And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham

Genesis 26:18

Each year more than 800 Southern Baptist churches cease to exist.  That’s more than 15,000 churches in the past 20 years.  The vast majority of the churches that ceased to exist were in communities that had experienced population growth in the previous decade.  Thousands of churches have been buried by the enemy in such as way that they can no longer effectively provide a source of life giving hope.

I am praying for and willing to give my life to realize a generation of brave and faithful young men who will dig again the wells that the enemy has stopped up.  I am not willing to leave those wells sealed up when life giving water can once again spring forth and bring life giving water to a parched and thirsty land.

I have personally experienced the toil, the danger, the frustration and the unimaginable joy of unstopping a well.  Our church, Wornall Road had long ago been filled in by the enemy.  Long ago they had lost their focus and passion and no longer did they serve the neighborhood.  But it was still a church.  There was indeed life giving water if the work was done to dig again the well.

Legacy planting is digging again the well.  It is most challenging and personally costly task I have ever undertaken.  It has been and continues to be worth every ounce of effort to bring life to a dry land for God’s glory and our joy.

Sunday August 4, 2013 prepare to worship

As you prepare for Sunday let nothing keep you from being among your gathered church.  As you come be prepared to worship by considering our sermon, scripture, prayer, songs and our response .

The Sermon;

As we gather this  week we continue our journey through the life of Moses. Sunday we will explore water from a rock in Exodus  17 Come expecting to be reminded of the certainty of God's provision and fulfillment of His redemptive purpose in the lives of His chosen people.

The Scripture;

Two our pastor/leaders, Danny Moore and Nathan Sanderse  will be reading scripture.  Tomorrow we will be reading  Eph 1:1-14 and 1 Sam 17:1-16 As your pastors/leaders read these text pay special attention to the perfect plan for our salvation and the amazing greatness of our God and Creator.

The Prayers;

Our pastors will lead in focused prayer that our hearts be made ready to receive the Gospel and that our passion for God will become the goal and ambition of our hearts, that we may battle sin by pursuing the superior pleasure of making much of God.

The Songs;

We desire the single identifiable characteristic of the music is the singing of the gathered church. Tomorrow our songs will be:

Oh Worship the King - He is King and He is worthy of worship!  Being able to make much of God is the greatest of gifts.  Only through the gospel can sinful man be made clean and thus be able to worship God and enjoy Him forever 

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross- It is not possible to sing this hymn without a realization of our sin that made the cross a necessity.  Focusing on the cross provides a real perspective on our sin and keeps us from pride- at the same time when we focus on the cross we are made aware of the unimaginable love of God for His redeemed, which gives me confidence and hope.

Amazing Love- what a wonderful response to our sinful estate!  A wonderful merciful Saviour who completely accomplishes our total redemption.  He makes it as though we have never sinned!  We are clean and able to enjoy God for eternity. 

And Can It Be- this song is our response to the glory.  As the Apostle Paul never "got over" the gospel of Jesus,  nor should we ever cease to be overwhelmed by the grace of God made known in His Son.

Expectation;

We are delighted to have our Haitian daughter church join us for worship tomorrow and to share our Lord's table together.  Please prepare your heart to gather at the Lords table by thinking upon your sinfulness long enough to be sorrowful and then embracing with pure joy the removal of that sinful estate by the atoning work of Grace through Jesus death and resurrection.

Come tomorrow expecting God to renew your mind as you hear His word, sing His praises and pray with passion. Come ready to celebrate the freedom from bondage that is the reality of all who are redeemed.

We are delighted to have our Haitian daughter church join us for worship tomorrow and to share our Lord's table together.