Reflections: February 14, 2010

This week’s Reflection by Gary Keith, Executive & Teaching Pastor

 

Love for a Savior

 

I've been doing some more thinking about this idea of being a fan or a follower of Jesus. How easily we can become impressed with Jesus as we read the story of His presence on earth. His words and His teachings captivate our attention and challenge our very way of life. I think many people are fans of Jesus.

 

But I find it beyond challenging to be a devoted follower of Jesus. For sure that starts with belief and acceptance and allowing Him to be the one who controls our life. But do we really explore what it looks like to live the life that Jesus proclaims in the gospels? To love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; to love others as we love ourselves; to love our enemies. I realize we are all at different places in our faith journey, so let me ask you: what does it mean to you to be a follower of Jesus and not just a fan?

This Weekend's Message: Love for a Savior

Love for a Savior

Matthew 7:13-29

 

I'm one of those people who are part of the Facebook community. And as part of that community there are times I get asked to be a "fan" of something. In fact I said yes to being a "fan" of Life Bible Fellowship Church. And that is a good thing because I believe in LBF. But there are other "fan" requests that I turn down. I think we all have people and groups and sports teams that we are fans of. And then there are other people, groups, and sports teams we are not fans of. Why is that?

This week as we finish up our "Love Out Loud" series, we will learn that with Jesus, He doesn't want just fans, He wants followers. What is the difference between being a "fan" and a "follower?" We'll explore the difference this Sunday as we look at the end of the most important sermon ever given.

Pastor Gary Keith

Reflections: February 7, 2010

This week’s Reflection by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Worship

 

Hopefully as we looked at various aspects of the Gospel of Jesus this weekend it has caused your Spirit to be stirred to understand just how good of news the gospel is.

Why is the gospel good news to you?

How has that affected your willingness to share it?

Share your stories here!

This Weekend's Message: The Good News of God's Love

Last week my oldest son Carter had baseball tryouts to see which division in little league he would be placed in. We were all excited for him and he has been anticipating the phone call from the league to tell him whether he would be in the younger or older division. Last night we got a phone call from the league, saying that Carter was drafted by a team in the older division by a coach that we have played with before and really like.

Good news is always nice to get, even when it is something as simple as being drafted onto a team in little league. Many times in life it seems like the bad news tends to pile up, but what a breath of fresh air when in the midst of that, we get news that seems to lighten the load.

Good news does not sweep away the struggles in life. It does not make things all better. But it does give us a hope in a future that maybe all of the difficulties had robbed from us.

This weekend we are going to talk about the greatest news of all, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and what makes it such great news.

See ya Sunday!

Jeff

Reflections: January 31, 2010

This week's Reflection by Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Teaching & Worship

As I continue to reflect on the impact that Onesiphorus had on Paul, and the encouragement that he was able to bring, it really gives me hope that though I feel unprepared to handle many situations, I can know that I am not alone as I am filled with the Holy Spirit and the gifts He has given me. I also know that I can trust that God will send me an Onesiphorus –  a "help-bringer" – in my times of need.

It also raises my awareness of opportunities that I can be a "help-bringer" to others in need. As I may prefer to shy away from opportunities, I need to be reminded that the Lord has called me to love out loud, and being a "help-bringer" is a crucial part of that call.

What are some opportunities that you have had to be a "help bringer" in a situation? Was there a time in your life when God sent a "help-bringer" to you?

This Weekend's Message: God's Love Through Us

2 Timothy 1:11-18
Have you ever felt as though you made a real difference in someone's life? Have you ever walked away from an encounter with someone, being significantly impacted by something they said or did?

If we believe that God created us, then we must believe it was for a reason. If we believe God created us for a reason, it seems that seeking out that reason would be a priority for us. Unfortunately, I am guilty far too often of being so focused on my life and my plans, that I lose sight of God's plan for using my life in the life of others.

This weekend we are going to look at the wonderful opportunity God has given us to partner with Him in ministry through Jesus Christ. We will also be reassured as we see that God also partners with others as they minister to us!

Have a great rest of your week. See ya Sunday,

Jeff

Reflections: January 24, 2010

This week's Reflection by Gary Keith, Executive & Teaching Pastor

Paul writes in Ephesians 5, "Imitate God in everything you do...Live a life filled with love." Now there are some obvious things we cannot imitate God in. Take, for example, His omnipresence or His omnipotence. We can't mimic or imitate those parts of God, but we can imitate His character. Paul is very bold in his writing to the churches in Ephesus. He challenges his readers as he challenges himself to live a life of sacrificial love.

 

Why is this so important? Because people are watching. If a person who professes a belief in Christ does not live a life that reflects any of the values of Christ, would you want to embrace that belief for yourself? Do you know people who say they believe something, but it has no affect on their daily life? Would you want to embrace that belief even though it makes no difference to them? Why or why not?

 

As we learn to "love out loud," I challenge us to consider seriously the connection between what we say we believe and how we actually live. Imitate God in everything you do! That should keep us busy for awhile.

This Weekend's Message: A Life of Love (Ephesians 5:1-20)

Who is your hero? Who is it that you respect so much that you want to model your life after? This week I've heard several people say they would model their life after Martin Luther King Jr. He has for sure been on our minds this week as we celebrated a holiday in his honor. But if you had the chance to pick anyone to model your life after, who would it be?

As we continue our series this week about loving people out loud, we will look at what it means to live a life of love. So far in this series we have taken a look at the love of Christ for us and the truth that God has custom-designed me and loves me as I am. This week we will see how our life affects those who are watching us to learn what it means to be a Christian. Do people want to model their life after ours because of our life of love?

I'd love to hear from some of you who are going through the study, "Becoming a Contagious Christian." Post a comment and let me know what you are learning. I'd really love to see how God is growing you to "Love Out Loud."

Gary

This Weekend's Message: Loved As I Am

As we continue our series Love Out Loud, we are going to look at how we can "love out loud" in a way that communicates the truth of how God sees His creation. We are going to look at some of the lies that keep us looking at the billboards rather than appreciating who God has made us to be. Come this weekend, ready for God to move on your heart and communicate His deep passion for you. Get ready to love out loud!

Jeff

Reflections: January 10, 2010

This week I mentioned a time in my life when I was in the "secret service" for the Lord. I think we can fall into a routine of being thankful for our own salvation and the grace we experience from God. But this routine can lead us to forget about the people in our neighborhood, or the people at work, or the people at school who need Jesus.

 

Looking at the life of the apostle Paul can shake us up a bit and, well, it should. He is a good example of someone who was not in the "secret service" for the Lord and who "loved out loud." And why was that? Well one of the biggest reasons had to do with his understanding of the love of Christ for him and for all people (2 Corinthians 5:14). My prayer this week is that that same understanding of the love that compelled Paul would compel us to "love out loud." 

This Weekend's Message: Persuasive Love

This Sunday starts our new six-week series, "Love Out Loud." This is a series designed around what our Leadership Community (LC) believed they would like to learn about. We have been loved by God through Christ in the most complete and grace-filled way we will ever be loved. I don't believe any human experience of love will come close to the love we have through Jesus. But once we understand that, what are we to do with it? What does it mean to "love out loud?" This Sunday we start learning the answer to that question together.

As a way to bring further depth to this series some Home Groups will be using a study book called, "Becoming a Contagious Christian." This study in the Home Groups will help equip you as you learn to "love out loud."  If you are one of the Home Groups using this book, be sure to have the leader pick up the books and a DVD this Sunday; look for Phil right outside of the Worship Center.

Pastor Gary