In just a little less than two months, we will be hosting an area wide seminar entitled, Dynamic Deacons. Don’t let the title confuse you, this seminar is for men and women, young and old, ministry leaders, those who might consider a leadership role, and yes, of course, deacons. The design of the Lord’s church should reveal to us that leadership, and those who are led, play a pivotal role in our well-being and growth. The simple fact is this, we all are critical parts of God’s redemptive team called the church. We are “His own special people” (1st Peter 2:9)!
Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste
and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem,
that we may no longer be a reproach.
Nehemiah 2:17
It is the year 586 B.C., and Jerusalem has been decimated and God’s people taken into Babylonian captivity. Years go by and the reestablishing of this iconic city begins with a proclamation from Cyrus king of Persia, who released the Jews to go back and rebuild. Called by God, Nehemiah comes of the scene, with some of the work already done, but the great wall around the city, with it majestic gates, remains in rubble. After years in captivity and some progress made after their release, things are not yet finished. Nehemiah exhorts the Jewish people, “Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem.” If you were to read through this letter, you would find the nay-sayers of course, but don’t get distracted by them. As you read through chapter 3, time and time again, you read of those who took on the task of rebuilding various gates. Adversity came knocking, as chapters 4-6 reveals, but God’s people remained focused and the wall was rebuilt. What an amazing story of resilience and faith in the midst of such hardship.
…according to the effective working by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:16
So, why the seminar? It is simple, we are God’s elect who have been called to help build, only this time it is not a wall, it is His church which He made us a part of. We all have something to offer! All of us have a “share” to contribute to this objective. The seminar is but one building block to help us understand, not only what my share may be, but also the role of others that God has put in place by design. Make plans now to attend and be a part of building the Lord’s church here in Biddeford!
Dennis
