A homecoming

Jesus returned to his home town of Nazareth after teaching and preaching about the Kingdom of God in the Galilean region. The Gospel according to Matthew tells us that he went to the synagogue there in Nazareth and began to teach. The worshipers were amazed at what he was teaching. They knew Jesus pretty well because, of course, he had grown up in Nazareth. They really didn’t like what they were hearing and apparently said so. So Jesus replied to there rebuke, “A prophet is not without honor except in his home town, and in his own household.” (NASB)

I left Lynchburg in 1972, after graduating from Brookville High School, to attend college. My roots began in North Carolina, but I have considered Lynchburg home, because I was transplanted here. My formative years began at Franklin Street Baptist Church, which would later become Sandusky Baptist Church in the early 1970s. It was through Sandusky Baptist Church that I would be called to the gospel ministry, a call that came 38 years ago. And now the church has called me to serve as its pastor.

I must say, Jesus’ words regarding his rejection in his hometown reverberated in my mind as I prayed about His calling me home to Lynchburg. I questioned whether I would be accepted.

Sometimes upon returning home, we allow nostalgia to be our guide. As much as I love my hometown, my reason for accepting the call here is not to relive bygone years. My reason, and I believe every Christian’s reason and every church’s reason, is to bring persons to faith in Jesus Christ.

I am here serving the church that “birthed” me because Sandusky Baptist Church, like every church that proclaims Christ as Savior and Lord, has always been about bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God to persons who do not have a saving relationship with God in Christ Jesus. That is the message that called me to serve Christ almost 40 years ago, and it is the same message that I proclaim today.

Unfortunately, the message of God’s Kingdom revealed in Jesus Christ is rejected by many. Just as Jesus proclaimed the good news in His “home church” and was rejected, there are many persons today who reject that same message. We don’t know exactly what Jesus said to the folks who knew Him as the carpenter’s son, but I imagine He let them know that God was being revealed to them that very moment in Him, Jesus.

The message of salvation has never been more clearly stated than in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” There is no rejection in those words. You and I are the “whoever.” You are accepted! You must only believe.

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can do so right now. Call upon Him. Admit to Him that you are a sinner. Believe that He is God’s Son. Confess it to Him. And, commit your life to Him.

Oh, by the way, I am grateful for the acceptance that Sandusky Baptist Church members have shown me as their pastor. We are excited about the great things that are happening in our church! Visit us some time. We would love to meet you.

We are developing a Web site. Right now, www.sanduskybaptist.net is a work in progress. Or, you may call our church office at (434) 239-8410. We would love to speak with you.