Toward All the Fullness of GOD Through Christ

I have been meaning to post about this for some time. Our pastor, John Piper, is on a 5 month sabbatical. Most of that time is a special gift from the church in honor of his 25 years of ministry. He typically takes a one month sabbatical to write each year, as it is. Anyway, in his absence, our church has planned a thematic preaching schedule to include both some of our own pastors and other speakers with whom Bethlehem has a special relationship with. The theme is “Toward All the Fullness of GOD Through Christ”, based on Eph. 3:14-21.

Not long before Pastor John left for his sabbatical, he preached an excellent message challenging our church to pray and work toward the best 5 months in our 135+ year history. Why? He believes that God would get more glory in working gloriously in Piper’s absence–where John could have no opportunity at all to get any credit. He also pushed us to not simply coast through these months and expect for things to happen only when Piper returns. So far, the preaching and the spirit of the church has been wonderful. God has worked in the hearts of members to push for having every service covered in prayer (following the example of Spurgeon’s boiler-room prayer meetings–people praying during the entirety of each service [4 downtown, and 2 at our north campus each weekend]), and also toward calling many individuals to commit to praying daily for God’s blessing during these months.

I previously posted my sermon notes from Wayne Grudem’s message on the Fullness of the Holy Spirit. Let me now direct you to the preaching schedule, where you will also be able to listen to each sermon online for free (or you can download the mp3s for free). Here is the schedule.

Now remember to pray for us, and be stirred up to pray for your own church and heart as well.

Eph. 3:14-21 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”