As I consider the last 30 years in our church, I believe that now, more than ever, is a time when we need to emphasize our small groups and Sunday School ministries. Why?

            When I look at our attendance figures for our two worship services, we are nearing 500 people in attendance.  That’s a lot of people.  Even with this being my full-time job, I cannot keep up with 500 people.  I also cannot keep up with knowing whether or not people are getting involved in significant relationships with other people in our church.  It is very easy to slip into a worship service at 10:55am, find a seat, shake the pastor’s hand as you walk out the door, and show up next week and do the same.

           That is not church.  That’s attending a service but it’s not church.

           Church is the gathering together of the body of Christ for the mutual edification of one another.  It means knowing the people’s name.  It means knowing what’s going on with a number of people around you so you can pray for and encourage them.  It means you care about the people that God loves, so much that, you will take time out of your busy life and invest your concern in the lives of your fellow members here.

           Sunday School is a great place to do that.  Small groups are a great place to do that.

           Please, please, please – the key to our church advancing as mature believers in Christ is directly dependent on our people’s willingness to be the church to one another.  Get involved in a Sunday School class, find a ministry you can do and serve there, invest your service in something that will surely yield eternal benefit for all.

            In addition to the regular adult Sunday School classes we have been having, the following new courses will be offered from now until the end of November:

            Dave Akers (Old Fellowship Hall) – Growing through Suffering: A look at I and II Peter

            Chris Brammer and Jim Wyatt – What Jesus Expects: A study with John Piper

            Jarrod Workman – Coming up Short: A Comparison of False Religions and Cults with the Standard of Biblical Teaching.

                                                                      Steve