God kept the team in Newton safe and happy. We had great times of fellowship around the Word and around the table. Ben, Josh, Grace, and Hunter brought good Bible lessons. They worked together to craft a theme for the weekend’s teaching: “The Image of God.” The weekend lessons consisted of a) Humans as Thinkers. b) Males and females fulfilling different roles. c) Humans as Worshipers. Just really well done.
There was plenty of singing too, both sacred and…something:
We also did various manual labor for the church that meets on 23 Chapel Street in Newton. They are a faithful congregation and the only things they lack is a good leaf blower and a couple straw brooms. Seriously, I have the sense that God is doing good things among them and preparing for them an exceptional future. The work that Pastor Andrew is doing training the men is obvious and glorious.
The highlight of the trip for me was during the first lesson when Ben asked the group what “general revelation” was. Nate Motisi raised his hand. “God’s communication of himself in nature, history, and human nature.” I roared with laughter and shouted, “My work here is done”!
Please take the time to watch this video overview of the trip created by Ben Colledge.
Toward the end of the video while the audio of us singing “All Glory Be to Christ” is in the background, you’ll see a little snippet of Nate sipping some coffee in a coffee shop. The cup bears his name – Nathan – the Hebrew word for “gift”. After he sips, Nathan says, simply, “It’s good.”
Ben C knows what he’s doing and I believe he meant to say something by including this. During our weekend teaching we read of God at the beginning of everything pronouncing over the creation “It is good”…”It is good”…”It is very good.” Millennia after sin and death entered the world, in the fullness of time and at great cost to himself God sent forth Christ to restore this creation to its very-goodness. He begins this redemption in the Church and then works through us. From creation to new creation it is all nathan, a gift. It’s good. Beauty and joy show up. All glory be to Christ.
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