Hey folks!  Pastor Dale here.

I hope you enjoy a blessed holiday here today, as we recall the freedoms we cherish as Americans.  Among them, the privilege of relishing our total and utter dependence on Jesus Christ, as we did in our singing and our teaching at services yesterday at BCC.

on Saturday and the service on Sunday morning, and for worship leader Dustin.  And to Drew, who figured out how to run the sound system through his own car speakers.  He could probably generate electricity with just a salad spoon, tin foil and some salt.  Anyway, it was tons of fun, and as I mentioned yesterday morning in church, the sharing on Saturday

I found that video we shared yesterday so encouraging (“They lied to our people for two thousand years!”).  If you missed it, you can watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hw9bHz9-C4

Here is the note from Sam that we received about the launch of a new church in Harare.  Thank the Lord that we get to be involved with saints like this!

Hi there BCC- We’re so thankful to the Lord for the launch of Sovereign Grace Fellowship Church today. We have been humbled by the response from the people both before today and after the service.I taught from Isaiah 6:1-7 and spoke about the Sovereignty and grace of God. A God so high and lifted up, filling the whole earth with His presence, holy and unapproachable but in forgiving sinners and sending them. We had 45 people altogether including about ten couples and the rest were singles. Am sorry we couldn’t take any pictures because the lighting was very bad since it was dark. The people have already started to talk about their need to be involved in home groups. A young lady quickly responded and joined Samantha, Munashe and Josh who were leading us in worship. The Lord is good, (Jesu wakanaka).  Thank you for praying with us BCC. May the Lord’s day be most blessed for you today. – Sam

Here is the list of scriptures that talk about ways to love one another.  Good one to post on the fridge??

Be devoted to one another (Rom. 12:10).

Give preference to one another (Rom. 12:10).

Be of the same mind toward one another (Rom. 12:16).

Accept one another by withholding judgment (Rom. 14:1).

Accept one another by showing deference (Rom. 14:1–5; 15:7).

Esteem [highly regard] one another in love (Rom. 14:5; Phil. 2:3).

Build up one another (Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes. 5:11).

Counsel one another (Rom. 15:14).

Serve one another by showing deference in matters of liberty (Gal. 5:13).

Bear one another’s sin burdens (Gal. 6:2).

Be gentle with one another (Eph. 4:2).

Be kind to one another so as to preserve unity (Eph. 4:32).

Speak truth to one another (Eph. 4:25; Col 3:9).

Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21).

Show compassion to one another (Col. 3:12).

Bear with the inherent sinfulness of one another (Col. 3:13).

Forgive one another (Col. 3:13).

Use Spirit-filled, Word-saturated music to teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19).

Comfort one another with the hope of Christ’s return (1 Thes. 4:18).

Encourage one another (1 Thes. 5:11).

Live in peace with one another (1 Thes. 5:13).

Seek good for one another (1 Thes. 5:15).

Encourage one another to forsake unbelief and hardness of heart (Heb. 3:13).

Stimulate one another to spiritual growth (Heb. 10:24).

Encourage one another by faithful participation in your local church (Heb. 10:25).

Confess sins to one another (James 5:16).

Pray for one another’s spiritual and physical healing (James 5:16).

Be long-suffering and patient toward one another (1 Peter 4:8; Eph. 4:2).

Be hospitable to one another without complaint (1 Peter 4:9).

Serve one another (1 Peter 4:10; Gal. 5:13).

Act in humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5).

Show holy affection to one another (1 Peter 5:14).

Participate in the holy walk with one another (1 John 1:7).

Refuse to become resentful toward one another (1 John 3:11–12).

Give sacrificially to meet one another’s needs (1 John 3:16–17).

Fight fear together by growing in love (1 John 4:18).

Walk in truth together (1 John 3:18; 2 John 1:5).

Finally, here’s that quote from my former Professor, Dennis Johnson, on how that lost “first love” of the Ephesians may have had more to do with their love for one another than their love for the Lord.  I like how he shows that TRUTH and LOVE go together, and ought not compete:

“Some have thought that the “first love” from which Ephesus had fallen was its devotion to Christ Himself. However, unlike the compromising churches at Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea, the Ephesian church could not be faulted for flirting with Christ’s rivals, nor for cooling zeal for their King. It makes better sense to conclude that “the love you had at first,” which had waned, was their love for one another. Paul had taught this church that their health as the body of Christ was dependent on “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). But it seems that the key qualification — “in love” — had been overlooked in their zealous defense of the truth.Keeping a firm grip on both poles — truth and love — is a constant challenge for redeemed sinners who swing like pendulums from one extreme to another. Too often, churches and their leaders either stand for biblical truth vigorously but lovelessly or else they preserve apparent unity and love at the expense of truth. Of course, when the truth of the gospel truly grasps our hearts, love for others must result; and, by the same token, the love that delights Jesus grows only in the rich soil of fidelity to God’s truth. Jesus’ sobering threat to remove the Ephesians’ lampstand — to snuff out this truth-loving congregation’s witness to truth amid its pagan community — shows how seriously He regards His summons to blend doctrinal fidelity to the Bible with sacrificial love for the saints.”