Jul 16, 2013 | Prayer
I was recently praying with some friends about Everyday Church, when a vivid scene developed in my mind. They were praying about kids in our neighborhood and I envisioned the following:
It was a small town crowded with people. A battle was obviously waging– bullets, bombs, some sort of vicious attack. It made me think of a small town during World War II, like a scene from a movie. Adults were engaged in the battle, scattered all around in various degrees of harm. Some were fine. Some were mortally wounded.
And there were kids. Little kids and big kids. Walking around, playing, crying, hiding. Kids being wounded by this terrible battle raging around them.
In the midst of it all was a small group of Jesus followers racing around gathering up kids. They were obviously intent on caring for these kids, even in the midst of war with bullets flying by and bombs exploding around them. I don’t know if they realized how much danger they were in, but it didn’t matter… they were out to rescue those kids.
That was the scene. There wasn’t a grand victory or award ceremony or even an end to the battle. Just kids being crushed by war, and rescued by caring adults.
I’m not sure if you’ve thought of our city that way, but that scene is more true than we like to accept. There is a battle raging around us. There is damage being done, and it’s not just adults that are suffering. But there is a group of Jesus followers trying to do something about it, taking risks to care for the kids in our community.
Please pray:
– for the kids all around us, both those in our church and those in our community
– for the volunteers at Everyday Church who are committed to loving those kids and caring for them
– for Wendy as she leads our efforts to serve kids and families
– that Everyday Church would be known as a church that deeply cares for kids
– that through our love these kids would experience the deep, faithful love of God our Father
Jul 10, 2013 | Prayer
Today I want you to pray for your friends and family.
Summer is definitely here, and it’s a season when our circles of relationships get mixed up. God uses it to work in powerful ways! For example: on a trip to the beach, your family meets your work friends. At a picnic, your Everyday Church friends meet your roommates. While on vacation, you share with your family about Everyday Church. God often works in powerful ways when these relationships get all mixed up, especially when people see the body of Christ not in a worship service, but as everyday people.
So how can we be intentional this summer? We often use the following 3 steps in thinking about how to share our faith with others:
1st, Prayer – pray for your family/friends who aren’t connected with everyday church
2nd, Care – invite them to join you when you hang out with everyday church people
3rd, Share – share with them about what God has done in your life
Start with prayer! Take a moment right now and pray for at least 3 friends/family. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 5:16
Jul 5, 2013 | Prayer, Teaching
I received some of the best feedback I have ever received from a sermon after the first message of our new Joseph series. That afternoon, a 14-yr-old texted me to let me know she had read the Book of Genesis for the first time, and she was very excited about it. She had highlighted many passages, including Genesis 50:20 (read it– it’s powerful). Think about the potential bound up in her young life, and what a difference the guidance of Scripture will make for her.
Several other people told me Joseph’s amazing story prompted them to read it for themselves. That’s the real deal right there, friends. You never know what God might do through people who seek him and ponder his words!
Pray for this new series. Pray God would draw our people into his word, and help us understand it. Pray God would change our hearts and minds with his word. Pray we have “ears to hear” and put his words into practice. Pray we will be bold, gentle, wise, and ready to share God’s inspiring, challenging, freeing, life-giving words.
Word,
Chris
