunday we concluded our series on the spiritual gifts with a message on “seeking the Savior – sense of spiritual gifts (2). Our primary text came from Romans 12:6-8. We made two inquiries during the message – (1) Where do gifts come from? (2) What do we do with gifts? Just as we receive gifts from friends and family at Christmas or birthdays – we should use gifts given to us! With spiritual gifts instead of spending time trying to sort out what our gift is, the emphasis of Scripture is simply on “what are we doing with the gift?” Exercising our gifts is so important because gifts reveal Jesus Christ and they give Him Glory! Finally, we were reminded last Sunday that the gifts unlike the way the world operates are not about me, but thee, in other words, about Jesus! Allow me to encourage you to continually turn your eyes upon Jesus and then watch how He will operate the gifts of the Spirit in your life!
Looking Ahead:
Four days from now, we will begin a three-part series of messages from 1 Corinthians 13, what some have called the love chapter! Intentionally I’m taking us to 1 Corinthians 13 because this passage gives context to the 12th chapter on the gifts. Here’s God’s bottom line – you can have all the gifts, even the so-called miraculous ones and without Jesus’ love, you’re of little to no use! Maybe even worse! Join us Sunday as we look at 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 considering the “nuance of love” under three headings, noise, nonsense, and nothing. Sounds like fun! You won’t want to miss it. Btw, we will also celebrate communion or the Lord’s Supper. Actually, the message with its Christ-centered emphasis will flow right into the Lord’s Supper. Don’t forget, you’re always welcome to our Adult Study on the “day of the Lord” at 9.30 am.
Looking Beyond:
Sunday, November 9 – The nature of love, and November 16 – The necessity of love. November 23 – a special Thanksgiving service, and November 30 begins Advent with the theme of “Soon and very Soon!”