New year, new members, new newsletter; lots of new things here at RRF. We are so thankful to God as he builds his church here.
As you know, we are almost finished with our sermon series through Revelation. I hope that you have learned as much hearing the sermons as I have in preparing them. It’s so comforting and encouraging in the troubles of our lives to know that Christ has already won and his victory will bring about the punishment of evil and the gracious rewarding of his people, people who have themselves overcome the evil one “through the blood of the lamb and by the word of our testimony” (Rev. 12:11).
So, where to next? As I mentioned at the congregational meeting, I first plan to preach a short series based on requests of congregation members (there is still time to send those requests to me). After that, we will be settling in for a study of the magnum opus of the apostle Paul, the book of Romans. Everyone knows about pastors who have taken many years to go through that book. How long will we take? We’ll see. I think the more important question is, “what does the Lord plan to teach each of us each week as we study it together?” My prayer is that the answer is, “much.”
We’re also concluding our mid-week study of Daniel this Thursday. Thursday night study is such a great time together. I hope that if you aren’t regular attendees, you will seriously consider making the time to do join us in our new study. And for those who to attend regularly, while I’m sure that you can get something out of the study by just showing up and listening, I want to strongly encourage everyone to make the effort to do the reading and answer the questions ahead of time. It will make your study much more profitable, and we would all love to hear what God teaches you as you do.
For the next two months we are going to be going through a study of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. We are postponing our study of the Canons of Dort, probably until September.
I encourage every member of our RRF family to take advantage of the opportunities we have to study God’s word and to fellowship with one another.
I also want to warn us all not to become complacent in regard to inviting people to church. We rightly rejoiced in our end-of-the-year growth. But it came to my attention that we have only had two new visitors since the end of November. Let’s all, especially our new members (with your fresh circle of acquaintances), be busy inviting (especially unsaved) friends and neighbors to visit us at RRF, to enjoy our hospitality, and most importantly, to sit under the preaching of the word of our gracious God.
May the God of all grace continue to bless, teach, challenge, chasten, and encourage you as he strengthens you all in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Gene
As you know, we are almost finished with our sermon series through Revelation. I hope that you have learned as much hearing the sermons as I have in preparing them. It’s so comforting and encouraging in the troubles of our lives to know that Christ has already won and his victory will bring about the punishment of evil and the gracious rewarding of his people, people who have themselves overcome the evil one “through the blood of the lamb and by the word of our testimony” (Rev. 12:11).
So, where to next? As I mentioned at the congregational meeting, I first plan to preach a short series based on requests of congregation members (there is still time to send those requests to me). After that, we will be settling in for a study of the magnum opus of the apostle Paul, the book of Romans. Everyone knows about pastors who have taken many years to go through that book. How long will we take? We’ll see. I think the more important question is, “what does the Lord plan to teach each of us each week as we study it together?” My prayer is that the answer is, “much.”
We’re also concluding our mid-week study of Daniel this Thursday. Thursday night study is such a great time together. I hope that if you aren’t regular attendees, you will seriously consider making the time to do join us in our new study. And for those who to attend regularly, while I’m sure that you can get something out of the study by just showing up and listening, I want to strongly encourage everyone to make the effort to do the reading and answer the questions ahead of time. It will make your study much more profitable, and we would all love to hear what God teaches you as you do.
For the next two months we are going to be going through a study of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. We are postponing our study of the Canons of Dort, probably until September.
I encourage every member of our RRF family to take advantage of the opportunities we have to study God’s word and to fellowship with one another.
I also want to warn us all not to become complacent in regard to inviting people to church. We rightly rejoiced in our end-of-the-year growth. But it came to my attention that we have only had two new visitors since the end of November. Let’s all, especially our new members (with your fresh circle of acquaintances), be busy inviting (especially unsaved) friends and neighbors to visit us at RRF, to enjoy our hospitality, and most importantly, to sit under the preaching of the word of our gracious God.
May the God of all grace continue to bless, teach, challenge, chasten, and encourage you as he strengthens you all in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Gene