These are to be some of the defining characteristics of Christ-followers and the Church. We are to literally get dressed in these attributes. When people see Christians they should see the mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience of Jesus being lived out in front of them. The good news is that the Bible clearly teaches us that we are not to rely on our own ability or self-discipline to live accordingly. Rather, Colossians reminds us once again that it is through faith in Jesus Christ that a person is able to receive forgiveness, experience eternal life, and have the power to live in a way that honors Jesus Christ. It is the power of Christ living inside of you that is to fuel your effort to clothe yourself with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
This past Sunday we continued our fall teaching series Clothe Yourselves by focusing on the humility of Jesus Christ. Don't forget you can listen to this week's talk on our website or by subscribing to the Northwest podcast through iTunes. Our key thought for the morning centered around the truth that when we encounter God and we see the humility of Jesus Christ we can't help by come away clothed in humility. Once we are truly clothed in humility suddenly we are willing to do anything God tells us to do. We are willing to serve anyone. We are willing to go anywhere. And we are willing to give up anything for the sake of Jesus Christ. Why? Because a person clothed in humility understands that life is not about us. Rather, our life exists to bring focus and attention to the name of Jesus Christ!
In addition, on Sunday we shared with Northwest some of the ways God is working and increasing our dependency on Him. We shared with the church how God continues to increase our bandwidth and prepare Northwest for an even greater impact in Bella Vista and around the world. Additionally, we announced the anticipated arrival of Scott and Amilee Sanders and their three children (Benjamin, Nathan, and Abigail) on December 1 to serve as our Pastor of Students and Missions at Northwest. Under Scott's leadership we believe God is going to provide Northwest with the opportunities to further develop Northwest Students as well as make disciples in countries such as Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, and Haiti. Furthermore, we acknowledged the tremendous sacrifice and faith required by the Sanders and Northwest to humbly follow God's leadership.
Finally we invite everyone to join us in praying in the following ways:
- Pray for the health and growth of Northwest as we strive to produce and release leaders who are fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
- Pray for the health and future of Northway Church in Macon, GA where Scott has served as the Student Pastor for the past 6+ years.
- Pray for the transition of the Sanders family and especially the children as they move across the country.
- Pray for God's provision for the Sanders as they leave the stability of a full-time salary and are willing to become bi-vocational in order to be obedient to God's leadership in their lives.
- Pray that God would raise up people who will help support the Sanders both prayerfully and financially.
- Pray that Northwest would give joyfully, generously, and sacrificially to fund the growth of students and missions.
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