...by Kevin McHugh
As I start writing, I am reflecting on the Sunday service, but I am also reflecting back to other experiences at Suncrest and how I've grown to embrace our mission statement.
"Being used by God to change lives" - I love the beautiful simplicity, I love how our church leaders are completely sincere about it, and I love how our church family executes the mission. We are doing it all the time by inviting people, serving in the community, praying for people, giving of our resources, and in many other ways. Hey, weren’t there just a few baptisms recently??? On a personal note, it was a few Suncrest families like the Barker’s and the Kimberly’s who invited my family, prayed for us, and befriended us until the time came when we finally understood the truth and became Christ Followers - I thank God for these people and consider them my greatest friends.
Do you still have Acts 1:8 committed to memory? "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth." This is our verse to keep top of mind as Suncrest lays out a bold move.
The verse from Acts compliments and builds on the mission statement of "Being used by God to change lives". I think it helps to look at these two statements together as we think about what we are embarking on.
What are we going to do? God will use us to change lives by bearing witness, praying, serving, loving others, and giving. (The 4 C's – Connect, Contribute, Cultivate, Care)
Why are we doing it? Jesus told us to, just before He ascended.
When are we doing it? Right now, silly. (1st attempt at humor)
Where are we going to do it? Weren't you paying attention people? (2nd attempt) - locally in Highland, regionally in South Bend, globally in Liberia.
How can we do it? We have received power from the Holy Spirit. We have our faith. We have each other.
Consider this everyone; God has laid out the groundwork already.
Doug Gamble is leading a thriving campus in Hobart, and St John has back filled with many great new people.
We prayed for, and sent off our Liberia mission team to go serve in many wonderful ways.
God has placed two great leaders in our church to take on campuses in Highland & South Bend.
For the Jesus mission, Greg told us that "Each one of us has a role" and that "Our response to this is huge". He's totally right and I am so glad I found this place.
See you Sunday and please keep praying for the Liberia mission team.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sacrifice.
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it."
-Mark 8:34-35, ESV
Sacrifice is a key theme of being a Biblical Christ follower.
I mean, it really can't be a whole lot more clear when Jesus says stuff like that quote up above. Giving of ourselves and giving of our lives is not optional. It's a natural part of being a Christ follower.
Think about the numerous stories of people in the Bible, and what they sacrificed in their pursuit to love God. I think of a guy like Paul, who gave up the wealth, power, and prestige of being a big player on the Jewish religious scene in order to follow Christ. He'd eventually give up his life for that very cause. I think of the disciples, too. With the exception of John, tradition is that every single disciple gave up their life as a martyr for the gospel. The ultimate example of sacrifice is Jesus; He gave up the comfort of heaven so that He could come down to earth, not just to teach, but ultimately to die a painful, difficult death on our behalf.
2,000 years later, things have changed in some parts of the world. Being a Christ follower in America will probably not require you to die for what you believe in, as it did for people like Paul and the disciples. However, being a Biblical Christ follower will still require sacrifice. I think of people like our Africa team who is in Liberia right now, giving up their time, money, energy, and all sorts of stuff so that they can serve God in a foreign country. I think of amazing people who have chosen to give their livelihood in order to serve the poor and care for those in distress.
Those are just examples. The concept of "sacrifice" will be different to each person, based on what your life situation is right now. For you, it might be as simple as sacrificing time by serving on a ministry team. It might mean a sacrificing of your selfish wants, desires, or priorities so that God can help you work toward His priorities.
Sacrifice is going to be a big theme over 2010 at Suncrest. Now, in our Jesus Mission series, we're talking about sacrifice in several ways:
- A sacrifice of my service, deciding to become part of one of our new campuses or one of our future Africa teams
- A sacrifice of my resources, going above and beyond in my giving to help resource the work God is doing through Suncrest in Highland, South Bend, and Liberia.
- A sacrifice of my comfort, choosing to fast for whatever length of time about the ways in which God wants me to become a part of the Jesus Mission initiative.
I don't know what sacrifice looks like for you, but I believe that it's part of being a follower of Jesus. It's part of how we can cultivate our relationship with Him.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Hobart Campus Beyond Sunday - Not a Fan: Completely. Committed. Follower
...by Larry McManus
Before the message was delivered we were moved by the video of the multitude of baptisms for last week--WOW! The "not a fan" teaching series has turned out to be a turning point in our church's history with 80 baptisms in one weekend. God is changing lives at Suncrest and this final message in the series moves us forward into what a completely. committed. follower. looks like.
With John 15 as the textual backdrop for the whole message, we see that there are some immutable components of our faith once we are transformed by Jesus. These components must be developed but should begin as soon as we start this life of following Christ. There are certain activities and qualities that the Bible calls "fruit" and which begin to characterize the life of a Christ follower.
We see some of these in Galatians 5 and Jesus said in Matthew 7 that "every good tree bears good fruit" and "by their fruit you will recognize them". There is a qualifier in John 15:16 that we bear fruit that lasts. Lasting fruit must come from a lasting power source in order to have the eternal quality that Jesus is speaking of here. This kind of fruit is spiritual and born from time with the Eternal One, Jesus Christ.
This leads to the next component of faith in which we remain in Jesus, much like a branch remains connected to the main vine or trunk. And so the agricultural metaphor develops from "fruit" production to "branches" and "vine". Or.... we could go with tape-ology. Gorilla tape, being the alleged "stickiest tape", we should be like that tape. We should cling to Jesus as if everything depended on Him (because it actually does). This seemed to be the big idea of this message, "stick with Jesus." If we align our lives with Jesus and His words and will, then when we ask the same as Him it will be given. Joy is also part of the promise that will come when we "stick with Jesus". So have you dropped the "fan" status with Jesus? Are you giving yourself to Jesus completely, committing everything daily to Him, and following Him as close as you can?
Before the message was delivered we were moved by the video of the multitude of baptisms for last week--WOW! The "not a fan" teaching series has turned out to be a turning point in our church's history with 80 baptisms in one weekend. God is changing lives at Suncrest and this final message in the series moves us forward into what a completely. committed. follower. looks like.
With John 15 as the textual backdrop for the whole message, we see that there are some immutable components of our faith once we are transformed by Jesus. These components must be developed but should begin as soon as we start this life of following Christ. There are certain activities and qualities that the Bible calls "fruit" and which begin to characterize the life of a Christ follower.
We see some of these in Galatians 5 and Jesus said in Matthew 7 that "every good tree bears good fruit" and "by their fruit you will recognize them". There is a qualifier in John 15:16 that we bear fruit that lasts. Lasting fruit must come from a lasting power source in order to have the eternal quality that Jesus is speaking of here. This kind of fruit is spiritual and born from time with the Eternal One, Jesus Christ.
This leads to the next component of faith in which we remain in Jesus, much like a branch remains connected to the main vine or trunk. And so the agricultural metaphor develops from "fruit" production to "branches" and "vine". Or.... we could go with tape-ology. Gorilla tape, being the alleged "stickiest tape", we should be like that tape. We should cling to Jesus as if everything depended on Him (because it actually does). This seemed to be the big idea of this message, "stick with Jesus." If we align our lives with Jesus and His words and will, then when we ask the same as Him it will be given. Joy is also part of the promise that will come when we "stick with Jesus". So have you dropped the "fan" status with Jesus? Are you giving yourself to Jesus completely, committing everything daily to Him, and following Him as close as you can?
St. John Campus Beyond Sunday - Not a Fan: Completely. Committed. Follower.
...by Ruth Ann Marino
I would like to thank God for His grace and mercy that He has so graciously poured out on Suncrest. For me and my family, it has been very personal, as I know it has for many, many others. When you think about it, 80 people were baptized into Christ on February 7th at Suncrest, but how many people beyond that were impacted? Hundreds? In time, thousands?
That is why the message we received this past Sunday is so crucial to the growth of those who committed their lives to Jesus and also to the growth of those who have already made this commitment.
I love the 4 C’s that Suncrest has identified as practices for a Christ-follower: Connect, Cultivate, Contribute and Care. Connecting can be a very different experience for each individual and I think it is important to be aware of this. As Greg said "God moves in a unique way in all of our lives at different times in our lives". I did not become a Christ follower until adulthood, and was not baptized until over a year after that decision. It was the most wonderful experience of my life, but something was missing after that, and at the time I wasn't quite aware of what it was, but now I know it was the lack of connection. I went to the baptistery all alone, with a pastor that did not know me very well, and even though I tried to connect to a church family, I kept feeling like an outsider. My family members were not Christ followers, and I had but one Christian friend who seemed to forget about me once I was saved.
After years of searching, God finally lead me to Suncrest. What a blessing. For some time I was beginning to think I would never make the kind of connection that others seemed to have. My walk felt lonely, even though I knew God was with me. Then one day I heard about a ministry within the church called Morning Grace. I decided to attend and it was the beginning of a new walk for me. Women reached out to me, fellowshipped with me and became friends, which was an answer to years of prayer.
This was also the beginning of cultivating my walk with Christ. Through this ministry, I was able to cultivate through study of God's word with other women and I loved and learned from hearing about their walk with Christ. I also learned of community groups and found a great group of people to connect with and further cultivate and grow in Christ Jesus.
Contributing is also a huge factor in connecting with other Christ followers. When I first began attending Suncrest I thought "how am I ever going to get to know anyone in a church this size?" And for some time it was a challenge, but the reason it was a challenge is because I was not contributing in any way. God was convicting me about this, so I decided it was time to commit. Through serving in various ways I have met and developed relationships with many wonderful people. That may have never happened if I had just sat in my seat every Sunday and not looked for a place to serve. God teaches us to serve. "But God doesn't want us to be shy with our gifts, but be bold and loving and sensible". Without serving our walk with Christ cannot be as fulfilling as it should be.
Caring, sadly, can be one of the most challenging, even for Christ followers. Jesus taught the message of love in such a simple way when He said "Love One Another" It is a huge responsibility when we respond to this message of love. We need to personally reach out to those new in Christ and not expect the staff, community groups and other ministries to be completely responsible for this. Our personal outreach can lead many people to these areas in a way that is much easier for them. It may require just a simple invitation to have coffee together. Jesus personally reached out to His followers in a very personal and intimate way, and He expects nothing less from us. Let us glorify our God by responding to His teaching of reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
"When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father"
I would like to thank God for His grace and mercy that He has so graciously poured out on Suncrest. For me and my family, it has been very personal, as I know it has for many, many others. When you think about it, 80 people were baptized into Christ on February 7th at Suncrest, but how many people beyond that were impacted? Hundreds? In time, thousands?
That is why the message we received this past Sunday is so crucial to the growth of those who committed their lives to Jesus and also to the growth of those who have already made this commitment.
I love the 4 C’s that Suncrest has identified as practices for a Christ-follower: Connect, Cultivate, Contribute and Care. Connecting can be a very different experience for each individual and I think it is important to be aware of this. As Greg said "God moves in a unique way in all of our lives at different times in our lives". I did not become a Christ follower until adulthood, and was not baptized until over a year after that decision. It was the most wonderful experience of my life, but something was missing after that, and at the time I wasn't quite aware of what it was, but now I know it was the lack of connection. I went to the baptistery all alone, with a pastor that did not know me very well, and even though I tried to connect to a church family, I kept feeling like an outsider. My family members were not Christ followers, and I had but one Christian friend who seemed to forget about me once I was saved.
After years of searching, God finally lead me to Suncrest. What a blessing. For some time I was beginning to think I would never make the kind of connection that others seemed to have. My walk felt lonely, even though I knew God was with me. Then one day I heard about a ministry within the church called Morning Grace. I decided to attend and it was the beginning of a new walk for me. Women reached out to me, fellowshipped with me and became friends, which was an answer to years of prayer.
This was also the beginning of cultivating my walk with Christ. Through this ministry, I was able to cultivate through study of God's word with other women and I loved and learned from hearing about their walk with Christ. I also learned of community groups and found a great group of people to connect with and further cultivate and grow in Christ Jesus.
Contributing is also a huge factor in connecting with other Christ followers. When I first began attending Suncrest I thought "how am I ever going to get to know anyone in a church this size?" And for some time it was a challenge, but the reason it was a challenge is because I was not contributing in any way. God was convicting me about this, so I decided it was time to commit. Through serving in various ways I have met and developed relationships with many wonderful people. That may have never happened if I had just sat in my seat every Sunday and not looked for a place to serve. God teaches us to serve. "But God doesn't want us to be shy with our gifts, but be bold and loving and sensible". Without serving our walk with Christ cannot be as fulfilling as it should be.
Caring, sadly, can be one of the most challenging, even for Christ followers. Jesus taught the message of love in such a simple way when He said "Love One Another" It is a huge responsibility when we respond to this message of love. We need to personally reach out to those new in Christ and not expect the staff, community groups and other ministries to be completely responsible for this. Our personal outreach can lead many people to these areas in a way that is much easier for them. It may require just a simple invitation to have coffee together. Jesus personally reached out to His followers in a very personal and intimate way, and He expects nothing less from us. Let us glorify our God by responding to His teaching of reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
"When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father"
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The 4 C's.
I know that we just talked about it on Sunday, but the 4 C's are totally essential to us becoming the best followers of Jesus that we can be. In today's post, I want to ask you a couple questions and encourage you to really think about where you stand with each C. Where is it that you are needing to grow?
Cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Connect in relationships where truth meets life.
Contribute by serving.
Care about people far from God.
Cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Am I doing stuff on a regular basis that is designed for me to grow in my relationship with Jesus?
- As I look back on the past year, month, week, do I feel that I am growing closer to Jesus? Farther? Why is that?
- Do I honestly feel that I am engaging in a living, vibrant relationship with Jesus? Is it actively influencing the choices and decisions that I make in everyday living?
Connect in relationships where truth meets life.
- Am I currently involved in meeting with a group of other people on a regular basis, talking about the truth of God's Word and discovering how that affects our lives?
- Do I have people in my life that I've given permission to speak truth, even confronting me when needed about areas where God's light needs to shine a little brighter in my life?
- Am I doing this Jesus thing alone, or do I have a group of people whom I know will help and support me?
Contribute by serving.
- Am I involved in some sort of regular service opportunity, whether that be at church or in my community?
- Can I honestly say that I have made serving others a part of my lifestyle and part of who I am?
- If I'm not serving, am I doing so because I haven't prioritized it, or is it because I'm just not sure of what my gifts for service are? (If you're not sure of your gifting, get in touch with David Vineyard at david.vineyard@suncrest.org about our upcoming Discovery Seminar, happening in March!)
Care about people far from God.
- Am I actively engaged in relationships with friends, family, and co-workers who do not know Jesus?
- Am I praying for those people on a regular basis? If I'm not in relationships with people far from God, am I actively and intentionally seeking out those relationships and praying for God to put people far from Him into my path?
- Am I making a real, honest effort to share the message of Jesus with them in some way, whether that's through talking about my faith or offering a simple invite to our church?
Just a few questions for you to consider as you think about how you stand with each of the 4 C's. Where are you winning? Where do you need to grow? Great questions to think about as you continue in the journey!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Celebrating Baptisms!
What an amazing Sunday!
There is a part of me that wants to downplay what happened this past Sunday. Though I believe that God works each time we get together, it was amazing to see Him working in people's hearts so dramatically this week. Hopefully you've already heard stories like I have of family memebers prayed for, stroies of people returning to God, and literally miraculous changes of heart.
From my seat on Sunday, I saw people wrestle with whether or not to come forward, I saw tears as they entered the baptistery, I saw loved ones and friends celebrate the decision together...it remain in me a reason to praise God. Enjoy reliving these decisions made on Sunday!
There is a part of me that wants to downplay what happened this past Sunday. Though I believe that God works each time we get together, it was amazing to see Him working in people's hearts so dramatically this week. Hopefully you've already heard stories like I have of family memebers prayed for, stroies of people returning to God, and literally miraculous changes of heart.
From my seat on Sunday, I saw people wrestle with whether or not to come forward, I saw tears as they entered the baptistery, I saw loved ones and friends celebrate the decision together...it remain in me a reason to praise God. Enjoy reliving these decisions made on Sunday!
Baptisms 2-7-10 from Suncrest on Vimeo.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Beyond Sunday - Not a Fan: The Covenant
...by Michael Switzer
Last Sunday was the first time I’ve ever cried in church. While so moved, there seemed to be no other appropriate reaction to witnessing so many people’s lives changed. After the service, I was speechless. The entire car ride home was virtually silent. Something inside of me (and no doubt in hundreds of other people) was disturbed. While person after person, fully dressed and fully committed, stepped into the baptistery, challenging thoughts captured me: Am I ‘all in?’ When was the last time I expressed a renewal of my vow with Jesus? Should I be re-baptized? Why not? An impression was made deep inside. Struggling to not cry, I found peace and comfort in one phrase: ‘Impression without expression leads to depression.’ Oh, so it is ok to express ourselves when captivated by an impression. How does this relevantly relate to the service? As we consider baptism as an expression, the Holy Spirit moves us and creates an impression on us. We’re called to express our impression through baptism. After considering all of this, it was ok to cry.
80 people decided to express their submission by taking the first step in their lives as a Christ follower. For 80 people, ‘beyond Sunday’ means just a little bit more this week than it did last week. For 80 people, the flood gates have opened and a journey until their earthly death has begun. So, what’s the next step?
To me, the short answer is to connect. Although ‘connect’ is one of the 4 Cs, I don’t want to take anything away from the other 3; however, as it relates to an effective immediate next step, connecting in relationships with other people where truth meets life can serve as a spring board to the other three. It did for me. Making the decision to follow Christ, in most cases, requires a shift in one’s paradigm, a modification and reevaluation of one’s life style, and most importantly the integration and metaphorical submersion of one’s life with the ‘body’ of Christ. Connecting with people who share spiritual maturity (or immaturity) while developing a wide support system gives us the accountability and support (and can I say energy?) necessary to the vitality of our journey. Small groups are an excellent source of this support. The small group I’m a part of has made a large impact on the person I’ve become over the last year and a half. I’ve heard it said that you’re the average of your five closest friends. To be able to effectively impact the lives of people who don’t follow Christ, among other things we need to be well grounded through our most important relationships and trust in those with whom we are closest.
Beyond last Sunday
As for the other 1000+ Christ followers who were baptized prior to last Sunday, let‘s take conscience actions to engage others who have recently begun their journey or are still asking the question ‘Why should I’? Just make a connection with someone. Amazing things happen through relationships.
P.S. Sometimes it’s really ok to cry.
Last Sunday was the first time I’ve ever cried in church. While so moved, there seemed to be no other appropriate reaction to witnessing so many people’s lives changed. After the service, I was speechless. The entire car ride home was virtually silent. Something inside of me (and no doubt in hundreds of other people) was disturbed. While person after person, fully dressed and fully committed, stepped into the baptistery, challenging thoughts captured me: Am I ‘all in?’ When was the last time I expressed a renewal of my vow with Jesus? Should I be re-baptized? Why not? An impression was made deep inside. Struggling to not cry, I found peace and comfort in one phrase: ‘Impression without expression leads to depression.’ Oh, so it is ok to express ourselves when captivated by an impression. How does this relevantly relate to the service? As we consider baptism as an expression, the Holy Spirit moves us and creates an impression on us. We’re called to express our impression through baptism. After considering all of this, it was ok to cry.
80 people decided to express their submission by taking the first step in their lives as a Christ follower. For 80 people, ‘beyond Sunday’ means just a little bit more this week than it did last week. For 80 people, the flood gates have opened and a journey until their earthly death has begun. So, what’s the next step?
To me, the short answer is to connect. Although ‘connect’ is one of the 4 Cs, I don’t want to take anything away from the other 3; however, as it relates to an effective immediate next step, connecting in relationships with other people where truth meets life can serve as a spring board to the other three. It did for me. Making the decision to follow Christ, in most cases, requires a shift in one’s paradigm, a modification and reevaluation of one’s life style, and most importantly the integration and metaphorical submersion of one’s life with the ‘body’ of Christ. Connecting with people who share spiritual maturity (or immaturity) while developing a wide support system gives us the accountability and support (and can I say energy?) necessary to the vitality of our journey. Small groups are an excellent source of this support. The small group I’m a part of has made a large impact on the person I’ve become over the last year and a half. I’ve heard it said that you’re the average of your five closest friends. To be able to effectively impact the lives of people who don’t follow Christ, among other things we need to be well grounded through our most important relationships and trust in those with whom we are closest.
Beyond last Sunday
As for the other 1000+ Christ followers who were baptized prior to last Sunday, let‘s take conscience actions to engage others who have recently begun their journey or are still asking the question ‘Why should I’? Just make a connection with someone. Amazing things happen through relationships.
P.S. Sometimes it’s really ok to cry.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tools for the Next Steps.
Something special happened on Sunday.
And for some of you reading this, that something special happened to you.
Baptism is an awesome thing. I made that decision on July 25, 2002 and I can still remember the decisions and conversations leading up to that. I can still remember the feeling of going under the water in Spartanburg, SC and coming up knowing that I had made the right decision with my life and that I was finally, truly a follower of Christ. No doubt, for those of you who made decisions (heck, even for those of us who watched others make decisions!), you will never forget the date February 7, 2010, nor should you. That day is extremely special and is going to be one that becomes a defining point for each of us and for our church.
But in the excitement of baptism, I definitely don't want you to lose sight of always staying focused on taking next steps. So, today, I thought I would throw out a few tools and opportunities available to you in order to continue moving forward in your decision to be a Christ follower!
This is going to sound like a "well, duh" suggestion, but I think the easiest way to continue on in your walk as a Christ follower is through reading the Bible regularly. This is a habit that I wish I had built into my schedule long ago, because it's so invaluable in my relationship with Jesus. I believe that God's Holy Spirit is living and active, and that when I read the Bible that God's Spirit inside of me is going to nudge at my heart and soul, showing me places where God desires for me to grow. If you don't have a Bible to use (or the only Bible you own is that 2,000 lb. King James Version one that you keep on a coffee table at Christmastime), give us a call here at Suncrest (365-9000) and we'd love to hook you up with a Bible that is easy to read and understand (and doesn't weigh 2,000 lbs. either). I also can't overstate the importance of developing a habit to pray each day. I know that prayer is often a way in which God has spoken to me and shown me changes that need to happen in my life. It's been extremely helpful in cultivating my relationship with Jesus.
There are also some Suncrest next steps you should take if you haven't already. Starting Point is a 5 week class we offer every few months that outlines who we are, what we believe, and offers great places for you to get connected with a group. The next Starting Point is offered starting on April 11. Speaking of groups, a community group is a great place to get connected in relationships with other folks from Suncrest, and is just a great place to make friendships, talk about life, and figure out how to follow Jesus together. For info on Starting Point or getting into a community group, contact Cindy Barker at cindy.barker@suncrest.org. The Discovery Seminar is a class Suncrest offers in order to help you figure out where God has gifted you to serve, so that you can find a place to contribute within God's kingdom. The next Discovery Seminar will be offered March 14. For more info, contact David Vineyard at david.vineyard@suncrest.org.
Hope that helps! If you are interested in more info, or even just meeting with someone to talk about next steps in your relationship with Jesus, let us know! We'd love to talk with you.
And for some of you reading this, that something special happened to you.
Baptism is an awesome thing. I made that decision on July 25, 2002 and I can still remember the decisions and conversations leading up to that. I can still remember the feeling of going under the water in Spartanburg, SC and coming up knowing that I had made the right decision with my life and that I was finally, truly a follower of Christ. No doubt, for those of you who made decisions (heck, even for those of us who watched others make decisions!), you will never forget the date February 7, 2010, nor should you. That day is extremely special and is going to be one that becomes a defining point for each of us and for our church.
But in the excitement of baptism, I definitely don't want you to lose sight of always staying focused on taking next steps. So, today, I thought I would throw out a few tools and opportunities available to you in order to continue moving forward in your decision to be a Christ follower!
This is going to sound like a "well, duh" suggestion, but I think the easiest way to continue on in your walk as a Christ follower is through reading the Bible regularly. This is a habit that I wish I had built into my schedule long ago, because it's so invaluable in my relationship with Jesus. I believe that God's Holy Spirit is living and active, and that when I read the Bible that God's Spirit inside of me is going to nudge at my heart and soul, showing me places where God desires for me to grow. If you don't have a Bible to use (or the only Bible you own is that 2,000 lb. King James Version one that you keep on a coffee table at Christmastime), give us a call here at Suncrest (365-9000) and we'd love to hook you up with a Bible that is easy to read and understand (and doesn't weigh 2,000 lbs. either). I also can't overstate the importance of developing a habit to pray each day. I know that prayer is often a way in which God has spoken to me and shown me changes that need to happen in my life. It's been extremely helpful in cultivating my relationship with Jesus.
There are also some Suncrest next steps you should take if you haven't already. Starting Point is a 5 week class we offer every few months that outlines who we are, what we believe, and offers great places for you to get connected with a group. The next Starting Point is offered starting on April 11. Speaking of groups, a community group is a great place to get connected in relationships with other folks from Suncrest, and is just a great place to make friendships, talk about life, and figure out how to follow Jesus together. For info on Starting Point or getting into a community group, contact Cindy Barker at cindy.barker@suncrest.org. The Discovery Seminar is a class Suncrest offers in order to help you figure out where God has gifted you to serve, so that you can find a place to contribute within God's kingdom. The next Discovery Seminar will be offered March 14. For more info, contact David Vineyard at david.vineyard@suncrest.org.
Hope that helps! If you are interested in more info, or even just meeting with someone to talk about next steps in your relationship with Jesus, let us know! We'd love to talk with you.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Beyond Sunday - Not a Fan: Fork in the Road
...by Dave Wright
In the 1989 movie “Great Balls of Fire”, starring Dennis Quaid and Alec Baldwin, Jimmy Swaggert (played by Baldwin) confronted his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis (Quaid) about the life he was living. “There is a road you are travelling,” Baldwin said. “There is a spot on that road with two choices…and you have to decide…which way are you going to go? The straight and narrow or the one paved with bad intentions?” Quaid looked and said with a small grin. “I will always go for the bad intentions,” he said. “I wouldn’t do it any other way!”
Your life is full of “Forks in the Road.” Greg spoke Sunday about the distractions caused of choosing the side of “a fan.” Drifting, regrets, and miscalculation lead to the possibility of taking the wrong path. Greg also explained that repentance is the way to change direction and become a follower. While this is true, there is more to remember in making this life changing decision. There is no need to re-trace your steps or wade waist deep in stuff that you have gone through to search for God. All you have to do is ask…for Him to come into your life. The amazing thing is…He will meet you right where you are.
The next few weeks will be an exciting time at Suncrest. People will be making the switch from “fan” to “follower”. They will do this by choosing to be baptized. One thing I know being around Suncrest for a long time, there are never any goals set for “number of people baptized.” Suncrest’s mission statement doesn’t say “Used by God to Change (XXX Amount of) Lives.” It is to change lives, period. It will be amazing to witness. If you have questions about being baptized, do not hesitate to call and ask.
I think it was important that Wes reminded us of how to pray Sunday morning. Many times, words are hard to find about what to pray for. Remember, God wants to hear from all us…
In the 1989 movie “Great Balls of Fire”, starring Dennis Quaid and Alec Baldwin, Jimmy Swaggert (played by Baldwin) confronted his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis (Quaid) about the life he was living. “There is a road you are travelling,” Baldwin said. “There is a spot on that road with two choices…and you have to decide…which way are you going to go? The straight and narrow or the one paved with bad intentions?” Quaid looked and said with a small grin. “I will always go for the bad intentions,” he said. “I wouldn’t do it any other way!”
Your life is full of “Forks in the Road.” Greg spoke Sunday about the distractions caused of choosing the side of “a fan.” Drifting, regrets, and miscalculation lead to the possibility of taking the wrong path. Greg also explained that repentance is the way to change direction and become a follower. While this is true, there is more to remember in making this life changing decision. There is no need to re-trace your steps or wade waist deep in stuff that you have gone through to search for God. All you have to do is ask…for Him to come into your life. The amazing thing is…He will meet you right where you are.
The next few weeks will be an exciting time at Suncrest. People will be making the switch from “fan” to “follower”. They will do this by choosing to be baptized. One thing I know being around Suncrest for a long time, there are never any goals set for “number of people baptized.” Suncrest’s mission statement doesn’t say “Used by God to Change (XXX Amount of) Lives.” It is to change lives, period. It will be amazing to witness. If you have questions about being baptized, do not hesitate to call and ask.
I think it was important that Wes reminded us of how to pray Sunday morning. Many times, words are hard to find about what to pray for. Remember, God wants to hear from all us…
Francis Chan: Balance Beam
So, if you read my blog, chances are that you've probably figured out I have a man crush on Francis Chan, who is the main teacher at Cornerstone Church out in Simi Valley, California. Francis is actively involved in the Passion 268 organization, which has a mission to simply lead college students all across the world into a relationship with Jesus. He's also written awesome books like Crazy Love (a MUST READ!) and Forgotten God (definitely on my "to read" list).
Anyway, one of the themes of my life thus far over 2010 has been venturing out in faith. I saw this video of Francis teaching on Monday, and am planning on posting it to my blog tomorrow, but would love to share this with you today. I found it resonated with me and also challenged me to live in a way that truly demonstrates faith.
Enjoy!
P.S.: If you're still thinking about taking that leap of faith, there's still the opportunity! I definitely want to push you toward the decision of the next step of baptism. If you haven't taken that step before, then I would love to encourage you in that. We're doing them this Sunday! If you are at all interested, or would like more information, please get in touch with me, with Greg (greg.lee@suncrest.org), Bobby (bobby.jackson@suncrest.org), or with any of our other staff! We'd love to push you to take that next step!
Anyway, one of the themes of my life thus far over 2010 has been venturing out in faith. I saw this video of Francis teaching on Monday, and am planning on posting it to my blog tomorrow, but would love to share this with you today. I found it resonated with me and also challenged me to live in a way that truly demonstrates faith.
Enjoy!
P.S.: If you're still thinking about taking that leap of faith, there's still the opportunity! I definitely want to push you toward the decision of the next step of baptism. If you haven't taken that step before, then I would love to encourage you in that. We're doing them this Sunday! If you are at all interested, or would like more information, please get in touch with me, with Greg (greg.lee@suncrest.org), Bobby (bobby.jackson@suncrest.org), or with any of our other staff! We'd love to push you to take that next step!
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