The Story of You was a challenging series because we asked you to consider your own spiritual journey - how it needs to be shared, how you can make it your own, the friends you need to accompany you, and today - how you can’t really know yourself until you know God - and you can’t know God until know you know His heart - and His heart is with the least of these.
So ask God to put the least of these - the littlest of the little - on your radar.
Confession time - I woke up today with a sinus headache. I felt lousy. I’m sure that part of my energy drain was the big adjustment my family is going through with my first born going off to college. Plus, to be honest, groups and the need for Spiritual relationships is not the easiest subject to tackle.
But God was very gracious to me - I got through it! Plus, we had a great crowd - the specific numbers we’ll know tomorrow.
I keep thinking God is telling us “I have something important I want to do at ADBC on this next leg of the journey.” So let’s be ready!
What a great day today! We had great attendance, even with the rumbles of thunder. But best of all we had several people tell us they were ready to take the step of baptism. We’ll be following up with them this week - keep those conversations in your prayers.
Here’s the basic thoughts on baptism:
1. Baptism helps make our faith our own because we are telling others our faith is real.
2. Baptism helps make our faith our own because our faith is affirmed by the church.
3. Baptism helps make our faith our own because we are marking our spiritual experience with an experiential symbol.
4. Baptism helps make our faith our own because we are welcomed into the family of faith - that celebrates the transformation that is occuring.
If you haven’t made that step with Jesus, pray about it. It is something God wants you to do - IF you have accepted Jesus.
I have been blown away by attendance this summer. I cannot believe that we’ve run well over 100 people above last year; consistently. I don’t know if it is high gas prices keeping people at home and coming to church, or if God is really sending us a message to get ready for something pretty amazing this fall.
As I shared during First Sunday, last night, it is important for us to always keep in mind that gifts of attendance growth are gifts of grace from a sovereign God. We don’t know why God chooses to use us, we are simply grateful and humble.
I think pride is one of the main things that can undo a church. When a church takes pride in themselves, instead of giving glory and praise to God, they then are declaring that they are dependent on their own strength. That is never a good idea!
For those of you who were unable to make First Sunday I would like to share with you some of the things that I think are ahead for our church.
We are going to have to keep learning who is out there and who God is calling us to reach. We want to be a welcoming and including church. We want to continue to keep our global reach and keep our partnership with Africa strong.
We are looking at completing additional parking before schools starts that we will be well positioned to receive those who will be coming to investigate our church. If God truly brings more people to us, we are going to have to be flexible on space. Some classes and offices might have to be moved around.
Our critical need as a church is still for leadership. We want to excel at recruiting and training and motivate leaders, but we have to have leaders to recruit, train and motivate. God has a role for you as a servant. I hope you will find it, pray about it, step up and do it.
Here is the last piece from First Sunday. We do want to stay tightly focused on our mission, which is to help as many people as possible take their next step toward Jesus Christ. There are a lot of other opportunities for our church, and they are good, but we have to focus what God’s unique calling for us is.
It has been an incredible two weeks. We had a great VBS - about 23 kids indicated an interest in taking their next step toward Jesus. Eric and his team did a great job with the kids and Nathan and Leandra did a great job with the students. On Thursday night we had over 900 people on campus.
Then 43 students and adults left for World Changers in Brunswick, Georgia. I went with them for my first World Changers experience. I was on roofing crew and re-aquired some basic hammering skills.
While I was gone, our staff team performed superbly - they all did a great job covering two funerals.
I was a little tired coming back into this Sunday - five and half hours of sleep each night for seven days will do that. But we had a great day. Attendance remains strong - this Summer - Let’s see what God will do in the fall!
God is amazing!
First, great ongoing response to Catalyst series. The central point - if God is working in your life, something should be changing. If not, why?
Second, great attendance - no final numbers but over 1,000 - amazing - this is 100 to 150 people more than last year! Plus 19 first time guests!
Third - celebrated Jock’s 40th birthday. What a great partner in ministry and a great asset to ADBC.
Fourth - VBS started tonight. Ton of students for Middle School. Lots of kids moving around the building, being excited about Jesus - fantastic.
Fifth - and most important - one person in 11 came forward to profess faith! Another man stopped me afterwards to say he too wanted to be baptized. We have a great God!
What a great day! Clay did a great job talking to us about peace. I appreciated how he shared with his personal struggle as he wrestled with the decision to take a new position at Shandon - and how it came down to praying until he felt a sense of peace.
Clay made reference to the fact that he talked through the decision with me. My conviction is that if one our ministers is really sensing God leading him to another position of service, I want to help and have honest conversation. After all, if God is really moving in a situation, shouldn’t we trust that God is also working in our lives and at ADBC? I really value the trust and honesty we have in our staff leadership.
Great to see a son and step-father take their next step and declare their faith in Jesus through baptism.
I had chance to visit with the New Balance Bible Community Group today. A great BCG group of young married couples - that values supporting each other and sharing the life and faith journey together.
Eric also got me up leading music during Xtreme Kids. It was high energy and made me wish I was 10 again - for many reasons!!
Plus great attendance - we’re running about 150 people more this summer over last - makes me wonder what’s ahead for the fall.
I love ADBC - you are a great church!
Sunday had to be one of the best days of life - really!
First, great attendance and giving - especially for the first Sunday of June!
Second, got to tell one of my favorite stories - about the courage of a monk named Telemachus, who took a stand in the name of Christ.
Third, it was graduation recognition. This is always a special day, but to have a chance to shake the hand of my own son and celebrate his graduation from high school was a thrill beyond words.
Then, to be surprised by the anniversary video celebrating my 14 years at ADBC - wow! Thanks to Sarah Lee, Richard Lee, and Gina for doing the hard work of pulling it together. I have only one question - what happened to my hair?
First Sunday was great as well - It always touches me when we do Deacon ordination. To see the church come forward and lay on hands - what a great moment.
Thanks ADBC for 14 great years - and keep those horses saddled - we never know where God will take us next!
What a great day the Sunday of Memorial Day. We had over 100 more people at ADBC this year as opposed to last. Wonderful to celebrate the baptism of two folks in the first service. Jock was on vacation but worship was still moving and wonderful.
I know the cookie invitation was a little unusual for many of you. But I am convinced that one the things I don’t do well and churches in general don’t do well, is celebrate. Look through the Old Testament - all those feast days and festivals are God’s way of saying, “Come aside. Celebrate me! Give thanks. Take time away from work and all your responsibilities to simply rejoice!” I promise I saw more smiles at the end of the service than just about time I remember.
That was my whole point - chose joy in life and in your walk with Jesus. It will make a difference! Like Nehemiah, celebrate the fat pieces!
This Sunday, the Games of Life series continues. I’ve been working on it today and have found some amazing truth in the book of Nehemiah - about the having joy as we learn God’s truth. I hope you will be here. I know it’s Memorial Day weekend - but you and I both still need to hear from God!
