August 18

Bible Study at Hope Center

  

Bible study continues to be a blessing.  We’re praising the Lord for what He is doing.  AMEN’

Prioritizing the Word of God 

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen Covey

As Kathy and I  were talking with our daughter, as her and her husband rush to get their daughter started into school for another year, juggling jobs and schedules, A son and his wife with one daughter in her 2nd year of college, a son in his 2nd year of high-school, both working, Another who have a 4th grader, along with one newly wed, and 3 maturing into adult hood. It is plain to see that most people living in the twenty-first century face a number of concerns that require our attention – kids need to be picked up from soccer practice, children, grand-children, people at work have questions about projects, parents need to be called, family birthday parties must be planned, and on it goes. If you are a minster for the Lord (all Christians are to be ministers), add to that the necessity of Sunday school workers, Music ministers, or, of the Pastor teaching a congregation every week.

The problem of prioritization is not new. The Apostles were faced with it in Acts, where they were so busy that they had to leave teaching the Word of God to wait on tables. It is not seemly, desirable or right that we should give up or neglect the Word of God in order to attend tables.

As Ministers, we must ask ourselves what tables we are serving at the expense of the Word of God? The table of administration? The table of counseling? Relationships? Recreation? All of these are good things, but if the cost of attending to them is neglecting the Word of God, then they will in due season dilute the ministry of the Word of God.

Feeding the Word of God to the congregation is the central task and responsibility of all church leaders. Every leader should be a person of the Word. That means they study their Bible for their own, personal revelation and spiritual formation. They also study the Bible to get a word for the congregation.

Make no mistake – it is important to wait on tables, that is, serve people. It might even be the more enjoyable activity for you. Sometimes it is difficult to give up a kind of service that we enjoy in order to get back to our primary function. But if we are obedient to God’s call, as church leaders, we will find great fulfillment and satisfaction in the ministry He has designed us to flourish in.

Whether you are an attender, Sunday-school teacher, music leader, or  lead Pastor, make sure you prioritize the Word of God in your life. Make time to study it daily and meditate on what it says. The Bible is God’s speaking to you through His Word .

A Visit with Friends

A wonderful time of family, food, and fellowship with Lucino and Brandy and their children.   The Family was a joy, the fellowship was great, and the food was marvelous!  Good job Brandy!  You are a great cook.

 

We feel so blessed to have friends like you.

Video files of our worship services are available on the Internet. Last week’s viewings totaled 337 on God Tube TV and 281 on Sermon TV for a total of  618.  We pray that you were blessed by last week’s message and look forward to hearing from you.  To view this week's message click here for God Tube TV or here for Sermon TV.
Continue to pray for us as we seek to serve the Lord here in Arizona.
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