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Pastor's Point - December 2020

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Dear Church Family,

By the time you read this newsletter we will be beyond Thanksgiving looking forward to Christmas.  So what I want to do in this article is talk about what I am most thankful for and celebrate the fact that the reality of what I am most thankful for is what we celebrate at Christmas time.

You see I am most thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  This has only come into sharper focus during 2020.  At Christmas time we are celebrating the fact that God came to us in our world.  Perhaps the most significant passage in the Bible on the Incarnation of Jesus is John 1:1–14. John states that “the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (verses 1–2,). John uses the term logos, or “the Word,” as a clear reference to God. John declares in verse 14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  Our December sermon series will consider this reality as we look at passages that help us understand that God truly is with us.  Our worship ministry will be presenting a special night of worship with this same theme as we consider “God with Us” on December 13th.

The reality that God Himself took on flesh and came to earth to be our Savior and Lord should fill us with thankfulness and joy. My favorite hymn that has been written recently is, “All I Have is Christ.”  I want you to read the lyrics in total because they paint the wonderful picture of the reality of a follower of Christ.

VERSE 1
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

VERSE 2
But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

CHORUS
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

VERSE 3
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

Followers of Jesus have him as their Savior and Lord.  We need nothing else.  We should look to no one else.  We must not be tempted to trust in anything else.  We do not have to fear and try to look somewhere else.  What we need to remember going forward into a new year is that All we Have is Christ, and He is all we need.  No matter what comes in the new year, lets keep looking to Jesus knowing that He is enough.

I love you and I love being your pastor,

Posted by Alan Scott with
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Pastor's Points - November

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Dear Church Family,

I pray you are doing well and trusting in the Lord during these difficult times that we are living in. This month I was going to write a devotion about generosity, but as I was preparing to do so I came across a devotion by Dr. Charles Stanley on this very topic. In it he interacts with the story of the widow woman who gave her last two copper coins, which was all she had. And out of this story Dr. Stanley asks the question…

Are you generous? Maybe you feel that giving liberally is a luxury you can’t afford. Yet the most generous financial gift mentioned in Scripture had very little monetary value. Often called “the widow’s mite,” this small gift has inspired believers through the ages to give freely. Let’s look at the message conveyed by this sacrificial gift.

Read the passage in Mark 12:41-44 - The True Measure of a Gift - Because Jesus saw the hearts of everyone, He knew these rich people were not committed to God (Mark 12:41). They carefully observed the external requirements of their faith, including  tithing (see Luke 11:42). But their devotion to the Lord was almost non-existent. They gave to be praised by men.

- What did Jesus say about those who give to earn people’s admiration (Matt. 6:1-4)?
- Do you ever fall into the trap of giving primarily for the approval of others? Why do you think this is?

The widow gave “two small copper coins, which amount to a cent” (Mark 12:42). The King James version refers to them as “mites.” Although we cannot calculate their exact value in today’s money, we know these were the smallest coins used by the Jews at the time.

- What is surprising about how Jesus viewed the widow’s contribution (Mark 12:43-44)?

This passage teaches that God considers the motive, attitude, and financial condition of the giver when determining the gift’s value.

- What should our attitude be, according to 2 Corinthians 9:7?

The Adam Clarke Commentary says that “the poorest person has it in his power to make his mite as acceptable to the Lord, by simplicity of intention, and purity of affection, as the millions given by the affluent.”

- How does this fact motivate you to give generously?

The widow gave “all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44). In other words, the widow forfeited the money that would have bought food for the day. Her gift demonstrated amazing trust in God. Imagine you lost your wallet and needed to buy gas in order to make it home. If you found a five dollar bill in your pocket, would you give it away to a street beggar, trusting God to provide a way for you to get home? Although this illustration isn’t perfect, it gives you some idea of how the widow may have felt.

Sacrificial Financial Giving - Those who have an abundance usually spend it on themselves--better possessions, nicer vacations, or upgraded homes or cars. Or they may pay for more services and conveniences. Those with financial shortages often resist giving to the Lord’s work or to those less fortunate. They cling to what little they have, fearing there won’t be enough if they give.

- Do you see yourself as one who has an abundance of wealth (money and/or goods) or a shortage?

No matter which category you fall into, as a believer, you are called to be generous. Even the poor should give to the church and other people in need (Eph. 4:28). This is contrary to worldly wisdom, which says not to give if you have a shortfall. But poverty is not an excuse to hold back. Jesus commended the widow for giving, though she had almost nothing. Each person should give in proportion to his or her income (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

- Are you charitable toward those who are less fortunate than you? How?
- How did the Macedonian church give (2 Cor. 8:2,3)?
- Do you ever give sacrificially? Explain.
- How could you arrange to give up something you want (or have) in order to help spread the gospel or provide for the material needs of another?

I pray this devotion helps guide us as we consider our regular giving to the Lord as well as our 3-yr pledge to the stewardship campaign.

I love you and I love being your pastor!

Posted by Alan Scott with

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