"We worship together - We give and serve together."

For 2000 years, men and women have known the joy and struggle of what we call the church.  That we wrestle with what the church should be and what the church should do - is not a new thing.  It is part of the process of fully sinful yet fully forgiven people working out the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus that has capture us within.  The gospel screams - ACCEPTABLE!  Because of Christ, His life, death, and resurrection, God declares us completely acceptable before Him.  Yet, we often live looking for our acceptance in what we do, what others think, and what we think.  This leads to a beautiful Holy work of God (the church - His bride), often looking like an ugly distorted bride of Frankenstein. 
 
The place we call the Summit is no different.  We are imperfect, messed up, baggaged laiden, idol-strewn people who are learning to trust that who Jesus is and what Jesus did can continue to change us.  We are changing and God is contructing an authentic body the openly wrestles with the issues of life.  I hope you see this and I hope you are aware of how special it is to be a part of place where God is at work.
 
As we dive into Acts and work together through this "Life in the Gospel" let me encourage us all to embrace a truth that screams through first 6 chapters of Acts - We worship together - we give and serve together.  As God forms this early church, we see people of all types coming together around one purpose - worship of Jesus as God and Savior.  They centered their lives around the gospel - the goodnews that Jesus make us right before God so we can know and worship Him.  However, they did not sit around just meditating, praying, and singing in the upper room.  No doubt - corporate worship was  a strong central part of this new church.  And, we do see them gathering to worship in homes and the Temple.  But, we also see them doing to other things - they gave and they served so others could see and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They gave their time, their money, their backs, and their lives.  They served by teaching, preaching, taking food to the needy, and healing the sick.  By the way, Acts 6 makes it clear they where not without their own problems.  Remember, fully sinful yet fully forgiven means there will be issues.  They had them - yet, they got this truth.  We worship together - we give and serve together.
 
We come together to worship together every Sunday and during the week in homes.  We gather by the hundreds because God is at work changing hearts through Jesus all over the place.  This is great!  And, if we worship together, we must give and serve together.  As the love of Christ overwhelms our heart, our response is not only to worship Him, but to give to and serve Him as we do this with others.  Practically, this means two things for us.
1) We need to all be a part of giving to the budget and the Build a Base as God leads.  If this is your family, the family needs to give so we can live and speak the gospel in this community.  Our building project - Build a Base - is moving along and those of you who are new - join us.  We need you to tak ownership with us as we move ahead.
2) We need to serve together.  Specially, we have an urgent need in the children's area.  Over 150 shiny faces (kids) a week come through our doors.  That is a lot.  We are in need of 6 workers now.  Please, understand, this allows many children and parents to worship and hear the gospel.  We need you and your service to Christ is needed by so many.  Call John Garrison at 3134-575-7800 if you can help.
 
We are in an exciting and wonderful season in our church.  I pray we all enjoy the beauty of worshipping together, giving together, and serving together.
 
In Christ Alone - john