The Blog

CHBC Connect for November 22, 2024

Thanksgiving:

"our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." (Mourt’s Relation, by Edward Winslow of the Plymouth Colony, regarding the first Autumn of the Pilgrim’s in America)

I often reflect on the arrival of the Pilgrim’s during the Thanksgiving Holiday. These people fled England in search of religious freedom. They found a place to worship openly, freely, and according to the Bible. The travel by ship had been horrible, their arrival in winter, nearly decimated the small group. But God, in His providence saw fit to establish friendship with the natives who lived on the shores of what would become New England. By God’s hand these Pilgrim’s survived and by the autumn of 1621 they were beginning to thrive. And in celebration and gratitude they joined together in a feast of Thanksgiving to God.

The Pilgrim’s came for the purpose of worship and the gospel. We are recipients of their bold move. Our thanks goes far beyond them to the Lord, who made an even bolder move. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to live without sin and to die in our place. As you gather this Sunday with your church family, and next Thursday with friends and family, be grateful for all God has done in your life over the course of the last year, be grateful for living in a place founded for religious freedom, and be grateful for salvation that comes only by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Soli Deo Gloria.

By His Grace, and For His Glory,

Pastor Mark

CHBC Connect for November 15, 2024

Practical Action in Fulfilling the Mission of CHBC:

Capitol Hill Baptist Church exists to glorify God by equipping believers, exalting Christ, and extending the gospel to our neighbors and the nations. That might be just a phrase you hear. But I want it to be a reality you embrace. This is not the mission statement of the staff of CHBC. It is not a slogan to put on letterhead, social media, or church merch.

It is intended to be a rally cry around which the church, the people of CHBC, find focus and purpose. It is intended to put meaning in your daily routine. This calling is meant to give your work a larger purpose. These words are a call for students to see beyond homework and sports to their own spiritual life and to the need of their friends to hear the gospel. Moms who are caring for children are to see past the diapers and dirty house to the evangelism and discipleship of their precious children.

Phrases and mottos need practical action if they are to take on life. How can you practically embrace the mission of the church?

• Being a believer who is being equipped includes personally committing to daily Bible reading; attending faithfully a Sunday School class; engaging mentally in the sermon each Sunday; reading theologically sound books; and developing a relationship of accountable discipleship with others who actively desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Being a believer who exalts Christ means pursuing your own personal, practical holiness, and engaging mentally and emotionally in gathered public worship with your church family. In a personal way you are not just studying the Bible and theological truths, but you are applying the truths you learn to your daily life. You are bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:8); you are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-24); and you bear the marks of one who is gradually becoming more like Christ (Heb. 10:14). Publicly, exaltation means you are present physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually with the church on a weekly basis. You are present not just to consume a product the church is offering, but to serve the Lord and His people by your presence, by your gifts, and by your willing sacrifice of life to God (Rom. 12:1-2).
• Being a believer who extends the gospel to our neighbors and the nations involves giving personal witness to the good news of Jesus Christ, and actively engaging in prayer and giving for the cause of the gospel to be spread across the city, the state, the nation, and the world. You are sharing Christ in your home, in your workplace, in your neighborhood, and with anyone who God places in your path. You actively pray for missionaries and mission efforts around the world, knowing that Christ will return once the gospel has been proclaimed to the nations (Mark 16:15).

I am encouraging you today to consider where you are in personally applying the mission to equip, exalt, and extend. Do not look at these thoughts and feel defeated or limited. If you are not engaged in any of these ways yet, pick a starting point and begin. Christ is at work in you through the Holy Spirit. There is no condemnation (Rom. 8:1). So, by His gospel grace, begin. But do not feel limited by these ideas either. You may be engaged in all these ways already. You have not arrived. God is urging you to pursue Him more deeply, worship Him more profoundly, and share the gospel more broadly. The goal is to embrace the mission of CHBC. This is our church; therefore, this is our mission to fulfill together. I cannot wait to meet with you on Sunday to hear how this is happening for you, and to encourage those who are fainthearted on the journey.

By His Grace, and For His Glory,

Pastor Mark