We do not naturally love those that are not family and friends. We tend to shy away from loving the unlovely and sinful, but those are the exact people Jesus has called us to love. In this message, Missionary Dwight Tomlinson offers four words to show how Christians can have a heart for the world:

The church plays a vital, yet often overlooked, role in the growth and development of the believer. We have relegated this vital institution as little more than a convenient gathering and social activity. But what does edifying truly look like? How are we, each day, to allow others to play a role in our spiritual development, as well as intentionally enter into the same work in others?

As a church we have had, in recent times, a heavy focus on that middle part of the Great Commission, “teaching them to observe (that is, to do) all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (v.20a) and we have not “scratched the surface” of the need in this. But, mission month is the call to pull back from my emphasis on the training side of discipleship, and remember that there is an evangelistic side of discipleship. In fact, doing all the things which Jesus said, would include, in a large way, the work of evangelism, and not just a corporate thing where the church is doing it, but a personal thing, where each one of us is doing it, just as Jesus taught us.

Let us leave on the table, as a point of fact, that not everyone in the local assembly is called to “Go” somewhere as a missionary. Yet, we can , and must, consider these three things which every one of us are called to…

1. Give in the Spirit

2. Grow in the Faith

3. Glory in the Lord

As you look at much of the missions work and the missionaries going out today, most of them are going to places where the gospel has already gone. Now, we are glad for what has been done and is still being done in all those places, but what about the other places?

Current reports have it at anywhere from 1-3.5% of missions giving goes to unreached areas. I believe Paul had a relentless drive to take the gospel to the people and places the gospel had not yet been, not for his own glory, but for the glory of God! We too should, and can, share in this holy desire and in 2 Corinthians, which may be called a "Global Missions Manual," the apostle gives us some very specific ways in which we can truly extend our reach into the regions beyond.

Be Ready! Jesus says, because you know I am returning, and you know now what will happen, what to expect, you know that you must be ready for that day. But since we do not know when the day will be we must live ready every day in order to be ready for that day.

How many of you, like me, would say, “I am not living as ready as I know I should, and to be fair to my heart, I am not living as ready as I know I could?” But we can say, “Lord, that is how I want to live! Though I am not there, I still fail and live too often like the bound guy, the one under the weight of his besetting sin, than living like the holy guy who is actually free and made new in Christ." So, what can we do? How can we live ready so that we are ready?

We Come to Him to be Received, we Follow Him to be Remade, and we Abide in Him to be Resourced, For, only as we abide in Him do we truly receive everything needed to bear fruit for the glory of God, and everything required to live real life!

Why is it then, that we sometimes seem to be under such a heavy yoke and such a difficult load? What gets us out from under Jesus’ yoke and back trying to pull our own? In other words...What are the unnecessary burdens which we find ourselves bearing, and to which Jesus offers us this exchange?

Can anyone claim to be righteous? In this message, Missionary John Alvies reminds us that every Christian is righteous because Christ is the foundation of our righteousness. Jesus Christ became sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Here we are, one week into the New Year and for most, it is customary to begin the year setting some goals, deciding to live better, to become more of the person we long to truly be. Now, it makes sense to start with prayer because prayer is where all our life in the kingdom of God, in the way of Christ, must begin. There is absolutely nothing else which is more fundamental and necessary to the devout life than prayer. And in terms of learning to do all the things Jesus taught and did, there is nothing for which we have a more direct starting point than prayer.

No matter to what level you may make plans, set goals, or determine some resolutions for the New Year, we likely all have some expectations and hopes as we come into it. James offers us a very powerful approach to planning for the New Year in James 4, but long before we can even start planning, we have some other matters we must deal with!