Encouraging Things!

This Sunday marks our 6th week of being back together as a church! Psalm 34:8 says, "Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack." I wanted to share with you some things that have been encouraging for me as a pastor over the last few weeks. I pray that they encourage you as well!

• New people! Over the past 5 weeks we have had new people to our gatherings each week. People, whose testimonies we don't know, that we have been able to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ too as a church, in our worship, prayer, and preaching! So join me in praying that either God is drawing them to salvation or he is using our church to encourage them if they are believers.

• New members! We have had 4 families over the past 2 months express interest in officially joining the Village Church as members of our local body!

• New servants! Our current gatherings are pretty simple: some chairs, some audio/video gear, some musicians/singers, a couple of greeters, and a couple tables/signs. However, people are coming forward and asking how they can serve the church!

• So many children! This passed Sunday, I stood on the steps with a few other parents, watching at least 20 children running and playing and having fun! This encourages me greatly! Church! God is trusting us to raise this generation for his purpose and his glory!

• The church singing! It was so missed during the COVID quarantine, but these past Sundays, hearing you all lift your voice to God in praise has lifted my soul!

There are a number of real, legitimate reasons for people not yet joining us on Sunday night. However, if you don't have a reason, then join us! As the body is not whole without all of its parts, neither is the church whole without all of its people. We miss you! It's an exciting time to be with The Village Church! Lord willing, I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Take Time to Rest

Hello friend, I hope you're having a great week! I have been keeping a fairly low profile as our family "stay-cations" this week, celebrating 4 birthdays in our family from July 4th through July 11th. I hope that you are able to find moments and times of relaxation. It is so important! It's something commended to us by God's Word and exemplified by Jesus himself. Check on your neighbors! It's been super hot! Take them some lemonade or tea or ice cream! It's a great opportunity to be kind and show that, because of Christ, you care for them. I'm praying for us! It's an honor to be a pastor among you. I'm excited to be with you this Sunday night and open up God's Word with you and look at the one hope we are called too! Lord willing, I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Communion and COVID

"...the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.'" 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

The Village Church has not shared in communion together since February 9th. We were about to share communion in March and then COVID happened. This Sunday we will again gather around the Lord's Table and share in the Lord's Supper. I wanted to share a though about communion in general and some words about this week's observance.

Though sometimes viewed as a very ritualistic observance, the act of communion is an ordinance of the church, commanded by Christ for his followers, just like baptism. In the verses above you will note the lack of, "If you feel like it or want to." The Lord says, "Do this...", that's a command. We baptize people because the Lord commands us to, and we observe communion because the Lord commands us to. As I said last Sunday, communion is one of the visual means that we affirm our belonging to Christ. It is an act of worship. In observing the Lord's Supper we, as 1 Corinthians 11:26 says, "proclaim the Lord's death until he comes," and in his death we find the forgiveness of sin! I'm convinced that the only thing greater worth celebrating than the forgiveness of my sin, is the eternal hope that the resurrection of Christ brings! This is a solemn act of worship, and we should approach it as such.

So this Sunday we will observe communion. However, in this post COVID-lockdown season, when there are reports of cases rising in some places, some of you may be extremely hesitant about sharing in communion. The thought of passing cups and bread that everyone touches and passes around may cause you to second guess participating in this worship service. For health and conscience sake, we have purchased prepackaged communion supplies. The bread and the cup are packaged together so that no one has to touch what you will use. We will have the elements spread out on tables upfront and when the time for taking communion comes, those who partake can come forward and receive the elements and we will worship the Lord Jesus and his sacrifice for our sin. I cannot wait to come to the Lord's Table with you all. I'll see you Sunday.

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Pray for Each Other!

Since preaching last Sunday night, and working through an extremely high level view of Ephesians 1 through 3, I feel compelled to reiterate the passages I mentioned regarding Christians praying for other Christians. The people of our church need prayer, people in other churches need prayer, and Christians around the world need prayer. This is good, this is biblical, and it honors God. Ephesians 1:15-19 and 3:16-19 lays excellent ground-work on how to pray for one another. When we go before God on the behalf of other believers we should pray:

• With thanksgiving to God for other Christians, specifically those we know and worship with

• That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give Christians the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowledge of him

• That the eyes of Christian hearts would be enlightened to know the hope to which he has called us

• That Christians would know the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints

• That Christians would know the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

• That according to the riches of his glory he may grant us to be strengthened through his Spirit in our inner being

• That Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith

• That, being rooted and grounded in love, we may have strength to comprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, and

• That Christians would be filled with the fullness of God.

As I flipped through the directory this week and saw your names, as I interacted with you whether in person, text, or phone call, I intentionally worked to pray these things for you. When we gathered on Wednesday, for Prayer in the Park, we read these verses and focused our prayer on the growth and strengthening of our church body and those around us. Church, we must be interceding in prayer for one another! We cannot know every detail, we cannot speak into every situation, and we cannot be present for every moment of each other's lives, but the Holy Spirit of God can! I am finding that the more time I spend praying for you and other believers, the more my relationship with the Lord deepens, the more wonderful his grace, the more powerful his mercy, the more amazing his love! Let's commit to a deeper level of prayer for one another! I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

There is One

What a joy it was to again, finally, gather with the church last Sunday night! Please know this, if you are choosing to stay home because of health reasons, related to COVID-19 or otherwise, we are not standing in judgement for you. We missed you and pray that you will be able to join us again soon! I'm also sorry that there was not a live stream option available last Sunday as we gathered. The internet is currently too weak for hosting a Facebook or Youtube Live video. We apologize for this and hope that we will be able to come up with a solution so you can join us online and we can continue to minister to you.

This Sunday we are starting a new sermons series, "There is One." This series will focus on three verses from the book of Ephesians, chapter four (verses four through six, if you're like me, unable to wait to find out which three verses). These are foundational, core verses to life with Christ and the Christian faith. I am praying that this series will firm up our faith and knowledge in the God we serve! I am praying these verses will equip us to better talk about the Savior who has saved us! I am praying that these verses will draw us into closer relationship with the Lord and one another through the Spirit in us. I am praying that this series will answer questions people may have about church, church membership, baptism, and most importantly about the hope available through faith in Jesus Christ, the Gospel.

Remember, we're meeting at a new time in a new place! Sunday, at 6pm, in the gym at Byron Baptist Church (located at 410 N. Ann St., Byron, MI 48418). I can't wait to worship and pray and open the Bible with you! I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Regathering!

On March 8th, 2020, we gathered to worship the Lord. We prayed, I preached from 1 Corinthians 9, and not a single one of us knew that it would be the last time for an untold amount of time. Now, June 12, 2020, 96 days later, we are finally going to join together again, in person, to worship the Lord, to pray, to open the Word of God and be united as a church!

In light of COVID-19 the school remains closed as a gathering place. I shared several weeks ago that Byron Baptist Church had graciously offered to meet the need that we have for a place to gather. This past week we were able to work out the details to make that happen.

Starting this Sunday, June 14th, at 6pm, The Village Church will begin meeting in the gym of the Byron Baptist Church (located at 410 N. Ann St., Byron, MI 48418). 

Church, give praise and glory to God for His provision! What a great, awesome, and loving God we serve, that he should provide for us in this way!

Now, a few words about what all of this means. First, Byron Baptist Church and The Village Church are two separate churches using a shared space. We have enjoyed the Lord's favor in the things we have partnered together on over the past 3 years, and now that partnership has gone to a new level. As we always have with the school, we will seek to take as good of care of the facility offered to us. Our setup will look different for awhile and a new gathering place means new ways to serve. As we are regathering after a major global health crisis, we will be taking precautions to protect the people of both churches.

• Hand sanitizer will be available.

• Contact surface touch points will be limited.

• Masks, though not be required, are perfectly acceptable if you prefer.

• There will be no nursery care or children's classes for a time.

• Maintaining a personal space of at least six feet between family groups is recommended, chairs will be preset for this.

• When we partake of the Lord's Supper, communion will be served in prepackaged sets.

• We will do our best to maintain a live stream for those worshiping from home.

• We should refrain from hand shakes and hugs as much as possible.

• The giving box will be available for your financial contributions, or you can opt to give online and eliminate that point of contact if you choose.

• If you are not feeling well, please feel free to stay home and join online if able.

• As always, operate in love toward your neighbor. No matter how you feel about any of these things for the sake of those around you, we must first love one another!

It is my earnest hope and prayer that all of these accommodations will provide enough peace of mind for everyone who is able to again join us as we gather together. If you have any questions or concerns, please, as always, feel free to contact me! Church, I cannot wait to be with you! I cannot wait to unite in prayer together! I can't wait to lift our voices together in song! I feel as though I've been in a dry and desert land and now the Lord is sending rain! Praise to God and all glory to His name! I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

The Church and Reopening: Be careful.

Solomon wrote, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven," Ecclesiastes 3:1. COVID-19, absence from one another, shelter-in-place, public gathering restrictions, and social distancing, they are all just as season. Their time was sovereignly appointed to begin. It will, by Divine plan, come to an end. Daniel blessed the name of God and in Daniel 2:21 exclaims, "He changes times and seasons;". When He changes this season, the local church will reopen and once again gather to enjoy the visual grace of God through His body, the church, and glorify His Name!

With the weather getting nicer, and curves being flattened, everyone is talking about reopening everything. And, church leaders are not exempt from that conversation. Some churches opened last weekend, some are opening this weekend, some next weekend, and some next month. Some, like us, don't yet know when they will reopen. It is my prayer, please join me, if it is God's will, that the Village will begin gathering again in the month of June. However, I don't know yet if that is what the Lord has willed, and His will is what I'm after for our church! A song I love says, "What God has willed, what God has planned, I am not skilled to understand". We are simply following the lead of the Lord in prayer for his guidance. We are in conversation with other church leaders and healthcare workers. We are listening to state and federal officials who are equipped with information that we simply do not have. We know this, when the time comes that God has appointed for the church to reopen, we will gather again.

Until then, though, I want to strongly advise and caution us to be in prayer; that God would protect our hearts, minds, mouths (and social media pages!) from casting judgement on other churches/church leaders who may make decisions that we may not agree with in reopening. Churches are going to start reopening. You may think they are premature or you may think they are too slow. You may feel jealous if others reopen and we don’t or you may feel proud if we reopen and others don’t. Be careful of all of these things! Romans 14 has been a great help and encouragement to me in this regard. It says in verse 5, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." But, what is this saying to our context right now? It's saying that different men are leading different bodies in different settings and will make different decisions. Decisions that we might not necessarily agree with, but decisions that they are free to make and that we must not to stand in judgement of. I pray that church leaders everywhere are trusting God and taking counsel in this. I pray that we all desire the same thing: to glorify His Name in the reopening of our local churches. I hope, soon, to provide information about what reopening the Village Church will look like. Until then, stay in God's Word, stay in prayer, and stay in fellowship by whatever means you can!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Thankful for Technology!

To the saints and faithful of The Village Church, those scattered due to COVID-19 longing to be together again: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

The quoted part of the greeting above is from Galatians 1:3-5. As these weeks pass and so much of our fellowship comes through written text, I feel a much deeper appreciation for and connection to the saints from ages past. Believers who may have only had written text as their means of fellowship and communication. In this season of absence from one another we are blessed with so much technology! Whether FaceTime, Facebook, Zoom, YouTube, or some other platform, we are blessed with face to face, audible fellowship, prayer, and preaching! Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with these means.

I wanted to ask that you be praying for your leaders here at The Village Church and for church leaders everywhere. As talk of various jobs opening back up and a potential end to lockdown in a couple of weeks, there is much talk and increase question as to how and when churches will reopen. There is no information yet to glean as to when this could happen. I feel that it is unlikely that we will gather as a church in the month of May. We do not know what guidelines will be recommended for public gatherings or if there will be another spike or surge in the virus that extends public gathering restrictions. There are so many unknown variables. However, one thing is certain: the Lord is sovereign and in control of it all and we trust Him. 

Until we can be together again, call your fellow believers. Text one another. Email each other. Use FaceTime calls, have Zoom meetings with one another, write letters, send cards! Use whatever means possible to stay connected with one another and to encourage one another in prayer and in the Word. It seems fitting to close with Paul's closure to the Galatian letter:

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit brothers. Amen."

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Lighten Your Load!

Hey friend, I hope you are well! I have prayed for you. Not by name necessarily, but for every person that God would have read this. I pray the Word of God ministers to you today and helps you down the road in your walk with Him.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

In the brief moments we have here, I want to focus on one aspect of this verse: "let us also lay aside every weight." I want to ask one question: what weight do you need to lay aside that you may run with endurance the race that is set before you? 1 Corinthians 9:24 says that in every race, every runner runs to receive a prize, but only one is awarded the prize. In the race that is set before us--the Christian life--every one who runs has a prize before them that they can win. 2 Timothy 4:8 says that this prize is "the crown of righteousness" and Philippians 3:14 calls the prize "the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Back in 1 Corinthians 9:24, the Word tells us, "So run that you may obtain it." Now, if you have yet, by the grace of God, been saved through faith in Jesus Christ, you're not running a race. You're dead and in need of new life from God. If this is you, please reach out and ask questions. We'd love to talk with you! But, for every person who has professed faith in Jesus Christ, there's a race to run!

So back to the question, reworded: in the Christian life, what is the weight that is slowing you down from running to obtain the prize that the Lord will give to those found worthy because of faith in Christ?

We are in a strange season right now, but it's a season and it will come to an end and a new season will begin. I've seen a lot of things lately challenging people to learn something new, some skill or hobby, to make sure that when this COVID season passes we are better than we were before it started. Well, pardon me for not caring so much if you improve your handicap or became a master gardener during this season. If you want to improve something during this season, improve upon your walk with God and lay aside every weight that slows you down in life with Christ. Every other area and thing that you could improve upon, great! It's bound for dust and ashes. However, improving upon your walk with Christ, your devotion to His Word, your devotion to prayer, your devotion to Him and His people, this holds everlasting promise!

1 Timothy 4:8 says, "for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." What is the weight slowing you down? Lay it aside and keep running! Lord willing, I'll see you soon!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

"It's the end of the world as we know it!"

"It's the end of the world as we know it." Words made famous by an American rock song that first hit the charts in 1987. Ever since the Coronavirus pandemic first struck America with deep socio-economic impact, they are words that keep reappearing. They are everywhere, from the media, to the tabloids, to your Facebook walls and social media posts. People are in a frenzy about this being or ushering in the end of the world as we know it. Maybe it is.

I wanted to take a brief moment and focus us biblically on the end of the world. I pray that this encourages your heart as a Christian. If you are not a Christian, if you have not been saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, please contact us today to talk about salvation, because the following words will trouble you. There are two very important things we must remember about the return of the Lord and the end of time: through faith in Christ by the grace of God we are saved from the coming wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10) and because of faith in Christ we will suffer before the end (Philippians 1:29). Let me say it again so you catch this extremely important truth: through faith in Christ we escape the wrath of God, because of faith in Christ we will suffer.

The Bible says to Christians, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed..."

Fellow Christians, grab on tightly to the promises of God and do not "be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed." The Bible calls us to encourage one another and comfort one another with God's Word regarding the end. For those of us who have been saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ, we are not to be quickly shaken or alarmed! When people claim "peace and safety," when you "hear of wars and rumors of wars," when there are "famines and earthquakes in various places," when they "deliver you up to death," and "many false prophets arise and lead many astray", it will be in that moment that our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord will give us the peace and assurance to say, "It's the end of the world as we now it, and I feel fine."

If you have questions about salvation or if want to talk about the end times and find comfort in God's Word regarding this topic, please contact me! Don't be quickly shaken or alarmed!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Easter Wekend 2020!

Well Church, it's Easter Weekend! Never in my life did I anticipate an Easter without gathering with the church. I miss you all very much and cannot wait to be together again! This week's From the Pastor is a short one with just a few quick notes:

First, thank you so much for your patience as we navigate doing church-life virtually online. Thank you for continuing to faithfully "show up" each Sunday morning. Continue to share out the messages and be sure that God is taking His Word to the places He wants it to go.

Second, this weekend, Friday April 10th at noon, and Sunday April 12th at 10am, I will be live on our Facebook and Youtube page with God's Word open, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ! We haven't used YouTube Live before, so please be patient with any bugs or glitches. We are hoping that YouTube will open God’s Word to a wider audience! Share the videos out for your family and friends to hear! On Facebook, you can host a "watch party" and invite friends in to watch with you! We may not be meeting as we would have preferred, but the work of getting the Good News of Jesus Christ out hasn't stopped!

Lastly, please pray for me as I pray through and seek God for help with the messages this weekend. That God would use me to clearly communicate the great hope of Jesus Christ with humility and boldness and that the Word of the Lord would continue to increase and prevail mightily in our community!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Dealing With Death

Our world, or at least our nation, is in a panic about death right now. And why wouldn't they be? With news reports claiming that hundreds of thousands of people could die from COVID-19 before it's all said and done, and with daily reports of how many have died, the fear of death is front and center for the world to be concerned with. Allow me, if I may for a few moments, to share some extremely fortifying verses of Scripture with you in this time. Perhaps your fear may be eased or maybe you'll be used by the Lord to speak into someone else's life.

Eschatology, a big word with a simple meaning. The dictionary on my computer defines it this way, "the part of theology (the study of God) concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind." Now that sounds ominous and gloomy, and it is if you're not in right standing with God. However, don't hang your head in despair! Through the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross and because of his resurrection that is about to be celebrated around the world, those who have by faith believed in Christ as the risen Son of God, confessing and submitting to Him as Lord can say, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55).

Ecclesiastes 3:2 says that there is "a time to be born and a time to die." None of us imagined a world-wide pandemic virus that would be what would bring that time about for so many, but it would seem that it has. In all that he suffered, Job praised God by saying, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21). God has created and given life to every living being. As such, the lives that are being claimed by this virus are the Lord's to take away. Now personally I believe the greater fear we see now is not death itself, but rather the truth that Ecclesiastes 3:11 brings out; "he has put eternity into man's heart." We want to know what's going to happen when we die, but we reject the only truth that tells us: Gods Word! Hebrews 9:27 says, "it is appointed for man to die once and after that comes the judgement." When this life is over, we will enter into eternity. We either enter into the rest of the Lord or the torment of hell. Matthew 25:32-34, and 41, tell us that when Jesus comes, he will gather all the nations before himself and separate the people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats, placing the sheep to his right and the goats to his left. He will say to those on his right, "enter the kingdom prepared for you" and to those on his left, "depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire."

If you have read this far, don't stop. This is the precise moment that God has been leading you to. This is why those who have been saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ can say, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" because "Death has been swallowed up in victory." The victory is over sin and death that Jesus Christ won on the cross and the curse that he broke through the power of his resurrection. This is why the world is gripped by fear right now. Not because of a virus, but because a virus has brought us face to face with a victory that we cannot achieve on our own. This victory is precisely how you can be freed from the grip of fear and further set free from the curse of sin and death! The Bible says, in Romans 10:9, "if you confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." The Gospel is that simple. Confess, believe, repent of sin and living life contrary to God, and submit to living according to His Word.

If I can answer any questions you may have or talk with you further about any of this, please contact me! My email is below, or you can call or text (989) 372-0750. Whatever it takes, I would love to talk with you about this! If while reading this you have made a decision in your life regarding Jesus Christ, please let us know! We'd love to help you along in this new journey.

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

COVID-19 Lockdown

Shelter-in-place. Lockdown. Quarantine. Stay home, stay safe. Whatever word you want to use for it, COVID-19 threw us another curve ball, though it shouldn't have been unexpected. 

During this time, I greatly appreciate your prayers. Knowing how to be a pastor through something that you have never experienced before is weighing heavy on me and many of the pastors I know. We are prone to the same thoughts and temptations as you. We are not above you. Many of my pastoral friends are suffering from depression, exhaustion, and, like me, a feeling of being absolutely useless. Please pray for us! However, there are so many wonderful things in my life that are helping to combat these things. The greatest of them is an increased devotion to the Lord through prayer and His Word. He is the giver and sustainer of life and turning to him will not leave the soul unsatisfied. Another is worship music, with many loud moments of singing God's praise in our home. Also among the many things that has been a great source of encouragement is you. I have been working to stay in contact with as many of you as possible throughout the week, and every time I seek to be an encouragement to you, the Lord uses you to encourage me. Whether through what He is teaching you in His Word, or you taking a moment to pray with me on the phone, or hearing about how you are contacting people throughout the church to check on one another. This blesses my heart! You have been hearing and doing what the Word of God says, loving one another, and by this the world will know that you are Christ's disciples!

Jacqueline and I long to be back together with you church! We long to sing and pray and laugh and cry and be in the Word together. When this season is passed, I pray that we have an increased devotion to one another within the beautiful, grace-filled, gathering of the church. If there is anything we can do to help you during this time, please let us know!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Why We Pray.

I have decided to keep writing about the various aspects of our Sunday morning worship gatherings, in hopes of providing some continuity and normalcy in a time when everything is anything but normal. And, also because I'm tired of talking about COVID-19/Coronavirus. That said, the aspect of our Sunday worship gathering that we are focusing this week is our time of prayer as a church. I hope this is helpful for you and encourage you to an increased devotion to prayer during this season when we cannot gather together.

If you have been around The Village Church from the beginning, you know that we have always believed the church is to be a church of prayer. We have taken time nearly each Sunday that we have gathered to join our hearts and minds together as one body before the Lord in prayer. We do this because Acts 2:42 says that the early believers were devoted to prayer. In many churches, this moment in the worship service is referred to as "Pastoral Prayer." Now those two words could be taken wrong, so let us understand what is meant here. Pastoral Prayer does not mean that it is my prayer or that I am the only one that can pray during that time. A pastor is called, in Ephesians 4:12, "to equip the saints for the work of ministry." I take my role to train you biblically very seriously, but my role in equipping you does not end there. I must also model biblical things practically and help you learn how to put biblical things into practical use in your life. So Pastoral Prayer becomes a moment of instruction as well as prayer. One of the most common reasons people don't engage in a life of prayer is because they don't know how. Our prayer time on Sunday is instructional since it is modeling how to pray and what things can/should be prayed for in your personal life. I normally list out verse after verse supporting biblically why we do what is being talked about. The fact is, there is no way I could grasp the length the Bible goes to in calling us, as a church, to prayer. I learned the acronym P.R.A.Y. years ago from another pastor that I worked with, and it has helped me and stuck with me ever since. It stands for Praise-Repent-Ask-Yield and is taken from Matthew 6:9-13 where Jesus teaches us how to pray. It's also the model that we use to guide our prayer on Sunday morning. When we pray, we first PRAISE God for who he is because Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." We REPENT/CONFESS sin, because Jesus taught us to pray, "forgive us our debts" and Psalm 66:18 also shows us that sin hinders our prayers to God. We ASK/PETITION God to work and move on our behalf, because Jesus taught us to pray, "give us this day our daily bread...and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." Above all, we YIELD to God's will, because Jesus taught us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." We surrender everything we have prayed for, everything we hope for to God's will, knowing that in his love for those who are his, he graciously acts. I hope this will give you a new perspective into our Sunday morning prayer time! I'd also like to encourage you to join the Wednesday night prayer meeting that takes place in mine and Jacquline's home. We must be a people of prayer. Prayer has always been integral to the life of God's people, and in these uncertain times when we can't gather together we must be all the more diligent in prayer.

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

COVID-19/Coronavirus

On Thursday afternoon, March 12th, the Byron Area School superintendent's office called to notify us that due to precautionary measures being taken at the school in connection with COVID-19, Coronavirus, we will not be able to gather this Sunday at the Byron High School.

As such, The Village Church will not gather this Sunday, March 15th, 2020.

The elders made this decision very carefully, through prayer and much counsel. We are not giving in to fear, as God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). We hold to the biblical truth that God is Sovereign in all things (Isaiah 46:9-10) including a global public health crisis. We are also not giving in to hysteria, as 2 Timothy 1:7 also says that God has given His children a spirit of self-control, a sound mind. At this time our small group ministries do not have plans to cancel. If that changes, we will let you know on a by case basis. Until then, plan to gather in these small settings (see Village Homes link blow for more info).

During this time, we strongly encourage increased devotion to prayer. Her are a few specific things you can pray for:

• the light and love of Jesus Christ to shine through us during this time, leading people to the Good News of Jesus and helping to calm fear.

• the protection of our church family and community from this virus.

• wisdom for church leaders during this time

• wisdom and strength for our government leaders

I will be live on The Village Church Facebook Page on Sunday morning at 10am, Bible open, talking about faith in times of personal and public crisis. Join me at www.facebook.com/thevillagemi.com. You do not need a Facebook account to watch our live videos.

If you have any questions or would like to talk through this, please feel free to contact me by email at jwhite@thevillagemi.com or by phone at (989) 372-0750.
 
Grace & Peace,
John

Why We Sing!

Kind reader, I hope your week has been going well and I hope you are making plans to be with the people of God in church this Sunday! We are continuing our look at the various components that make up our Sunday morning worship gathering. Last week, we talked about why we begin our services with a Scripture Reading. This week, why do we sing? The simple answer is because the Bible calls us to. However, we can draw that answer out a little bit more biblically to let why we sing motivate our actual singing. 

First, we sing to praise God for who He is. Psalm 95-98 is full of praise to God for who He is. Psalm 95:3 says, "For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.". Psalm 96:4 says, "for great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, he is to be feared above all gods.". Psalm 97:1, "The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.". And, Psalm 98:1, "Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.". What the Lord has done brings us to another reason of why we sing.

Second, we sing songs of praise to God for what He has done. In Exodus 15, the people of Israel sing praise to God for His victory over Pharaoh. In Judges 5, Deborah and Barak sing to celebrate God's victory over the king of Canaan. Most notably, in Luke 1, Mary sings praise to God for bringing the promised Messiah to the world. And, in Revelation, we see an eternal worship gathering around the throne of God, "for the marriage of the Lamb has come" (Revelation 19:7).

And finally, through our singing of praise to God, we sing to encourage one another. This is likely to be the most commonly misunderstood part of singing praise to God in our public worship gatherings. Ephesians 5:19 says that we are to address one another with "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and making melody to the Lord with your heart." Have you ever wondered what this means? It's means that when you and I sing God’s praise for who He is and for what He has done, we are encouraging one another to fix our hearts and minds on the Him. When we come to realize that singing songs on Sunday has so very little to do with us and so much to do with glorifying God and encouraging the church around us, it changes how we worship. Suddenly, words like "His Mercy is More", cause us to realize the work God did in sending Jesus to die for our sin. Suddenly, when we hear “God and God Alone", we look to a Heavenly Father for who He is—sovereign, just, and loving. Suddenly, we stop caring about the worries of life because we are built up by Christians around us singing to God. And, these are just some of the reasons we sing! Wow! I'm excited to worship with you this week! I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Call to Worship

Last week, I shared that I was going to spend a few weeks explaining in greater detail the aspects of our Sunday morning worship gathering. Sometimes things that happen during a church worship gathering may seem repetitive or boring, especially if you don't come from a background of being in church. However, understanding why something is done can help shape your perspective about what is being done. Our weekly Sunday gathering starts at 10AM with a Scripture reading or Call to Worship. Why do we read Scripture separate from the sermon? Quite simply, the answer is because the Bible shows us God's people doing this and the Bible tells us to do it.

Writing to a young pastor in 1 Timothy 4:13, Paul tells him to "devote [himself] to the public reading of Scripture." In Luke 4, Jesus comes into the synagogue of his hometown of Nazareth, on the day of worship, and reads publicly from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. In Nehemiah 8, after completing the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, the scribe Ezra reads from the Book of the Law of Moses "from early morning to midday." So, why do we do this? Because, we believe that God has the power to change lives through the public reading of His Word. In Isaiah 55:11, God says that His Word will not come back to Him empty, that it will accomplish and succeed in the purpose for which He sent it. We believe, as Jesus says in John 15, that we are fruitful and effective for the Kingdom when we abide in the Word of God and when the Word of God abides in us. We believe that we are to be devoted to the Word of God, just as Acts 2:42 says that early Christians were devoted to the Apostles teachings of Jesus Christ. We read the Scripture aloud, because we truly believe Psalm 19:7-11 when it says that the Word of God revives, teaches, brings joy, enlightens, warns, and rewards.

We believe there could be no better way to enter into the worship of our Lord together than through focusing our attention on His Word. I pray that this act of worship in our church will encourage you in this act of worship in your private life as well! I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

Why We Do What We Do.

I hope your week is going well! Man has it been nice to see the sunshine and feel warmer temps this past week! I want to take a few weeks and talk about our Sunday morning worship gathering and what we do with or time together. Maybe you are reading this as a faithful member or regular attender of The Village or maybe you are reading this through a social media post and are interested in our church. Either way, I believe it's good for us to understand why we do what we do on Sunday morning. Something might seem boring or repetitive and understanding why we do it may open your heart to better receive what the Lord has for you when we gather. This week I just want to introduce the parts of our worship gathering, I'll explain them biblically in subsequent weeks. If you join us this Sunday here is what you can expect:

• We read Scripture. Our worship gathering starts at 10am with a Call to Worship through the reading of Scripture, currently coming from Psalm 119. Think of this as a call to attention, a focusing of our hearts on the reason we have gathered, which is to worship and glorify the Lord.

• We sing songs of praise to God each week to glorify God, who delights in the praise of his people, and to encourage one another.

• We pray together as a church for things like growth in our walk with God, salvation of lost souls, neighboring churches, missionaries, and our community. This time of prayer is also intended to help you model prayer in your own life. 

• We preach the word of God through a sermon/teaching that is intended to encourage and challenge us in our walk with God, and to proclaim the Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ, calling sinners to repentance.

• We may baptize a new believer and we may observe the Lord's Supper, or Communion. These last two things don't happen every week, but they are foundational ordinances given by Christ to his church that should be observed when the church is gathered together.

This is what a Sunday morning worship gathering at The Village Church looks like. You won't find a lot of frills, videos, skits, or comedic flare, a polished band, or perfect speakers, because the heartbeat of why we gather is to worship and glorify God, not impress or put on a show. In coming weeks I'll break these elements down one at a time and show you biblically why we have modeled our worship gathering this way. If you have any questions, please contact me! I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

What are you thinking about?

What are you thinking about? Right now, as you read this, where is your mind? The greater question may be, "Where is your heart?" Jesus teaches that the heart is where our treasures are, that person, place, or thing on which our affections are set (Matthew 6:21). What are you thinking about? Getting through the work day? Evening or weekend plans? Bills? Finances? Food? Vacation? Summer? Are you thinking about your family, where they are, what they're doing? I know by asking this question I have stepped into a personal space, which is always uncomfortable even if it's with good intentions. What are you thinking about? I ask this question because if we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Word of God should be directing our thoughts. God tells us that his word judges our thoughts (Hebrews 4:12) but what does the Bible direct us to think about? Philippians 4:8 says that we are to think about whatever is honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or worthy of praise. Surely any number of things could fit into these categories, but only one thing encompasses all of them. Colossians 3:1 tells us to "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God," and verse 2 tells us to "set [our] minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth." The only possible, single thing that these verses, and indeed the whole of Scripture, could be calling our thoughts to is the glory of God! Christian, today let your thoughts be filled with the glory of God! Let your mouth pour out praise to the glory of God! Let your prayer overflow with thanksgiving for the glory of God! In "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God," (1 Corinthians 10:31). I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)

The Lord is Good!

Psalm 38:4 says, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" Many times in my life I have fled to take refuge in the Lord. Often when circumstances that are less than desirable come our way or when we lack knowledge about what to do, we run to take refuge in the wrong places. This verse tells us where we should run to and take refuge--the Lord! The verse offers the benefit of taking refuge in the Lord--His blessing. And, the verse calls us to remember that the refuge and the blessing that we find is because the Lord is good! The verse says, taste and see, those are sensory reactions to something tangible. I hope that the goodness of the Lord is tangible to you. A few hours ago, as I write this on Thursday morning, a lady from Grand Rapids contacted the church to hear the story of how The Village Church came to be. As I recounted the story of what God has done and is doing I was able to taste and see goodness of the Lord to us. Christian, the Lord is good! I'm excited to be with you this Sunday and open the Word of God with you, worship the Lord with you, and share the Lord's Supper with you! I'll see you Sunday!

Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)