Same again, please

By God's grace, we are continuing in the place where he has us.

Last night, the church held its vote except the decision did not go to a proper vote. As far as I have been told, everyone in the church wants me to continue working in the church and for our family to continue living here in Greenock.

This is a huge blessing and answer to prayer. It’s a confirmation of the work that I have done over the last three years. It’s also a helpful reminder that the ups and downs of our life as a family since 2018 have been worth it.

In that time, we’ve been uprooted multiple times, had multiple international moves, served in contexts where the culture was harder to understand than the language, seen churches in various states of health, been sacrificially served by leaders who were tired and worn down, and welcomed by congregations of strangers who have become extended family.

After the “vote” took place, the other elders brought me back in to lay out my vision for the church for the next twelve months. What follows is what I shared, with some changes to make it more readable.

Ardgowan going forward

In light of where we have been over the last three years, what should the future at Ardgowan look like?

a body built by the Bible

In the Great Commission, Jesus charges his disciples, and us by extension, with these words:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”¹

Jesus’ words have implications for what the church is called to do both within and outwith the four walls of rooms like the one we are currently in. As we go out, into nations and our own community, we go with the singular focus of making disciples.

We go, calling people to recognise that Jesus is the one with all authority in heaven and on earth.

We go with the very words of God, a two-edged sword which cuts to the heart and shows us what we are like apart from God and what life is like with God.

We go so that those who are lost and wayward can be gathered and made a part of the heavenly city whose designer and builder is God.

I believe that the way God intends us at Ardgowan to carry out this work is to be a people of the Book. Rather than looking back to a time when Scotland could be called the land of the book, we ought to put our energies into being people of the book ourselves.

I mentioned that family that visited us during our baptism service. They recognised how much work we put into taking the Bible seriously at our public gatherings here. This is a very good thing. But just as we need food each day to sustain us, we need God’s word each day to sustain and grow us. MSP Jeremy Balfour once said this in a sermon:

It’s a Monday to Saturday book. Not just for Sundays.

How will we do this? By sharing, reading, and living the Bible in community.

Sharing the Bible in community

What is the best thing that we have to offer anyone? It is the very word of God which contains the gospel of Jesus Christ. Within the pages of this book we have the words which bring life.

As a church, we ought to be known as a place and a people ready to share the Word. For many of us, this isn’t easy, but it is something we can grow in.

Together, we’ll study the culture around us, look to God’s word and see how it holds up. It’s encouraging to see that the beliefs we have actually make sense. They hold up under scrutiny. We can learn together so that we can be emboldened in our sharing of God’s word.

Reading the Bible in community

Alongside that, we can offer more opportunities to read the Bible together. A dear friend of ours became a Christian not by going along to a Sunday gathering or to a big event put on by an evangelist with shiny teeth, but by going to a home group.

My plan is to begin training up people to lead their own Bible studies; home groups that are intentional times in the Bible, where discussion is guided by a leader to help everyone grow in grace and knowledge.

The advantage of small group Bible studies is that they are easy to get going, they’re easy to schedule, and they’re really easy to invite someone to. You can invite that friend who is intimidated by the idea of going to Church but still wonders why you believe what you believe.

We will be starting a young adults group in September. There is already interest within and outwith the church. There is a generation missing from our churches despite its longing for a sense of community and place. They are a generation with big questions which need answering.

Living the Bible in this community

Most of all, if we are going to be a people of the Book, we need to be a people who live out the Bible in this community. Our presence as a church ought to be known here. While we have a great building, it’s in a slightly tricky location because it’s secluded from the main roads.

And so we can be Bible people in our community. We can look for opportunities to meet with people who aren’t a part of the church.

Same again, please

It is slow work. None of the change that we have seen over the last three years has come quickly or easily, but the state of our church now shows that the work is working.

In a very real sense, the vision for the church moving forward is more of the same. More time together, more time in God’s word, more intention in our coming and going in the community.

1. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, p. Mt 28:18–20.