What a weekend! We have been thinking about, praying for, and planning the events of this weekend for several weeks. So, what's up?
It's "THANKSGIVING IN SEPTEMBER!" No, we did not move the National Holiday two months ahead, we are having an, AREA-WIDE PARTY to personally and publicly give thanks to God for the gift of our beautiful and DEBT-FREE FACILITIES! Yea!
Friday at 6pm, we will have a catered banquet featuring great food, fellowship, and some fun! Don and Ruth Ann Lusk will be our special guests and Don will share a devotional message with us. We will have special music, a video of the building project, and - did I already mention - great food!
By God's grace and blessing, we have paid off our mortgage four years early! God has blessed us and our people have given sacrifically... now, it's time to PARTY!
The party continues on Saturday from 5 to 8pm with outdoor games, door prizes, food (yup, more food) and tours of the facilities. We have run ads in the local paper and invited everyone of whom we can think! It's is an AREA-WIDE PARTY, and we want YOU to be with us!
Sunday will begin with the baptism of the Poole family! We will have great music, prayer time, and a sermon from Acts 3:1-16.
At the end of the Morning Service, we will all be given a copy of the mortgage and we'll march outside and BURN THESE COPIES OF THE MORTGAGE on the backlot! Yahoo!
Because we will be so tired... estatically happy, but truly tired... we will not have services on Sunday afternoon or evening.
IT'S GOING TO BE A THREE DAY PARTY... FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY! I hope to see you there...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
It's Thursday, but Sunday's Coming!
We are praying for and expecting the Lord to bless us with a great Lord's Day on September 12th!
In the morning service, I will continue my series, "Understanding Acts - Body #2 Takes Over" with a sermon from 2:41-47 on the subject, "The Life Changing Power of the Gospel!" This passage is one of the clearest pictures in the New Testament of what happens in the lives of people who come to know the Lord Jesus as Savior and Lord.
3,000 brand new believers filled with the Holy Spirit and turned loose on the City of Jerusalem! WOW!
Sunday evening at 6pm, International Missionaries Ravshan and Lisa Uraimov will be with us to update us on their ministry and the heart-breaking events currently going on in his native Country. We have supported them monthly for over ten years and they have proven to be faithful and effective ministers of the gospel among multitudes of athletes around the world.
Please pray about bringing a very generous love offering to share with them at that service.
I hope to see you Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!
In the morning service, I will continue my series, "Understanding Acts - Body #2 Takes Over" with a sermon from 2:41-47 on the subject, "The Life Changing Power of the Gospel!" This passage is one of the clearest pictures in the New Testament of what happens in the lives of people who come to know the Lord Jesus as Savior and Lord.
3,000 brand new believers filled with the Holy Spirit and turned loose on the City of Jerusalem! WOW!
Sunday evening at 6pm, International Missionaries Ravshan and Lisa Uraimov will be with us to update us on their ministry and the heart-breaking events currently going on in his native Country. We have supported them monthly for over ten years and they have proven to be faithful and effective ministers of the gospel among multitudes of athletes around the world.
Please pray about bringing a very generous love offering to share with them at that service.
I hope to see you Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Ordinary Means
It was a joy today to preach Peter’s Pentecost Sermon from Acts 2:14-41. (If you are going to steal someone else’s sermon, for heaven’s sake steal it from an Apostle!) What an extraordinary servant, sermon, and number of salvations that day! Thank God for such divine intervention and blessings upon His people.
But, this has me thinking about how the Lord so often works through, “Ordinary Means” rather than “Extraordinary Means.” Reflecting on Peter’s sermon and the blessed and happy result, I am tempted (from time to time) to consider a day to be, “a down day” when we do not see immediate and quantifiable fruit from the efforts of our faithful people.
The truth appears to be that while the Lord continues to do extraordinary things in a few places, the vast majority of people who are saved and made disciples of Jesus are won and equipped one-by-one through the ordinary means of ordinary people doing ordinary things in ordinary churches.
I really don’t know quite what to make of this. I know that our job is to be faithful and let the Lord take care of the fruitfulness of our life and ministry, but I am always disappointed when we do not see more fruit from our labors.
I want all of us to do the ordinary things extraordinarily well. I want all of us to be extraordinarily faithful. I want the Lord to use all of us to accomplish extraordinary things through the life and ministry of our beloved church.
We have just experienced a great series of revival meetings. A great concert brought a great crowd of people to our church. We have just heard an update on our 2020 Vision for ministry in the future. I have just had the joy of being called as your Pastor-Teacher full time.
I want us to do the ordinary things extraordinarily well, and I join you in prayer that the Lord will choose to use us to do extraordinary things through us and for us for the everlasting Glory of His Son, Jesus.
But, this has me thinking about how the Lord so often works through, “Ordinary Means” rather than “Extraordinary Means.” Reflecting on Peter’s sermon and the blessed and happy result, I am tempted (from time to time) to consider a day to be, “a down day” when we do not see immediate and quantifiable fruit from the efforts of our faithful people.
The truth appears to be that while the Lord continues to do extraordinary things in a few places, the vast majority of people who are saved and made disciples of Jesus are won and equipped one-by-one through the ordinary means of ordinary people doing ordinary things in ordinary churches.
I really don’t know quite what to make of this. I know that our job is to be faithful and let the Lord take care of the fruitfulness of our life and ministry, but I am always disappointed when we do not see more fruit from our labors.
I want all of us to do the ordinary things extraordinarily well. I want all of us to be extraordinarily faithful. I want the Lord to use all of us to accomplish extraordinary things through the life and ministry of our beloved church.
We have just experienced a great series of revival meetings. A great concert brought a great crowd of people to our church. We have just heard an update on our 2020 Vision for ministry in the future. I have just had the joy of being called as your Pastor-Teacher full time.
I want us to do the ordinary things extraordinarily well, and I join you in prayer that the Lord will choose to use us to do extraordinary things through us and for us for the everlasting Glory of His Son, Jesus.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
It's Thursday, but Sunday's Coming!
Beloved Ones, I hope you will be able to be part of a very special day in the life of our Church this coming Sunday, August 29th. We are, as announced last Sunday, going to have a special called Member's Meeting immediately following the AM Service!
As I continue my AM Series through the Book of Acts, I will be preaching this week from Acts 2:16-17 on the subject, "An Old Man's Dream for His Church!" This will not be one of my typical expository sermons on the text of Acts 2, but, it will be an application that will give me an opportunity to share with you a Vision for our Church that I am calling the "2020 Vision."
For the past three and one-half years that I have served as our Pastor-Teacher, we have been focused on ways to reach the 20,000 people who live in and around the 20 Towns that are within a 20 mile radius of Atwood.
We have previously referred to this as the "Tri-County Vision" since Atwood is located at the intersection of three Counties; but, since three of these Towns, Ivesdale, Sadorus, and Pesotum are in Champaign County; I thought we had better find a more accurate name!
Because our goal is to put specific plans and programs in place in order to reach many of the 20,000 people in these 20 Towns by 2020; I believe we should identify this "Dream" as the "2020 Vision!"
At 6pm, I intend to begin, (as requested) a verse-by-verse study of the Book of Daniel. I hope you will not miss this follow-up to our recent study of the Book of Revelation!
I hope you will be with us this coming Lord's Day. I pray that we will be unified in our understanding of the Lord's will for our blessed and happy Church. I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!
As I continue my AM Series through the Book of Acts, I will be preaching this week from Acts 2:16-17 on the subject, "An Old Man's Dream for His Church!" This will not be one of my typical expository sermons on the text of Acts 2, but, it will be an application that will give me an opportunity to share with you a Vision for our Church that I am calling the "2020 Vision."
For the past three and one-half years that I have served as our Pastor-Teacher, we have been focused on ways to reach the 20,000 people who live in and around the 20 Towns that are within a 20 mile radius of Atwood.
We have previously referred to this as the "Tri-County Vision" since Atwood is located at the intersection of three Counties; but, since three of these Towns, Ivesdale, Sadorus, and Pesotum are in Champaign County; I thought we had better find a more accurate name!
Because our goal is to put specific plans and programs in place in order to reach many of the 20,000 people in these 20 Towns by 2020; I believe we should identify this "Dream" as the "2020 Vision!"
At 6pm, I intend to begin, (as requested) a verse-by-verse study of the Book of Daniel. I hope you will not miss this follow-up to our recent study of the Book of Revelation!
I hope you will be with us this coming Lord's Day. I pray that we will be unified in our understanding of the Lord's will for our blessed and happy Church. I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Growing Larger by Growing Smaller
Romans 16:3-5 “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house.”
Growing Larger by Growing Smaller!
As we look toward a very exciting future for our happy Church, I am thinking of an easily overlooked reality faced by every group of Christians. That is, the best way for a Church to grow larger is by intentionally growing smaller! Huh?
Of course, I am speaking about the phenomenal growth power and potential of involving people in small groups. Every study, every survey, and every piece of empirical evidence proves that the more people are involved in a small group of caring, sharing, and need-meeting people the more likely they are to both stay involved in their church and to bring others.
As we look to the future of small-group ministry in our beloved and happy church, we need for focus on three key things:
1) Lighthouses! This key outreach and assimilation strategy, (formerly called JOY Groups) can be the most effective and most productive source of new believers and new members in the years ahead. If you really want to reach lots of new people, you will want to be involved in this wonderful ministry!
2) On-campus Bible Study and Fellowship Groups, (also known as Sunday School) can be a truly effective small group ministry! If the people already involved in Sunday School will begin to see ourselves as a small group and begin to function as a healthy, ministering, and reproducing small group many new people will be added to our classes and to our Church over the coming years.
3) Off-campus Bible Study and Fellowship Groups must be developed in order to provide additional opportunities for evangelism, fellowship, ministry, and relationship building! These must be available to people from Youth through Senior Adults who love to get together with a small group of their peers and study the Bible, fellowship, and minister to one another.
Yes, there is a lot of work ahead. We will provide the training, assistance, and materials necessary to accomplish these worthy goals. I will have much, much more to say about this in the weeks and months ahead.
“They’re out there… let’s go get them!” Pastor Lanny
Growing Larger by Growing Smaller!
As we look toward a very exciting future for our happy Church, I am thinking of an easily overlooked reality faced by every group of Christians. That is, the best way for a Church to grow larger is by intentionally growing smaller! Huh?
Of course, I am speaking about the phenomenal growth power and potential of involving people in small groups. Every study, every survey, and every piece of empirical evidence proves that the more people are involved in a small group of caring, sharing, and need-meeting people the more likely they are to both stay involved in their church and to bring others.
As we look to the future of small-group ministry in our beloved and happy church, we need for focus on three key things:
1) Lighthouses! This key outreach and assimilation strategy, (formerly called JOY Groups) can be the most effective and most productive source of new believers and new members in the years ahead. If you really want to reach lots of new people, you will want to be involved in this wonderful ministry!
2) On-campus Bible Study and Fellowship Groups, (also known as Sunday School) can be a truly effective small group ministry! If the people already involved in Sunday School will begin to see ourselves as a small group and begin to function as a healthy, ministering, and reproducing small group many new people will be added to our classes and to our Church over the coming years.
3) Off-campus Bible Study and Fellowship Groups must be developed in order to provide additional opportunities for evangelism, fellowship, ministry, and relationship building! These must be available to people from Youth through Senior Adults who love to get together with a small group of their peers and study the Bible, fellowship, and minister to one another.
Yes, there is a lot of work ahead. We will provide the training, assistance, and materials necessary to accomplish these worthy goals. I will have much, much more to say about this in the weeks and months ahead.
“They’re out there… let’s go get them!” Pastor Lanny
Thursday, July 1, 2010
It's Thursday, but Sunday's Coming!
I am thankful for everyone who turned out this evening for our TNT dinner and Bible Study! Special thanks to Bill and Shari Fleming for the meal and to Bill Kleiss for staying in the Nursery for us! BTW - Pray for Bill and Jessie as they drive out to Salt Lake City this weekend to take some of Jessie's things to her new apartment.
Our study this evening was on, "Is Jesus Christ the only way to Heaven?" Next Thursday evening will be a time of follow-up and Questions and Answers on this vitally important topic!
This coming Sunday morning, I will continue my series on, "Understanding Acts - Body #2 Takes Over" with a sermon from 1:4-5 on the subject of "The Baptism with the Holy Spirit."
We will not have any afternoon classes, activities, or the PM Worship Service due to the Holiday.
I hope to see you Sunday morning with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!
PTL: Thanks for praying for Cory Schultz, he got the job he was praying about in Champaign!
Our study this evening was on, "Is Jesus Christ the only way to Heaven?" Next Thursday evening will be a time of follow-up and Questions and Answers on this vitally important topic!
This coming Sunday morning, I will continue my series on, "Understanding Acts - Body #2 Takes Over" with a sermon from 1:4-5 on the subject of "The Baptism with the Holy Spirit."
We will not have any afternoon classes, activities, or the PM Worship Service due to the Holiday.
I hope to see you Sunday morning with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!
PTL: Thanks for praying for Cory Schultz, he got the job he was praying about in Champaign!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Body #2 Takes Over!
Oh my, how well the Church did… at first!
41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:41-47 (ESV)
Everyone I know wants the Church to do that well again, and always! So, the question is with so many good people wanting the Church to be biblical in all we do and to experience the manifest blessings of God, why do we not see the Church experiencing the manifest blessings of God?
As the Lord allows, I will explore this question over the next twelve to eighteen months in a series of sermons I am calling “Understanding Acts: Body #2 Takes Over!” This coming Sunday morning, 6-6-2010, I will begin the series with an introductory sermon by that very title.
When God determined to save His people, He did so by taking on a human body in which He lived a sinless life, perfectly obeyed the Law, died an atoning death, and three days later rose again from the grave! Body #1, the Divine Person of Jesus Christ, perfectly did His Father’s will and work in the world!
Forty days after His resurrection, Body #1 ascended back to His Father where He now serves us as our Great High Priest. Thankfully, He did not leave us without divine aid. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer to enable and empower us to finish the work that Jesus Christ came to do.
The Book of Acts was divinely inspired to instruct us (both by precept and by example) in the way by which we are to accomplish the great world-wide task of evangelization we are both called and commissioned to accomplish.
It takes an average reader about 2.5 to 3 hours to read the 28 Chapters of the Book of Acts. I hope you will start reading now. Maybe reading for 2.5 hours at one sitting will work well for you. Or, maybe 5 sessions of 30 minutes each per week will be best. Either way, I hope you will read this “Christian and Church Growth Guidebook” over and over again as we work through this series in the coming months.
We begin this Sunday! Start reading now! I hope to see you Sunday morning with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and family and friends by your side.
41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:41-47 (ESV)
Everyone I know wants the Church to do that well again, and always! So, the question is with so many good people wanting the Church to be biblical in all we do and to experience the manifest blessings of God, why do we not see the Church experiencing the manifest blessings of God?
As the Lord allows, I will explore this question over the next twelve to eighteen months in a series of sermons I am calling “Understanding Acts: Body #2 Takes Over!” This coming Sunday morning, 6-6-2010, I will begin the series with an introductory sermon by that very title.
When God determined to save His people, He did so by taking on a human body in which He lived a sinless life, perfectly obeyed the Law, died an atoning death, and three days later rose again from the grave! Body #1, the Divine Person of Jesus Christ, perfectly did His Father’s will and work in the world!
Forty days after His resurrection, Body #1 ascended back to His Father where He now serves us as our Great High Priest. Thankfully, He did not leave us without divine aid. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer to enable and empower us to finish the work that Jesus Christ came to do.
The Book of Acts was divinely inspired to instruct us (both by precept and by example) in the way by which we are to accomplish the great world-wide task of evangelization we are both called and commissioned to accomplish.
It takes an average reader about 2.5 to 3 hours to read the 28 Chapters of the Book of Acts. I hope you will start reading now. Maybe reading for 2.5 hours at one sitting will work well for you. Or, maybe 5 sessions of 30 minutes each per week will be best. Either way, I hope you will read this “Christian and Church Growth Guidebook” over and over again as we work through this series in the coming months.
We begin this Sunday! Start reading now! I hope to see you Sunday morning with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and family and friends by your side.
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