What is the purpose of the church? What is the purpose behind all God is doing or wanting to do in your life?
Roy T. Edgemon retired in 2000 after 22 years as the leader of discipleship for Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. In his book (co-authored with Barry Sneed) Transformational Discipleship, he gives this definition:
"Spiritual transformation is God's work of changing a believer into the likeness of Jesus by creating a new identity in Christ and by empowering a lifelong relationship of love, trust, and obedience to glorify God."
He further writes, "Transformational discipleship is what happens in a church when its members have experienced spiritual transformation. Every program, every ministry in the life of a church should have the goal to help believers be transformed into the likeness of Jesus. When believers come to know Jesus personally, the character of Jesus spills over into the activities of the church so that character-based, internal, spiritual transformation becomes the goal rather than activity-based performance. ...Many of our churches are being merely remodeled by activities and programs driven by man, rather than being transformed by God."
I look forward to sharing "The Purpose" message with you this Sunday at 10:15. Then on Sunday night, I will continue our series "First Base as a Church" with a message based on Galatians 1: 6-10 "Exclusiveness of the Gospel."
Also, Laney York will be sharing a testimony about her mission work in Louisville this summer.
Can't wait.
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