The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Colossians 3:12-13

God freely and eternally gives of Himself for the wellbeing of others. That is what we mean when we say, “God is loving.” But there is an incredible description of God’s love that is repeated over and over again throughout Scripture. The Bible describes God’s love as steadfast, and we see this in the life of the people of Israel. God by His grace made it possible for them to live in a covenant relationship with Him. And even when they rebelled, and often experienced the consequences of that rebellion, God was patient and persistent in His commitment to love them. The same is true of the relationship we now have with God through Jesus. As redeemed sons and daughters of God, He is committed to loving us, even when we don’t deserve it.

As those who have received God’s steadfast love in Christ, we are commanded to demonstrate that love toward others, especially toward brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray through the above passage and ask God to help you personally, and us corporately, to live out these commands. Think and pray about the specific challenges (in our hearts, our church, and our culture) that make it difficult for us to live these out.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
Isaiah 6:1-7

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16

God’s holiness means that He is infinitely superior to all creation, and there is no sin or impurity in Him. To say that God is holy is to say that He is perfect in every way. The problem for us is that we are sinners and God cannot tolerate sin. And that is why the gospel is such good news! God has chosen to offer us forgiveness through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And when we turn from our sin and trust in Jesus, we are born again and given the power of the Holy Spirit to live a holy life.

In light of the above passage, ask God to help you personally, and us corporately, to grow in holiness as we humble ourselves before God. Confess any known sin in your thoughts, words, actions, or attitude. Pray for our church to continually reflect the holy character of God.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Romans 11:33

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8

God is wise. This is such good news. He always knows what is best and always does what is best. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about ourselves. When we are faced with a variety of options, we are often uncertain about the wisest course of action. Sometimes, we even intentionally rebel against what is wise, foolishly choosing our own way. As followers of Jesus, and as a church family, we desperately need God’s wisdom in order to live the way God desires us to live.

Based on the above passages, ask God to help you personally, and us corporately, to discern and follow His wisdom.

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Deuteronomy 32:4

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12:33-37

God always does what is right and he himself is the final standard of what is right. This is what qualifies God to be the only perfect Judge. Evil offends and angers God. He sees all wrongdoing and will execute His perfect justice against all wrongdoers. It is humbling to realize how serious this is. God will hold each of us accountable for our sin. By God’s grace, we as followers of Jesus have been forgiven for our sins and now, we are called to reflect God’s justice by living with honesty, integrity, and justice in all our decisions and relationships.

Ask God to help you personally, and us corporately, to act and speak in ways that are Godly, honest, and pleasing to Him. Pray for our elder affirmation process to be done in a way that is honoring to God and above reproach. Pray for God to purify and protect our church family from gossip, deceit, and slander.

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
Daniel 4:34-35

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:28-30

God’s sovereignty means that God is always in complete control. No one can rival God’s power, and nothing can ultimately derail God’s plans. When circumstances are confusing or overwhelming to us, we can have peace knowing that God is still in control.

Take time to thank God for His sovereignty over specific situations and ask God to work out His good plans. For example, you could pray, “God, thank You for sovereignly working in ________ situation.” or “God, please help me/us to have peace in _____ situation because I know you are at work.”

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Luke 15:1-32

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

God loves to be kind towards us, even when we don’t deserve it. This is what we mean when we say, “God is gracious”. Our lives are filled with the gifts of God’s abundant grace. Oxygen. Food. Beauty. Creativity. Laughter. These are all gifts from a gracious God. And yet, we see His grace in the most profound, awe-inspiring way in the saving work of Jesus. God sent Jesus to “seek and save that which was lost”. He pursued us and now invites us to join Him in pursuing others.

Ask God to help you personally, and us corporately, to focus on and bear fruit in the Gospel Mission – in our personal relationships, in our city, and among the unreached all over the world. Pray for God to use us to draw unbelievers to faith in Christ, even amid the challenges our church family may be facing right now. Pray that our challenges will not become a distraction or stumbling block to the unbelievers among us.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but 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 2:11-22

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
1 Timothy 3:1-7

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:1-5

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Hebrews 13:17

The church is not a building or an event. The church is the people of God, a supernatural family of brothers and sisters who have been saved by Jesus and sent into the world to represent Him. We are people from all kinds of backgrounds with all kinds of personal and social differences, yet we share the same passion and core proclamation: Jesus is Lord! We are a community that is empowered by the Holy Spirit to show the world how great and glorious our God is. And God designed the church according to His wisdom in such a way that we all get to play a special role.

Pray for our leadership: Brian Berry, Jerry Black, Gary Elliott, Will Gilmer, Darwin Mixon, Jerry Robertson, and Robbie Bradford. Also, pray for future leadership.