Plenty More for Twenty-four

Before my granddaughter Kenzie could walk, her parents began to teach her sign language. At an early age she could communicate using the signs for please, thank you, and more. Studies have found that this training increases the understanding of language, improves their socialization, increases their Intelligent Quotient, and helps to keep them from become frustrated when the people around them cannot understand them.

One day I picked Kenzie up for an afternoon at the park. During the day she would use her signs to say “thank you” or “more” water “please.” When we returned to her home and approached the front door, she pointed to the doorbell. So, I leaned in and let her ring it. She looked at me and made sign for “more.” So, I let her ring it again. At this point I was amazed at how she was becoming so versatile with using a handful of signs to commentate.

The use of the term or sign “more” can be very useful for small child. When it comes to being a Christian this year, we need plenty “more” in the year twenty, twenty-four.

Plenty More Souls Saved in 2024

In the first 13 year of preaching the Gospel I had witnessed an average of six souls from the community being saved each year. This past year we did not see six souls saved. This year we are setting this as our minimum. Everyone in the congregation can do something to help us achieve this goal.

After all, our Lord is clearly not pleased with:

• fishing without catching, Luke 5:4-11
• an empty banquet table, Luke 14:15-23
• sowing without reaping, Matt. 13:3-9
• fig tree that bears no figs, Luke 13:6-9
• lost sheep that are not brought into the fold, Matt. 18:11-14
• a lost coin that is sought but not found, Luke 15:8-10
• a ripe harvest that is not reaped, Matt. 9:36-38

…and neither should we be pleased or content.

Plenty More Brethren Restored in 2024

The US has worked hard at times to find and bring home soldiers who went missing in action. What a shame it is that many congregations do not feel the same about some of our brethren who are MIAs (i.e. Missing In the Assembling of the saints). We are the army of God and soldiers of Christ. Many brothers and sisters can be taken captive by the forces of evil as they fall for the devices of the devil. These prisoners of war desire our efforts to rescue them regardless. The goal of church discipline is first and foremost the restoring our brother (Matt. 18:10-18; Gal. 6:1). This requires:

• more love for the brother or sister.
• being concerned before they are lost
• respect for God’s Plan of Restoration, as the first goal requires love for God’s Plan of Redemption
• corporate action.

Plenty More Giving in 2024

More giving is tied to the achievement of our congregational goals, such as, remaining self-supporting of our preacher and then sending support out to other preachers as congregations have done for us.

When you receive a new raise this year remember to give God a raise. God loves a cheerful giver. While God blesses you with a Happy New Year remember Him when the collection plate is passed.

Plenty More Spiritual Growth in 2024

Unfortunately, some Christians seem content to remain as spiritual babes year after year. “Of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:11-14). Too many churches are play pens for babies instead of workshops for adults.

As we grow as a congregation, we are going to naturally achieve some of our long-term goals such as, the development of men to be Elders and Deacons for the future leadership of the congregation and the development of teachers of out of our young men and women for the future edification of the congregation.

This calls for daily self-examination to see if we are growing the way we ought to. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Cor. 13:5) When we examine ourselves it must be done…

• Retrospectively – Looking back on the past
• Prospectively – Looking to the future
• Introspectively – Looking inward
• Collectively – Looking with others

Plenty More Faithful Attendance in 2024

Guinness Book of World Records shows the current record for church attendance is held by Ronald E. Daab. He has attended worship for 3,200 consecutive Sundays. That is an unbroken period of church attendance of over 61 years. Mr. Daab did not achieve this distinction without making attendance a top priority in his life.

Our faithful attendance must include more than just Sunday morning. The Word of God commands us “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Note, this scripture did not say, “assembly of the saints”, but tells us not to forsake the action of the saints by using the verb “assembling”. This includes…

• Sunday morning Bible Study – Gospels
• Sunday Morning Worship
• Sunday Evening Worship
• Wednesday Evening Bible Study
• Gospel Meetings

According to the context of Hebrews 10 consider what happens when we forsake the assembling of the saints…

• We sin willfully, Heb. 10:26
• No more a sacrifice for sins, 26.
• Fearful expectation of judgement and fierceness of judgement, 27.
• Trodden underfoot the Son of God, 29.
• Count the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing, 29.
• Done despite unto the Spirit of grace, 29.

Remember, it is good be attend every service. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Plenty More Bible Study in 2024

Regardless of the command to “study to show yourself approved unto God” (2 Tim. 2:15), too many Christians fail to read the Bible as often as they should. We allow our daily duties to distract us from God’s Word.

Plenty More Prayer in 2024

One of our goals in this congregation is to have Quarterly Prayer meetings. They are held on the evening of each month with a fifth Sunday. We are commanded to “pray without ceasing” (1 Th. 5:17). We must keep the lines of communication with our Father open at all times. Remember, seven Days Without Prayer Makes One Weak.

As a member of the Forum Terrace family of believers will you not join us in doing plenty more in 2024?