I was talking to Angela on the phone earlier and asked her if there was anything she needed from the store, “You need to stop going to the grocery.” “How are we supposed to buy things for Piner Elementary if I don’t go to the store?” It’s an old preacher’s trick: bring God into the conversation, and there really is nothing they can say.
I watched a podcast yesterday and the speaker said, “There is a crisis coming. And you getting on-line broadcast is not the crisis. The church is not the crisis. The crisis is those in need. How are they going to get fed? How are they going to pay their bills? Get your church organized to meet these needs.”
In the gospel of Luke Jesus sends His disciples out into the crisis. Luke 9:1–6 1 Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Take nothing for the road,” he told them, “no staff, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.
Notice what happens. Jesus empowers. He sends. He instructs. They go.
My friends, Jesus has empowered His church. That happened on the day of Pentecost and at the moment of every Christian becoming a child of God. He has sent us. We call it the great commission. He has given us His instructions. It’s called the Gospels. Notice the disciples went out with nothing to reach people who had nothing. This is a call to complete dependence on God. And now we go.
In the announcements we are including some new needs. Amy has already sent out a request through the prayer chain. The needs are real. “What will happen as we go?” Some may ask. Mark tells us in his Gospel, Mark 6:12–13 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Friends, we need to remember the world’s crisis is God’s opportunity. Will we be ready to join Him in His kingdom work?
Announcements:
I want to thank those of you who have continued to support our church with your offerings and tithes during this crisis. The longer this crisis continues, the greater the needs in our community will become. If you would like to give online, visit our website www.pinerbaptist.org, and click on the giving tab at the top of the page. Your donation is secure and will be deposited in the church’s account.
Thanks for your continued provision of food to help feed Piner Elementary families during this time. Bring your items to the church by Wednesday, so that they can be delivered by Friday. Jody has requested the following items: Canned Soup and Fruit, Spaghetti and Sauce, Mac & Cheese, Boxed Cereal, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Crackers. Also, there is a real need for toilet paper if you have some to spare. Your response has been wonderful.
I want to include our children in this project of helping needy families. Have them write cards that we can include in these bags of groceries, just to let them know that Piner Baptist is praying for them.
The Food for Thought ministry for Piner Elementary continues. We are collecting nonperishable food items for children whose needs have only increased during this recent crisis: Apple sauce, juice boxes pudding, pop tarts, cereal bars, etc. Make sure there are no peanuts in any donations. Thanks for your support of the children in our community.
Wednesday night we will be having a zoom prayer meeting for those wanting to join us tonight. Please e-mail Bro. Mark if you would like an invitation to join us: mark@pinerbaptist.org.
We are currently scheduling Sunday School classes, so contact your teachers if you are wanting to meet as a class or let us know if you want to join another class. Tomorrow we should have a schedule ready for next week.