Seek
When a church has been around a long time, the commitments and programs start to pile up.
The early years of a church plant are challenging. Huge risks are taken. Much is at stake. Members leave stable congregations with lots of support to build something new, where they might feel alone and neglected. They make financial investments that might not pan out. Despite these challenges, those first years are exciting. There is something to build, a program to develop, new ground to cover. The possibilities are endless. The energy attracts new people. Everyone wants to be a part of new and exciting work.
After a church becomes established, the newness wears off. Programs and commitments must be sustained. Maintenance is required. Most of the energy goes into keeping the early plans running. There’s little room for fresh ideas or additional commitments.
The Ashville Road Church of Christ has been ministering in Leeds for more than seventy-five years. We are an established congregation with several mission and outreach commitments, a Bible school program for infants to adults, a strong youth ministry, and many other endeavors. There is little room for adding new ministries without removing existing ones.
That is why our theme for 2026 is Seek. Think of it as a reminder to focus on what we already know is important and grow in the commitments we have already made.
Biblically, “seek” means more than looking. It has to do with seeking in order to find. It implies initiative, effort, desire, even joy.
When Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), he wasn’t presenting a novel idea—God has always cared about the lost. Nor was he talking about casually looking for people who might be interested in the gospel. His mission on earth was to look diligently for the lost until he found them and bring them home, as a shepherd might carry a lamb back to the fold on his shoulders (Luke 15:3-7).
When the Bible tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33), it’s building on a strategy as old as Moses—loving God with all your heart, soul, and might (Deut. 6:5). Seeking God requires full devotion, exalting him above everything else vying for first place in your heart.
This year, we are challenging ourselves to seek what’s most important in life. This means setting priorities and pursuing them with enthusiasm. A mature Christian shouldn’t need someone pushing him to do God’s will. He ought to take responsibility for his own faith and diligently seek God first, helping others to do the same.
What are you seeking? What comes first in your life? Would you serve God if someone weren’t pushing you? Are you growing in the Lord?
In these discussions, we will be challenging one another to seek important things first. It’s time to pursue our commitments with a whole heart.
