Hello Christian Family,
Thank you for the gifts at Christmas time. I and the others who received them were touched by your kindness and generosity. Thank you.
As we embark on 2025, we want to renew our spiritual focus for the year. Getting it started on the right foot, so-to-speak, with a Church Wide Emphasis – Deepening a Heart for Jesus. Beginning January 8th and running into March, our Wednesday night program for adults, Home-Builders, will become a midweek worship service. Our study will be about taking a deeper dive into our relation- ships with God. This program is flexible and helpful for every person whether you are a new Christian or new to quiet times, or a veteran of abiding in relationship with God. So no matter how much experience or success you have had in prayer you will find this study beneficial.
Deepening A Heart for Jesus will be flexible, personalized, and modular:
Module 1. January – What is God trying to accomplish in us?
Introductions to A Life Abiding in Christ
Emphasis on Prayer, Bible Reading, Quiet Times Personal Choices: Sabbath, Healing from Hurts, Healing from Sin, Spiritual Plans
Module 2. February – A Life Abiding in Christ
Choose a Deeper Experience in: Sabbath, Prayer, or Generosity
Module 3. March – The Fruit of Abiding in Christ
Choose a Deeper Experience in: Sabbath, Prayer, Generosity, Fasting, or Solitude
Before January you may want to get your hands on a book that will complement our church wide emphasis. Here are some recommendations. If you are hurting, doubting, questioning God then The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith would be an option for you. For those who are active, overly busy, or feel a little ADD, or maybe you want something down to earth, I recommend A Contrarian’s Guide to Knowing God by Larry Osborne. The Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes would fit for many of the men. If you would like background information and explanations about why prayer and other practices are helpful then Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer is for you. Lastly, if you want a deep Scriptural study from a Baptist seminary professor then Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney is the right choice. Additional options include Celebration of Discipline and Wasting Time With God. I assure you, this is not a waste of time, but an important endeavor and worthy of your participation.
I hope each person will choose to participate in January’s Module and many will choose to continue with Modules 2 and 3. These are modules, so it is easy to participate in one and not another depending on your interests.
In whatever way you choose to participate, I pray your roots are deepened and your abiding refreshed,
Pastor Dave