SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

We hope that the Rochester Together services last Sunday were an encouragement for you.  There are few things better than seeing the church be a place of unity regardless of the things that so often divide us in society. 

It was so awesome to see people from predominantly Black, Hispanic, Messianic Jewish, and White churches worshipping God together, listening to messages from pastors from each congregation, and then talking and enjoying each other’s company in the Atrium afterwards.  Psalm 133 is right in saying how good and pleasant it is for God’s people to dwell together in unity.  Not only are we just one race—the human race—and not many races, we are also one Church—the invisible, universal church made up of every true Christian, not just church attenders necessarily but authentic believers in Jesus.  One day, like Revelation 7:9 tells us, believers from every nation, tribe, people-group, and language will worship around the throne of God and before Jesus in heaven.

I can’t wait!

But the hard truth is that many people will not be there because they have not heard or received the Gospel message.  What a tragedy it will be.  Imagine not spending eternity with family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, or anybody else in heaven.  Remember that if they aren’t in heaven with us, they are eternally separated from God (Matthew 7:21-23).  Of course, that can all change if we share the Gospel with them and they believed it and received Jesus by faith!

"Not only are we just one race—the human race—and not many races, we are also one Church—the invisible, universal church made up of every true Christian..."

That’s what I’ll talk about on Sunday.  This is an important message for those of us who believe that heaven and hell are real and that when people die, they will spend eternity in one of those places.  I’ll share why and how to share the Good News.

Let’s do all we can to help as many people spend eternity in heaven as possible…. Together with us!

Warmly,
Vince