June 16, 2022
Equip The Saints
Elder Letter by Jeremy Bledsoe
I am very thankful for the investment that TCBC has made in my life over the past 11 years! I am thankful for the spiritual investment that our leaders and church family have made in my life and the life of my family. I cannot express how much I value the discipleship I have received. The discipleship that has taught me what it means to be a growing disciple of Jesus (John 15), who also makes other disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). If it wasn’t for the sound teaching of God’s Word and the investment by God’s people, I would be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14). This is true of all of us – me, you, and our children.
As a dad of four kiddos, I desire for my kids to follow Jesus. I pray that they are not tossed to and fro. I desire for them to not just “make a decision” but to grow in an ever-increasing love for Jesus. While my desire for this can sometimes be broken, the Lord’s desire for this is perfect. In Deuteronomy 6:5-9, the Lord commanded the people of Israel, “[5] You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. [6] And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. [8] You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. [9] You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (ESV)
The Lord desires for his people to love Him with all their heart (Matthew 22:37) and to teach others to do the same (Matthew 28:18-20, Deuteronomy 6:5-9).
The Lord has given us the command to grow in Christlikeness, to share the gospel, and to make disciples. He has also given us the resources we need to do this – His Spirit, His Word, and His people.
While we are not a perfect church, the Lord has used His Spirit, His Word, and his Spirit-indwelled people at TCBC to equip me to be a growing disciple who makes disciples, to include my children.
As your pastor and a brother in Christ, I encourage you to seek out ways within our church to be invested in and equipped to be a growing disciple of Jesus who makes disciples. Here are a few ways we pursue this together as a church family – 1) We come together for the worship gathering on Sunday, 2) Through our Discipleship Communities, we are equipped to make disciples, 3) Our Go Groups provide biblical community and discipling opportunities, and 4) Through the FDP, we equip parents and grandparents to disciple their children.
Please visit the links below for more information regarding our Discipleship Communities, Go Groups, and the FDP.
www.tcbchurch.org/communities
www.tcbchurch.org/family
With much thanks and in Christ,