Where I Messed Up!
by Mark Crews | September 21, 2011
I have always been an advocate of parents taking responsibility for the spiritual condition of their children. By that, I simply mean that the most important role a parent has is to see that their child has a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
For me and Robyn, from the time our kids were born, we have attempted to speak into their lives and influence them to make a decision for themselves to follow Jesus. For Hannah, that decision came quick. In fact, we delayed Hannah time and time again until we were confident she clearly understood the decision she was making.
For Clay, even though he made a decision to follow Jesus at an early age (by the age of eight), it seemed as if he had no spiritual interest at all. In fact, Clay’s only interest has long been two things – playing and sports. Now you could add girls to that list, but Clay did finally make the decision to follow Jesus too.
So now our kids have a personal relationship with Jesus. Our next responsibility was to build into them spiritual disciplines that will afford them every opportunity to grow in their relationship with God.
Prayer √ Since infants, every night we tucked our kids into bed, talked with them, prayed for them, gave them an opportunity to pray.
Church √ I could count on two hands the number of times our children have missed church since they were old enough to attend, including special events. (PS – parents, the worse form of punishment you can put on your children is to punish them by not allowing them to attend church or church events where they have an opportunity to connect with God. Why would you keep a child from a spiritual encounter if the greatest responsibility as a parent is to see that they have a personal relationship with God?)
Tithing √ I remember my grandparents talking about giving money or tithing in terms of dimes and quarters. While those were probably good times, our current culture makes teaching our children to tithe easy. For every $10 you get, you give $1 back to God. In fact, this is the same principle I teach adults about how to handle finances. For every $10 you get, you first give $1 back to God and you save $1 and you live on the rest. My kids could probably vomit the formula back to you. Do they always do it? At seventeen and fourteen, I have allowed them to be accountable for that themselves, but every time they get a pay check or earn money Robyn and I remind them, “Don’t forget to tithe.”
Sharing your faith √ It is a difficult path a child traverses once they become a follower of Jesus and still survive among their peers. Hannah and Clay have always exhibited huge hearts for others, but something happens in the teenage years, and even kids who know Jesus get caught up in the gossip and slander. When that happens people begin to question the “integrity” of the child's relationship with Jesus. While Hannah and Clay have had a great impact in our neighborhood to bring their friends to Christ and to engage them in church, the lesson they have had to learn the hard way is “it only take one word, one conversation, one argument unwisely spoken to destroy your testimony before others for a lifetime.”
It seems like I’m forgetting a spiritual discipline. Prayer, church, tithing, sharing your faith… Oh yeah, reading the Bible. I suppose I should put that in my little list of disciplines. Let me recap…
Prayer √
Church √
Tithing √
Sharing your faith √
Bible FAIL, 0, GOOSE EGG, NADA, ZILCH
Now before you begin to console me and say things like:
“Mark, you and Robyn and have done a wonderful job raising Hannah and Clay.”
“Mark, look at all you HAVE taught your kids.”
“Mark, every parent makes mistakes.”
STOP! I messed up! There is no excuse for my slackness and let me emphasize MY SLACKNESS. God has called me, as the husband and father of my family, to be the spiritual leader. So it was my slackness that led to this truly epic fail and me having to say to my wife and my kids, “I’m sorry that I have not led you to connect with God through His Word.”
It is not that my kids don’t have a Bible. It’s not that we don’t have spiritual conversations. It is simply that I have never said to my son or daughter, “Here is how you read God’s Word.” Do my kids understand the importance of reading their Bible? I’m sure they do. As parents we say remember to read your Bible. Our kids see Robyn and I read our Bibles. Probably every day or most every day my kids see me with my Bible and my journal but never once have I said, “Hey, why don’t you join me and let’s read together.” The greatest asset of the Christian faith and I have withheld it from my kids. It is as if I’ve given my kids a brand new bike (or in Hannah’s case, a brand new car) and not provided them with instruction on how to put it together (or in Hannah’s case, I gave her the car and no key). So I can continue to sit here and belittle myself as a parent (which is not necessary, my kids can do that at some point in the future when they don’t like a decision I give them), or I can decide to do something about it. And do something about it is what I did.
I don’t know how long, but for years I have used a Bible reading and journaling process called SOAP. I discovered that what I thought was unique to me was actually something that pastor and author Wayne Corderio created as part of his Life Journal and he writes about it in his book, The Divine Mentor. I received the book as a reading assignment this past February, and it is the kind of book you devour in a couple of sittings. I discovered that I was SOAP'er when SOAP'ing wasn’t cool (that’s a reference to old country western song, please disregard as I am NOT a country western fan). Maybe it was through a Billy Graham “How to Disciple” class or something I picked up in school, but I read the Bible with SOAP in mind.
S- Scripture= What one, particular text or verse stands out to you?
O- Observations= What do you observe from the text? Who says it? Who was it addressed to? What was the situation?
A- Application= What plan can I follow to include this principle or idea in my life?
P- Prayer= Write out a short prayer to God asking Him to use this and help you apply this to your life.
Read the book! Read the book! READ THE BOOK! It not the Bible but it can be a life changing manuscript because it gives a most simplistic way to read and understand the Bible.
So I gave Robyn the book two months ago (my small group is currently going through the book and I am discipling two elders through the book), and she can’t stop talking about it. We decided we have to teach our kids to SOAP. So we resolved to SOAP once a week as a family.
Did I mention it’s never too late? If I didn’t let me say it here. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE to start building into your children. Last night, for the first time ever, we sat down together as a family, and after I apologized for being a poor leader, I explained to my kids that I wanted them to learn how to SOAP. So on their own, with a journal and their Bibles, we all SOAP’ed through Matthew 6 and then shared our SOAP. It was amazing. My kids aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination (and it would be a deforming stretch) but they get it. They get God, and they get the need for this discipline in their lives. I couldn’t believe their insight and application. I couldn’t believe their honesty and transparency (which shouldn't be hard for me because if my kids are anything they are honest and transparent. By that I mean they will tell you what they think and how they feel).
I only have about 22 months left with Hannah being at home and with Clay about four years, but I’m going to make them count, and I’m going to give the last little piece of what I believe they need to help them stay strong in their faith and relationship with Jesus. I am going to teach them how to SOAP through God’s Word and truly connect with Him. It’s what God wants for them, it’s what I want them to do in the future with their children. It’s the legacy that I can pass on to them that I hope and pray will not be the place they fail as I have.
If you want to know more about SOAP or Wayne Corderio’s book, The Divine Mentor, email me at mark@golifeway.com.
Reflections
by Mark Crews | October 24, 2010
Ok, ok, ok. I know I missed my blog post last week and it’s Tuesday already. There is just a lot fighting for my attention as we get ready for a new series and look toward the future.
So I have just wrapped up a full Monday of Leadership Development preparing for a leadership meeting next Monday night and I spent this morning working through the Scripture, layout, graphic designs, and some music ideas for the new series that starts in November. I always get excited when we get to the end of a series because I’m already into the next series and looking for the most creative ways to communicate the text. That being said, I am super pumped about the new series and all that it communicates. I will drop the series information and introduction in at the end of today’s blog but just know if you want to be in tune with what God is all about, you don’t need to miss a Sunday in November. It’s going to be a blast.
Now, a few thoughts from the last two weekends.
Week 2: In Is Better Than With
We are constantly reinventing ourselves to give the impression that we are followers of Jesus but no matter what external changes we make, the only way to be a follower of Jesus is to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. No external change we make will ever compare to what the Holy Spirit can do when He comes to indwell (reside) in us.
• The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus.
• There was a huge difference in the disciples’ lives and ministry from when the Holy Spirit was with them to when they were indwelled by the Holy Spirit (in them).
• Nicodemus recognized Jesus as someone whom God was with when in fact Jesus was God and the Spirit of God was in Jesus.
• Jesus explained to Nicodemus that you don’t get into a right relationship with Jesus by living a better life, you get into a right relationship with Jesus by the Holy Spirit bringing new life into you.
• The external changes we put ourselves through to give the impression that we’re spiritual or we’re followers of Jesus are:
- Being deeply spiritual
- Going to church
- Behaving “good”
- Using spiritual jargon
• The real transformation happens when we:
- Turn from our sins and control of our lives
- Surrender to Jesus as Savior and LORD
- We allow the transformation to occur form the inside out.
Week 3: Filled
The frustration of every “new” Christian is turning their life over to Jesus and expecting everything to change. Then that “new” Christian, with all the determination and resolve, they can muster, attempts to change the habits of their life. Only to discover that they:
• Keep doing what they’ve always done.
• Keep being who they have always been.
• Keep going where they have always gone.
• Keep saying what they’ve always said.
• Keep thinking what they’ve always thought.
Eventually, all of us, out of frustration and doubt that we ever had a real relationship with Jesus, decide either we were never Christians and resort back to our old way of life or we fake our Christian life by doing all the right things:
• Say the right words.
• Go to church.
• Talk about God with people that we presume are “Godly” people.
The problem is we are taking it upon ourselves to bring the necessary change in our lives that comes when we are controlled by the Holy Spirit continually and completely.
The Apostle Paul gives us four roles that we have as followers of Jesus, none of which we can do in and through our best efforts and determination:
• Live a life worthy of being a follower of Jesus (Ephesians 4:1)
• Put off the old way of life and put on the new (Ephesians 4:17-24)
• Imitate God (Mimic God) (Ephesians 5:1)
• Live as children of the Light (Ephesians 5:8-14)
• When you close your mind to God, God closes your heart toward Him. (Ephesians 4:17-19)
• How could we possibly be all those things that Paul talks about? Ephesians 5:18 tells us – Be filled with the Spirit.
• Be filled with the Spirit actually means that are to “be being filled” which is a constant and repetitive action.
• Paul’s comparison of being filled with the Spirit as opposed to being drunk with wine, is a comparison of controls. Whatever fills us is what controls us.
• When the Holy Spirit fills us, He has the controlling interest in our lives.
• Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean we get more of the Spirit, it means the Spirit gets more of us as we surrender more and more areas of our life to His control.
• Our problem is we are so full of ourselves there is no room for the Holy Spirit.
• To be filled with the Holy Spirit you must be totally surrendered and totally dependent.
So, there you have two weeks of reflections. As I have stated throughout this series, the Holy Spirit is a vast topic and there is some much misunderstood and so much that no one yet understands. To think we have a handle on the Holy Spirit is an arrogant claim. My prayer is that we would simply allow Him to do His work in our lives in a very powerful, very real way in order for us to point others to Jesus and to grow His kingdom.
So I have just wrapped up a full Monday of Leadership Development preparing for a leadership meeting next Monday night and I spent this morning working through the Scripture, layout, graphic designs, and some music ideas for the new series that starts in November. I always get excited when we get to the end of a series because I’m already into the next series and looking for the most creative ways to communicate the text. That being said, I am super pumped about the new series and all that it communicates. I will drop the series information and introduction in at the end of today’s blog but just know if you want to be in tune with what God is all about, you don’t need to miss a Sunday in November. It’s going to be a blast.
Now, a few thoughts from the last two weekends.
Week 2: In Is Better Than With
We are constantly reinventing ourselves to give the impression that we are followers of Jesus but no matter what external changes we make, the only way to be a follower of Jesus is to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. No external change we make will ever compare to what the Holy Spirit can do when He comes to indwell (reside) in us.
• The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus.
• There was a huge difference in the disciples’ lives and ministry from when the Holy Spirit was with them to when they were indwelled by the Holy Spirit (in them).
• Nicodemus recognized Jesus as someone whom God was with when in fact Jesus was God and the Spirit of God was in Jesus.
• Jesus explained to Nicodemus that you don’t get into a right relationship with Jesus by living a better life, you get into a right relationship with Jesus by the Holy Spirit bringing new life into you.
• The external changes we put ourselves through to give the impression that we’re spiritual or we’re followers of Jesus are:
- Being deeply spiritual
- Going to church
- Behaving “good”
- Using spiritual jargon
• The real transformation happens when we:
- Turn from our sins and control of our lives
- Surrender to Jesus as Savior and LORD
- We allow the transformation to occur form the inside out.
Week 3: Filled
The frustration of every “new” Christian is turning their life over to Jesus and expecting everything to change. Then that “new” Christian, with all the determination and resolve, they can muster, attempts to change the habits of their life. Only to discover that they:
• Keep doing what they’ve always done.
• Keep being who they have always been.
• Keep going where they have always gone.
• Keep saying what they’ve always said.
• Keep thinking what they’ve always thought.
Eventually, all of us, out of frustration and doubt that we ever had a real relationship with Jesus, decide either we were never Christians and resort back to our old way of life or we fake our Christian life by doing all the right things:
• Say the right words.
• Go to church.
• Talk about God with people that we presume are “Godly” people.
The problem is we are taking it upon ourselves to bring the necessary change in our lives that comes when we are controlled by the Holy Spirit continually and completely.
The Apostle Paul gives us four roles that we have as followers of Jesus, none of which we can do in and through our best efforts and determination:
• Live a life worthy of being a follower of Jesus (Ephesians 4:1)
• Put off the old way of life and put on the new (Ephesians 4:17-24)
• Imitate God (Mimic God) (Ephesians 5:1)
• Live as children of the Light (Ephesians 5:8-14)
• When you close your mind to God, God closes your heart toward Him. (Ephesians 4:17-19)
• How could we possibly be all those things that Paul talks about? Ephesians 5:18 tells us – Be filled with the Spirit.
• Be filled with the Spirit actually means that are to “be being filled” which is a constant and repetitive action.
• Paul’s comparison of being filled with the Spirit as opposed to being drunk with wine, is a comparison of controls. Whatever fills us is what controls us.
• When the Holy Spirit fills us, He has the controlling interest in our lives.
• Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean we get more of the Spirit, it means the Spirit gets more of us as we surrender more and more areas of our life to His control.
• Our problem is we are so full of ourselves there is no room for the Holy Spirit.
• To be filled with the Holy Spirit you must be totally surrendered and totally dependent.
So, there you have two weeks of reflections. As I have stated throughout this series, the Holy Spirit is a vast topic and there is some much misunderstood and so much that no one yet understands. To think we have a handle on the Holy Spirit is an arrogant claim. My prayer is that we would simply allow Him to do His work in our lives in a very powerful, very real way in order for us to point others to Jesus and to grow His kingdom.
New Series Beginning in November!
Sometimes it seems as if every news report and even many sermons are all about what "Christians" are against. Worse still, if you believe all that you hear and read, you might get the impression that "Christians" are against everything! But is that really the case? Sadly it may be true that some believers have come to define themselves based on what they are against. But what we are against doesn't give us a positive direction to guide us forward, only a point of origin to run away from with no destination in mind. Wouldn't it be better for Christ-followers to discover and define ourselves based on what Jesus is "For"? Join us this November as we do just that.
October 10, 2010
by Mark Crews | October 15, 2010
I apologize for the lateness in this post but I left Sunday afternoon for a two-day planning retreat with our network of pastors as we look to December and beyond to see what God wants us to say to us.
I can’t tell you how much I wanted to write Sunday afternoon because I was afraid I would lose sight of what the Holy Spirit is doing in so many lives and our church. I know that He is still working and moving but my concern was whether or not I would be sensitive enough to see it and acknowledge it.
All I can say is that God’s continued to be fresh and very real as I went into the planning retreat. Sunday night, sitting around a camp fire, I got to share that with seven other pastors and staff members from our network churches and I got to listen to how God is moving in their lives and their churches. It was a great time of sharing and praying for one another. Then God moved Monday as we started early and worked late into the night. By lunchtime Monday we had more than a half dozen new series ideas and by dinner we had explored the life of Jacob and the book of Jonah in great detail. After dinner, we went back to our work area and started laying out this Sunday’s message and it became very clear that God has something huge to say to you and me this Sunday. I am still trying to wrap myself around it all but let me be very clear, I am praying for God to challenge us all and for the Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of those who have made it their life’s pursuit to appear to be followers of Jesus but their hearts have never been changed. We’re going to do something different things Sunday, things we’ve never done before at Life Way and I hope you will being praying now for those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus and that you will bring your friends and family members who need a real, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If I say anymore now I might end up delivering my talk through the blog so I’ll stop but please join me in praying for those who pretend to know Jesus and those who don’t know Jesus at all. This Sunday could make all the difference in both their life here on earth and in the life that is to come.
Now, let me give a few reflective thoughts to this past Sunday. There is no doubt in my mind that God was moving and that His Spirit was speaking to people. I know that we teeter on the edge of a movement of God that will change us, change our families and create a culture in our community that reflects the heart of God.
So, here are a few reflections:
• The Holy Spirit stirs up fear and controversy for most people due to ignorance or a poor understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and what His role is in our lives.
• We have lost our ability to hear and be guided by the Holy Spirit and we certainly don’t experience the miraculous movement of the Holy Spirit.
• We, both individually and as the church, have lost the culture changing, history making, life-altering, God sized impact that we read about in the Bible.
• Because of our ignorance or fear of the Holy Spirit we have resorted to a dependence on ourselves, our methods, our best thinking, and our own resources to live the best life we can and hope that it’s acceptable to God.
• We have forgotten the Holy Spirit.
• When Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit He speaks of One who gets up in our grill and helps us live life as God intends us to live life.
• Jesus said that the Holy Spirit primary function is to always point people to Jesus. The Holy Spirit:
- reminds us of what Jesus said.
- testifies about Jesus.
- convicts us of our guilt by revealing our sinfulness in light of Jesus’ righteousness and perfection.
- brings glory to Jesus.
John 14-16
• Jesus said because He went back to the Father that we could have a greater impact on the world than He ever did. Our greatest examples of that is Paul and, more recently, men like Billy Graham.
• Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would empower us to do things we can’t do on our own.
• The Holy Spirit is still powerfully working to bring people to Jesus.
• Jesus has promised us that power so where is that power and why are we not seeing the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and that kind of impact in our church, family, community and the world.
• We are living in the knowledge of the resurrection of Jesus but we’re not living in the power of the Holy Spirit that came as a result of Jesus returning to Heaven.
I am realizing as I complete this post that I cannot capture with words the power that the Holy Spirit brings to our lives and the difference that He wants to make in our lives. The Holy Spirit does always point to Jesus and His desire is to change our lives to reflect Jesus and to point people through us to Jesus.
I can’t tell you how much I wanted to write Sunday afternoon because I was afraid I would lose sight of what the Holy Spirit is doing in so many lives and our church. I know that He is still working and moving but my concern was whether or not I would be sensitive enough to see it and acknowledge it.
All I can say is that God’s continued to be fresh and very real as I went into the planning retreat. Sunday night, sitting around a camp fire, I got to share that with seven other pastors and staff members from our network churches and I got to listen to how God is moving in their lives and their churches. It was a great time of sharing and praying for one another. Then God moved Monday as we started early and worked late into the night. By lunchtime Monday we had more than a half dozen new series ideas and by dinner we had explored the life of Jacob and the book of Jonah in great detail. After dinner, we went back to our work area and started laying out this Sunday’s message and it became very clear that God has something huge to say to you and me this Sunday. I am still trying to wrap myself around it all but let me be very clear, I am praying for God to challenge us all and for the Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of those who have made it their life’s pursuit to appear to be followers of Jesus but their hearts have never been changed. We’re going to do something different things Sunday, things we’ve never done before at Life Way and I hope you will being praying now for those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus and that you will bring your friends and family members who need a real, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If I say anymore now I might end up delivering my talk through the blog so I’ll stop but please join me in praying for those who pretend to know Jesus and those who don’t know Jesus at all. This Sunday could make all the difference in both their life here on earth and in the life that is to come.
Now, let me give a few reflective thoughts to this past Sunday. There is no doubt in my mind that God was moving and that His Spirit was speaking to people. I know that we teeter on the edge of a movement of God that will change us, change our families and create a culture in our community that reflects the heart of God.
So, here are a few reflections:
• The Holy Spirit stirs up fear and controversy for most people due to ignorance or a poor understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and what His role is in our lives.
• We have lost our ability to hear and be guided by the Holy Spirit and we certainly don’t experience the miraculous movement of the Holy Spirit.
• We, both individually and as the church, have lost the culture changing, history making, life-altering, God sized impact that we read about in the Bible.
• Because of our ignorance or fear of the Holy Spirit we have resorted to a dependence on ourselves, our methods, our best thinking, and our own resources to live the best life we can and hope that it’s acceptable to God.
• We have forgotten the Holy Spirit.
• When Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit He speaks of One who gets up in our grill and helps us live life as God intends us to live life.
• Jesus said that the Holy Spirit primary function is to always point people to Jesus. The Holy Spirit:
- reminds us of what Jesus said.
- testifies about Jesus.
- convicts us of our guilt by revealing our sinfulness in light of Jesus’ righteousness and perfection.
- brings glory to Jesus.
John 14-16
• Jesus said because He went back to the Father that we could have a greater impact on the world than He ever did. Our greatest examples of that is Paul and, more recently, men like Billy Graham.
• Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would empower us to do things we can’t do on our own.
• The Holy Spirit is still powerfully working to bring people to Jesus.
• Jesus has promised us that power so where is that power and why are we not seeing the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and that kind of impact in our church, family, community and the world.
• We are living in the knowledge of the resurrection of Jesus but we’re not living in the power of the Holy Spirit that came as a result of Jesus returning to Heaven.
I am realizing as I complete this post that I cannot capture with words the power that the Holy Spirit brings to our lives and the difference that He wants to make in our lives. The Holy Spirit does always point to Jesus and His desire is to change our lives to reflect Jesus and to point people through us to Jesus.
Monday Morning Reflections
by Mark Crews | October 3, 2010
Man, this might be the hardest day I’ve had reflecting on Sunday and what God has done. I suppose I should have written this post yesterday afternoon or even right after KidzLife Live last night but I waited too late.
The one thing I can promise you about my post is that I will never hide my excitement, my concerns, or even my moments of despair. And honestly, this morning I find myself a mixed bag of all three.
Yesterday was an incredible day and I am so confident in what God is giving me to speak every Sunday that I just can’t wait to take the stage. Sorry first service, it took that service for me to get my thoughts out clearly, second service, you got the clearest picture of what God had for us yesterday and fortunately we recorded both. The first service recording will probably disappear and the second service will be posted to the web later today or tomorrow.
I will give the points of yesterday’s talk at the end of this post but I can’t help but talk about what God is doing. We started a two-service format the second week of September, so we’ve had nearly a month of two services. We know it will take time to fill them both but I am super encouraged to see what God is already doing. As a quick
reminder to everyone, it’s up to you to fill this theater up every week, both services. Are you investing yourself in people and inviting them to show up? If not, what are you waiting for? God’ plan and purpose for your life is that you be a reflection of Him in this
world, which includes your worship and joining corporately with the church for worship and teaching. Notice, I said, it includes, worship and coming to church is not ALL that God wants to do in your life.
Then, I didn’t think Sunday could get any better until KidzLife Live last night. We nearly filled up the floor of the theater. We had 73 people at KidzLife Live last night and the cast and crew did an amazing job looking at the virtue: INITIATIVE – SEEING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND DOING IT. I’m telling you, if you haven’t been to KidzLife Live you are missing a great experience. I know it’s for kids but I think the adults get more out of it.
Now, before I spill out my mixed bag of emotions from yesterday, let me give you the main points of the talk.
• We assume that a loving God sends good people to hell.
• We assume that good people are supposed to go to heaven.
• We assume that we are good people, based on our comparison of goodness to those around us, and therefore we’ll get into heaven too.
• It is not God’s desire that anyone spend eternity in hell separated from Him. (2 Peter 3:9)
• God’s desire is that everyone would come to repentance by believing in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, who came to the earth to save mankind. (John 3:16-17)
• A loving God doesn’t send good people to hell, good people condemn themselves to hell when they refuse to accept and believe what Jesus had done on their behalf. (John 3:18) Maybe we should stop quoting John 3:16 until we add verses 17, 18, and 19 to give a more clear picture of how much God really does love us and what he’s done on our behalf.
• Getting into heaven is not contingent on our behavior, you can’t behave your way in. God has never established a written code of behavior that will get us eternal life. (NOPE, NOT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THEY WERE GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD).
• Jesus never said good people go to heaven. In fact, by worldly standards, His actions, conversations, and life demonstrate that bad people are more likely to go to heaven. (Religious leaders vs. The repentant thief on the cross)
• Good people don’t go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven. (1 John 1:9)
• Christianity is the fairest system of gaining eternal life:
- Everyone is welcome.
- Everyone gets in the same way.
- Everyone can meet the requirements
• All we have to do to gain eternal life is put our trust in Jesus.
• We want to confess Jesus as Lord with our mouths but we don’t want to believe in our hearts that He has truly risen from the dead, that he is really THE LORD. We don’t mind acknowledging Him but we want to trust in ourselves and what we can do to behave our way into a relationship with God.
• We must believe in Jesus by confessing with our mouths that He is Lord and living out our lives with Him in control. (Romans 10:9-10)
If there is anything that burdens me more than anything else, it is that I see a community filled with people, (some who attend Life Way) who acknowledge Jesus as Lord but their lives don’t reflect that. I am praying that God would convict the hearts of the men and women and students and children of Life Way to be completely surrendered to Him,
living every moment, making every decision out of dependence on Christ.
Now, that I’ve gotten that out, after a huge and powerful Sunday, I got word from our financial team last night that our offering yesterday was less that $900 and that we had to deplete our saving account to pay all bills. I can’t be anything but transparent and say
to you, my heart sank and I was a bit shaken.
I have spent all morning crying out to God for direction. I continue to come back to God’s words to Joshua as he prepared to cross the Jordan and conquer the inhabitants of the land God had promised the nation of Israel – Be strong and courageous! (Read the book of Joshua, it’s repeated over and over). So my prayer has been what do I say to our congregation, and I strongly feel God’s urging to be honest and transparent. So prior to writing this post, I sent an email to everyone on our mailing list. (If you didn’t get the email and you’ve been so bored that you’ve read this far in this post, you can get on
our mailing list by sending your email to lifelines@golifeway.com) But in an abbreviated way, this is what I believe God wants me to say…
When we don’t give, or we cut our giving, we are showing our lack of dependence on God and I’ve never met a person who prospered or gained from doing so. In fact, many times the outcome is the same, we want to invite God to work in our lives, we’re dependent on Him to keep us healthy, to keep our marriages together, to help us parent our children or keep our jobs, and we even ask God to bless us financially. God has given us clear direction on how to get Him involved in our finances, give a tenth of everything we receive to His kingdom’s work and then trust that He will give us everything we need with the remaining ninety percent. I know that requires big trust and faith, but we have a big God who can be trusted to do everything He has said He will do.
So, I press on, we press on, in the power of the resurrected Lord, Jesus. We will stand strong, we will refuse to give into any attack from the enemy and we will continue to do that which God has called us to do. I strongly ask that our Life Way family step up to the task, support the effort, invest yourself in others and invite them to be part of what God is doing.
The one thing I can promise you about my post is that I will never hide my excitement, my concerns, or even my moments of despair. And honestly, this morning I find myself a mixed bag of all three.
Yesterday was an incredible day and I am so confident in what God is giving me to speak every Sunday that I just can’t wait to take the stage. Sorry first service, it took that service for me to get my thoughts out clearly, second service, you got the clearest picture of what God had for us yesterday and fortunately we recorded both. The first service recording will probably disappear and the second service will be posted to the web later today or tomorrow.
I will give the points of yesterday’s talk at the end of this post but I can’t help but talk about what God is doing. We started a two-service format the second week of September, so we’ve had nearly a month of two services. We know it will take time to fill them both but I am super encouraged to see what God is already doing. As a quick
reminder to everyone, it’s up to you to fill this theater up every week, both services. Are you investing yourself in people and inviting them to show up? If not, what are you waiting for? God’ plan and purpose for your life is that you be a reflection of Him in this
world, which includes your worship and joining corporately with the church for worship and teaching. Notice, I said, it includes, worship and coming to church is not ALL that God wants to do in your life.
Then, I didn’t think Sunday could get any better until KidzLife Live last night. We nearly filled up the floor of the theater. We had 73 people at KidzLife Live last night and the cast and crew did an amazing job looking at the virtue: INITIATIVE – SEEING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND DOING IT. I’m telling you, if you haven’t been to KidzLife Live you are missing a great experience. I know it’s for kids but I think the adults get more out of it.
Now, before I spill out my mixed bag of emotions from yesterday, let me give you the main points of the talk.
• We assume that a loving God sends good people to hell.
• We assume that good people are supposed to go to heaven.
• We assume that we are good people, based on our comparison of goodness to those around us, and therefore we’ll get into heaven too.
• It is not God’s desire that anyone spend eternity in hell separated from Him. (2 Peter 3:9)
• God’s desire is that everyone would come to repentance by believing in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, who came to the earth to save mankind. (John 3:16-17)
• A loving God doesn’t send good people to hell, good people condemn themselves to hell when they refuse to accept and believe what Jesus had done on their behalf. (John 3:18) Maybe we should stop quoting John 3:16 until we add verses 17, 18, and 19 to give a more clear picture of how much God really does love us and what he’s done on our behalf.
• Getting into heaven is not contingent on our behavior, you can’t behave your way in. God has never established a written code of behavior that will get us eternal life. (NOPE, NOT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THEY WERE GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD).
• Jesus never said good people go to heaven. In fact, by worldly standards, His actions, conversations, and life demonstrate that bad people are more likely to go to heaven. (Religious leaders vs. The repentant thief on the cross)
• Good people don’t go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven. (1 John 1:9)
• Christianity is the fairest system of gaining eternal life:
- Everyone is welcome.
- Everyone gets in the same way.
- Everyone can meet the requirements
• All we have to do to gain eternal life is put our trust in Jesus.
• We want to confess Jesus as Lord with our mouths but we don’t want to believe in our hearts that He has truly risen from the dead, that he is really THE LORD. We don’t mind acknowledging Him but we want to trust in ourselves and what we can do to behave our way into a relationship with God.
• We must believe in Jesus by confessing with our mouths that He is Lord and living out our lives with Him in control. (Romans 10:9-10)
If there is anything that burdens me more than anything else, it is that I see a community filled with people, (some who attend Life Way) who acknowledge Jesus as Lord but their lives don’t reflect that. I am praying that God would convict the hearts of the men and women and students and children of Life Way to be completely surrendered to Him,
living every moment, making every decision out of dependence on Christ.
Now, that I’ve gotten that out, after a huge and powerful Sunday, I got word from our financial team last night that our offering yesterday was less that $900 and that we had to deplete our saving account to pay all bills. I can’t be anything but transparent and say
to you, my heart sank and I was a bit shaken.
I have spent all morning crying out to God for direction. I continue to come back to God’s words to Joshua as he prepared to cross the Jordan and conquer the inhabitants of the land God had promised the nation of Israel – Be strong and courageous! (Read the book of Joshua, it’s repeated over and over). So my prayer has been what do I say to our congregation, and I strongly feel God’s urging to be honest and transparent. So prior to writing this post, I sent an email to everyone on our mailing list. (If you didn’t get the email and you’ve been so bored that you’ve read this far in this post, you can get on
our mailing list by sending your email to lifelines@golifeway.com) But in an abbreviated way, this is what I believe God wants me to say…
When we don’t give, or we cut our giving, we are showing our lack of dependence on God and I’ve never met a person who prospered or gained from doing so. In fact, many times the outcome is the same, we want to invite God to work in our lives, we’re dependent on Him to keep us healthy, to keep our marriages together, to help us parent our children or keep our jobs, and we even ask God to bless us financially. God has given us clear direction on how to get Him involved in our finances, give a tenth of everything we receive to His kingdom’s work and then trust that He will give us everything we need with the remaining ninety percent. I know that requires big trust and faith, but we have a big God who can be trusted to do everything He has said He will do.
So, I press on, we press on, in the power of the resurrected Lord, Jesus. We will stand strong, we will refuse to give into any attack from the enemy and we will continue to do that which God has called us to do. I strongly ask that our Life Way family step up to the task, support the effort, invest yourself in others and invite them to be part of what God is doing.
Monday Morning Reflections
by Mark Crews | September 26, 2010
I’m so excited about what God’s doing at Life Way. I can’t wait until tomorrow to blog about it. Today was incredible, great worship and from the response so far, it seems like God was really speaking.
The first service had three visiting families and was almost as large as the second service. Come on second service attendees, step up your invitations to your friends and family. You have been given an opportunity to invest in God’s plan in the lives of others. Don’t waste that opportunity.
If you missed today, you missed a great worship set by the band, a hysterical video of epic failure and a reminder that when we get focused on ourselves and our plans, it leads to our downfall.
Here are a few thoughts from today:
• We don’t factor God into the equation of life and then we wonder why life doesn’t work out the way we planned.
• There is no such thing as coincidence, only providence.
• God is going to do what God is going to do and there is nothing you can do about it.
• Your best-laid plans, apart from God’s purpose, will be your downfall.
• We need to trade our plans for God’s purposes.
We compartmentalize our lives and put God in the part that involves church and prayer and maybe some Bible reading but we fail to factor God into everyday life and every day decisions. We invest in friendship and intimate relationships and we never consider God’s purpose in those relationships. We live out our married life and never think that God may have a purpose in our marriage. We raise our children as best we know how and forget that first, God knows better than we do how to raise our children, and secondly, did you ever consider that God has a purpose for your children’s life?
When Hannah was eight and Clay was five we let them go on vacation with some great family friends, Kent and Becky Sandefur and their kids. Becky has watched Clay throughout his preschool years while Robyn worked. While on that vacation Kent, Hannah and Clay were walking on a sandbar that collapsed and they were all swept out to sea. Hannah was in the ocean for fifteen or twenty minutes, Clay treaded water, hundreds of yards off shore for forty-five minutes, and Kent, well, Kent died, his body was never recovered. I can’t tell you how many times me, Robyn and even Hannah and Clay have asked why did they survive and Kent did not.
We have always wondered what God’s purpose is for Hannah and Clay but when they nearly lost their lives and a very close friend lost his, discovering God’s purpose for Hannah and Clay took on a whole new meaning. On many occasions Robyn and I have told Hannah and Clay, “God has something special in mind for you, don’t miss it.”
Have you considered what God’s purpose is for your job, your business, your titles, your positions, your influences? The one thing you can be sure of is that it fits into His epic story of redemption, his desire to restore all mankind into a right relationship with Him and He has invited all of us to build our plans around His purposes. Any other plans we make are just our plans and our plans will be our downfall apart from God’s purposes.
It’s been a great three weeks looking into Esther, if you missed it check out the talks at www.golifeway.com or request the series next Sunday morning at the information table.
It’s going to be another great week, have you factored God’s purpose into your plans for this week? It might be time to change your plans, rethink your plans with God’s purposes in mind.
Have a great week and I hope to see you next Sunday at 9AM or 10:45AM.
The first service had three visiting families and was almost as large as the second service. Come on second service attendees, step up your invitations to your friends and family. You have been given an opportunity to invest in God’s plan in the lives of others. Don’t waste that opportunity.
If you missed today, you missed a great worship set by the band, a hysterical video of epic failure and a reminder that when we get focused on ourselves and our plans, it leads to our downfall.
Here are a few thoughts from today:
• We don’t factor God into the equation of life and then we wonder why life doesn’t work out the way we planned.
• There is no such thing as coincidence, only providence.
• God is going to do what God is going to do and there is nothing you can do about it.
• Your best-laid plans, apart from God’s purpose, will be your downfall.
• We need to trade our plans for God’s purposes.
We compartmentalize our lives and put God in the part that involves church and prayer and maybe some Bible reading but we fail to factor God into everyday life and every day decisions. We invest in friendship and intimate relationships and we never consider God’s purpose in those relationships. We live out our married life and never think that God may have a purpose in our marriage. We raise our children as best we know how and forget that first, God knows better than we do how to raise our children, and secondly, did you ever consider that God has a purpose for your children’s life?
When Hannah was eight and Clay was five we let them go on vacation with some great family friends, Kent and Becky Sandefur and their kids. Becky has watched Clay throughout his preschool years while Robyn worked. While on that vacation Kent, Hannah and Clay were walking on a sandbar that collapsed and they were all swept out to sea. Hannah was in the ocean for fifteen or twenty minutes, Clay treaded water, hundreds of yards off shore for forty-five minutes, and Kent, well, Kent died, his body was never recovered. I can’t tell you how many times me, Robyn and even Hannah and Clay have asked why did they survive and Kent did not.
We have always wondered what God’s purpose is for Hannah and Clay but when they nearly lost their lives and a very close friend lost his, discovering God’s purpose for Hannah and Clay took on a whole new meaning. On many occasions Robyn and I have told Hannah and Clay, “God has something special in mind for you, don’t miss it.”
Have you considered what God’s purpose is for your job, your business, your titles, your positions, your influences? The one thing you can be sure of is that it fits into His epic story of redemption, his desire to restore all mankind into a right relationship with Him and He has invited all of us to build our plans around His purposes. Any other plans we make are just our plans and our plans will be our downfall apart from God’s purposes.
It’s been a great three weeks looking into Esther, if you missed it check out the talks at www.golifeway.com or request the series next Sunday morning at the information table.
It’s going to be another great week, have you factored God’s purpose into your plans for this week? It might be time to change your plans, rethink your plans with God’s purposes in mind.
Have a great week and I hope to see you next Sunday at 9AM or 10:45AM.
Monday Morning Reflections
by Mark Crews | September 20, 2010
A few thoughts on another amazing day at Life Way…
• Yesterday, was a GREAT follow up to last week as we continued in the series, EPIC and looked into the book of Esther.
• I am super pumped about our second week in our two service format and I’m truly grateful to everyone who is making both services function so smoothly.
• I love giving the band challenges with music from the 70’s and 80’s and seeing them pull it off. Our band rocks whether they are pulling off Skynryd or Cindy Lauper. Great job band on Time After Time. In case anyone wants to hear the version of Time After Time performed Sunday at Life Way, check out the song as it is performed by Quietdrive.
• Now, seriously people, you don’t have to wait until next Sunday to find out how the events of the book of Esther unfold. If you missed it this is what went down today. As I talked through the passage of Esther 3-4 we discovered that Xerxes’ second in command Haman, convinced Xerses to issue a decree that would annihilate all the Jewish people. Esther, being a Jew, would not be protected and her cousin Mordecai challenged Esther to consider the possibility that maybe God had allowed her to become queen for just this time. And Esther, knowing that if she goes before the king without being summoned by the king she could be put to death, finally says, ok, I could live my life but there is more at stake than my life, so if I parish, I parish. Well, if you can imagine the intensity of the moment as everyone waits for me to reveal what happens. And guess what? CLIFFHANGER. I said I’m not telling until next week and I was amazed when so many in both services gasped when I said I wasn’t going to disclose what happens to Esther until next week. I love the fact that you are engaged but don’t only rely on me to bring you God’s word, get in God’s word for yourself. Seriously people, it’s not a story I’m telling, it’s God’s Word - read it and make it come to life.
Now, here is a look at a few points from yesterday’s talk…
• While it may cost you something to join God and His purposes, the cost of NOT joining God is far greater.
• We have a tendency to count the cost of follow Jesus but we fail to calculate the cost of NOT following Jesus.
• Following Jesus will cost you something but not following Jesus will cost you everything.
• You can be a part of God’s big story, but you can’t stop God’s big story.
• Read Esther 5-10, that’s a chapter per day during the work week. We’ll wrap up Epic next Sunday and then we’ll hit up on our series FAQ and answer your questions.
Ok, I know that’s short but I’m taking the day off to spend with my wife and I’ll blog again later in the week. I have several thoughts I’ll share with you then. Oh, you can join us in prayer, Robyn is waiting to hear back from a job interview and she has another preliminary interview late today.
• Yesterday, was a GREAT follow up to last week as we continued in the series, EPIC and looked into the book of Esther.
• I am super pumped about our second week in our two service format and I’m truly grateful to everyone who is making both services function so smoothly.
• I love giving the band challenges with music from the 70’s and 80’s and seeing them pull it off. Our band rocks whether they are pulling off Skynryd or Cindy Lauper. Great job band on Time After Time. In case anyone wants to hear the version of Time After Time performed Sunday at Life Way, check out the song as it is performed by Quietdrive.
• Now, seriously people, you don’t have to wait until next Sunday to find out how the events of the book of Esther unfold. If you missed it this is what went down today. As I talked through the passage of Esther 3-4 we discovered that Xerxes’ second in command Haman, convinced Xerses to issue a decree that would annihilate all the Jewish people. Esther, being a Jew, would not be protected and her cousin Mordecai challenged Esther to consider the possibility that maybe God had allowed her to become queen for just this time. And Esther, knowing that if she goes before the king without being summoned by the king she could be put to death, finally says, ok, I could live my life but there is more at stake than my life, so if I parish, I parish. Well, if you can imagine the intensity of the moment as everyone waits for me to reveal what happens. And guess what? CLIFFHANGER. I said I’m not telling until next week and I was amazed when so many in both services gasped when I said I wasn’t going to disclose what happens to Esther until next week. I love the fact that you are engaged but don’t only rely on me to bring you God’s word, get in God’s word for yourself. Seriously people, it’s not a story I’m telling, it’s God’s Word - read it and make it come to life.
Now, here is a look at a few points from yesterday’s talk…
• While it may cost you something to join God and His purposes, the cost of NOT joining God is far greater.
• We have a tendency to count the cost of follow Jesus but we fail to calculate the cost of NOT following Jesus.
• Following Jesus will cost you something but not following Jesus will cost you everything.
• You can be a part of God’s big story, but you can’t stop God’s big story.
• Read Esther 5-10, that’s a chapter per day during the work week. We’ll wrap up Epic next Sunday and then we’ll hit up on our series FAQ and answer your questions.
Ok, I know that’s short but I’m taking the day off to spend with my wife and I’ll blog again later in the week. I have several thoughts I’ll share with you then. Oh, you can join us in prayer, Robyn is waiting to hear back from a job interview and she has another preliminary interview late today.
Monday Morning Reflections
by Mark Crews | September 13, 2010
MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS…
Here are a few thoughts from an AMAZING Sunday that saw God do some truly AWESOME things at Life Way:
• God showed just how awesome he is as we successfully launched our 9:00 am service with worship and KidzLife small groups. It went off as flawlessly. That’s not to say we didn’t miss anything, but God was large and in charge yesterday and gave us a lot of mercy and grace. I can’t wait for people to find the service that fits them the best and bring their family and friends. It’s going to be incredible. PROPS TO THE BAND WHO PULLED OFF A VERY WORSHIPFUL ACOUSTIC SET. I know it’s out of the norm for us because we usually have downtown rockin’ but Sunday’s worship was powerful.
• Last night our students had the largest number every to attend 621’s weekly student event. Just in case you didn’t hear, two weeks ago we have more than 75 students at 621 Live and it was on fire. The music, the games, students engaging… IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! We have the best student leaders in York County and they give everything they have to connect with students. Life Way adults, you better step up your game or you will be outnumber before you know it.
• KidzLife Live kicked off the new school year last night with what I would say is the best family production we’ve every done. Obviously, taking KidzLife Live on the road to PA this summer stepped up our game and man they brought it last night. I can hardly wait until October 3rd for the next KidzLife Live. BTW, if you missed last night, you missed the largest KidzLife Live event we ever had, more than 65 showed up on the main floor the theater and there was another 15+ cast and volunteers. WOW, I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE IS NOTHING ELSE FOR FAMILIES GOING ON SUNDAY NIGHTS LIKE KIDZLIFE LIVE. You guys are kickin’. Parents bring the whole family and don’t miss the next KidzLife Live. You’ll fall out of our seat laughing and everyone will learn how faith and virtue come together.
• We launched a new three week series entitled “EPIC: Finding Your Place In The Story,” and we’re looking at the book of Esther. Did you know that God is never mentioned in the book of Esther? Seriously, Esther is a book in the Bible and God’s name is never mentioned. Is there anything more relevant in our lives than a storyline where God seems to be missing? We are consumed with “our story,” and the day-to-day activities of our lives and unless God does something extraordinary or miraculous, we assume that He is absent or inactive. Is it possible that God is involved in a much bigger way; maybe there is an EPIC STORY that God is writing.
Here are a few of the main points from yesterday’s talk:
• We accredit God with the extraordinary and where there is nothing extraordinary we assume that God is absent or inactive.
• We only see God in the EPIC moments of life and history because we are consumed with the details of our own story. All the while God is at work in the smallest moments and details of our lives but we prefer writing and living out our own story and in the process we miss His presence and the opportunity to be part of His EPIC purpose.
• Just because God is not recognized does not mean that his not present and active.
• THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS COINCIDENCE…ONLY PROVIDENCE!!!!
• God’s people don’t have a mission, God’s mission has a people = the mission, the EPIC story that God is writing is the redemption of mankind, that includes you. He wants to redeem you and for you to find your place in the story where you are bringing the redemption He offers through Jesus to all mankind.
• God prescribes some things through His divine providence and He reworks others in His divine sovereignty. Either way, He is at work and He is in control.
• Stop waiting on God to do the extraordinary and look for God in the ordinary.
• Imagine how our lives would change if we really believe that God was shaping us to bring Him glory (that is to find our fit in His story) by putting us in circumstances and by redeeming the circumstances we put ourselves in?
• Don’t allow your imperfection to writing you out of God’s script; He will redeem you so that you He can write you in to accomplish His purpose.
FUTURING…
In case you somehow missed it, God is moving in our midst and God is going to do what God is going to do and he wants to use every one of us to accomplish that work. Have you found your place in His story? Have you found your place at Life Way?
God is going to reach our community but His tool for do that is YOU! Can you look past the dramas of your life and see God working in the ordinary and positioning you to influence others? Find your place in His story and find your place to grow His kingdom.
For us to accomplish all that God has for us we need everyone plugged into a place to grow and a place to serve. You cannot get everything God wants for you by showing up on a Sunday and listening to me ramble for 45 minutes. That’s not to say God’s not speaking to you but you need and God wants you to grow spiritual, find a small group to connect with. We will provide you a list of opportunity if you will request it.
Also, find a place to serve. God has gifted everyone in a unique way and like a missing puzzle piece, when you’re not serving and using your uniqueness, the picture of God’s kingdom at work is incomplete. Here are some places we are looking for people to serve:
SETUP TEAM
• Four people who will come in on Sunday morning at 7am to assist with clean up and setup of equipment in the theater/annex.
• Four people who will assist with teardown and clean up following the 10:45 am service.
MEDIA TEAM
• Two people(one per service) to train and operate lighting during services
• Two people(one per service) to train and operate the sound during services
MUSICIANS
• PERCUSSIONIST/GUITARIST/BASS GUITARIST/KEYBOARDIST to create a rotation of musicians for Sunday morning
HOST TEAM
• Ten people to serve on the Host Team in various capacities: preparing/serving coffee/greeting at the door/ushers/street-crossing
KIDZLIFE
• Assistant Director for small groups
• Nursery attendants (small group leaders)
• Registration for classes at both services
Please contact us through email at lifeway@golifeway.com if you are interested in plugging into one of these areas or if you have area in mind that’s not posted, let us know that too.
Ok, Life Way, the challenge is on – will it be the 9:00 am service or the 10:45 am service that brings the energy and the excitement and the crowd? Pick your service and we’ll see you Sunday.
Here are a few thoughts from an AMAZING Sunday that saw God do some truly AWESOME things at Life Way:
• God showed just how awesome he is as we successfully launched our 9:00 am service with worship and KidzLife small groups. It went off as flawlessly. That’s not to say we didn’t miss anything, but God was large and in charge yesterday and gave us a lot of mercy and grace. I can’t wait for people to find the service that fits them the best and bring their family and friends. It’s going to be incredible. PROPS TO THE BAND WHO PULLED OFF A VERY WORSHIPFUL ACOUSTIC SET. I know it’s out of the norm for us because we usually have downtown rockin’ but Sunday’s worship was powerful.
• Last night our students had the largest number every to attend 621’s weekly student event. Just in case you didn’t hear, two weeks ago we have more than 75 students at 621 Live and it was on fire. The music, the games, students engaging… IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! We have the best student leaders in York County and they give everything they have to connect with students. Life Way adults, you better step up your game or you will be outnumber before you know it.
• KidzLife Live kicked off the new school year last night with what I would say is the best family production we’ve every done. Obviously, taking KidzLife Live on the road to PA this summer stepped up our game and man they brought it last night. I can hardly wait until October 3rd for the next KidzLife Live. BTW, if you missed last night, you missed the largest KidzLife Live event we ever had, more than 65 showed up on the main floor the theater and there was another 15+ cast and volunteers. WOW, I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE IS NOTHING ELSE FOR FAMILIES GOING ON SUNDAY NIGHTS LIKE KIDZLIFE LIVE. You guys are kickin’. Parents bring the whole family and don’t miss the next KidzLife Live. You’ll fall out of our seat laughing and everyone will learn how faith and virtue come together.
• We launched a new three week series entitled “EPIC: Finding Your Place In The Story,” and we’re looking at the book of Esther. Did you know that God is never mentioned in the book of Esther? Seriously, Esther is a book in the Bible and God’s name is never mentioned. Is there anything more relevant in our lives than a storyline where God seems to be missing? We are consumed with “our story,” and the day-to-day activities of our lives and unless God does something extraordinary or miraculous, we assume that He is absent or inactive. Is it possible that God is involved in a much bigger way; maybe there is an EPIC STORY that God is writing.
Here are a few of the main points from yesterday’s talk:
• We accredit God with the extraordinary and where there is nothing extraordinary we assume that God is absent or inactive.
• We only see God in the EPIC moments of life and history because we are consumed with the details of our own story. All the while God is at work in the smallest moments and details of our lives but we prefer writing and living out our own story and in the process we miss His presence and the opportunity to be part of His EPIC purpose.
• Just because God is not recognized does not mean that his not present and active.
• THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS COINCIDENCE…ONLY PROVIDENCE!!!!
• God’s people don’t have a mission, God’s mission has a people = the mission, the EPIC story that God is writing is the redemption of mankind, that includes you. He wants to redeem you and for you to find your place in the story where you are bringing the redemption He offers through Jesus to all mankind.
• God prescribes some things through His divine providence and He reworks others in His divine sovereignty. Either way, He is at work and He is in control.
• Stop waiting on God to do the extraordinary and look for God in the ordinary.
• Imagine how our lives would change if we really believe that God was shaping us to bring Him glory (that is to find our fit in His story) by putting us in circumstances and by redeeming the circumstances we put ourselves in?
• Don’t allow your imperfection to writing you out of God’s script; He will redeem you so that you He can write you in to accomplish His purpose.
FUTURING…
In case you somehow missed it, God is moving in our midst and God is going to do what God is going to do and he wants to use every one of us to accomplish that work. Have you found your place in His story? Have you found your place at Life Way?
God is going to reach our community but His tool for do that is YOU! Can you look past the dramas of your life and see God working in the ordinary and positioning you to influence others? Find your place in His story and find your place to grow His kingdom.
For us to accomplish all that God has for us we need everyone plugged into a place to grow and a place to serve. You cannot get everything God wants for you by showing up on a Sunday and listening to me ramble for 45 minutes. That’s not to say God’s not speaking to you but you need and God wants you to grow spiritual, find a small group to connect with. We will provide you a list of opportunity if you will request it.
Also, find a place to serve. God has gifted everyone in a unique way and like a missing puzzle piece, when you’re not serving and using your uniqueness, the picture of God’s kingdom at work is incomplete. Here are some places we are looking for people to serve:
SETUP TEAM
• Four people who will come in on Sunday morning at 7am to assist with clean up and setup of equipment in the theater/annex.
• Four people who will assist with teardown and clean up following the 10:45 am service.
MEDIA TEAM
• Two people(one per service) to train and operate lighting during services
• Two people(one per service) to train and operate the sound during services
MUSICIANS
• PERCUSSIONIST/GUITARIST/BASS GUITARIST/KEYBOARDIST to create a rotation of musicians for Sunday morning
HOST TEAM
• Ten people to serve on the Host Team in various capacities: preparing/serving coffee/greeting at the door/ushers/street-crossing
KIDZLIFE
• Assistant Director for small groups
• Nursery attendants (small group leaders)
• Registration for classes at both services
Please contact us through email at lifeway@golifeway.com if you are interested in plugging into one of these areas or if you have area in mind that’s not posted, let us know that too.
Ok, Life Way, the challenge is on – will it be the 9:00 am service or the 10:45 am service that brings the energy and the excitement and the crowd? Pick your service and we’ll see you Sunday.