February 2007 HBF Newsletter

FELLOWSHIP FOOTNOTES

Newsletter of Hamilton Bible Fellowship

February 2007

Now, I entrust you to God’s care and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and give an inheritance among all those who are set apart.
Acts 20:32

This is the apostle Paul’s final charge to the elders of the church at Ephesus. It is actually an excellent description of the mission of any local church. This includes -

•    Worship. “Entrusted to God’s care” is literally to be “placed next to” him. Paul knows and wants the Ephesians to increasingly understand that it is God who provides for them and protects them. This is reminiscent of the picture of Jesus as the good shepherd in John 10, who watches over his sheep and gives “life to the full.” Acknowledging this regularly - expressing how God is at work, and how he is demonstrating his character - is at the heart of worship.
•    Teaching/instruction. “The message of his grace” captures it: God gives us what we don’t deserve in and through Christ, because he loves us. This is the heart of the gospel, the foundation of the biblical message - what we are to teach.
•    Ministry/Service. “Edification” (a construction metaphor) is building each other up through helping each other out. This is not just in physical needs, but in encouraging each other in the above two areas. Jesus did say that Christians are to be known by their love for one another; that love is more mutual care than it is affection.
•    Evangelism. Essentially this is seeking to bring people into the eternal inheritance that we who are set apart as God’s children all share. It’s not an exclusive inheritance - it belongs to all who accept Jesus: “to all who receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). God chooses to use us as his messengers in this.

Paul reminds the Ephesian elders that this endeavor will not be easy. He warns of “savage wolves . . .who will arise and distort the truth;” no flock will be spared. But he urges them to continue to keep watch over themselves, to exercise oversight and to shepherd the flock entrusted to them. He himself is the best example:

I served the Lord with great humility and tears, although I was severely tested . . . You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you . . . to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Acts 20:19-20, 27

When he was finished, “he knelt down with all of them and prayed; they all wept as they embraced and kissed him” (36-37). This Sunday the HBF leadership is meeting to discuss the future direction of the church, now that we are in the building. We are more physically accessible; we want to be practically, relationally and spiritually. What does this mean? How can we be more effective at carrying out the mission of the church here in Hamilton, without losing our distinctives? The whole fellowship will be brought into the discussion, as we consider ideas and ways in which to implement them. Pray for us (all of us!), and for this process.

COMING EVENTS CALENDAR:

Wednesday, Feb. 21st: Ash Wednesday Service, 7:00 at Park Methodist Church. Putter will be the speaker.

THE QUOTE CORNER

A church is a body or collection of persons voluntarily associated together, professing to believe what Christ teaches, to do what Christ enjoins, to imitate his example, cherish his Spirit, and make known his gospel to others. Robert F. Sample

NEWS AND PRAYER UPDATE:

Prayers and praises: George (Dianne Button’s Dad) and Ruby (Deb Pils’ Mom) continue to recover from strokes. Kayla Cady undergoes tests this week for vision problems in one eye related to a swollen optic nerve; pray for a good prognosis. Geoff Cox began a 9 month job at Johnson & Johnson; pray it develops into a permanent position. Joe Evans is in Maryland; pray for a teaching job for him (pray for a piano player for HBF!). Pray for Janet Griffith and Jim Fister (back issues). Pray for the new leadership team at CCF, and for Young Life. Pray for Rob & Mary Charest as they move here from New Jersey by this summer. Pray for the Babcocks as they consider options for Bev’s Dad, who is declining health wise (he is in his nineties).

The Building Committee is meeting the first and third Mondays every month at 8:00 AM at the building. Anyone is welcome to attend to talk about anything building related.

February birthdays: 6 Deb Pils; 12 Leroy Hodge; 16 Ashley Button; 23 Jeff Schindler; 25 Norm Button; 26 Nicole Smith