Brothers and sisters,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday as we worshipped and observed the Lord’ Supper, we remembered by singing about and then taking the bread and the cup, our merciful God’s great salvation coming to us through Christ Jesus. Then, we saw Paul writing about the proper use of spiritual gifts during corporate worship. His focus in chapter 14 has been on contrasting two of the gifts, tongues and prophecy. Now in the last portion of 1 Corinthians 14, he simply gives some instructions on how to provide an ordered worship time where God’s people can exercise their spiritual gifts to build each other up and expose unbelievers to a clear gospel witness. When the Holy Spirit moves among us, there is not chaos but order. When the Holy Spirit moves among us, those filled with His Spirit do not lose control but gain self-control. God is the very creator of order. All of creation reveals that orderliness, from the very design of DNA within the human body to the way the planets and stars move about in the universe. When God moves among His children through His church, there is order. Believers honor God and help others when public worship remains orderly.
Our annual “Trunk or Treat” for our neighborhood will happen this Saturday, October 26, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Please be here at 2:00 PM to help us set up. We will need lots of candy and lots of help to reach out to our neighborhood on that day.
Next Sunday, October 27, 2024, we will have some special missionary speakers with us during our morning worship service. We will have no livestream of next week’s service. Following the service, we will have a potluck luncheon. Bring enough food for your family and any guests we might have, especially the missionary speakers and their kids. I hope you can be here to see how God is working all around the world to save the lost and expand His kingdom.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church