Hello Folks,
The nights are getting cooler, all the kids are back in school and the month of August will be over one more day. This summer how really gone by quickly. I wonder as we look back over the summer if we are satisfied with what has happened and how we have lived our lives for God? One of the things that has been very exciting for me is the fact that the new believers that God has given to us are being discipled. Gary Collins, our Steward of Disicpleship and Outreach, has been very diligent in getting someone to work with these invidiuals. What a joy it is to know that we are doing what we can to help people to grow up in Jesus.
The past two Sunday p.m. worship times have been shaped by the Holy Ghost. There is no way I can explain the presence of God other than to say that it was very obvious that our LORD was here and that people responded to Him. If you missed it you really did miss it! If people only knew how marvelous the moving of the LORD was they would make sure that they were here with the prayer that He would come again into our midst.
On Sept. 11 I will have served as the pastor in this congregation for 10 years and I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of this congregation. You have allowed me to be part of your lives and it has been absolutely a gift from God. There have been far more wonderful times rather than difficult ones. God has blessed me and I cannot tell you how thankful I am for His wonderful grace. It is certainly that grace that not deserved by me but grace that I praise Him for in my life.
Have a wonderful day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Hello Folks,
One of the major efforts that we are attempting to put into place here at Greeneville First Church of God is CL4CL or Christian Learning for Christian Living. We are offering classes that correspond to our Missions Statement in hopes that it will help us to grow in Christ and learn how to make a real difference in our world. The four areas that we are offering this training in are: Worship, Growing (discipleship), Reaching (Evangelism) and Living (holiness). The classes will be offered on different days and at different times so each person can have an opportunity to participate in this process. Currently we have 41 youth signed up as well as 82 adults. Now some of those are individuals who signed up for more than one class so we have about 75 different youth and adults that are participating. If you have not signed up and have the ability to do so I would encourage you to do so as soon as you can. You can do that by calling the office or signing up in the Welcome Center.
If we are going to fulfill the Great Commission of Matt 28:18-20 we must be people who actually reach into our world with the message of Jesus and help Christians grow up in Jesus. Sunday Morning I preached a sermon titled: "What Will You Seek?" If you were not here you can listen to it on the church's website. The subject matter came from Matt 6:33 and I attempted to get individuals to answer this question. This congregation wants to grow and unless we help people come to Jesus and grow up in His truth all we are doing is developing a crowd. It is not our duty to grow a crowd but to grow the Church! We have to decide if we are going to do that!
Sunday night was special in my mind. We heard testimonies that were absolutely amazing. One lady who has only been saved a couple of months stood up and wept as she spoke about how good God has been to her. My heart was moved by her words and her sincerity. She came here due to another new believer who was her friend and he invited her! God is truly good to us and I was thankful that I was here.
God bless you all.
HGRudd
One of the major efforts that we are attempting to put into place here at Greeneville First Church of God is CL4CL or Christian Learning for Christian Living. We are offering classes that correspond to our Missions Statement in hopes that it will help us to grow in Christ and learn how to make a real difference in our world. The four areas that we are offering this training in are: Worship, Growing (discipleship), Reaching (Evangelism) and Living (holiness). The classes will be offered on different days and at different times so each person can have an opportunity to participate in this process. Currently we have 41 youth signed up as well as 82 adults. Now some of those are individuals who signed up for more than one class so we have about 75 different youth and adults that are participating. If you have not signed up and have the ability to do so I would encourage you to do so as soon as you can. You can do that by calling the office or signing up in the Welcome Center.
If we are going to fulfill the Great Commission of Matt 28:18-20 we must be people who actually reach into our world with the message of Jesus and help Christians grow up in Jesus. Sunday Morning I preached a sermon titled: "What Will You Seek?" If you were not here you can listen to it on the church's website. The subject matter came from Matt 6:33 and I attempted to get individuals to answer this question. This congregation wants to grow and unless we help people come to Jesus and grow up in His truth all we are doing is developing a crowd. It is not our duty to grow a crowd but to grow the Church! We have to decide if we are going to do that!
Sunday night was special in my mind. We heard testimonies that were absolutely amazing. One lady who has only been saved a couple of months stood up and wept as she spoke about how good God has been to her. My heart was moved by her words and her sincerity. She came here due to another new believer who was her friend and he invited her! God is truly good to us and I was thankful that I was here.
God bless you all.
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Hello Folks,
Well I have made it back from the West Frankfort, IL. Camp Meeting. Ruth and I drove over 1000 miles and had a wonderful time with the church of God there. I preached 8 sermons and led 3 sermons. I also had the opportunity to play in a men's golf outing with some of the fellows from the camp meeting. It was a really joyful time and I am thankful for the opportunity.
Chad Harlan was the song evangelist and his wife Tracy was there as well. It was a real pleasure for me as I have known Tracy since she was 9 and Chad since he was 19. He brought a wonderful spirit to the worship and understood the needs of the people enabling them to worship in a wonderful manner. I also saw people that I have known for years. Keith Heberer and his wife Brandie were there as well and I have known him since he was 17 and her since she was about 23. Needless to say they are all much older now--I have known some of them for over 30 years. God blessed me with that time with them.
While I was there I believe that God directed me to preach primarily on doctrinal subjects. I preached on the Everlasting Kingdom, Does Truth Matter or What is the Name of the Church among other things. It was interesting to see so many who acted as if they were thirsty people in a desert. There were some who no doubt disagreed with some of the things I said but I found most wanted to hear more.
Here is a question for you. Since people appeared to want to hear more does that mean our pastors should be preaching doctrinal truth? If we only say that we want to see people saved I wonder why so much of the bible is about people growing up in Jesus. Also, if that is the case how can they grow up unless they hear truth?
Ruth and I talked about this some and I wonder sometimes if I am a piece of antique furniture that people do not mind looking at but really do not want to have in their home. Should we not be people who desire to know God's truth for our lives? Is being a Christian just about going to heaven or it is about making disciples? I guess time will answer that but if pastors do not preach all the truth they have and desire to learn more will they be accountable for those who believe a lie and lose their soul?
Good to be back. May He bless you all.
HGRudd
Well I have made it back from the West Frankfort, IL. Camp Meeting. Ruth and I drove over 1000 miles and had a wonderful time with the church of God there. I preached 8 sermons and led 3 sermons. I also had the opportunity to play in a men's golf outing with some of the fellows from the camp meeting. It was a really joyful time and I am thankful for the opportunity.
Chad Harlan was the song evangelist and his wife Tracy was there as well. It was a real pleasure for me as I have known Tracy since she was 9 and Chad since he was 19. He brought a wonderful spirit to the worship and understood the needs of the people enabling them to worship in a wonderful manner. I also saw people that I have known for years. Keith Heberer and his wife Brandie were there as well and I have known him since he was 17 and her since she was about 23. Needless to say they are all much older now--I have known some of them for over 30 years. God blessed me with that time with them.
While I was there I believe that God directed me to preach primarily on doctrinal subjects. I preached on the Everlasting Kingdom, Does Truth Matter or What is the Name of the Church among other things. It was interesting to see so many who acted as if they were thirsty people in a desert. There were some who no doubt disagreed with some of the things I said but I found most wanted to hear more.
Here is a question for you. Since people appeared to want to hear more does that mean our pastors should be preaching doctrinal truth? If we only say that we want to see people saved I wonder why so much of the bible is about people growing up in Jesus. Also, if that is the case how can they grow up unless they hear truth?
Ruth and I talked about this some and I wonder sometimes if I am a piece of antique furniture that people do not mind looking at but really do not want to have in their home. Should we not be people who desire to know God's truth for our lives? Is being a Christian just about going to heaven or it is about making disciples? I guess time will answer that but if pastors do not preach all the truth they have and desire to learn more will they be accountable for those who believe a lie and lose their soul?
Good to be back. May He bless you all.
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Hello Folks,
Ruth drove to Florence, Ky to pick up our 3 of our granddaughters and they are spending a few days with us. Yesterday we took them to the Aquarium at Gatlinburg and had quite a day of laughing and spending time with them. I do remember now why you should be younger when you have children, they are 11, 12, and 13 and they are quite a handful. But we had a great time with them and I pray that we can spend some great time with them this week.
The East Tennessee Camp Meeting take place this week with Kevin Collin preaching and Greg Alexander leading the worship. This is always a time when we have an opportunity to grow in our relationship with our Savior. It is also a time when we get to see folks from our sister congregations and attempt to practice the idea of unity that we proclaim. I hope that you are planning on being with us this week and praying that God will be glorified by what we are doing there.
This week I am going to start working on a series of sermons on the names of God. It is my desire to help us understand God a little bit more and to realize how great He is! Many people live life thinking that God is either non-existent or that He is not concerned with us at all. Ask God to give me understanding of His Word and to be able to transmit that to those who will hear those sermons.
May the Lord bless you all.
HGRudd
Ruth drove to Florence, Ky to pick up our 3 of our granddaughters and they are spending a few days with us. Yesterday we took them to the Aquarium at Gatlinburg and had quite a day of laughing and spending time with them. I do remember now why you should be younger when you have children, they are 11, 12, and 13 and they are quite a handful. But we had a great time with them and I pray that we can spend some great time with them this week.
The East Tennessee Camp Meeting take place this week with Kevin Collin preaching and Greg Alexander leading the worship. This is always a time when we have an opportunity to grow in our relationship with our Savior. It is also a time when we get to see folks from our sister congregations and attempt to practice the idea of unity that we proclaim. I hope that you are planning on being with us this week and praying that God will be glorified by what we are doing there.
This week I am going to start working on a series of sermons on the names of God. It is my desire to help us understand God a little bit more and to realize how great He is! Many people live life thinking that God is either non-existent or that He is not concerned with us at all. Ask God to give me understanding of His Word and to be able to transmit that to those who will hear those sermons.
May the Lord bless you all.
HGRudd
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)