HE is Already Doing Great Things and We Haven't Even Begun

We are about to start a 6 week study of Thom Rainer's "I Am A Church Member" at FBC Harrisburg.  We will talk about it from the pulpit and in Small Group Bible Study.  

I am pretty excited about this study even though it is a departure from our norm.  Usually, FBC Harrisburg gets a steady diet of pure exposition from the pulpit.  We commit ourselves to the study of a particular book and look closely at it from beginning to end.  We do this because we are convinced that it is better to start with the text and let it guide the application rather than to start with the application and then go looking for a text.  That said, we feel like this short break from our normal method is acceptable (and beneficial) for us at this time.  We will consider this a not-so-healthy-but-delicious snack before we get back to our regular diet.

Thom Rainer's little book is an excellent summary and application of several years of study here at FBC.  We have looked closely at Acts (a study which began on November 23, 2008), 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and Ephesians.  "I Am A Church Member" will tie the principles we have learned together over the last several years and give us a great opportunity to commit ourselves to Biblical Church Membership.

I had a conversation a few days ago with a brother who has recently read the book.  He came to share with me what God had taught him through it and to respond obediently to the Lord's leading.  The lessons he learned and the actions he is taking were not ones I had anticipated as we considered teaching through this book.  Needless to say, my expectations are higher now than they have ever been.  I mean, how often do you see unexpected results of a project before you ever even begin it?!

I am reminded of Ephesians 3:20-21.  "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."  He has already done far more abundantly beyond what I was asking or thinking…and we haven't even begun.  I can't wait to see what He has in store for us over the next 6 weeks.