Churches in Olympia

“"The key to unity is not stronger personalities or louder voices. The key is deeper humility. Humility is not weakness. Humility is strength surrendered to the Lord and constrained by the Holy Spirit. Humility says the church belongs to Christ. My preferences are not ultimate. I will love my brothers and sisters. I will protect unity. I will assume the best. I will serve rather than demand, I will glorify God. And a church with humble people can survive almost anything. A church filled with prideful people can be damaged by almost anything.”

“"And those things matter during a transition because transitions often awake fears like, will things change? Will we lose our identity? What happens now? Can another pastor lead us well? Philippians reminds us that the church's foundation is never ultimately the personality of a human shepherd. Pastors matter. They matter deeply, but Christ is the chief shepherd. The church at Philippi loved Paul, but their hope could not rest in Paul, and neither should ours rest ultimately in any earthly leader.”

“"Why? Because joy is rooted in eternal realities. Christian joy is not superficial cheerfulness. It is settled confidence in the sovereignty and the goodness of God. It says Christ is still reigning. The gospel is still advancing. God is still at work. The future still belongs to Jesus Christ. And that means a church and individual Christians can have joy even in seasons of great uncertainty.”

“"A healthy church is not a collection of spectators or religious consumers. God has called us to be a coalition of co laborers in advancing the gospel in our time and in our place. And during transitions, churches must especially remember that the mission has not changed. Leaders and congregations may change, but methods may adapt to to new opportunities and new circumstances, but the mission itself must not change.”