Lou Priolo, in his excellent child training book Teach Them Diligently opens with two questions: “Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what it is you are trying to accomplish as a parent? What exactly is your objective?” He goes on to answer his second question like this: “The supreme objective you should have for your children is the same objective the Apostle Paul had for his spiritual children – that they be conformed to (gradually changed into) the image of Christ… How wonderful! Your objective (that which you are attempting to accomplish) as a parent has already been laid out for you in the Bible. You don’t have to wonder what your child should become. You know what your child is supposed to look like when you’re finished training him. He is to look like Christ.” (Teach Them Diligently pages 1, 2) As a dad I must labor to see that “Christ is formed” in my children. (Galations 4:19). It is paramount that I, as the shepherd of my little flock, consistently, intentionally, deliberately be “admonishing [my children], and teaching [them] with all wisdom so that [I] may present [them] complete in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28) I must be “exhorting and encouraging and imploring [my children] …so that [they] would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls [them] into His own kingdom and glory.” (1Thessalonians 2:11-12)

This picture of a father training up his children is a wonderful example of what we in the church need to be doing as we “one-another” one another. We must be laboring diligently to see that Christ is formed in each other, all the while knowing that it is Christ who is at work in us, and that we aren’t the changers of hearts – He is. Nevertheless, as members of the body of Christ we must each be doing our part in “admonishing… teaching with all wisdom …exhorting…encouraging and imploring one another” so that we may each be “walking worthy of the God who calls [us] into His own kingdom and glory!” (Colossians 1 and 1Thessalonians 2)

It is the heart’s desire of the leadership here that each of us at Three Rivers Baptist Church stand complete in Christ before the Father! According to Ephesians 4:7-16 it takes a variety of ministers and ministries to accomplish the “building up of the body of Christ until we attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (vs. 13) One such ministry at TRB is that of discipleship through small groups.

The “one anothering” that happens at TRB is a joy to see! I believe it honors the Lord and is a tremendous encouragement to the body of Christ! By God’s grace we as a body are strong here. We desire to press on with God’s help to continue ministering effectively to one another! We seek to be growing ever-deeper in our worship of the living God! We strive to boldly proclaim the gospel to the unchurched of our community with consistency! As we do this, and as we continue to exhort, encourage, and build up one another, I believe God will be magnified, and we the church will be able to stand before Him complete – filled up to all the fullness of Christ! “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:21)