During his earthly ministry Jesus took 12 men from diverse backgrounds and formed them into the most powerful force for change that the world has ever known.  In one generation, 12 men carried radical good news to every corner of the world.  He did it by making disciples.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 21:18-20

During 2019 Summit will look closely at what it means to be a disciple, how to become a disciple, the blessings and the costs of discipleship ,and finally how to make new disciples.

One might assume that being baptized and faithful in attendance equates to discipleship.  As we look at what Jesus did to make disciples, we will find there is a lot more involved.  From the Great Commission we see 1) Go 2) Teach 3) Baptize 4) Obey and 5) Behold (presence of Jesus in your life).

Discipleship is not for the faint of heart but represents the most fulfilled life and eternity that a person can aspire to.  Come along as we consider being a disciple of Jesus.

 

Much like selling a house and moving to a new home we are getting ready to leave 2018. To make a great transition there are a few important things we must do.

First, we must be selective in what we allow to transition with us. To leave behind – areas in our lives we failed to overcome. To take with –good RP2SA habits.

• Read our Bibles daily
• Pray daily
• 2 hours of service per week
• Self-improving goal
• Attend all services

Second, we must keep being humble, gentle, and patient with each other so that we can maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph.4:2-3). In Revelation 12 Satan is found battling the woman. Satan means accuser and the woman probably represents the church. I am glad that Satan has lost and has been cast out of heaven – but very aware that he is currently on earth causing trouble.

Revelation 12:9–10 (ESV) — 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Third, we must set high personal and collective goals. A good place to begin is where God began – with the family. Reclaim God’s mission of one man for one wife for life. The key to a marriage that will endure is absolute commitment. So, what can make you leave your spouse? The only answer is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

And, finally, all the goals, mission statements, objectives, and vision castings are worthless without very hard work. James said: James 2:17–18 (ESV) — 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you so much for all the blessings of this past year. (New souls added to your church, new Carpet, wonderful Ladies Class, new outside stairs & rail, new activities, new mission point, attendance and visitor follow-up, security program, new website, new furnace, CYC again, Lads to Leaders again, Commit again, new 100 day challenge, new teaching curriculum going well, 421 WBS students & 4032 assignments completed, active seniors, new thermostat, Lobby revamps, new chairs, Summit servants going well, greeting program going well, new fence installed and painted, new security lights, all walls painted, graduated good group of seniors, huge gift in the offering, exceptionally generous gifts to foster children, Head-Start, etc.). Thank you, Lord. We are completely satisfied. We have no complaints about anything. Prepare us for even greater things in 2019. In Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

He wants people to bow down to him – but one Jew, Mordecai, refuses. Immediately the power-hungry Haman is “filled with fury”. So, he seeks to destroy him and “all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus” (Esther 3).

Unbeknownst to Haman, his boss, King Ahasuerus, is married to a Jew – Queen Esther. In his hot anger, Haman listens to counsel to build gallows 50 cubits high to hang Mordecai (Esther 5:40) – who just happens to be Queen Esther’s older cousin.

Most of us have faced a bully at some time in our lives. Today parents are even taught to look for signs of bullying in their children: The child is unwilling to go to school (headaches or stomach aches); a change in the child’s emotional behavior; a change in sleep patterns; a change in grades; or a loss in interest in school friendships.

It is, for this reason, we find it so satisfying when our bully, Haman, sees his heartless genocidal scheme backfire. At her own peril, the young Queen Esther agrees to help her people (Esther 4).

In an incredible turn of events, Mordecai is honored, and the bullying Haman is humbled (Esther 6) and then hung on his own gallows (Esther 7).

Friend, people who cause emotional and physical trauma in the lives of others never get away with it. Imagine God seeing His only Son, Jesus being bullied. Even though Jesus was innocent, He had to endure reviling, spitting, beating, and an inhumane execution.  In silence, Jesus entrusted “himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:22–23).

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If you or someone you know is being bullied respond immediately & consistently.

 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  Luke 2:.11-14

During this season when so many focus on the baby Jesus, I would like you to also think of Jesus the man, the Savior.  Jesus described himself as a “door” or a gate that leads men to salvation.  We know that if we want to get to something we have to take that first step; that first step toward our salvation is through Jesus.

And his name shall be called “Wonderful”, “Counselor”, “The Mighty God”, “The Everlasting Father” And “The Prince of Peace”.   This is what I want people to remember about the birth of our Lord and Savior; not about the baby, but about the Man.  We know that Jesus came into this world to seek and save that which was lost.   Jesus was a humble person who loved his disciples, as he showed them by washing their feet, setting an example of service.   And he would pay the ultimate sacrifice for you and me.

Jesus also described himself as the “Way” to get to the Father.  When we want to find a location or destination we will map quest it to find the direct path to our destination.  If Heaven is our destination we have only to look at Jesus to find the Father.  Jesus and God the father are one.

He also described himself as a “Savior”, to call all sinners to repentance, to save them from their sins.

“And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shall call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Brothers and Sisters, let us fix our minds on Jesus the man.   He does not want us to worry, but to put our trust in Him.  We know Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you and me.  We also know that nothing will separate us from the love of the Father, not even death or life!  What a reassuring promise!

 “For the wages of sin is death, but the “Gift” of God is eternal life!” Romans 6:23

Sheryl and I would like to wish everyone at Summit a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. Our hope is that the new year will draw everyone closer to our Lord and Savior and to his Church family at Summit.  We hope this will be a great year.  We love you all, and know that you are in our prayers.

As you prepare to make your 2019 new year’s resolutions, I encourage everyone to have a Bible reading plan at the top of their list. As we spend more time in God’s word, we discover that there are stories of people who faced some of the same circumstances we face today, and we can learn from their successes and failures.

God’s word is a book of wisdom for us to study so that we may apply lessons learned to our personal lives. It contains true stories of individuals who lived their lives for Christ. It provides us countless examples of individuals who overcame challenges to keep living their life for the Lord and what a faith centered life is truly all about.

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”

 

I love this time of year! Everyone seems to be a little more FAITHFUL, OBEDIENT and LOVING. For the next few weeks, churches are going to fill up as many consider God’s Son coming into this world.

The youngest and most beloved Apostle, John, is now an old man when he writes (1 John 5 ESV):

• Faith: — 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, …
• Love: … and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
• Obedience: 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

As we can see, everything begins with a faith that leads to being born again. John goes on to say that this new birth leads to us overcoming the world, just as Jesus did, by the water and the blood (1 Jn.5:4-6).

If we want this happiness to endure through eternity, we too need to become part of the SPIRIT, WATER, AND BLOOD (1 John 7-8).

Friend, have you died with Jesus in baptism (BLOOD, Romans 6:3)? Have you been buried with Him in baptism (WATER, Romans 6:4-5)? And have you been raised to walk this new “born again” life (SPIRIT, Romans 6:4-5)?

 

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth…. “You are the light of the world.”

The holiday season is upon us.  It’s the time of year that some refer to as the season of giving, while others may think of it as the season of getting.  We may have more awareness and more focused opportunities to give at this time of the year, but we should always be in a season of giving.  In the spirit of helping others and building the Kingdom, we must be generous with our time, our treasure and our talents regardless of the time of year.  Jesus said, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” in Matthew 5:16.

Time is our most precious resource.  You can’t save up time. You can’t refuse to spend it.  You can’t set it aside.  Are you “making the best use of the time” as Paul commands in Ephesians 5:16 and giving your time to help and serve others.

In Luke 12:21, Jesus warns us of the one who “lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”  In Matthew 6:20-21, Jesus commanded “lay up yourselves treasures in heaven.” Paul reminds us that “God loves a cheerful giver” in 2 Corinthians 9:7. Social scientists also tell us that spending money on gifts for others or giving to charity significantly boosts our well-being.

Our talents may be the easiest to use.  It is all about finding what we are good at and using it to glorify God.  In the parable of the talents, Jesus called the one who hid his talents, “wicked and lazy” in Matthew 25:26.  Paul instructed us to use our talents together to build up the body of Christ in Ephesians 4:14-16.  Are you fully utilizing your talents to help and to serve others so that God will receive the glory?

Enjoy this holiday season! Spend time with the people you love. Never miss an opportunity to give of your time, your treasure and your talents to glorify God and to build up the body of Christ.

 

For years you Christians have been waiting. Where is this supposed God of yours?

It was this scoffing, (in 2 Peter 3:3-4), that prompted Peter to write about:

• PATIENCE: 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
• JUDGEMENT: 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
• HOLINESS: 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

The message is clear. The reason God has not yet brought judgement is that He is patient. He is waiting for us to “clean up our act”. Why? Because God does not lie – judgement will happen! So, we are to hasten His coming by living holy & repentant lives.

Friend, our goal for the next minute, hour, or day is holiness — to be found in Him without “spot or blemish, and at peace” (2 Pt.3:14)!