Yesterday, Saturday, January, 30th, Bob Lansdowne (a deacon at our church) and I left Hutchinson around 5:45AM and drove straight through to Minneapolis. We were able to get in here around 4:30, which was pretty good time. We checked into the hotel and headed over to Bethlehem Baptist Church (where John Piper pastors) for their evening service.

A brass ensemble called us to worship. I loved the way Piper weaved the service together with Scripture, pointing us upward. We sang songs (All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, Everlasting God, You Are My King) and watched them welcome around 80 new members. They make them publicly affirm a Membership Covenant, then the congregation publicly affirms (again) their willingness to be those kind of people. It was a moving night.

Piper’s message from Matthew 16:13-18 was entitled Invincible Purpose: I Will Build My Church. The message was a historical, Biblical defense of church planting which led into John Erickson preaching. Bethlehem is launching Jubilee Community Church and this was the service to call people out to that. I must say, I was stirred to consider my life in light of planting congregations and reaching out to others.

Our hearts were full, so we finally grabbed supper after church and went to bed.