“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

In the midst of unstable and wearying days, the world needs a steadfast church. A church that’s not easily moved from its doctrinal moorings, but one that’s rooted and enriched with the word of the gospel (Eph. 4:11-15; Col. 3:16).

It’s not the buzzword of the ‘gospel’ that strengthens and emboldens, but the actual message of Christ crucified, risen, and reigning that will inflame your heart and steel your resolve (Ezekiel 3:8-9).

As my friend Stephen Witmer pointed out on a recent STS podcast episode, the Corinthian church had a lot of problems that pressed for practical solutions. But before Paul addressed those, he made a beeline for the gospel. All of their needed changes had to be rooted in the redemptive work of the crucified Christ and the power of the risen Christ.

Even so, church family, we must remain steadfast in meditating on Christ and his redemptive work - in studying the wonderful works of God (Psalm 119:27). In rooting ourselves there, we’re not avoiding more practical considerations. It’s because we are so needy and have so many practical considerations that we must pull from Paul’s inspired playbook and begin our days in Scripture meditation and prayer.

We need solutions. We need strength. We desperately need a move of God. And so we meditate in the gospel and think together of how to go from there into every nook and need of our everyday lives. And I pray that the result would be an immovable steadfastness and abundantly fruitful ministry for the glory of Christ in our lives and all over our town.

With prayer + joy,

Ben