We Need Each Other | September 7, 2021

In our leadership pipeline we are reading the book Spiritual Disciplines For The Christian Life by Donald Whitney. In the first section, he emphasizes that there are personal and interpersonal disciplines the Word of God teaches that are important for every Christian. There are some things we must do on our own and other things we cannot do without our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let me get to the point. We need each other. No really, we NEED each other. We were not crafted by God to do this thing called life on our own. We are created for relationship. Of course, our relationship with God is the most important, but our relationships with each other are important as well. That has been greatly impacted over the last 18 months. A culture that has been sporadic with the church’s importance in the routine of life has once again taken a blow to God’s cohesive design for us to be together.

This week, I want you to focus on three words. First, remember what the Lord did for you by gathering publicly for communion. The Westminster Catechism states, “The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is showed forth; and they that worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace; have their union and communion with him confirmed; testify and renew their thankfulness, and engagement to God, and their mutual love and fellowship each with the other, as members of the same mystical body” (WLC 168). We must not forget what our Lord has done for us. This Sunday we are gathering as people of the cross. Together we must gather!

The second word is reconnect. It’s time for some to move to that connection you once had. Hebrews 10:25 means so much more to me today than it even did six months ago. I’m serious. We must gather even more as we see the day of our Lord approaching. We must do life together and lean on each other. We cannot be cold and distant from one another, but lean into each other. Some have leaned out. I am begging you to lean back in! Don’t stay disconnected.

Finally, the third word is reengage. I want to challenge you to reengage with your discipleship path. We need more than just a church service. I love the church service, but the Christian life is so much more than showing up and sitting through a service. Put your heart and life into the gospel community called The Point Church. Back to groups, back to fellowship meals, back to discipleship. If you don’t, you are not following God’s designed order for the church in the last days. For too long church has been optional or about convenience. The world today and all its chaos is driving us together. Reengagement is the step some of us need to take.

We have spent two weeks at home with COVID in our family. Pray for one another and please take care of yourself. Those two weeks reminded me how much I need my church family. It’s does my heart good to be together. Whatever you do, if possible, don’t miss this Sunday as we gather. Come hungry and be filled with Jesus!

Pastor Tim
Rollercoasters | September 1, 2021

Rollercoasters | September 1, 2021

I am not a rollercoaster “fan”. Two things come to mind. One, I am getting old, and secondly, I have equilibrium that is as stable as the ocean at Johnsons Beach. When I would go to the state fair as a kid, ferris wheels and really most rides, made me dizzy and sometimes sick. The ups and downs of rollercoasters are ok for a few climbs and dives, but after about 5 or 6, I’m ready to get off.

Life seems like a rollercoaster these days for many of us. I heard someone say today, “I’ll be glad when life gets back to normal”, to which the person spoken to said, “What is normal?” I wish I knew these days. I was zooming with someone today and I expressed my bewilderment to this season of life. What in the world is going on and why is there so much on all our plates?

Lexi and I have a song we like to sing that reminds me of those rollercoaster moments. It also reminds me of how life goes. It’s a song called Hills and Valleys. The words to it go like this:

I’ve walked among the shadows
You wiped my tears away
And I’ve felt the pain of heartbreak
And I’ve seen the brighter days
And I’ve prayed prayers to heaven
From my lowest place
And I have held Your blessings
God, You give and take away

No matter what I have, Your grace is enough
No matter where I am, I’m standing in Your love

On the mountains I will bow my life
To the One who set me there
In the valley I will lift my eyes
To the One who sees me there
When I’m standing on the mountain
I didn’t get there on my own
When I’m walking through the valley
I know I am not alone!
You’re the God of the hills and valleys
Hills and valleys
God of the hills and valleys
And I am not alone.

I’ve watched my dreams get broken
In You I hope again
No matter what I know
I’m safe inside Your hands

Father, You give and take away
Every joy and every pain
Through it all You will remain
Over it all
Father, You give and take away
Every joy and every pain
Through it all You will remain
Over it all
On the mountains I will bow my life, yeah
In the valley I will lift my eyes!

On the roller coaster of life, lift up your eyes to the hills to where our help comes from. We are not alone. God is with us! Be encouraged!

Love ya’ll,

Pastor Tim
August 25, 2021

August 25, 2021

From my heart this afternoon:

We are all feeling it. Feeling what? You know. Everyone is trying to figure things out these days. I’m not in fear but I feel a heavy weight. We feel the weight of the world for our family. It all starts at home and at our house we have been praying and taking things a day at a time on several different fronts. I sat our family down this past Sunday night and I told them I really believe Jesus is coming soon. I’m not into date predictions or setting a time frame but I am into being ready. Ready for the return of Christ initiated by the sound of a trumpet.

My theology based on scripture doesn’t allow for someone to wait around and see if all this Bible stuff is real and then have an opportunity to make a decision about it. We must be ready. Ready doesn’t just mean church membership, baptism, denominational affiliation, vaccinations, or political position. Ready means have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you born from above? Is Jesus Lord of your life? Are you in real-time living for Jesus?

Creation is groaning! The signs of the times are everywhere. We are seeing unprecedented world events and a global pandemic like we haven’t seen in our lifetime. There is division on so many fronts. Opinions abound. Most people have a good source and if you put five people in the same room you will have an array of experts that have helped them all reach decisions that ultimately become “common sense” for everyone else. In other words, where I land you should land in the same place.

Trevin Wax writes in his book This is Our Time about G.K. Chesterton in the 1930s. Chesterton was observing the world view that society was progressing and moving forward. He concluded that the world is never really digressing or progressing but it is constantly in a state of wobbling. Trevin suggests that Christians must figure out a way to keep their bearings while the world continues to wobble.

Today, we have turmoil in our country. Many things, not just one! We have a crisis in Afghanistan getting Americans and Christians out safely. We have flooding, earthquakes, fire, and storms. We are tossed in every direction hour by hour. The real question for today is this. Will Christians keep their bearings and stay focused on Christ while the world is groaning around us? I pray we will! Fight for joy. Fight for peace. Fight for unity. It’s worth it!

Pastor Tim