Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail FROM THE D.S. From Gateway Today The e-magazine of Gateway Church SPRING 2005 The drive to win It clouds our view of what matters most He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:52-53) Dr. John Simmons A couple of days after the University of North Carolina won this year's national basketball championship, I saw a UNC T-shirt featuring "Roy's Rules": 1. We play 2. We win 3. You go home There's nothing wrong with being on a winning team. But I think living in a culture driven to win often causes us to lose perspective about what's really important. A reporter once put this question to Marv Levy, former Buffalo Bills coach, about an upcoming game: "Coach, is this a must-win situation?" Coach Levy's reply: "World War Two was a must win. This is not a must win." Trying to earn God's favor "Works righteousness" is closely akin to the idea that "we have to win." We think we have to earn God's favor somehow I know I struggle at times with "justification by busy schedule." If I'm busy, I must be important. But what makes us true winners is justification by faith in Jesus Christ. It is the wellspring of God's gracious acceptance and love for us. As Paul would say, "If God is for us, then who can be against us?" We're accepted, loved, and included -- not because we "win" at something -- but simply because we are beloved of God. Our strength is in Jesus, not in our efforts to win. There is a great Spanish hymn in our hymnal -- and it is the gospel: When at last all those who suffer find their comfort, When they hope though even hope seems hopelessness, When we love though hate at times seems all around us, Then we know that God still goes that road with us, Then we know that God still goes that road with us. May it be so, Lord. May it be so. Peace, John Dr. John Simmons is the district superintendent of the Athens-Elberton District of the North Ga. Conference. To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us