From the Heart of the Pastor

Oak Crest Baptist Church exists in covenant community to bring glory to God by living out the gospel of Jesus Christ, passionately sharing His love and growing in His Word. 
 
          We have been blessed to have a Christ-Centered, Bible-Based Purpose Statement.  It is important to remind ourselves of that purpose on occasion.  I am currently devoting a couple of these blocks to offering some remarks about that statement.  Let me say again, I have always been excited about this statement.  It is a statement that speaks of our mission, passion and identity.
    Following the phrase about “covenant community” that I spoke of last time, is the phrase “to bring glory to God.”  I cannot say enough about that phrase.  In fact, that phrase is the core of the statement.  It is in fact – our purpose.  The Bible makes very clear that the chief end of man is to glorify God.  Everything we do as individuals and as a church should be to glorify God.  1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  God’s glory is our supreme objective.  Remember the proclamation of the angels at the birth of Jesus, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased,” (Luke 2: 14).  Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, reign, and return are all to the praise and glory of God.  Our worship is to the glory of God.  Our evangelism is to the glory of God.  Our discipleship is to the glory of God.  Our covenanting together is to the glory of God.  When we reflect Christ, we are reflecting his glory back to him.  So, who are we? A Covenant Community!  What do we do?  Bring glory to God!  How do we do that?
       The next phrase of the statement answers that question.  We bring the most glory to God as we live out the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus has commissioned his church to be living testimonies to the good news that Jesus saves sinners.  The crowning work of God is Jesus Christ come in the flesh as the sacrifice for sin.  When we live out that truth daily we are glorifying God.  The question remains, how do we live out the gospel?  The remainder of the statement answers that question.  Next time we will focus on how a New Testament church brings glory to God and lives out the gospel.
 
In Christ, 
​
Blain Craig

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