The Gospel of Luke: Arrival (By Thomas Hill)

The Gospel of Luke: Arrival

You know Jesus, Paul, and Peter, but do you know Dr. Luke? He was a first-century physician raised in Antioch, the city that was home to the local church that launched Paul's mission to the Gentiles. He became one of Paul's coworkers and traveling companions, traversing the Mediterranean region, making disciples of Jesus, and establishing churches. Though not an apostle himself, Luke was a close companion of Paul's and associated with many eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life.

Luke stands as one of the most influential yet unfamiliar figures of the New Testament. Working under Paul’s supervision, the Holy Spirit inspired the doctor to write almost one-third of the New Testament. Generated from his detailed research and experiences, he penned the Gospel bearing his name and Acts (some scholars theorize that he could have been the unnamed author behind Hebrews, too.) The Lord uniquely used Luke to set down a scriptural record of the life of Jesus and the subsequent ministry of the apostles. The Spirit's use of Dr. Luke to set forth sound doctrine for the church is often underappreciated.

This Sunday, November 10, we plan to begin our next sermon series studying Dr. Luke's Gospel. Through Christmas, we will consider his account of the arrival of Jesus, the long-anticipated Christ. Our journey begins this Sunday with Luke 1:1-4, “A Purposeful Preface.” Not only is this sermon series a perfect way to observe Advent and Christmas, but it is also a gospel opportunity for all. Around us are family and friends who would enjoy learning about Jesus’s arrival and his life-changing importance. Who can you invite to come along with you this Sunday to study Luke?

Proposed 2025 Ministry Plan & Budget

At the upcoming November 17 quarterly members meeting, the elders ask the church to approve the proposed 2025 ministry plan and budget. The elders, finance team, and staff have prepared a budget that reflects the church's biblical mission and our giving trends. I am thankful for the work of each of these groups in assembling this budget.

The budget is more than the numbers. It stands as a plan to undergird a vibrant local church ministry while engaging the world with the Gospel. You should notice that the proposed budget has been reduced by $52,000 from last year to more closely reflect the giving trends of our membership. Our prayer is that the church will give cheerfully, generously, and proportionally so that the church runs with a consistent surplus (income exceeding expenses).

As you consider this budget, also consider the important part you play in its support. Just as every member is vital to the life of our church, so too does the church need every member's generosity. Regardless of the size of our gifts, we are all to honor the Lord and his church with faithful, generous support that is proportional to our means.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Disciples Replicate (By Thomas Hill)

Disciples Replicate

On Sunday, we completed the four-part sermon series, Living as Disciples. In this closing message, we learned that disciples replicate or multiply by taking the initiative to help others treasure and follow Jesus. Jesus authorized his disciples to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:18–20). Making disciples from Griffin to the ends of the earth stands as Jesus' mandate for us today. Each of us plays a crucial role in this mission.

Knowing Jesus motivates us to replicate for three reasons. First, as we live as disciples, we abide closely with the Lord. Second, we want to love others the way Jesus taught us to love others. He loved his disciples by investing three years in replicating his life, wisdom, and example in them so they would carry on his disciple-making mission. Finally, replication motivates us because the fullness of joy is found in obeying Jesus’ commandment to make disciples among all nations. Knowing Jesus, loving others, and experiencing joy stand as stirring incentives to take the risk of making disciples.

Weight yourself. Are you replicating by taking the initiative to help others treasure and follow Jesus? Do you have a practical plan for engaging the lost and training new believers in the obedience of faith? What is inhibiting you from multiplying?

Upcoming Preaching Schedule

This coming Sunday, Reese Simmons will be preaching from John 10:1-21, Christ Our Shepherd. I look forward, along with you, to sitting under Reese’s exposition of God’s word. Pray for him and familiarize yourself with the passage before Sunday.

Lord willing, on November 10, I plan to begin preaching a new series through the Gospel of Luke. In November and December we will learn of the arrival of Jesus in the first two chapters of the Gospel. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite friends to gathered worship with you – especially those unfamiliar with the life of Jesus.

Time Change Sunday

Remember, this Sunday is also one of the most glorious days of the year for another reason — we gain an hour of sleep! Enjoy the extra sleep, arrive at the correct time, and come with rested bodies to glorify the Lord as his gathered church.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Disciples Speak the Good News of Jesus to the World in the Spirit’s Power (By Thomas Hill)

Yesterday, in the third message in our current four-part sermon series, Living as Disciples, we learned that disciples speak the good news of Jesus to the world in the Spirit’s power. Jesus commissioned his disciples to go into the world and announce the reason for his coming: “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).

Jesus' followers must speak of him to the surrounding world for several reasons. First, other people are not mind readers. We must verbalize Jesus' significance. Second, this news of Jesus is not intuitive and natural. It cannot be learned in isolation. Third, forgiveness requires the response of repentance. In their natural sinful condition, people are not okay. Fourth, speaking in is God’s glorious design to involve us in his mission of redemption. Finally, speaking is necessary because the Lord wants us to live by faith, depending on his power.

What, then, should we say? We should speak the gospel: the news of God’s glorious character, man’s sinful depravity, Jesus’ gracious salvation, and our need to respond in repentance and faith. We should also speak the Scriptures through expository preaching, biblical theology, and Bible-guided discipleship. We should speak with humility, urgency, and gracious joyfulness (Col 4:3-6).

Weight yourself. Are you speaking the good news of Jesus to the world in the Spirit’s power? Are you modeling this characteristic of disciples for others? Are you training others to speak of Jesus to the surrounding world? May the Spirit strengthen our faithfulness to speak much of our savior!

Disciples Replicate

This coming Sunday, in the final message of this series, we will learn that Jesus’ disciples are to replicate. In the wake of our lives, one should find a steady stream of disciples whom we have helped to follow Jesus. Do you know someone who would benefit from these sermons on living as disciples? Invite them to come with you this Sunday!

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Disciples Follow Jesus’ Commands In Spirit-Driven Faith (By Thomas Hill)

Yesterday, in the second message in our current four-part sermon series, Living as Disciples, we learned that disciples follow Jesus’ commands in Spirit-driven faith. Jesus emphasized this dedication when teaching the twelve the night before he was crucified: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17).

Those who treasure Jesus above all express such love by following Jesus' teachings. But what's more, the Holy Spirit indwells disciples, providing us with the support and guidance we need to walk in obedience. Such God-pleasing obedience requires risk on our part, meaning that we step out in faith to obey our Lord's commands. We follow by faith not because it always makes sense to us but because we love him and he has spoken.

We should, then, ask: What are Jesus's commandments? His commandments include not only the imperatives found in the New Testament gospels but all of the Father’s revealed will. Here is a list of some of the most foundational commands that are important for both new and experienced disciples to follow:

1. Repent and believe: Mark 1:15

2. Be baptized: Matthew 28:19

3. Gather with the church: Matt 16:18, 18:17; John 13:34-35; Hebrews 10:24-25

4. Learn the Bible: John 5:39-40, 17:17; Luke 24:27

5. Pray: Matthew 6:9

6. Love one another: John 13:35-35

7. Eat the Lord’s Supper: Luke 22:14-20

8. Give time, talent, treasure: Matthew 6:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:6-8

9. Put off Sins & Put on Virtues: Luke 9:23-26; Ephesians 4:17-32

10. Make disciples: Matthew 28:18-20

Weight yourself. Does your life reflect consistency following Jesus’ commands in Spirit-driven faith.? Are you helping others to live as obedient disciples? May the Spirit strengthen our love for him as we delight in walking in his instructions!

Disciples Speak

This coming Sunday, in the third message of this series, we will learn that Jesus’ disciples speak the gospel to others. A reason the Lord has given you new life as his disciple is to make known to the nations that Christ has suffered, risen from the dead, and that he will forgive the sins of all who repent and believe. As caring disciples, it's our responsibility to invite others to experience this transformative message. Do you know someone who would benefit from these sermons on living as disciples? Invite them to come with you this Sunday!

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

5 Habits of a World Christian (By Thomas Hill)

A big take away from Jonah is that we should share God's compassion for all people worldwide. We should rejoice as the Spirit uses the Word of God proclaimed by missionaries, pastors, and everyday believers to transform people of all languages and backgrounds.  Obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) should mark each of our lives. Here are five habits of world Christians -- those who share God's heart for the nations (1):

1. Going: A world Christian is willing to go wherever the Lord sends. In some cases this means moving to a foreign land and learning a new language. But in all cases, we must speak the gospel to unbelievers around whom we live, work, and play.

2. Praying: A world Christian prays consistently for God's name to be hallowed among all tribes in the world. The needs of missionaries and the persecuted church are a daily part of intercession.

3. Giving: A world Christian generously supports global missions financially.

4. Hospitality: A world Christian provides gospel-centered hospitality to those from the nations who live in our community, such as refugee and English Language ministries.

5. Mobilizing: A world Christian labors to send workers out to the nations by providing prayer, financial support, and encouragement.

Let's cultivate these five habits of world Christians in our lives for the glory of Jesus Christ!

For His Glory,
 
Pastor Thomas


(1)  George G. Robinson, "What is the Responsibility of each Christian to the Great Commission?" 40 Questions about the Great Commission, 279.

Disciples Treasure Jesus Above All (By Thomas Hill)

Churches have historically tracked attendance and giving as measures of church strength. These metrics are not useless, and our church tracks them, but they do not quantify some of the essential attributes of growing believers and healthy churches. Dallas Willard proposes, “Instead of counting Christians, we need to weigh them.”[1] In our new sermon series, Living as Disciples, I aim for us to appreciate what it means to live as disciples of Jesus personally and identify biblical criteria for evaluating our practice of making disciples congregationally. Each Sunday, we are developing a "scorecard" for weighing how we are living as disciples who are making disciples.

This past Sunday, we learned that disciples treasure Jesus above all (Matt 13:44). Practically, this shows up in our lives in four ways:

1.      Satisfying our faith in Jesus (Mark 1:15; Matt 11:28-30)

2.      Abiding with Jesus (John 15:4-8)

3.      Conforming our lifestyle to Jesus (John 13:34-35)

4.      Joyfully enduring loss for Jesus’ sake (Mark 13:34-35)

 Weight yourself. Does your life reflect such treasuring of Jesus above all? Are you helping others to live as disciples with these priorities? May the Spirit strengthen within us a white-hot passion for the Lord above all!

Disciples Follow

This coming Sunday, in the second message of this series, we will find that Jesus’ disciples follow his commands faithfully. In the pages of the gospels, we will discover ten essential commands that Jesus-treasuring disciples follow in Spirit-driven faith. Do you know someone who would benefit from these sermons on living as disciples? Invite them to come with you this Sunday!

 For His Glory,

 Pastor Thomas

[1] Robby Gallaty, Marcs of a Disciple, xvii.

God’s Word Builds His Church (By Thomas Hill)

Do you trust God's word to build his church? This question is a massive one! The answer deeply shapes our church's philosophy of ministry. We operate with this leading conviction: The Holy Spirit uses Scripture to transform ungodly sinners into mature disciples of Jesus Christ.

Don’t take my word for it – this is what the Lord revealed to Paul:

“Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

The sacred writings, that is, Scripture, are the Spirit’s inspired instrument for salvation and sanctification. Everything you need to mature as a follower of Jesus comes from learning, interpreting, and applying the Bible in your life by faith.

As I stated, this has massive implications for how our church carries out ministry. We must feature God's word in our ministries if we are to see people born again and maturing as disciples. Here are several ways we depend on God to build his church through his word:

1.      Expositional preaching: preaching in which the point of the sermon is the point of the biblical text.

2.      Word-centered worship: worship elements are shaped deeply by Scripture and the directives of Scripture.

3.      Bible-guided discipleship: using the Bible as our primary resource for training disciples to learn to obey Jesus.

We believe that the Holy Spirit uses God’s word to build his church. Let’s pray for strong appetites to encounter God daily and congregationally each Sunday in his word.

Jonah 3: Obeying & Relenting

This Sunday, we will see what happens within Nineveh when Jonah preaches to the pagan city. What would you expect? Antagonism? Persecution? Laughter? Nineveh's quick repentance stands as a stirring example that challenges all to have consciences that are tender to God’s word. Pray for the preaching of the word this Sunday, come with warm hearts ready to worship, and bring an unbelieving friend to hear the gospel.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas