Greetings to everyone here at Trinity-
First, I want to thank you all for helping to make Good Friday and Easter a memorable weekend. So many stepped up to ensure our church did things with excellence. Thank you for becoming the church God has summoned us to be.
It’s important we keep restoring health. We are, I believe, facing a growing cultural divide. The church cannot afford to be sidetracked. We must be completely committed to being missional. The gospel sets us on a trajectory to be renewed. Salvation’s aim is to restore the image of God in us, marred by sin.
We are, however, facing an age that is attacking established notions of what it means to be human. There ‘s a growing rejection of God’s authority, replacing it with human ownership. Expressive individualism is slowing taking hold. This is why I believe Jesus’s words to Peter were—are—so important to hear. “Feed my sheep.” Strengthen the church. There is a lost world to reach, and the days are perilous.
As I noted last week, I want to make the best use of my time while here at Trinity. On Thursday nights, from 7:15-9:00 in the library, beginning next week, May 1, I am doing a mini-series of sorts, exploring some “How-to” questions—
May 1-How to Get the Most Out of the Gospel of John. We will dig deeper into the mystery of this book. We will look into the structure of John, John’s approach to telling the Jesus story, John’s use of irony, etc. I might even bring a few copies of my book, “Under an Open Heaven.
May 15-How to Recognize the Future Pastor of Trinity—What the Scriptures Tell Us. I have taught a course on pastoral identity for some 20 years at Western Seminary. I will seek to help the church know what it is God calls pastors to be and to do.
May 29-How to Lead a Small Group-The Essentials for Healthy Groups. I do believe Trinity’s future depends, in part, on establishing healthy small groups. We will look at some of the core characteristics.
June 5-How to Effectively Preach-A Step by Step Approach. For those of you who want to refine preaching skills, as well as those curious about what makes for good sermons and good communication, this class will be for you.
June 12-How to Get the Most Out of Reading the Bible-Using Wisdom Literature. Who of us don’t ask, “How can I get more out of my time in the Word?’ Using Wisdom literature as an example, we will look at some key principles.
If interested, please let Carol at the office know of your interest.
