Dearly beloved in Christ,

Christ’s beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) depict the lifestyle of one who is a part of the kingdom of heaven. Such ones have no higher allegiance than Christ, the LORD. They sit at his feet and accept his instruction. Such ones are salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). 

There’s so much talk today about “being an influencer” or “shaping culture.” Christians try to make a splash on Facebook or change the world through politics. Jesus has given his followers a clearer path: meekness, persecution for righteousness sake, mourning, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and later we’re exhorted to private prayer, fasting, and giving alms. Paul in 1 Thessalonians encourages Christians to ambitiously pursue a quiet life of godliness. Heaven will reveal that those who made the “biggest splash” quietly dispensed cold water in Jesus’ name. Salvation comes through the simple sharing, hearing, and believing of the Gospel. For the gospel is the power of God to save all who believe. The world is turned upside down politically by men like Telemachus who gives his life to see the brutality of the Colosseum games come to an end. The call of Jesus’ beatitudes have pierced me this fall. I fall so short. This sort of righteousness is only possible through Christ’s saving and sanctifying grace. So too, this sort of life is only worked out in authentic community in a local church. We need Christ; we need each other. Let us press into the LORD together.

Announcements:

#1: Baptism class October 23rd, 11AM: have you professed your Christian faith through receiving baptism from Christ’s church? Do you have a child who has expressed faith in Christ and desires to be baptized? Please let us know if you would like to attend a baptism class on October 23rd during the 11AM Sunday School hour–office@cornerstone-marion.org

#2: Church family meal and meeting, November 13. Please join us for a church family meal at 11AM on November 13th, and then a church family meeting will follow around 11:45am.

#3: Our Anamosa Church Plant team has a potential church planter candidate that plans to come visit in the next 30 days. Pray for clarity and discernment for this planter and the Cornerstone and Anamosa leaders. There will be discussion at the November 13th congregational meeting, but the goal is to cover 50% (or more) of the church planter’s salary in 2023. Lord willing, the planter can raise the other funds, and we also can pursue a grant from our district and national offices. What a joy to invest in this new work of God. Keep praying.

In fact, could you pause right now and give at least 60 seconds for praying for your church family, your pastors, and the Anamosa church plant?

It’s a privilege to serve the LORD with you,

Matt

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