"Signs of Life: Community" (June 15, 2014)

In week two of our new series, "Signs of Life" we look at the account of the early church in Acts 2:42-47 and the committment to "Community" that was the foundation for the spread of the Gospel.  

In examining our own lives next to the things important to Jesus and modeled by the early followers, we must consider the role community outside of Sunday mornings plays in our journey with the Lord.

As you dig deeper into this week's passage highlighting the things important to the early church, perhaps consider some of these questions:

• When you think of "community" what do you think of?  

• What is a group or "community" that you are a part of that is meaningful to you?

• What about it is meaningful?

• Are you as an individual inclined TOWARD community or do you prefer to be alone?  Why or why not?

• Are there experiences in the past that have made you either long for or stray away from community?

• How have you connected with faith community outside of Sunday worship?

• Does it change your view of God to think of God as being social or relational (Father, Son, and Spirit)?

• What is something that could exist at our church that would help you connect with faith community outside of Sunday morning?

Sanctuary Service (w/ Jason Byassee)

Crossroads (w/ Vern Collins)



Have a blessed week!

Pentecost Combined Worship Gathering (June 8, 2014)

Image used with permission Wells Cathedral, Somerset, UK

All three of our main campus morning worship gatherings plus our Blackburn's Chapel family, came together for one time of worship to celebrate Pentecost.  Two of our pastors, Jason Byassee and Vern Collins preached on the power and work of the Holy Spirit.  

From Ezekiel 37:1-14 and the story of the valley of dry bones, Jason preached on the life-giving power of the Spirit.  

• Can you think of times when God has called you from something old into something new?  What are some of those times in your life?

• Have you ever experienced an "awakening" when reading the Word or hearing the Word preached?  Have you ever felt like a passage or a message has been written or spoken as if you are the only person alive...like it is for you and no one else?  Name one instance when that may have taken place?

• Do you feel like there are "dead places" in your life?  What might some of those be?

• What would it look like to allow the Spirit to call you to life in some of those areas?

And from Acts 1 and 2 we see that perhaps like breathing, the Holy Spirit is constantly moving in this rhythm of drawing us in and sending us out.  

• When have you felt "drawn in" by the Spirit of God?  Have you ever felt "captivated" by God in such a way that you felt like you just wanted to sit at His feet?  On the flip-side of that, when have you felt furthest from God?  Even in those times, is there evidence of God "calling you back?"

• Is there an area in your life where God is trying to send you out?  

• What is your Jerusalem (the place where you are)?

• What is your Judea (the outlying areas God may be calling you to)?

• What is your Samaria (the last place you want to be-or people you want to be with) that God may be calling you to take His hope to?

• Are you and "ends of the earth" person?  If you could go and serve God anywhere, where would it be and why?

Blessings on your time praying through and discussing some of these things.

Jason Byassee ("Bones")

Vern Collins ("In & Out")

"Encountering Resurrection: Peter" (June 1, 2014)

In our final week of our "Encountering Resurrection" series, we look at one of the most well known disciples: Peter, and his conversation with Jesus in John 21:15-25.  

In this encounter, we are brought face to face with what it means to allow ourselves to be invited into those challenging encounters with the Lord; what it means to allow Him to dig in to our past failures, and set us free into a new future.

• Think about your childhood: when was a time that you remember having to "come clean" about something you knew your parents would not be happy about?

• Now, think about small children and the "freedom" with which they seem to "own up" to things they have done (crayons on the wall, eating the dog's food, giving a self-haircut, etc).  What do you think happens between then and when we cease to be so free with our confessions?

• While the Lord is not drawing a confession out of Peter in their encounter, He is singling Peter out and dealing with him apart from the rest of the disciples gathered there.  How might you feel if you were Peter in this case?

• Is there an area in your life where the Lord is inviting you to "take a walk" with Him?  Are you willing?  If not, why are you holding back?

• Part of Peter's "reinstatement" (as it has come to be called) includes Peter being given responsibility in the work that Jesus has for him to do.  Where is the Lord asking you to take some "kingdom responsibility?"  What does that mean for the journey ahead of you?

We pray blessing on your time in the Word and your time in community wrestling through what it looks like in your life to follow Jesus.

Sanctuary Service (w/ Lindsay Long)

Crossroads (w/ Vern Collins)

"Encountering Resurrection: Paul" (May 25, 2014)

Week 4 of our "Encountering Resurrection" series has us in Acts 9.  

This week we look at one of the most important conversion stories in all of the New Testament, perhaps in all of history...the story of a man named Saul and his encounter with the power of the resurrection.  But what do we do with the fact that Saul, by the worlds standards, is the LAST person we'd choose to join this movement that is the church?  

We have to consider that perhaps we're much to quick to disqualify anyone from the hope of Christ and the fellowship of the church...

• Can you think of a time when have felt "disqualified" or left out of a group
• When and for what reason?

• Have you ever left someone out because they didn't "meet the mark?"
• What are the standards by which you judged such a person?

• History aside, why would Saul NOT a good choice for Jesus to call?
• On the other hand, why was he the perfect choice?
• How might thinking about it this way change the way you look at the people around you?
• Think specifically-is there someone in your life that you need to reach out to and build a bridge of relationship with that you have otherwise written off?
• What is keeping you from doing so?

• How might life look different for you if you began to believe that you were exactly the right person for God to use to accomplish His work right where He has placed you?

We pray fruit from your time together as a group and your time alone in the Word an in prayer.

Sanctuary Service (w/Jason Byassee)

Crossroads (w/Vern Collins)



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