Good Thursday Evening to You All!
I have been so pleased with the way our “Fight of Your Life” Series has been going so far and I pray that you feel the same.
This Sunday we’re going to be learning about the “Shoes of Peace” as the next piece of the Armor of God that we all need to wear.
This idea of living in PEACE is so important in all of our lives but, often times, seems to be either unrealistic and unattainable.
This is why the Apostle Paul tells us to intentionally and purposefully put the shoes of peace on our feet; the peace that comes from the Good News.
So now you know, in advance, where we’re headed this Sunday. Please come on this journey with us and I am sure that you’ll be glad that you did!
Good Night, for now.
I have to go find my shoes…
Craig
On Wednesday of this week, Pastor Craig led a group discussion on spiritual gifts. The central idea of the discussion was that we are all gifted. Our giftedness, elaborated Craig, exists to benefit the body of Christ. Our gifts are offered to others in ministry.
All followers of Jesus are called to ministry. This is the whole idea of the Christian church: it is the body of Christ. You and I are members of this body and we possess our unique giftedness. Jesus’ ministry on this earth included gathering a community of faith to empower them for service on this earth. Jesus said that he would empower his followers to do as he did (John 14:12-14).
Ministry is not something you do, even though it requires you to do a lot. Ministry is something that you offer. When you are in fellowship with God, and you are available for service to others, you can’t help but to minister.
Ministry isn’t something we do alone, but it’s something that’s offered in community. It is experienced in community. If the opposite where true, then our giftedness would become our own destruction. Richard Rohr writes the following: “We are destroyed by our gifts because we identify too closely with what we can do well . . . We cling too much to what comes our way naturally. We enjoy them and take credit for them whenever possible. We all ‘do our own thing’ whether we admit it or not.”1
Individualism robs us of the mutual vulnerability we experience in ministry. Individualism says, “I can do this all on my own. Look at the success I am having.” My experience in ministry has been that I need my brothers and sisters to pray with me, to encourage me, and to challenge me to remain faithful in action and intention.
*Craig concluded our discussion by having us take a spiritual gifts assessment. If you wish to take the assessment, please follow this link: https://www.sdrock.com/files/docs/spiritual-gifts-test/spiritual_gifts_test.pdf
Edgar
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Richard Rohr, Andreas Ebert, and Peter Heinegg, The Enneagram: a Christian Perspective (New York: Crossroad Publishing, 2001), 25-26.
Please be sure to join us here every Wednesday Night at 6:30 as we have something for every member of your family. We are “training up” our little ones, our Elementary Age Students with Girls Ministry and Royal Rangers, Our Middle and High Schoolers with Light Student Ministries and our Adults as well. We have just started two new Adult Bible Studies: L.I.F.T. for our Ladies and BAND OF BROTHERS for our Men. Be sure to join us each week!
If you are free during weekly mornings, please consider being a part of our Tuesday and Friday Morning Prayer Meetings every week starting at 9:00. You will be glad that you did!
Our Girls ministry is about intentional outreach and Christian discipleship for girls. We want to see every girl moving toward a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. We seek to empower girls to realize their importance and potential in the kingdom of God. We seek a future where girls and leaders — through mentoring and discipleship — form lasting, life-changing friendships.
The Royal Rangers program is an activity-based, small group church ministry for boys in grades K-6th. Royal Rangers is a mentoring program for future men. We provide Christlike character formation and servant leadership development for boys and young men in a highly relational and fun environment. Our mission is to evangelize, equip, and empower the next generation of Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders.
The vision of our Youth ministry is to see generations of young people come to a relationship with Jesus Christ, be transformed by the gospel, live for God’s glory, and share the good news with the people around them.
Our L.I.F.T ministry exists to encourage women to grow spiritually through the Word of God, prayer and fellowship. We empower women to use the gifts and talents God has given them for His purpose. We look for unique ways to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the community around us and beyond.
Breakfasts, Dinners, Retreats and Weekly Meetings are all a part of our “Band of Brothers” Ministry to Men. Come and be a part of what God is doing with and through our SCC Men!
