Random Christian stuff like my thoughts.
Sunday Evening Service Idea and Information
Evening Service Idea
Reason: Our reason for doing this is two-fold. We went to a few churches in Fresno trying to find somewhere we could call home. The more we looked, the more disappointed we became. We haven’t been anywhere that felt like home, except this church. We desire something that this church currently doesn’t offer, an evening service filled with contemporary worship and a topical message. The second reason for wanting to do this is that we feel our church is lacking services for young adults. We desire to rectify this situation.
Purpose: Our purpose for doing this is to provide a place for people of all ages to worship God. We want the people who attend this service to be involved in the planning, preparation and promotion of this evening service. We desire to do God’s Will and be involved in a ministry. We feel that this ministry is God’s Will for us at this point in our lives.
Atmosphere: As you walk in the lights will be dim and you will smell coffee and cookies. You will see people talking with each other and sitting at tables. You can pour yourself some of the free coffee at the table in the back, and get a plate of cookies if you want. No dress code is required, and casual dress is encouraged. There will be candles on each table and stage lights turned down low.
Sample Agenda: 7:00 p.m. – Arrive and enjoy coffee and snacks
7:15 p.m. – Welcome
7:20 p.m. – Worship begins
8:00 p.m. – Worship ends/Message Begins
8:30 p.m. – Dismiss
Worship Team: We don’t necessarily want the best musicians, but people who have a desire to worship God. We want people who normally wouldn’t worship God on a stage. This will most likely not be the same 5 people every week, but a rotating team of worshipers.
Message: The message will be short, less than 30 minutes. It will be topical, convicting and to the point. It will hit current events, everyday struggles and be focused on doing God’s will in your life. Sample messages – How to Benefit from the Bible – Song of Solomon walkthrough – Making your Faith Real – How to make Great Decisions – Marriages that Survive Rough Seas (a Biblical look at marriage) – Developing Habits that will Change your Life – Finding and Using your Spiritual Gifts.
Closing: My wife and I have chosen to do this, through our fear of rejection, to challenge the Faith of people, as well as our own, who attend this church. We had a few ministry ideas in mind, but after a few weeks of prayer, this is the one we feel God is leading us towards.
Worship Leader Information
Worship Leader
Evening Service Idea
Worship Team Members: The Worship Leader will be responsible for choosing members of the band, developing worship teams and creating a rotating schedule if necessary.
Rehearsals: The Worship Leader is responsible for organizing a time and place for as many rehearsals that he feels is necessary. He will also be responsible for making sure the worship team members are on time and have ample time to set up and warm up. He will also be responsible for finding replacements when a worship team member cannot be at his scheduled Sunday night.
Music: The Worship Leader will be responsible for choosing songs that he wants to, with artistic freedom. He will be able to play them as he wants, adjust the lighting to create the desired mood and any other effects necessary.
Worship Team: We don’t necessarily want the best musicians, but people who have a desire to worship God. We want people who normally wouldn’t worship God on a stage. This will most likely not be the same people every week, but a rotating team of worshipers.
Setup/Teardown: The Worship leader will be responsible for the setup and teardown of the musical pieces. He may chose to have the Worship team assist in this, or assign others to this task.
Developing the Heart of a Champion
DEVELOPING THE HEART OF A CHAMPION
A Heart for Others
INTRO-Use Me Here
 What are some of your wants? A WANT could be described as the opposite of a need.
 You NEED food, clothes, and shelter…you don’t NEED a new car, although you may think you do.
In one way or another, we’re all selfish, if you ever want something other than food, shelter, and clothes, you are selfish. Selfishness isn’t always a bad thing, but…
Developing the heart of a champion means having a heart like Jesus, not selfish or desiring anything, until everyone else has enough.
The top things students WANT to be taught are:
#1 End Times
#2 Revelation
#3 Relationships
#4 Lust
But, if you are always taught what you WANT to be taught, you’ll never be taught want you NEED to be taught.
The first part of the lesson deals with needs…
NEEDS
People have PHYSICAL needs
Food, Shelter, Clothing, Physical safety.
John 9
Read John 9:1-12
Jesus spits on this guy and after that, tells him to go wash…always a nice thing to do after spitting on someone.
For this man, Jesus helped him with a physical ailment.
This is one of many of Jesus’ miracles; he performed them in a lot of ways, including turning water into wine…that was a party.
Another way was walking on water.
Most miracles were done to heal and show Jesus’ power, as was the one done for the blind man.
People have EMOTIONAL needs
To be liked, understood, accepted, loved, respected, etc.
What makes you say, “I love this church�? or “I have great friends�?? You are loved and accepted when at church, and liked and understood when around your friends.
Luke 19
If you grew up in church, you know the story of Zacchaeus. If you didn’t grow up in church, you missed a silly little song. Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was…he. Anyways, Zacchaeus was a short guy, if the Bible makes a point to say your short, you must be pretty small.
Read Luke 19:1-9
This guy Zacchaeus was a Tax Collector, the most hated profession amongst the Jews, and worst of all, he was a fellow Jew.
Tax Collectors in this day were very crooked, they would take a little for themselves, and a little for the government, and everyone knew it.
So Jesus looks up in the tree and says “Wee little man come down.�? No no no, he says, “Zacchaeus, come down, I’m comin over.�?
When Jesus spoke to the little man in the tree, he spoke to him by name, he didn’t say “Hey, Buddy, come on down.�? He said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately.�?
As someone’s name is written into the book of life, it doesn’t say “Some guy in California.�? Jesus doesn’t say “Oh good, some guy in California is going to Heaven.�? He says “Oh good, Mike is going to Heaven.�? Or “John is going to Heaven.�? Jesus knows each of us by name.
People have SPIRITUAL needs
To be forgiven and reconciled with God.
You may have heard someone’s testimony in which they talk about a God-shaped hole. What that means is that, when God created each of us, he left a spot for himself. Without Christ, you just have a void. People try to fill that void with drugs, relationships, sex, friends, business, and it never works.
In John 4, Jesus spoke to a woman who was trying to avoid the fact that she was lacking something in her life.
John 4:19 She changes the subject off of herself, and onto a completely different subject.
Have you ever tried talking to someone, and they changed the subject?
You may say, “Hey, wanna come to church with me on Wednesday?�? and they say, “I can’t, I have homework to do, by the way, what did you get on your test?�?
They avoided the question, just like the woman at the well.
Even other people will claim to be “religious�?. Being “religious�? is great, but without a relationship, its nothing.
There will be “religious�? people who stand face to face with God, and he will say “depart from me, I never knew you.�? Don’t be that “religious�? person, be sure that you have a relationship with the only person that counts, God.
BIBLICAL TRUTHS ABOUT SPIRITUAL NEEDS
• Every person needs Christ (Romans 3:9, John 3:18)
• God loves every person and has provided for their salvation (John 3:16, Romans 2:4) Read Romans 3:22- We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. Rom. 3:22
• God desires to save each lost person (1 Timothy 2:4, 1 John 2:2)
• God has chosen to give the message of salvation through those who have experienced what they share.
BIBLICAL TRUTHS ABOUT SPIRITUAL NEEDS
• He wants to change you in ways we can never change on our own. AND GIVE YOU A REASON TO LIVE
• He wants to give you a reason to live.
• He wants to help you do the right thing.
• He wants to give you a heart for other people.
• He wants to save your soul and take you to heaven with him forever.
What in the world is better than these 5 things?
How can I develop a heart for others?
1. Show GENUINE concern for others
People are going to care about you, until you care about them.
2. Share your STORY
All Christians have a story, and nobody will argue with your story.
Zacchaeus had a story, after receiving and accepting Christ, he gave half his possessions to the poor, and paid back everyone four times the amount.
3. Extend an INVITATION
Studies show that about six out of ten people will reject you, but that leaves four out of ten just waiting for an invitation.
4. Expect a variety of RESPONSES
Mark 4:4-8
5. Follow-up with the POSSIBLE (love) and ask God for the IMPOSSIBLE (prayer)
One last thought:
Consider it a privilege that God allows you to be a part of the process of REACHING people for Him. Accept the challenge, believe God for results, and rejoice over CHANGED LIVES.
Developing Accountability Habits that will Change your Life
There are 5 areas of your life, and my life that growth is possible. They are listed below.
Intellectual, Social, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual.
Today though, were talking mainly about spiritual growth.
Everyone here needs what I’m talking about, everyone needs at least one real friend, an accountability partner.
Here is the definition of Accountability
“Accountability�? is a Christ- centered relationship, which encourages spiritual growth and life change.
Accountability means having at least one other person that you can count on that will encourage you to grow spiritually and change your life.
This person really can change your life.
About 2 years ago, a friend and I would always go to the gym to work out. We’d always go at the same time, on the same days. Had I have just been going by myself, I would have skipped many times, but since he was there to hold me accountable to going to the gym, I never missed because I knew he would have been mad, and he never missed because he knew I would have been mad.
An accountability partner is just that. Someone who will be there to challenge you when you don’t want to be challenged any more.
On a slightly different note, it’s a proven fact in my life, and many people’s lives…You either become better or worse because of the friends you have and the people you hang out with.
Illustration about rock climbing:
One day, a few of my friends decided to go stay at one of their cabins up in the mountains, and they invited me. A few days later, we get up at about 6:00am and drive up to this cabin in the mountains, somewhere near a river.
To make this very long story shorter, one of the days we were up there, we decided to go rock climbing…good idea then…bad idea now looking back.
So first we hike down to the river, and climb the steepest rocks near the river, but still not too much of a challenge. Then one of my friends remembers there are some rocks at the top of a mountain…bad idea #1.
So we start on our way up this mountain…but it’s not just a regular mountain, its takes about 30 minutes to get to the top…but the catch is that it’s a strictly four-wheel drive trail. And we really found out why it was a four-wheel drive trail.
After about 45 minutes we got to the top, and we go to this small building at the highest point, and inside we find a forest ranger who sits up there all day and looks for fires in the forest. This forest ranger stays up there for 1 week during the month, and to get up and down the mountain…they send a helicopter in…that’s how steep this mountain was.
Anyways, as we were up there, we see these huge rocks that we decide to climb.
One of my friends is short and couldn’t reach all the ledges, and he only makes it about ¼ of the way, the second guy was a chicken and stopped then too. So its down to just me and my friend Ruben. After about 30 minutes of figuring how were going to get to the top of this rock, we decide we’ll shimmy around the open face of the mountain, and climb that side.
Bad idea #2.
As were going over there, we dislodge a rock about the size of a softball, and it hits the side of the mountain and bounces out and lands about 500 feet down, and disintegrates. This was a very steep mountain.
Finally after about an hour we manage to get to the very top, and we take a picture to document our stupidity, and then we can’t get down.
To get up we had to help each other, and now there is no way down except jumping about 30 feet.
Once again, we stand up at the top for about 30 minutes…this is as close to the sun as I have ever been…and it was hot up there. So instead of just waiting for heat exhaustion to set in, we decide to just go for it and jump.
They decide I will go first…bad idea #3…so I lay down on my stomach to try to get as close I can to the ground…our two friends on the ground move all the big rocks out of our landing zone, and I jump.
As I was falling I remember thinking…this fall is not nearly worth the reward for getting to the top…
I decided before the jump that as I hit the ground, I would try to hit with my feet to break the fall, the try to kind of roll so I didn’t break my legs.
Well, it didn’t exactly work like that because I wasn’t jumping at an angle, I was jumping straight down.
So as I hit the ground, my legs broke my fall…but then I just smacked the ground with my back and shoulder.
Then Ruben decides to try what I wasn’t able to do successfully…and he wasn’t successful either.
The point of this story is that if I were up in the mountains alone, I never would have done that…it wouldn’t have been fun by myself.
Look at Roman numeral 1. Accountability helps me tackle the problems I face. In the word “Accountability�? circle the word count.
Do you have a friend who you will be able to count on when times get tough? Someone who will climb the mountain with you, and not just sit and watch you fall?
These 5 numbers under Roman numeral 1 are the 5 benefits of accountability. If you don’t have them, it’s not a big deal; these are the ideal list to aim for when you have an accountability partner.
ON PAPER
Read Ecc. 4:10 – Relationships
Read Gal. 6:2 – Relationships
God wants us to have friends so that they can bear our burdens.
Everyone wants to be completely known, and still loved.
Would your friends still be your friends if they knew every thought you had, and knew everything little thing you did?
Read #2 on paper
ON PAPER
Read Ecc. 4:78
Read Prov. 18:24
I’m sure there aren’t too many guys who say “Ya, I really want to share my feelings and thoughts, and I still want to be loved�?
But eventually you’ll come to a place where you’ll really be glad you have an accountability partner…I promise.
Read #3 on paper
Everyone needs advice from friends…not companions.
The difference between friends and companions is what they tell you when you ask for advice. Friends will tell you the honest truth whether you want it or not…companions will tell you what you itching ears want to hear…even if it’s not the best for you.
Read Prov. 12:15
Tell story about sunglasses in restaurant.
That is a silly example but it illustrates a good point.
Right this down: A good friends advice should be listened to.
My friend saved me from embarrassment and sin…had I of not listened, I would have yelled at our waiter.
Read Prov. 12:15 again
Read #4
This isn’t talking about every day problems; this is talking about deep issues, divorce, abuse, and addiction, stuff like that.
Read James 5:16 emphasize, “so that you may be healed.�?
Why have an accountability partner? “So that you may be healed�?
Read #5
Read Prov. 27:6
Explain “friendly wounds�?
Read Prov. 27:17
Here are some practical applications:
Roman numeral 2
Read #1
This can be done with SAG 5
Read #2
Admit struggles, but you have to be real and honest.
Read #3
Ask questions, you must genuinely care though.
If you say “Yeah, I’d like to try this accountability thing�?, either let myself or someone you know and trust and get connected with an accountability partner today.
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