“Share the Word”
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. – Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
Friends, Colossians 3:16 offers a beautiful picture of what a Christ-centered church looks like. The church is a people filled with the Word, shaped by worship, and overflowing with gratitude. When God’s Word dwells richly in us, it doesn’t remain hidden in our hearts. It moves us. It sends us. It inspires us to step into others' lives with Jesus' love.
This is why our community events matter so deeply.
Every fall festival, every outreach, every neighborhood gathering, every simple moment of showing up. These are not merely activities. They are open doors, opportunities God places before us to meet our neighbors, learn their stories, and build relationships that can carry the hope of Christ.
When we participate in our community, we live out Colossians 3:16 in real time. The Word dwelling richly in us becomes the Word shining brightly through us. A warm conversation, a shared laugh, a helping hand, or a moment of kindness can soften a heart long before a sermon reaches it.
Our presence in Abbeville is part of our witness.
As opportunities come this season, whether big events or small interactions, let’s step forward with joy. Let’s be a church that shows up, leans in, and loves well. Let the Word of Christ overflow from our lives into our community, trusting that God will use every connection to plant seeds of grace.
May we be faithful. May we be present. May we be a church in which Christ’s Word dwells richly and shines boldly.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
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From Pilgrim's Progress pp 167-169:
"God be merciful to me a sinner and enable me to know and believe in Jesus Christ. For I understand that if His righteousness was not available, or if I didn't have faith in that righteousness, then I would be utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that You are a merciful God, and have ordained that Your Son Jesus Christ should be Savior of the world. And additionally You are willing to grant Him and His salvation upon such a poor sinner as myself, and I am indeed a poor sinner. Therefore, Lord, take this opportunity to magnify Your Grace in the salvation of my soul through thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen."
and
"Therefore, the one who comes to Christ, that is, the one who runs to Him in his heart and earnestly longs after salvation by Christ, he is the one who truly believes in Christ. Then tears brimmed in my eyes and I asked, 'But Lord, may such a great sinner as I am truly be accepted by You and be saved by You?' - And I heard Him say, 'And the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.' " [John 6:37]
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2 Chronicles 16:9
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.....
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2 Timothy 4:1-5
A Final Charge to Timothy
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
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1 Chronicles 16:25
25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised....
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Psalms 150:6
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD...
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Luke 7:35
35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
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Luke 1:37
37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
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Luke 1:19
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
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Habakkuk 3:17-19
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
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2 Peter 3:13
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
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James 4:7-8
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you......
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