This coming Sunday at Crestview, we’ll continue our study of the Gospel of John, focusing in on John 17, where Jesus prays for an entire chapter: John 17:1-26. We also get to come to the Lord’s Supper table together and encourage one another. I hope you join us and consider the great way we’re encouraged in this life because Jesus prays for us.
I’m privileged to get to serve the community of Reno County in a couple of ways (besides my service as pastor). One of those is through a program of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce called Youth Leadership Reno County. This program brings together 4 7th and 8th graders for each public and private school in the county (that’s 32 middle school students) to help them make progress in: 1) learning about leadership, 2) learning something about themselves, and 3) helping them be better citizens of Reno County.
We met for Day #1 in Haven, KS today. We got to introduce one another, thinking about “What is leadership?”, and tour downtown Haven, thinking about acts of leadership in the community there. This program meets 7 times between now and February. It’s an amazing journey. And, it’s only just begun.
My 10/23/16AM sermon, Sorrow Turned to Joy out of John 16:16-33, is now online (with Small Group Questions). Life this side of heaven is filled with all kinds of sorrow upon sorrow. We often wonder where we can turn or what kind of practical help there is for such things. And, Jesus speaks in this moment to give encouragement and show how what He will do on the cross and His resurrection with transform the sorrow into joy. I hope this sermon encourages and moves you.
For our sake – He did this for you and me
he made him to be sin – Jesus bore the punishment we deserve
who knew no sin, – Yes, that Jesus, the pure, spotless, perfect Son of God
so that – this wasn’t a wasted action. It was for something…
in him – this is all in Christ, not us
we might become the righteousness of God. – we get amazing benefits and are seen as righteous in Him.
Praise God today for this truth from 2 Corinthians 5:21 and the hope it gives you.
This coming Sunday at Crestview (corporate worship begins at 10:15, Join Us!) we will continue our study in the Gospel of John. Specifically, my sermon will be from John 16:16-33 and how Jesus turns sorrow into joy for His followers. Be reading this passage and considering it as you prepare for the coming weekend. We’ll also have Small Groups and have some questions we discuss.
If you’re like me, part of your week involves some sort of planning. And, for me, in particular, this is a busy season in terms of planning. Just this week, I have 2 meetings to work with a ministry on planning their 2017 church budget, a meeting with all the Elders and Deacons of Crestview to finalize a 2017 Budget recommendation, planning for Youth Leadership Reno County (which starts in a week), and planning for Leadership Reno County. And, you have stuff to plan, too. It might not be in formal meetings like me, but you have personal budgets, activities in your home (including menu), and potentially other things you want to do that require a plan. So, I wanted to throw out a couple of things that help me manage the planning responsibilities I have.
Having said this, on the spiritual front, I was really helped by this word from pastor H.B. Charles, Jr. on What Is Your Vision For The Church? It might help you, especially if you find your leadership extends into church circles, to clarify your priorities. Hope this helps further the planning conversation.
From 16:15 —
With Phil Auxier of Crestview Church
Is Your Church Set Apart?
Many of us feel the Great Commission is a good, even great, idea. But, what characterizes a church that is devoted to such things? This webinar will explore how one church mobilized for the mission helps her people to be drawn to the Great Commission ideas.
I’m also going to be joined by Elizabeth Wood, who coordinates Tide Travelers, our church’s attempt to create a global vision in the hearts of children.
If you’re able, join us by registering here.
My 10/16/16 sermon continuing my series in John’s Gospel is now online. The sermon is entitled So Long, Farewell from John 16:1-15. The big idea is receiving encouragement from Jesus in the prospect of His leaving this world. He encourages His disciples to expect resistance, trust Him, and rely on the Holy Spirit’s work in them. I hope it encourages you.
I’m currently working my way through Dave Furman’s Being There, a book which really builds a theology of walking with people through suffering. Nestled in chapter 5, which is about Serving Like Jesus, are some questions to diagnose your heart (questions that help get at why you may be struggling to serve a hurting friend or family member). Wowzers…here goes:
Here’s the helpful remedy…
“Maybe you’ve asked yourself those questions and you realize that you’re struggling at serving in a way that honors Christ. How do we get the strength to do this? On our own, selfless Christlike service is impossible and unattainable. We can only love in these ways because God first loved us. We can humble ourselves because God humbled himself. Jesus came not be served, but to serve, and while we were still sinners, he gave his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
“We can go low in service because in Christ we are eternally rich. We can be nothing, because we know that apart from Christ we are nothing. But through the life and death of Christ we’ve been given everything we have as a gift. Your significance, security, and eternal glory are yours without the risk of losing it. This same gospel that encourages the hurting needs to be rehearsed in your own mind and heart. Remembering this truth fuels your service especially in the difficult situations you find yourself in. Only then can you turn and do the most menial tasks without caring what others will think about you. Only then can you share healing words of encouragement again and again because the gospel is always true. Only then can you find the energy to serve in unique ways out of true love for the hurting that comes not from their acceptance of you but from your acceptance in Christ. Only then can you serve like Jesus. (Locations 1111-1121 in the Kindle Version)
So, because of the amazing reality that is ours in Jesus, will you move out to the hurting?
Today, be mindful of the truth that is yours in Jesus…
Specifically, you are redeemed, bought, purchased by the precious blood of Jesus:
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13)
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