A Summer of Growing Together

This summer has been a meaningful season in the life of Cottle First Church of God.

As we have worshiped, studied, and walked together, the Lord has been drawing us deeper into what it means to be His people. In different ways, our recent focus on The Church Alive, Practicing the Way, and What We Believe has all been leading us toward the same truth: God is not calling us to a shallow faith, but to a living, growing, everyday life with Jesus Christ.

When we speak of The Church Alive, we are reminding ourselves that the church is not simply a building or a weekly gathering. The church is the living body of Christ in the world. A living church is shaped by the presence of the Holy Spirit, grounded in the Word of God, committed to prayer, and joined together in love. A living church does not exist only to preserve the past, but to faithfully bear witness to Jesus in the present.

As we have considered Practicing the Way, we have been challenged to see discipleship as more than agreement with Christian ideas. Following Jesus is not only about what we say we believe; it is also about how we live. We are learning that the Christian life is formed in daily choices — in prayer, in Scripture, in worship, in service, in repentance, in fellowship, and in obedience. The way of Jesus is not hurried, hollow, or casual. It is a way of transformation. Step by step, day by day, the Lord teaches us to walk with Him.

And in our study of What We Believe, we have been grounding ourselves again in the truths that anchor our faith. In every generation, the church must know not only what it feels, but what it believes. We need to know the story of Scripture, the truth of the gospel, the work of the Holy Spirit, the nature of the church, and the hope we have in Christ. Sound doctrine is not cold or lifeless. When received with humble hearts, it gives strength, clarity, and stability to the people of God.

Taken together, these summer themes have been helping us see a fuller picture of Christian life.

We are called to be a church alive in the Spirit. We are called to be a people who practice the way of Jesus. We are called to be believers who know and live the truth.

This is not just a summer emphasis. This is the life of the church.

We live in a time when many people are searching for meaning, for belonging, and for something solid beneath their feet. The answer is not found in trends or personalities or empty religion. The answer is found in Jesus Christ. He is still calling people to Himself. He is still building His church. He is still transforming lives. And He is still teaching His people how to walk in truth and love.

I am grateful for the ways I have already seen this at work in our congregation. I have seen hunger for God’s Word. I have seen faithfulness in worship. I have seen a willingness to learn, to grow, to serve, and to seek the Lord together. These are signs of life. These are signs of grace. These are signs that God is at work among us.

As we continue through this season, my prayer is that we will not simply admire these truths from a distance but

embrace them deeply.

May we be a church that is truly alive. May we be a people who practice the way of Jesus with sincerity and faithfulness. May we be grounded in what we believe, so that we may stand firm with hope and confidence. And may everything we do point people to Christ.

The Lord is still at work in His church. May we have hearts ready to follow wherever He leads.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Angie Wilson

Cottle First Church of God