How are you doing? How is your week going after the retreat?
Right now, in the NFL, teams have finished their mandatory minicamps. One of the main focus areas of these minicamps is technique.
In light of this, one may ask the question: If these men are professional football players that have played for years, why do they need to focus on technique? Don’t they already have the technique to play the game at the highest level?
The truth is that even the most veteran of players focus on technique. They go back to the basics. Are their feet where they should be? Are their hands where they should be? Are their movements sound? If they have the basics, then they can flourish. If they fall away from the basics, then their games will show it. Their play will fall apart and so will their careers.
This past weekend, we had the blessing of going on a retreat together to worship God and have fellowship with one another. It was a tremendous blessing for us as a church.
The theme of the retreat was in light of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Pastor Will preached on “The Five Solas,” the doctrine that emerged from the Reformation. This doctrine inspired Martin Luther to nail the 95 Theses on the door of All Saints’ Church and other churches in Wittenberg. The Five Solas are the following:
Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our ultimate authority.
Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.
Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord and Savior.
Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.
This doctrine preserved the Holy Scriptures as the infallible Word of God, and it preserved the sanctity of the gospel. This retreat was all about going back to the basics: the basics of our faith and the basics of the gospel. For if we fall away from the basics, then our lives and our faith will fall apart.
New Life, take some time this week to reflect on the truth of these basic tenets of the faith. Come back to His Word. Be reminded of His grace, and trust in His mercy. Cling to Christ alone, rejoice in the gospel, and live for His glory.
See you all at Lord’s Day worship this Sunday. We will have Nathan’s STM presentation and June Topical Study afterwards. I’m looking forward to it!
In Christ,
Pastor Tim
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