Evangelism is Introducing People to Jesus.

To be perfectly honest, many of us see Evangelism as a duty, an unmet need, even an area of unsuccessful personal experience.  Even if we are familiar with the Bible, we may not especially see Evangelism as a “gift”. 

Over the next two weeks, we will be comparing God’s role in Evangelism with our role.  We will be answering these questions and more:

• What is God’s heart for Evangelism?
• What “counts” in Evangelism?
• Are you serious, does God really want me to do Evangelism, doesn’t He have a better plan to reach the World?
• How does a “Praying Church” do Evangelism?
• What will Evangelism cost me?
• How can I get started?

Come and join us on Sunday at 5 PM as we CONNECT in shared space at 5413 Blue Ridge Cutoff, and bring a message on “Evangelism: Following the Spirit”. 

Feel free to take a “sneak peek” at the Scripture passage.

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What is a “Good Pastor”?

In the modern American church, we tend to lump together a variety of roles under the title of “pastor”.  Oftentimes we find it convenient to use that title for church staff who focus on adminstering, leading, teaching, and preaching, among other responsibilities.

Over the next two weeks, we will be looking at the spiritual gift of pastoring, and considering the parallels between the roles of a shepherd and a pastor.  We will be answering these questions and more:

• How can I overcome wounds caused by pastors who did not meet my expectations and needs?
• What does the Bible say about this spiritual gift?
• Is the pastoral ministry limited to church staff, or can anyone exercise pastoral gifts?
• Where can these gifts be developed? In a family? Small Group? Congregational setting?

Come and join us on Sunday at 5 PM as we CONNECT in shared space at 5413 Blue Ridge Cutoff, and bring a message on  “Pastoring: Feeding God’s People”.

Feel free to take a “sneak peak” at the Scripture passage.

Feel free to answer this question below: “What do you look for in a good pastor?”

Good Preaching is all about God.

Over the past few weeks, we have been exploring a message called “Praying for Spiritual Gifts–Preaching:  Multiplying God’s Glory”.  This has been a “mini-series within a series” on Praying for Spiritual Gifts.

This week, we conclude the mini-series by summarizing 7 features of Good Preaching:

Good Preaching is:

1) given as a gift from God

2) to glorify God

3) by proclaiming the Kingdom of God

4) in response to God’s directions

5) through a sacrificial pouring out of the preacher by God

6) to build people up not by tickling their ears but by calling people to to God’s plan to take up their Cross and follow Jesus

7) in an environment of mutual submission to God.

Come and join us on Sunday at 5 PM as we CONNECT in shared space at 5413 Blue Ridge Cutoff, and bring a message on “Praying for Spiritual Gifts–Preaching:  Multiplying God’s Glory”.

Feel free to take a “sneak peak” at the key Scripture for the message at:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%204:1-8&version=NLT

Praying for the Spiritual Gift of Preaching

How do you feel about the spiritual gift of preaching?  Is that honestly one of the gifts that people both outside and inside the church find em·bar·rass·ing, or at least choose not to call by name? 

What do you think of when you hear the word “preaching”?  A lone angry voice over a megaphone on a crowded street intersection?  A sweaty palm pounding a pulpit and conjuring up eternal billows of fire and damnation?

In churches all across the United States this Sunday, a spiritual leader will stand up and present a meditation that may relate to the Bible, and that may be provided as an invitation to modify an attitude or a behavior.  What do you call that activity?  Presenting a message?  Teaching?  Sharing?  Is there a difference between those activities and preaching?

What questions do you have about preaching?  Next Sunday, we will answer these and more:

• What in the world is preaching? 
• What does the Bible say about it? 
• Is it possible that preaching was given for Bible days, but its value for today has somehow ceased?
• What is the difference between “good preaching” and “bad preaching”?
• What is the difference between “preaching” and other methods of communicating the truth of the Gospel?

Come and join us on Sunday at 5 PM as we CONNECT in shared space at 5413 Blue Ridge Cutoff, and bring a message on “Praying for Spiritual Gifts–Preaching:  Multiplying God’s Glory”.

Feel free to take a “sneak peak” at the Scripture for the message at:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%204:1-8&version=NLT

Praying for the Spiritual Gift of Teaching

This week, we have a real treat coming as Laurie Ducatte brings the next message in our series on “Praying for Spiritual Gifts”.  As a career nurse, Laurie has had the opportunity to learn and teach nursing skills in several different contexts, including:

• Classroom instruction
• Teaching “hands-on” clinical skills
• Modeling 

We can learn a lot about how God may be calling us to teach others how to follow Jesus by considering how He has used each of these diverse methods to teach us. 

We know that God has already gifted our church community with many skilled at teaching, such as Laurie!  And tonight we look forward to inviting God to stir up the spiritual gift of teaching in our congregation, in our community, and in the Body of Christ worldwide.

Come and join us tonight at 5 PM as we CONNECT in shared space at 5413 Blue Ridge Cutoff, and bring a message on “Praying for Spiritual Gifts–Teaching:  Sharing God’s Truth”.