Foundations

 

This past summer my wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. There are three reasons our marriage has survived:

1. By the Grace of God.
2. By the grace of Sarah.
3. We have never attempted to build a house.

You probably expected the first two but what about number three?  We have heard that building a house is a very stressful endeavor and is not for the faint of heart.  Saying this, we will probably attempt to build a house at some point in the future.  My point is this, I am so thankful that God has not called me to build His church. He also hasn’t called you to build His church.  He has called us to care for it.  Jesus said some of the most relieving and comforting words in Matthew 16:18 when He said:

“I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18b (HCSB)

Do you remember the children’s story of the three little pigs and how one built his house of straw, one out of sticks, and one out of bricks?  Only the house made of bricks withstood the powerful breath of the big bad wolf.  In the same way, only the church that is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ will stand.  Paul said as much to Timothy and to the church of Corinth:

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm. 2 Timothy 2:19a (HCSB)

For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 (HCSB)

 Recently our “Strategic Planning Team” presented a document that they will be asking the church to adopt in our November Quarterly Business Meeting.  This document contains four parts:

• New Purpose/Mission Statement
• Vision Statement
• Seven Core Values
• Framework

Each of these components directly come from the Holy Scriptures.  Over the course of the next several weeks I will be preaching from the very scriptures our team has gathered to lead them.  I will also be explaining what each of these components mean and how they will affect us as a church both in the short-term and in the long-term.  The sermon series is titled, “Foundations.” We will be challenging ourselves to build on the sure foundation. After all…all other ground is sinking sand!

Until the whole world hears,

Pastor Scott