Thank You for the Saints

In the vast majority of letters the Apostle Paul wrote, he penned a word of "thanks" for those he was writing to. He had a real sense of thankfulness for those he served and those he served alongside of in his ministry. Since he gave thanks for the saints in the many cities where he ministered we would certainly be wise to do the same.

In today's message, we looked at four reasons we can be thankful for the saints (by saints, I mean fellow brothers and sisters in Christ).

1. We are grateful for the COMMUNITY we enjoy as saints together.
 2. As saints, we have a very real CARE for one another.
3. We are blessed by the COMFORT we can give and receive in the body of Christ.
4. We need one another to be COMPLETE. We are many members, but one body. If one member is absent, part of the body is missing. When we are all together we are complete and can accomplish what God has for us to accomplish.

In the message, I mentioned "10 Love Challenges" that will help us to strengthen our care for one another. Pastor David Murray shared these challenges with his church and I am happy to share them with you.

Here is how he began an article about these challenges...

"All Christians want to bless the church, witness to the world, and grow in assurance of faith. But did you know that there’s one thing you can do that accomplishes all three of these aims at once?

Love other Christians.

Yes, loving other Christians produces the triple benefit of encouraging believers, evangelizing unbelievers (Jn. 13:35), and assuring ourselves that we are believers (1 Jn. 3:14, 19).

But how do we do this?" (Continue Reading)

I want to encourage you to seek to practice each of these challenges over the next 6 weeks. 

Think about the impact this will have if 60 individuals all seek to accomplish 10 love challenges. There will be 600 tangible acts of love, of caring for one another taking place right here in our church and in our community. What a difference our love can make.

I hope you will join me in seeking to put into practice what we have heard today.

I am Thankful for the Saints of Everett Springs,

Pastor Mike