Hello Folks,
Some of you may have heard about or, even, have read the book "Radical" by David Platt and I would encourage you to get it and read it if you would like to be challenged about what it means to be the church. Sometimes I find that the demands of our society and my own desires to be "successful" might cause me to miss the real needs of the local congregation. We are so conditioned to make sure we have a good "show" and "performance" that we often forget that we are supposed to make disciples. I wonder if we miss out on that one issue if God will say "well done" or if he will say "depart from me." Could it be that we in the American church are so caught up in teh giltz and glamour of being the "big" church in town that we fail actually fail to be the church?
Here is a challenge for you and me. Look at your own life and ask if you have made any disciples and if you are currently making disciples. If we cannot say yes to that I wonder if we can stand before God and be satisfied with our lives. I realize that some of us would say that we are preaching the Word and that we are guiding the Church which are undoubtedly correct things to do. But if we are not making disciples does that not mean we are failing to fulfill Matt 28:18-20? If we fail at that I wonder if our "works" will withstand the fire.
It is my prayer that I make disciples for Jesus. If I fail at that it would appear to me that I fail at one thing that is more important than anything else that we might do. What do you think of this?
HGRudd
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Hello Folks,
This morning I came to my office and received the report on what is taking place after a couple of weeks of Christian Learning for Christing Living or CL4CL. We had a total of 161 peple sign up for it and int he first two weeks of it 138 of those people actually have attended. This is a very good turn out in my mind as it is not unusual for people to say that they will attend and sometimes only about 50% of them actually make it. I am praying that these classes will enable people to grow in Jesus and that the impact of it will be amazing in thelives of individuals as well as the congregation as whole.
At the beginning of the month I started a series in the Sunday a.m. worship on the names of God. The study for those sermons have been very helpful to me individually and I pray that they will have real impact upon the people who are here. I pray that we will learn more of who God is and how we can have real relationship with Him. It seems to me that many people want to have God do things for them but they are not actually seeking to know Him. What would our congregation look like if we really learned what God is like and attempted to know Him more?
I want to thank you all for your cards, e-mails, facebook entries, and personal wishes on my 60th birthday. I have to admit that I find myself with a few more aches and that my body continues to deteriorate. Now, do not misunderstand I think I am in pretty good health and I get along pretty good but it is obvious to me that I am not 30 anymore. Thanks to all of you for helping me enjoy my birthday with food, gifts and celebration. Your kindness is a great joy to me. God has been good to me by allowing me to be part of your lives.
Yours In Christ,
H. G. Rudd
This morning I came to my office and received the report on what is taking place after a couple of weeks of Christian Learning for Christing Living or CL4CL. We had a total of 161 peple sign up for it and int he first two weeks of it 138 of those people actually have attended. This is a very good turn out in my mind as it is not unusual for people to say that they will attend and sometimes only about 50% of them actually make it. I am praying that these classes will enable people to grow in Jesus and that the impact of it will be amazing in thelives of individuals as well as the congregation as whole.
At the beginning of the month I started a series in the Sunday a.m. worship on the names of God. The study for those sermons have been very helpful to me individually and I pray that they will have real impact upon the people who are here. I pray that we will learn more of who God is and how we can have real relationship with Him. It seems to me that many people want to have God do things for them but they are not actually seeking to know Him. What would our congregation look like if we really learned what God is like and attempted to know Him more?
I want to thank you all for your cards, e-mails, facebook entries, and personal wishes on my 60th birthday. I have to admit that I find myself with a few more aches and that my body continues to deteriorate. Now, do not misunderstand I think I am in pretty good health and I get along pretty good but it is obvious to me that I am not 30 anymore. Thanks to all of you for helping me enjoy my birthday with food, gifts and celebration. Your kindness is a great joy to me. God has been good to me by allowing me to be part of your lives.
Yours In Christ,
H. G. Rudd
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Hello Folks,
This past week Ruth and I went to the State Minister's Meeting at Hermitage Church of God near Nashville. It was one of the best State Minister Meeting's that I have ever been to in 36 years of preaching and 31 years of full-time pastoral ministry. Arlo Newell was the speaker and God used him wonderfully to declare the truth of God about the call of ministry and the preaching of the Word. Brother Newell is 85 years of age and except for looking a little frail God used him powerfully during that time. I am thankful that I got to be there to hear him and to have my own heart renewed.
This coming Saturday I will turn 60 years of age if the Lord is willing to allow me to live until then. I would have never thought that I would get to be this old but the Lord has given me pretty good health and I give Him praise for the joys that He has allowed me. Over 31 years ago I left my job at General Motors and took my first pastorate in Pekin, Il. Then in 2001 I became the pastor of Greeneville First Church of God. There have been great times of joy for me as a senior pastor and I could never thank God enough for giving me this great honor of allowing me to serve His church.
This past Sunday p.m. after our worship the congregation here helped me to celebrate my birthday and my 10th year as the pastor here. What wonderful time it was and you should have seen all the deserts that were prepared. I would not be able to eat them all in two weeks of nohting but deserts. But most of all the kindness and love that this congregation has shown me cannot be measured. For that I am extremely thankful to them and to my Savior who gave Himself for me. If the Lord is willing and the congregation agrees I am willing to say here until it is time for me to give way to the next leader God would send this way. Pray that I be sensitive to God's voice in all of this.
May He bless you all.
H. G. Rudd
This past week Ruth and I went to the State Minister's Meeting at Hermitage Church of God near Nashville. It was one of the best State Minister Meeting's that I have ever been to in 36 years of preaching and 31 years of full-time pastoral ministry. Arlo Newell was the speaker and God used him wonderfully to declare the truth of God about the call of ministry and the preaching of the Word. Brother Newell is 85 years of age and except for looking a little frail God used him powerfully during that time. I am thankful that I got to be there to hear him and to have my own heart renewed.
This coming Saturday I will turn 60 years of age if the Lord is willing to allow me to live until then. I would have never thought that I would get to be this old but the Lord has given me pretty good health and I give Him praise for the joys that He has allowed me. Over 31 years ago I left my job at General Motors and took my first pastorate in Pekin, Il. Then in 2001 I became the pastor of Greeneville First Church of God. There have been great times of joy for me as a senior pastor and I could never thank God enough for giving me this great honor of allowing me to serve His church.
This past Sunday p.m. after our worship the congregation here helped me to celebrate my birthday and my 10th year as the pastor here. What wonderful time it was and you should have seen all the deserts that were prepared. I would not be able to eat them all in two weeks of nohting but deserts. But most of all the kindness and love that this congregation has shown me cannot be measured. For that I am extremely thankful to them and to my Savior who gave Himself for me. If the Lord is willing and the congregation agrees I am willing to say here until it is time for me to give way to the next leader God would send this way. Pray that I be sensitive to God's voice in all of this.
May He bless you all.
H. G. Rudd
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Hello Folks,
Labor Day is over and everyone is probably back to work today. I pray that you all had a great 3 day week-end and enjoyed your family. I also pray that you were with your spiritual family over this holiday. It is suprising to me how many people decide that on long week-end that they should skip out on worshiping with the family of God and giving praise to the Savior. Maybe I am rather old fashioned where this is concerned and I also realize that there may be times when you cannot go to worship but if you can why would you not go? If we do an honest evaluation of our holidays I wonder if we actually leave God out of them? Just something to think about.
Our new effort called Christian Learning for Christian Living, or CL4CL has started and we have 156 people signed up for it. There are 46 youth signed up and even though we have some adults who have signed up for more than one there are about 90-100 adults that are going to start the effort of learning so they can be more capable to serve the Savior. Pray that this will enable all of us to be more capable to serve the One who gave Himself for us.
This week Ruth and I will go to Nashville for our State Ministers meeting. While we will only stay one night we will get to hear one of the individuals that we both think is one of the best preachers in the Church of God Reformation Movement--Arlo Newell. Brother Newell has been a wonderful brother to me through the years and has given of himself to help give guidance and counsel when I have needed it. Pray that God will use him powerfully for the Kingdom this week.
Well, may this week be filled with the joy of God for your life.
HGRudd
Labor Day is over and everyone is probably back to work today. I pray that you all had a great 3 day week-end and enjoyed your family. I also pray that you were with your spiritual family over this holiday. It is suprising to me how many people decide that on long week-end that they should skip out on worshiping with the family of God and giving praise to the Savior. Maybe I am rather old fashioned where this is concerned and I also realize that there may be times when you cannot go to worship but if you can why would you not go? If we do an honest evaluation of our holidays I wonder if we actually leave God out of them? Just something to think about.
Our new effort called Christian Learning for Christian Living, or CL4CL has started and we have 156 people signed up for it. There are 46 youth signed up and even though we have some adults who have signed up for more than one there are about 90-100 adults that are going to start the effort of learning so they can be more capable to serve the Savior. Pray that this will enable all of us to be more capable to serve the One who gave Himself for us.
This week Ruth and I will go to Nashville for our State Ministers meeting. While we will only stay one night we will get to hear one of the individuals that we both think is one of the best preachers in the Church of God Reformation Movement--Arlo Newell. Brother Newell has been a wonderful brother to me through the years and has given of himself to help give guidance and counsel when I have needed it. Pray that God will use him powerfully for the Kingdom this week.
Well, may this week be filled with the joy of God for your life.
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
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
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
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