Bill’s Bestowals:
“The Master of Life”
“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words
of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
(John 6:68-69)
What does being a disciple of Jesus mean to you? Really think about that for a few moments. I’ll wait …
Now that you have considered: many people believe “Christian” and “Disciple” to be the essentially the same. They are not! One (Christian) is a choice. The other (Disciple) is a commitment. One can easily be a Christian without being a disciple … and many are! The question is, are you among them? Read on …
“Disciple” and “discipline” are obviously connected. The word “disciple” comes from the Latin word for “learner,” while “discipline” comes from Latin for “instruction; knowledge.” Essentially, a disciple is someone who learns from a teacher, and then will fully put what they have learned into practice. Put another way: the disciple willingly allows their behavior to be controlled by the instruction of their teacher (AKA “master” in Jesus’ time).
To be a disciple of Master Jesus, therefore, would be to constantly seek instruction and knowledge from Him, and then – here is the crux – to live wholeheartedly according to what He teaches! In the words of a great Christian thinker named Francis Chan: “He (our teacher, Jesus) wants all or nothing. The thought of a person calling himself a ‘Christian’ without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.”
Now think about your answer to the original question: What does being a disciple of Jesus mean to you? If you are indeed a disciple of Jesus, you are saying “I believe Jesus knows what is best for my life, so I am actively seeking His knowledge, and living by it in all things.” How are you doing with that?
If you are like me, you can name a lot of areas of life you are withholding from the great teacher. I’m not going to go into any detail, but I don’t always choose to follow what I know He would say is best for my life. Don’t answer out loud, but what is it for you? Is it your recreational choices? Your relational choices? Your web-surfing choices? Your wallet? What?
If we have truly made the choice to follow Jesus – to see Him as the “Master of Life” and be His disciples – we need to understand who He is, and what He teaches about life.
This Sunday, September 3, a new sermon series will begin with that thought in mind. More than ever I hope you will all commit to hearing and living the messages you will hear between now and the end of the year, because every message is going to help you get to know our “Master of Life!” If you miss, you can view them online. For my part, I commit to doing everything possible to make the series fun and compelling!
Shalom! Pastor Bill
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A NEW MEMBER’S CLASS will begin on September 24! The class will follow worship each week (Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 8 and 15; it will follow lunch on the 15th) and will last for four weeks total. Lunch will be provided. Guests, we welcome you to take part and look forward to sharing what we are all about with you!
The class is open to members as well, of course – those who would like a “refresher course,” AND those who wish to attend simply to get to know the others in the class.
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September 2023 Calendar:
Sunday: Fellowship Hour – 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School – 9:45 a.m.
Worship – 11 a.m.
Wednesday: L.I.F.T. (Youth Group) – 5 p.m.
Thursday: Grief Share – 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Sept. 2: PW Meeting, 10 a.m.
Sept. 5: Christian Education Committee Meeting, 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 5: Mission Committee Meeting, 5 p.m.
Sept. 6: Fellowship Committee Meeting, 10 a.m.
Sept. 7: Worship Committee Meeting, 12:15 p.m.
Sept. 9: Susan Slinkerd 75th Birthday Celebration in Ashdown, Arkansas.
Sept. 12: Building & Grounds Committee Meeting, 10 a.m.
Sept. 12: Membership & Evangelism Committee Meeting, 6 p.m.
Sept. 15-17: Presbytery of Arkansas “Youthquake.”
Sept. 17: Fellowship Potluck Meal following Worship
Sept. 18: SFA Committee Meeting, 1 p.m.
Sept. 20: Session Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: New Member’s Class (part one) follows worship.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
1 – Colleen Amidei 14 – Lorelei Meador
1 – Caitlyn Rode 23 – Anna Burt
4 – Katherine Bisbee 23 – Georgia & Mike Landry
5 – Wes Stiefer 28 – Leon Myers
9 – Susan Slinkerd 29 – Tommy Myers
SERVING THIS MONTH:
Ushers: David Spurgin & Lois Morrow
Communion Preparers: Susan Seitz & Paula Dearing
Communion Servers: Leon Myers, Garrett Lundberg, Wes Stiefer
Judy Thompson & Chuck Schroyer
SPECIAL COLLECTION SUNDAYS:
September 3: Personal Care Collection
September 24: Goodland Academy
