The elders gathered via Zoom for our monthly meeting. We opened in prayer and with thanksgiving for God’s working at OBC. 

Frank Barber is the church treasurer and he led us in a review of the finances for the month of July. Offerings were $63,997 for the month and slightly above budget.  Expenses were well below budget for the month at $44,952. 

We have one more month to finish our fiscal year and we are on goal to finish the year with positive net income. We thank God for His gracious provision, and for your faithfulness during the pandemic. 

The elders reviewed Chapter 11 on Justification in the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. In paragraph 2 it says “Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;”

Eph 2:8,9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  It is faith alone that justifies us.

Faith in the work of Christ. And it is His righteousness that is credited to our behalf.  This is what fuels our praise and worship of God! And out of gratitude for what God has done, we serve and love Him!

Verse 10 of Eph 2 continues, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” “Guilt, Grace, Gratitude” is a good shorthand to remember this.

We reviewed the changes to fall ministries due to the pandemic. As has been shared previously, we want to be obedient to what God commands, and obey those in authority over us (Romans 13).

When they conflict, we will be obedient to what God has called His church to do. We are called “as it depends on you to be at peace with all people.” We also are commanded to love our neighbors. Let us be gracious and loving and gentle to everyone we meet.

Let’s be known as people that love God and love our neighbors. Serving others sometimes means giving up your preferences and rights to meet the needs of others. May our godly behavior be a visible testimony of God’s grace working in our lives.

Yours in grace…Dave Guthrie