Dear Friends,
If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you know that eventually someone will ask you to give your testimony.
Testimonies are like fingerprints. No two are ever the same.
Some of us were introduced to Jesus early. We grew up in Christian homes where we were sheltered, taught, and loved. The moment we heard the gospel, we felt our hearts leap with joy, and we never looked back. Others, not so much. When we eventually heard the gospel, we fought against it. We spent years running from God, and have the scars to prove it.
If you had a simpler path to Christ, it can sometimes be easy to suffer from a form of “Testimony-Envy.” Part of us wishes that our stories sounded a little cooler, with just a little more flair.
Even those who had dramatic life-changing encounters with God can feel pressured to embellish the story a little. It’s almost as if we believe we need to pack all of God’s sanctifying power into one dramatic moment of conversion. We know God can free a person from any sin, addiction, or negative personality trait when they first become a Christian, but what about later? What if the person hasn’t changed much since their initial conversion 20 years ago? Are they out of luck? Does God’s power to change a heart have an expiration date?
We may not say that out loud, but we often live like we think it does. When we see a persistent sin pattern in a fellow believer’s life, we say things like:“They’ll never change.”
“He’ll always have a temper.”
“She’ll always have to get her way.”
The truth is, God’s sanctifying work doesn’t stop at the moment of conversion. He continues to work in the heart of the believer. 2 Corinthians 3:18 puts it this way: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Cor 3:18
Our testimony tells of the moment we stepped into the first degree of glory. Regardless of what that first step looked like, that is not where the story ends. As we continue, each day, to pick up our cross and follow Him, we are transformed into His image “from one degree of glory to another.”
Sometimes a 1-degree change isn’t easy for us to notice. Those old sin patterns often linger for much longer than we’d like. Even the Apostle Paul lamented, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15
It would be nice if God would snap his fingers and eliminate every sin from our lives instantly, but He doesn’t work that way – at least not while we’re on this earth.
While we’re here, the progress is slower. Sometimes it bursts forward in a great leap. Sometimes there are long stretches of stagnation. And sometimes, we even take a few steps backwards. But God is still at work.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
This is good news. It means you can have victory over the sin that’s bugged you your whole life. It also means there is hope for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether it's your mom, dad, husband, wife, brother, sister, child, or friend, if they’re in Christ, they are being transformed from one degree of glory into another. Not by their power, but by God’s power.
“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
The problem is, we often only see what we expect to see. God is actively working to create a new man, but our vision is clouded by past offenses. We look for the old, and refuse to see the new. As soon as we detect a remnant of the old sin pattern, we declare, “I knew he would never change!”
When we say things like that, we think we’re bringing a charge against the other person, but we’re actually revealing something about ourselves – our unforgiveness. We’re also unwittingly bringing a charge against God. We’re basically saying, “He may be all-powerful in other areas, but He’s powerless in this one.”
Maybe part of the answer is to change the way we tell our testimonies to each other.
It’s good and right to tell people about that amazing first step in your walk with Christ, but let’s not forget to include the steps we've taken since then. God is still at work.
How is He working in your heart today?
Let someone else know.
Other ways you can help make this event a success are providing games, providing a car/trunk to use, or manning a trunk/game.
Reach out to J (mailto:jengiles1@yahoo.com?subject=Trunk%20or%20Treat)en Gurney (mailto:jengiles1@yahoo.com?subject=Trunk%20or%20Treat) if interested.
(https://us.list-manage.com/vIzZ6yehEyQ?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf)
This is a weekend where we deploy teams of students to homes across our city 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, you get a chance to get to know these students better.
Here's how it works. You click here (https://us.list-manage.com/8VDnCQen_BO?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf), 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.
The next NxtGen gathering for young adults is just a few weeks away. Plan to join with others at the Gurney’s for a fun evening together.
And there’s a Hang Out happening for our Roots students soon. Make sure you have the date locked in for your student.
(https://us.list-manage.com/fe9d3PoW8fH?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf)
It's not too early to start thinking about the fall Women’s Retreat. Space is limited for this two night getaway. 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/dcR6K7Ju1L5?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
Next month, the Equipping Collective (formerly Downline) is hosting Dr. Brad Wilcox from the University of Virginia for an evening focusing on The State of The American Family. The event is free, but tickets are required. You can register for tickets here (https://us.list-manage.com/thYQ9vi6AEY?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
In addition, the Equipping Collective is holding a four week Equipping Lab to help moms and dads understand how to Create A Family Vision. There is a registration fee for the Equip Lab. You can learn more and register by clicking here (https://us.list-manage.com/vlAfiaKQSGP?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
READY FOR SUNDAY
Here is the preview (https://us.list-manage.com/Pplof4Emuyf?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) (https://us.list-manage.com/YVy4pj1cF3k?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf)of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
And here is this week’s catechism question and answer:
Question 39: What Is Baptism?
Answer: .Baptism is the public sign of our salvation —an identity marker that reveals we are not our own but belong to the people of God. Baptism signifies our purification from sin and our participation in Jesus’s death and resurrection.
This week, fresh off of his visit to Scotland, Pastor Cole will explore some of the ways that God has equipped his people to build up the Body.
See you soon.
Carlos
Resource Info
