Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 26, 2019

Biblical scholarship agrees: the central focus of Jesus Christ’s earthly mission was the kingdom of God. For instance, when Matthew describes the ministry of Jesus Christ, he says this, “And he [Jesus] went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” (Matt. 4:23) Similarly, when Mark summarizes Jesus message, he cites these familiar words, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). At the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, Luke takes us to Nazareth where Jesus stands and reads from Isaiah 61 about the coming kingdom and then concludes with this bold statement, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).

If you’ve grown up in the church, you’ve likely heard pastors speak of “the kingdom of God” or “the kingdom of heaven,” but it might not be clear what is meant by that terminology. In short, to speak of God’s kingdom is to speak of God’s rule and authority. For instance, when we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” in the Lord’s prayer, we are praying that God’s perfect rule and authority in heaven would increasingly be manifest on earth.

As the Gospels indicate, the coming of the kingdom of God is tied with the advent of Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ’s first coming, we see the inauguration of God’s rule on the earth. That is, we witness the beginning of what the prophets had long ago foretold would take place when the Messiah arrived (Isaiah 40:9-11, 52:7-10; Zech. 14:9). Through His miracles and teaching, Jesus brings a foretaste of the rule of God’s saving power. In the cross and resurrection, He defeated the kingdom of darkness and established the kingdom of light and life (Col. 1:13). In His second coming, the full flowering of that established kingdom will be brought to completion—the earth being filled with the knowledge of God (Hab. 2:14).

On June 2nd (Ascension Sunday), we will break from our series on Genesis and begin a ten-week series on life in the kingdom of God. We will take a slow walk through the most familiar and, quite possibly, the most misunderstood teaching of Jesus Christ on the kingdom—the Beatitudes. In preparation for this important series, take time this week to read through Matthew 5:1-16, asking the Lord to bring His kingdom more and more into our midst (Luke 17:21). 

 

“Blessed: Life in the Kingdom of God”

(Matthew 5:1-12)

 

·      June 2 – Matthew 5:1-12, “The Kingdom of God and the Christian Life”

·      June 9 – Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit” 

·      June 16 – Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who Mourn”  

·      June 23 – Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the Meek” 

·      June 30 – Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness” 

·      July 7 – Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the Merciful” 

·      July 14 – Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the Pure in Heart” 

·      July 21 – Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the Peacemakers”

·      July 28 – Matthew 5:10-11, “Blessed are those who are Persecuted”

·      August 4 – Matthew 5:13-16, “The Kingdom of God and Christian Witness”

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 19, 2019

On Sunday, May 5th, we announced the need to raise $30,000 by the end of the budget year (June 30) to be in the clear financially on the landscape project. Thanks to several of you, money has started to trickle in. In the last week, $1450 has been given toward the project! That means we have $28,550 to go! Whether $10 or $10,000, we'd love to see everyone contribute something—even if it’s just the nickels and dimes buried in your couch cushions! Please prayerfully consider going above and beyond your normal tithes and offerings and help us achieve this goal. When you give, remember to write “Landscape” on the memo line of your check or contact the church office if you'd like to contribute in another way.  

Also, if you weren’t present for our congregational meeting on April 26th, I gave a brief update on our search for a second Assistant Pastor. At that meeting, I reminded the attendees of Tony Giles’ shift in hours this past year. As Tony continues to faithfully listen to God’s call on his life, he began to sense a desire to spend a bit more of his time in helping pastors in church leader development. For those of you that have been on the receiving side of Tony’s gospel coaching and discipleship, this was no surprise. God has uniquely crafted our brother with abilities of perception and wisdom for encouraging and developing leaders. In fact, that’s why Serge (previously World Harvest Mission) came knocking on his door! Just as the Lord was stirring this desire in Tony, Serge began looking for someone to help pastors in personal leader development, multiplication, and discipleship. It proved to be a match. In addition to his work at the church, Tony has spent 15 hours a week working with a number of pastors from around the U.S. and even the world. It’s been a joy to see our brother use his gifts to bless pastors around the globe!

As this shift in hours took place, we had to answer some questions on our end. For while Tony’s hours at Cornerstone were decreasing slightly, the ministry needs were increasing! A conversation about how to meet these increasing needs began to take shape among the elders. In time, that conversation turned into a search for a second Assistant Pastor.  

Right now, the Personnel Committee is speaking with a small band of qualified ministerial candidates. Though each man is unique and brings his own mix of gifts and graces to the table, we believe each man is a strong candidate for the role. It would be premature to say much by way of timelines, but we want you to know that in the not-too-distant future, we could be extending a call to one of these candidates. We ask for your prayers as we continue to interview, deliberate, and seek God’s face for wisdom. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the elders or myself. We would be happy to speak with you.  

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.