Redemptive Fellowship

Shortly after World War 2, Dr. Elton Trueblood looked upon the culture and saw the futility of all the world had been through. In his analyses, he believed that hope actually resided in a small group of people whom he called the redemptive society. The redemptive society is, of course, the church. We may find ourselves occasionally upset with the church and we may experience frustration from time to time, but the Church is God's redemptive society that He has placed in this World to provide hope.

We live in the age when everyone is looking to government to make life better and to provide something to help our situation, but all government seems to do is bring about more despair. In this issue of the newsletter, we want you to think with us. Hope isn't something government can give. Hope is something that comes from God, and since God has ordained the Church, then only the Church is the institution that can give balance and hope to the culture.

Dr. Trueblood described the church that can accomplish the task of being a redemptive society; it must have deep moral convictions and a living religion, along with fellowship that is real. When he stated living religion, we would do well to understand him to mean living faith. Faith has to be more than a profession, it must be an action. When we have a faith that is alive and with deep moral convictions, and a fellowship that is real, then we can act redemptive. Real fellowship is based on the bond we have in Jesus Christ as we share life together.

There must be value placed on the fellowship that elevates to more than simply social, but truly a fellowship of sharing in the life of God together. When we grasp this sharing in the life of God together, then we also have a better understanding of what God wants to do through us. Consider carefully the writings of Josh, Kyle and Kenny as we try to understand what God wants to do in us and through us!

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

Matthew 28:18-20

This is a passage of scripture very familiar to most of us. Christ meets with His disciples after the resurrection and commands them to go and make more disciples in the name of the triune God. What a blessed time for those men who walked with Christ! They came face to face with the power of God and the risen King! At this point, on a mountain in Galilee, Christ lays out His will for man...Go and make disciples.

How were these men able to carry out this command? How were they to go into the very world that just crucified the Messiah and teach men to follow all of His commands? The ability to carry out this command did not come through their ability to meet every single person's needs, nor did it come through the ability to adapt their message to every person’s desire, or even through laying out programs designed to draw others to the church or place of meeting. The ability to carry out this command laid in the disciples unwaivering faith in Chirst as He said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

What a blessing for the believer in Christ who knows this statement in the depths of his heart! What assurance of fulfillment and purpose when we know the sovereignty of God with every part of our being! The disciples had no idea where they would be taken, but in daily obedience and surrender to the sovereignty of God, there is no debating that they changed the world! Think about it...11 men is what the Church consisted of when Christ gave this command. The simplicity of the gospel and Christ's desire is kind of humorous when you consider how difficult we can make it sometimes. Christ’s desire is for you, first, to believe and live out his statement; "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me." What should we fear? Nothing on earth exceeds the grasp of our God. And second, we are to go and make known Christ's desire to draw all men to His side. Pursue knowledge of our sovereign God! Pursue Him relentlessly and He will lead you day by day! Be obedient today and He will set the course for tomorrow.

And those who know your name
put their trust in you, for you, O LORD,
have not forsaken those who seek you. -Psalm 9:10

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
-Psalm 37:3-6

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
-Psalm 118:6-9

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
-Psalm 125:1-2

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
-Proverbs 3:5-6

Pastor Josh

Serving the Lord in
the Great Commission

But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt 28:16-20)

Jesus having "all authority" has given us our marching orders. We are to make disciples, teaching them to follow, "observe," all that He commanded. None of us should be "doubtful" as we fulfill the Great commission because we are to do so in the knowledge that He will be with us as we do, "and lo, I am with you always."

What is your part in fulfilling the great commission?
How are you participating with the Church in reaching the lost?
How are you serving God where He has placed you? (1Cor 12:18)

Let me encourage you to become active in fulfilling the Great Commission in your work place, in your home, in your community, and in your church by serving God in this community of believers. Opportunities abound to serve in following the Great Commission. God has placed you here in this body of believers to do just that (1 Cor 12:18). We are to use our gifts, talents, and abilities for the good of the church. (1 Cor 12:7 also 14:26 & Eph 4:12) Below is a series of lists that show the ministry opportunities that await you. Please browse through them, and while this is not a comprehensive list, it does cover most of the things you can do here to farther the cause of Christ and become involved in your church.

If you are interested in serving in any of these ministries call the asterixed (*) individual listed below each list. If you can think of other places of ministry that I may have missed please contact me so that I can add it to the list. It is Together that we Worship, Grow, and Reach.

In Christ

Pastor Kenny

* see or call for more information
Teacher
Teacher’s helper
Facilitator/host of a small group.
Leading a small group.
Assisting others as they lead.
Organizing curriculum for the different classes.
Organizing volunteers to lead the different classes for Children’s Church.
Jr. Church leader
Jr. Church helper.
*Kenny Chaffee

Puppeteer *Shawn Testi

Hospitality
Greeting those who are entering the building.
Greeting those new to the Brookville Church of God.
Directing new people to the right place.
*Marsha Levinson

Encouraging others to participate in events, activities, and discipleship classes.

Ushering *Rich Rhoades

Helping to get the information out by being involved in the Media Ministry (Sound board and projection)
*Kim Rhoades

Participating in the outreach of the church during the Laurel Festival and Firemen’s events through face painting, helping to hand out information about us, donating pop, baked goods, and/or your time to oversee the donations, blow up balloons, and of course fellowship with others at the outreach events.
*Sandy Vandervort

Becoming involved in our Passion play, either on-stage, portraying a part, or off-stage helping with the lights, sound, props, make-up, watching the children while they are off-stage, taking care of the animals, or helping to feed cast and crew as this is one of the biggest productions of it’s kind in the area.
*Honey Dawn Dusch
Youth helpers (Wed nights)
Drivers for trips
Trip planners
Organizing fund raisers
Youth Discipleship leader
Activity coordinator
*Pastor Josh

Participating with the worship team, either by playing an instrument, or singing with the praise team or as a special in the worship service.
*Pastor Josh

Serving on a team or board of the church. Fellowship, Evangelism Out-reach and Benevolence (E.O.B), Discipleship, Property & Finance, and Worship board.
*Pastor Henry

Helping with funeral meals.
Setting up and tearing down tables.
Sending cards
Visiting the sick and those who can’t get out.
Preparing meals for others.
*Doris Boddorf

Helping to maintain the building and grounds of the church.
Anyone with knowledge of electrical, plumping, carpentry, and telecommunications.
*Mark Caylor

Encouraging others as they serve.

Organizing carry in dinners.
Games and fellowship ideas.
Helping in the kitchen before, during, and after the meal.
*Mary Mauk.

Phone ministry *Pastor Kenny

Participating in our annual children’s outreach, Mega Sports Camp.
*Kim Rhoades

Helping where and when you see it needed from picking up paper from the floor and changing a light bulb in your church building to helping the Church fulfill the Great Commission. We, you and I, believers, are the Church, the body of Christ in Brookville.

Immersed in Christ
by Kyle D. Yates

When we read the Great Commission, we come to the point where it reads, "baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Usually, when we read this scripture, our first thoughts jump to a baptism service where we have the pastor in front of the congregation in a pool of water, his arms open ready to dunk the willing participants in the cool water. Now, before I continue, I want to let you know that I am not messing with the act of baptism. This article deals with the heart of the Christian before and after the physical act of being baptized. Let us first look at where we get our ideas about baptism:

To best translate from the original language; baptism in its simplest form means to be immersed. In the books of the law, we learn that some of the cleansing-purification rituals for the Israelites who sinned were to immerse themselves in water. Later, we learn of John the Baptist immersing people in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:1-11), and telling those who journeyed to be baptized, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Now we have an idea what the origins of baptism are about. Let us look into this one specific portion of the Great Commission. Jesus states, "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19-20a). When we read this passage, and add our understanding of Baptism to the picture, we see that Jesus also wants us to be immersed fully into the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But what does this full immersion in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit look like to the common person walking down the street? This person, who is daily immersed in God, will have the characteristics of Christ. The person will be full of the fruits of the spirit, as they freely love and give of themselves in the name of Christ. Will you notice this person apart from the rest of the world? A resounding yes!

Do you know of anyone like this? Would you like to become this person? Immersing oneself in God is not a single event, but a lifelong paced walk with God. The first place one should look to began the process is God’s Holy Word, the Bible. His word is his special revelation to us; it contains examples and laws of how God interacts with humanity and how we should interact with each other. From his word one can renew their mind and mold their life.

Another step one can take to be fully immersed in God is to be in community with his other followers (we call this church). Inside of this community of believers, one can be taught deeper understanding of the Bible, held accountable for one’s actions, and actively participate in the spreading of God’s word and love. The last thing one can enthusiastically do to be immersed in God is to be in daily prayer.

Now, if the people that make up a church community immerse themselves in Christ, then the processing of "going out" and "making disciples" can effectively be carried out into the neighborhoods, communities, states, nations, and the entire world. The church, however, cannot begin to reach the lost without first being immersed in Christ. Make it your priority to be daily immersed in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.