I am looking forward to meeting the many guests that will be with us tomorrow for “Open House Sunday” and pray that God would use us to make a difference in their lives. My prayer for our guests beyond the salvation of the lost, is that we would do a good job of following up on those that are with us so that they could return, not as guests, but as friends. I am thankful for the opportunity that we will have to minister to the many folks that will be here, but pray that we have many more opportunities to minister to them in the weeks to come. This day is not about one day, but about establishing relationships that would last for years to come.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Lets pray that we would have the opportunity to meet many new folks tomorrow and establish relationships that can be edifying and encouraging for many Sunday’s to come.
If the question were asked, “What is Open House Sunday really all about?”, I would have to boil it down to one word: Salvation. The reason that we do the things that we do is so that those in our community that are without Christ can have the opportunity to enter into a relationship with Him. I am excited about those Christians that are encouraged and strengthened through the ministry of our church, but ultimately, all of the encouraging, strengthening, and equipping that takes place at church takes place so that we can do a better job of reaching the lost.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Let’s be in prayer that God would use this day to work the miracle of salvation in the lives of the lost who attend. The goal of Christ when He came to earth was to reach the lost. Let this be our goal as well.
“Open House Sunday” is a day that we are promoting simply by handing out invitations to those in our community that we have never met as well as friends, relatives and co-workers. We invite folks to join us for church because we believe that if folks will come and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to their hearts, that their lives can be changed forever. We invite because we believe that the community of Christians found at BABC can encourage and equip us to better serve the Lord. We invite folks to come to church because we know that it is what the Lord would want us to do.
I believe that the most important invitation that will be extended for this “Open House Sunday” though, is the invitation that will take place following the preaching. As the message concludes an invitation will be given, not to be a part of our church or to come back next week, but to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. This invitation is the time that all of the other invitations were focused on. This is the invitation that can change an eternity.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Please be in prayer that the many who are without Christ would respond to the most important invitation of their lives.
This Sunday is a special day for our church. We know that each Sunday is special, but a day like “Open House Sunday” serves to help us remember just how special it is and how important it is for other folks to be a part of what is happening here. I look forward to the service that we are going to have. I am excited to meet the first time guests that will be with us, I always enjoy the time of singing and special music that we have, and the fellowship with the “regulars” is great as well. As a pastor though, I understand that we can have many guests, a good time of fellowship, and great music and still go home empty if the Preaching of Gods Word is not used by Him to impact lives. Please pray in the next few days leading up to this “Special” day that the Lord will give me the right message, and the wisdom to know how to deliver that message.
1Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Pray that through the preaching of the eternal truth of the Word of God hearts would be stirred, the unsaved would be convicted of sin, and lives would be changed. I look forward to what God is going to do as we Preach the Word!
The Lord has blessed our church with talented musicians and music that is honoring to Him. As the pastor, I pray that the music would prepare hearts for the message, but most of the time, I find that our music prepares my heart to preach the message. There is no better way to get our hearts and minds ready to hear the truth of the Word of God than by singing praises to Him.
Col0ssiana 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
As we approach “Open House Sunday” lets be in prayer that the Lord would use the music to prepare hearts for the preaching of His Word. Pray that those who participate in leading the music and those of us that will sing as a congregation will have hearts of praise and worship thankful for God and who He is.
I am so thankful for the Student Ministries here at BABC. What a blessing it is to be able to teach the Bible to the children and teenagers that represent the next generation of Christianity. I enjoy watching the kids that are a part of these ministries having a good time and finding friendship at church. If we are able to reach children and teenagers for the Lord and teach them the value of living for Him, we can impact not only this generation, but the next.
Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Lets be in prayer that through the outreach of “Open House Sunday” we are able to meet and make a difference in the lives of many children and teens.
The commission that we read in Matthew 28, is a commission, a directive from the Lord, to reach those that are both geographically and ethnically close to us as well as those that are not. We are told to take the gospel to all nations just as Christ died for all men.
I am thankful for the Spanish ministry of BABC because it provides us the opportunity to reach those that may not otherwise be reached simply because of a language barrier. Every week folks are able to hear the Bible preached in their own language and are encouraged to accept Christ or grow in their lives as Christians.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations
Please pray with me as we approach “Open House Sunday” that the Lord would bless our Spanish ministry with new guests and souls saved.
God has given our church the wonderful opportunity of ministering in a community that is growing, diverse, and in need of a gospel witness. It is exciting to think of the 4.5 million folks in the Bay Area that we have the opportunity to influence as we personally share the gospel with those that we know and seek to invite those that we have yet to meet to our church. “Open House Sunday” presents a unique opportunity to focus our efforts as a church on reaching this community and making an impact through His Word.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Let’s pray together that the Lord will work in the hearts of many in our community as we approach “Open House Sunday” to join us on a day where we seek to honor the Lord.
As I think about “Open House Sunday” and think about the many prayer requests that go along with a day like this, one of the things that I am praying for is that Christians will be encouraged with the opportunity to invite unsaved and unchurched folks to church and with the guests that will respond to our invitations. There is no way of knowing what the Lord will do through us on this day, but what a blessing to be a part of His plan for reaching the lost with the most important truth that has ever been delivered.
Ps 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
We are given a wonderful promise in the Word of God. If we will faithfully deliver the precious seed of the Bible to others, there will be fruit and great rejoicing. Let’s pray that as we work together for the glory of God to reach others that the hearts of Christians would be encouraged with the great privilege of reaching the lost with the Gospel!
One of the great things about a day where we emphasize bringing guests to church, is the opportunity to have our hearts stirred for the work of reaching folks with the gospel. I believe that as Christians we would all affirm a belief that sharing Jesus with others is important, but it takes special events like “Open House Sunday” to cause our hearts to once again be stirred with the urgency of sharing the message of salvation.
As we approach “Open House Sunday” it is my prayer that God through the work of the Holy Spirit would stir our hearts to do an even greater work for Him. My prayer is that as we go through the time leading up to this day and get to the other side of an event that I believe will be used by the Lord, that we would be more motivated to share the Gospel, invite others to church, make our church a place that is comfortable and appealing to the lost, sing songs of worship to the Lord and respond to the preaching and teaching of His Word than never before.
Hag 1:14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
Let’s pray together that the Lord of hosts, our God, would stir our hearts for the lost and for His work in this area.
