Sacrifices & Commitments for the Lost

I’m still hearing amazing stories about the sacrifices and the way God has been working in our congregation as we’ve been trusting Him with our treasure. Let me say it again, I’m very proud to be a part of this place. Pledge cards are coming in every day. If you haven’t done yours yet, let me say this. We still need you. Our commitments are coming in well, but we still need everyone on board for this. You may think your “widow’s mite” is not important, but that is not true. We need everyone. (Download a Great Investment Commitment Card.)

This is “First Fruits” weekend and we’re asking everyone to do everything they can towards their commitment UP FRONT, so that we can get cranking on these projects. We have a tight time schedule to be ready with Lockport for the fall, and parking for Mother’s day, and children’s space for fall, and buying the land ASAP, etc.

These two weekends are why we do this. Palm Sunday and Easter and all of the Passion Week. We have an awesome service planned for both weekends – as usual. But I was reading in John this week and this scripture struck me as the sad reality of the area we live in.

John 5:37-40 “You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

Jesus is talking about the Pharisees of course. But I think it applies to everyone who has heard the scriptures and still doesn’t “come to him to have life.” What a sad statement!

Maybe your friends and family haven’t “diligently studied the scriptures,” but they have heard them. Most of the people in our area grew up with some form of religious upbringing. And it has served to do nothing but inoculate them from having a true life in the Son of God. Earlier in this chapter Jesus says,

John 5:24-25 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”

They aren’t listening.

Please – invite them to come and join us either or both of these weekends. Please get your E-Reservations so we can know when to close the popular services and push people in the right direction. But whatever you do – invite them to come… and listen to the voice of the Son of God. They think that because they’ve heard the scriptures and because they think their good outweighs the bad, that they have life. But without a relationship – they are just words.

Hears AND BELIEVES.

Bribe them, twist their arm, do whatever you have to do.

Luke 14:23 “Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.”

It’s why we are making room for more. It’s why we are sacrificing. We know the fields are white for the harvest, get out there and do some harvesting. We have room! This is what we were made for.

Tim

Comments

[Heather]

3.16.08
God is Good, God is Great...
God is Merciful, God is Grace...
God is Faith for those who Believe...

Jesus SAVES ... So we can spend Eternity in Perfect Peace
with our Heavenly Father.

I know my Exit strategy ... John 3:16 What's Your's ???

[Debbie H.]

John 3:16 - My Exit Strategy also.

[Brian Jones]

Tim,

It's been inspiring to watch your church's journey regarding this campaign from a distance. Keep up the great work. Press on.

Brian Jones

[ANGELColeman]

Have no money to buy a car? Do not worry, because this is achievable to get the loan to resolve such problems. Thus get a commercial loan to buy everything you want.

[Corbin]

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