Today sees Bell Shoals’ return to one morning service—something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. We’re expecting a strengthening of our already great fellowship as we get to see each other more frequently, and we’re hoping that you’ll enjoy making acquaintance with new members who used to come to the “other” morning service in the past. With the new more convenient times and the increased parking, the congregation will be able to grow where it is for a time, but this will require everyone’s cooperation.
Just to make sure you’ll recognize and be able to greet everyone, we’ve provided name tags for each person, including our visitors, and hope that you’ll try to wear these for at least a couple of weeks—replacements will be available. James has a lot to say about relationships in the church and tells Christians it is wrong to “make distinctions among yourselves,” so let’s make sure we greet everyone we possibly can. Read James 2:1-6.
As the pews fill up we’ll need you to be flexible about where you sit and ask that you make sure there are enough places for our visitors. Seats nearer the front will need to be filled too! Try to park your car as far back on the property as you can so that all will easily be able to find a place. You’ll enjoy the short walk from your car to the building. Coffee time will be a great opportunity for everyone to meet and greet each other, but please try to get to your class on time. Bible classes should end early enough to allow you ample fellowship time before you have to make your way home.
As our fellowship strengthens and the church grows, the word tells us how we should behave as a body of Christians. Paul, for instance, gives apostolic encouragement to Christians with these words: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” (Romans 12:10-13) He gives further encouragement with these words: “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ ... standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
Paul’s prayer for the Colossians makes an appropriate close for this article: “For this reason also we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God: strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience: joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:9-12)