A Note from Michael Gossett
A Commitment to Transformation
We all make various daily, weekly, and even yearly commitments. Commitments are a natural part of life. Purchasing a house, getting married, or simply obtaining new internet service, are all normative commitments. What is our one commitment as a follower of Jesus? Bringing transformation from Jesus to the world around us. Consider the words of Paul from 2 Corinthians 5:15: “And He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” Then, in verse 17, it says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This is a clear depiction of transformation in a person’s life. The old is gone, and the new has come because of Christ in their life.
Transformation is instant. There is no process for transformation but rather an act from God Himself making you new. When you trust in Jesus, there is an instant change in your life. This does not mean that you do not have continued growth in your life, but it certainly means that the striving after righteousness (as far as your judgment and standing before God) is complete. But how the world will know that this transformation is needed? How will they know how to receive it? This is where our commitment to transformation comes into the equation.
Those who are in Christ will live for Christ, and those who live for Christ will share the good news of Christ. There is no way around this. Paul continues in 2 Corinthians to say, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (v. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21). The living God is making His appeal for people to come to Himself through you and me. This is for every man, woman, and child in Christ. Just as your position before God changes immediately as you are in Christ, so does your purpose in Christ. We move from being enemies of God to being a part of the family of God. As a part of the family, you become His ambassador.
How can you live as an ambassador? Colossians 3:16 tells us to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.” This is a starting point. Whatever is dwelling within you will flow from you. Whatever is flowing from you is the marker of your ambassadorship. Whatever is most important to you is what will inevitably dwell within you. We become what we eat. Feast on the word of God so that it will indwell you and that will become and continue to be what flows from you toward others. Make that your prayer this morning and every morning. Let us all be ambassadors for Christ and His church.
THIS SUNDAY! We are continuing our series in Philippians, In Christ. This week we are going to study Philippians 1:3-8 and the title is, “Faithful Partnership.” What does it mean to not only be an ambassador, but a faithful partner in the Kingdom of God? This is an area that has dominated the life of Green Acres for a really long time. Did you know that as a church family, we are “partners” with churches all over the world?
Several years ago, GABC began partnering with a small church in Hawaii that meets at in indoor soccer facility. One of their biggest struggles was reaching kids and families with very few resources for outreach. Our Missions team brainstormed with them on ideas, provided funding for supplies, and has sent Mission teams over the last two years to plan and lead VBS. This past summer (2024) they had 117 kids attend VBS and 6 salvations. And now their members are equipped to begin planning and leading VBS on their own.
This past spring, a team traveled to Scotland to lead a sports camp for kids and run a pickleball tournament to reach adults in the community. The small church had little experience running these events, and the outreach would not have been possible without our team. The cool thing is that 90% of the people who participated in the pickleball tourney had no connection to the church, providing lots of opportunities for follow-up for the local church we worked with.
The generosity of our church helped Calvary Severance Church in Colorado acquire a building after meeting in a middle school cafeteria for five years. The new building will allow them to significantly expand ministry and outreach in the community and provide the space needed for their growing membership.
We’ve been working with a church planting network called Mile One Mission in Newfoundland and encouraging them in ways they can reach their community. We recently resourced an outreach project for them, resulting in great feedback about the effort: “Route 10 Community Church in the Kilbride/Goulds area of our city handed out grocery gift cards and roses to mothers at their local grocery store, and people were really thankful! Pastor Matt gave some roses to the staff at the store next door to where he meets as well, and one lady began to cry saying, ‘I’m going to check your church out, you’re not like other churches.’”
We are partnering with a missionary family in Indonesia to begin a church planting network in Bali that seeks to train up indigenous believers to plant churches among the local villages there.
This past summer, we sent three teams to East Africa to work with two local churches there to share the gospel and till the soil, enabling them to plant 3 new churches.
WOW! Church, your giving is allowing the gospel to continue and grow here in Tyler and around the world. This is an incredible thought. We are a part of something much greater than just our own church family. This is your faithfulness! I am asking that you keep going. Thank you for your love and support for the Kingdom of God.
Do not forget! Ladies, the fall friendship dinner is coming, and I can already tell you that this is going to be the best one yet! You do not want to miss this time of encouragement and fellowship. Our Fall Friendship Dinner is our Women’s Ministry highlight event of the year, and we are planning for about 1250 women! This is a great opportunity for you to connect with other women and also invite women from your community to come. You will enjoy a delicious dinner (served by our men), and an inspiring message by Rebecca Carrell. Childcare is provided at a discount! Only $5 per child, $20 family max. Please register your child(ren) for childcare. Registration ends 9/3/24. You can register by clicking the image above. After that date, you may call Mimi 903.525.1141 to get on a wait list.
THIS WEDNESDAY, I am so excited about our new season of WEBS (Wednesday Evening Bible Study) starting at 6:00pm. This is for ALL campuses who would like to join at the Tyler Campus in Crosswalk. We have an incredible line–up with a rotation of teachers. Starting us off will be the one and only Pastor David Dykes! We will be rotating between Pastor David Dykes, Jim Little, as well as myself. It is going to be a great fall of WEBS and I personally am excited to be there! Head to www.gabc.org/mdwk for a full listing of the classes, studies, and events offered on Wednesdays at GABC!
MEN! Let’s kick–off the fall with breakfast together!!! Come be encouraged on Thursday, August 29th at 6:45am in CW-C. We will EAT WELL, open GOD’S WORD, and get to work by 8 am! Hixon Frank (and others) will be sharing! The cost is only $5. I look forward to seeing you and would love for you to bring someone along with you! You can register by clicking the image above.
As you prepare for this Sunday, please read Philippians 1:3-8, which says, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”
Read through the passage, pray for God to speak to you, and be ready to worship this Sunday!
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett