Dear Friends,
I was 20 years old when I visited California for the first time.
I was a junior in college. I was looking ahead to law school. In doing my research on potential options, I came across Pepperdine Law. At the time, the school boldly asserted that “God’s law is higher than man’s law.” No other law school I knew of published any kind of claim like that. I wanted to check it out for myself.
So I hit the road with three friends. One of my travel companions knew a family in Pasadena who offered to provide lodging and shelter for the four of us for the week. The price was exactly what we were looking for – free.
I remember meeting this couple for the first time as they welcomed us into their home for a week. They treated us like we were doing them a favor by staying with them. From the first “hello,” their smiles and kindness gave off the aroma of Christ. I’d never experienced this kind of warm, welcoming hospitality in my life. It blindsided me.
I didn’t submit an application to Pepperdine. When I visited the school (which was still located in Anaheim at the time – they hadn’t moved to Malibu yet), I asked the admissions counselor about the “God’s law is higher than man’s law” idea. She apparently had the idea that I found the idea offensive or unenlightened. “Oh, don’t worry about that,” she told me. “I think some donor wanted us to include that in our promotional material” (Pepperdine was and is affiliated with the Churches of Christ).
Still, the trip to California was memorable because of the generous hospitality offered by our hosts.
This week, Matt Gurney, Carlos and Tanya Santiago and Rick Tarter traveled with me to St. Louis for a Great Commission Collective regional meeting. Along with pastors, elders and staff members from three other GCC churches (Harvest Church in St. Louis, Ascend Church in Kansas City and Gracepoint Church in Searcy), we met to talk about how we can support each other and multiply our impact in our cities and in our region.
One of the subjects we talked about was how we, as churches, can be more welcoming. We listened to a message from Pastor Scott Hollingshead, the lead pastor at Doxa Church in Rocklin CA, on Romans 15:7: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Scott noted that some scholars see this verse as the summary application of the whole book of Romans. The idea that we welcome others as God has welcomed us into His family is a key application of what it looks like to live out the gospel.
As Scott was speaking, my mind went to this verse from Acts 28, where Luke is telling his readers about the Apostle Paul and his landing party (presumably including Luke) arriving on Malta: “The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.”
I was struck by that description of what it looks like to welcome someone into your circle. It looks like unusual kindness. It looks like kindling the fire to help people feel warm and comfortable.
As I listened to Scott’s message, I thought about how many of you have shared with me your experience of feeling welcomed into the body at Redeemer. It would be unusual for someone to visit our church and not be greeted and recognized as a visitor. I was reminded of something author and speaker Rebecca McLaughlin wrote about a number of years ago. In her article Make Sunday Mornings Uncomfortable (https://us.list-manage.com/Ii0Sjzm3Gb5?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89), she said “an alone person in our (Sunday) gatherings is an emergency.” Visitor, regular attender, member – it doesn’t matter. “Every week,” she wrote, “people walk into our gatherings for the first time and get effectively ignored. They may not know Jesus, or they may have spent years wandering from him. Their spiritual health is on the line, and a simple conversation could be the IV fluid God uses to prepare them for life-saving surgery. Eternal lives are at stake.”
Visitors at church should be recognized and made a priority. They should be shown unusual kindness and made to feel welcome. We should kindle the fire and invite them to sit with us. We may never know, McLaughlin says, what kind of impact a small act of welcoming might make.
There is one aspect of welcoming others that is maybe the hardest part for you. It’s this. If you’re going to welcome someone warmly to church, it’s best for you to be there before that person arrives. And most church visitors arrive about 15 minutes before the service starts, so they can get oriented.
To welcome those newcomers, we have to arrive ahead of them. We have to be in place, ready to receive the person who has come to see what our church is all about. That requires a mindset shift. We have to start thinking about showing up at church to minister to and serve others, not primarily to be ministered to or to be served.
But isn’t that what Jesus tells us to do? “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35). We come to church ready to welcome and ready to serve.
Think of how God has welcomed us into His family. Think about His love. His sacrifice. Think about how He humbled Himself and took on the form of a servant to welcome us. Think about how the Father in the story of the Prodigal Son welcomed His repentant son back home. The new robe. The ring and the shoes. The fatted calf. The celebratory feast.
That’s unusual kindness. That’s what it looks like to welcome someone in. Let’s be men and women who seek to excel still more in this vital area of ministry. Let’s make sure we’re giving off the aroma of Christ as we welcome visitors into our church.
MEN'S END OF SUMMER HANGOUT
Guys – it’s almost time for a hangout.
Food. Fellowship. Some friendly competition. Friday night, August 21. 6:00 pm at church.
If you’ve been in Forge Groups this summer, the Hangout is a chance for the groups to get together. And if you haven’t been in a Forge Group, no worries. It’s still a great time to get with other men from the church for some relaxed fun.
Here’s the info.
AWANA REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Our Awana Kickoff night this fall is Wednesday, September 2. And we are running out of space quickly. If you haven’t signed up your kids yet, do it now! You can (https://us.list-manage.com/B1XRGQO1bYZ?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89) click here to register now.
Don’t forget – if you’re a member at Redeemer and you’d like to minister to and love on kids each week, here’s the perfect opportunity for you to pitch in and serve. Contact Laura White and let her know you’re interested. Laurawhite811@gmail.com (mailto:Laurawhite811@gmail.com)
WOMEN'S FALL GATHERING
Ladies, mark your calendar for Monday night, September 14. That’s the night for the Women’s Fall Gathering – an evening filled with great fellowship and great food.
If you’re planning to attend, please let us know. Click here to register (https://us.list-manage.com/xL6T4be5IsC?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89).
MEN'S FOUNDATIONS STUDY
Every stable structure is built on a firm foundation. And to help strengthen the spiritual foundation of all the men in our church, we will be kicking off a two-year class this fall called Foundations – And Why They Matter. The first of our three fall meetings for the Foundations class will happen on Thursday night, September 17 at 7:00 pm at the church. The remaining class dates for this fall and next spring are listed below.
Although it’s not a requirement, men who will be taking this class will be helped by getting a copy of Paul David Tripp’s book Do You Believe: 12 Historic Doctrines To Change Your Everyday Life (https://us.list-manage.com/sgFQruyfD9L?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89) and to read chapters 1-2 before the first class.
The class will be highly interactive and discussion based.
Men, put these dates in your calendar now and plan to join us for the Foundations class this fall and next spring.
FALL BIBLE STUDIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
This fall, the men and women of the church will have Bible study opportunities.
The men will be starting and extended study through the book of Genesis. Two class times each week – Tuesdays at lunch or Thursday evenings. Here’s the info. Or click here to register (https://us.list-manage.com/ioPMPJLd_Bd?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89).
Meanwhile, the women will be spending this fall going through the first eight chapters in the Gospel of John. The study will take place on Monday nights or Tuesday mornings. All the details can be found here (https://us.list-manage.com/5Q1ayjE4O4t?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89). Sign up now to be part of the study this fall.
REDEEMER FALL EVENTS CALENDAR
If you’d like to take a look at all we have planned for this fall at Redeemer, the Fall Calendar is ready to be downloaded (https://us.list-manage.com/HO969D386ry?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89). Or you can pick up a copy at church on Sunday.
ROMANS BIBLE STUDY WITH CURTIS THOMAS
Don’t forget. This fall, Curtis Thomas will be leading what he tells me will be his final class through the Book of Romans.
The study will be on Monday nights from 7:30 – 8:30 pm, beginning on September 14 and continuing for 20-24 sessions. Curtis is hosting this class in his home in West Little Rock.
You can reach out to Curtis with any questions you have or to register for the class. c-b.thomas@sbcglobal.net (mailto:c-b.thomas@sbcglobal.net). Or 501.680.8583.
READY FOR SUNDAY
Here is our preview (https://us.list-manage.com/BshGMRomlGR?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
What’s the right response of a child of God for all that He has done for us? We’ll begin to explore that subject as we resume our study of the Book of Ephesians this week. The Bible gives us a clear path to follow as we seek to live our lives in a way that reflects our gratitude for the new life God has given us in Christ.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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