To share your thoughts and read others, click on the comments link following the Reflection that you would like to respond to.
August 23-24, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastof of Teaching & Youth
As we have begun our Deal or No Deal series we talked about a few very important principles when it comes to how we view wealth and riches. First, contentment is itself, great wealth. Solomon said chasing contentment by the accumulation of riches and possessions is like chasing the wind. Contentment and a heart of gratitude is how we can truly experience great wealth.
What are some things in your life that you are grateful for and are able to say that you are content with? (Hint: it may come down to some of the simple things in life.)
As we have begun our Deal or No Deal series we talked about a few very important principles when it comes to how we view wealth and riches. First, contentment is itself, great wealth. Solomon said chasing contentment by the accumulation of riches and possessions is like chasing the wind. Contentment and a heart of gratitude is how we can truly experience great wealth.
What are some things in your life that you are grateful for and are able to say that you are content with? (Hint: it may come down to some of the simple things in life.)
August 16-17, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Dan Jepson, Director of High School Ministries
I’ve had a lot of contact with people in the last week that have expressed how worry affects their life. I’m reminded more and more that this is something that we are all faced with. I think there is comfort in sharing a struggle with other believers. By standing together, we’re more likely to have the strength to overcome.
What are practical ways that you can be held accountable in the next week? How about the next year? Is there anyone in your life that would be willing to stand with you so you can support each other in this area? How would that work itself out?
I’ve had a lot of contact with people in the last week that have expressed how worry affects their life. I’m reminded more and more that this is something that we are all faced with. I think there is comfort in sharing a struggle with other believers. By standing together, we’re more likely to have the strength to overcome.
What are practical ways that you can be held accountable in the next week? How about the next year? Is there anyone in your life that would be willing to stand with you so you can support each other in this area? How would that work itself out?
August 9-10, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Youth
The idea of being reminded of things has really had me thinking lately. I don't know about you, but when I am reminded of something, or something is repeated to me, my natural response is not always to think of how valuable that truth or information could be for my life. Often times my thought is, "yeah, yeah, I know." As I have thought about this I have come to the conclusion that for me, this is very much a pride issue. To be confronted with truth means that I need to see how I measure up to that truth, and when I fall short it can cause something inside of me to rise up and be defensive, and part of that defense can be to tune out.
What are some ways that you remain open to the truths of God without letting your pride or the need to pretend like you have it all together cause you to close off? What are some things in your life that you use as reminders to examine your spiritual walk and relationship with God? I pray that each of us remains open to the truths of God in our lives and the variety of reminders that He has put in place.
The idea of being reminded of things has really had me thinking lately. I don't know about you, but when I am reminded of something, or something is repeated to me, my natural response is not always to think of how valuable that truth or information could be for my life. Often times my thought is, "yeah, yeah, I know." As I have thought about this I have come to the conclusion that for me, this is very much a pride issue. To be confronted with truth means that I need to see how I measure up to that truth, and when I fall short it can cause something inside of me to rise up and be defensive, and part of that defense can be to tune out.
What are some ways that you remain open to the truths of God without letting your pride or the need to pretend like you have it all together cause you to close off? What are some things in your life that you use as reminders to examine your spiritual walk and relationship with God? I pray that each of us remains open to the truths of God in our lives and the variety of reminders that He has put in place.
August 2-3, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching & Worship
This week we
looked at the temptation of Jesus. Just like our own daily lives Jesus had
a choice to make: Do I say "yes" to God or do I say "no" to God? As I
reflect on this a bit more, the time preparing for this message has renewed my
need to find the appropriate scripture for the temptations that I face. It was
clear that Jesus used scripture to win over temptation. So I need to be
about finding the right scripture to combat the temptation I face
frequently.
I had several
people talk to me after the message asking how I knew so much about them. After
I had a little fun joking around saying that God had spoken to me about them (He
didn't really) I was reminded about the commonness of our temptations (1
Corinthians 10:13). If you have a few minutes, why don't you join our weekly
blog reflecting on the sermon for this week. Maybe you could respond
to the following question: What will I be doing differently this week after
hearing the message from Matthew 4:1-11?
God bless and have
a great week. May your winning over temptation be frequent!
July 26-27, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Russ Parker, Pastor of Administration & Leadership Development
God has created each of us in his own image (Gen. 1:26). In each one of us, He's given us the desire to make a mark, to make a difference. He has hard-wired us this way, much like he's hard-wired us to hunger after Him. This weekend we took "how to be a super hero" lessons from one of God's greatest super heroes – Jonathan. We learned that if we're going to make a mark, it can't be about our ego and comfort. It will likely involve faith, action on our part, and ultimately trusting God with the results.
For many of us, God is speaking, stirring our hearts, directing us in the ways He wants us to make a mark. Whatever it is, post your post-it note and don't let it go. Don't put it off. Don't cover it over. Continue to ask God to reveal it and to grow it.
It would be an encouragement to us all if you would be so bold and
vulnerable as to share what God is stirring up in you. If it's appropriate, click on the link below and bless us all with how God is working in your life.
God has created each of us in his own image (Gen. 1:26). In each one of us, He's given us the desire to make a mark, to make a difference. He has hard-wired us this way, much like he's hard-wired us to hunger after Him. This weekend we took "how to be a super hero" lessons from one of God's greatest super heroes – Jonathan. We learned that if we're going to make a mark, it can't be about our ego and comfort. It will likely involve faith, action on our part, and ultimately trusting God with the results.
For many of us, God is speaking, stirring our hearts, directing us in the ways He wants us to make a mark. Whatever it is, post your post-it note and don't let it go. Don't put it off. Don't cover it over. Continue to ask God to reveal it and to grow it.
It would be an encouragement to us all if you would be so bold and
vulnerable as to share what God is stirring up in you. If it's appropriate, click on the link below and bless us all with how God is working in your life.
July 19-20, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Gary Keith, Pastor of Teaching & Worship
What a weekend! In addition for hearing from Dr. Peter, 17 people were baptized this weekend, each one declaring his or her faith story in giving their life to Christ. What a glorious time!
What a weekend! In addition for hearing from Dr. Peter, 17 people were baptized this weekend, each one declaring his or her faith story in giving their life to Christ. What a glorious time!
Recently I read
about a spiritual survey of 500 hundred churches across America involving
187,000 people. One of the important facets exposed in the survey was that
nearly a third of people who were identified as Christ-centered, believed that
there was more than one way to get to heaven. How important then was the
message of the weekend from Ephesians 2:8-10.
We are saved by
grace, not by our works. That is the clear message of these verses. I'd be
curious to know how that message resonates with you. Here are some questions we
can dialogue with on the blog below: What is the grace spoken of here? How goes
this grace of God work? What does it look like in our lives? How do works fit
into the scheme of things with grace? Does being saved by grace mean we have
nothing to do when it comes to good works? How do we do good works without them
becoming something we think earns our way with God? Let's
talk.
This was a very
timely message given the fact that Serve Day is this Saturday. By the way,
I hope you've signed up.
July 12-13, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Fuz Rana, Ph.D., Vice President of Research & Apologetics, Reasons to Believe
This past weekend we took a look at the problem of evil and suggested that Genesis 1:2 and Deuteronomy 32:9-12 provide a clue to why God might allow pain, suffering, and evil. Based on these passages of Scripture, it seems to me that God creates out of chaos and then takes His creation (life, the Nation of Israel, the Church, and the Children of God) through hostile conditions, persecution, and hardships as a way to transform what is precious to Him with a greater good and higher purpose in mind. I find it deeply encouraging that throughout the difficulties, the Holy Spirit “broods” over His creation.
What hardships have you endured? How did the Holy Spirit comfort you in the midst of your trials? Looking back on those experiences, how do you think God used them to transform you?
I find Genesis 1:2 (and Deuteronomy 32:9-12) helpful as I wrestle with the problem of evil. What passages of Scripture encourage you through hardship and help you make sense of evil and suffering?
In my ministry, I find that the problem of evil is the number one reason why nonbelievers reject the Christian faith. Have you had a similar experience? How did you answer the charge that evil, pain, and suffering are incompatible with God’s existence?
July 5-6, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Youth
So,
are you ready to live a Life in HD? Based on what we have talked about
over the last three weeks (living as image-bearers of God,
troubleshooting and helping those around us to make the connection of
who Christ is through the way that we live, and being aware of what
kind of customer reviews we would receive from those who observe us)
what are some things you are doing to live an HD life? It can be so
easy to settle into a religious routine and stop looking out for the
opportunities we have everyday to live out what God has called His
followers to do: love people.
Our salvation comes through our belief in Christ, but the evidence of whether or not it is true faith comes from the ways that we love and serve others. What do you strive to do in your life to consistently love others and demonstrate God's love for them? Do you have any stories of when your love, kindness, and service to others have made a difference in their life? Tell us about it so that we can all be encouraged.
Our salvation comes through our belief in Christ, but the evidence of whether or not it is true faith comes from the ways that we love and serve others. What do you strive to do in your life to consistently love others and demonstrate God's love for them? Do you have any stories of when your love, kindness, and service to others have made a difference in their life? Tell us about it so that we can all be encouraged.
June 28-29, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Youth
Being a true reflection of the image of God can seem like an impossible task, but one of the things that continues to be on my mind is the promise of Jesus in Matthew 6 that He will be with us always!! With that being true there is hope for us to be able to live an HD life. One of the most important responsibilities that we have as we live our lives in HD is to help people make the connection between who God is and what they see in us. This can come through actions or a conversation or an attitude. What are some ways that you hope to help people make the connection in their understanding of who God truly is? What are some ideas that you have to reach out to people in a practical way that will help them discover the truths of a personal relationship with their Heavenly Father? What does it mean to you when you read the words of Jesus who tells us to love one another? What will that look like in your life?
June 21-22, 2008
This week's "Reflection" by Matt Sasso, Pastor of Jr. High Ministries
This weekend we began the series "Life In HD: It¹s In The Mirrors." We
looked at how scripture helps us to see that there is a life to which
God gives us, and a life to which he calls us to live. As we looked at
the question of why buy in to HD life, we hopefully understood a few
important reasons of why we should buy in. The first is that God
created us to be in His image and buying into this HD life is about
reflecting it to others. The second reason to buying in is because we
are His reflection. Thirdly, we get to play a part in God¹s will being
on earth as it is in heaven.
Living life in HD, is simply being restored daily into the image that your Heavenly Father created you to be, and reflecting it to others around you. Hopefully this message is reminder for each of us that it is time to do some soul searching as we individually ask God to reveal the areas in our own lives and that we reflect His image to others around us. This week I would love to read your posts about how you are reflecting Christ to those around you as we are used in establishing God¹s will in our communities.
Living life in HD, is simply being restored daily into the image that your Heavenly Father created you to be, and reflecting it to others around you. Hopefully this message is reminder for each of us that it is time to do some soul searching as we individually ask God to reveal the areas in our own lives and that we reflect His image to others around us. This week I would love to read your posts about how you are reflecting Christ to those around you as we are used in establishing God¹s will in our communities.
