Plantation Notes for 4/02/08

 

Worship & Prayer

–        He Lives

–        Reflect on Luke 24:13-35, the Road to Emmaus.  Jesus is alive and well, and working on multiple fronts simultaneously

–        Praises from 1st Sunday after Easter

o        8:00 a.m. couple who were with us last Sunday – they received one of the Easter flyers that were passed out.

o        New youth – invited another youth

o        Four members who have been missing-in-action for awhile returned.

o        Lynn – met by Mike & Marian Stephens in dog park – already Christian, but has multiple contacts in deaf community, and by partnering with Sydney, will be able to expand this ministry with several new people who will be able come and worship through sign language.

o        One of the people prayed for in our prayer triplets, was here to help with the pancake breakfast along with his wife

o        Additional first-time and return guests

o        Easter flyer led to conversation with Valerie during softball practice on Monday – one Christian looking for a closer church, but the other recognizing her need, with both Christians working together to help her and her daughter

–        Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

o        Pray for these & others you know to experience that amazing grace

–        Choruses of “Breathe” and “Draw Me Close”

 

Share peace, sit with small groups

 

Testimony – Ed (from Cheryl’s phone)

God led Ed to Community of Hope last Wednesday night.  He came in asking for prayer, and that has led to an amazing testimony of transformation.  Cheryl has been able to have some ongoing conversation with Ed since he has returned home to Colorado.  Since last week, he has been able to start taking steps toward God.  The opportunity Cheryl has had to minister to Ed has been a great blessing and affirmation that God can and will use her testimony.  Tonight, Cheryl asked each of us to pray that God will bring someone to us to minister to.

 

Reflection – Most of the key to why new church plants are so much more effective than existing churches in reaching the lost is simply a mindset, established by the Holy Spirit.  The mindset is: “I am an ambassador for Christ wherever I go.  God has uniquely & exclusively equipped me to touch certain people with His love.  How can I do that today?”  The more that this mindset takes root, the more of these opportunities to reach the lost we will have.

 

Feedback from questionnaires:

There were three things that were common themes in the responses that Pastor Dave received:

  • Practical tool building & training
  • Power of testimonies
  • Ways of reporting Plantation content to congregation (bulletins, announcements, newsletter)

In addition, a suggestion was made that there be a day time meeting that would reach a different group of people.  Please pray about this so that we can discern God’s will for these meetings.

 

Video – “The Truth” created by Youth Specialties

It is important that we know what we believe.  In this video, the same words are used twice with a different inflection and order, and the meaning is totally the opposite.  In the first reading, there are a series of falsehoods, but when you turn the reading upside down, you get the truth.  Be sure to watch the video twice.

To view, go to:

http://www.youthspecialties.com/NYWC/resources/07storyline/

Scroll down the page to the video called, “The Truth.” 

 

The prayer partner list was passed around.  Are there people to add?  The more people we have involved on the praying end, the more people we can have involved on the celebration end of things.

 

Teaching/application

 

  1. Everyone can and should have answers to a few basic questions ready at all times.   “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” – 1 Peter 3:15
    1. If someone asked you, “Well, what exactly is a Christian?” could you put it into one sentence? 
    2. If the question is “How do I become a Christian?” do you know right now what you’d say? 
    3. If someone comments to you, “I don’t understand how Jesus’ death helps me today,” or something similar, do you have a simple illustration ready to share? 
  2. Goal tonight is to have an answer ready for each of these questions, and for everyone to have practiced at least once in giving the answer.  If we can’t do justice to all three, we’ll save one for next week.
  3. We’re not in any way minimizing the role of the Holy Spirit.  We’re obeying what the Holy Spirit said in telling us to be prepared.  When we have basic tools in place, the Holy Spirit can tailor them to fit the specific situation.
  4. A (not the only) one sentence definition of a Christian: “someone who trusts that Jesus died and rose from the dead for him/her.” 
    1. “trust” vs. belief – illustration of Blondin, the daredevil who walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope pushing a wheelbarrow.  Many believed that he could do it; few trusted enough to get in the wheelbarrow.
    2. “Jesus died and rose from the dead” – therefore, he’s fully human and fully God.  Points to a historical event where God came to us, an event which has data to support it (i.e. it’s “real”).
    3. “for me” – not merely reciting a religious fact, but pointing out a relationship.

Note: not only do we need an answer, but our feeling and passion should come through.  Also, in our Society, it is important that Jesus be part of the definition.  It is faith in Jesus that sets Christians apart from other religions. 

  1. In one minute, ask a partner, “How do you define a Christian?” and give a one sentence answer.  Then switch. 
  2. How to become a Christian (The bridge illustration):

 

    1. We were created by God to be in a special relationship to Him (name on left side of page).
    2. But things we’ve done and failed to do have created a gap/chasm between us and God. (put “God” on the right side of the page, and draw a gap between the two).
    3. God saw that nothing we could do would bridge the gap, so He came to us in Jesus, who was both fully God and fully human (draw cross spanning the gap).
    4. By accepting the gift He’s given us, we can be reunited with God.
    5. Be ready to pray a prayer of acceptance: i.e. sorry, thank you, please.  “I’m sorry for the things I’ve done and failed to do.  Thank you for coming to me in Jesus, and doing for me what I couldn’t do for myself.  Please come into my life, fill me with your Holy Spirit, and help me live for you.”
  1. Take 5-7 minutes and share with a partner, using a note card.
  2. Reminder that things are happening beyond personal evangelism tool kit:
    1. soon – maybe next week, we’ll begin working on some simple hospitality tools for our church
    2. Mary Fischer is here – devoted full time to helping us implement our vision
    3. Cell groups forming with specific goals – i.e. Mattingly cell becoming a focus group on “The Family Friendly Church”, developing recommendations.
    4. Strategic planning team forming, specifically working on communication, new member integration, and environment.
    5. Opportunity to pray with people at Pima County Fairground Vietnam Veterans Wall and 9/11 memorial, April 20-27, 4:00 – 9:00
  3. Prayer triplets (notecards from last time)

o                    No more than three people!  If your group has more, divide in half this week.

o                    Take notes to remind you on specifics to pray for:

1.      Review successes and failures of the last week

2.      Pray for upcoming opportunities in the next week