FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
Where does a church get its individual identity?
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​​​​​What makes each of these churches unique is the fact each person brings their own past, present and future together under one roof. Their own gifts, passions and skills. Whether in person or by connection, their own friends, families and peers.
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Even though it’s been nearly 2000 years since the New Testament era, we are still called together by our faith in Jesus and what makes each church unique is the people who call it their home and family. I believe every person’s story matters because they play a role in the individual identity of the church. No story is insignificant. Never underestimate your role. You are in fact connected to God’s story after all.
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So where does Prineville Christian Church get its personality? You and I. Sometimes I wonder if Paul wrote a letter to us, what kind of letter would it be? Correcting? Encouraging? Would he speak fondly of what he has heard about us? One aspect would be clear. He would call us to continue in our faith in Jesus.
United on the foundation of Christ Jesus we can have diverse backgrounds and stories. Yet we stand together in our faith. The heart of meeting people on the foundation is something that makes Prineville Christian Church unique.
“You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19b-22 ESV).
Newsletter Article Written by Scott Carpenter
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Each time Paul sent out a letter he spoke to a unique group of people, yet they were drastically different!
“To the church in Galatia” (Galatians 1:2 NLT).
“I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus” (Ephesians 1:1).
“to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse” (Colossians 1:2).
“To the church in Thessalonica” (1 Thess. 1:1).
You might have also noticed each letter has an individual focus, correction and encouragement. One of my favorites is Philippians because Paul’s writings are positive and encouraging. But where do these churches get their individual identity?
Some churches are focusing on the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12). Others had the Jewish rites on their mind (Col. 2). Others face suffering and persecution (Phil. 1). Each group of people, dependent on Jesus as savior, unite together under the same belief and salvation
Finish Your Race - Greg Laurie Devotion - December 26, 2024
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I encountered this article during my devotions on December 26 and it resonated with me. Laurie hit the nail of my life purpose on the head. I am aware that I stumble and sometimes fall. But by the Grace of Jesus and with the encouragement of others I get up, dust myself off refocus and press on. I share this article as a statement of my life purpose and an encouragement to all of us.
Dan
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. (Hebrews 3:14 NLT)
We all will leave a legacy of sorts. It will be a positive one or a negative one. But eventually our lives will come to an end, and we will leave a legacy. People might say some nice things about us at our funerals, but afterward, the truth will come out.
Of course, we don’t know how much time God will give to each one of us. We may live long, productive lives. And maybe we will be able to look back eventually and say that we finished well.
Or our lives may be cut relatively short. We might not live quite that long. That is why we want to make sure that every day counts. We don’t want to waste a single moment.
On more than one occasion, the Bible likens the Christian life to running a race. Writing to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul said, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT).
And the writer of Hebrews urges us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (12:1 NLT).
The objective in the Christian life is not only to start our race well but also to cross the finish line. We must finish this race. The Bible warns us of failing to do that.
It doesn’t matter whether we’ve been in first place for nine laps in a ten-lap race. We have to cross the finish line. That is why Paul also said, “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT).
We must be very careful.
Paul, addressing the elders of Ephesus prior to his departure, spoke of his impending imprisonment. He told them, “but my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24 NLT). That was Paul’s goal. He wanted to finish his race.
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In the race of life, we’re not competing with each other. I’m not running against you. And you’re not running against me. Our goal is not to outrun each other. Rather, our goal is to stay in our lane and finish the race that God has set before us.
At the end of the day, I want to be able to echo Paul.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
Let’s run together in 2025
Dan
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