Community Bible Experience trailer

Community Bible Experience

Community Bible Experience

IN THE MIDDLE

The space in the middle of Christ the Creator and Christ the Re-creator is the cross. We can bring all the parts of us (the good, the bad and the lego mess) to the foot of the cross.  In the middle, at the cross, is a free and protected space (peace) for you, your neighbor, your friends and your family to begin the journey of being reconciled (made right) to God and to others.  In the middle, at the cross, is the beginning of the death and resurrection that bring us hope in the restoration of our brokenness right now and hope in the future when all things are fully restored.   In the middle, at the cross, is the beginning of the journey of reconciliation.  In the middle, at the cross, we are each given the role of reconciler as we faithfully step towards the foot of the cross.   

 “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Col.1:19-20 NIV84)

listen to last weeks sermon:  www.wabashfriends.org/uploads/7/9/2/7/7927551/wfc_08-26-12.mp3

Join us this Sunday as Dan Burnham, our new Discipleship and Outreach Pastor, teaches on his life verse.  Read Hebrews 4:14-16 in preparation for Sunday.

We can't stay here!

I have wrestled with the fight going on inside of me, with all my broken parts, for far too long.  When this fight is raging inside, there is no capacity for much of anything outside of me.  What a horrible way to live.  I miss out on the very things that bring true life because I am consumed with the brokenness going on inside my heart.

You know the feeling, right?  Are you OK with this? Can these broken parts be mended and better yet used for God’s greater plan and purpose for us? Reconciliation (things being made right or being restored) is possible through Christ and His Church, but we must first come to a place in our lives where we know that we can’t stay here.

The RX will always be relationship with God and others. We are diving into the reconciliation that Christ calls us to with others. Think about the last time one of your relationships got better.  Why did it get better? 

Read Luke 4:16-21 in prep for Sunday. 

Don’t forget to check out the Ministry Fair on Sunday.  I am very excited about the Community Bible Experience.  http://www.biblica.com/cbe/

See you Sunday,

Alex

What were we standing for?

 Two weeks ago, I asked for you to stand with me as WFC takes next steps in being willing to GO to the dark places with Christ’s mission of reconciliation.  I was obviously fired up, and you responded by standing beside me.  There were over 100 of you who stood with me in all three services.  What specifically were we standing for? I would love to hear why you stood on that Sunday two weeks ago.    I hope to lay out the specifics for our next steps in a four-week series called We Got Game.

This series focuses on the ministry of reconciliation with God, our self, others and creation.  What does it mean to take on the role of reconciler?  Who are we as representatives or ambassadors of the Messiah? This role is key to our next steps as a church.  Read 2 Corinthians 5:14 – 6:2 in preparation for Sunday.

One specific step you can take is to get involved in a grow group elective that I will be co-teaching with Eric Dale. This Grow Group starts on Sunday, August 12th at 9:15 a.m. It springs off of the current sermon series and is called “Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?”

Jump in the well

How have you made intentional steps toward understanding or attuning to your family relationships this week?  Maybe it was sitting around the table, taking a walk or making a phone call.  Come prepared to talk about this on Sunday as we come to the table of the Family of God.  You can also email me with your story.   


I love the image of jumping in the well with that person in your life that needs to be understood. “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5 (NIV84)  This jumping in the well with one another as the Family of God is the process that brings unity and understanding to the generations around the table.  “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Eph. 4:1-6 (NIV84)   


Prime the Pump 
Read Acts 2:37-47 in preparation for Sunday.  We will be talking about the fullness of salvation and the Family of God.  How did you come to the decision to follow Jesus?  Remembering back to that time in your life, what was significant about that decision?