I remember when I first started driving that

there were certain intersections that confused

me. We had one where I grew up that had five

major streets converging with more stoplights

than you knew where to look. As I talk and

counsel with people I get the sense that many

feel the same way when it comes to spiritual

maturity. Unfortunately many reach that inter-

section, find it confusing, and drive away. We

as elders want to do everything we can to be a

help you. This is how we are going to talk

about it as we head into a new ministry year:

The Trivium of Spiritual Maturity … trivium is a

latin word describing the place where three

roads converge. Yes, only three roads … and

they are simple and clearly marked!

1. Worship (The Pursuit of God)

You will never hear us call you to anything

more primary than loving God with all your

heart, soul, mind, and strength. We will al-

ways call you to that w ith a rich understanding

that you do not perform for God to earn His

love, but respond in worship to all God has

done for you. The work of Christ rightly under-

stood and embraced will expel all other lovers

(idols), and create in you a hunger to know God

and His Word. Spiritual maturity starts with

you seeking God as your greatest delight and

deepest satisfaction. Get into the Word,

spend time in prayer, fellowship with your

Maker, Savior, and Friend!

2. Relationships (The Pursuit of Real Spiri-

tual Friendship)

God did not send His Son into the world to

save you. He sent His Son into the world to

save a people (plural). A chosen people, a

royal priesthood, the bride of Christ … The

Church! It is not true love for Jesus to cherish

Him, but not His bride. That means that a spiri-

tual priority in your life will be the purposeful

pursuit of brothers and sisters in Christ for the

mutual edification of one another. It doesn’t

matter whether you are an introvert or an ex-

travert; your spiritual maturity is never only

about a personal relationship w ith Jesus, but a

“ speaking truth in love” relationship with

God’s people.

3. Mission (The Pursuit of Lost People)

When it comes to your spiritual growth, you

are never the end user. God has uniquely

gifted each and every one of His kids to be a

giver in the mission of the Kingdom. If you are

going to be intentional about spiritual maturity

this year it w ill include the third converging

road of ministry. How will you use your time,

talents, and resources to contribute to the

work of missions near and far? “ Missions

exists because worship doesn’t” (John Piper)

… and we are right back at the beginning, invit-

ing lost people to love God and find their joy in

Him!

Pastor Mark Spansel

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Don’t Waste Your LIfe by John Piper

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

Blog: Paultripp.com, Who knows you by Paul

Trip, March 18, 2014

Sermon: desringgod.org/messages - John

Piper, October 27, 1996 - Doing Missions

When Dying Is Gain

Pray that LCC

will be a place

that pursues

God and His w ill

above all other

things.

Pray that the

people of LCC

will be a group

of people who

love and serve

each other well.

Pray for those

in our body who

don't yet feel

connected to

build real friend-

ships!

Pray that LCC

will be a beacon

of Gospel hope

to our commu-

nity.

Pray that the

people of LCC

will hunger for

spiritual matur-

ity in deep

ways.

I was asked to share a brief

testimony on the benefits

of being involved in minis-

try. First I would like to

thank LCC for the ministry

my kids, w ife and I have

received here. We were

blessed by so many people

who reached out to us and

the abundance of solid

teachers who handle the

Word of God so well

weekly at LCC. Thank you

greatly, we are so apprecia-

tive of the many ways you

have touched our lives!

Looking back over the close

to 40 years since Jesus

saved me and 35 years of

being involved in ministry,

my experiences in ministry

have been wide ranging

and wonderful to be a part

of. By the grace of God, He

has opened doors for minis-

try in my college years

sharing the Gospel with

international students, for 8

years in Japan using teach-

ing English as a platform to

share the Gospel with mul-

tiple classes from Elemen-

tary age, College and even

Adult students. Finally

since returning from Japan

in 1995 I have been in-

volved mainly in youth min-

istry.

The benefits of being in-

volved are many. Seeing a

90@9 student understand

the Gospel to the point

they can go on a mission

trip – priceless! Seeing

someone who has never

had a chance to even hear

the Gospel hear it and over

time give their life to Christ

– priceless. On a personal

level I know much like the

Israelites I can be so prone

to drift if left to my own

devices. Hebrews 2:1

warns us to play close at-

tention to this Gospel mes-

sage lest we drift from it.

Preparing to share in minis-

try has the tremendous

personal benefit of re-

enforcing and deepening

my understanding of the

Gospel which is critical to

avoid drifting. God continue

to bless the ministry of

LCC!

Steve Selle

Interested in sharing what God is doing in your life? Submit

your testimony to leroychapel@leroychapel.org to be

considered for a future newsletter.

September/October 2015

Every Wednesday

Prayer Meeting

All our invited every Wednesday to

meet at the Center at 6:30 to pray

for the needs of Leroy Community

Chapel. This is a sweet time of peti-

tioning the Lord for His w ill here at

LCC.

September 12

Men’s Conference

Our theme this year is Masculinity:

How the Great Gospel Transforms

Men. The guest speakers are local

Pastors Thad Bergmeier & Jonathan

Holmes. Men of all ages are encour-

aged to attend this event at the

Chapel, it’s from 8am to noon. Call

the Church Office or signup at the

Information Center on August 23.

September 13

Life Groups

Life Groups is one of the core minis-

tries of LCC. It’s a time twice a

month to be encouraged and ex-

horted to Gospel ministry in your

every day life. Please contact the

church office to sign-up.

.

September 15

How People Change

LCC takes serious the discipleship of

the Saints. This class is the first in a

two part series that will help you un-

pack how to look at your own heart as

well as disciple those around you. The

cost is $15pp and it’ll take place for 4

weeks on Tuesday evenings at 6:30

pm. Please contact the Church Office

to register.

September 16

Clubs

Our weekly Wednesday night program

from 6:30 - 8:00pm for students is

starting up again. GEM girls (K-6th)

will meet at the Chapel. STIR (7th-

12th) w ill meet at the Chapel and then

carpool over to the Schoenwald’s.

Tree Climbers (K-2nd) and Stockade

(3d - 6th) meet at the Cornerstone.

Battalion (7th - 12th) meets at the

Chapel. These are great opportunities

for your children to be discipled and

learn life skills. Cost is $20 for the first

child and $15 for the second, every

child after that is free. To register

please contact the Church Office or

Sign-up at the Information Center on

Sunday morning.

September 16

Women’s Bible Study

Our weekly Wednesday night Bible

Study will have two choices “ Idol

Lies” by Dee Brestin or “ Tested Faith

a Study on James” by Susan Heck

from 6:30 - 8:00pm through the Fall at

the Center. It w ill be a time of great

encouragement and fellowship. The

cost is $10. You can register at the

Information Center, Church Office or

show up the night of the study.

September 17

Mastering Motherhood

If you are a mother of any age or hope

to be, than we invite you to be a part

of our Mastering Motherhood pro-

gram. Our time together consist of

teaching and a small group book study.

We meet Thursday's at the Chapel

through the school year. The cost is

$30 and you can sign-up at the Church

Office or just show-up.

September 18 & 19

Men’s Bible Study

All men are welcome to join! We meet

every Friday morning at 6:00 am at

Sunny Street Café or Saturday morning

at 6:30am at Grand River Community

Chapel.

September 19

Champion’s Tour Event

All who are 50 and older are invited to

join the Champion’s Tour as the visit

Middlefield. We will meet at the Cor-

nerstone at 9:00am and return around

3pm. This is a great time of fellow-

ship. More information to come in the

Bulletin.

October 3

Membership Classes

We’ll be having our Core classes for

church membership from 8:30 to 2pm.

Lunch w ill be provided. Please call the

Church Office or signup in the bulletin.

October 20

Side by Side

Are you wanting to grow in how you

pursue people? Do you often feel con-

fused on how to deepen your existing

relationships? We will be having a

seminar at 7pm in the Basement on

how to live, work and play side by

side. We will highlight different ways

you can pursue those that you are in

daily life w ith no matter their circum-

stances or yours.