This Sunday is part 2 of GBCK's Faith, Connection, Life series, a series about our vision, mission and values. At GBCK we are all about developing our faith, deepening our connections, and devoting our lives to God's mission.
Here's a preview of part 2:
Title: Deepen your connections
Main Passage: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)
Main Thought: We are created for relationships
• God created us in his image. Bearing his image means we are created for relationships.
• Sin has broken our design for authentic relationships evidenced in an increasingly narcissistic culture.
• The Gospel restores us to our original design and intention: Love God, love others.
• Three ways the Gospel restores us:
1. Movement: from inward to outward, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers…” The gospel doesn't drive us toward ourselves; rather, the progression of "obeying the truth" is to love your brothers.
2. Measure: from shallow to deep, "love one another deeply..." 'Deeply' is a measurement word. Two thoughts about loving deeply: a) to go deep with anything takes time. The difference between a six inch hole and a six foot hole is time. You 'take time' spontaneously and intentionally; both are needed. b) 'deep love' is limitless, unconditional love. I put so many limits and conditions on my love. To love deeply I need the love of Christ, not my insufficient love.
3. Motivation: from purpose-driven to Gospel-driven, "...from the heart." Deepening connections is not about getting rid of loneliness, or getting something out of someone. It's not about robotic obedience to scripture or a church's vision statement. Connection and relationship is a heart response to the incredible work of the gospel and the grace and mercy extended to us by the Father through Christ.
Message preview for April 25.
"Party Time", part 4 of Crazy Love series.
Main Idea: It's crazy that we celebrate in the Father's grace rather than suffer in his wrath.
Main Text: Luke 15:11-32 - The father's feast.
Main Points:
• We are always being sold the newest upgrade or improved version of a product. We often want to upgrade and improve our lives. Six of the 10 best selling books of 2009 were self-improvement books.
• Many treat Jesus as an upgrade to their lives. That is, adding Jesus to your life will improve your life. The truth is my life doesn't need an upgrade, it needs an overhaul, transformation.
• Jesus didn't come to upgrade our lives, he came to change our lives.
• The party represents the Father's salvation and the change that happens in our lives.
Four ways the Gospel changes us:
1. Joy: My condition is changed from lost to found, so my joy is "in Christ" not in my circumstances.
2. Gratitude: thankfulness isn't a means to get something, it's a response to something that's been done for us. My response to the Gospel is gratitude - "thankful in everything."
3. Grace: I am no longer a "doer" trying to ascend to and attain God's grace; I am a recipient of grace, a beneficiary, no longer the object of the Father's wrath. My response: good works, "invest and invite" evangelism.
4. Full: my satisfaction is no longer anchored in the temporal, material, or emotional. The "Bread of Life" sustains me and satisfies me - I go to the party and I am full.
We have some great questions coming in for our "Rock the Doc" feature that's part of our parenting series at GBCK. These questions will be answered by psychologist, Dr. Hale Akamine on February 21 and 28.
Here's a sample of some of the questions:
• What do I do when my child (4 years old) get so angry after being spanked? I talk to him softly and don't spank him in anger - yet he reacts with yelling and screaming.
• What are some ways/ideas to help teach my children empathy, and compassion? They are young but I want to start before it's too late.
• When do I bring up sex to my children? And how do I teach it in a biblical manner so they know it's sacred?
• When do you let your child make their own decisions whether or not to quit an activity? I have a child (age 6) in piano, and he tells me he wants to quit. But I see he can play if he practices and sometimes enjoys it. Should I give in to his wishes?
• When should you teach your children about sex?
• How concerned should we be about our son's tendency to play with "girly" toys?
• When should we talk about sex to our young kids?
I can't wait to hear how Dr. Hale will answer these questions! You may submit your questions here.
"Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." (Proverbs 22:6)
For part 3 of our FAQ series we will answer the question, "Why do I need to go to church?"
If you think you need to go to church to be a good person, become more spiritual, or reserve your spot in heaven, then you don't need to go to church. There are lots of good people who don't go to church. Many people are in touch with their spirutality outside of church. And going to church will guarantee you a place in heaven no more than sitting on an airplane will make you a pilot, or going to McDonald's will make you into a Big Mac.
So, why go to church?
From my early teens to my early 20's I was pretty disengaged from church. I attended church, but I wasn't there, if you know what I mean. I mostly went out of obligation and because I liked a girl (she's my wife now). It wasn't until I turned 22 that I discovered I needed to go to church. When I think back, the need to go to church stemmed from a simple yet life-altering decision: I decided to follow Jesus.
It was this decision that caused me to need to go to church. I admit, I haven't always been happy with church, or I haven't always felt like going to church. Yet my commitment to follow Christ goes deeper than man's faults or how I'm feeling. In short, if I'm committed to following Jesus I need to go to church.
This Sunday we explore how following Jesus and going to church cannot be exclusive to each other.
Let me also say that at GBCK we try hard to make church a comfortable and compelling place for people to meet Jesus. This includes those who are discovering, or re-discovering, a relationship with Jesus.
There are many reasons not to go to church. Yet the ONE reason to go is found in the decision to follow Jesus who "loves us as if there's only one of us." (Augustine)
Incredible start to the week with a couple of meetings with key leaders. What I admire about these leaders is their willingness to say the hard thing. And because they are willing to do so, they help sharpen me as a leader and, in turn, make GBCK better. You wouldn't call these meetings "feel good" meetings, but they are so vital for the health of our leadership team.
Here are some observations about saying the "hard thing":
1. Each leader took time to think about what they wanted to say. Rather than speak from raw emotion, they took time to pray, think, and even sleep on their thoughts.
2. They said the right thing in the right way. Sometimes you can say the right thing in the wrong way and it sours the conversation. Each leader said their thoughts in a way that was clear, forthright, and respectful.
3. When someone is willing to say the hard thing it shows they care; their heart is in it.
4. It's never personal, never. In the end, we're still friends.
5. Saying the hard thing is always a risk because you don't know how the other person is going to react. Still, it's a risk worth taking.
As I said, these types of meetings are never comfortable, but in the end, it's saying the hard thing in love that makes us better.
For part 3 of our FAQ series we will answer the question, "Why do I need to go to church?"
