Longing to Know and Make Known

June 2, 2017 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments

Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement

 We have a packed week ahead for Oak Hills. Supporting our missions team. Joining with brothers and sisters in prayer and worship. Deepening relationships with one another through great fellowship. And ministering to kids with the love of Christ. I’m excited for each of these opportunities and how they fulfill our mission to know and make known the astonishing grace of God. I hope you are able to join us in one or more of these gatherings. Let me highlight how we pray they serve the Gospel ministry.

1. Support For Missions: Garage Sale & Pancake Breakfast, Saturday morning at church. In 3 John, the apostle commends faithful brothers who “have gone out for the sake of the name” (v. 7). Missionaries! Then he commands the church, “we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth” (v. 8). Every summer we have a team go out from Oak Hills “for the sake of the name.” They minister alongside Sacred Road Ministries on the Native American reservation in Oregon. “We ought to support people like these.” Why? John tells us that we become “fellow workers” with those who go. By eating pancakes you will help make known God’s astonishing grace among the Native Americans. So come eat pancakes!

2. Building the Body: Prayer Gathering and Worship, Sunday 9:30am and 10:30am. Last Sunday we heard from Ephesians 4 that Christ “gave…the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (4:11-12). We have this equipping opportunity every Sunday morning as we gather for worship. This Sunday, though, we have the unique opportunity to gather with our church family in prayer at 9:30am before service. During the summer months, our monthly prayer gathering will be on the first Sunday of each month. As I have written before in the Touchpoints, praying together is a means to grow in love for one another and in discipleship. Come join us!

3. Seek to Show Hospitality: Summer Kick-Off Picnic, Sunday, 4pm. The Gospel not only reconciles us to God the Father, but also to one another, forming a new community. The vision for this new community is presented throughout the New Testament. Paul says this in Romans 12:9-13, “Let love be genuine… Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor… Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” This kind of community takes intentional time together, getting to know each other, trust one another, and serve one another. Our church picnics are not “just for kicks” (although we do enjoy having fun together); they serve a vital role in cultivating Gospel-relationships. I hope you are able to be with us.

4. Let the little Children Come: Joyplosion, Tuesday-Thursday, 6:30pm. This is our sixth year hosting Joyplosion. I love seeing our congregation serving side by side for the sake of sharing the Gospel with kids. I love seeing the kids have fun and hear of God’s love for them. I love how God uses this annual event to introduce so many families to Oak Hills. Jesus commends kids to us, saying, “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). Pray with us that God uses this program next week to open the hearts of children and volunteers alike to his astonishing love. It’s not too late to sign up and even invite friends! Let the children come!

 This is such a great way to start the summer! We’re here to know and make known God’s astonishing grace. I pray that you would be blessed by his grace as you join your church in our mission.

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