“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”
Acts 2:41, NLT
I was reminded in a Zoom call led by Thabiti Anyawhile this week that in the verse above God gives pastors four boards that need to stay nailed together:
- Gospel preaching- “what Peter said”
- The cultivation of new converts- “those who believed… added” as opposed to existing church members jumping from one fishbowl to another
- Baptism- “were baptized”
- Church membership- “and added” to a known quantity that daily experienced God in these ways: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.” (Acts 2:42,46- NLT)
These are my marching orders as I go forward and a reminder to all of us of the essentials of discipleship and church planting.
I covet your prayers, dear friends, and here is my prayer for myself and maybe there is something here for you today too:
“Let Thy mercy grant my desire, since it does not burn for me alone, but longs to serve the charity I have for my brethren: and in my heart Thou seest that it is so. Let me offer in sacrifice to Thee the service of my mind and my tongue… For I am a needy and poor, thou are rich to all who call upon Thee. Thou art free from care for Thyself and full of care for us. Circumcise the lips of my mouth and the lips of my mind of all rash speech and lying. May Thy Scripture be for my chaste delight; let me not deceive others about them or be myself deceived. O Lord, hearken and have mercy, O Lord my God, Light of the blind and strength of the weak; hearken to my soul, hear it crying from the depths. Unless Thine ears are attentive to us in the abyss, whither shall we go? To whom shall we cry?”
St. Augustine, Confessions, Book 11, II
Finally, I’m so grateful for the excellent work and business services of Kevin Gallagher in updating, helping reorganize, and giving a new look to this site. Please check out especially the new home page and share it with others. I welcome your feedback and, again, covet your prayers.
Yours,
Greg