Hi FBC Friends!
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call– 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:1-16 ESV)
This passage we read in Ephesians today was too good to just pick a verse or two to talk about! Read through it carefully. This is the Lord’s will for us as a church. That’s why it’s so important that we are dilligent to equip the Lord’s people.
This Sunday I will be speaking about being “Equipped for Battle” from Ephesians 6:10-20. Please read that before the worship service and come prepared. Please be in prayer between now and Sunday, that we will learn and develop our “battle-readiness” for this spiritual war we are part of. We must be people of earnest prayer, both individually and corporately. Please take advantage of opportunities to come and pray together as a church family. Men, Saturdays at 6am. Everybody, Wednesdays at 5am, 6am, and 7pm. We are not yet “A house of prayer for all nations,” but I am praying that we’ll get there!
I am excited about the great turnout for Sunday School! I think we set another attendance record this past Sunday – 131! Please pray for all of our teachers and students, that there will be much equipping and edifying going on.
This Sunday we will also have a short quarterly business meeting right after the worship service. We will be voting on a new member, along with a couple other items. Please join us. Only members can officially vote, but everyone can stay and listen and be informed.
Praying that we’ll be equipped for battle…
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael