no crystal ball..

May 14th, 2012 No Comments

no crystal balls..

no flash forwards..

no skipping to the end of the book..

no foreshadowing..

in LIFE..

We are the sum of our choices as we either submit to God, ignore Him, or try our best to discern His direction (sometimes getting it right..sometimes blowing it)..

and all in all..it is complicated..

To think we have it all figured out is utterly ridiculous..things change in an instance..whether God changes them, allows them to change, or life circumstances flip the change-switch to ON..the fact remains that our plans are just that, plans..they may make me feel confident..but they are still just plans..

13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. (Eph. 4:13-16)

I like to know what is going to happen in the future..I like to make plans..and I would like to think that I have thought through every scenario, played every decision out to the Nth degree, uncovered every obstacle and appropriately planned for each and every outcome..but..that is impossible..

and frustrating..

So, I’m left to trust..trust that scripture is true and that Jeremiah 29:11 is written for me:

11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.“

I will seek God and do my sincere best to submit all my ways to Him..so seek first His kingdom..then let the chips fall..

I will make plans based on that submission and do my homework..then let the chips fall..

I will look at as many scenarios as I possibly can..plan contingency strategies if necessary..and then let the chips fall..

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Trusting..Seeking..Hoping..

6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deut. 31:6)

 

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Sunday Sermon :: Revolution/Helping Finish What Jesus Started [Easter]

April 9th, 2012 1 Comment

[Scott Moore, Lead Pastor :: April 7 & 8, 2012]

 

The resurrection was the beginning of His revolution.

As a kid we kinda perceive the Christ story as a movie; Christmas felt like the beginning of the movie and then Easter felt like the end of the movie.

Think back to Rocky and the end of the movie. Rocky wins..we get a little fired up..then the movie is over and we go on about our life.

But that’s not the story of Jesus or his disciples..

  • Andrew crucified on an olive tree
  • James was stoned
  • another James beheaded
  • Peter/Bartholomew was crucified upside down
  • Philip was stoned to death
  • Thomas was speared to death in India

The disciples didn’t quit or give up when Jesus died. They fought on and shared the gospel and even died for their faith in Christ.

Easter is not the end..it is the beginning of the revolution.

What is the heart behind the revolution?

This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:1-9 NLT)

How does He take the message to the entire world?

Through the local church.

Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her.

God loves multiplication! (verses on multiplication)

  • Gen. 1:22
  • Gen. 1:28
  • Gen. 3:16
  • Gen. 8:17
  • Gen. 9:1
  • Gen. 9:7
  • Gen. 16:10
  • Psalms 107:38
  • Jer. 30:19
  • Ezekiel 37:26
  • Acts 2:40-41
  • Acts 8:1
  • Acts 27:28

Jesus commands his disciples to multiply.

It doesnt matter your personality..your gift mix..your wiring..

He tells you and me to multiply.

 

So..what do we do?

Exactly what the church has always done..

What Jesus has always expected from the Church..multiplication.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT)

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)

So we’re gonna go and love our neighbors and build disciples…..

  • Next 25 years..100 campuses..100 more communities who know Christ..
  • Next 10 years.. 10 campuses..that are also multiplying and reaching the world for Christ..
  • This year.. Jackson Lake Campus!

If we are able to do this then we will begin to see hope for the hopeless.

We will see depression diminish in these communities.

We will see the crime rate go down in these communities.

We will see the suicide rate go down in these communities.

We will see healthier communities when Christ’s church is central in those communities.

[There will be a $150/month line item in the JLC budget to start campuses in India. For every multi-site campus ECC starts here in America there will be one simultaneously started in India. In 4 years the new campus in India will be self-supportive yet the ECC multi-site campuses WILL CONTINUE to give $150/month to start MORE new campuses in India.]

The most important one right now is Jackson Lake Campus.

We are praying for 100 volunteers to commit to start the JLC on August 12, 2012.

You have a lot of questions..we have a lot of questions..

LET’S BE A PART OF SOMETHING UNEXPLAINABLE!!!

 

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Leader, Are You Listening?

April 5th, 2012 No Comments

I think leaders are internally wired to believe that their idea is the right one.

By definition a leader is out front.

And by being out front a leader will be the first of her team to encounter obstacles hindering her from getting to the goal.

Good leadership keeps the goal in mind constantly, is consistently communicating why the goal is important, and tirelessly listens to the team, sifting the good ideas from the ok ideas, making sure that all of the implemented ideas are still taking the team closer to the goal.

In 2 Samuel 20 Joab has the goal of capturing a rebel leader, Sheba, who has the potential to destroy the kingdom and David’s reign. Joab is a strong, courageous, and driven leader. He is the man who gutted Absalom, David’s son, as he hung from a tree. Joab is described as a ruthless killer but a man who was loyal to David. So, when the leader of David’s army, Amasa, didn’t respond quick enough to the goal of capturing Sheba, Joab stealthily stabs Amasa and kills him during an unarmed greeting between the two of them.

Joab had his mind set on the goal. Amasa was an obstacle. Obstacle removed.

Joab chases Sheba, the rebel leader, into the fortified city of Abel. Here is where Joab’s leadership makes an about-face (he will listen before acting). The army besieged the city (which means they closed up all entrances and exits to the city, not allowing anyone in or out, not allowing food and provisions in or out, essentially starving the entire city to death.)

Joab had his mind set on the goal. Abel was an obstacle. So Joab was prepared to destroy the entire city to meet his goal.

But then a “wise woman cried out from the city.” One person. One voice. One small idea. One quasi-peaceful solution.

The wise woman suggests that the people inside the city walls cut off the head of Sheba, the rebel leader, and deliver it to Joab. That would spare the entire city death and insure that none of Joab’s men would die in battle. Win-win.

Joab had his mind set on the goal. He was prepared to let an entire city die (innocent men, women, and children) to meet his goal. He knew his idea would work. But, the wise woman suggested another option. Her idea still got them to Joab’s goal. Joab listened. Goal accomplished.

Sometimes it only takes one voice..and a leader willing to listen..
Are you willing to be that voice?
Are you willing to be that leader?

 

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