October 10, 2004

Reading through the Bible in one Year: Psalm 119

Weekly Memory Verse: Romans 12:5

Good Evening Brothers and Sisters,

Today we were able to start a new section in the book.  It focuses upon how that one of our purposes is to be a part of the family of God.  The first step in showing the family of God that we are believers is through Baptism.  Rick expounded on that a bit.  I am going to do a greatly abbreviated version of the study today.  I got up early this morning and started working on packing up the remaining stuff that is in the house.  I will be glad when we are finally out of the house and the moving is over.  If all goes well, we will be out of the house by Saturday.

Hebrews 2:10 (NASB95)
¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

1 John 3:1 (NASB95)
¹ See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Ephesians 1:5 (NASB95)
⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ^[1]

God loves relationships.  He created us to relate to one another, not to stand alone.  The fellowship of believers has become like a second family to those who believe in Christ.  Careful study of the New Testament reveals that we are to relate to each other and to use our unique abilities to take care of and to minister to the needs of the people.

I am constantly running into floaters, who shift from church to church, but never stay long enough in one church to put down roots.  I think that there is a few reasons for this.  First the people who float from church to church do not realize who important that they are to the local body of believers.  The second is a matter of personal safety for the individual who is floating.  There isn’t a threat to our position in life if we don’t know people well enough to be challenged and exhorted by them.  Floating is like belonging to a large congregation, depending upon which church a person goes to, he will be able to remain anonymous and still be a part of the local ministry.  In this short study I did not cover the entire chapter, basically this is a reminder to you to read, and comment if you wish.

I would encourage you as we enter a new section of this book to get plugged into your local church body.  Don’t continue to make excuses, just bite the bullet and become involved to the best of your ability.  At first it may seem like busy work, but in God’s eyes, it is all wonderful.

Father, draw each person into a fellowship of local believers that will exhort and build them up in Christ. 

In Him,

Joe Turner.