Pure Church

This past Sunday, in God's kindness, my assistant pastor and I traveled to be with the saints at Bethlehem Baptist Church for their Racial Harmony Weekend. What a joy it was to gather with them several times over the weekend to think about the nature of the church and to think about the Christian's call to accept one another in Christ.

While we were at Bethlehem, my dear friend, brother, and fellow-laborer in the gospel and 9Marks, Jonathan Leeman, served the saints at FBC in a sermon from Colossians 3:1-17. I commend it to you for your soul's edification and your joy found in the gospel.

Thank you, Jonathan, for supplying what was lacking in our faith and leaving a spiritual deposit in our lives together!

In a couple weeks time, Bethlehem Baptist Church will have its annual "Racial Harmony Weekend." It's a time in the life of the church where the believers at Bethlehem celebrate the supremacy of Christ over the long and ugly history and wounds of racial division and over the richly varied and wonderful contributions of every tribe, nation and tongue.

This year's celebration will occur against the backdrop of Dr. King's birthday celebration, the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington, and the inauguration of the country's first African-American president.

And this year, it will be a great privilege to be with the saints at Bethlehem and to share with them over the weekend. If you're in the Minneapolis area, consider joining us in praise of our glorious God and His Son Christ Jesus. Here's a poster with the details.

We'll begin the weekend with a consideration of "Bearing the Image: Identity, the Work of Christ, and the Church." Friday night and Saturday we'll participate in a workshop on What Is a Healthy Church Member? And then it will be a privilege to preach Romans 14:1-15:13 on Sunday morning.

I'm looking forward to the fellowship with the saints, and praying the Lord will be honored and exalted among us.