Preparing for a Great Celebration
The Rev. Baden Rowe, pastor in his thirteenth year at Kossuth Street Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN has experienced the joy of prayers answered and burdens lifted for the south area of Lafayette…Pastor Rowe met with a group at Kossuth Street in November, 1963 for the purpose of starting a new church. The group requested Rev. Roland Reed, missionary pastor of the First Baptist Church of Francesville, to work with the group and the committee toward the establishment of this new work. He consented and conducted weekly Bible study and prayer sessions with the group…Regular Sunday morning and evening services were commenced in the Farm Credit Building on April 5th, 1964…(Lifeline, 1964)
Pastor: To the purpose of maintaining worship in accordance with our belief in a verbally inspired and hence, infallible Bible
Congregation: We dedicate this church
Pastor: To the preaching of the gospel, which is the good news of the substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
Congregation: We dedicate this church
Pastor: To the proclamation of this same gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth
Congregation: We dedicate this church
Pastor: To the teaching of young men and women to dedicate themselves to the ministry of the gospel in whatever way the Lord may lead
Congregation: We dedicate this church
Titus 1:12 - One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
Titus 1:13 - This testimony is true…
Titus 1:5 - For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you…
3 reasons we’re thankful for the Northend Community Center
I. Loving and Serving Others is a Lifestyle that has to be Learned
Titus 3:14 - Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds…
A. Why?
Titus 3:3 - For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
B. How?
Titus 3:4-7 - But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1. Not by our deeds
2. Only by God’s kindness and mercy
3. When we repented and believed, His Holy Spirit washed us, regenerated us, renewed us, and justified us
C. In so doing, we are choosing to become more like Christ
Philippians 2:3-5 - Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…
1 Peter 4:10 - As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God…
II. Our Good Deeds Should Have a Two-Pronged Approach
Titus 3:14 - Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful…
A. Personal holiness
1. In the lives of the leaders – 1:5-9
Titus 1:16 - They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
2. In the lives of those who are older – 2:1-3
Titus 2:2 - Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
Titus 2:3 - Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
3. In the lives of those who are younger – 2:4-8
Titus 2:4-6 - …encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Titus 2:6-7 - Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified…
4. In the way we function at work – 2:9-10
Titus 2:9-10 - Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
5. In the way we relate to our government – 3:1-2
Titus 3:1-2 - Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
B. Meeting pressing needs
Titus 3:14 - Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
III. Living this Way is Often Incredibly Fruitful
A. The joy of knowing we are accomplishing the purpose of our salvation
Titus 2:13-15 - …looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
B. With blessings we could hardly have imagined
Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
- this is truly a historic day at Faith as we prepare for the groundbreaking this afternoon of the Northend Community Center
- there is a sense in which what the Lord is allowing us to accomplish together is a natural and important culmination of the philosophy of ministry this church has been walking out for 53 years…
- it’s interesting when you go back to those days and consider our early history…
- The Rev. Baden Rowe, pastor in his thirteenth year at Kossuth Street Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN has experienced the joy of prayers answered and burdens lifted for the south area of Lafayette…Pastor Rowe met with a group at Kossuth Street in November, 1963 for the purpose of starting a new church. The group requested Rev. Roland Reed, missionary pastor of the First Baptist Church of Francesville, to work with the group and the committee toward the establishment of this new work. He consented and conducted weekly Bible study and prayer sessions with the group…Regular Sunday morning and evening services were commenced in the Farm Credit Building on April 5th, 1964…(Lifeline, 1964)
- [publication of First Baptist in Francesville…]
- I’d glad the beginning wasn’t some fight or split – but it was the concern of a dear pastor and church family to take the gospel to what was at that time a new part of our town…
- on the day their first permanent church building on south 18th Street was dedicated…[January 8, 1967]…
Pastor: To the purpose of maintaining worship in accordance with our belief in a verbally inspired and hence, infallible Bible
Congregation: We dedicate this church
Pastor: To the preaching of the gospel, which is the good news of the substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
Congregation: We dedicate this church
Pastor: To the proclamation of this same gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth
Congregation: We dedicate this church
Pastor: To the teaching of young men and women to dedicate themselves to the ministry of the gospel in whatever way the Lord may lead
Congregation: We dedicate this church
- what a great heritage we enjoy together…we like to think about the accomplishment of the great commission as covering 4 phases…and that illustrates the first one…
- [the 4 phases diagram]…
- after the coming of the gospel ..that is often followed by teaching sound doctrine…and this church was committed to that…not perfectly – some of our oldest members could tell some interesting stories…but there is a lot to be thankful for, and excited about…
- what Pastor Goode and Doc Smith and all those laypersons who were part of that church worked out beginning in the latter 1970’s was this third phase…
- making doctrine practical to everyday life…soul care…progressive sanctification…values that we hold dear to this day…
- they even made that available to the community….which was at least beginning to move us into this fourth phase – reaching our community…
- and this is all very much sequential…on the platform of a changed and changing life – we want to tell others about the good news of a Savior who redeems, and restores, and who changes life in real, practical, and powerful ways…
- over the last 30 years, we’ve been trying to strengthen the first three phases on put the fourth one on steroids…
- so as an example, we’ve just finished our 30th consecutive VBS – and by God’s grace and thanks to a marvelous set of volunteers – it was our best one ever…
- we layered on things like the Passion Play and Lafayette Living Nativity…and all sorts of other attempts to both strengthen the core through phases 1-3 and reach others through community based outreach ministry in phase 4…
- A pivotal decision was made 12 years ago…[explain – new auditorium, etc…]
- that took us in an entirely new ministry direction…
- so we built FE CC – and that gave us an entirely different platform by which to begin relationships with our neighbors…
- then we were given the VOH gift…
- the gift of Bethany Farms…
- then it came time to develop a campus over in WL about 5 years ago – at the time we thought for just a small building for a biblical counseling center and a site for our Purdue Bible Fellowship…
- well, the Lord had other plans – but by then we had a community based approach to developing property that was proven and effective…and Faith West was born…another platform for which to love and serve our neighbors in that part of town…
- then we were given the 90 acres contiguous to FE…
- funding was provided by SIA to build Safe Haven, a place for victims of fire, flood, and domestic violence…
- then we had the privilege of building the Senior Living Community…
- each of these were just logical outworkings of our philosophy of ministry…and incredible and often unexpected blessings from our Lord…
- we also had the privilege of starting a seminary – on a totally different educational and finance model…where the students learned Greek, Hebrew, systematic theology…but in a practical ministry training environment where they also learned how to counsel and do community based outreach ministry…
- then another seminal event occurred 3 years ago when the Mayor of Lafayette asked Faith to launch a CDC…[develop – help us in the inner city, a place with a rich heritage and some great people, businesses, and organizations…but also admittedly some challenges…]
- …so we’ve had a blast renovating houses and making them available for permanent homeowners…
- then of course there was the gift of the hot mess that was the Kooler Keg Bar…
- …now a marvelous neighborhood center right in the middle of the north end…along with some unexpected private funding that has helped us accomplish our work much faster…
- - Today we’re on the cusp of the next step in that journey…constructing the Northend Community Center…the way this project came together, and the reasons for which is came together, and the speed at which it came together…are now becoming a very important part of our history…
- and I hope you’ll plan to join us this afternoon for our groundbreaking at 4:00 down at 2000 Elmwood Avenue…
- but before we head down there this afternoon – it’s important for our church family to understand biblically exactly why we’re doing this…
- I’m also going to be recommending several items for which you and I can pray and thank the Lord for and commit ourselves to both this morning…and even as we walk around the site this afternoon…
- I guess you could say it like this – there’s a stewardship opportunity here…
- I really believe the Lord wants to do something in each one of our lives…and my goal is to help us embrace all the lessons and all the opportunities this great day affords…
- with that in mind, please open your Bible to Titus chapter 3…page 167 in the back section of the Bible under the chair in front of you…
- we’re talking this morning about Preparing for a Great Celebration…
- and the book of Titus is a good place to go for a couple of reasons…
- this was a very difficult place in which to minister…Paul had left him on the Isle of Crete…
- and the internal evidence in the book itself gives a hint about how hard that was…it’s one of those passages that makes you laugh and makes you cry simultaneously…
- Titus 1:12 - One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
- then Paul says - Titus 1:13 - This testimony is true…
- so there’s no question that Titus has his work cut out for him in that culture, just like we do in ours…
- but what’s also helpful for us is that the reason this book is written is to help Titus in his assignment of…Titus 1:5 - For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you…
- so yes, you’re in a challenging culture…but here’s what the church should be like…
- the information contained here is solid gold for people like you and me…
- one other benefit is – it’ a very short book…
- in fact, if I was king – here’s the way today would go…you’d listen carefully to the message this am…then you’d go home or to a restaurant and have a great lunch…
- then – before heading down to the groundbreaking – you’d read this book from beginning to end…it would probably take 15-20 minutes…
- now if I was really the king – we’d all read this book every week during the entire construction period of this new campus…because it can help us understand why we’re doing what we’re doing…and the specific implications for each one of us…
- for our purposes this am – let’s read chapter 3 – read Titus 3:1-15
- so this am we’re Preparing for a Great Celebration…
- with the time we have remaining – let’s think about 3 reasons we’re thankful for the Northend Community Center
- although we’re going to be all over this book this am and several other places in God’s Word, we’re especially focusing on the argument of verse 14…[repeat proposition]…
I. Loving and Serving Others is a Lifestyle that has to be Learned.
- Titus 3:14 - Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds…
- what does that tell you?...
- you and I didn’t come out of the womb with this approach to life…loving and serving others is not standard equipment…
A. Why?
- Titus 3:3 - For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
- now we all have different stories…but many people in our church family came here during a time of crisis…they were suffering in some way, or they were sinning in some way – and they were dealing with the pain and heartache that comes as a result…
- that is a very healthy way for a church to be built…and it sets us up to do community ministry well…
- because we’re not strutting around with our noses in the air as if we’re better than someone else…
- we don’t carry ourselves that way on the east side, we haven’t carried ourselves that way on the west side…and we don’t intend to carry ourselves that way in the northend…
- [repeat verse…]
- so how did that change?
B. How?
- Titus 3:4–7 - But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1. not by our deeds
- we are not claiming any righteousness or merit of our own
- which means the ground is very level at the cross…
2. only by God’s kindness and mercy
- we recognize that we couldn’t earn our way to heaven…
- we cast ourselves on the mercy of the court and we begged for grace
3. When we repented and believed, His Holy Spirit washed us, regenerated us, renewed us, and justified us
- we could take hours and unpack more of the meaning and power of those phrases…
- but that’s the only way you and I could learn the lifestyle articulated in this passage…
- and I’m not saying that unbelieving people can’t do good works – that’s not true…but without faith, it’s impossible to please Him
- now, if you’ve never trusted Christ as Savior and Lord, let me just pause and say – that is a decision that you first need to make before joining us on this journey…
- let’s not romanticize what we’re undertaking here…this is going to require the supernatural power of God [learning to live this way]…you have to first be washed in the blood of the lamb…
- which takes us all the way back to the declaration our church family made 53 years ago – about the centrality of the proclamation of the gospel…
- and even as we move into trying to meet pressing needs in our community on an entirely different level – that will never be instead of the gospel, but as a means of presenting the gospel…
- now, we should also say this…
C. In so doing, we are choosing to become more like Christ
- Philippians 2:3–5 - Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
- what Paul is telling Titus must be the focus of the church in this Cretan culture isn’t just some random ministry strategy – it’s a core path to achieving the goal of becoming more and more like Christ
- so what that means is – yes, loving and serving others is a lifestyle that has to be learned – but as we do that -- we are becoming more and more like Christ…
- now let’s just pause for a minute and let me ask you to lock on to verse 14 of chapter 3 and then ask this – how well do you think you’re doing at that?...how well have you learned that?...
- do you realize that hypothetically, a person could have been a Christian for many, many years but has never really learned much about how to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs…
- that’s one of the exciting things about the way all of this is lining up…
- we’ll essentially have 5 ministry campuses, each with its own purpose and focus…
- so by God’s grace, we have FE and all the suburban and community ministries that take place at that campus
- and FW – and all the college and community ministries that take place there
- then Bethany Farms and everything happening there including our new men’s ministry
- and the Hartford Hub – and the joy of serving with the residents in the Lower Lincoln neighborhood…
- Lord willing, in about a year from now or so…this new community center and local church campus…
- and see – here’s the point -- God gives each of us all different skills, backgrounds, passions – remember Peter said it like this -- 1 Peter 4:10 - As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God…
- please think about all the diverse ministry platforms we’ll have in which to exercise those gifts and abilities…
- I hope we’re thankful for that…
- that is a very unique blessing from the Lord…I would encourage all of us this afternoon as we walk around this property…to spend time thanking the Lord today for the breadth of opportunities we have to “learn” what is being commanded here…
- [speaking of “commanded” – lest anyone say – I’m not sure I’m going to do this…what’s a very important word in this short verse…”must”…what does that mean?...must…]
- a second key emphasis of this book is that…
II. Our Good Deeds Should Have a Two Pronged Approach
- the verse we’re quoting occurs right at the end of the book…which means [of course]…there’s an entire context that Paul assumes is in the heart of Titus and every other reader…
- in other words, the statement - Titus 3:14 - Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful….was not given in a vacuum…
- and understanding the centrality and efficacy of these two punches is crucial to finding your place is what the Lord may be planning to do here in the coming days…
- the question logically is – what good deeds?...
A. Personal holiness
- spiritual growth…progressive sanctification...you find that thread through this entire book…let me just point out a few highlights for sake of time…
1. In the lives of the leaders – 1:5-9
- the qualifications for leaders in the church are significant…
- and they should be…
- so we always want to maintain an emphasis within the church family, especially at the leadership level – that we all have to be growing…
- all of this is contrasted to the false teachers on the Isle of Crete… Titus 1:16 - They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
2. In the lives of those who are older – 2:1-3
- Titus 2:2 - Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
- Titus 2:3 - Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
3. In the lives of those who are younger – 2:4-8
- Titus 2:4–6 - …encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
- Titus 2:6–7 - Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,
- now please think about what is setting up in the north end – a lot of it is going to involve mentoring…building friendships and offering to come alongside others so we can grow together…
- what excites me is that I am already having older men and women coming to me saying – you know, I’m starting to see some bandwidth in my schedule, but God’s taught me a few things over the years I’d be happy to share…how do we do that?...the focus they’ve placed on personal holiness all these years is about to pay great dividends…
- the text goes on to emphasize this in all sorts of ways…
4. In the way we function at work – 2:9-10
- Titus 2:9–10 - Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
- many of the employers in town are struggling to find qualified workers…when at the same time there are some in the north end struggling with some sort of life challenge or addiction which is their barrier to securing meaningful employment…
- if you’ve allowed the Lord to teach you important skills and habits for being a good employer – and you would be willing to pass that along to someone else – think about the power of the platform of your personal holiness…
- and if you’re struggling in this area of your life – this is another strong reason to get with it – because of how that could be eventually used in the life of someone else…
5. In the way we relate to our government – 3:1-2
- Titus 3:1–2 - Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
- if every person in our country who claims to be a Christian obeyed this verse – a dramatic percentage of the social needs in our community would evaporate overnight…
- one of the least holy areas of the evangelical church is the way people function politically…
- so here’s one of the prayers I would encourage all of us to make as we walk around the property today…Lord, please help us to be growing in personal holiness so that I can be in the best position to be used by you…
- now, please go back logically to the four phases diagram we mentioned at the beginning…
- which phase am I discussing right now?...[phase 3] – that’s why soul care will even have a stronger emphasis in the days ahead…but not as an end in itself…[could develop Robert Lewis’ point in The Church of Irresistible Influence]
- but what’s the second prong?...
B. Meeting pressing needs
- Titus 3:14 - Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
- now please think very carefully about that from a local church strategy perspective…because I wonder if this is a step that’s not often missed…
- churches think that – if we know the Lord, and know the Bible, that’s enough…
- that’s not true…you also have to know what?...you have to know your community…you have to know what the pressing needs are…
- that’s why I want to thank, and encourage you to thank, or core planning team – Lori Walters, Adam Murphy, Josh Greiner, and Stephen Toyra…
- they have been on a two year listening tour – talking to non-profit leaders, talking to northend residents, spending lots and lots of time with people in that part of town…
- and here’s what we’ve found…the northend has a great heritage – some marvelous neighborhoods and businesses…some great people and corporations…
- but there are also some challenges…there are concentrations of social concerns in that part of town…
- and two concepts really rose to the top…
1. There are quite a few programs geared to children…but what is especially needed is a place for engagement with area teens, young adults, families in crisis, senior citizens, and veterans…
2. And we also learned that while there are several established non-profits already working there, many of them were hoping to relocate to facilities that would help them accomplish their mission better, but having trouble making that happen…
- those are the pressing needs we’re seeking to address…
- now please have one eye on Titus 3:14 – and the other eye on the project brochure in your bulletin this am…and let’s walk through the building…but with the purpose of you and me doing two things…
- thanking the Lord for all these new platforms…
- but also asking – Lord, is that where you want me to “engage”…
- one other idea before we do that…one unexpected step in this progression was Literato at Faith West…
- you say – what does that have to do with it?...when we were meeting with the neighbors at FW – at one point in the conversation they said…we’d really like it if you had a neighborhood restaurant…and we said – we don’t know how to do that – let’s find a partner…
- so John Christos has a dedicated space in our building…but it opens up into the rest of the community center amenities…and that has worked incredibly well for both of us…serving together as friends…
- that will happen at an entirely new level at the NCC…
- well, this listening tour in the north end introduced us to a lot of new friends…
- the gym in this building is actually larger than the one at FE…but that’s a crucial way to engage with urban teens…
- but if you’d like to help us organize a basketball league, volleyball leagues, other kinds of programs that can take place in a gym like that…that could be the first step in building a redemptive relationship…
- [develop the elevated walking track…]
- develop Adam Murphy’s stat
- develop – just making a conscious decision to be part of Friday Family Fun Nights, just to build relationships…
- this is a place where robots can be built, painting classes can be offered, a repair café can be held, etc…
- maybe the Lord has given you an interest or skill you’d like to share
- this is a multi-level play area for smaller children…
- maybe a ministry opportunity is to take your children there to build relationships…
- develop – homework assistance, helping someone start a business, teaching a guitar lesson, making a YouTube video…
- perhaps you’d like to volunteer at the reception area just to get to know people…
- perhaps it’s time for you to go through biblical counseling training…the opportunities will be practically endless…
- just so you know, our entire staff is moving to this location – we’re all in when it comes to incarnational urban ministry…
- but that’s just the beginning – because now we’re going to have the opportunity to serve with and alongside all these collaborative partners…
- we hate the idea of any family in this community being homeless…so if we can be part of Family Promise having their first permanent building, we love that…and if we can share all of our resources at the CC with them – that will make us both stronger…
- develop purpose and opportunities…
- then there’s the Senior Center and Meals on Wheels…if you follow community events, you know Meals on Wheels was really struggling financially…so the Senior Center took that responsibility over which was logical…but the Senior Center needed a new building…to be part of them having their own dedicated space…but with access to the gym, and the pool, and the meeting rooms, and the fitness center…it was a natural friendship…
- working with Bauer as they provide pre-school to low income families…we love the thought of showing love to every one of their families in whatever way they might desire…
- Shine On University serving adults with developmental disabilities…we want to befriend every one of their students and families…
- [develop their history]…the opportunity to be a leader in racial reconciliation is a privilege we would be willing to give our corporate right arm for…
- and oh, by the way – all of this gets flipped as used on Sundays as our third ministry campus on Sundays…
- please think about this in light of our key verse…Titus 3:14 - Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
- Would it be fair to say that the Lord is giving us an opportunity to do that at an entirely new level?...and in way that are the very sweet spot of some of our community’s most pressing needs…
- I mentioned earlier about thanking Lori, and Adam, and Josh, and Stephen...
- I’d also encourage you to thank each of our collaborative partners…
- a couple of other people on that list are Paul Refior, and Joe Blake, and Arvid Olson…I’m embarrassed at how much time some of these men and women have had to invest to get this project across the finish line…
- now, one last lesson from this verse and this experience…
III. Living this Way is Often Incredibly Fruitful.
A. The joy of knowing we are accomplishing the purpose of our salvation
- Titus 2:13–15 - looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
- those words “so that we will not be unfruitful”…are part of what should be ringing through our ears at the groundbreaking today…
- and isn’t it great to know – we don’t have to live there….
B. With blessings we could hardly have imagined
- develop the way this came together financially…
- please be sure to thank John and June Scheumann and Tony Roswarski…
- Ephesians 3:20–21 - Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
- one more lesson, especially for the young people here – if you ever think the Lord is leading you to do something and you’re wondering if He has the resources to bless and help you as an individual or a church…please don’t ever forget this day.
