an oxgoad, eh?

It is a blessing to be back home again. Our people exhibited the grace of God in their thoughtful cards and letters to us concerning our recent sorrows. It is wonderful to be on the receiving end of this ministry because it is evidence that our own ministry among these dear folks has not been in vain. God is working in their midst, and I feel privileged to be God’s agent in bringing about some of that work – especially in those who have been converted and discipled almost exclusively through our ministry. I tell you, there is no greater thrill than this! 3 Jn 4.

Now for the sermon summaries…

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On Friday we laid my dear mother-in-law to rest. Her remains lie on a hillside in rural Tennessee, next to her husband, in the midst of numerous extended family, and awaiting the resurrection. We alternate between joy for her current state and sorrow for our loss. We are self-centred creatures.

Sunday our family worshipped together at Grace Baptist Church of Dacula, pastored by our friend, Dave Wood. We heard a great message on stewardship in the AM and another message on Christian relationships from 1 Cor 6 in the PM. We also heard Andy Efting give a good lesson from Isa 13. I was struck by the need for faith – Isaiah was telling people to believe him when he said a great nation would come destroy Judah, and also that great nation would be destroyed by another great nation. In between, Isaiah described the yet future day of the Lord. In the midst of Ahaz’ day, Isaiah’s hearers must have wondered what he was talking about. It doesn’t matter what day we live in, a life right with God must be lived by faith in the Word of God – no matter how hard or strange that word may seem to us.

The music in all the services was stirring. I think we are especially sensitive to the message of spiritual songs now as we continue to mourn the loss of Debbi’s mother. Our daughter-in-law played a violin special of the Old Rugged Cross in the PM service. It is an arrangement she played for grandma’s funeral two days before. She told us she wrote the arrangement specifically for the funeral. As I read the hymn while she played, fresh tears formed.

You might pause to pray for Pastor Wood’s family this week. His mother-in-law is also about to pass on to glory, also dying from cancer. Our hearts go out to our brethren in need, but we know that another saint is about to enter glory, for which we thank God.

At home, we have a good report…

One of our deacons keeps me updated by e-mail and phone while we are away. Our pulpit supply preacher this time was coming from Vancouver, but missed the first ferry, causing him to miss the first service. Undaunted, my deacon took out a message he had been working on for some time and went ahead with the first service. Our guest speaker from Vancouver arrived in time to cover the second and third services. The report was a good day and good responses from our people.

I will get home later this week and post links to audio.

Praise the Lord for continued blessing and opportunity to serve Him.

Regards
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

Christmas vacation ends, a New Year begins, we press on in our ministry, looking forward to good days to come.

Our New Years Sunday begins the day before my two University students head back to school. My number two son and number three child, Rory, is our Guest Speaker for two out of three services this Sunday.

Thanksgiving for Saints (Rm 1.8) | audio | notes

Our morning service marks a return to Romans, our current expositional series. Romans 1.8 is a good verse for a church looking forward to the New Year.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

I spoke on the delight Christians ought to have with one another – their thanksgiving to God for the fact of faith in the heart of a fellow believer. This delight enables disparate people to work together in common cause of the gospel.

I do thank God that we have true believers in our local church. None of us are what we desire to be, but thank God we are not what we were by nature either.

Call to Remember (Ex 13.3, et al – Rory Johnson) | audio | notes

For our Bible lesson, Rory led us through the commands God gave to Israel to remember Him. Though Israel failed, God’s persistent commands to succeeding generations are evidences of His grace. Now in the New Testament era, all men are called to remember the God of Israel. Do you remember, or are you numbered among the many failures of Old Testament Israel?

In Remembrance of Me (Lk 22.19 – Rory Johnson) | audio | notes

Rory gave us a study in the failures and futures of the disciples who heard these words. Judas, Peter, the whole band all failed the Lord to greater or lesser degrees that night. They failed to remember even those things he taught them that very night. They failed to remember Who it was they followed. The disciples were restored by God’s grace, save for Judas. All men may likewise enter into restored fellowship and service for God because of the Lord’s work on the cross. May your life be lived in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

~~~

Our attendance was ‘down’ to 44 this Sunday, but some of our recent visitors were in that number, returning for their third Sunday in a row. We are hopeful for a good new year in the Lord’s service.

Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3