Pastor Mark's September Letter

THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

Dear Church Family,

 I’ve been in God’s Family my entire life, although it was in Middle School at a Christian, summer camp that I had a personal experience with God upon praying to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Being a part of God’s Family is a wonderful, interesting and, sometimes, a painful experience.  I’ve witnessed a lot of great and awesome happenings in being a Christian who has always attended church, and I’ve also seen a lot of hurtful behaviors on the part of Christians.

 The best churches are those who truly live the words of Colossians 1:18, which say: “Christ is the head of the church …”  This is the essence of what all great church congregations have in common, the reality that the Christian Family is God’s Family, and not an organization controlled by human beings.

 Sterry Church is blessed with amazing elders and deacons; people who truly love Jesus and who are trying to serve God in Christian unity.  But Sterry Church does not belong to the elders, deacons, pastors or those who have the strongest opinions or the most longevity of membership and attendance.  Sterry Church belongs to God. 

 This is very humbling and something that makes all of us go to God in prayer on bended knee.  A spirit-filled Christian does not want to interfere with God’s will and ways of working in the life of the Church.  This means we live lives of personal repentance so we are confessing sin, turning from evil and submitting our hearts to God’s examination and transformation.  This can be a difficult process, but it is essential as without this we put ourselves before Jesus, instead of hearing His voice and following His will.

 This also involves submitting ourselves to one another.  The Bible says to serve one another, and to bear the burdens of others.  This requires genuine humility and participation.  It is far too easy to walk away from fellow Christians who need encouragement and help.  Someone once made the radical statement that “There is no salvation apart from the Church.”  I believe this.  When Jesus returns He is coming back for His Bride, the Church.  Those who isolate themselves will “miss the boat”.   You can’t be a Christian without also, simultaneously, being a part of God’s Church.  We have too much of an individualistic mindset in this part of the world, but this is not the mindset of the Family of God as understood in the Bible.  In the early Church, right after Christ’s resurrection, this is what we read about the first Christians: “All believers were of one heart and mind, and they felt that what they owned was not their own; they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32)

 Also, with Christ as Head of the Church, we link arms to witness to the reality of God’s salvation, so others will come to know God through Jesus Christ.  It says “And the apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great favor was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33)  True local congregations that are submitted to Jesus Christ, are active in helping and saving the lonely and the lost, and extending the invitation to come and be a part of God’s Family.  This is the missionary mindset that burns-in and motivates all Christ-centered churches.  Why?  Because God IS a missionary God: “For God so loved the world, that he SENT …” (John 3:16)

 May God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, lead us to humbly walk in a spirit of brokenness, humility, serving one another and the world, and all of these because we are honoring Jesus as the True Head of Sterry Church.

 Sincerely in Christ’s love,



Pastor Mark