e-news for week of 11/27/11

As a staff, we gather one hour a week for development. As a leader, constant growth and learning is a central component to who we are as a staff. Currently we are in a spiritual growth module. This week’s chapter was on spiritual guidance and how we must look to one another within the church body for insight, wisdom, encouragement, and support vs. just being rugged individuals who are driven toward exclusive self fulfillment. When talking about barriers to this concept, Jody Riley (our Jr. High Minister) asked a most profound question (no one has ever fully accused Jody of being consistently profound). The question was, “Is there ever a point when we move from thinking about church as a collection of individuals to realizing we are ‘a people.’?” We are the family of God. Our Father is working among us, in us, and through us.

I do think of “The Sutherlands” as a family. As we sat around our family table with all of us gathered together last week for Thanksgiving, we listed things from the past year we are thankful for. At the top of my list was the Lord’s protection of Natasha and the Uriah family in India during the terrorist attack. The list also included the great things the Lord is doing at Forum.

As a church family, last month the leadership of Forum gathered as staff, elders, and deacons. We talked about how God continues to work and move at Forum. The list is so long. I’ll share the list in the January 2012 Connection Newsletter. But here’s some insight:

• the number of people who have confessed “Jesus is Lord” and been baptized in His name.
• the great level of giving that has allowed us to continue to impact Columbia and the world.
• The multitude of service projects that have occurred this year.
• The phenomenal weekend with our missionaries.
• The growth that we’ve seen (as we continue to bring more permanent chairs in to the auditorium) in the Sunday morning gatherings.

Let me encourage all of us to finish out the year strong with our giving so that, as a ministry, we’ll be able to head into 2012 in a strong way.

This Sunday we enter into a season to reflect on the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth.

Personal question: Is the Living Word residing in you?

We’ll talk about this Sunday. Come prepared by living for Jesus every day. May your worship this Sunday be an outflow of a week lived for Jesus. Looking forward to a great encounter - Scott