|
 Dear
Saints:
When
you read this message, my family and I will still be on
vacation. I hope you have had a blessed Christmas and a happy
New Year. Liz, Meaghan, Graceanne, and I would like to thank
you for the many ways in which you showed your love for us this
Christmas season through your kind remarks, cards, and gifts of
various sorts. What a blessing you are!
As
we enter into this new year of ministry together here at St.
Matthew, I simply wish to say how excited I am to be your
pastor. It is indeed a good time to be the church! There
is a mission field out there in Columbus, and our city is filled with
people in need of hearing the good news that in Jesus there is hope
for them personally, and for the entire world! And, God
willing, we will be a part of his plan to reach them!
Some
of you have already begun to experience the joy that comes with
living a purpose-driven life as you have studied the book by the same
name by Pastor Rick Warren. Some of you have gone a step
further and read a Lutheran offshoot of this book written by Pastor
Mike Foss. His book, Power
Surge, deals
more specifically with how a congregation (not just an individual)
can live with purpose.
I
am fully convinced that this model is a timeless, God-given,
biblical model for our era and for our congregation. What makes
this model for living the Christian life so appealing is that it's
easy to understand. The goal of the Purpose-Driven model is
simply this: to become more intentional about following Jesus—in all
areas of our lives—and thus to fulfill God's purpose for us in
the world.
Very
briefly, there are five "purposes" that we as individuals
and as a congregation must emphasize if we are to be fully living out
our calling as Christ's disciples. They are 1) Worship: to
glorify and please God, 2) Fellowship: to be involved in God's
family, 3) Discipleship: to become more like Christ, 4) Ministry: to
serve others in Christ's name, and 5) Evangelism: to engage in
mission for Christ.
Are
you happy with your life? Do you have a sense of purpose and
direction? Are you as committed to following Jesus as you could
be? This year there will be opportunities for you to learn more
about living a purpose-driven life, and I encourage each of you
reading this article to take advantage of one or more of them when
they arise.
In
the meantime, may I ask one favor of you? That you make it a
point to pray regularly for St. Matthew—for our people, our
congregational leaders, and for me—that God will increase our
faith in, and our love for, him; that he will place within us a
desire to glorify and serve him; and, most of all—that he will
give us a deep sense of purpose for what he calls us to be and do
here in Columbus and beyond.
"For
I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." –
Jeremiah
29:11, NIV
Grace
and peace,
Pastor
Larry |
