The tempests of life rage against us, yet in Christ we have an anchor for our souls that holds us secure. When the storms swirl and chaos toss our boat, we can stand serenely in Him.

Assurance Anchors Our Faith: As Matthew’s account shows, amidst the raging waves, Jesus stabilized sinking Peter simply by a refocus of his eyes upon the Savior. Despite the chaos around him, Peter stood firmly when gazing on Jesus (Matthew 14:22-33).

Accountability Affirms Our Fellowship: As Acts 12 reveals, fellow believers fervently anchored their hopes in prayer during Peter’s imprisonment. Trusting God against threatening tides, their persistent petitions led to Peter’s miraculous deliverance.

Adorning Adopts Christ’s Character: As Exodus 34:29-35 displays, Moses’ face shone radiant from his holy encounter with God on the mountain. Likewise, as we commune with Christ, His glorious presence transforms us from within.

Friend, no storm can shake the anchor Christ lays deep within redeemed hearts, even when creeks rise around us.

We lifted up our eyes and gazed on the snow-covered peaks of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.  The peaks stand out like watchtowers or sentinels over the mesas, basins and valleys.  Their mysticism and beauty is breathtaking.  I know that I could never journey to the summits by myself.  The slopes on some are vertical, while others are jagged and cut.  One looks like a giant baseball mitt; ready to catch a meteorite.  You can smell the coolness in the air.  That kind of clean smell that tells you snow is near by.  The word “Majestic” fails to describe the views.  Although I had seen these peaks before, the wonderment and the draw to explore was just as strong as the first time my father drove me up Mt. Evans.

 A hymn keeps running thru my mind the whole time after this most recent trip. 

Unto the hills around do I lift up
My longing eyes;
O whence for me shall my salvation come,
From whence arise?
From God the Lord doth come my certain aid,
From God the Lord who heaven and earth hath made.

John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, Duke of Argyll wrote the words for this song in 1877.   Looking up at the mountaintops I understand the need to express the same sentiments.  Compared to the mountains around me I am small and completely helpless in their vastness and towering height.  I cannot survive on my own at the summit of any of these peaks.  Then I read Psalms 121.

¹ I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

³ He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
⁴ Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

⁵ The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
⁶ The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

⁷ The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
⁸ The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

Now I am safe and the Lord is my Guardian and Redeemer.  With Him I can climb the mountains and survive. 

Today, twenty-eight years ago, my mother died. Knowing this day was coming, I spent a few hours on Google Maps trying to catch a glimpse of her grave. I think I found it. Seeing someone you loved laid to rest is not a praiseworthy event. It is sad. It can even be traumatizing.

Why then would Jesus choose the “Good News” to start with a death and a burial? Why would He tell us that our journey with Him must also start with a death and a burial (Romans 6:3-4)? Even our confession and repentance prior to our “death” are not meritorious or praiseworthy. Peter could get no pats on his back for being the first to confess “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Why? Because God revealed this truth to him. And repentance is turning away from sin. Who can brag about that?

No, friend, baptism is a burial. While Christ’s resurrection is praiseworthy, ours is not. Why? Because we are dead, and it is Christ who lives through us. Anything praiseworthy or meritorious that we may do is to God’s glory.

A common definition of a disciple is a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher. I once heard a disciple defined as ‘someone who walks in the footsteps of another.’ If we are going to continue to be more like Jesus, we need to be walking in his footsteps. Jesus spent his entire ministry making disciples. From one of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ ministry he told Peter to ‘Follow me’, Matthew 4:19. In one of his last conversations with Peter, he told him to ‘Follow me,’ John 21:22.

After Jesus’ resurrection, just before his ascension, He spoke what we refer to as the Great Commission; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 He spoke directly to the eleven, but his words carry forward to us today if we are to be his disciples.

We, as a church universal, are pretty good at going and baptizing. We preach, we teach, we even send missionaries, and we have some success at baptizing those who hear the gospel. But the Great Commission does not end there. We are to ‘teach them to observe all that I have commanded.’ Teaching is a never-ending process. None of us has, or ever will, master all that Jesus and the Holy Spirit have instructed. We must continue to learn and strive to improve.

When Jesus called his disciples, he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Luke 5:1-11 As disciples of Jesus, we must also be fishers of men. We must be sharing the gospel with others and encouraging them to follow Jesus.

The idea of making disciples is a continuous process. We know and we teach, so that they may know, and they may teach. We go, baptize, and teach, so that they will go, baptize, and teach. We must make disciples who make disciples. We must be training others to be fishers of men.

Evangelism is telling the story of death, burial, and resurrection to someone who does not know it and urging them to respond to that gospel message. Evangelism is not complete until there is a new birth. Then, disciple making begins.

The theme for Summit for 2024 is Making Disciples: Go, Baptize, Teach. Matthew 28:19-20.

Who do you know that is not a disciple of Jesus. I encourage you to pray for them regularly. Pray for an
opportunity to share the gospel with them. When you have an opportunity, take it. Share Jesus with them. Invite them to worship or a fellowship activity at Summit. Offer to study God’s word with them.

Let us all be disciples who are striving to make disciples.

Has a death in your family, a divorce, or some other traumatic event utterly devastated a portion of your life? A young soldier, for example, was astonished when he glanced about at the debris that had once been his hometown. The streets were empty, and the buildings damaged. After years of fighting, he had returned home hoping for a nice reunion. Unfortunately, his hopes of a homecoming were dashed by an artillery round.

Like the soldier, we may be dealing with the fallout of ruined relationships. It is intimidating to rebuild from rubble. Walking away and proclaiming the relationship unsalvageable is the simpler route. However, God asks us to undertake the brave task of reconciliation.

A dove that Noah sent forth with an olive branch—a symbol of hope after devastation—returned when the deluge subsided (Genesis 8:11). Reconciliation, like the olive branch, gives brokenness new life.

Humility is necessary when pursuing reconciliation. Rather than assigning blame, we need to recognize our own roles in the issue (Matthew 7:3-5). We can show small gestures of grace, such as a kind word, an apology note, or an offer to mediate (Matthew 5:23–24).

Forgiveness is necessary for reconciliation, just as Christ has forgiven us. Peter asked Jesus how many times he must forgive a brother – as many as seven times? Seventy-seven times said Jesus (Matthew 18:21-22). Reconciliation is a process of repeatedly choosing mercy.

Friend, would you be willing to courageously take the first step and extend an olive branch? The rubble of brokenness can become a foundation for renewed relationships.

God forewarned Cain in Genesis 4:7 that sin was lurking at his door, ready to devour him. This still holds true today. While anger in and of itself is not bad, unbridled rage can quickly result in depraved remarks and deeds.

Even in moments of rage, Jesus commanded us not to make fun of or disparage others (Matthew 5:22). Do not bring complaints against them to court (v. 25). If necessary, leave your gift at the altar and swiftly make amends (v. 23–24).

So, what do we do instead of letting our anger out? Jesus shows us the BETTER WAY:

• Speak honestly yet gently, letting your “yes be yes” and “no be no” (v. 37).

• Instead of taking offense, turn the other cheek (v. 39).

• In service, go above and beyond (v. 41).

In other words, Christ is saying we should keep our cool, seek forgiveness rather than retribution, and consider how we might assist.

We can control our wrath before it controls us, with God’s assistance. As it says in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin.” Every one of us needs to be on the lookout for the “sin crouching at our door” and prevent it from entering, whether it is rage or any other temptation.

Friend, are you willing to replace your anger (insults and retaliation) with a wide-open door to virtuous deeds?

__________________

Matthew 5:43–45a (ESV) 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

We as Americans are so very blessed. Our culture—or maybe even human nature—loves to find things to complain about. We as Christians are called to be counter cultural and we are born of the New Humanity in Christ (Rom 5:19; 2 Cor 5:17). We are to do all things without grumbling or complaining (Phil 2:14). In this area, I am the chief of sinners. I find things to complain about all day that I have no business complaining about. To remedy this, I live by another biblical command: be thankful in everything (1 Thess. 5:17). I would like to share with you all three blessings that I often meditate upon, and they automatically shift my mind from the awful to the awesome.

First, we live at a time in history where we have greater access to information than ever before. I read about the history of ancient education and how most people had very low literacy and access to education and resources. People would have to travel to different countries to find books that they wanted to copy, whereas we just have to tap on our phones a few times and any book will arrive at our house in days. Back then, it cost them a lot of money to produce those books, as they would have to pay for either the papyrus or the parchment as well as the ink or a scribe to copy it down for them. Now, any person can access more on the internet than the ancient mind could even imagine. We live in the best time in history for learning.

Second, we have far more than we need. Paul said we are to be content with food and clothing  (1 Tim 6:8). Jesus himself was an itinerant preacher who had very few possessions, not even a place to lay his head (Matt 8:20). Yet we have houses and mansions and boats and cars and gadgets and retirement accounts and timeshares and many other luxuries. We have far more clothes than we need, increased access to every food imaginable. We can control the temperature of almost any room we enter, provided that we have access to the thermostat.

Finally, we have access to better healthcare than most of the world and our treatment options are better than it has ever been in history. We can complain about the problem of cost—and yes, it is a problem—or we can be in awe that so many surgeries and such great doctors are even within the realm of possibility. Without the developments in healthcare, most people in our congregation would currently be in much more physical pain or dead.

Let us thank God every day for these blessings and more. We have more access to Scripture and the
resources to study it than ever before. We just need to take the time to do it. We have access to an abundance of material resources. We just need to learn to be thankful for what we already do have. We have access to the best health care professionals. We just need to take better care of ourselves, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

The Elders have established our theme for 2024 from the Great Commission of Go…Baptize…Teach.

Matthew 28: 19 – 20 (NIV) “¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

When a loved one or close friend is dying or leaving us, his or her last words are very important. Here, before Christ’s ascension, Jesus left the disciples with His last words of instruction.

They were to “Go” and make more disciples. They were to “Baptize” and “Teach” the new disciples to obey Christ, and they were to do so under Christ’s authority and knowing He would always be with them. But the Great Commission was not just for the 11 disciples. It is a command to all who call Jesus “Lord”.

I recognize that we are not all evangelists in the formal sense, but we all have received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the Great Commission.

Romans 12: 6 – 8 (NIV) “⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

As a servant, Jesus crossed national, racial and economic barriers to spread His Good News. Jesus’ message of faith and forgiveness is for the whole world, not just our church, our neighborhood or even our nation. We must reach out beyond our own congregation to fulfill the worldwide vision of Jesus Christ so that people everywhere may hear His great message and be saved from sin and death.

We are to Go, whether it is next door or to another country to make disciples. We are to Baptize people for forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And we are to Teach the Word, so people will know and follow Christ. As we obey, we should have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is with us, to the very end of the age.

According to Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus entrusted His apostles with the ‘Great Commission,’ urging them to sow the seeds of salvation among people of all nations. Despite being delivered over two millennia ago, this commission remains Christ’s charge to His church. For the Summit Church of Christ, it stands as our 2024 Vision Challenge. How should we embrace this Great Commission as we embark on a new year?

Firstly, Jesus prompts us to ‘sow seeds of salvation.’ To reach the lost, we must venture beyond our comfort zones. This might entail engaging with people locally and internationally, inviting acquaintances to Bible studies or worship services, and embodying a positive example for non-believers. Each day brings unpredictable encounters; thus, we must be prepared to share the good news (death, burial & resurrection, Rom.6:3f; 1 Cor.15:1-4).

Secondly, we are commanded by Jesus to ‘baptize into His body.’ Baptism, crucial for salvation as evidenced in passages like Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, and others, requires our readiness to guide individuals in following the Bible’s instructions for baptism. After an individual, (who has reached the age of accountability and publicly confessed Jesus as the Son of God), is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the forgiveness of their sins, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. These individuals, who are being saved, God adds to His Church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47; Mt.28:19).

Lastly, we are tasked with ‘transferring transforming truth.’ A one-time teaching effort falls short. To lead new Christians toward spiritual maturity, we must walk alongside them. This involves imparting biblical wisdom, modeling moral behavior, mutual accountability, and encouraging consistent study of Scripture.

Friend, will you prayerfully discern God’s call to ‘sow seeds of salvation,’ ‘baptize into His body,’ and ‘transfer transforming truth’ in 2024? When each member of Christ’s body steps forward in their unique role, the impact of the gospel will illuminate on this Summit and multiply His church of Christ.

When we look back on 2023, we have a lot to be thankful for!  The theme last year was being more like Jesus, and I think we accomplished our goal!   

Most importantly, we had 15 Baptisms this year.

We had set our budget at $287,000 last year and we only missed it by $327.00 a week. These are just a few of our accomplishments as a church.

Our youth were busy (budget $13,000) with another successful VBS; they showed their talents through Lads to Leaders and were uplifted at CYC (Challenge Youth Conference) and Commit Youth Rally.  They have stepped up to lead in worship and invite their friends to worship with them.  It is inspiring to see them fill a pew during worship services. 

We continue to support missions (budget $41,000) through Mid-western Children’s Home, Potter Children’s Home, Guyana Mission Trip, Baxter Institute, Ben’s mission work in Alaska, churches in Central America and Telica, Nicaragua. 

We built fellowship and family at the church Retreat at Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp, Men’s Retreat at Potter’s Ranch, and the women’s retreat. We have formed 6 Small Group Bible Study times to increase discussion and build confidence in sharing our faith.

We hired a Part Time Education Director and opened a community program for our youngest friends with the Bible Buddies Program.  We have reached out to the community through our Socktober collections and filling Magi Boxes. Our ladies have prepared many ready meals for those who are sick.  We are sending the House to House publication to everyone in Alexandria.

We were able to upgrade the lighting within our building and add new lighted signs outside to make us more visible to the community.

This is only some of the wonderful things that Summit has done and continues to do to act more like Jesus.  I know you can think of more.

We have big plans for the New Year; we have increased our budget to $310,000 and increased our budget for our Youth and Education.  Daryl has set up a visitor welcome guide with a Summit Coffee Mug to be given to our visitors. 

Our theme for 2024 is: 

Matthew 28:19-20 – The Great Commission ……….GO…………BAPTISE………TEACH

Be in constant prayer that the Lord will continue to bless us at Summit so that we can be a blessing and reach those around us! 

We are proud of our past and look forward to our future!