I have thoroughly enjoyed the summer sermon series on the book of Proverbs. I appreciate the many comments of our members who have shared the insights they have gained from a systematic reading of this great book in the Bible. Though the series is over, I recommend that we all add a daily reading of Proverbs to our other devotional readings … never hurts to have additional vertical wisdom for horizontal living!
This weekend is the Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham. I remember being in the meeting on April 3, 2014 with many other Birmingham pastors and lay leaders as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association presented the opportunity of coming to Birmingham. There was a great amount of prayer and seeking God’s face on this. In the days that followed we were thrilled when the Graham organization finalized the plans and the date!
Shades has been “all in” since day one. Our facilities have been used for counselor training and other administrative needs. Some of our members are working in an administrative capacity at the temporary Graham offices at the old Central Park Baptist Church. We gave $25,000 to cover the expenses of establishing and operating this office as they prepared for the festival. Hundreds of our people will be serving as counselors, ushers and volunteers.
All of this is important and necessary … but the most important thing is that we invite lost people to attend. I urge all of us to not be shy in issuing invitations! This could be the start of a spiritual awakening in Birmingham … something that has been passionately prayed for years. So let’s all do our part and make plans to attend and invite others to come with you. Don’t miss this opportunity … this blessing!!
This Sunday, I will begin a new sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount entitled “The Kingdom” that will take us through the remainder of this year. Jesus made the Kingdom of God the central focus of his teaching, preaching, ministry and life. In the Sermon on the Mount, we will gain a greater understanding of this and how that affects our daily lives.
As in any good movie there seems to be a “prequel." So for the first four Sundays we will have a prequel entitled “The King is Here” and study Matthew chapters three and four that set up the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew five-seven). We will be introduced to John the Baptist and then the early ministry of Jesus that leads up to the greatest sermon ever preached.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning at Shades … and hopefully see you on Friday and Saturday at the Bartow Arena.