Foundations for the Future

Foundations for the Future – Creating a Future

Creating family – Ephesians 6:4, 3:14-21 (part two)

Creative:

1.  having the quality and power of creating
2.  resulting from originality of thought, imaginative 

Training means there is a specific:

•         goal

•         methodology

•         result

Training’s Goal:

“for this reason” – “that you may be filled with all of the fullness of God”

Goal: To train your children so when they are adults, they will walk with Jesus and influence others to do the same.

Training’s Methodology

•         prayer

•         specific exercises for specific traits/skills

•         repetition

•         motivation

Key areas of training:

•         “inner man”

•         faith training

•         servant hearted

•         evangelism/missions

•         church life – body life

Training’s result

•         “filled with the fullness of God”

•         see a God “who is able”

•         participate in a church as the glory of Christ

Sermon: April 29, 2012

Pastor's Pick for May

The Pastor's Pick for May is "Family Driven Faith" (Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk With God) by Voddie Baucham, Jr.

Here is a quote from the back of the book, "More teens are turning away from the faith than ever before: it is estimated that 75 to 88 percent of Christian teens walk away from Christianity by the end of their freshman year of college. Something must be done.

Family Driven Faith equips Christian parents with the tools they need to raise children biblically in a post-Christian, antifamily society. Voddie Baucham, who with his wife has overcome a multigenerational legacy of broken and dysfunctional homes, shows that God has not left us alone in raising godly children.

This bold book is an urgent call to parents-and the church-to return to biblical discipleshp in and through the home."

The Spiritual Gifts bookstore will once again have these books available for purchseduring the month of May. There telepone number is 605-1775. I look forward to our next discussion on Sunday, June 3rd.

Foundation for the Future - Creating a Future

Foundation for the Future – Creating a Future

Creative family - Ephesians 6:4, 3:14-21

Creative:

1.  having the quality and power of creating
2.  resulting from originality of thought, imaginative 

“in the training and admonition of the Lord” is a goal worthy of both definitions

Training means there is a specific:

•         goal

•         methodology

•         result

Training’s Goal:

“for this reason” – “that you may be filled with all of the fullness of God”

Goal: To train your children so when they are adults, they will walk with Jesus and influence others to do the same.

Training’s Methodology

•         prayer

•         specific exercises for specific traits/skills

•         repetition

•         motivation

Foundations for the Future Plans          

April 22 – “Creative Family” –  church-wide baby shower for A Woman's Place

April 23 – church-wide daily prayer emphasis

April 27 – church-wide Friday fast 

April 29 - FFF offering in Sunday am services

Key areas of training:

•         “inner man”

•         faith training

•         servant hearted

•         evangelism/missions

•         church life – body life

Training’s result

•         “filled with the fullness of God”

•         see a God “who is able”

•         participate in a church as the glory of Christ

Sermon - April 22, 2012

Foundations For the Future - Creating a Future

Foundations for the Future – creating a future

creative faith – why?
In order to reflect Jesus the Creator, the church as "the body of Christ" must create in accordance with His purpose and power.
Ephesians 3: 14-21

God is the Creator
Genesis 1:1
John 1:1-4
salvation = creation 2 Cor. 5:17

God made us to be creators
Gen 1:26 - 28
John 14: 10 - 14; spiritual gifts

the "Body of Christ" must reflect Christ
why we structure and teach the way we do

Foundations for the Future Offering - April 29
Focus:
• expenses for development of special needs area
• physical expansion of First Care facilities
• debt reduction - especially with future campus expansion
• digital sign possible in the near future

Foundations for the Future Plans
April 22 – “Creative Family” – church-wide baby shower for A Woman's Place
April 23 – church-wide daily prayer emphasis
April 27 – church-wide Friday fast
April 29 - FFF offering in Sunday am services

Do you Believe in the Resurrection?

Do you believe in the resurrection?
The key to faith in Jesus Christ
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

the human situation: questioning
Loss of life purpose
Anger at God- lost expectations
Fear for future
No direction

Jesus: He answers questions
Came in person
Answers Thomas' doubts
Loving
Power over situation
Blessings for faith

Belief: it is not…
Serving for your expectations
Work for God
Religious knowledge or background

Belief: it is…
Surrender to Jesus and His purpose because of His love and power over everything

Do you believe in the resurrection?

Thoughts from My Sabbatical

I'm glad to be back!!

Over the next few weeks I'm going to post some thoughts from my sabbatical. I shared some of my thoughts in my article this month for the Akansas Baptist News..................

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were on vacation in Virginia. We had the pleasure of visiting Montpelier – home of President James Madison. He is often credited with being the “Father of the U.S. Constitution.” Being a lawyer, I must confess it was a moving experience to stand quietly in the room where President Madison spent months thinking and planning for a radical new form of government.

The event we now call the Constitutional Convention was held throughout the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia. The country was struggling and riots, protests, and chaos dominated the headlines. While others were protesting, Madison went to work. He retired to Montpelier to study and think, asking “How can we govern ourselves?” He spent months researching and studying. He studied every form of democratic government throughout history to determine what works and what does not. He studied history, philosophy, and even researched scripture for insight into how humans function in a society. There he developed “the Virginia Plan” which provided the framework for our Constitution. No one asked him to do it – it simply needed to be done. He was a patriot.

Standing in that room, I was humbled by the commitment to attack what must be done. I was awed by the creative force which drove him to develop such a masterpiece. It was a short step then to ask myself if I am a creator. As a Christian, I should be a creator. To reflect genuinely the image of Jesus, we must be creators. What could your church do if you took it upon yourself to study and develop a ministry that touched lives? Who could be reached for Christ if we became creators?

What is an issue facing your church? Find a place and spend sometime before the Lord seeking a plan. Be creative and develop a ministry which reflects our Creator and Savior. Jesus stated unequivocally, “Greater works than I do you shall do.” Too many people want to save God money. Too much time is spent nitpicking when we could be creating. It is amazing to stop and consider the impact on your church when you create for God’s glory and then spread of the Gospel. It simply needs to be done.

Palm Sunday Message "Go Back to the Cross"

GO BACK TO THE CROSS - Romans 5:1-11

Jesus Christ did not come into the world to get us to behave ourselves! He came so that we might know Him.

What does the Cross mean to you?

REMEMBER THE PURPOSE FOR THE CROSS (vs. 1, 9)
The cross is where eternal change happens

REALIZE THE POWER IN THE CROSS (vs. 10)
“much more”

RELEASE THE POTENTIAL IN THE CROSS (vs. 11)

DON’T WALK AWAY FROM THE CROSS


Sermon by Pastor Dick Avey