“We Are Gathered By God”

There is a woman who is sitting home alone reading her Bible. There is another woman who is at the church sitting around a table surrounded by styrofoam cups, as she serves on a committee trying to plan next summer’s Vacation Bible School and mission experience for the children. The question I want to ask you is, “Which of these two women is more deeply involved in the kingdom of God?”

Now some people might say, “Well John, the first woman is engaged in spiritual activities, but the other woman is just involved in ecclesiastical busywork that has very little impact on the kingdom of God.” My friends, nothing could be further from the truth. As Christians, we believe that along with our time alone with God, which we all need, we must also have a place where we give ourselves away in order to build up the body of Christ.

The church is different from those other organizations, because as the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians, “We are gathered by God.” Now you may think that you get up on Sunday morning, throw on some clothes and freely decide to come down to Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church. According to the Apostle Paul that isn’t true, as he says, “We are gathered by God.” I read recently that more people come together for worship on Sunday morning than in any other voluntary or civic activity in this nation. And God uses these encounters to build up his kingdom and propel us into ministry and service together.

This Sunday, April 30, is Youth Sunday. Our young people will be leading the worship service, -- ushering, greeting, music, prayers, etc. Five of our young people will join the church through our Confirmation Class, and we will also celebrate the sacrament of Baptism. I will be delivering the message on a little known passage in Acts 20, about a man named Eutychus. So, please come and join us for our one and only worship service at 10:00 am. The service will also broadcast on Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube.   

(The service will be live streamed via Zoom, FaceBook and YouTube.
See links below.)

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89279830268?pwd=RzI2cjc3OHdHakEvQ3EyL0dNWk02dz09
Meeting ID: 892 7983 0268 Passcode if needed: 404171

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=chestnut+level+presbyterian+church

https://www.facebook.com/chestnutlevelpreshttps://www.facebook.com/chestnutlevelpres