Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 5, 2019

It was a great joy last Sunday to witness Mark Elliot and Mike Payne be unanimously elected to serve as deacons of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. Today we have the holy privilege of ordaining and installing these brothers to the office of deacon in our worship services.

It is generally believed that the first ordination of deacons took place in Acts 6:1-6 when the twelve apostles urged the growing number of disciples in Jerusalem to pick seven wise men, full of the Holy Spirit, and of good reputation to serve in the work of caring for widows. Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus were chosen for the work. In an act of ordination, the seven men were, “…set before the Apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:6).  

This morning we follow the Bible’s pattern of ordaining men to the office of deacon, and thus you will notice several unique elements in today’s worship, including the taking of vows, the laying on of hands, the right hand of fellowship, and an officer charge. These actions are reflective of the biblical practices for ordination that are demonstrated in a variety of places throughout the New Testament—Acts 13:1-3, 14:23, 1 Timothy 1:22, 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6, Titus 1:5 being a few of the most notable. Please approach today’s special service with solemn joy, prayerfully asking the Lord to increase the effectiveness of Cornerstone’s ministry through the multiplication of servant leaders.  

On a different front, hasn’t it been exciting to see the churchyard come to life? As you well know, big projects like the landscape upgrade don’t happen without a dedicated team of faithful servants. I’d like to publically recognize and thank Joe Haworth, Peggy Mueller, Brent Roberts, Susan Bumpus, Gene King, Russ May, and Jim & Gwen Smith for serving on our landscape team. These brothers and sisters have labored long and hard to ensure that our little corner of Franklin is beautiful, welcoming, and serviceable for ministry. As opportunity arises, please let these servants know how much you appreciate their sacrifice.

Beyond words, let me tell you how you can really say, “Thank you!” We have dipped into our monetary reserves a sizable amount this past year in order to perform needed maintenance and upgrades to our church facility. As you know, our beautiful stain glass windows are now fully restored, our sprinkler system is in place, and we’re now in the final stages of the landscape upgrade. To be in the clear financially on the landscape upgrade, we need $30,000. On the behalf of the elders, would you consider giving in a designated way toward the landscape project? Whether $10 or $10,000, most of us have the means to give something—even if it’s just the nickels and dimes buried in your couch cushions! Above your normal tithes and offerings, prayerfully consider what the Lord would have you give toward this important project. Wouldn’t it be great if by the end of May we were in the clear financially on the landscape project? Please help us achieve that goal.

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 28, 2019

Noah, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon and Elijah are names that would show up on any “who’s who” list of important biblical characters. Whole books and sermon series are devoted to these men, and many more I’m sure will be written and preached in the days to come.

But what about the people who don’t make the most important biblical character lists? Men like Sallu the son of Meshullam, Adaish of the son of Jeroham, or Mica son of Zida, or the countless numbers of ordinary men and women throughout church history? Are they important to the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan?

I can tell you with confidence that Nehemiah’s answer to the above question is a resounding “Yes!” Throughout the book of Nehemiah, we are introduced to lists of faithful men and women who served as assistants and associates, deputies and doormen in the house of God. They are, if you will, the “no names” in the Kingdom of God. (Except for the fact that Nehemiah takes the time to name them!)

 

Reflecting on this point, A.R. Vidler wishes we knew more, “…about the ordinary life of Christian people in parishes and congregations which has gone on steadily from generation to generation and without which there would be no church history worth mentioning.” The reality is that the names and lives of such men and women may never be recounted on earth or anthologized in a tome of Christian history, but their story is always remembered—remembered for heaven (Hebrews 4:12) 

The stories of millions of ordinary faithful Christians who act in ordinary faithfulness are remembered before the throne of God. Because whether ushers in worship, nursery workers, prayer warriors, Sun. School teachers, evangelizers, caretakers of widows and orphans – all of it is critical to the health and growth of the church. We must know and embrace what Francis Schaeffer taught; “There are no little people in the Kingdom of God.”

So, don’t over-think it. God is building His kingdom, and he is using the ordinary faithfulness of ordinary people every day to do it. Believe the gospel, obey God, and make an eternal difference. There really are no little people in the Kingdom of God, and that includes you.  

Pastoral Notes for Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019

“He is not here, but has risen.”—Luke 24:6

Easter is the crescendo of the Christian calendar, because the cross and resurrection are the center of the Christian faith. In breaking forth from the grave, Jesus Christ disarmed the rulers and authorities of this world (Col. 2:15) and put to death the last enemy, death itself (I Cor. 15:54). In rising from the dead, Jesus Christ sent a shock wave of recreation throughout the world, being the first fruits from the dead (I Cor. 15:20). In the victory of Christ’s resurrection, we participate in the power of the resurrection now through faith by the Spirit (Rom. 8:11), and when He returns at the second coming, the graves will lose their grip on those asleep in Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15:51-52), and together we will meet the Lord in the air and live forever with Him (1 Thess. 4:14-18). Hallelujah! What a Savior!

The quality of our celebration today should match the importance of what we are celebrating—the most important reality in life and eternity. There is simply no risk of overdoing the celebration. If there was ever a time for worshipful abandon, for giving yourself to wonder, love, and praise that time is now. Join with the angels in heaven, and the saints from all the ages, and worship the risen Christ in Spirit and truth today. The tomb is empty, and the gospel is true. Let the celebration begin!

“A marvelous and mighty paradox has thus occurred, for the death which they thought to inflict on Jesus Christ as dishonor and disgrace has become the glorious monument of death’s defeat.”—Athanasius

“The resurrection is the first day of a new creation.”—Alistair McGrath

“Jesus is your Light

Jesus is your Savior

Jesus is your Resurrection

Jesus is your King

Jesus is leading you to the heights of heaven

Jesus will show you the Eternal Father

Jesus will raise you up by His right hand”—Bishop Melito of Sardis

“Everything in our life that is limiting, sorrowful, or dead becomes the dance floor

on which we celebrate our Easter joy.”—Wendy Wright

“The stem bent, pent in seed, grows straight

And stands. Pain breaks in song. Surprising

The merely dead, graves fill with light

Like opened eyes. He rests in rising.”—Wendell Berry

“Grant me more and more of the resurrection life:

may it rule me,

may I walk in its power,

and be strengthened through its influence.”—The Valley of Vision

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 14, 2019

As you prepare for worship at Cornerstone, the Shurden family is preparing for worship at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS. As many of you know, we moved from FPC Jackson to Franklin nine years ago to plant Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, and we have many fond memories and close relations there. Very kindly, FPC Jackson invited me back this weekend to lead a marriage retreat and preach Sunday services. Though saddened to miss Palm Sunday with the Cornerstone family, I am grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with the sweet folks of FPC Jackson this weekend.

Sweeter still is the opportunity we will have this week to worship on Good Friday and Easter Sunday! It will be particularly special to worship on Good Friday with our sister churches Christ Presbyterian Church Cool Springs and All Saints Presbyterian Church in Brentwood. Please note that Good Friday services are at 6pm and 7:45pm this year. Due to the convenience of the 6pm time slot, we are anticipating that service to be very full. In hopes of preventing overcrowding and spreading attendance evenly between services, I would kindly ask those of you with flexible schedules to consider attending the 7:45pm service. Thank you for considering this.