Archive for March, 2010

Core Values – Nurturing a Passion for Global Impact

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Psalm 2:8(NLT)  Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.

1.             Getting the big picture

The great co-mission – redemption

Neighbor – City – Country – World

Evangelism – Social Justice

Go to the world – world coming to us – 6000 Burmese refugees in Fort Wayne

2.             Embracing new paradigms

New Zealand’s Martin Aircraft Company – Jetpack – range of 31 miles – 63 miles per hour – $100,000 – ultralight

New frontiers – internet over 1 billion users – mobile phone has changed our lives – internet paradigm shift 100 times greater than that of mobile phone – virtual world mission field – Church of Fools experiment 2004/41 thousand logged on for services – Life Church TV.com – virtual campus – 1400 on a weekend in 2007 – launched first mission trip in real world from people who met in virtual world – 70 million people in virtual world – 1% being reached – largest unreached people group – one of the founders of Church of Fools remarks – “it’s like someone has created a new town and no one has thought to build a church there”

We must be open to the creativity of the Holy Spirit

We must take advantage of technology – global opportunities

We must make redemption – front and center – relationally – social networks

3.             Making it personal

The significance of prayer

The release of resources – supported missionaries – projects

The opportunity to be “hands-on”

         Mike Mortensen – Uganda

Love Church/Stacey and Jodie Weaver’s Community Group

Wings/Associated Churches/Interfaith/FWSUM/Allen County Jail

New ministry launches

Tom Hinton – Dominican Republic/Haiti

Joe and Lana Fritz – prison ministry/street ministry

         Peter Connor – Water for the Children

Upcoming opportunities

         Rolling Thunder 2010

         Associated Churches Haiti trip

         Youth Dominican Republic/Haiti trip

 Psalm 2:8(NLT)  Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.

Core Values – Creating a Lifestyle of Worship

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

John 4:23-24(NLT)  23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

 1.             The connection between music and worship

 2.             The value of worship in spiritual battle

Jehoshaphat got news vast armies aligned against him –prayed and fasted – going into battle – put the singers in front

 2 Chronicles 20:21-22(NLT)  21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:  “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”  22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.

At the end of the battle – took three days to sort out the plunder – fourth day gathered in valley of blessing – returned with singing

Three dimensions affected – heaven – hell – earth

God’s will done in heaven – blocked in hell – interfered with on earth

Contradictory paradigms

         Worship on earth connects with heaven

         Strongholds from hell invade earth

Worship connection with blessings anchored in heaven and released on earth – breaks strongholds anchored in hell attached on earth

Prayer time in our Sunday services worship – atmosphere – power of unity – love – faith released

3.             The significance of practicing God’s presence

Psalm 46:10-11(NLT)  10 “Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world.”  11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

Some called to extended prayer/fasting/study

All called at times to extended prayer/fasting/study

Essential to recognize – we are the temple of God – the presence of God indwells us

Music and worship warfare are tools to access the presence and to leverage the presence – presence is there all the time – live in the presence

Spirit – soul – body – connect with your spirit – connected to God’s Spirit

This week – practice the presence of God – expand your awareness of that presence wherever you are – create a lifestyle of worship