- Great weekend of celebrating baptism and continuing with Joy Switch -- Part 4.
- Loved preaching the incredible truth of the Gospel, justification by faith, and the supremacy of Christ from Philippians 3.
- I was asked today who (what type or group of people) we attempt to target as church. Great question. My answer: anyone who has not heard or not understood the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- We reached our goal of having 125 small groups by 1/25 ... this was such a God-thing: we added over 40 small groups in about 2-3 months!!
- Thanks to our campus pastors, groups staff, and all the group leaders & hosts who stepped up and stepped out!
- We have started interviewing candidates for our Missions Pastor position. So excited about this position and the person God will use through it.
- Beth started back to work this week in Rock Bridge Student Ministry on a part-time basis :)
- Please pray for her as she eases back into work and more normal routines -- it is still flu season.
- So grateful and humbled that she is doing so well. Thank you for your prayers!
- First Wednesday is THIS week: Chatsworth/Dalton in the Wink Theatre and Calhoun at Gordon Mills Shopping Center.
- We finish Joy Switch this coming weekend at all campuses ... and we'll preview our next series -- very excited about our new series that starts February 9/12.
- Start praying about who you can invite to church with you!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Weekly Rundown {1.29.2012}
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Problems We Pray For
2012 has started fast and furious (the way we like it!). We've seen LOTS of guests coming and (just as important) coming back! Each weekend we are having multiple decisions for people to follow Christ and people are signing up to be baptized, to become members, to serve, to get in a small group, and in general, get connected to the Body of Christ at Rock Bridge.
When we experience rapid increases in attendance like the past 2 weeks, it can create problems ... good problems -- there are people everywhere! We pray for problems like this! We want MORE people in church because that means MORE potential for God to be worshipped, Christ to be followed, and people to be loved. However, we need your help to make sure we stay prepared for what God has planned. So here's what I'm asking:
1) Pray. Pray that God's presence is known through our services into people's hearts.
2) Put guests first. In Chatsworth, one extended family could not sit together because there were not enough empty seats!! We've had to add extra seats to Stage 123 the past two Sundays!!
Rock Bridge, you are bringing people to church with you ... AWESOME!!
3) Follow-up with guests. I received an email this week from a church member who mentioned 4 new families to Rock Bridge and wanted to make sure we were following-up with them! That is dedication to connection, and connection is our mission!!
If someone comes to church because you invite them then please encourage them, thank them, and as they are ready point them to next steps of salvation, small groups, serving, membership, First Wednesday, etc. etc.
Let's all of us help connect people from all walks of life to life in Christ!!
4) Keep inviting. If someone you invited has not responded yet, don't give up ... keep inviting and keep praying. Ask God to give you boldness and opportunities to point people to Christ and bring people to church. God loves to answer that prayer!!
When we experience rapid increases in attendance like the past 2 weeks, it can create problems ... good problems -- there are people everywhere! We pray for problems like this! We want MORE people in church because that means MORE potential for God to be worshipped, Christ to be followed, and people to be loved. However, we need your help to make sure we stay prepared for what God has planned. So here's what I'm asking:
1) Pray. Pray that God's presence is known through our services into people's hearts.
2) Put guests first. In Chatsworth, one extended family could not sit together because there were not enough empty seats!! We've had to add extra seats to Stage 123 the past two Sundays!!
Rock Bridge, you are bringing people to church with you ... AWESOME!!
- So be alert, be helpful to others, and be willing to ...
- Sit closer to the front to make it easier on guests who may arrive later because they are unfamiliar with parking, children check-in, campus layout, etc
- Sit somewhere differently than your preferred seat :)
- Attend another service time or venue that might be less crowded
3) Follow-up with guests. I received an email this week from a church member who mentioned 4 new families to Rock Bridge and wanted to make sure we were following-up with them! That is dedication to connection, and connection is our mission!!
If someone comes to church because you invite them then please encourage them, thank them, and as they are ready point them to next steps of salvation, small groups, serving, membership, First Wednesday, etc. etc.
Let's all of us help connect people from all walks of life to life in Christ!!
4) Keep inviting. If someone you invited has not responded yet, don't give up ... keep inviting and keep praying. Ask God to give you boldness and opportunities to point people to Christ and bring people to church. God loves to answer that prayer!!
For the renown of Jesus Christ in NW GA!!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Confessing Praylessness
Today during our staff prayer time (what we are starting to call "Staff Chapel"), we read Jesus' rebuke of His disciples for doing ministry without prayer (see Mark 9:14-29) --
"This kind can come out by nothing but prayer ... " [Mark 9:29, HCSB]
Then we all confessed why we fail to pray as Jesus taught: busyness, fear of disappointment, selfishness, dullness, lack of love, impure motives, uncertainty about God ... it was convicting and powerful at the same time.
We even recounted God's favor and blessings on our church and asked ourselves, "What if we prayed as Jesus taught?" WOW! The fact that God ordains prayer as a primary means of accomplishing His will is mind boggling and mysterious, yet exciting and joyous. The fact that we could be missing aspects of God because we fail to pray ... it all drives us back to prayer.
So we resolved/repented together to "stop" praylessness and to pray like little children.
My sons ask relentlessly and boldly. They ask with expectation. They ask persistently. And even when we say "no" or "not now", they accept my explanations, and then ask for something else. Their asking is a sign of their trusting; their asking is a sign of their relying; their asking is honoring to Beth & I as their parents.
No wonder God wants the faith of a child ... and perhaps, the "prayerfulness" of a child too.
Ask. Listen. Seek. Hope. Expect. Ask again ... and again.
"So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
[Luke 11:13, NLT]
Monday, January 16, 2012
Weekly Rundown (1.16.2012)
- Great to be at our Chatsworth Campus yesterday! Great environment, great volunteers, and great worship together!
- My wife went to church yesterday for the first time since in about 14 months!! So awesome to worship with her ... she loves praise & worship!!
- We are having LOTS of guests at our services -- Please be alert, be helpful (give directions, give up your "preferred" seat, answer questions, etc.).
- Spread the word about ways to connect: small groups, serving, 1st Wednesday, 2nd Wednesday Membership and Servolution (Dalton campus), etc.
- Our Missions Pastor search is narrowing down to under seven candidates. So excited about God's person for this role and the potential our church has to meet needs and share Christ locally and globally!!
- 2012 Mission trip dates are coming out. Check the web site frequently for more information.
- JOY SWITCH -- Part 3 is THIS week!!
- Who are you inviting?
- How is the daily Bible reading plan going?
- Don't forget: Rock Bridge PM (Thursday @ 6:30 pm) is in Stage 123.
- Please pray persistently for all our services and all God wants to do in & through Rock Bridge!
- JOY SWITCH -- Part 2 recap:
- What God is doing in and through me is greater than what is happening to and around me. This truth of the Gospel (Philippians 1:6) sustains my joy by giving me a "category" for my situations, setbacks, and successes. What God is doing is ultimate; what is happening in this world will not take my joy.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
10 Reasons to be Excited
10. Beth got an AMAZING report from her doctors in NYC this week. We are beyond grateful.
9. You invited a BUNCH of new people last weekend -- we had record attendance for non-Easter services!
Now what?! Keep inviting, invite people BACK with you, tell them about small groups, 1st Wednesday, membership, serving on a team, etc. Don't let up because God's Word PROMISES to fulfill its purpose.
8. Joy Switch Part 2 is this week! We will be in Philippians chapter 1.
7. You don't have to miss church if you work or are going to be out of town on Sunday! Why? Rock Bridge PM!
6. We invested > $42,000 in local, national, and global missions this week!
5. We've got some incredible videos, testimonies, and applications planned throughout Joy Switch ... don't miss church 'cause you don't know what you might be missing!
4. Our church is reading the Bible together for 25 devotional readings during Joy Switch. There is power in focus & unity AND there is great power in God's Word. Like our eyes, the Bible helps us see, perceive, and enjoy spiritual beauty.
3. We are making progress to reach our goal of 125 small groups by 1/25; but we are not letting up! If interesting in groups, email groups@rockbridge.cc
2. I love my church.
1. The tomb is empty!
9. You invited a BUNCH of new people last weekend -- we had record attendance for non-Easter services!
Now what?! Keep inviting, invite people BACK with you, tell them about small groups, 1st Wednesday, membership, serving on a team, etc. Don't let up because God's Word PROMISES to fulfill its purpose.
8. Joy Switch Part 2 is this week! We will be in Philippians chapter 1.
7. You don't have to miss church if you work or are going to be out of town on Sunday! Why? Rock Bridge PM!
6. We invested > $42,000 in local, national, and global missions this week!
5. We've got some incredible videos, testimonies, and applications planned throughout Joy Switch ... don't miss church 'cause you don't know what you might be missing!
4. Our church is reading the Bible together for 25 devotional readings during Joy Switch. There is power in focus & unity AND there is great power in God's Word. Like our eyes, the Bible helps us see, perceive, and enjoy spiritual beauty.
3. We are making progress to reach our goal of 125 small groups by 1/25; but we are not letting up! If interesting in groups, email groups@rockbridge.cc
2. I love my church.
1. The tomb is empty!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Rock Bridge in 2012
A preview for our church in 2012 --
Renewed and rekindled efforts to "reach people"
Reaching people was the first core value we came up with as a church in 2002. It is why we exist. It's why we don't have dress codes, confusing worship services; it's why we started Rock Bridge PM; it's why we have multiple sites; it's why we invest in local and global missions; it's why we want to multiply and create new small groups (new spaces for new people); it's why we have multiple service times; it's why we have host teams/coffee teams ... it's also why Jesus came and what He commissioned the church to do.
**Would you pray for God to use you to help connect one person to Christ and His church in 2012?**
As long as one person does not know Jesus or have a church family, our mission is incomplete.
Intentional Efforts to Increase Serving in our Church
We are saved from our sins and saved to serve God. We want to make serving part of what it means to be a member of Rock Bridge. We want people to enjoy the significance of being used by God for His purposes. Don't be deceived into thinking God can't use you or that it is "someone else's job"! We need passionate and committed people to make Rock Bridge happen. The Gospel of Jesus Christ creates those servants (see Ephesians 2:10) and the Church's job is to mobilize them for significant service!
**Look for an announcement soon about "SERVO-LUTION" and we plan to strategically simplify and improve serving/volunteering.
10-year anniversary
We reach double digits this year!
We anticipate an all-campus worship service to celebrate and mark this time!!
New teaching translation for our church.
For 10-years we have used the New International Version (NIV) 1984 translation as the primary Bible for teaching. The publishers of the NIV have since come out with two revised translations: the TNIV and the NIV 2011. The NIV 2011 is about 5% different than the 1984 translation. Changes in translations come as scholarship improves the understanding of ancient texts, archaeological findings provide more clarity, and technology enables greater collaboration among translators. Additionally, translators seek to ensure translations are able to be understood by people in today's world.
The challenge for our leadership and staff is that many of us are uncomfortable with some of the translation decisions made in the newer NIV versions. So when someone asks what type of Bible we use and then go buy that Bible, they get typically the 2011 NIV since the 1984 NIV is becoming less available and they also get a translation that is not as close to the original, inspired texts as we would hope. However, we do appreciate and value that there are now improved translations available since 1984.
We also remain firmly committed to the inerrancy of the Bible in its original manuscripts and value teaching from a translation that is as close as possible to those inspired texts but is also easy to read, understand, preach from, and memorize.
Right now, we are considering switching to either the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) or the English Standard Version (ESV). Both are excellent, committed to staying as close as possible to the original meaning of the inspired texts, and being readable in modern English.
Missions
We continue to strengthen our commitment to local and global missions. We are in the process of searching for a Missions Pastor to help further this commitment and expand our efforts to minister to people locally & globally in Jesus' Name.
We hope to take more trips overseas, partner to plant more churches, and look for opportunities to start future campuses in the coming year.
Radical Dependence
Finally, our resolve to live out the Core Value of Radical Dependence is as strong as every. If I survey my prayers for our church over the past several months, the overwhelming theme is that of reliance and dependence on the Holy Spirit. This dependence comes through death to self, repentance from sin, and prayer.
We are considering another 24/7 Prayer Service where prayer & worship are continual for an entire 24-hour day.
We realize that "apart from Christ" and His Spirit we can do nothing and in fact, come to nothing.
The Best is Yet to Come
I believe this with all my heart as I see in Scripture the overarching theme of hope that come from the promises of a faithful God whose love is steadfast. God is building His church, preparing His bride, saving the lost, rekindling the saved, using us as His ambassadors, and desiring us to expectantly wait, watch, pray, serve, and desire His presence.
So let's be expectant ...
Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. {Philippians 3:20-21}
Renewed and rekindled efforts to "reach people"
Reaching people was the first core value we came up with as a church in 2002. It is why we exist. It's why we don't have dress codes, confusing worship services; it's why we started Rock Bridge PM; it's why we have multiple sites; it's why we invest in local and global missions; it's why we want to multiply and create new small groups (new spaces for new people); it's why we have multiple service times; it's why we have host teams/coffee teams ... it's also why Jesus came and what He commissioned the church to do.
**Would you pray for God to use you to help connect one person to Christ and His church in 2012?**
As long as one person does not know Jesus or have a church family, our mission is incomplete.
Intentional Efforts to Increase Serving in our Church
We are saved from our sins and saved to serve God. We want to make serving part of what it means to be a member of Rock Bridge. We want people to enjoy the significance of being used by God for His purposes. Don't be deceived into thinking God can't use you or that it is "someone else's job"! We need passionate and committed people to make Rock Bridge happen. The Gospel of Jesus Christ creates those servants (see Ephesians 2:10) and the Church's job is to mobilize them for significant service!
**Look for an announcement soon about "SERVO-LUTION" and we plan to strategically simplify and improve serving/volunteering.
10-year anniversary
We reach double digits this year!
We anticipate an all-campus worship service to celebrate and mark this time!!
New teaching translation for our church.
For 10-years we have used the New International Version (NIV) 1984 translation as the primary Bible for teaching. The publishers of the NIV have since come out with two revised translations: the TNIV and the NIV 2011. The NIV 2011 is about 5% different than the 1984 translation. Changes in translations come as scholarship improves the understanding of ancient texts, archaeological findings provide more clarity, and technology enables greater collaboration among translators. Additionally, translators seek to ensure translations are able to be understood by people in today's world.
The challenge for our leadership and staff is that many of us are uncomfortable with some of the translation decisions made in the newer NIV versions. So when someone asks what type of Bible we use and then go buy that Bible, they get typically the 2011 NIV since the 1984 NIV is becoming less available and they also get a translation that is not as close to the original, inspired texts as we would hope. However, we do appreciate and value that there are now improved translations available since 1984.
We also remain firmly committed to the inerrancy of the Bible in its original manuscripts and value teaching from a translation that is as close as possible to those inspired texts but is also easy to read, understand, preach from, and memorize.
Right now, we are considering switching to either the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) or the English Standard Version (ESV). Both are excellent, committed to staying as close as possible to the original meaning of the inspired texts, and being readable in modern English.
Missions
We continue to strengthen our commitment to local and global missions. We are in the process of searching for a Missions Pastor to help further this commitment and expand our efforts to minister to people locally & globally in Jesus' Name.
We hope to take more trips overseas, partner to plant more churches, and look for opportunities to start future campuses in the coming year.
Radical Dependence
Finally, our resolve to live out the Core Value of Radical Dependence is as strong as every. If I survey my prayers for our church over the past several months, the overwhelming theme is that of reliance and dependence on the Holy Spirit. This dependence comes through death to self, repentance from sin, and prayer.
We are considering another 24/7 Prayer Service where prayer & worship are continual for an entire 24-hour day.
We realize that "apart from Christ" and His Spirit we can do nothing and in fact, come to nothing.
The Best is Yet to Come
I believe this with all my heart as I see in Scripture the overarching theme of hope that come from the promises of a faithful God whose love is steadfast. God is building His church, preparing His bride, saving the lost, rekindling the saved, using us as His ambassadors, and desiring us to expectantly wait, watch, pray, serve, and desire His presence.
So let's be expectant ...
Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. {Philippians 3:20-21}
Monday, January 2, 2012
Five Things to Remember This Week @ RBCC
1) Rock Bridge PM moves to Stage 123 this Thursday night @ 6:30 pm.
Please spread the word and tell people who work, travel, or otherwise don't/won't go to church on Sunday morning that Rock Bridge has a worship option for them.
2) We kick-off our new year series, JOY SWITCH, this weekend!!
Pray big, pray often, and pray bold for what God wants to do through this series!
Invite someone to church with you. Invite repeatedly and consistently. Don't give up ... God doesn't give up on us!
3) First Wednesday is THIS week!!
Start off 2012 with big prayers, passionate worship, and by remembering Christ's death through communion.
4) Be desperate for God.
Let's plead with God to demonstrate His power, declare His righteousness, and give us His grace this week and this year. We need Him more than ever. We need His unfailing love, His amazing grace, His mighty salvation, His holy presence ... we need Him. Ask God to use you, to use our church, to use our worship services, to use your small group ... to accomplish His purposes.
5) Be expectant.
Expectancy is faith in action ... and it honors God. Expectant people see God's hand and experience His presence. Abandon "do your duty", "check the box" religion. Forsake the tradition and the ritual of church for expectancy. See Him in His Word, His people, His creation, His Son, His Cross, His Spirit ... and let's be amazed THIS week at our God!
Please spread the word and tell people who work, travel, or otherwise don't/won't go to church on Sunday morning that Rock Bridge has a worship option for them.
2) We kick-off our new year series, JOY SWITCH, this weekend!!
Pray big, pray often, and pray bold for what God wants to do through this series!
Invite someone to church with you. Invite repeatedly and consistently. Don't give up ... God doesn't give up on us!
3) First Wednesday is THIS week!!
Start off 2012 with big prayers, passionate worship, and by remembering Christ's death through communion.
4) Be desperate for God.
Let's plead with God to demonstrate His power, declare His righteousness, and give us His grace this week and this year. We need Him more than ever. We need His unfailing love, His amazing grace, His mighty salvation, His holy presence ... we need Him. Ask God to use you, to use our church, to use our worship services, to use your small group ... to accomplish His purposes.
5) Be expectant.
Expectancy is faith in action ... and it honors God. Expectant people see God's hand and experience His presence. Abandon "do your duty", "check the box" religion. Forsake the tradition and the ritual of church for expectancy. See Him in His Word, His people, His creation, His Son, His Cross, His Spirit ... and let's be amazed THIS week at our God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)