Dear Friends,

What a good day we had together last Sunday in our first worship service of the new year! In Sunday’s bulletin, we included some New Year’s questions from Don Whitney that are well worth your pondering and praying through this first week of the new year. If you need another copy, you can find it here.

This upcoming Sunday is a special day in the life of our church. In our morning worship service, First Presbytery will officially install Bryan Crotts as our Associate Pastor. Several guests will be participating in the service, including Rev. Dr. John R. De Witt, the Moderator of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Steve Maye, the Moderator-Elect of the ARP Church. Bryan’s father, Stephen (also an ARP minister), will also be participating in the service. Following the service, we will have some refreshments to celebrate the occasion. Since Bryan and the congregation both make vows to God as a part of the service, I will be preaching on the promise-keeping God and how Christians reflect God’s character when we are people of truth and integrity.

Our winter quarter of Adult Bible Fellowships starts up this next Sunday morning, January 10. Any of our three adult classes would be good for your soul and growth in grace this year. Bryan Crotts will begin teaching a quarter-long class on marriage. This would be a great class for newly married, the longtime married, and those who think they might one day be married. We want to equip you to bring God’s truth to bear in every aspect of your life and I can’t think of a harder, but richer, place to do that than with your spouse. Sam Cain will be continuing his class moving through the Gospel of John. I will be continuing to teach a class on the Westminster Confession of Faith. It was originally to be a quarter-long class, but we have had such good questions and rich discussion that we’re only about halfway through it. You don’t have to have attended the first quarter to pick up in the conversation now. All classes are in the D Wing and begin at 9:15.

Our Sunday Suppers will resume next week, on January 17. This meal will be Italian covered dish. It can anything Italian -- pizza, lasagne, etc. Please bring a main dish and either a side dish or a dessert with enough food for your household and a few more. Dinner starts at 5:30. We will begin our prayer meeting at 6:15. After a short devotional, we will pray together in small groups. We’re dismissed by 7:15. Our prayer time always seems to fly by. Come as we pray together for our church, each other, reformation, revival, and the advance of the reign of King Jesus in the world.

Our next Inquirers’ Class will be Friday night, January 15, and Saturday, January 16. This is a good opportunity to understand more about our doctrine, history, mission, vision, values, and denomination. Friday night starts with a dinner to get to know one another better. Saturday runs from 9 o’clock until early afternoon. This is the first step in the process of joining Christ Community, but attending the class does not obligate you.

Our Saturday morning men's breakfasts will restart on January 16. Mark Guthrie will join us this month to share his experiences and perspective on faith, family, and vocation. For those who don't know Mark, he and his family joined Christ Community Church in the spring of 2009. Mark serves our community, as well as the broader church, through his work as the Head of School at Caldwell Academy. Breakfast begins at 7:30 and we always dismiss by 8:30.

Also for our men, we are in the process of starting three new men's small groups, centered around a study called Christianity Explored. Christianity Explored is a 4-month Bible study which uses the Gospel of Mark to lay out the layout the Biblical basis for the Gospel message. For some men, this study will be an introduction to the basics of the Gospel. For others, it will be a refresher course which provides a framework for sharing our faith with others. For all of us, it will be spiritually nourishing and will help us lead our families well. The small groups will center around the study, but will also strongly emphasize fellowship, prayer, and accountability with other men. Three time slots during the week will be offered: Wednesday nights at 7 o’clock, Thursday nights at 7 o’clock, and Friday mornings at 6:30. The small groups will meet weekly. This is not an indefinite commitment, but rather a commitment to the group for the duration of the study. Please email James Dickson to sign up.

Finally, let me share with you something I ran across this week and shared earlier today with our staff. In the sermon last Sunday morning, I referred to William Perkins’ definition of theology as “the science of living blessedly forever.” As we considered the end of Romans 11 and all of chapter 12, I made the point that doctrine should drive the everyday details of our lives together in the Body of Christ. Indeed, we have not understood really Biblical truth and doctrine until it fuels our living blessedly today -- and forever. Sam Storms gives us a great example of connecting the dots of Biblical doctrine to the everyday business of life:

If I did not believe in the absolute sovereignty of God:

•I would despair of my eternal destiny. I would have no assurance of salvation. Knowing the depravity of my soul, I would most certainly apostatize were it not for God’s sovereign preservation of me (cf. Rom. 8).

•I would be terrified of all suffering, with no confidence that God can turn evil for good and bring me safely through (cf. Rom. 8:28 and relation to vv. 29-30).

•I would become manipulative and pragmatic in evangelism, believing that conversion is altogether a matter of my will/skill vs. will/skill of unbeliever.

•I would cease praying for God to convert and save the lost. If the ultimate causal factor in human conversion is the self-determined human will, not the divine will, it is futile and useless to ask God to work or touch or move upon the human will so as to assuredly bring them to faith.

•I would despair of the political process and live in fear/anxiety/resentment of those elected officials who oppose the kingdom of God. See Daniel 2:21; 4:17,25,32; 5:18-31.

•I would live in fear of nature: tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, wind and hail and rain (cf. Psm. 147-148).

•I would despair of ever doing anything of a spiritual nature that God requires and commands of me. Phil. 2:12-13.

Ponder the love of a sovereign God for you in preparation for worship this Sunday. I look forward to seeing you then.

Your friend,