This Saturday, our friend, Bob Kauflin, will be leading an evening of worship at the YMCA. Maybe you’re wondering if it will be worth going? Why add one more thing to the calendar? Won’t you just be going to church the next morning? Why should you give up a Saturday evening? Well, if any of these thoughts crossed your mind, I’d like to give 3 brief reasons why you should consider joining.
Sing to One Another
First, this context provides a unique and extended opportunity to obey the command given in Ephesians 5:18-20:
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..
Notice that the stated goal of being filled with the Spirit in this text is to be able to address ONE ANOTHER in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. When we sing, we are not only expressing thankfulness to God, but we are simultaneously addressing one another. It is a public praise intended to bolster the hearts of other believers. It is an opportunity to look around at the many different faces and encourage one another with the rich truths expressed in the songs. So, when we gather to sing in this way, we are not merely reciting words off of a screen as independent worshipers. We are intended to lift up our voices as a musical testimony to one another about our God. It’s as if we are singing to one another - “This great truth belongs to you, too! This great God is your God, too!” So, we want to enjoy an extended opportunity to encourage one another in this way.
Fellowship with Gospel-Partners
Second, Bob Kauflin is coming from our sister church, Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. To gather with Bob around the gospel gives expression to the rich partnership we enjoy as a family of churches. Their church, along with several others in our region, has been instrumental in helping establish Trinity Grace Church in Athens. From finances, to resources, to counsel - this church is representative of our gospel-partnership. We see this kind of relationship amongst believers in different churches throughout the New Testament. The churches in Corinth, Macedonia, and Achaia all contributed to help the church in Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25-26). The church in Philippi provided resources and encouragement to Paul as he indicates in his letter:
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. - Philippians 1:3-5
So, in a similar way, we have the wonderful privilege of receiving encouragement from and being an encouragement to Bob and Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville by gathering together around the gospel. It’s in moments like these that friendships are fostered and gospel-relationships are deepened.
Invite Friends and Neighbors
Third, this Saturday evening context provides a wonderful opportunity to invite friends and neighbors who may not be plugged into a local church. Since this is not a Sunday morning, it may prove to be less threatening to those who have not been to church in a long time (or ever). They may be willing to entertain an invitation to something on a Saturday evening. Even though it’s not a Sunday morning, it may present an opportunity to talk more about the Lord and possible next steps. Perhaps this gathering could open them up to coming on Sunday morning and connecting with more of the Lord’s people.
After reviewing these 3 reasons for gathering this Saturday, we hope that you will join us at the YMCA at 7pm. We’re looking forward to singing to one another, fellowshipping with gospel partners, and introducing friends to a community that is seeking to live for Christ in Athens!
