This past Monday, 20 May, marked one year since the North Texas Presbytery established Redeemer as a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). This summer, the 20th of July will mark five years since we all had our first meeting together at the Robinson home. The stated goal from the beginning has been to establish a strong, vibrant congregation in obedience to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). We set out to be a church declaring allegiance to Jesus as the King and Head of the Church, making disciples in His name, teaching His Word, in reliance upon His promise to be with us to the end of the age. Our strategy has been to build this church using the simple, ordinary means of the Word preached, prayed, read, and sung. Since that time, we have seen people join this congregation. Babies have been born and baptized. Saints have seen the beauty of the Presbyterian tradition through preaching and public worship. Families have been introduced to the practice of family worship and Lord’s Day observance. We have ordained elders and are now putting a congregational shepherding plan into place. We have hosted a weekend conference/seminar on Islam. All of these practices are good things, and we thank God for the fruits. Having seen five years of these “firstfruits,” where do we go from here?
Our corporate practice of the Word constitutes our witness. Paul said to the Ephesians that it is “through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 3:10) What a statement! To think, this congregation joins in declaring the wisdom of God as manifested in the Gospel! Wonder of wonders, this declaration is made known to the unseen worlds through the Church! Coupled with our duty to bear witness to the world around us, this Church is privileged with a massive responsibility. Through our witness, the heavenly places are enlightened and the Holy Spirit convicts the world of “sin, righteousness, and judgment.” (John 16:8)
This Spirit-born witness to the seen and unseen worlds will only be as strong as our willingness to sacrifice. As long as the saints are willing to imitate their Master and deny themselves, the Church is a “burning, shining light.” (John 5:35) Are we ready to deny ourselves? Are we willing to sacrifice our time, fortunes, even reputation for the Cause? Is there consistency in our practice? Do we have the tenacity to persevere, to “run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith?” (Hebrews 12:1-2) The Word is not bound by numbers. Show me any church that loves Biblical preaching, loves to worship in Spirit and Truth, and loves the Lord’s Day, and I’ll show you a healthy congregation. O, that God would give us a membership that loves the Lord Jesus Christ, delights in the Law, seeks the Lord in corporate prayer, and cherishes one another! Paint the picture of saints devoted to “the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Sketch this band of believers ready to recommend the beauties of Christ in personal evangelism, and you possess the portrait of people ready to turn the world upside down. (Acts 17:6) Our witness will only be as strong as our corporate love for the “old paths” of the Word. We need no new information. There is no need for better methods. All we need is to remember that the Word and fervent prayer are still the sword and arms of the Church. Five years from now, may it be said that the summer of 2013 was the season where we built on the firstfruits and pressed on toward the “goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” May it be said of us that we ran to win. |
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