5 Attributes of Grace

1 Peter 5 gives guidance for church leaders:

5 Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fadeImage result for 1 peter 5s away. 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for:

“God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:1-5

 

From this passage, we glean 5 Attributes of Grace.  These attributes of Grace are not just the responsibility of the leadership, they are the responsibility of all of us.

  1. Tend the Flock – Care for the needs of one another.
    • Care for our Spiritual Lives
      • Regular attendance in Worship (at least twice a month).
      • Regular participation in a group Bible Study: it is important we all engage in a regular group Bible study to further our understanding of scripture. I attend a group Bible Study at Beulah Beach twice a month.
      • Care for our families and ourselves
        1. Give attention to our personal relationships especially our marriages and children.
        2. Give attention to your health: Physical, Mental, Financial, Emotional and Spiritual.
    • Care for the congregation
      1. Listen, Listen, Listen – Listen to the concerns and needs of one another and respond.
      2. Exercise Oversight –
        1. Policy and Direction – This is set by the leaders of the church with consideration and input from the congregation.
    • Willingly Serve –
      1. Serve the Lord with Joy. There are many opportunities to serve.
    • Set the example –
      1. Model grace with another. We all make mistakes.
    • Clothe ourselves with humility –
      1. We cannot do it all ourselves.

 

 

 

Worship is a part of all we do and is displayed in our meetings.  Below is a worship format to use in Committee and Team meetings.

 

A Moment of Worship for Church meetings:

–Light a Christ Candle – as reminder of the light of God among us.

–Acknowledge the Jesus chair – will have a banner of the church season.  This symbolizes Christ’s presence.  In addition, all decisions and discussion should bring honor to Christ.

–Devotion/Scripture Reading – Led by Chair or designee.  Daily readings can be found in the bulletin.  Use another meaningful scripture or ask Pastor David for suggestions.

–Prayer: Prayer for members of our congregation, our community and the current meeting.

-Continue with meeting agenda

Committee chairs are responsible for making sure worship takes place in committee meetings.  Anyone can lead worship.  If you would like Pastor David to lead, please contact him prior to the meeting.

-Committee meetings should be scheduled through the church office.  This makes sure the meetings are on the church calendar.

 

Pastor David.

Importance of body to God

  1. God has given immeasurable honor to the body by creating it in His image.  Isaiah 6:1 tells that Isaiah saw the Lord siting on a throne high and lifted up. Obviously recognizable.
  2. God has honored the human body by giving His Son a human body.
  3. God has honored the human body by purchasing it. Jesus’ human death on the cross gave eternal life to those who believe along with bearing all our sicknesses and all our sufferings. Want to put a price on our bodies? The price is the price of the silver of Jesus’ tears and the gold of His blood and His poured-out life on Calvary (I Peter 1:18-19)
  4. God has decided to make our bodies the temples of His Holy Spirit when we are Christians.
  5. God established a beautiful interrelationship between Himself and our bodies. The body is not for sin but for the Lord. (I Corinthians 6:13) When we give our bodies totally to Him, He gives Himself to the needs of the body.
  6. God has honored the body by promising to raise it to life eternal. For those who have faith in Jesus, that means eternal life in Heaven. Paul urges us in Romans 12:1  to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is our true and proper worship.
  7. (Richard Sipley “Understanding Divine Healing, 1990)

Wardrobe Change

Since we are people of the #resurrection, we need a wardrobe change.

Since we are people of the Ressurection, we need a wardrobe change.Wardrobe change
 
Change our Focus:
3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
 
Change our Behavior:
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! (Colossians 3:5-12).
 
Change our Clothing:
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17).