New Church Adventure

Joining a church. Sounds easy right? Well it hasn't been that easy for me. I think a lot of my hang up in joining a church is accepting the responsibility of actually choosing the right church. My dad is a pastor, so we've always had our church picked for us. I liked that. I liked that my dad was the pastor. That I knew how genuinely faithful he was to God. It never failed, every morning I could always find my dad and mom spending time with God. I saw the life they lived so it was easy for me to listen to their biblical wisdom. There have, however, been pastors that were somewhat close to my family that have betrayed any trust I put in them. SO when I moved out of my parents house, finding a church and a pastor that I could trust and respect proved to be difficult for me. Now that I'm married, it has been important to Andrew and I to find a church that we could be a part of together. We finally decided on a church that we would attend regularly and hopefully join. The sermon this morning was the beginning of a year journey through the book of Romans. The pastor was talking about how Paul identified himself to the Romans. Paul said that he was set apart for the gospel. The point was made that at one time Paul was set apart from-- he was cold, uncaring, protective of religious institution. Now he said he was set apart for-- good news, love, purpose, Christ. We are all called to be set apart, will you be set apart from or for?