celebrating the gospel

“If Christians do not rejoice it is not because they are Christians, but because they are not Christian enough. Joy is the rational state of the Christian in view of his spiritual position in Christ.”
 —Alistair Begg 

October 18, 2024

Below you will see a brief update from the property committee. It’s been an encouraging week because we are indeed continuing to move forward with the prospective proerty. As such, we can begin to prayerfully consider the “brass tack” particulars necessary to rise to this occasion. If we are serious about wanting to purchase this property as a church then we need to raise at minimum 60k by the end of the calendar year to move forward. The seller has been exceedingly flexible about a down payment, and they are would allow us to put down half a down payment in cash which amounts to $250K. Should we continue moving forward they would then agree to give us one year to sell our land and then pay for the remaining balance on the down payment. 

So we need to raise some money — $60k by the end of the year. But as I have mentioned before, I have little interest in simply approaching this as a financial requirement that needs to be met. Rather, I’d like to consider this a ministry opportunity to which we might rise as a church. That means two things: a ministry opportunity that presents itself in the form a a building that we might own and operate in, but also a ministry opportunity right now to be stretched in our discipleship and formed in our generosity. God does love a cheerful giver and where our treasure is there our hearts lie also. An exceedingly tangible litmus test of our Christian discipleship and maturity can be seen where our money goes. That which we are literally investing in is that which we actually value.

To that end I would like to lead our church into a season of intentional generosity and sacrificial giving. This season is designed for two things: one, to raise necessary funds to be able to move forward with the purchase of the property. But secondly, and possibly of greater importance, to form us more into the image of our Lord and Savior. To grow us in our discipleship, to challenge our hearts, to give us a vision for what it might look like to be radically generous as God’s people. 

This season is most definitely about raising money to purchase a building, to that end I would implore you to prayerfully consider how much you might give (the best way to give right now would either be with a check, designated for the building fund, or if you prefer online you can give through the PCA Foundation and designate the gift for the building fund ). 

But it’s even more about becoming the people who God would have us to be as his disciples. Mercy Church, you have been generous as a people. I am asking you to think about how you might be even more intentional in your generosity and sacrificial in your giving. Counting from this Sunday there are 11 weeks until the end of the calendar year. I would like to propose a prayer schedule that will take us through the end of the year, reflecting on who we are as a church and who we might be.


Prayer Schedule 

This prayer schedule and framework is built around our mission statement of “Celebrating the gospel of Jesus Christ in worship, community, and mission”.

For the week of October 20, please consider praying in and through the framework of “the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Here’s what that might look like:

Individually in your own time of private or family worship, or in prayer and fellowship groups, spend time reflecting on what it looks like and means to “celebrate the gospel” both inwardly as individuals and outwardly in a more corporate or collective setting. Celebration of the gospel I think can be explained in the language of Westminster Shorter Catechism of “glorifying and enjoying.” These prompts are designed to help you glorify and enjoy God in the public and private proclamation of the gospel.

Personal glorifying and enjoying
What does the discipline of “preaching the gospel to yourself” look like in your life? 
Perhaps consider these resources as you meditate on this reality.
https://displaythegospel.com/blog/2017/9/14/preach-the-gospel-to-yourself
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlsiUlZdX9U by Jerry Bridges
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/preaching-gospel-yourself by Joe Thorn

— Pray that God might glorify himself in you and in your family. Pray that you might grow in your enjoyment and satisfaction of who God is and how God has worked in your life.
— Pray for the lost to come to know Jesus.
— Pray for opportunities to proclaim who Christ is and what he has done in your life
— Pray for boldness and for the Spirit to put the fear of man to death as you seek to personally proclaim Jesus.

Public glorifying and enjoying 
— Pray that Mercy church might collectively grow in her enjoyment of God and affection for each other.
— Pray that we might be receptive to God’s Word and Spirit as a Church.
— Pray the glory of God and the good of our neighbors would be our highest priority.
— Pray for unity as a body.

As you pray here are some scripture references to meditate upon as you prayerfully consider celebrating the gospel this week. 
1 Cor. 10:31
Rom. 11:36
Ps. 73:25–28
Rom. 3:20–22
Gal. 3:21–22
1 Tim. 2:5–6
Isa. 9:6–7
2 Cor. 5:1921

Looking forward to walking through this season as a body!

In Christ, 
John D

For those who like a bigger picture here are the remaining 9 weeks at a glance:
October 27, 2024 — celebrating Jesus Christ
November 3, 2024 — celebrating through public worship
November 10, 2024 — celebrating through private, personal worship
November 17, 2024 — celebrating in and through public community 
November 24, 2024 — celebrating in and through personal/ small scale community 
December 1, 2024 — celebrating in and through public mission
December 8, 2024 — celebrating in and through personal mission 
December 15, 2024 — celebrating and cultivating generosity 
December 22, 2024 — celebrating and cultivating sacrifice  
December 29, 2024 — giving up what we cannot keep to gain what we cannot lose

Announcements

—Property Committee Update

1) The Property Committee met with the seller to further discuss terms of Sale. The conversation went well and we are moving toward finalizing terms
2) Feedback provided through the survey has been very helpful.  The Property Committee created this document that addresses some of the questions and concerns: 
3) Pastor Downs will be providing some guided ways that you can be praying for the process. Please see above

—Prayer and Fellowship Groups
Prayer and fellowship groups are starting up, and those who have agreed to host these gatherings have begun reaching out to invite people. To that end, if you are someone who is desiring to participate but has not yet been invited, please reach out to the Session and we’ll get you connected with a prayer and fellowship group. We deeply desire that everyone in our church feels welcomed and connected to the body!

—New Members Class Continuing
If you are still interested in pursuing membership at Mercy Church, the new members class began on Sunday, October 6 and you can still jump in and finish it. The class runs for 6-8 weeks during the Sunday school hour.

—Songs for Sunday
Here’s what we’re singing this Sunday if you’d like to familiarize yourself with tunes + lyrics!

Come Thou Fount
Psalm 3 (Sing Psalms, to the tune of Before The Throne Of God Above)
Be Thou My Vision
Rock of Ages
What Wondrous Love Is This
Nothing this week, there have been a few other things to consider. 

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