Current Series - Shift

Reaching your Fullest Redemptive Potential 

Isolated > Connecting

Judged > Accepting

Despaired > Hoping

Controlled > Surrendering

Discontented > Refreshing

Fixed > Attuning

Consumed > Restoring

45,500

So if we put it all together, we have about 350 New Testament books out there in your hands for this Community Bible Experience.  If, on average, each person read about half the chapters, collectively we have read somewhere in the neighborhood of 45,500 chapters in the last 8 weeks.  That is like 5 years of scripture engagement in two months.  Congratulations!  Keep digging into the scripture while in relationship.  It’s a prescription for spiritual dryness.

This week we have the opportunity to hear Dr. George Murray from Columbia International University speak.  He is going to wrap up the New Testament for us while digging into chapter 22 of Revelation … “I am coming soon.”  Dr. Murray assumed the chancellorship of Columbia International University in July 2007. Prior to that, he was president of the university from 2000-2007. As CIU’s chancellor, Dr. Murray travels the world preaching and teaching, recruiting students, and working with major donors and alumni.  I hope you can join us as we wrap up the Community Bible Experience.

As you come this Sunday, continue in the spirit of celebration.  Be prepared to share what you have learned from this Community Bible Experience.  Let the church know how you have grown.  Feel free to shoot me an email about your experience … I would love to know.

Finish Strong

Two more weeks of reading through the NT.  Keep at it and don't give up.  Skip ahead if you need to.  Engaging scripture in relationship is the prescription for spiritual dryness.

This week I am preaching from the first chapter of James about trials and temptations.  Key in on James 1:13-18.  As you read, think about what gives life and what gives death.  I want more life and I think James gives us something to chew on.

See you Sunday 

Borrow Some Hope

We are officially into week 5 of the Community Bible Experience!  This is a lot of reading, and I can imagine it is a bit much for many of you. I am not a reader, so you can borrow some hope from me to keep you moving forward.  You can do it!

The bottom line is:

Engaging the scriptures in relationship is the prescription for spiritual dryness. 

It is a secondary goal to make it through the NT in 8 weeks.  There is permission to skip ahead.  You don’t have to catch up right now!  Skip ahead and start reading Matthew.  God will transform our lives as we feed on his word and connect with His people.  Keep going to your group even if you are behind in your reading.  Every week is a new week. Let’s finish strong!

This week’s sermon is going to tackle Matthew 17:20.  Faith is a tough topic any way you look at it.  Some people seem to have an abundance of faith, and some only wish they could have mustard seed sized faith.  We find this struggle in the scriptures just as we find the struggle today.  Join us as we explore faith.

Excited to share

Have you ever been excited to share something of significance with other people you care about?  Maybe you had a funny story, an intense experience or a passion discovered.  As a pastor, I get to introduce you to great ideas, teachings and people that help us build the kingdom of God.  This Sunday I get to introduce you to the pastor that married my wife and me. He and his wife will be preaching on building faith into marriage.  They have invested a lot into my marriage, so I hope they can do the same for you.  Even if you are not married, I think the principles will translate into your life. 

How is the reading coming?  Are you behind? Remember this………

• ·      Read what you can.
• ·      Read something everyday.
• ·      Always have your copy with you.
• ·      Every week is a new week.

We will get through this together.  As you are reading, I want to introduce a new question.  How might what you are reading change the way you live life?

If you are having a hard time getting the audio try this link.

http://www.adabible.org/media_player/?series_id=156&channel_id=33

Wasn't that great!

Last week was a blast!  I don’t know about you, but I had an extra jump in my step after Brian McSee and the choir led us in worship on Sunday.  It is good to get a dose of soul every now and then. 

On another note, we are in week three in the Community Bible Experience!  Our reports from you have been full of energy with a new excitement toward the scriptures.  Keep carving out time daily to read even if you are behind.  A new discipline like this is hard to do but really good for your relationship with God and others.

I was behind a few days and needed to catch up.  I used the audio while reading along in my book to get caught up.  I was still reading and underlining, but I didn’t have to stop my forward progress while reading.  I also felt I could engage for longer periods of time. 

This week our Discipleship and Outreach Pastor will bring us a message from Galatians, which is our reading for today, Day 14! 

Keep at it!

If you are reading along with us through the New Testament you should be ending the book of Acts.  It is often hard to begin a routine from scratch.  So don't worry if you are behind in your reading.  You have the next two days to catch up!  This challenge is worth it!  It is God's Word and it is the powerful story of the gospel.  So KEEP AT IT!!!!!

As you finish Acts pay attention to the very end.  What is missing?  What part of the story are you wishing Luke would have told you?  This Sunday we hope to answer the question of why Luke ended the book of Acts the way he did and what we can learn from it.

Join us Sunday for more Community Bible Experience and some black Gospel singing with Brian McSee and choir.  If you want to participate in the choir, come tomorrow morning to the church at 9:00am sharp.

See you Sunday.