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This Sunday
February 19, 2017
Sermon Title:
"Building for Success"
Scripture:
1 Corinthians
3:10-11, 16-23
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 "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 3:11
February 16, 2017
Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:
Beginning with some news and notes . . .
On Wednesday, our Family Fusion small groups started, using the Lenten study we've chosen titled Four Great Loves. It was a great evening with 60 people participating in one of five small groups. Thanks to our small group leaders, who were well prepared to lead! In addition to these small groups, Elder Tom Weaver has six family units, some from MLEPC and some from outside, who are working through Financial Peace University. And a young adult small group is meeting around a book titled The Drama of Scripture. And some single moms plan to spend time in fellowship and prayer for one another on Wednesday evenings (as well as meeting twice monthly on Friday evenings for Bible study). We look forward to spending Wednesday evenings with you with good physical food and fellowship shared around the dinner table, followed by good spiritual food and fellowship in small groups. If you didn't sign up to be part of a group but come to Fusion and want to be part of a group for the evening, simply come and let me know when you arrive, and we'll find a place for you at the study table for the evening!
Four ruling elders, Kay Atman, Jim Fondelier, Chris Hindman and Bruce Tenenbaum, met this week to begin the search process for an interim pastor. They developed a short questionnaire that they sent to Pastor Steve and me. Pastor Steve and I will each be talking with these elders next week.
In March we've invited our dear friend Dr. Bruce Bickel to help us with the preaching schedule. We always look forward to Dr. Bickel in our pulpit, and I told him in addition to "Teacher in Residence" we can now call him "Preacher in Residence!" This will greatly help Pastor Steve and me as we care for you, our church family, and ensure that Family Fusion and other programs continue to run smoothly.
And on to Sunday . . .
Last week Pastor Steve preached on the first section of the third chapter of the Apostle Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth with a great sermon and a catchy title: Pizza, Sushi, and the Three Spiritual Food Groups. I could not come up with a sermon title anywhere near as creative, but "Building for Success" seems to well describe Sunday's passage. Paul turns from planting and food to building, using a foundation image that was relevant in the first century and is relevant to us yet today. And Pastor Steve laid the foundation for Sunday's sermon! Chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians is subtitled "Divisions in the Church," and in our passage for Sunday, Paul continues to address dissention and worldliness in the church. In a time when diversity is a significant word in our culture today from life styles to employment policies to religious practices, this is a good passage to look at because diversity is certainly an appropriate description for the religious practices in the first century city of Corinth. Because of the worldly influence of the culture in Corinth, the early church stood in danger of losing sight of God. There were divisions and cliques. Politics had entered the church through favorite teachers, and religious leaders were following them rather than following Jesus, who alone is the power and wisdom of God.
We'll be looking at the difference between a house and a home and applying that to MLEPC - the building and the body of believers who worship at the corner of Scott and Washington Roads. As we reflect on how we do church together, Paul's image reminds us that in all that we say or do, our foundation is Jesus. We can be creative with how we "decorate" the church, but as people who "live" here together, this passage helps us to reflect on how we can be a welcoming community to those who come through our doors.
Finally, on Sunday, we'll enjoy a special time with a children's sermon as we are being intentional about including our young children in worship. See you in church!
Love, in Christ,
Pastor Linda
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