Faithful in the Ordinary Part 2

Faithful in the Ordinary Part 2

3. Scripture Must Govern the Church

“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.” (Acts 2:42)
The early believers were devoted to the apostles’ teaching. Today, that teaching has been preserved for us in Scripture. Therefore, the Bible must occupy the central place in the life of the church. It is inerrant, infallible, and inspired by God. It is like no other book.

Paul wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” and is profitable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness so that God’s people may be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Scripture doesn’t merely inform us; God uses it to renew our minds, expose our sin, strengthen our faith, and direct our lives.

Sound doctrine isn’t an academic distraction. What we believe about God, Christ, sin, salvation, and eternity shapes how we live. Truth produces discernment, guards us from deception, and gives us a solid foundation when our feelings and circumstances change.
A faithful church must preach the Word “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2), including when biblical teaching is unpopular. We don’t stand over Scripture as its judges. We sit under it as God’s people. We extract the meaning from the Word; we don’t impose our views on it.

My prayer is that GCCSB will always be known as a church that opens the Bible, explains it carefully, believes it wholeheartedly, and seeks to obey it faithfully. We must be a people of the Book. If we cease to be that, we will cease to be useful to each other or the lost world.

4. Christ Must Remain Our Foundation

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”              (1 Corinthians 3:11)
A church may have activity, resources, talented leaders (maybe), and large gatherings, but without the true Christ, it has no foundation.
Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became truly human without ceasing to be divine (John 1:1, 14). He lived without sin, died in the place of sinners, rose bodily from the grave, ascended to heaven, and reigns as Lord. Salvation is found in Him alone.

Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). That confession remains central to the identity of the church. We don’t proclaim Jesus merely as a wise teacher, moral example, or source of personal inspiration. We proclaim Him as Lord, Savior, Messiah, and King.

Everything we do at GCCSB must flow from Christ and point back to Christ. Our preaching should exalt Him. Our worship should honor Him. Our fellowship should reflect His love. Our evangelism should announce His saving work.

If Christ becomes secondary, the church has lost its center, its power, and its first love. But when Christ is treasured and proclaimed, the church stands on a foundation that cannot be moved. This is the type of church that is promised that “The gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt 16:18)

This is part of a series of blogs; stay tuned for part three.