Preaching and Thoughts about Church

Who has the power? This past weekend I had the opportunity to preach on John 6:16-24, Jesus walking on water. I am so thankful to Stonehaven Baptist Church for having me back and showing me such kind hospitality. Here is a link to the sermon if you are interested and below is a little look back at church life from this spring.

Is there only one way to run a church? While I don’t think anyone would give an unqualified “yes” in response to this question, I know I tend to subconsciously assume a lot about how a church should operate. This spring, Cornerstone ran a study group called “DNA Download.” Potential leaders from the congregation gathered to spend time reviewing our ministry model and priorities. Cornerstone is a church-plant and as it grows more and more people with different ideas of how a church should operate are getting involved. I have been working with the music team, helping lead worship. Others have started helping with the Sunday school, Bible studies, Community Groups, and other ministries. Few of us have come with the specific goals and aims that the original leadership had. Neil, the minister, wanted to remind us all of the vision and aims of the church so that we can work together from a common understanding.
 

For instance, in my mind, one of the key roles of a church small group is to study the Bible. At Cornerstone, these groups are called community groups, and as the name implies, their main goal is to build community between the church members and those in the wider community. Bible study is a part of these evenings, but not necessarily the purpose or main goal. As a church, we do have a desire to see people grow in their understanding and ability to handle the word of God, but the weeknight meetings are more about sharing life with one another and putting into practice what the Bible teaches about how we should live. 

I have greatly appreciated this opportunity to gain a new perspective on the church. The DNA Download was really helpful as a church leader to see the shared vision for the church and think about how I can be useful in its ministries. In many ways, this experience helped prepare me for my summer internship in Dingwall. By having this opportunity to see the background thought behind why Cornerstone does what it does, I was eager to see the approach of a Highland congregation.

Stay tuned for a future update about the summer internship!