This is the start of our G4 series at Gateway Munford. G4 stands for Gather, Grow, Give, and Go. What should the church do when it gathers together? What are the important marks of gathering? Is it simply going to church, singing songs, listening to a sermon, or saying “amen”? Not exactly. According to Scripture…worship is what marks the gathering together of believers. We are going to look at what the Bible says about worship and how it is less about being in a certain place and doing external religious things and more about an internal response of the heart that leads to an outward expression of God’s worth.
THIS MESSAGE IS FROM JASON RODGERS AT OUR MUNFORS CAMPUS. IF YOU MISSED THE MESSAGE OR WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN, LISTEN ON-LINE OR TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST.
Once you’ve made your decision to follow Jesus, your have only begun to discover the changes that God wants to make in you. God wants you to grow in your faith so that ultimately you can become more and more like Jesus. Romans 8:29 tells us that it is His goal is for us to be “conformed to the image of His Son.” In other words, God wants us to mature both for our good, and so that others can see the power of God in our lives and want to know Him too.
“. . .until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord..”
Ephesians 4:13-14
Spiritual maturity is a process that takes a lifetime. It is a journey. It doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen without making some very important decisions and choices. For many of us, the hard part is figuring out what this process looks like. How do I grow? Now that I’m a Christian, how do I keep moving forward in my faith? I really want to be more like Jesus, but I don’t know what to do.
The process of becoming more like Jesus (sanctification) is found all over Scripture. It is a process you have already started by trusting Jesus. The great part about it is that you are not in this alone! God’s Spirit is working in you (Ephesians 3:20), and the church plays a HUGE role in helping one another grow. At Gateway, we have a special way of remembering the process. Over the next four weeks, we will look from Scripture at the four “G’s” of discipleship.
This message is from Steve Carpenter at our Atoka Campus. If you missed the message or want to hear it again, listen on-line or tune in to our podcast.
O Holy Night is one of the most well loved Christmas songs of all time. The music itself is emotional and moving as we think of the birth of Jesus. However, it is the depth of the words of this great song that really inspire us. The second verse of O Holy Night takes us beyond that first Christmas and points us to the ultimate reality that it is only in the name of Jesus that we have freedom and that ultimate reality that finds release from the corruption of sin. One day, the little child int he manger will return and put an end to all oppression and sin. In that day, we’ll fall on our knees and praise His name forever.
Truly He taught us to love one another.
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
and in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
with all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord, O Praise His name forever,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
If you missed the message or want to hear it again, listen on-line or tune in to our podcast.
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The Christmas season is upon us! (Like it or not!)
Every year we race to get everything done for the holidays. An already busy schedule is made busier by Christmas parties, decorating, cooking, shopping, traveling, and so many other responsibilities. Before we know it, it is December 26 and we have the distinct feeling that we’ve missed something very important. It’s because we have. We know we need to slow down, but when it’s all over, we’ve missed the essence of Christmas.
One of the songs of Christmas that best captures the essence of the season is O Holy Night.
We sing it every year but maybe we are missing the deep doctrinal truths that are buried in its lyrics. A world weighed down by sin and error, waiting for reduce and waiting for a Savior. Maybe today, you are weighed down by sin and error, wasting away without hope. . .looking for a Savior to appear.
Find hope today as we marry the words of this beautiful song to Scripture, and wake up on December 26 knowing that you’ve truly experienced Christmas.
O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our Dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared in and the soul felt its worth.
If you missed the message or want to hear it again, listen on-line or tune in to our podcast.
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