E - SERMON

THE CHURCH - A PLACE OF NURTURING

Definition: Nurture verb 1. 1. care for and protect (someone or something) while they are growing. 1 Peter 2:2 - like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, The Church without a doubt is and should be a place to be nurtured in the things of God and for life. This job is not only for the pastor and his leaders, but for every member or person who is born-again. We ALL have the responsibility of nurturing others until they are mature in the word of God. Deuteronomy 11:18-21 "You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates This responsibility is huge and cannot be ignored. Pastor, your sermons are not enough to complete the nurturing in some people s lives. DO NOT be satisfied that they attend Church. Sometimes its the ones who are regularly at Church that has the most problems in their lives. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy and acknowledges the role of his grandmother and mother, who taught him well in things pertaining to faith.

FEBRUARY 2014

After Peter had denied Jesus, he had gone Delete text and place photo here. back to his old profession, fishing. Jesus meets him and asks him three times if he, Peter, loves Him. Jesus three responses is all important! His first response to Peter is, tend my lambs. His second response is, shepherd my sheep. And finally, tend my sheep. This is the progressive stage of nurturing that we must follow. First we nurture the young ones (lambs), then we give them food for growth (feed), and when they are grown we continue to nurture (tend) them. Just because you are an adult, does not mean you know everything! Continue to be open to the nurturing of your faith. God Bless! Pastor Tony Sands