The month of April has been extremely busy and excitingly productive. I believe that God blesses a church that dreams big and works hard. The Bible says, “In whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17). We give thanks to God for all the ways He made our efforts in April rich in the response of our people and the outpouring of God’s grace upon us all. Let me recount what the Lord did this month:
 
Spring Renewal Sunday:

• 3 Services with 304 attending
• 2 New Members by Profession of Faith
• Many Responded to the Call to Nail our Reconciliations to the Cross
• Altar Filled with Re-commitments and Restoration of Faith in Christ

 
Easter Sunday Services:

• Sunrise Service with 85 attending
• 2 Morning Services with 210 attending
• 2 Baptisms of New Believers adding to the Fellowship

 
DNOW Weekend

• 22 Teenagers Attending
• Students Memorize 2 Scripture Verses, Psalm 23: 4-6 and Ezekiel 40:31
• 2 Worship Services and 2 Bible Studies
• Many Cars Washed in Single Ladies Car Care Mission Event

 
Single Ladies Car Care Mission Event and Motorcycle Ride

• Multiple Witness Encounters with Ladies who Participated
• Ladies of Grace Host Guests and Share Their Faith
• Motorcyclists Contribute to Help with Expenses
• Fellowship and Spiritual Relationships Strengthened

 
I cannot remember a greater ministry impact upon dozens of people than that which took place at Grace during the month of April. There are many people who worked diligently to organize and carry out the work that took place. Great food was prepared. Effective promotion and sharing was accomplished by the number of guests present in every service. The prayers of God’s people was evident as numbers of people responded to the invitations in every service.

Yes, our energy level was tested during the month, but God was doing His work through us in a mighty way.

Today we are asking God to grant revival to our church in three services. The parable of the Prodigal Son who returned home to his waiting father to be received and restored to his family tells me that God is eager to revive His church. When God says to Israel, “Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:7), makes it plain that God is ready to revive His people. I know that God is disappointed when we stray away from Him. Sin leaves its ugly stain on us, but God has made it abundantly clear that He is always in a forgiving mood and is prepared to wash us clean, “…though you sins be a scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they will be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Revival is a necessary part of our faith. God knows that we are like sheep that go astray. He comes after us in order to bring us back home. AREN’T YOU GLAD!
 
Welcome Tim Douglas again to our church this morning and tonight. God is going to use Tim’s preaching to usher revival and renewal into our hearts and our fellowship. Pray today about how you will respond. Tim is a biblical preacher. He is a man of prayer. Tim has served on the mission field and now leads a congregation as associate pastor. I have full confidence that God is going to use Tim to give our church the messages from God’s word that we need to rekindle the revival fire God’s wants for us.
 
Everything starts this morning at 9:45 with our worship emphasis based on REPENTANCE. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Without confession and repentance there can be no revival. We must be ready to humble ourselves before God and tell Him about what’s wrong in our hearts. He already knows so why not admit our sin and let Him forgive like He wants and is ready to do.
 
At 11:00, our worship will center on RECONCILIATION. Thank you, Scott Sturgill for building a cross for our church’s worship center. When the Bible talks about reconciliation it is talking about what Jesus did for us on the cross, “…God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to use the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). We will use the cross that Scott made for us to nail the things in our lives that need to be reconciled back to God. We may need to reconcile our worries. We may need this morning to reconcile a broken heart, a broken relationship, a broken promise. During the invitation time this morning, write down on the paper enclosed in this bulletin and step forward to nail your Offering of Reconciliation to the Cross.
 
At 6:00 tonight, we will come back together in a service of recommitment to CHRISTLIKENESS. God wants us to be holy like He is holy. The way revival is supposed to work is that God’s people put away those things that displease God and begin to live in a way that pleases Him. We put off the old ways and take on what the Bible calls NEWNESS OF LIFE, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things pass away; behold all things become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Pray about those habits that you need to leave behind. Ask God for strength and stamina to live like Jesus wants you to live. Make a commitment. Start over again giving Jesus the obedience He deserves.