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April 1, 2008

Dear Members & Friends of Immanuel,

Growth. Is it good? Is it positive? Is it helpful? Is it productive? Is it Biblical? Each of these questions could also be asked from the counterpoint: Is it bad…negative…harmful… unproductive… unbiblical? The word ‘grow’ has some first cousins in biblical language: increase, expand, abound, filled, put on, more and more.

Here is where I hope and pray you and I (we) are not growing.

    They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" Numbers 21:4,5

    In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD. Psalm 106:16

    Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Matthew 13:7

    Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 2 Timothy 2:16

Here is where I hope and pray you and I (we) are growing.

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. Psalm 71:14

Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Acts 5:14

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

Change in Mindset

Paul calls us to "…be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Romans 12:2. We celebrate the tremendous heritage from the past that Immanuel enjoys as a church and rejoice in the positive spiritual ministry that is taking place in the present. We also must look to the future with the anticipation that the Lord wants to accomplish "much more" in the lives of people through this church. To accomplish this, we need a biblical ecclesiology, not a cultural ecclesiology.

Four specifics are listed below. Each equation has a first part, the part which needs to decrease. The second part of the equation needs to increase. These were introduced in various forms during the past year and will remain the focus in the coming year. Each one of these is for each one of us. This includes me, the staff and the deacons.

We need a continuing change in mindset…

…from church being about me and my needs to church being about the glorious Gospel and us glorifying the Lord through active, joyful obedience.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,

that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his

wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

We can focus on our needs and miss Christ. But when we focus on the Lord and the Gospel, He meets our needs according to the riches that are in Christ Jesus. I am thrilled to see this mindset change taking place in the lives of individuals, and realizing that in all true sacrifice there is more joy than can ever be found in living for self.

…from spectator to participant.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

The church is not a spectator activity. Those not serving in a ministry in some capacity need to change their mindset and see that as unacceptable. I am grateful for the scores of committed people who invest their time and energy into specific ministries at Immanuel.

…from Gospel silence to Gospel gossiping.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

In light of the clear teaching of Scripture, keeping the Gospel to ourselves is the sin of silence. To see the expanding witness of people in their everyday lives and the excitement of people in the E3 ministry is gratifying.

…from institutional _________ to personal __________. (You can fill in the blanks with words such as friendliness, caring, discipleship, service, evangelism, etc.)

But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor

to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body,

but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored,

every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:24-26

The church is not simply a building, programs, meetings and events. Rather it is a body, people, ministry and evangelism. The level of this personal ministry is on the increase. Are you a part of this increase?

Much More

The man of God replied, "The LORD can give you much more than that." 2 Chronicles 25:9

This profound principle is tucked away in the middle of a passage where a king did something that was culturally acceptable, but was against the counsel of the Lord. To the extent that we do things our way, in a culturally acceptable manner – but contrary to the Word of God – the Lord will give us much less than this.

I take the Lord at His word. He can give us much more than this. And He will, as we live and serve in a manner where our gratitude is expressed to this Jesus who is our Savior, and in a manner where our joyful obedience is expressed to this Jesus who is our Lord.

Serving as a pastor is an amazingly marvelous experience and an incredibly difficult experience. I have a deep love for the people and ministry at Immanuel. Please pray for me.

Partnering with you in the work of the Gospel,

Dr. James F. Engle