Monthly_Reflections

It has been an exciting and productive summer. We have had great attendance. We are now planning programs for the fall that will get our people together in small groups where they can learn God’s Word, build relationships and learn to serve each other as fellow members of the Body of Christ. Merely attending church on Sundays does not get people connected in the way that our Lord desires. His will is that we show our love and unity by being involved in each others lives. In order to accomplish this, we must be thoughtful in the things we plan and choose to do (John 13:34-35; John 17:17-26).

I hope that if you have been attending Valley Park you sense our commitment to each other as family. I hope also that you will consider involvement in one of the many opportunities for getting more connected.

Our Marriage Seminar will run from Friday, September 10 to Friday, October 1. Four weeks will go fast. But we will enjoy wonderful teaching by gifted marriage mentors, be encouraged in habits that nurture a healthy marriage and get to know other couples in the church who value marriage, fellowship and Jesus Christ.

The Women’s Bible Study will begin on Monday, September 27, and will run for 11 weeks. Typically, the over 40 women who attend this study build healthy relationships as they study God’s Word under the instruction of Beth Moore. The series they will be studying is entitled “Breaking Free” and will involve a study of the book of Isaiah In addressing “strong-holds” in our lives that keep us from growing spiritually. This is a good opportunity for building friendships with other women who are seeking to know our Lord better.

The men will resume their monthly barbecues and studies on the second Sunday of every month (the next meeting will be September 12 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 5). This year we are planning to concentrate on how men can be more involved as “protectors” and “providers” of God’s church, according to God’s design for the leadership role of men. We already have a growing number of men who are responding to God’s challenge to be leaders.

We have a group of people in the 23 -40 year age range who are interested in starting a home Bible study to learn more about Jesus Christ. One suggestion we are considering is meeting on the first and third Sunday evening of every month. If you are interested in meeting with this group, talk to me and let me know what your schedule will be like over the next 4 months. There is some flexibility in our planning, so perhaps we can adjust the schedule so you can attend. It is always good to be part of a new Bible study from the beginning.

In addition to these new opportunities, there are the regular opportunities such as the Pastor’s Wednesday evening Bible study or the Sunday morning Bible study with Jai Belcher. Both studies are attended by a significant number of people who are sincerely interested in knowing God better through the study of His Word. I can assure you that you will benefit spiritually from involvement in either of these studies.

As with any family, unity, love and a sense of belonging do not happen simply because you are in the same location every week. Relationships and a sense of real connection take time and effort to develop. God has wonderfully designed us for relationships and divinely equipped us with spiritual manifestations (I Corinthians 12:7) that give us purpose in the family of God.

September is a good time to self-assess and decide if we are investing our lives in such a way that we will grow spiritually in the months ahead. With the many new programs and ongoing studies available at Valley Park, we can all get more involved for our own good and the good of others. Paul gives us a wonderful picture of what God envisions for his children in the family of God.

“[You] are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself

as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and

rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being

built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:19-22

What a wonderful privilege it is to know how special Valley Park is in God’s eyes. Our health as a church depends on our cooperation with Him in making our experience as family comparable to what He intends for us. Let each one of us do our part in the months to come.