Saint John Community Church

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John.

 

Acts 2:42 offers a wonderful glimpse into the day-to-day rhythms of the early New Testament church. Over three thousand had gathered for Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came in the rush of a mighty wind and tongues of fire rested on every worshipper. Those gathered spoke in languages different from their own. Peter preached the good news about Christ. It was a grand day that marks the birth of the church.

 

Following the account of Pentecost, Acts offers a quick summary of various characteristics of the early church. The church devoted itself to the Apostles’ teaching, was earnest about building fellowship, regularly celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and constantly offered prayers to God. These things were fundamental to the life of the early New Testament church.

 

The church’s desire for fellowship was particularly striking. Those who made up the early church cared for one another deeply. They looked out for one another. They saw to one another’s needs, sometimes to the point of sacrifice.  Their fellowship contributed to the growth of the church. Life in the early church was not so much a “God and me” thing as a “God and we” thing.

Pastor Ashlee Adkins continues our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John.

 

Francis Chan says, “But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through.”

 

We know throughout Scripture, whether it’s coming from Jesus or from Paul, that being a disciple isn’t easy. When we choose Christ and accept his call into discipleship, we choose a path that comes with hardship, discomfort, and suffering. But as disciples, we are never alone. The Holy Spirit walks with us, strengthening us and equipping us through the hard times we will face as we partner with God in his Kingdom work.

 

At Saint John, we are discipleship driven. As those who love Jesus and serve Jesus, we can’t be driven by anything else.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John.

 

This week we find ourselves back in prison. We spoke briefly last week about Paul and Silas being freed from the jail in Philippi by a well-timed earthquake. The earthquake not only got Paul and Silas’ attention but also that of the jailer. He was about to take his own life when Paul and Silas intervened. The man asked how he could be saved, and Paul and Silas told him to believe in Jesus. The man was saved that day and was so touched that he got his family involved as well. The whole household was baptized, and we can only imagine that they became an important part of the Philippian Church.

 

Today we consider not only the new life that came to the Philippian jailer, but to his entire family. The jailer was focused not just on Jesus, but on family was well. The same is true for us as a church. We are focused on Jesus and on family, both our own families and those in our community. That focus is a part of our identity and is important when it comes to reaching out in the name of Christ.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John.

 

Paul did some of his best work from prison, or maybe we should say that God did some of his best work while Paul was imprisoned. Of course, we remember Paul and Silas singing and praising God in the Philippian jail when an earthquake set them free. The jailer was so distressed that he was ready to take his own life. Paul and Silas stepped in, and the man asked how he might be saved.

 

As we know, Paul wrote from prison, most pointedly from Rome. One of these letters was to the church in Philippi. It was a thank you note where he also shared about his deep devotion to Christ.  Paul’s reason for being was to exalt Christ.  Whether in life or death, it was Paul’s desire to bring glory to Jesus. In Philippians 1:21, Paul offers a hopeful word tied to the power of Christ’s resurrection from the dead when he resoundingly states, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

 

That is a powerful statement for us as we seek to live in the power of Christ’s resurrection.  Whether in life or death, we are called to be centered in Christ.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John.

 

This week we consider Christ’s most challenging word.  He would affirm that we need to love God and love others.  That’s a given.  He puts some flesh on that by challenging us to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.”  We know from experience that doing so is by no means easy. We consider such a challenge and quickly realize that if we are to attain this high calling, we will need some help.  That help comes from the Lord.  We will never be able to scale the heights of the sort of love Jesus talks about without the secure knowledge that God loves us first.  We love because we have first been loved.

 

Jesus challenges us even further.  He calls on us to “be perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect.”  This too is unattainable without the wonderworking power of God in our lives.  The perfection Jesus talks about is tied to love.  It is also tied to the transformative power of God to continually make us over into the image of Christ.  He does this as we allow him to mold and shape us into the sort of people, he wants us to be.  Allowing God to do his thing will bring us to the place where we—even we—will be able to “love everyone.”

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John.

 

Service is a natural outgrowth of being a Christ-follower. It is so intrinsic to the Christian walk that we might dare say, “We were created to serve.”

 

Scripture teaches that God gives each person gifts that when rightly identified and rightly used go a long way toward making a difference. Peter talks about this in I Peter 4:10 when he writes that “each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

 

We are, in effect, stewards of the marvelous ways God has worked in our lives. He has bestowed upon us gifts that are to be used in service to others. When that happens, not only are others helped, but God is glorified.

 

Pastors Tom Grieb and Ashlee Adkins continue our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John.

 

Offering hope is an integral part of the vision of our church.  When we speak about offering hope, we mean sharing the good news that is ours in Jesus Christ.  That news makes a supreme difference in the lives of those who accept it.  In a sometimes seemingly hopeless world, it is good to know there is hope in Christ.

 

We should find ourselves prepared at every turn to share that hope.  That is best done with gentleness, respect, patience, and good instruction.  It is also best shared in relationship.  Jesus was all about relationship and the things he shared were best received in relationship.  It comes to us to do as Jesus did—to be in relationship with others, seeking to offer the grand hope he came to share.

Pastor Tom Grieb kicks off our new series, “Making a Difference,” based on Saint John’s vision and values.

 

If there is one thing you can say about the Apostle Paul, it is that he was focused on following Jesus. Ever since his conversion on the Damascus Road it was his every desire to know Christ and follow him without reservation. He was pleased to let what was past stay in the past and to press forward toward the goal that was his heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

Paul’s desire to follow Jesus led to a life of undying discipline and deep devotion, which made a great difference in Paul’s life and in the lives of those around him. Wherever Paul traveled, people were led to follow Christ and God’s Kingdom was furthered. The world was never the same again. Talk about making a difference! How does it go for you when it comes to following Christ?

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our “Lessons in Leadership” series based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

The completion of the wall around Jerusalem befitted a formal dedication, not unlike a dedication that takes place for a building of any significance.  Church buildings, for instance, are routinely dedicated upon their completion.  Nehemiah knew, however, that before the wall could be dedicated the people needed to get their hearts right before God.

 

Nehemiah called on the people to do some soul-searching after the wall was completed and before its dedication.  Under Nehemiah’s leadership they were called to dedicate themselves wholly to God.  This was necessary for them to prepare not only for the wall’s dedication but for what God had in store for them moving forward.

 

Being wholly dedicated to God is a daily decision that puts us right where we need to be—at God’s disposal.  It takes the focus off of ourselves and puts it squarely where it needs to be--upon God.  By so doing, our lives will become a celebration of God’s good work in our lives.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our "Lessons in Leadership" series based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

One of the distinctive characteristics of an effective leader is the ability to follow through.  Many live under the assumption that when it comes to leadership, just talking a good game is enough.  The proof is in the pudding.  Getting things done sets an effective leader apart.

 

Nehemiah, among many things, had that innate ability to follow through.  He was a visionary, but was also able to translate that vision into everyday life.  When it came to rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, Nehemiah was focused on seeing things through.  The scripture reports that the restoration of the wall was completed in a miraculous fifty-two days.  Nehemiah, along with all others who joined him, demonstrated the power of following through.  We’d do well to demonstrate the same.