Sunday School, our method for becoming like Jesus

This past Sunday was an awesome day. We had 166 individuals in Sunday school becoming like Jesus, and we have 264 people and the two morning services. God is great, but, as I evaluate these numbers, who by the way are people, I realized that there were in 99 individuals who had not attended a Sunday School class. They missed an opportunity to become more like Jesus.

One of the goals of Ridglea is to help people who believe in God assimilate into a Sunday School class where they will become more like Jesus. Then, with the help of their class, they are to go out into the community and bear Spirit-filled fruit. So, I will be asking the Sunday School leadership to start new mission classes to focus on those who are not in Sunday school at his time. But, it is not all up to the new class to reach these folks. The established classes are charged with finding and assimilating people into their classes as well. Go, therefore, and make disciples. May God help us as we Believe, Become and Bear.

Believe, Become and Bear

It is my desire to simplify the church so that we can focus on the mission God has given us. That mission is to help people Believe God, Become like Jesus, and Bear Spirit-filled fruit. This simplification does not mean we take our walk with God for granted. Rather, it means that you have greater time and opportunity to deepen your relationship with your Master. Don't be satisfied with where you are; strive to be a deeper, more committed disciple of Christ.

As your pastor, I have high hopes and expectations for you. I refuse to let you stay the way that you are. I do love you, just as you are, but my love for you requires that I spur you along as you grow in your faith. I am confident as you deepen your relationship and move quickly in your walk with God that you will be afforded many opportunities to share your faith. This will multiply our numbers so that we obtain the simple goal that we aspire and that is to Believe, Become and Bear.

Keeping It In Motion

I apologize for my absenteeism in journaling. I will do much better in the days to come, I promise. Thank you for your participation in the Revival services. Never before have I seen so many visitors, friends and family come together to worship. I was and am richly blessed by the attendance. We had three professions of faith and six others to join by letter or statement.

Revivals are a good way to get the momentum going, but it takes effort to keep things in motion. Continue to invite friends, family and coworkers so that they may hear the word of God and be saved. The next three Sundays I have declared the FREE LUNCH PROGRAM, here is how it works. You invite someone to be your guest next Sunday morning or night or the following Sunday morning or even Easter Sunday. I will preach Christ and Him crucified so that any lost person will be able to understand that Jesus died for their sins and by accepting the LORDSHIP of Christ they can be saved. Your part is to provide them with a free lunch afterwards. Weather you cook it or buy it is up to you. Just get your lost or wayward friend to church, I will preach the Word and God will do the rest.

Visitation

I'm looking for 16 people to help with visitation on Tuesday night at six o'clock. You will be asked to visit once a month for seven months. That means seven nights a visitation per year. Be in prayer as to whether God would have you participate or not. Sunday morning, I will give you the opportunity to sign up to join a visitation team. There will be a one night training session in the next week or two. There are many people visiting Ridglea Heights Baptist Church and they need to know that we love and care about them; so, we are going to visit them. Being a part of this visitation team allows you to bear Spirit-filled fruit in our community.

I would like to invite several married couples to join Tinell and I as we participate in lovingly committed 24/7 retreat February 13^th, 14^th and 15^th. Good marriages don't become good marriages by accident. They take a lot of hard work. So come and participate and let your marriage become one of the great ones.

This past Sunday was a tremendous day. The 8:30 service and 11:00 service were filled with people wanting to hear the Word of God so that it can help them become more like Jesus. Help me as I pray that our Sunday school will grow to over 200 participants. It is very important that we become like Jesus. The best way for us to be transformed into the image of Jesus is through basic Bible study. Let's all get involved in Sunday. By the way, spread the word, I'll be starting a new pastor’s class on the last Sunday of January. It will be located in the sanctuary and it will start at 10:00a.m. It's open to anyone who is not going to Sunday school now or any new believers, who would like to learn more about basic Christianity and what we believe here at Ridglea Heights Baptist Church.

New Sunday School Class

All is well at Ridglea Heights Baptist Church. We are preparing for the New Year. The workday went really well this Saturday; Mitch, Dustin and myself would like to thank you so much for your participation, a lot of great work was done. Please be listening close as we prepare to start up a new year of visitation. In a few weeks you will be asked to join our visitation teams. I am asking at least six people to volunteer for one Tuesday night a month. You choose the Tuesday, just let me know so we can schedule you for that night. God has blessed us with a large number of visitors here at Ridglea Heights. We need to let them know that we care.

Also for those of you who do not attend Sunday School or have just recently joined Ridglea Heights Baptist Church were going to have a new Sunday School class. This class will last about 13 weeks, and in it we would talk about the things that we believe here at Ridglea Heights Baptist Church and will answer any questions that you have. We will meet in the sanctuary each Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. I look forward to seeing some of you there.

Community Celebration

I just want to remind everyone that we are celebrating the community of Hurley this Saturday at the Lumb Cumbust Park. The gathering will begin at three and last until five o'clock. The praise band will be there, hamburgers and hot dogs will be available. Good fellowship will be had by all. Bring the kids and a chair. I look forward to seeing you, remember God loves you and so do.

You will find happiness...

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” These are the words spoken by Jesus in the Revelation to John. It does us well to heed these words, because God has placed us here on earth to carry out the good works he created us for. Spend some time today discerning God’s will in your life. Set before you today are task that God has ordained to help grow His Kingdom. When you fulfilled His task you will find happiness, peace and contentment.