The
Story and our denominational forums have been two of my
favorite ministry efforts during the last month, and both for different
reasons. I came across this quote from
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together
which I immediately connected with our study of God’s grand story together:
"Consecutive reading of Biblical books
forces everyone who wants to hear to put himself, or to allow himself to be
found, where God has acted once and for all for the salvation of men. We
become a part of what one took place for our salvation. Forgetting and
losing ourselves, we, too, pass through the Red Sea, through the desert, across
the Jordan into the promised land. With Israel we fall into doubt and
unbelief and through punishment and repentance experience again God's help and
faithfulness. All this is not mere reverie but holy, godly reality.
We are torn out of our own existence and set down in the midst of the
holy history of God on earth. There God dealt with us, and there He still
deals with us, our needs and our sins, in judgment and grace. It is not
that God is the spectator and sharer of our present life, howsoever important
that is; but rather that we are the reverent listeners and participants in
God's action in the sacred story, the history of the Christ on earth. And
only in so far as we are there, is God with us today also" (p.
53-54).
It’s great to be able to see so many people – in
discussion groups, in Sunday school, in small mid-week groups – “experiencing
again God’s help and faithfulness” through The
Story. I hope each of you has a
chance to jump in to our study in ways that bring blessing and fullness through
Christ.
Our denominational forums have been civil,
well-attended, and open to a variety of opinions and perspectives. I’ve really enjoyed hearing the heart of this
church expressed clearly at each forum.
Thanks to each of you who have been able to participate, and please keep praying for your leaders to listen well to God's calling.
I’m really glad we worship a sovereign God. I’m grateful to serve under His leadership
with each of you.
Solo Dei gloria,
Travis
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