You will not want to miss the next two Sundays, as Pastor Terry once again clarifies who we are as a Church, and what we are all about. We are going to take a quick look back at 2010, and what God has accomplished – and then we are going to look into the future, especially the next 8-12 months, and talk about some of the challenges and opportunities that await us as a church, as together we steward our time, talent, and treasure - in the context of the community, cause and corporation of Palmyra BIC Church.
September 5: ReFocus Day – Acts 1:8; 2:42-47
This morning we will look at an outline of the church that will focus our attention on three important aspects for a healthy church family: its Community, Cause, and Corporation. Now ideally, the church needs balance in all three areas, and at PBIC we have tried throughout our history to achieve this, for even intuitively we know that the consequences are high when the church is out of balance. And we want to be that TOGETHER, in Community, holding up the Cause of Christ, paying attention to the Corporate side, so that we can be the Church, the Bride of Christ, that gives Him glory.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
September 12: The Ongoing Dream – Acts 2:42-47; Isaiah 40:9
At PBIC, we’re the ones who are responsible for bringing Good News - the Gospel - to our community. While there will be theological reflection and plenty of ethical exhortation, we will never lose the fact that we are about the Gospel. And that’s a good thing - because our community needs the Gospel – just as we need the Gospel. We cannot assume that the people of Lebanon County – our Zion - have heard, understood, and embraced the Gospel in such a way that they don’t need to hear it anymore. Week after week, we are privileged to turn people’s attention away from the idols that have dazzled them and toward God. We get to say to them, “Behold your God!” “Your God is coming!” And we do these things to help people see that their deepest need is God - because if we don’t give them God, who on earth will?”
“O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, ‘Your God is coming!’” Is 40:9
