Firm Foundations Prep
I am team teaching two classes during the next firm foundations track. What was I thinking?! So I have to figure out how to divvy up an 8 week overview of Genesis through 2 Chronicles with my co-teacher Dan Miller for OT Survey. I also have to work out the best way to train marriage mentor couples together with John A. and Fred.
Letter Writing
Writing letters to a few people I have given advice and counsel to in the last few weeks. I have been remembering them in prayer. I want them to know that. And I want them to stay committed to working on the things we talked about.
Missions Conference
We are thrilled to be hosting our friend Pastor Victor Levashov. Victor will be coming in from Kabardino-Balkaria where RBC has been sponsoring the church planters institute through Slavic Gospel Association. He will be preaching here (through a translator) on October 16.
Thankful for the Season
I am so thankful that candy corn season is upon us. What a great time of year! I am alternating my snacking between the big pumpkins and the original tri-color candy corn. And staying away from the deformed-deranged-never-should-have-been-invented candy corns with the chocolate bottoms.
Sermon Prep
Picking Acts 1 and 2 apart and putting it back together in an effort to better understand church growth.
Do you know Acts 2:40-47? It is the description of an amazing church. In this church 3,000 are saved in a single day. People are both devoted to sound doctrine and deeply committed to care for each other. It is the church we want to be.
Acts 1 and 2 present eight scenes that culminate in Acts 2:47.
Eight scenes –
1:1-3 Prologue
1:4-8 Jesus promises power
1:9-11 Jesus ascends
1:12-14 Jesus’ people pray
1:15-26 Peter makes a decision with the disciples
2:1-13 Jesus’ promised Spirit arrives
2:14-39 Peter preaches the gospel
2:40-47 The Church grows
Culmination –
Praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
I am trying to find everything that God the Father, Jesus the Risen and Ascended Son, and God the Holy Spirit are doing in these chapter to make 2:40-47 happen in the church. I love making observations and connections within the text.
Giving a word in season
You ever hear about something that you normally would not know about? After hearing it, do you ever wonder, why did God let me hear that? This has happened to me lately. I now know of a couple of different situations where people are discouraged. I feel like I heard about these things so that I can contact them and do something to help.