Below is a preview of Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer

Across North America many churches are experiencing explosive growth because they are learning to connect with their communities. Pastors and churches are breaking the cultural codes of their communities. People are responding to biblical faithful and culturally relevant outreach.
Breaking the code means discovering the principles that work in every context, selecting the tools most relevant for your context, and then learning to apply them in a missionally effective manner.
There is not just one white, young, cultural code to be broken. Every culture needs to be exegeted [de-coded] for the gospel.
Breaking the code is a missionary’s work, and it should be seen [even in North America] as a missional process. A commitment to the integrity and authority of the Scripture, combined with a passion for reaching people to whom you are called, requires a commitment to prayerfully create a plan and strategy to reach your community.
Code-breaking churches must be indigenous in their context, and indigenous churches look different from culture to culture.


Attendance for August

1st Sunday 242
2nd Sunday 276
3rd Sunday 285
4th Sunday 297
5th Sunday 242

Average is 268

Gather Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim

Promises

This past Sunday, Jeff preached on "Covenant" then we eyewitnessed Jon & Karen Ives make a covenant at the end of the service as they became husband and wife. Promises. How many have I made, and how many have I broken?

I was reminded this morning by someone about God's promises. Today was I day that I needed to remember:.

Isaiah 44:22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free."

Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Matthew 28:20 And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Jeremiah 29:13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans-I will come to you.

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. will advise you and watch over you.

John 6:40 For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day."

Psalm 37:39 The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

2 Samuel 22:31 God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking

I could go on with scripture. This is not a complete list that is recorded in God's word.

Ask your self this question that I have asked myself the past weeks:
Have I been remembering Satans lies or God's promises. Why has it been easier to see the faults of men and not the promises of God. Is it because we see what we are looking for?


Gather, Grow, & Go


Pastor Tim

Study

When Matt & Andrew were younger, I helped coach their Soccer & Baseball teams. One of the things that always stood out to me is that parents would drop their kids off for practice, but never invested in practicing with their kids at home.

The result was that the child couldn’t perform on game day to the parents’ expectation, and the parent(s) would get ripped out of the frame because “we” haven’t taught the child to shoot from the 3 point line.

What about bible study? I would guess that not many of us have been taught very specifically how to study the bible. I want to share a few tips with you in this blog update

Reading Old Testament
Read the complete Old Testament at least once a year. As you read, note in the margins any truths that you want to remember, and write down separately anything that you don’t immediately understand. Questions that you can not find answers to, become starting points for more in-depth study, using commentaries and other reference tools.

Reading New Testament
Read one book at a time repeatedly for 30 days or more. This will help you to retain what is in the New Testament and not always have to depend on the concordance to find things. Try this with 1 John. Write on index cards the major theme of each chapter, and use those as you re read. This will help you develop a visual perception of the book in your mind.

One of the things that has me so hyped up about our Life Groups, is the new bible study curriculum from http://www.lifebiblestudy.com/ . I hope that if you are not part of a Life Group, you will contact me, and I will get you into a group. We still have space available for you!

Pastors Blogs
Lastly, I want to refer you to (Dying Church) Pastor Jeff’s & (Missional Church) Pastor Brian’s blog for this week, just incase you don’t go to them on a regular basis. http://www.jeffhickman.blogspot.com/ / http://www.briangeorge.blogspot.com/

1 John 2:5-6
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Gather, Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim

Scripture

Scripture

How has scripture affected your life today? Do you view scripture as a historical note, or do you see it as the very word of God? Is reading the bible part of the things that you “check off” your to do list? Is it even on your list? As teachers taught in the temples of Christ time here on earth, it is said that children were taught the sweetness of the Torah (the first writings of the Old Testament), by placing honey on the scroll, and the children would take their finger and dip the honey from the scroll, place it to their lips and say “His Word is sweet like honey”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says:
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(NKJV)

Profitable for Teaching (what is right)

Profitable for Reproof (what is wrong)

Profitable for Correction (how to get right)

Profitable for Training in righteousness(how to live right)

Scripture has the potential to make us adequate, equipped FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.

Scripture is complete and is all that we need to have a right relationship with God. We don’t need a vision. We don’t need a new revelation or a voice from heaven.

Daniel Webster (1782-1852) emphasized the importance of THE TRUTH: "If truth be not diffused, error will be. If God and His Word are not known and received, the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy. If the evangelical volume does not reach every hamlet, the pages of a corrupt and licentious literature will. If the power of the gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land...corruption and darkness will reign."

I have witnessed some good, well intentioned Christ Followers make some pretty bone head decisions in their lives, and the one thing that seems to come to the surface each time, is when God’s word is absent in a persons life, Satan is pretty quick to replace that void with a “Holy” looking substitute, that when consumed, damages that person and their witness.

Last Question:
So, why are we listing to Oprah & Dr. Phil for answers to Truth and Life?

2 Timothy 3:16-17
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
The Message

Gather, Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim

Doing Life Together

Wow!
GroupLink this past Sunday was amazing. I want to thank everyone evolved in setting up the sign up areas, but more importantly I know that many of you had soaked the whole event in Prayer. The response reconfirmed to me that God is again moving people to Himself, and maturity and commitment is happing. By saying that you want to be in a Life Group, you are saying “YES!, I want to strengthen your hand in God, and I need you to strengthen my hand in God”. Not all share that ordination from God as truth, but God’s word is clear. The question that we must ask ourselves is “who’s hand can we strengthen in God today?”

I want to encourage the 124 (adults = 78% adult membership) of you that set aside your fears and took the first step in sharing life with others, in order to Grow toward a right relationship with Him. The next 2 weeks Satan will plant crazy thoughts in your mind that you must deal with, like “why did I sign up for a Life Group?” Make No Agreements with Satan, and don’t get robbed of a major blessing in your life, by NOT doing life with others.

1 Samual 23:15-16
15 So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. 16 Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.

Gather, Grow, and Go
Pastor Tim