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Weekend Recap – Advent Week 1

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After the holiday week last week (which involved me traveling to Illinois), it was great to be back with the saints at Crestview yesterday. We started a series on Advent, focusing in on the word HOPE in a message from Malachi 4:4-6. In the sermon, I tried to show how God was working in these final words of the OT to prep us for Christ and His coming.

After the AM service, we had the 1st of 2 information meetings on the 2011 budget. These meetings allow the congregation to gather and discuss the budget with leadership. We did one yesterday, will have one December 5th and then will ask for congregational affirmation on the 12th. Big changes in this year’s budget are some monies to update our web page, monies to help us achieve our goal of a safe children’s area through background screenings on workers, and monies reallocated in our international missions line items.

In the PM, we gathered to serve one another by “decking the halls” or “hanging the greens” with lots of great fellowship.

This weekend was also busy for me serving the May family. Fred May passed away last Friday, November 26th. I was privileged to serve the family today, encouraging them from Jesus’ words in John 11:25-27.

It’s been a full weekend, but a great time to find hope in Christ.

The Rhythm of Gratitude

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Having preaching through Colossians in the past year, I was amazed at the number of times that book called us to be a grateful people. At one point in chapter 3, it seems like every verse was calling us to gratitude:

3:15 – Be thankful.
3:16 – …with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
3:17 – …giving thanks to God the Father through Him (the Lord Jesus).

What is the reason for this? Paul understands that if we are going to seek Jesus Christ above all things (3:1), put off the old self (3:5ff) and put on the new self (3:12ff) then the atmosphere in which this grows best is one of gratitude.

So, this thanksgiving, rather than putting on a one day show expressing thanks to God for all the creature comforts you have, why not go deep and express gratitude to God for what He has done to redeem you so that you can no longer live for yourself but for Him who died and rose again on your behalf. Give thanks to God.

Weekend Recap – Christ Alone/Be Thankful

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This weekend had numerous highlights. On Sun AM, I preached on Colossians 2:6-7. The sermon was titled Christ Alone. This overview of Colossians sought to plant us as a church firmly in the Gospel-Centered camp. We want to be defined by the Gospel and be Gospel people.

In the evening, we gathered for a church wide Thanksgiving meal. Good time. Always a highlight thinking of how God has blessed us as a church. Hope you have a great week abounding in thanksgiving because of the amazing truth of the Gospel.

Weekend Preview – Christ Alone! / Give Thanks

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As we prep for another Lord’s Day, tomorrow we plan to dive into the book of Colossians one more time. Colossians beats the drum pretty loudly of gratitude. This is because gratitude is closely tied to the Gospel. In Colossians 2:6-7, we hear a call that living a Gospel-centered life is the path to being thankful and, deeper, living a life that honors Jesus as Lord. In the AM sermon, I plan to overview the Gospel that comes through Christ alone.

In the PM, we will have a special time as a church at our Annual Church-Wide Thanksgiving Dinner. This is such a special time every year. I have many great memories of this. We will also be collecting a special offering to advance the Gospel in Australia. So, plan for a great, Christ-exalting Lord’s Day at Crestview.

Pastor Mark’s Daddy Christmas Tips

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Are very helpful and online at The Mars Hill Blog:

1. Dad needs a plan for the holidays to ensure his family is loved and memories are made. Dad, what’s your plan?
2. Dad needs to ensure his family is giving generously during the holidays. Dad, who in need is your family going to adopt, bless, and serve?
3. Dad needs to carve out time for sacred events and experiences to build family traditions that are fun and point to Jesus. Dad, is you calendar ready for December?
4. Dad needs to not let the stress of the holidays, including money, cause him to be grumpy with Mom or the kids. Dad, how’s your joy?
5. Dad needs to make memories and not just give gifts. Dad, what special memories can you make this holiday season?
6. Dad needs to manage the extended family and friends during the holidays. Dad, who or what do you need to say “no” to?
7. Dad needs to schedule a big Christmas date with his daughter(s). Dad, what’s your big plan for the fancy Daddy-daughter date?
8. Dad needs to schedule guy time with his son(s). Dad, what are you and your son(s) going to do that is active, outdoors, and fun?
9. Dad needs to help get the house decorated. Dad, are you really a big help to Mom with getting things ready?
10. Dad needs to ensure there are some holiday smells and sounds. Dad, is Christmas music on the iPod, is the tree up, can you smell cookies and cider?

These are all great tips. We have plenty of ways to serve your families at Crestview as well:

Thanksgiving Dinner, Sunday Nov 21 at 6PM
A Thanksgiving Offering to advance the Gospel in Australia
Hanging of the Greens, Sunday Nov 28 at 6PM, where you and your family can serve others
An Advent Series of Sermons, beginning Sunday AM, Nov 28

Honor Christ by leading your families well this holiday season.

Weekend Recap – Suffering & Discipline

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Yesterday, because of my study leave, Graham Hill filled the pulpit here at Crestview. His sermon, Following Jesus In Suffering, from Mark 8:27-37 and further thoughts from 1 Peter 4 is online. I really appreciated this word and really felt that it challenged us to joyfully embrace all that God has for us in following Jesus as our Lord.

In the PM, we continued working through Thabiti’s book and read mark 7: A Healthy Church Member Seeks Discipline. Our group had a great discussion and really sought out some healthy application of ways we can embrace both formative and corrective discipline in the local church.

What a rich Lord’s Day…now, for grace to live it.

The Past Week

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I know it was a slow blogging week for me (with my last post coming nearly a week ago recapping the weekend of 11/7 at Crestview). Last week, my leadership team gave me the privilege of a study leave in STL. I spent a few days there, studying a lot in the Covenant Seminary library. They were a great help to research I was doing on the book of Hebrews, prepping to preach that in 2011. I had many ambitious goals to attain last week and by God’s grace nearly all of them were complete. I had hoped to completely read through a commentary, but didn’t get that done. The big items of extended meditation, prayer and study on the book (Hebrews) as well as the develop of AM & PM preaching plans with appropriate Scripture Memory emphases were completed. So, I am still digging out of being gone, but very grateful for my time away.