Dear Friends,
If I’m honest, I have to confess to you that most days, I don’t wake up thinking “I hope I grow in holiness and godliness today.” Most days, I’m content if I just don’t blow it in some way, big time. If I resist temptation. Hold my tongue. Smile at the person checking me out at the grocery store.
In short, I’m not really looking to grow as much as I’m hoping I don’t slip up.
Which is not exactly what the Bible has in mind for me.
The call in scripture to live a “set apart” life (the root idea behind holiness) is a call for each of us to recognize that God has set us apart for Himself. He has an assignment for us. “We are his workmanship,” the Bible says, “created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). “You are not your own,” we’re told. “You have been bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Again, if I’m being honest, most of my days are set apart for me and my agenda. I’m happy to add in a few activities that might qualify as “the Lord’s work.” But I typically see my days as mine, not as His.
We tend to think of holiness as piety or morality – and to be sure, the idea of holiness involves both. But it’s bigger than that. It’s living a life where your agenda, your choices, your actions, your thoughts and your words are all governed by God’s agenda instead of your own.
Two weeks from now, I’ll be in Greece leading a tour group to site where the Apostle Paul planted churches and discipled men and women. I’ve been thinking a lot about how this Rabbi in training’s life was upended on the road to Damascus, to such an extent that he traded in what would have likely been a prestigious and prosperous position as a part of the Jewish ruling class to head west to parts unknown to tell people he didn’t know about God sending the Messiah, who died and rose to new life and who is coming again. God set Paul apart as a missionary to the Gentiles, and Paul embraced that assignment every day of his life, at great cost.
And Paul told the Corinthians “follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
On Sunday we saw the Bible’s instruction that we are to put off those activities and attitudes that are aligned with our old life. Instead of our lives being governed by our desires, passions and appetites, we are to keep in step with the Spirit and live lives consecrated to God to serve His purposes.
I was freshly convicted this week of this truth as I re-read a quote from JC Ryle about the condition of the church in his day, more than a hundred years ago. Ryle said “I have had a deep conviction for many years that practical holiness and entire self-consecration to God are not sufficiently attended to by modern Christians in this country. Politics, or controversy, or party-spirit, or worldliness, have eaten out the heart of lively piety in too many of us.”
I was stunned that Ryle noted how politics and controversy in his day had worn away people’s desire to live consecrated lives. He went on. “The subject of personal godliness has fallen sadly into the background. The standard of living has become painfully low in many quarters. The immense importance of ‘adorning the doctrine of God our Savior,’ and making it lovely and beautiful by our daily habits and tempers, has been far too much overlooked.”
You don’t have to spend much time online these days to see how often people who may be seeking to contend earnestly for the faith are ignoring the idea that the fruit of the Spirit is supposed to be evident in all we do. Fighting for truth is only pleasing to God when the love of Christ is on full display in us. We may speak eloquently and forcefully, but if we have not love, what are we? A noisy gong. A clanging cymbal. As Phillip Ryken has said “no one will hear the gospel from the life of a loveless Christian. People just hear ‘bong, bong, bong, clang, clang, clang.”
Ryle continues.
“Sound Protestant and Evangelical doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless: it does positive harm. It is despised by keen-sighted and shrewd men of the world, as an unreal and hollow thing, and brings religion into contempt.
“Why care about being holy? Why be willing to say no to your flesh and yes to God, day in and day out?
“Because the world desperately needs to see what God is like.
“Because it is your created purpose and your ultimate destiny to be holy.
“Because of the price Jesus paid to make you holy.
“Because you are a saint.
“Because holy people get to see and know God.
“Because you’re getting ready to move to a place where there is no sin.
“And because your example may inspire someone who is watching you to choose or reject the pathway of holiness.”
So here’s my plan tomorrow. To begin my day saying again “take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.” “All to Jesus, I surrender. All to Him I freely give.”
And Lord willing, that’s the plan for the next day as well. And the day after that, all the way into eternity.
Here’s hoping I will grow in holiness in the days ahead. And not just be content to coast spiritually.
WELCOME TITUS WOLFENBARGER!
Congrats to Autumn and Wes Wolfenbarger on the arrival Sunday night of their new son, Titus!
If you’d like to provide a meal for the Wolfenbarger family over the next few weeks, click here (https://us.list-manage.com/gW4xePVvcnQ?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89) to add your name to the meal train.
MOTHERHOOD AND MORE
Last week I shared with you about the opportunity for young moms in our church to meet up with other moms for a morning of conversation and relaxation while your kids enjoy a play date.
Take a minute to note the adjusted schedule.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Zoe or Elizabeth for details.
MEN'S FOUNDATIONS COURSE
Tomorrow night, you’re invited to join men in our church for the second Foundations And Why They Matter class. We’ll be exploring the Doctrine of God. For those who have Paul Tripp’s book Do You Believe, plan to read chapters 3-4 ahead of time. But whether you have the book or not, you’re welcome to come and take part in the discussion.
TRUNK OR TREAT
The annual Trunk or Treat event is set for a week from this Friday, October 30. Which means this Sunday is your last chance to donate bags of candy we can give away at the event.
Here again are all the details.
Don’t forget to Pray! Pray for a fun and safe event as we seek to connect with neighbors and share the gospel that evening.
For more information about the Trunk or Treat, contact Jen Gurney
RENT A YOUTH WEEKEND
The Rent A Youth weekend is fast approaching!
This is a weekend where we deploy teams of students to Church members homes for service projects – leaf raking, other yard work, car washing, heavy lifting – anything you can think of around your house or yard where you think “I wish I had a few teenagers to come help me with this…”
There are a couple of objectives here. First, we help our students practice serving members of our body. And second, church members get a chance to get to know these students better.
Here's how it works. You click here (https://us.list-manage.com/18ZVdchONxn?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89), get more info, and sign up to reserve a slot for that weekend. If the kids are coming in the morning, you might have some doughnuts or cinnamon rolls for them. After lunch, have a snack ready. Or maybe a meal. You can work that out with Cole.
Slots are limited. So pick a time slot. Think about a project they could do. And enjoy some time getting to know our students better as they serve you.
NXT GEN EVENTS
NxtGeners will be meeting up again soon.
Also – between Christmas and New Year’s, we are planning to take a group of 18-25 year olds to St. Louis for Crosscon 27, where John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Ryan Fullerton, David Platt and others will be speaking. Details are here (https://us.list-manage.com/115a_sEGpdC?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89). If you’re interested in going, contact Pastor Matt and he can answer any questions you have and get you signed up.
FALL WOMEN'S RETREAT
The fall Women’s Retreat happens next month. More than half the available beds are spoken for already. Dana James will join us again as the featured speaker. And there is no better way to make new friends and enjoy a relaxing weekend away than to be part of this special annual event. Registration is now open, and the event will almost certainly be completely filled. Find out more or register here (https://us.list-manage.com/I7zvh8tFc6A?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89).
READY FOR SUNDAY
Here is the preview (https://us.list-manage.com/_93i1k1T0N4?e=fbb0a4052b&c2id=0759b7131ae0096a8daaedb620a7ee89) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
And here is this week’s catechism question and answer:
Question 42 What Is Prayer?
Answer: Prayer is communion with God in the name of the Son with the help of the Spirit. Prayer is a pursuit not of “mindfulness” but the mind of Jesus, through praise, confession, and petition. Its aim is not self-expression, but spiritual formation.
As we saw last week, the Bible tells us our lives should look different from the lives of others around us. Because we have a new identity in Christ, we should be putting off what no longer fits who we are and putting on the godly character that aligns with our new identity. And as we’ll see on Sunday, that means we are to be people who tell the truth and whose word can be trusted.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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