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Home Page Grace Notes About Us Calendar Day Care Ministries Personal Testimonies How to Get to Grace Baptist Links & Resources E-mail us	Thoughts from Pastor Dave: October 11, 2004 Great Things for Carl Remember Carl? Two weeks ago I introduced him to you. Carl helped us explore thoughts on God’s ultimate design for people—developing a Christ-like character. With that understanding of God’s purpose, we can now ask a second question: “What principles should Grace Baptist Church instill in people to foster Christ-likeness?” Two “great” scripture passages can give us guidance. The first is the Great Commandment. Days before going to the cross Jesus was asked, “Which commandment is the greatest?” His answer is instructive. “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22.37-39). The second “great” scripture passage is the Great Commission. The context is the last meeting of Jesus with his disciples. Jesus states, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28.19-20). The two passages suggest four principles for Carl to develop a Christ-like life. Carl needs to know God personally, Carl needs to love God whole-heartedly, Carl needs to learn to love others, Carl needs to invite others to know God personally. As you ponder these principles, I would ask you to do three things. 1) Pray. Ask God if these principles have any import for Grace and the mission that God has given us. 2) Attend Sunday worship from October 17th-November 14th. I will be preaching a series on the church that will help fill out these principles. 3) Attend the Missional Church workshop on October 29th-30th. Ron Carlson will lead this experience and it too will give the people of Grace an opportunity to wrestle with what God is calling our church to be about. See you there! For His Glory, Pastor Dave To view past issues of the Grace Notes, click HERE.

Thoughts from Pastor Dave: October 11, 2004

Great Things for Carl

Remember Carl? Two weeks ago I introduced him to you. Carl helped us explore thoughts on God’s ultimate design for people—developing a Christ-like character. With that understanding of God’s purpose, we can now ask a second question: “What principles should Grace Baptist Church instill in people to foster Christ-likeness?”

Two “great” scripture passages can give us guidance. The first is the Great Commandment. Days before going to the cross Jesus was asked, “Which commandment is the greatest?” His answer is instructive. “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22.37-39).

The second “great” scripture passage is the Great Commission. The context is the last meeting of Jesus with his disciples. Jesus states, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28.19-20).

The two passages suggest four principles for Carl to develop a Christ-like life.

Carl needs to know God personally,
Carl needs to love God whole-heartedly,
Carl needs to learn to love others,
Carl needs to invite others to know God personally.

As you ponder these principles, I would ask you to do three things. 1) Pray. Ask God if these principles have any import for Grace and the mission that God has given us. 2) Attend Sunday worship from October 17th-November 14th. I will be preaching a series on the church that will help fill out these principles. 3) Attend the Missional Church workshop on October 29th-30th. Ron Carlson will lead this experience and it too will give the people of Grace an opportunity to wrestle with what God is calling our church to be about. See you there!

For His Glory,

Pastor Dave

To view past issues of the Grace Notes, click HERE.