Pastor's Thoughts: August
Back to School!
August is here, and that means it’s time for back to school. For kids, this marks the end of summer—and they’re not ready. For parents, it means the kids are heading back to school—and we are ready.
It’s been a great summer at New Hope. We’ve had many ministry opportunities, including VBS, Preteen Camp, and a mission trip to Buda, TX. Alongside vacations and other travels, it’s been a full and busy season for our church. While ministry certainly continues, the fall typically brings a slower pace. I hope that we can all take a moment in this new season to slow down and catch our breath.
It’s been a great summer at New Hope. We’ve had many ministry opportunities, including VBS, Preteen Camp, and a mission trip to Buda, TX. Alongside vacations and other travels, it’s been a full and busy season for our church. While ministry certainly continues, the fall typically brings a slower pace. I hope that we can all take a moment in this new season to slow down and catch our breath.
Building a Healthy Church Culture
We’ve recently begun a new sermon series focused on what it means to be a healthy church. This series is organized into four main categories.
The first category is what a healthy church believes. We’ve already covered the three sermons in this category: expositional preaching, biblical theology, and the gospel.
The second category is who makes up the church. In this section, we’ll explore topics such as true conversion, believer’s baptism, church membership, the Lord’s Supper, and church discipline.
The third category is what a healthy church does. A healthy church worships God, lives on mission, evangelizes the lost, and engages in discipleship.
The final category is who leads the church. We’ll examine the congregation as the final earthly authority, elders who lead the church to obey God’s Word, and deacons who are called to serve the church. We’ll conclude the series with a message on what a model church looks like in Scripture.
Each sermon is meant to highlight a different aspect of church health, helping New Hope grow in our understanding and practice. The aim of this series is to help shape the culture of our church.
Since my arrival in May of 2022, God has placed on my heart a strong conviction to lead New Hope to be a healthy church. My primary responsibility in obeying God is to lead our church to obey His Word in all that we do. As we build a healthy church culture, New Hope will develop sound doctrine, grow faithful members, engage in meaningful ministries, and build strong structures.
Ultimately, my desire is to lead New Hope to become a healthy church that worships God, grows disciples, and shares the good news with the world. However, we must remember that this is something only God can truly accomplish.
So, New Hope, I ask you to join me in prayer. Let’s ask God to make us a healthy church, to use us for His kingdom, and to glorify His great name.
The first category is what a healthy church believes. We’ve already covered the three sermons in this category: expositional preaching, biblical theology, and the gospel.
The second category is who makes up the church. In this section, we’ll explore topics such as true conversion, believer’s baptism, church membership, the Lord’s Supper, and church discipline.
The third category is what a healthy church does. A healthy church worships God, lives on mission, evangelizes the lost, and engages in discipleship.
The final category is who leads the church. We’ll examine the congregation as the final earthly authority, elders who lead the church to obey God’s Word, and deacons who are called to serve the church. We’ll conclude the series with a message on what a model church looks like in Scripture.
Each sermon is meant to highlight a different aspect of church health, helping New Hope grow in our understanding and practice. The aim of this series is to help shape the culture of our church.
Since my arrival in May of 2022, God has placed on my heart a strong conviction to lead New Hope to be a healthy church. My primary responsibility in obeying God is to lead our church to obey His Word in all that we do. As we build a healthy church culture, New Hope will develop sound doctrine, grow faithful members, engage in meaningful ministries, and build strong structures.
Ultimately, my desire is to lead New Hope to become a healthy church that worships God, grows disciples, and shares the good news with the world. However, we must remember that this is something only God can truly accomplish.
So, New Hope, I ask you to join me in prayer. Let’s ask God to make us a healthy church, to use us for His kingdom, and to glorify His great name.
Pastoral Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are great and mighty! We praise Your glorious name!
Thank You, Lord, for calling us to be Your people. Thank You for Your wonderful gift of salvation. Thank You for giving us a church family here at New Hope.
We ask You to bless our church so that we might grow spiritually and become a healthy church that accomplishes Your will. God, move in New Hope in such a way that we all see the future You have for us.
Father, we look forward to seeing You continue to work powerfully in and through our church. May Your will be done in all these things.
In Christ,
Pastor Ben
You are great and mighty! We praise Your glorious name!
Thank You, Lord, for calling us to be Your people. Thank You for Your wonderful gift of salvation. Thank You for giving us a church family here at New Hope.
We ask You to bless our church so that we might grow spiritually and become a healthy church that accomplishes Your will. God, move in New Hope in such a way that we all see the future You have for us.
Father, we look forward to seeing You continue to work powerfully in and through our church. May Your will be done in all these things.
In Christ,
Pastor Ben
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