THEME:
For a church to remain strong, there must be love that is lived out through sharing the gospel and reaching the lost. To a confused and hurting world, a unified church is beautiful to behold—and that’s what, I believe, all of us want Ridgewood to be. Will you help us? Will you go “all in”?
KEY SCRIPTURE:
Titus 3:1-7
Titus 3:1-7
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
A church that is “all in” submits to God-ordained authority
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Titus 3:2
…to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
A united church sees each person as loved by God and loves them as such
A unified church is full of those who remember what they have been saved from
Titus 3:3-6
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…
Titus 3:7
…so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.