Word-up Wednesday

Ahh yeah!

Well, I'm not writing a sermon for November 11th. Why? Because I don't feel like it.

Just kidding.

Actually, I will be talking on November 11th, and so will Bobby (he spoke a couple weeks ago about dealing with criticism. If you missed it be sure to pick up the CD during service because it was awesome). So Bobby is the one actually preparing a message. I just get to join in on the fun without having to do all the work. So give your brains a rest this Wednesday. Besides, it's Halloween! And, I'll see you this weekend, and on the 11th when you can come and hear what Bobby and I have brewing up for you all (no pun intended...if you catch the pun).

Much grace and peace y'all!

-Tim

Too Much Luggage

We all know what it's like to haul too much luggage through the airport. We hope and pray that we won't get charged for a suitcase that weighs too much. Sometimes luggage can be such a hassle and almost get in the way of making a flight.

The same is true for our lives personally and as a community. We all have luggage that we haul around with us, whether good or bad. Sometimes people carry negative luggage of past hurts or sins. Sometimes people carry positive luggage of past successes. Sometimes churches can carry negative luggage from the past, and sometimes churches carry positive luggage from successes.

We know that negative luggage can hold us down and keep us from experiencing God's best for our future. Jesus died to set us free from that luggage. But often as churches grow older, the luggage of their past successes can hold them down too. We want to cling to the great things of the past, and find it more and more difficult to trust God for the future.

When Jesus sent out his followers two-by-two, he told them to leave their luggage behind. No money, no extra clothes, and no shoes. They had to leave what was comfortable and familiar behind, and trust God to fill them with new blessings and provision for the future.

I believe that God is sending us out into a new future together, and it is going to require us to pack light and pack smart. I believe that God wants to pour out new and fresh blessings on our community for a new day, but that is going to require us to let go of what we are comfortable with, let go of what we are familiar with, and then let God pour out new gifts for a new day, and create a new history and new memories together.

Be sure to come and stay connected over the next several weeks as we continue to reveal what our future together will look like.

I am so excited about what lies in store! I look forward to changing lives with you all!

Much grace and peace,
-Tim

Word-up Wednesday October 24th

Sermon series: How to Miss Your Flight
Sermon date: 11-4-07
Sermon title: Uncertain, but at this point I'm running with "Too Much Liquid"

Here's the premise...
Part of what drives us into the future is our own spiritual growth. We don't want to be stagnant individually or as a community. So, we must grow in our faith. With maturity comes the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

So when we begin to grow in our faith, we seek what the Bible calls "Spiritual Milk," the basic teachings and initial things we learn as we begin to grow. Then as we grow, we need solid food. But, sometimes people get stuck in the "Spiritual Milk" phase, never grow and mature in their faith, and thus miss out on what God has for them.

So the analogy is, when we try to bring too much liquid on a plane, security will stop us and we will miss our flight.

In the same way, if we never mature in our faith individually and as a community, and have too much "spiritual milk", and never grow the fruit of the Spirit, then we will miss out on what God wants to do for the future.

See 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 As we mature together, we will unite for the purposes of God.

I know, the analogy between milk and bringing liquid on a plane doesn't work very well. So, if you have a better one, let me know. And, be sure to post your comments and add your thoughts to this! I'd love your input.

Much grace and peace,
-Tim

Word-up Wednesday!

Alright y'all!
It's Word-up Wednesday (evening).

On October 28th I'm going to be continuing in the series "How to Miss Your Flight." This one in particular will be, "Pack Too Much Luggage."

When we fly, we are only allowed a certain amount of bags to check and to carry on the plane. If we insist on taking too much luggage, we will miss our flight. My question for you all is... what baggage, either individually or as a community, keeps us from moving forward into the future that God has for us?

And, metaphorically speaking, what are the right things to pack to bring with us for a successful future together(such as, spiritual gifts, the fruit of the Spirit, etc.)?

So ponder that, and leave a comment!

Much grace and peace!

-Tim

How to Miss Your Flight...

I'm interrupting our current preaching series, called "Grow" in order to present some important information about how to catch the plane to our future together.

God is taking us on a journey together and the plane to our future is taking off. We all want to know what God's will is, and how to get on board with what God is doing. So over the next 6 weeks I am going to share 6 more ways to miss out on what God has in store for us so that we can avoid those things and get on board with what God wants to do.

When Jesus declared that he would establish his church, he said that the gates of death will not prevail against it. The gates of Hell can never defeat the church! But the thing about this is, gates don't move, so if we want to see victory, then we must move forward as a community.

What this means is that we run the greatest risk of being defeated if we do nothing to make progress as a community for God's purposes. Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and I believe that one of the reasons is because a house divided isn't going anywhere!

But a house united together in Christ for the purposes of God is bomb-rushing the gates of Hell, moving into enemy territory to save the lost and change the world, and in storming the Gates of Hell we will find victory!

But we must have our I.D. in Christ and God's calling on us alone. Then when God calls us forward and things change because of it, we will unite together for God's purposes, and allow Him to take us where he wants us to go.

So be sure to attend the next 6 weeks, because I will be revealing what our future together as a community will look like. It is an exciting future. I believe it is a God-ordained and Spirit-led future, and the plane is about to take off.

It was great to worship with you on Sunday!

God bless you!
-Tim

Word-up Wednesday

Alright...here's what I want to do for this installment of Word-up Wednesday...

Tell me what you've been reading in Scripture. How has it impacted you? What have you learned, felt, thought, questioned, been confused about, etc.? Be sure to post a comment!

PEACE!!!

-Tim

Word-up Wednesday!

That's right, it's that time of the week again!
Okay, I am working on 2 sermons right now, but I will just post some ideas for one of them. I am running with the idea of how our identity is wrapped up in our faith community.
Peace!
-Tim

Passage: Matthew 16:16-18
Read over this passage and reflect on it, and let me know how it makes you feel, what you think about it, how this is possible, etc.

A question...or two...or three: In the context of the Gathering, where do you find your identity? What role does the Gathering play in your identity? What role does the church as a whole (worldwide) play in your identity?

Reflect on these quotes, and ask yourself what they mean to you:

Letty Russel says “The church is what it was because it has a story that is rooted in God’s action in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (Found in Platcher, ed. Essentials of Christian Thoelogy).

Wayne Cordeiro says “Methods are many, principles are few; methods always change, principles never do.” (Found in Mallory,S. The Equipping Church).

Well...those aren't many notes, but hopefully it will provoke some thoughts. I look forward to your comments!

Blessings,
-Tim

Growing Like Jesus

Wow!!! What a service we had last night!
Lord Jesus, thank you for being present with us!


Well...if you were able to come down from the awesome worship, you heard me talk about growing like Jesus. Luke 2:52 talks about how Jesus increased in wisdom, in years, and in divine and human favor. The growth that Jesus models is holistic, encompassing the mental, physical, spiritual and social aspects of life.

We want growth in our lives, but it can be challenging. And, I imagine that it was a challenge for Jesus too! He faced temptation, hunger, rejection, and other aspects of life that we all have to face. In fact, when the Bible says that Jesus "increased" in these areas, the word it uses goes back to nautical terminology talking about a boat making headway despite the blows it takes.

So, we are going to face blows in our lives and in our walk with God. But we grow like Jesus, and in the words of the Apostle Paul we, "...press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:14).

So keep pressing on, and...GET TO KNOW JESUS! He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He is our hope and our salvation.

It was great to worship with you all.
God bless you and I'll see you next week!
-Tim