The beginning of the 4G Challenge

Today is the beginning of the 4G Challenge to 1- Gather each week for worship for the rest of the year.  2- Grow spiritually by these challenges and by reading through the entire Bible in the next year. To help you can go to www.biblegateway.com and click on "reading plans" on the left and then pick Old/New Testament reading plan and you get to pick the version you want to read.  3- Give by tithing for the rest of the year and on Nov. 18th pledge a % of your income that is part of plan to tithe. 4- Go and invite other to come to our church and be responsible for one new member joining this year. That is the 4G Challenge! And to walk with each other I hope to Blog about our scripture reading each day and for us to talk about our experiences.  

Jeremiah 37-39.   37.2 did not listen to the word of The Lord

The people didn't listen to the prophet, made false accusations, beat him down, imprisoned him (I have felt like that from time to time, how about you?) they cast him down in a well and he sank in the mud (sometimes it feels like I am sinking, plodding in the muck. :-( )

What I get from this story is that God is calling the leaders and people to go out of the safety of their congregations into the unknown. To reach out those outside our comfort zone.

You see, sometimes  following God's word is risky and the fear of what God ask keeps us from all that God wants of us. But as the story shows God's word will not be thwarted, and those who don't listen and follow God's direction will tumble and those churches will grow smaller until they no longer exist

Hebrews 3. 4 "every house is built by someone but the builder of all things is God"

What I took away from the lesson from Hebrews is that scripture allows us to hear God's voice and learn from those who didn't listen.  It's my prayer we will learn from those who has gone before us as we join God in building us up into church Jesus is wanting us to be. 

I look forward to our journey together as we gather each day for the next year and as we gather each week for the remainder of this year to listen to God's word and to Grow closer to Christ and one another.