Pastor Paul Burnham, pastor of Newport Hills Community Church in Bellevue, WA, sends out a devotional email to his congregation EVERY DAY. He usually reports on something the church is doing, and then uses that as an illustration, or tie in, to biblical insights. In that way he keeps his church up to speed on their current ministry efforts. He reinforces their mission, vision and values. And, he inspires devotion to Christ. He does this all with a simple email message. It's a great practice. Today he sent this out to his folks. You'll get a taste of the emphasis of this year's All Region Ministers Conference. Also, you'll get an idea of how Paul uses this discipline to lead and inspire his people.
"The first day of the conference Leona and I are attending in Post Falls, Idaho was great. The speaker for the day reinforced a lot of the things we are already doing and gave me a few ideas to help us continue to make a difference in our community for Jesus Christ.
He kept saying what I have been saying for many years, "It is not about us." We are not saved to just for ourselves, we are saved to serve our God and other people. So the focus is on Jesus and what He wants us to do because He has saved us from ourselves and from destruction.
You see, true Christianity is not a religion based on rules and rituals, but a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
Many people reduce Christianity down to attending church services and Bible study meetings and trying not to commit a list of certain sins. But being a Christian is being united with Jesus, a member of His body, with His life in your heart that motivates you to a life of service.
Jesus should be your focus -- not religious activity -- but the person of Jesus, the Lord and Christ and how you can honor Him with the way that you live your life.
1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Church services, Bible study meetings, Bible reading, etc. can be good, but should not be allowed to become an end in themselves. They are tools to help us know Jesus, serve Him with our lives and serve others out of our love for what Jesus has done for us.
The Bible says we are to be faithful; but faithful to what: a religious system, an organization -- or, a Person? So the question is; Are you serving Jesus and others or are you serving yourself?
The focus of our lives should be to please Jesus.
Colossians 1:18 NRSV
18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
Does Jesus have first place in your life? In your schedule? Are the things that are important to Jesus important to you? What could you do today to serve your Lord and keep your focus on what is important to Him?"
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