Have you ever considered that God is actually for you? Have you ever pondered the possibility that the God of the universe is completely for you?
This Sunday, our One Prayer series will focus on that key theme found in the Word of the Lord. Trust me, you do NOT want to miss this Sunday. I have heard rumor that there will be a little surprise in Worship!
The fact that God is for me has forever changed my life. I did not grow up in the church so I never knew there even was a God, let alone that He would actually be for, care for, know, and love me! The first time I comprehended that concept it took my breath away.
There are times in every person's life when they suffer from feelings of inadequacy. Sometimes we even move from inadequacy to feelings of worthlessness. We feel we are not attractive enough or intelligent enough or as lucky as others. Success, as we dreamed of attaining it, has not happened to us.
Birthdays and the aging process can do that to us if we are not careful. As we get older, childhood dreams of being someone important begin to vanish. Entering our middle forties, fifties, or even sixties, we begin to realize that our current position in life will not increase substantially. This can be difficult for some of us if we are not fully experiencing the reality that God is for us, regardless of what stage of life we find ourselves in.
Here's the deal - the moment our memories exceed our dreams the end is near. (You might want to read that again!) One way to prevent this from happening is to remember that God is for us and has a great vision for our lives, regardless of what stage in which we find ourselves.
Simply put - God is for us. One way in which I remember this fact is by reminding myself that God does not create junk. God's good Word teaches that He made us! In the Bible we read that we were created in the image of God. We were molded in the image of our Maker. Like God we can reason, we have a mind, a memory and a will. God even put us in charge of everything He created. God was pleased with his workmanship of man/woman and said, "It is good!" (Genesis 1) He made nothing more special or more beautiful than us. Made in the image of God, we even have the ability to control much of our destiny.
God thought of us. Stop what you are doing right now and look at your hands. They're hands very much like the hands of Jesus. If you have flip flops on, take a look at your feet - a lot like the feet of Jesus that carried Him along the dusty streets of first century Palestine. And Jesus was no junk. There should no more be a junky John or junky Mary or junky Kathy than a junky Jesus. Jesus was a man, and like us in every way with the exception of sin. That reality makes all the difference in the world. Sin, you see, is the chief purveyor of junk in our lives. It was Adam and Eve's sin of trying to be like God that tarnished the fullness of their image of God. It made them less than what God wanted for them. Sin brought with it pain and death. It pushed them away from God and dwarfed their view of God. (Genesis 1 & 2)
Hear me again, please - God made each of us, and God doesn't make junk. Let's not live one more day of our precious lives in a manner less than God desires. We confess our sins before the Almighty. We welcome Jesus' entrance into our lives with all the power of the Holy Spirit. We ask Almighty God to lead us onto beautiful paths of meaningful life. And we boldly proclaim to ourselves and before the world, "God made me, and God doesn't make any junk.” In other words, God is for me!
I can't wait to Worship and explore this theme with you further this weekend!
Have you ever experienced those seasons along the way when God is speaking so loud and clear? I have been in that season for about two months now and figured it was time to blog about it! There are times in life when we feel like our prayers never reach beyond the ceiling. Been there - done that. There are other times, when we feel like God is silent and even His communication to us is distant and muted. Been there too - not good. But there are other seasons, when the channels of communication are free flowing both ways and God Almighty is an ever present reality and His voice is an unmistakable certainty! Thankfully, I am currently in one of those seasons right now and I am loving it. Over the course of the next week, I will post some of the things God is teaching me in my personal life and ministry at newhope.
1. I am re-learning the need for constant reaffirmation of God's vision for the church! If you are a senior leader, never underestimate the importance of clear repetition of the God sized vision He has given you for the local church. If you study the book of Nehemiah, one can interpret the need for this at a bare minimum of once a month. Dr. Dale Galloway, one of my mentors from the Beeson Pastor Program at Asbury Theological Seminary, used to say, "When you think you are going to vomit if you repeat the vision one more time...when you feel as though the people are sick and tired of hearing the vision...and when you can't stand the thought of saying it again -- say it loud and clear again and again!"
To this day, I still hear Dale's words reverberating in my soul. Interestingly enough, every time I make myself repeat our vision to Reach, Teach, and Release, many people "get it" for the very first time! And check this out - it is usually people who have heard me say it dozens of times before. As a pastor, I have to remember that people don't eat, sleep, and breath the church like the leader does. They have bills to pay, vacations to take, children to raise, and jobs to perform. And besides that, they are not present every time we cast the vision. So, I keep repeating it over and over again and God is speaking to my heart, "Say it again and again."
One more note about repeating the vision -- it is very important that we learn to cast the vision creatively. No one really wants to hear us say the same thing over and over again. If we do, the vision will leave our mouths and fall over the pulpit/table and land on the floor with a resounding thud. Senior leaders, it is imperative that we work diligently to wordsmith and state the vision in various and sundry forms, with great imagination and creativity. You might call this form of communication, "Creative redundancy." :>)
2. Another lesson God is teaching me these days is that I am accountable to Him for how I lead and love this church and my family. At newhope, we have human systems of accountability. There is accountability with finances, and church by-laws, and compensation etc... I believe these are needed and serve a solid purpose. But as pastor, I must also understand that my ultimate accountability partner is none other than Jesus Himself and the living Word of God! In my study at the house, I have two framed pictures that sit close to my desk. One says, "The greatest deeds are done before an audience of One." The other says, "My boss is a Jewish Carpenter." Both of these pictures encapsulate what God has been teaching me and what I am trying to communicate here. With trepidation, humility, and even fear -- Almighty God has been reminding me that I will stand before Him and one day give an account for how I led and loved this church and my family. That reality is nothing less than a game changer!
That is probably enough for now. More is coming along those same lines...
It was something special to have Steve Ellis preach the Word Sunday at newhope. You have to understand that I have been praying for this guy for over 18 months, and journeyed with him for a year, just to make sure it was the right fit and the will of the Lord. Thanks be to God for Steve and Myra Ellis. May He grant them favor, anointing, purpose, and fulfillment as the Pastor of Discipleship and Outreach. I am sure he would greatly appreciate your prayers. Here's his first message at newhope church!
As promised, I want to post my thoughts on the large church. It is clear that God has called newhope to reach thousands of people in central, NC and to spread the Gospel message of Jesus across planet earth! We used to only dream about such things but now it is clearly happening and we are in the middle of the summer. Trust me - the fall is going to be off the flipp'in chain for Christ!
It's interesting to me that most folks love the large church while there are others who act as if the large church is nothing less than a serious case of the Swine Flu. Like the Swine Flu, I find that there are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings related to a large/high impact church! Let me be clear - this post is not intended to make anyone love the large church. I am convinced God uses all kinds of church to reach all kinds of people. If someone wants to go to a small church, so be it. God gives us choice and I will never try and take that away from anyone. My intent here is to offer some theological and biblical reflection and why I LOVE THE LARGE CHURCH! Let's start with some questions and big picture thoughts before I focus in on exactly why I love that God is using us to reach thousands.
How is newhope changing? Are we becoming more alive? Is it outward-focused, serious about Christ’s commandment to make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20)?
If the leadership and congregation strives for full devotion to Jesus and if we keep leading a vibrant, healthy church, there’s a good chance it will keep becoming a larger congregation. I have always said, “Anything healthy grows!” All new parents want their infants to grow. Why? Because anything healthy grows. As newhope church meets people’s needs in Jesus’ name, and we experience the joys of changed lives and new births in Christ, our church can have a spillover effect to impact the entire Christian community in and around central, NC in positive ways!
Smaller churches can be wonderful. As Lyle Schaller’s book “The Small Membership Church: Scenarios for Tomorrow” affirms, “I predict a viable future for the congregation of 100 or fewer” (1995, 12). The small church is not about to disappear.
However, one of the most significant ecclesiastical changes of the 20th century was the emergence of the large regional church. Read these statistical facts closely:
Today half of the churchgoers on a typical weekend in North America can be found in the largest 13 percent of churches, according to Schaller.
He also predicts that by 2025, half of churchgoing Protestants will be found in only 10 percent of churches.
By 2050, only 7 percent of churches will account for one-half of all Protestant worshipers, he projects. (Net results, 10/97, 10, Net Results 7/96, 27)
These stats blow my mind. The data reminds us that we don't desire or celebrate being large for "Large" sake. We celebrate being a large church because it is clear that large churches have the greatest potential for high impact and fruit bearing for Kingdom of God! Trust me, it would be so much easier to pastor a fledgling flock of 15 - 50. (BTW - the average church size in America is 78) It would be so easy to settle for the status quo and not worry about Reach, Teach, and Release. However, the call of the Gospel, our Vision, propels us forward to strive for and celebrate the fact that God is using us to be one of those regional churches having a high impact for Christ.
As for me, I thank God for His calling and favor in the life of our church. In closing, let me get far more specific...
7 Reasons Why I Love the Big Church! There are dangers and concerns that are unique to a large congregation, just as there are dangers and concerns to a smaller church. There are, however, many advantages about a big church that make it special. Also, there’s nothing beneficial about being large. Any church, large or small, is only worth its salt if people are being introduced to the Savior and growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s the bottom line.
1. A large church is scriptural. THE FIRST CHURCH BEGAN WITH 3,000 MEMBERS (Acts 2:41) and grew everyday until the number of men came to about 5,000 (Acts 4:4). These people met in homes, but they also MET TOGETHER in the temple courts (Acts 2:46). When the church was alive, it grew rapidly. “So the Word of God spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
Jesus intended the church to grow. “He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches” (Matthew 13:31-32).
newhope had a difficult and humble beginning, but God has blessed us richly. Three locations and 7 years later, here we stand, on the verge of exploding like never before. Let us never shy away from celebrating, and even defending, the large church as biblical and pleasing to the heart of God!
2. A large church can provide rich fellowship. Although the first church began with 3,000 members, they continued in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship (Acts 2:42). They came to know and appreciate one another. In a large church, that fellowship is provided through large group worship/gatherings and many small group opportunities. One of the joys of a large church is that relationships are always expanding and opportunities for meeting new people are ever increasing. That is challenging and exciting!
3. A large church provides opportunity for outreach. In many respects, it is much easier to invite others to come to church with you if the church is large. There are so many special services and quality programs that provide opportunities for Christians to invite friends and family members, too. Those who generally do not attend church are much more likely to attend a large church. They often feel less threatened in a large group. They know they can remain anonymous for a while if they so desire. The non-Christian will often come and observe just out of curiosity. Slowly they begin to feel comfortable and the truths of the gospel begin to sink in. Often times, that’s where the seed takes root and begins to grow and eventually produces a positive harvest.
4. A large church provides opportunities for service. As I write this morning, I am having breakfast in a restaurant overlooking Daytona Beach. I am in the Hilton and I can see all the waiters, waitresses, workers and the like, creating this amazing destination for thousands of people desiring refuge, refreshment, and solitude. They are everywhere, wearing black paints and blue shirts. Their service is impeccable and you can tell they genuinely love serving Hilton guests. They remind me of the volunteers who serve our church family every Sunday.
Some people mistakenly assume that they are not needed in a larger church. That is far from the truth. A large church has so many more opportunities to serve because, overall, there are so many more responsible positions to fill. For example, it takes well over 100 volunteers every weekend to create the newhope experience. There is a place for everyone in God’s church!
5. A large church is inspirational. Most of us enjoy going to athletic contests when there is a “packed house.” There is something about a large number of people that creates excitement and generates energy. Jesus said He wanted His, “House to be full” (Luke 14:23).
I wish you could have seen 3,000 students worship God this week at Big Stuf. Thousands of lives were changed forever due to the Holy Spirit and power of God AND the energy and inspiration that comes from being in a very large group of people. It is inspirational to sing and share with thousands of other Christians. It is stirring to see scores of grade school children participating in church or dozens of teenagers gathered together for Bible study. Teens especially love being a part of a large group where they can meet others their age. Sometimes the compromising evils of this world appear overwhelming. It is inspirational to be a part of a large group that reminds us that we are not alone in the world.
6. A large church has positive influence. There is great strength in numbers. A large church has an opportunity to witness to and influence our community in a very positive way. We have the privilege of hearing some of the finest speakers, musicians and Bible teachers available. We can also have a positive influence in missions and world evangelization. A large church can quickly accomplish a big missions project. It can purchase Bibles for an entire town. It can send several teams to rebuild a community or church facility wiped out by a hurricane. It can support a missionary family, an entire Bible-translation project, or a church planting effort.
They have the potential for becoming teaching centers. They can make an impact on an entire section of a city. They provide a lift to all other churches on the surrounding ecclesiastical landscape. Researcher John Vaughan’s books, The Large Church and Megachurches in America’s Cities, point out that large churches tend to be located in geographic clusters near each other. If a city has one megachurch, it will likely soon grow up several. Why? I believe the reason is that larger churches can have a positive influence on surrounding churches. That is too cool. Think about it, as God's grows our church more and more, we are actually having a positive impact on all churches that surround us! I love that...
7. A large church prepares us for heaven! This might be my favorite! Sometimes people will confess to me that they don't like how big newhope is getting. They will say things like, "I like when we were smaller...I like when it was just our Core Visionary Team of 11 in the Upper Room of your home...I like the East Chapel Hill High School days...I like when we only had one Worship service...I like when I knew everyone...I like the small church..." Now, depending on my mood, I usually listen politely and try to explain that God is growing His church and it wouldn't be wise for us to try and oppose His work. I always find a way, though, to say at some point, "IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LARGE CHURCH YOU WILL HATE HEAVEN!" :-)
Check it out, in Revelation 7:9, the Apostle John described his vision of heaven this way: “I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne...wearing white robes.” There are going to be multitudes of people in heaven! We will be delighted with each other! We anticipate hearing a large heavenly choir and being inspired when we participate with millions who honor the Lord with praise and worship. It is going to be a large body of believers who will glorify God in heaven. Again, if you don't like a large church, you will NOT like heaven!
The large church is nothing new. The church in Jerusalem quickly grew from the few in the upper room to 3,000. In 323 AD, the church building in Constantinople was large enough to hold 15,000 at a single service. That church had 60 pastors and 25 music directors. In 1861, Charles Spurgeon’s church in London seated 6,000. Today, a Methodist Pentecostal Church in Santiago, Chile has over 50,000 members. A full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea, which Amy Lynn and I visited in 2001, now has 700,000 members! There are over 150 churches in America which exceed 2,000 in worship, more than 60 that average over 3,000.
As you can tell, I can write about this all day, but since I have a plane to catch and I have probably made my point, I need to stop. The large church has been used by God to reach the lost, teach the saved, and release followers of Christ back into the world to be the conscience of the community! Make no mistake about it - I am stink’in stoked about what newhope church is becoming! I realize it is not for all and that some will leave. I get and accept that. If they are believers, worry not, they will simply go find another church. However, if we don't stay passionate and focused on our vision, than there are literally thousands and thousands and thousands of people who will not get into heaven because we chose small and comfortable over large and risky.
How large? Only God knows. How long will we remain white hot with passion to Reach, Teach, and Release? That is easy – until there is NOT ONE person left to reach with the gracious Gospel of Jesus Christ! God will grow His church, friends. Our job is to stay faithful, focused and humble and give Almighty God the glory and praise every step of the way!
(I am thankful for the time I spent with Pastor Bob Russell in 2001. Bob is the founding pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, and helped shape much of my understanding as it relates to the large church.)
Again, my notes are soooo sketchy, mainly because I have just been listening more than writing. :-) I hesitate to even post these but here you go anyway. I hope you can make sense of it and find some encouragement. In this talk, Perry reminds us that the call of Christ demands a full and faithful response.
Luke 5: (Perry Noble)
Jesus always called for full devotion! He had no desire for half-hearted allegiance. He came calling, and the faithful response in Luke 5 was, "But because you say so, I will." Make no mistake about it, they left everything to follow Him. If you are going to follow Jesus with full devotion, you will have to do 3 things:
1. It's time to forgive.
2. It's time to step up. U can't love Him on Sundays and not on Friday and Saturday.
ILLUSTRATION: Teenager girl breaking up with a boy and he says, "But I love you...are you sure it is over...are you sure?" She repeats that it is over and he cries out, "Well then, go to hell." Point - You can't say I love you and then go to hell. They just can't work together. Many folks say to God, "I love you" on Sundays and "Go to hell" on Friday night. God doesn't play those kinds of games. He wants all of you or none of you.
3. It's time to confess. Jesus is a game changer. I used to play for myself and now I play for Him.
Let me first of all say that we are blessed at newhope with some AWESOME students. I am having a blast hanging out with Anna Grace, Pastor Jeremiah, and the senior high students from Pulse. These are great students who love the Lord and are committed to loving God with everything. God is moving BIG time in our lives.
The Worship and Word have been amazing. I came to support to Jeremiah and our students but let me tell you, this conference is just what I needed!
The first session on Monday night was led by Steven Furtick. He spoke on a very cool passage from Joshua and one that has bewildered meteorologists and droves of scholars for centuries. Here are my notes from the talk - they are so sketchy - but I hope u r blessed and encouraged:
Sun stand Still by Steven Furtick
Joshua 10:12-14
12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
"O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on a]">[a] its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
God can do more in one second than we can do in a lifetime!
Young people - don't let life steal your audacious vision.
3 things about the Sun Standing Still in your life - may Almighty God make the sun stand still in these three areas of your life.
1. Over your vision - May God give you an audacious vision this week. May it rock you to the core. Listen, He wants to give you a revelation for your life. This is not about rules. Rules without revelation only lead to rebellion. We are not here to give you more rules. We are asking God to give you a revelation that will change your life forever!
2. Purity - May the sun stand still in your life in the area of purity. Purity is a present tense reality - it is from this point forward. God can turn my mistake into a miracle.
I John 1.9 - read it here. U have to give up the temporary fulfilment of lust now for the future promise of all He has for u. Whatever you do, young person, do NOT make unwise alliances with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Joshua had made unwise alliances. Don't compromise your destiny on the alter of temporary fulfilment. The choice of you date and marry are two of the most important decisions you will ever make.
3. Mission - God can make the sun stand still in the ultimate mission of your life! God wants to do significant things with your life. He wants to move mighty on your behalf. In John 6, Jesus multiplied a lunch and fed the multitudes. He can take your little and do something completely extraordinary with your life. Let Him have your mission. Let Him have every aspect of your life!
I really like the One Prayer series. I think it does so much for the church. I will probably list that throughout this post tonight.
Great summer crowds continue! Pastor Francis Chan delivered a strong message about the strength of the Lord and how that impacts the life of the believer.
I still can't get over the conference on Thursday. The newhope volunteers blew everyone away. Here is what our speaker and leader for the conference said in an email to me:
Hi Pastor Benji, Just a quick note to express from my heart, my sincere appreciation and gratitude to you and your wonderful people of newhope. Your corps of volunteers and workers did a super, fantastic job. I attend many conferences, but the hospitality and service your folks rendered was way beyond the call of duty, over the top, the best I’ve seen! I am so proud of you and your wonderful church. God is using you and your people to impact many for Christ. Congratulations!! I want to thank you for being committed to reaching the lost. By the way, your facility is great! Thanks for all you do! Dr. Tom Armiger
One Prayer rocks because it reminds us that God can use technology in ways we never imagined! Who would have ever thought people could and would answer questions, clap, laugh, and even accept Christ via video teaching?! As Francis said today, "God can do anything He wants to do." I would say He has chosen to use video teaching for this particular season in the life of the church!
It was hilarious today when the Worship crowd at the first service overheard me talking to the babies in hopetown. While I was wondering around the building visiting the different ministry areas, the sound folks forgot to mute my mic. As such, everyone got to hear me doing, "Baby Talk." A special thanks to God that I was caught talking to babies and not blowing my nose or using the bathroom. :-) A special thanks to Pastor Curtis, who covered for me and explained where I was and what I was doing. That was a newhope classic that provided a moment of great levity, at my expense. :>)
It was a little sad, but very cool, to hand the baton to Pastor Steve Ellis today at SALT (Servants at Leadership Training) for all our Small Group leaders. He is going to do such a great job. BTW - he is teaching Sunday for the first time at newhope - I can't wait!
I need to stop this post and pack my bags. I am heading to Daytona Beach tomorrow with my daughter and the students of newhope for the Big Stuf conference. ("Stuf" is not mispelled, BTW ;-))
Every Sunday I walk away from our church blown away by the excitement and passion of those who have come to Worship. No summer lull here!
Little frustrated with the stage lighting these days. You might not notice it but it is not quite right. We will get there!
I am already fully aware how much I am going to miss the fam this week.
Why do people struggle with scale in church? Why do we love giant sporting events and concerts but aren't sure how to handle it when God chooses to bless a church with being large? I think I will post an article this week titled, "Why I love the large church!" Stay tuned - I promise I will make this post by week's end!
It feels weird not preaching. My throat is not torn to shreds and my body is not utterly exhausted. Hmmmm - so this is what it feels like to have a normal Sunday.
One Prayer rocks because it allows us to hear from some of the most amazing speakers without having to pay for travel, honorariums, etc...
I loved seeing newhopers come to church with care packages for our soldiers today. God bless those who serve our country in the armed services. God, let us never stop praying and pursuing peace!
Still digging the diversity in our church. I briefly visited a church today and realized right away that I was the only "whitey" up in there. Don't get me wrong, I praise God for the church and went to let them know we are pulling for them and praying for God's anointing and favor in their lives. But I returned about the time we were letting out and had to stop and praise God that we are well on our way to fully representing God's created/diverse order before His throne on that glorious day. I unashamedly love that reality.
One Prayer rocks because it gives Pastors who teach all the time a well needed break/sabbatical.
I wish I had time to tell you about the fall! It's going to be...well...too much to get into here. I will say this for now - Fit for Life is going to be a life changing/church changing series!
Have I mentioned that I need to pack - 4:30 am will come EARLY!
Jon Keane was on ESPN tonight. How cool is that?! We baptize the dude and he goes BIG time!
Pray for our students this week! They will join thousands of others for an awesome conference. Ask God to do more than we can ask or imagine! (Ephesians 1)
I heard a country song this week and the chorus went like this - "God is great...beer is good...and people are crazy." I completely agree with two of the three! :-)
One Prayer rocks because it is truly ecumenical and brings lots of different denominations together for a season. In doing so, it gives us a glimpse of what the church could truly do if we ever fully joined forces to make Jesus' prayer in John 17 a reality. Read His Words here!
I am more than willing to risk it all to Reach, Teach, and Release throughout central North Carolina and beyond. Period!
Gotta pack - peace out good people - I will keep you posted once I land in Daytona.
Many of you know that I am a huge John Wesley fan. John Wesley was a minister in the Church of England and lived during the 18th century. (1703 – 1791) He eventually left the Anglican Church and founded the Wesleyan movement in the United States of America. I truly believe he was one of, if not the, greatest Christian ever, outside of the Apostle Paul. He was a brilliant revolutionary who was a master at organizing believers in order to help facilitate growth and discipleship. One such method by which he organized believers was called, “Holy Conferencing.”
Holy Conferencing entails the gathering of believers to Worship, teach the Word, and embark upon the work of the Church. Tomorrow, newhope will host our very first conference. Somewhere around 350 pastors and leaders will descend upon our campus from about 8 am – 9 pm! This particular gathering will consist of pastors and laity from across the eastern part of North Carolina.
The day will consist of worship, church business, vision casting, Holy Communion and the ordination of pastors into full time ministry. I will be teaching tomorrow night around 6 pm, before serving Holy Communion and the ordination of these pastors. Will you pray for this conference?
The potential of Christian Conferencing is unbelievable! That is why I love to attend conferences. That is why we have a vision to host conferences and bless other pastors and churches. Check it out – if you bless a pastor, you bless a congregation. If you bless a congregation, you can bless a city. If you bless enough cities, you can bless a state. If you bless enough states, you can bless a nation. And if you bless a nation, particularly one like America, you can bless and impact the world for Christ!
John Wesley would often refer to Colossians 3:15 - 17 when he instructed his pastors to conference together. The Word of the Lord says this:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 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. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:15-17 - New International Version)
My prayer is that those three verses will come alive tomorrow as newhope hosts its very first conference. I think Wesley would be proud that we still conference together. Most importantly, I am hopeful the day blesses the heart of our Father.
Pastor Craig Groeschel delivered a great word yesterday! He is such a strong teacher and uses video better than anyone I know. Here is the outline review of his message:
ONE PRAYER 2009 Pastor Craig Groeschel GOD IS… LOVE
WHY WOULD GOD LOVE SOMEONE
• AS BAD AS ME?
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself… Job 42:5-6
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:9
• SO INSIGNIFICANT?
But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11
But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? 1 Chronicles 29:14 NLT
• GOD IS LOVE!
…God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:8-10
• GOD’S LOVE COVERS YOUR SINS. …love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:4-5
• GOD’S LOVE MAKES YOU SIGNIFICANT.
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
For God so loved {PLACE YOUR NAME HERE} that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Often, we pray to Jesus asking Him to answer our prayers. Here is a question to ponder - - what if we became the answer to His? In John 17:20-24, He prayed that we would be one, and One Prayer is an opportunity to see what can be accomplished when the Church works together.
In 2008, God worked in amazing ways as more than two million believers stood together to pray, fast, learn, and love others. More than 660 churches have been planted so far in Cambodia, India, Sudan, and China as part of the One Prayer 2008 mission. Not only did we meet our goal last year, but we already passed it! The Gospel is being spread throughout remote villages around the globe, and lives are changing so dramatically that people around them want to learn more about this Jesus who can heal and restore those who seemed without hope. Here's a look at the latest info from the field:
And we’re not done yet—those numbers are increasing by the day and we’ve got big plans to build on that success with One Prayer 2009! This year, we'll be joining forces once again for an extraordinary worldwide experience. Together, in this ecumenical initiative, we'll partner around the globe and explore the theme...
"God is ________________. How would you fill in that blank? Come join us at either 8:45 or 10:30 am as we explore a different answer each and every week!
Spread the word and invite those friends. I can’t wait to see you Sunday...
Contents and data in this article are taken from the One Prayer web site. (www.oneprayer.com)
As many of you know, I have some close friends who are now battling with cancer. If you want to check out a moving video, check this out and please pray for all the people you know who have cancer. Let's also remember to pray together for the cure of cancer.
Hodgkins After Ted Blair (pastor of Livingway Church) found out he was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer, he began to video journal his journey.
Galatians 3:27 says, "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
Check out this group of Christians, freshly washed in the waters of baptism! I LOVE IT! Baptizing believers NEVER gets old. This Sacrament wrecks me to the core. In 90 days we have baptized 120 believers and dedicated close to 30 babies! Dang - just typing that fires me up! This is Acts 2 kind of stuff, happening right here in central, NC in 2009!
Notice the diversity of this group. Notice the joy of the Lord on their faces. Each individual represents a person for whom God died and rose again! Each individual represents a life truly and recently changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
I still remember my baptism! When fully grasped, it is an event that forever marks a person.
Our culture has a tendency to be an event culture. We are encouraged to go from event to event. There is a whole discipline called "Event Marketing." The presidential campaigns of last year were run as a string of momentum building events.
Special events are important. They can mark special times for us. They can help us link the past to the future. They can solidify our memories and focus our thoughts.
However, if we live from event to event, we miss the time in between. We go from peak to peak without ever living in the valley or on the plains. Looking forward to the next event, anticipating the next big change can become addicting and a way to cope with the reality of life.
The cool thing about Baptism is that it is not just an event of the past - this Sacrament forever remains a present reality for the believer and even carries us into the future! The believers in this picture above will forever be a part of the baptized family of God! This is now a part of their identity! This event of the past will mark them in Christ all the days of their lives! I like how The Message translation puts it in Galatians 3:27:
"But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up... {Past Tense} It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise." {Present Tense}
What is the Bible saying? Your past baptism event gives certainty to your life fulfillment and God's promise/plan for you! Baptism marks us permanently keeps our vision clear of who we are in Christ, what we are becoming, and where we are heading!
I can't wait to see that plan and promise unfold in the lives of these believers! May heaven expand and the Kingdom advance through these believers baptized into Christ!
It is actually Monday but since most of you are sleeping away, like normal people, I will still call this Sunday Night Download. It is 3:30 am and I am wide awake. We came home from a very long day at the church and all crashed at 9 pm. As such, I slept really hard and popped up at 3 am. I don't like when that happens, but it does give me some really nice quiet time. The house is so quiet and the world is sleeping - kind of nice! Here are a few left-over thoughts from Sunday at newhope.
I can't believe we have baptized over 120 people in 90 days at the Southpoint Campus. I would say the new baptismal pool was/is well worth it! Baptims always wreck me, which is why I am probably up at 3 am.
The unplugged version of the Creed song, "In America," was cool.
I kept hearing newhopes say today at the Party on the Patio Baptism Celebrations, "I don't know any of these people..." That is so AWESOME!! BTW - 99.9 of the newhopers are still among us - they are just harder to identify among a thousand or so others who have found newhope! How cool is that...
Our racial diversity continues to grow. I know - I know - it is not about that, but I think it is so flip'in cool that we will one day stand before Almighty God fully representing the diversity of His created order.
Loved having Pastor Steve Ellis in the house today, not to mention in the waters of Baptism with me. It was great to get him water logged on his first day at newhope. :>) Please pray for him as he leads our church in the area of Discipleship.
One Prayer starts this Sunday - it is going to be GREAT so start inviting those friends.
The video testimonies, from all of these believer baptisms, are going to be so encouraging and inspirational in the months ahead. It is a new approach and I can't wait to hear from all of these changed lives!
Still thanking God for mom's salvation. Preciate all your prayers and support.
I shared a lot this morning about the personal trials Amy Lynn and I have been going through. Again, thanks for your prayers and support.
I am planning way out these days.
The new web site launching in the fall or early 2010 is going to be AMAZING.
I hope people aren't falling through the cracks. That keeps me up at night, as well.
Gary is the bomb on the drums. The dude is too cool for school...
Happy Fourth of July people! :>) This is a great weekend. I hope you enjoy with family and/or friends. As you do, here are some powerful quotes as you celebrate:
Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics."
- George Washington's Farewell Address to Nation
"America was established not to create wealth but to realize a vision, to realize an ideal - to discover and maintain liberty among men."
-Woodrow Wilson
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not but religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
- Patrick Henry
"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel."
-Benjamin Franklin (From the debates at the Constitutional Convention, June of 1787)
"I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
- French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
- 2 Chronicles 7:14
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
- Proverbs 14:34
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people... it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other..."
- John Quincy Adams
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
- George Washington
"The choice before us is plain: Christ or chaos, conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration. I am rather tired of hearing about our rights and privileges as American citizens. The time is come - it is now - when we ought to hear about the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship. America's future depends upon her accepting and demonstrating God's government."
- Peter Marshall
"Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."
- Pope John Paul II
"Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."
- John Adams
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
- Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of Liberty."
- President John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Friday, January 20, 1961
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility I welcome it."
- John F. Kennedy
"Freedom is the last, best hope of earth."
- Abraham Lincoln
"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'"
- Martin Luther King, Jr. (From his "I Have a Dream speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963)
"Patriotism is not so much protecting the land of our fathers as preserving the land of our children."
- Jose Ortega Y Gasset
"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
- Thomas Paine
"I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."
- Patrick Henry
"The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself."
- Benjamin Franklin
"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- 1 Timothy 2:1-4
"In reading over the Constitutions of all fifty of our states, I discovered something which some of you may not know: there is in all fifty, without exception, an appeal or a prayer to the Almighty God of the universe. Through all fifty state Constitutions, without exception, there runs this same appeal and reference to God who is the Creator of our liberties and the preserver of our freedoms."
- D. James Kennedy
"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster."
- General Douglas MacArthur
"I speak as a man of the world to men of the world; and I say to you, search the Scriptures! The Bible is the book of all others, to be read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life; not to be read once or twice or thrice through, and then laid aside, but to be read in small portions of one of two chapters every day, and never to be intermitted, unless by some overruling necessity."
- John Quincy Adams
Here are a couple of random facts you might also like and hopefully find educational/edifying:
"My County, Tis of Thee" was written by a Baptist minister, Samuel Francis Smith.
"The Pledge of Allegience" was written in 1892 by a Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy.
The words "In God We Trust" are traced to the efforts of Rev. W.R. Watkinson.
Rev. John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Almighty God, thank you for this great land. We are so grateful. Bless us, Lord God, that we might be a blessing to those on this land and those afar. Send forth revival and stir the hearts of politicians, pastors, civil leaders, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, that together we might lift high the name of Jesus. Bring forth your peace and power that the world might look to the church to light the way of justice and salvation. We pray in the matchless name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen.
Our team tries to get away every quarter or so to study, pray, focus on the season ahead, and strategically plan for the future. Our next off-site retreat is tomorrow! I love this team and always enjoy getting away with them. Tomorrow, we will meet at my house at 9 am and work until 5 pm. We would love to have you pray for us. Here is agenda and outline for the day:
Ministry Center Team Retreat Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 9 am – 5 pm
1. Morning Devotional
2. Game – Whoonu
3. The High Impact of Large Churches!
4. Calendar Planning
5. Operations
6. Lunch from Mediterranean Deli
7. University Vibe Discipleship Classes
8. Calendar Planning and Missional Initiatives
9. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Part IV – Traction)
10. Surprise Excursion – 2:15 pm
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…11It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4)
