First, I want to thank you all. This has been a year of great change both for me and my family, and for you. It is amazing to see how God in his providence brought us together and got us through the challenges of 2009. I thank you so much for all you have done to make us feel welcome and loved in Lisbon. And thank you for your patience and prayer as I learn and grow into God's call as your pastor. These months have gone by so quickly. You have all been so helpful in the work of the church and I appreciate the initiative so many of you show in getting things done.

We had a good VBS with several children visiting. The gospel was planted through teaching, crafts, and kindness. We met people in our community at Homecoming, and won 2nd in the parade. We had several visitors through our Invite-a-Friend Sundays last summer. Thank you for bringing people to church to hear the gospel. The Lord brought us new members with the Samuelsens this year. We began monthly Bible studies in Watertown and Potsdam and started our Wednesday prayer meetings. The Women's Bible study has been going strong. We completed studies through the book of Philippians and the Sacraments. We are now into the Gospel of Matthew which will carry us through the rest of the year. We are about halfway through our study on "How to Read the Bible." I hope that helped build you up in your personal Bible study.

When I first met you in Dec 2008, I explained my own philosophy of ministry, and what I viewed as the main work of the church. We want to major in the majors. So I wanted to review these principles. I appreciate the great work you are all doing to serve the Lord, and I am excited to see what God will continue to do through you. Consider this a time for reflection and self-evaluation to see where you have grown, and where you can grow more this year. First of all, remember that this is God's church, not our church. It is God who causes his church to grow by his grace. He has graciously placed us here in this place and time to serve him. We are his instruments. And we must sow and reap, never knowing when the reaping times will come. We are called to be faithful to God by putting ourselves in the right place so that God can use us however he desires.

1 Cor 3:5-8 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-- as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 

So how do we serve the Lord faithfully and enjoy the gracious growth of God? There are 5 major principles for us to put ourselves in the right place for God to use us and grow us as he pleases. 

First, we must be diligent in prayer. If it is God who grows us, and changes hearts, and strengthens our faith, then we must persistently ask him to work mightily in us and in our community. So pray for Grace Presbyterian every day in your private and family prayers. Attend our midweek prayer meetings if you are able, so we can seek and knock together, in asking God to work mightily. Pray that our love to Christ would grow, and that the Holy Spirit would fill and equip each of us every day. Pray that God would keep us faithful. 

Second, we must put ourselves under the Word of God. It is through God's Word as preached, taught, and read, that God grows our faith and converts unbelievers. Through His Word we are equipped to live the Christian life, encourage one another, and make Christ known to the lost. We have many times for this in public worship, Sunday school, prayer meeting, and Bible study. Put yourself under the Word as often as possible, and let God change you and grow you. And be diligent in your personal and family Bible study daily. 

Third, we must work to maintain the fellowship of the saints. We must seek ways to use our gifts for others. It's easy to be distracted with the busy-ness of life and not make time for fellowship. But we all desperately need that encouragement and accountability. Seek time with one another throughout the week. Use the Lord's Day to visit with your brethren. Commit to inviting someone to your home each month for a meal, dessert, or just coffee/tea, to spend with each other and pray for each other. Find someone you don't know well, or have drifted away from, and renew your efforts to grow together. We also need to work on discipleship. The more mature Christians must help equip the younger Christians. The Ladies Bible Study, and soon the Men's Bible study, are some ways to pursue this. There are other ways both in the church and outside it. Come see me for more ideas to pursue discipleship. 

Fourth, strive for sincere worship, both in public and private. Our highest calling in life is to worship the Lord. It is our delightful duty to gather before Him to give him the honor due his name, and to express our gratitude for his grace. Worship actually liberates us. So seek to glorify God through joyful and sincere worship, through attentive listening to the preaching/reading of the Word, and through heartfelt response to God in song, prayer, confession, and giving. In worship, God is present in a more powerful way to strengthen you. Your attitude in worship is your spiritual thermometer. Pursue a red hot attitude for Jesus. Pray daily that God would meet us in public worship so that sinners will be converted, believers freed from sin and renewed in their love for Christ, and that others would see Christ truly exalted in our worship. 

Finally, we must grow in our skill and desire to share and defend the good news of Jesus Christ. We are called to share Christ with others and give a reason for our hope. We must do so according to our God-given abilities and seek to improve those abilities. For all of us, that means persistent prayer for the lost. I challenge you to pick 3 lost people in this area, and pray for their salvation daily, and for opportunities to share Christ. Pray individually, in your families, and even at prayer meeting. One of my goals in preaching and teaching is to explain the Scriptures in such a way that you can explain them clearly to others. One of my primary duties as a pastor is to equip you. So please, let me know if there are areas where you need to learn and grow. We no longer live in a Christian culture. Many Americans today have never heard the gospel or even read a Bible. So pursue the process of evangelism. Seek to share the word of God, invite someone to church, or give your testimony. We have good books and literature for you to use and handout. Give them to your friends or leave them in opportune places. Seek genuine friendships with unbelievers. And pray for opportunities to speak about Christ and to help others in his name. And pray for God to send new families to us.

These are ways we can serve God faithfully, and put ourselves in a position for God to use us as he pleases. Let us strive to grow in these areas this year and see what Jesus Christ will do through us as we plant and water and watch God give the increase.