What is God's Business?

Paul gushed, "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.... Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus.... Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia…." Rom 16

This past Sunday, we had our Annual Worship Business Meeting on Sunday morning. We conducted God's business in the following two ways as we lived out Romans 16.

The first way comes from the loving heart of Paul as he described 28 named individuals. I believe God was revealing to us that God's business is celebrating and honoring  people.
So during the worship service this past Sunday, we had a wonderful time celebrating and honoring the staff, the deacons, the church council, the ministry team leaders and all the people who serve on a ministry team by asking them to either come forward or to stand.

The second way comes from the last few verses of Romans 16:25-27 "Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

I think God is reminding us that God's business is still in rescuing people.
This past Sunday, we reported all the ways that we have engaged in serving and reaching those who are far from God. Here is the list... 

• Giving over $40,000 to the cooperative program.
• Re-engaging in church planting by being a sponsoring church for church planter Kevin Yi Chen and host church for church planting apprentice Hank Harris.
• Redesigning our social media connection via our website and facebook. Hundreds and thousands have been touched by God through Southtown Baptist Church in this unique way.
• The 6 Neighborhood BBQs that we put on for the community and our friends who are far from God. Between 70-140 guests came each time where we were able to share a little glimpse of the Gospel of Jesus with them.
• Praying for and serving our sphere of influence who are far from God by treating them to a snack, lunch or treat on a weekly basis. Many of these friends were invited to special Sundays this past year, like Easter. We had a handful actually show up. One of them received Christ as their Lord and Savior.
• Praying for a Conversion Growth Season at Southtown Baptist Church.

Let's be very thankful that God's business is celebrating and honoring people and that God's business is still about rescuing people. May God's business be done in our lives individually and corporately as a church family.

Thanks for another great year of ministry together. May God be honored and pleased.
Pastor Chris