I love Christian camps, retreats, and other big events. Sometimes we need to simply step away from our “normal” in order for what really matters to gain clarity. Like volume sliders on an audio mixing board, sometimes we need to turn down everyday demands in order to turn up the volume on the Gospel message so we can more clearly hear it … God often uses camps and big events to tune our hearts to sing His grace.
I know many who have placed their faith in Christ or decided to renew their relationship with Him while at camp or on a retreat. Those mountaintop highs help propel many people toward our Savior.
Sadly, though, there is a postscript to the camp story for several. After walking the aisle at church camp, being baptized on their first Sunday back in town, and listening to KLove throughout the rest of July and early August, a number of others drift back into their old way of life by mid-September.
Maybe that is the story of someone you know. Maybe that is your story. Or maybe, the TIMING of that story doesn’t describe you, but the TRAJECTORY of the story does. Maybe you once followed Jesus, but now not so much. The loss of fervor you have experienced took more than a few months, but over a few years, you have drifted away from Him. You were fired up for Jesus in college, but have grown cold today.
Well, in Galatians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul talks about why people who begin with Jesus might end up drifting away from a life following Him. But … even more importantly … Paul highlights in these verses how we can renew the spark and grow once again in our relationship with Jesus. These verses describe the New Power we have in Christ to overcome the wayward drift so many experience.
Join us this Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship service (or online on the stream beginning at 9:45CDT Sunday, August 22), as we are in week 3 of our “New Power” sermon series. Even if you missed the first two parts of this series, you don’t want to miss this week’s message, as it covers some of the most important verses in the Bible for our Christian lives. See you Sunday … and bring friends!