Confessions and Fellowship
What are we confessing and how do we have fellowship?
“That’s a lot of words! Too bad I’m not reading ‘em.”
The Practicality of Doctrine
While I only have photo evidence of one small human having a good time, I can assure you that our planting team had a wonderful time of fellowship and learning. We had our first planting team training this week. This means we cracked open the first article (Holy Scriptures) of the 1689 London Baptist Confession as well as John Owen’s Duties of Christian Fellowship (the church’s duty to attend and honor the pastor).
We talked about the language we use about what we believe, how we should consider titles, and the supremacy of the Holy Scriptures. I’d say theology is pretty practical.
We discussed how fellowship is grounded in what we believe and how as Christians that should be thoroughly and sufficiently informed by God’s Word. That fellowship is somewhat flexible as we navigate theological triage, but even secondary issues are important. Having a firm foundation creates the framework for true Christian fellowship and unity.
Also, Rachel made an absolute knockout breakfast blueberry casserole of some sort. It even had homemade whipped cream. The food is reason enough to come!
I can’t wait to see how God works in our group and provides a healthy and compelling community for others to join when we officially plant.
Used Books and Conversations
Yesterday Rachel and I got to slip away for a little bit to our favorite pastime, St. Vinnies. There’s nothing that gets us Super Bowl levels of excitement as the thrill of used books! I swear we are fun at parties.
We rotate our locations to maximize the chances of finding new used books, but we’ve been doing it for a while so we’ve been to all of them numerous times. One of the benefits of frequenting a location (be it a coffee shop or grocer) is that you have an opportunity to get to know the people there. This happened to me, but in reverse. I was recognized by a gentleman named Dale who’s worked for St. Vinnies for 15 years. This spawned a conversation that accomplished two things: 1. I got to finally pick someone’s brain about the inner workings of the book section of St. Vinnies. I am now the proud owner of immeasurable secret used book sales knowledge. 2. We got to have a spiritual conversation.
He probed about the books I was looking for in the Christianity section (sadly I wouldn’t call many of the books there Christian) and then said he had to show me something. He led me to the case where he pulled out three commentaries by Heinrich Meyers. I didn’t know him but looks like he was a profoundly impactful exegete according to Spurgeon, Warfield, and Hodge. They’re on my coffee table now. But, I got to ask him if he went to church, which got my foot in the door.
He shared his story of faith briefly which was encouraging, but that he hadn’t been in church for 15 years since he worked Sundays. Honestly, I didn’t get to have a particularly profound encounter. I didn’t get to encourage him to return to church or push further on his conversion, or even pray with him. But, he seemed genuinely encouraged that someone would stop and visit with him.
It’s a good reminder as I plan for this Sunday’s sermon on Jonah, who did a notoriously bad job of evangelizing Ninevah, that I’m not the hero. Like the prison ministry Dale used to be a part of, I don’t know if I made a difference. But, I’ll take my own advice, we sow and water God gives the growth. We never know what God can do with our little.
I know where Dale works, and I know he’s a one man crew. So I’ll be seeing him again soon I’m sure.
The Rescue
Sunday I continued in Jonah: the Petulant Prophet. We considered how God uses calamity to discipline His own, so that they would turn in repentance and be useful for His purposes.
Prayer Requests
Pray for Warren Davie (Northwest Collegiate Ministry) and his team as they put on a D-Now event for middle and high schoolers this weekend. I spoke at last year’s event and it was a wonderful time for teaching, relationship building, and breakout discussion. If you know any middle or high schoolers, registration is still open here.
Please pray for a sister Marian (RBC) who goes in for back surgery this week. She was rescheduled last time due to low iron. She is the owner and counselor at Avodah Therapy and member of our church.
A sister in the church (RBC) is raising money for her mission trip to Africa. Please pray for her trip, that it is spiritually beneficial for her and the people she will minister to. Also, consider donating to her labor here: https://www.childrentolove.org/ under give > give now > team member support > Grace Averill in the memo.
Pray for Dale that he might feel the conviction to return to church and that St. Vinnies would accommodate that. He seemed to have that desire, but not the grit to make it happen up to this point.
