A Place to Serve
GCD Newsletter - July 19th 2023
I look up to the balcony as I’m preaching and see someone I’ve been praying for. He’s struggling with addiction and unless the Lord intervenes could lose his job soon. After the service, I make my way to the back hoping to catch him, but he had already made it out the door. Bummed, I turn around and find his wife approaching me. “Thank you for your prayers.” She gives me an update on his situation. I can hear the desperation in her voice and her gratitude for the support from so many in our church.
I take my boys home for lunch and a quick beating in NBA 2K. Then, I make a cup of hot tea and grab my computer. After a long and difficult week, some relaxing Sunday afternoon writing and reflecting sounds just right. As soon as I get settled in, I get a text from a church member. Her husband passed out at work and they are taking him to the hospital by ambulance. “I’ll be right there” I say as I throw on some clothes and head out the door.
Thankfully, he was ok. Just a little too much time in the Texas heat can do that to anyone. I pray with him and his family, and I can see the appreciation in their eyes. These moments remind me of the power of a loving presence and a caring word in the lives of others. And, it’s not just pastors who are to carry out this work…all the saints do the work of the ministry. We speak the truth to one another and exhort one another (Ephesians 4, Hebrews 3).
It’s how God designed his church to flourish.
Find a local church and commit yourself to her through thick and thin. Use your gifts, presence, and words to build up the body of Christ. Here at GCD, we want to help you along the way to mature as a disciple-making disciple, and I think the articles from last week are a good place to start.
In Christ,
James Williams serves as associate pastor at FBC Atlanta, TX. James and his wife, Jenny, are blessed with four children and are actively involved in foster care. He is passionate about beholding the beauty of our Lord and helping others do the same. He enjoys writing, running, and gardening. You can follow James Twitter or his blog where he writes regularly.
Last Week at GCDiscipleship.com
Angry and Holy: How Your Anger Can Be Righteous by Lara d’Entremont
“Any emotion can lead to sin. Our happiness over a new job could lead to unkind gloating when we’re with our friends. Our passion for theology can lead to pride when studying the Bible with those who don’t understand the long words we use. Anger likewise can become sinful, but it can also be untangled from our sinful nature and become righteous as well.”
Family Partners: Men and Women Serving Together in God’s Church by Denise Hardy
“God can bring about great relationships within a staff of men and women working together. The reality is that a church staff should be all about God and his kingdom. After all, in the kingdom to come, that’s exactly how it will be, so let’s begin to practice now. The health of the church depends on it.”
Letters to the Editor
We’d love to hear from you. Please send feedback about our articles (or anything else!) to our managing editor at Benjamin@GCDiscipleship.com. And if you’ll allow us, we’ll share your comments in future emails.