Blog Archives

"R.S.V.P

1/29/2017

Acts 2:41-47

Evangelism- spreading the good news
The most serious of mistakes: failing to respond to Christ knocking on the door of your heart.
People respond if when they are attracted to what they are invited to.
The most attractive thing we have to offer is Jesus.
Christians should be like magnets for Christ.

1. For the Church to be able to attract people to the Lord, we must first of all get close to them.
No one can help but be attracted by the story of a changed life.

2. Our invitation must be extended to our neighborhood.
It is not our goal to trade sheep with other flocks.
There will be a gap between the time new believers come to the Lord and when they are able to take on responsibilities that require spiritual maturity.
Our task may be to not only invite, but to send out.

"EVERYTHING IN COMMON"

1/22/2017

Acts 2: 42-47

To have fellowship is to share something in common with someone.
Christian fellowship must stand out from any other kind of fellowship.

Uniqueness of Christian fellowship
1. Fellowship is something to which you must devote yourself. (vs. 42)
Being devoted to something means that it takes priority in your life.

2. Fellowship requires the involvement of all. ( vs. 43-44)
Unity is not the same as unanimity.
Unity gets dissolved when you lose your shared purpose.

3. Fellowship always involved and required sharing. (vs. 45-46)
a. sharing material possessions
b. spiritual level- sharing Christ

4. Fellowship results in
(a) vulnerability -sometimes you are going to get burned
(b) accountability- we are responsible to and for one another

"ADMINISTERING GOD'S GRACE"

1/15/2017

I Peter 4:7-11

The ministry of a church is the outward evidence that a church is really alive.
Ephesians 4:12- basic purpose of the church is to prepare God's people for works of service.
Every believer should consider himself a minister.
key word in our purpose statement- “reaching”
must be willing to move, to serve and to stretch.

How to find your place of ministry

Plug into something the church is already doing.
Start a ministry we are not currently doing.

Essentials for ministry

(vs. 7) Vision, leadership and prayer
(vs. 8) Ministry demands forgiveness.
(vs. 9) Ministry is a privilege, not a benevolence.
(vs. 10) Ministry requires the use of spiritual gifts
a. evaluate your abilities
b. evaluate your personality
c. evaluate your passion
d. evaluate your experiences
(vs. 11) Ministry brings glory to God.

"WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?"

1/8/2017

Romans 15:5-13

Symbol for health and productivity- a fruitful tree (John 15:4)
If a tree is planted by the water, it will be prosperous. (Psalm 1)

Why should we want to be productive? John 15:8- “this is to my Father's glory.”

Everything that happens in this church should be for the expressed purpose of glorifying God and bearing fruit for His kingdom.
vs.7- If we cannot accept one another, we cannot bring praise to God.
Worship
(vs.9-12) It was the plan of God that Jews and Gentiles worship Him together.
To have the kind of worship in Romans 15, there needed to be a blending of cultures.

Worship in spirit- sincerity of heart
Worship in truth- focusing on the totality of Scriptures.

We must never compromise one for the other.

"LEAPING THROUGH THE YEAR"

1/1/2017

Psalms 55:16-22

Hurdles of the Christian Race
The important thing is to get back up.

1. Destructive Mental Attitude (vs. 2-5)
These thoughts only serve to immobilize you.

2. Determined Enemies (10-11)
Everyone has someone in their life who wants to see them fall.

3. Disloyal Friends (12-14)
The closer the friendship, the greater the chances for feelings of betrayal.

4. Desire to Escape (6-8)
If you're focused on running, you're not focuses on the job God has called you to do.

Promises to Clear the Hurdles
1. Talk to God and He will hear you. (17)

2. Cast your cares on Him, and He will
sustain you. (22)

3. Trust in God, and He will save you.
(16, 23b)