Category: Bruce’s Newsletter Articles

I’ve never really understood the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” at least that part that talks about “scary ghost stories.” Other than Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, I’m not aware of any Christmas ghost stories. The idea of being frightened at Christmas doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Unless you think of Mary in Luke 1 or the shepherds in Luke 2. It’s not too far fetched to think that the sudden appearance of otherworldly beings in your home or in the night sky might be a bit frightening; otherwise, why would the angels have said to them, “Do not be afraid”?

Mary’s fear is certainly understandable, considering that she would become the mother of the Son of God. There’s something about coming face to face not only with God’s messenger but with God’s plans that can bring fear. As amazing as it was that God was going to work his plan of salvation for all people through a young girl and her fianc , it had to be a scary idea for both. But after the initial shock of the angel’s message, Mary recognized the blessing and praised God for what he was going to do through her and for all generations.

The birth of a baby is certainly cause for joy and celebration, but this baby’s birth brings joy to all. The angel’s message to the shepherds went on “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” The world that waited in fear and darkness for a new word from God has received not only a birth announcement but a declaration of freedom.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us embrace the implications of the birth of our Savior: forgiveness, freedom, and peace. This is what brings joy to the world. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Halfway between Thanksgiving and Christmas, many people are wondering how they’re going to make it through the holiday season. On one side we have the preparations for our Christmas celebrations-shopping, baking, cleaning, decorating-and on the other we have the pressures of everyday life-work, bills, health, family. We’re overbooked, overworked, and overextended, and we’re wondering where we are going to get the strength to get it all done.

The temptation for many is to cut back at church, and if we’re honest the sheer number of programs and events that we have at the church may be contributing to the stress. However, one of the blessings of being connected within the church is the strength we gain from it.

In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, he addressed many issues that we’re causing chaos within the church. Some of the issues were bad doctrine, but others were practical issues of how they were “doing church.” In 1 Corinthians 14:26 Paul wrote: “When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” Regardless of the specific issues that Paul was addressing, he wanted the church to understand that whatever it was they were doing should have been done for the purpose of strengthening the church.

While there are probably too many programs and events for everyone to participate in all the time, we must not lose sight of the fact that we should be doing these things to strengthen each other. Christmas programs, Bible studies, worship services, and other events take up time and resources we’re not sure we have enough to spare, but we should not forget that they are meant to build us up, to give us strength to handle all of the other things life is throwing at us. As Christmas approaches remember Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not give up meeting together… but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

If we’re honest, there are truly a lot of things to get us down these days. It’s in times like these, as Mark and Adam preached on November 16, that we need to come together and get connected to each other as we connect with God. In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul writes about how our faith not only draws us together in faith but in purpose, to tell others about God’s grace. In verse 15 Paul tells us that our work in evangelism is also for our benefit, “So that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

At a time when it might be difficult to find reasons to be thankful in our day-to-day lives, Paul tells us that thanksgiving will overflow because more and more people are coming to Christ. More than that, in verse 16, he describes the benefits of our efforts: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” He tells us that even though life might be beating us down, God is renewing us inwardly every day. This should encourage us to continue to gather together and to work together to share the Good News of God’s grace and forgiveness.

Our traditional idea of gathering to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday often has us thinking about thanking God for what we have, for what he has done for us, and despite the problems we experience, we are still blessed in this country. However, let us step up our celebration by being thankful for what God has done for others, that more and more people are coming to know God’s grace through Jesus. Let us also use that blessing to fuel our continued efforts to share the Good News and to connect with each other within the body of Christ.

First, an invitation: everyone is invited to join together in prayer at the church every Wednesday from 1:15-2:15. It’s during this prayer meeting that I am frequently moved to see how many of our members are requesting prayer for their parents, children, relatives, coworkers, friends, and neighbors. Often I find myself praying not only for those who are ill or who have other needs but also for those members who make the requests. Corporate prayer is one of those practices of the church that reminds us how much we are connected as a family.

Even though “family” could be a negative thing for some people, considering the dysfunction of so many of our own families, the family of God is set before us as an ideal, a model for our own families. This is one of the greatest blessings of our relationship with God. In Ephesians 2:17-19, Paul writes: “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.” Paul writes that Jesus’ death has not only brought peace between us and God but among all his people. It’s through the death of Christ that not only are we made members of God’s household but we are able to bring our prayers for each other to God directly.

As we start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas, seasons which have strong family ties, let’s consider how we can grow closer together as a family. For some this may mean a dramatic change of mindset. While not everyone is in a stage of life where there is a mother, father, and children, we all have one Father, and we are all brothers and sisters. If we can start thinking of our church as our family, we can pray more effectively and work together more effectively. Then we can bring more people to know the peace that we have as a family in Christ.

I look at people who write letters and thank-you notes and send birthday cards on time with envy, desiring to be a better friend and encourager. The apostle Paul was a great letter writer. Sure, much of our doctrine comes from his letters, but you can tell from them that Paul was pretty good at personal relationships. In 1 Corinthians 16:14-16 we can find personal encouragement alongside solid doctrine: “Do everything in love. You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it.”

Paul has written out quite a few rebukes, admonitions, commands, and other bits of teaching throughout this letter, but as he concludes, the letter becomes more personal. We can read Paul’s love for the church and for the family of Stephanas. He also encourages the church to submit to leaders such as these ones whom they know.

As we follow up the annual congregational meeting and start a new fiscal year, let’s focus on connecting together in submission to our leaders. For the church in Corinth, Paul indicates that everyone knows the household of Stephanas and of their service to the church family, and he holds them up as an example to the rest of the body. Paul’s direction to submit to leaders such as these isn’t a simple matter of hierarchy; it’s an opportunity to point out the example of a servant-leader and encouragement to follow that example.

Hebrews 13:17 says: “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” The writer points out that there’s a mutual benefit to submission. By submitting to our leaders we are joining together to do the work that we are all called to do, and in that submission, the work will become a joy for all.

We have a great opportunity to get connected through participation this fall. Our upcoming Christmas program will combine choirs, children through adults, to share the message of Jesus’ birth through music and song. There will be several portions sharing the message through drama. This program is planned to be performed over several evenings, and there will be many opportunities for others to participate in ways other than singing or acting.

One interesting thing about this approach is that many different people of many different ages with many different skills and talents will work together as a body to communicate a single message: Jesus is born! There is a thin line that we tread when we have Christmas programs-the name itself makes us nervous as we try to balance the most important message the world has heard with the idea of performing music, singing songs, and acting. Those things are often done in a spotlight, focusing on the soloist, the lead actor, the musician, and filling those roles sometimes leads to competition. But with the many groups being assigned portions of the music, drama, set design and construction, audio production, and other tasks, no individual can take the spotlight. The team focuses on Jesus alone.

Ephesians 4:11-16 describes multiple roles-apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers-but they’re all focused on one purpose: “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Because this event is for all ages, families can participate together. What better way to train children how to be part of the body than to have them work with their parents as part of the body! “As each part does its work,” we will become unified in our faith and knowledge of Jesus, from kids through adults. Want to get connected? Join the choirs, as a family. Volunteer your skills as a builder, painter, or speaker. Let’s work together to share the Good News of Jesus’ birth!

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to unity, whether in the family, in the church, or in any community, is our tendency for selfishness. We all have different wants and needs, some good, some bad, some legitimate, and others… not so much. When our individual wants and needs come in conflict with the wants and needs of someone else, problems arise. Sometimes the conflict leads to compromise; sometimes it leads to one person giving up their position to please or serve another; and other times it just gets ugly.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This directive comes in a list of others intended to encourage the church to do as Paul wrote in the first two verses of that chapter: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” As disciples of Jesus, we strive to be more like him, to be imitators of him, because we love him. Jesus’ example of sacrifice, giving himself for our sake, leads us to submit to one another.

As we continue in our mission to love God, love people, and serve like Jesus, we will become more unified as we imitate Jesus. This shows clearly the importance of the process of becoming and growing as a disciple. It’s one thing to connect to God, but if we’re not growing in our faith and knowledge of Jesus, we won’t be able to imitate him as we should.

The more we learn about Jesus, the more we can see the importance of submitting to each other, giving up our own wants and needs for the sake of the whole body. While it seems counterintuitive, the more we put others first, the closer we connect to them; just as when we submit to God, we grow closer to him. Let’s continue to encourage each other, out of love for God and each other, and submit to each other as we grow and serve together.