Not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and in Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

Among the concert halls of the world, Carnegie Hall stands out. Carnegie is known for its great history, beauty, and architecture. Most of all it's known for acoustics. No matter where you're sitting among the 2,800 seats at Carnegie, the sound and beauty of the music sound forth in such a way that you feel as if you're actually on stage. Many have tried to explain this marvel; is it the floor of the stage, the domed ceiling above the stage, or design of the hall? Out west there is an amazing natural amphitheater. At Bryce Canyon Utah, the canyon's rock surface amplifies and echo's even the slightest sound. That word 'echo' takes us back to our bible verse, Exakeo, sounded forth - It means to resound, to ring out like the blast of a trumpet.

Long ago in England they used to ring out the old and ring in the new year by tolling the church bells; when the bells rung, everyone knew a new year had come. In our day, more than church bells, people mark a new year with resolutions, goals, and dreams. Here is a godly goal for us at Zion for 2019: Let the word of the Lord sound forth! God wants us to display in each of our lives what it is to have a living hope in a risen Savior.

In his letter, Paul praises God for the Thessalonians who, received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of much affliction under great persecution for their faith, those Christians continued to serve the living and true God with their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Result? Everyone was talking about the church at Thessalonica.

As for the acoustical splendor of Carnegie and Bryce Canyon, we'll let sound engineers explain. Let us be encouraged rather to begin a new year seeking to be God's trumpets, sounding forth the message of Christ. As we know, trumpets don't play by themselves. As such the force behind all Gospel' trumpeting is God; the wind of the Word is God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Each week in worship, in devotion, prayer, and in service together, let God's Word sound forth! There won't be a bad seat in the house; God will see to that.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

~ Pastor Kelly Mitteis