Thank You
Thank you, church. We want to take some time this Sunday to thank each one of you for all that you contribute to our community. When we all use our gifts to serve one another we are built up as Christ’s body. We grow and develop and mature. This is what God’s Word tells us in 1 Corinthians 12. God has graciously given each of us different spiritual gifts with which to serve one another. As Paul says,
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
We may be different, and we may have different spiritual gifts, but the Spirit wants to work through all of us for the common good. So many of you serve in so many different ways. Some of you welcome people at the door, some make coffee at The Park, some lead a Growth Group, others meet every week to pray for the church, others roll up their sleeves and help people tidy up their homes. You all serve in so many different ways, and each one is so valuable. Thank you for serving in 2019. This year we have been able to accomplish so much together. We have handed out over 220 food hampers to families in the community, raised $2800 for the Christmas celebration at the New Life Orphanage in Myanmar and donated 269 shoe-boxes to Operation Christmas Child. Together, we can make a huge difference and push back on the darkness in this world. I believe God wants to use our church to expand his kingdom over north Brisbane and beyond. This is why we not only pray that the kingdom comes (Matthew 6:10), but we seek the kingdom (Matthew 6:33) in this world by submitting ourselves to Christ’s rule and living in ways which please him.
Now, 2019 is not quite over yet. We still have some exciting opportunities to seek Christ’s kingdom through our upcoming Christmas services. We’re meeting together on Christmas Eve at 6PM and on Christmas Day at 9AM. Consider if there is someone who might be open to attending church at this time of the year, and invite them. God may just continue to amaze us by drawing them into relationship with himself. Amen?!
Love and grace,
Ben
