The Grace Discipleship Group

Monday, Sept. 24, 2007

Good morning, saints,

What an incredible time of learning and encouragement at the Acts 29 Boot Camp! It was definitely a needed time for Cheryl and I to talk and think and pray (not necessarily in that order :-) ). The interview went well and things appear very positive for our being accepted into the network. We will know for sure within a couple of weeks.

Bill and Fran Wepfer made our stay in Raleigh a wonderful experience. What a joy to fellowship with them and meet their children. We got to use Bill’s car to drive back and forth to the conference. Cheryl and I also got to spend an afternoon with Mike and Pam Feather, who are with In-Depth Studies and pastoring a new church in Greenville N.C.

With the completion of our study in Genesis on Sunday, we will look briefly at the OC and it’s relation to the church, and a few passages that, Lord willing, will help us get a better handle the mission Christ has sent us on as His church. This winter we will begin a walk through the letter to the Ephesians. I have already begun my “mining” of this great book. What an incredible view of the majesty of God and the amazing salvation in Christ! I can’t wait … oh yeah, I don’t have to … I’ve already begun!   :-)

House group this week will be at Garry and Susan Haduik’s on Thursday, Sept. 27^th at 7:30 p.m. You can call them at 934-1078 for directions to their house. We will continue to discuss the applications of what God has revealed to us in the Scriptures on Sunday mornings. You can also bring any other questions or encouragements from experiences and your Bible reading this past week. May this also provide us opportunity for corporate prayer.

I am still trying to collect answers to the questions I sent out in my first Mmmmm… letter. Thank you, Mike and Julie, for responding to the questions.

I am still looking for people to serve Christ as disciplers and Bible study leaders. Who are the people you are pouring your life into? I am convinced that the Lord has many people in this city. As we carry forth the gospel, may some of these be added into our number and join with us in Christ’s mission. As new disciples come into our midst, we will need men and women who will be willing to meet regularly with them – to disciple them. This is our mission as the church of Christ. See Matt. 28:18-20 and Eph. 4:11-16. You will find that when you seek to serve and encourage another in this way that you will be mutually encouraged, and the spiritual profit to your own heart and soul will be a part of the fruit. It is your role as believer-priests to do the work of ministry … it’s in Ephesians! My role is to equip you. I am currently discipling several individuals on a weekly basis, and cannot possibly add many more to my schedule. I want to focus on training up men for the ministry of the Word. If we are to be a church-planting church, we will need to train up leaders to carry forth the mission.

A quick reminder of the Fellowship Baptist Church fall Bible conference on Oct. 26-27. The topic is “the church.” I am teaching at 11:00 a.m. on the Saturday morning on “The church and the world.” The cost for the conference is only $10.00 and that includes the notes, lunch on Saturday, and coffee and snacks during the breaks. I have a number of brochures. Ask me for one if you are interested.

Acts 29 Boot Camp

I thought that over the course of the next few weeks I would post a few quotes or points from the Acts 29 Boot Camp. I believe that the audio will likely be online on the Acts 29 website soon if you want the “full meal deal.”

Here are a few quotes from the sessions to consider ….

“Every heart with Christ is a missionary; every heart without Christ is a mission field.”

“Mission cannot be something separate from or added to the essence of the Church. The essential nature of the local congregation is, in and of itself, mission, or else the congregation is not really the Church.”

“The church is missionary by nature because God has sent it on a mission in the world under the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is to bear witness to God’s redemptive reign. Just as God is a missionary God, so the church is to be a missionary church.”

“God’s church falters from exhaustion because Christians erroneously think that God has given them a mission to perform in the world. Rather, the God of mission has given his church to the world. It is not the church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission who has a church in the world. The church’s involvement in mission is its privileged participation in the actions of the triune God.”

“It’s possible to be a missionary without ever leaving your zip code. Missional means actually doing mission right where you are. Missional means adopting the posture of a missionary, learning and adapting to the culture around you while remaining biblically sound.”

The above quotes are just a sample from the first teaching session on the church on mission. There is much more to come in future “Mmmmm…” letters.

Prayer –

(The following prayer and requests are provided by Julie Cortens. May it be an inspiration to us as we seek to remember one another in prayer this week, and that God would be glorified in our lives and in His world. Thanks again, Julie. May this lead us to be more faithful as a church that prays in right dependence upon our Lord. Please remember to pass on any prayer requests to Julie, so that they can be included next week.)

E.M Bounds quote of the week:

“It is the praying heart that sanctifies the toil and skill of the hands, and the toil and wisdom of the head. Prayer keeps work in the line of God’s will, and keeps thoughts in the line of God’s Word.”

Father, make us humble people. Help us to know we are nothing, absolutely nothing and deserving of nothing, without You. Lord, help us to crucify our pride, wipe it away and put on love in all circumstances. Lord teach us to pray with truly humble hearts that look only unto You and not unto ourselves.

Father we praise you for the safe return of Cheryl and Murray from the Acts 29 conference. We thank you for the opportunity they had to be among Godly, humble men and women and ask that there be much fruit in them and in our fellowship as they continue to pursue this ministry.

We all so pray for the ministry of the Vintage 21 church who hosted this event in North Carolina – may the you continue to keep them steadfast in your Word as they minister to those in need in Raleigh.

Lord, give each of us a passion for Saskatoon and a heart for the lost of this city. Give us a desire to be involved in having Grace Fellowship of Saskatoon used of You to be a Light in Saskatoon. May we have a definitive impact on the lives of the people living here in Saskatoon. Give us servants’ hearts, Lord. Help us to pray daily for Murray as he prepares himself to shepherd this tiny flock. Keep him faithful to You, steadfast in the Word, and may He trust and lean fully on You in all things.

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24 (NIV)

Lord, we pray for Amy - may she have a servant’s heart towards her staff as they adjust to her role as manager. May she exude the aroma of Christ. Bless her and grow her in this new role.

We pray for Cody in his difficult time at work. May he be a testimony and witness to his co-workers of Your great mercy and grace. Give him Your peace amidst the struggles.

We pray for the Podhordeski’s as they labor financial and staffing issues. Provide as you see fit Lord. May they also be a witness to Your grace and mercy. Keep them steadfast in dependence on you during times of uncertainty.

Lord, teach us and encourage us to pray daily for the needs of the church. Help us to desire and be ready to be ministers of your Gospel. May we desire to take on faithfully the task of testifying to the Gospel of Your grace.

Keep us mindful of lost children who so dearly need to know the wrath of God and the mercy and saving work of Jesus Christ.

We remember Allison, Mark, and Sammy away from family studying. Lord, keep them steadfast in their studies and in their study of the Word. Surround them with Your people to encourage them.

It is because of Jesus and in Jesus’ precious name that we pray.

Amen

Jesus, build your church in Saskatoon for the glory of our heavenly Father.

Much love in, and dependence upon, the Savior,

Murray

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