Sunday Class @ 9am; Worship @ 10am & 5pm
Articles
Kingdom Mindset
(Whit wrote this for the church where he is, but hopefully you can see its application to the church here and other places as well. - TN)
Since this congregation is small, it is natural that we would long to see numbers grow. But, we can and do have a much broader view of things...call it a kingdom mindset, in all that we do. Our highest aim is to help souls go to heaven, wherever they live or may congregate with saints.
Just through the years I have been in Appleton, we have seen men baptized here or develop spiritually here, sadly move away; but, soon we hear they are preaching, teaching, appointed deacons, etc. elsewhere. If you have a kingdom mindset, then we can sincerely rejoice, and we do.
We just don’t know how far reaching sometimes, our influence might be. We have sayings like, “Our loss, is their gain”, and that is true. But the Lord has not lost anyone when people move about from place to place.
I Thessalonians 1 reads, “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.”
Right now I am conducting correspondence course studies with a man in PA. I have no way of knowing if he will obey the gospel, but it looks promising and I am well aware of the likelihood that should he do so, he would attend church services near him. But I rejoice in the opportunity to spread the good Word wherever, for I have a kingdom mindset.
Last night Craig Bean was once again thanking the church here for our assistance in him recently preaching in China. We help him and others because we have a kingdom mindset. We have a vision to sow the seed beyond our four walls and our surrounding community. I thank God for this.
Last of all, there are sometimes just one shot opportunities to preach to the lost when a visitor comes to one of our services, or to encourage a brother who is in the area for business, or simply be here for whenever the Lord can use us…however He can use us. We are simply glad to be in the kingdom, working this part of the Lord’s field, and God being our helper, we will steadfastly continue in His service.
