Announcements 10-28

Trunk or Treat- Wednesday, October 31 from 6:30 to 8:30PM in the front parking lot of the church.  Bring your candy and treat our kids to a night of sweets.  This can be a great outreach for our church!

Shell's Barbecue Night to benefit Jessica Shook's Gold Award. On Thursday, November 1st enjoy a great meal at Shell's BBQ and support Jessica's Gold Award Project at the same time. Eat at Shell's on that night and tell them you are there representing Jessica Shook and a certain percentage of the cost of your meal will go to Jessica for her Gold Award Project. Come out and support Jessica!

Ladies Shopping Trip - Saturday, November 17th to Gaffney, South Carolina.  See Phyllis Howard for details.

LBA Meeting - Tuesday, October 30th CANCELLED

Hitting the Reset Button on God's Church / Message #3

October 21, 2012

Series: Hitting the Reset Button on God's Church

Message #3: The Non-Negotiables For a Christ-Centered Life

Matthew 16:13-28; Acts 2:42-47

Scott Howard

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  "But what about you?" he asked, "Who do you say I am?"  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."   --Matthew 16:13-18

Ø  Four Non-Negotiables for the Christian

1.  We must Know Jesus intimately.

· Who we say Jesus is will determine everything about How we follow Him. 

Would you say He was just a good man, or that He is the Saviour of the world

Our goal is not great faith; our goal is a little bit of faith in a Great God!  We only need a little bit of faith because our God is Great already---it isn't our faith that makes God great.

2.  We must Trust Him Completely.

"And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." ---Acts 2:47b

· The church's Arhitect is Jesus

· Christ builds the church by His Grace (the one who gives the grace always gets the Glory)

· Christ builds the church through His people, because...

· We belong to Him!

He build's the church by His grace, through His people, because we are His.  Jesus identifies us has his own, and that's how we can trust Him.  The following passage shows how even though Saul was persecuting the people of the new church, Jesus is saying that to persecute His people is to persecute Him.

"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples.  He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way (the Church), whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.  As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why to you persecute me?'  'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked.  'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied."   ---Acts 9:1-5

3.  We must Proclaim Him Boldly.

· The Rock of the church are the people of God (like Peter) Proclaiming the person of Christ.  In the first passage above, Jesus told Peter that it was God the Father revealing the knowledge that He was the Christ.  This bold step of faith to Proclaim Jesus as Christ is what Jesus builds His church upon. 

4.  We must Obey Him sacrificially.

· Our sacrifice leads to His Glory

· His Glory leads to our satisfaction

· so ultimately, our sacrifice leads to our satisfaction

*Bottom line:  It's not about YOU--- It's about Christ & His Kingdom---His Glory should be our aim in every aspect of our lives.

"...All things were created by Him and for Him."  --Colossians 1:16b

Announcements 10-21

Check out the NEW look for the Wesleyan Life magazine.  Copies are available on the table outside the nursery.  Take as many copies as you would like and share with others.







Hot Dog Supper - THIS Wednesday, October 24th @ 6:00pm the SRWC Youth will be having a Hot Dog Supper.  Join us and support our youth as they try to raise funds to attend the International Youth Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Coupon Books - The Children's Ministry of SRWC are selling coupon books which provides discounts at local businesses and restaurants. The books are $20. If you are interested, please see Phyllis Howard.  All monies raised will go toward our children's ministry.

SRWC Youth Golf Tournament - NEXT Saturday, October 27th- Come out and support our youth in this golf tournament which is a fundraiser for the Youth Convention in December. Are you a golfer or know of any golfers, get a team up and play some golf and support our youth ministry at the same time.  Brochures are on the table in front of the nursery.

Best Year's Fellowship - NEXT Saturday, October 27th, Best Year's Fellowship will be having supper in the Fellowship Hall.  If you are 55 years of age or older, you are invited to come.  Please let Betty Richards or Barbara Cannon know by October 24th if you can attend.  Supper will be served at 5:30PM

Fall Festival - Our annual FALL FESTIVAL will be held on Sunday, October 28th @ 5-7:30PM.  Bring your kids to this great night of FUN and GAMES.  Invite others to come with you.  Donations of candy are needed for this event.  If you can bring a few bags of candy and place them in the Church Office it would be greatly appreciated.

Trunk or Treat- Wednesday, October 31 from 6:30 to 8:30PM in the front parking lot of the church.  Bring your candy and treat our kids to a night of sweets.  This can be a great outreach for our church!

Shell's Barbecue Night to benefit Jessica Shook's Gold Award. On Thursday, November 1st enjoy a great meal at Shell's BBQ and support Jessica's Gold Award Project at the same time. Eat at Shell's on that night and tell them you are there representing Jessica Shook and a certain percentage of the cost of your meal will go to Jessica for her Gold Award Project. Come out and support Jessica!

Ladies Shopping Trip - Saturday, November 17th to Gaffney, South Carolina.  See Phyllis Howard for details.

Stepping OUT for Jesus / Message #2 / Part #2

October 14, 2012
Series: Hitting the Reset Button on God's Church
Message #2: Stepping Out for Jesus (Part #2)
Hebrews 13:11-14
Scott Howard

• Question #1:  Will we die in our Religion, or will we die in our Devotion?

Two options:

1. Retreat from the Mission
2. Risk everything for the Mission

• Question #2:  Will we embrace our Comfort, or will we embrace His Cross?

"The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.  And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.  Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.  For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come."  ---Hebrews 13:11-14

Remember, the "camp" is the comfort zone.  The place where the Jewish people lived.  They did not go outside the camp very much.  Once a year on the Day of Atonement for all the people, the sacrificed animals were taken outside the camp because the sins of the people were on them and they could not be burned inside the camp.  Outside the camp was also where those who were "unclean" lived.  They had diseases and could not live among the "clean" people.  And stonings and crucifixions happened outside the camp.  It was not pleasant outside the camp.

• Let us go with Jesus to the...
• Dirty Places ---> Leviticus 16:27-28
• Despised Places ---> Leviticus 13:45-46
• Dangerous Places ---> Leviticus 24:13-16

We must go outside the camp in order to minister to the hurting, the unclean, the ones in danger.  Jesus is already working in the lives of the people outside the camp, and we are called to be his witnesses unto all the earth.

Do we Really want to be where Jesus is?

• This mission without suffering, is Christianity without a Cross.
• When Jesus calls us to Himself, He calls us to suffering
• Suffering is not just a consequence of our Mission; suffering is the central strategy for achieving our Mission

If you think about it...people can relate to us because we have suffered similar trials in life.  But through it all we trust in Jesus and lean on Him for help and guidance.  This in itself is a testimony.  We should just talk with those outside the camp and let them know how Jesus has worked in our own lives.  Jesus will never fail you, or those you are witnessing to...step out in faith and trust that Jesus will do the work through us.

• Question #3:  Will we live for pleasures in this world, or for the Paradise in the world to come?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverence the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the auther and perfector of our faith, who for the JOY set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow eary and lose heart."  --Hebrews 12:1-3

How encouraging that Jesus went through all this so that we would not lose heart, because He knows where we've been and how hard it is.  And because he will help us every step of the way!

1. The Greatest earthly security is ultimately insecure.  The worldly things will all pass away in the end.
2. The Bottom line:  It IS Worth it!!

• Jesus calls the church to live according to a radically different definition of success than the rest of the world.
• Jesus calls ME to live according to a different definition of success than the rest of the world. 

To fulfill the Great Commission is success.  Finding lost souls and bringing them to Christ is success and brings all Glory to God the Father.

Announcements 10-14

Open Arms Food Pantry - The Food Pantry provides a vital ministry to our community.  But in order for it to be able to supply the needs of others, the Open Arms Food Pantry needs you.  We need food (Especially canned meat items, breakfast cereals, pasta, and crackers.) and monetary donations to help feed the needy in our community.  Please let Pastor Charles know if you can help in this area of outreach.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Join us for this time of Prayer and Fasting through November 6th for our nation.

Golf Tournament - Saturday, October 27th @ The Glenn Oaks Golf Course in Maiden.  Four man, Captain's Choice format with a cost of $50 per golfer.  Registration and lunch begins at 12:00PM with a Shot-Gun start at 1:30 PM.  This is a Youth Fundraiser for the "Follow" - International Wesleyan Youth convention in Louisville, KY on December 28-31.  Flyers and more info are out in the foyer.  Please support our youth by sharing this news with the golfers that you know.  Thank You!  Please spread the word to anyone you know who may be willing to donate a door prize or sponsor a hole in our tourney, please let Pastor Drew know.

Hot Dog Supper- On Wednesday, October 24th @ 6:00PM the SRWC Youth will be having a Hot Dog Supper.  Join us and support our youth as they try to raise funds to attend the International Youth Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

WEE Sing - Our children will be practicing their Christmas Program TONIGHT & the 3rd Sunday Night @ 5:30PM. Parents, please remember to bring your child early for this practice.

Girl Scouts - Jessica Shook's Gold Award Project Dates: 
        October 18th - 31 Party @ SRWC
        October 20th - Hot Dog/Yard Sale @ SRWC
        November 1st - Shells BBQ Night
Come out and support Jessica!

Tri County Area Revival - When: October 14-17  Where: Long Shoals Wesleyan Church in Lincolnton. Evangelist: Rev. Jerry Lumston.  Youth & Children Tracts are available.  A Nursery will be available each night.

Fall Festival - Our annual FALL FESTIVAL will be held on Sunday, October 28th @ 5-7:30PM.  Bring your kids to this great night of FUN and GAMES.  Invite others to come with you.  Donations of candy are needed for this event.  If you can bring a few bags of candy and place them in the Church Office it would be greatly appreciated. 

Trunk or Treat- Wednesday, October 31 from 6:30 to 8:30PM in the front parking lot of the church.  Bring your candy and treat our kids to a night of sweets.  This can be a great outreach for our church!

Remnant Ramblings - October

Stephen was the first person recorded in Scripture to give his life for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  But in order for Stephen to be willing to give his life for Christ, he first had to be willing to live his life for Christ.

We're blessed enough as Americans to still live in a country where the persecution we face for our faith is probably not going to be nearly as stiff as this or in what we see in many countries throughout the world today.  The unfortunate flipside to this is that comfortable American society has created a culture where we are less and less dependent on God and his church.  So I dare say that the faith in America also isn't nearly as radical as what we may see from believers in more persecuted nations.

In the days of Stephen, Jews who accepted Christ as Messiah were usually cut off from their families.  The early church truly acted as the church through the sharing of homes, food and resources in response to this need.  Not only was this practical, but it was typically necessary.  The number of believers eventually grew to the point where people were becoming overlooked and organization was necessary to streamline the sharing.  Stephen was one of the seven chosen to oversee the distribution of food in the early church.  In addition to being a skilled administrator, Stephen was also a very gifted and powerful speaker.  God yet again would use an "everyday" person to accomplish a mighty work.

When confronted in the temple, Stephen made a bold defense before the Sanhedrin which was a summary of Jewish history and powerful applications which would seriously sting them.  These religious leaders could not stand to have their motives exposed, so they stoned Stephen to death.  Even as he was dying, he prayed for his murderers and accusers!  His faith and boldness left an indelible impression on Saul (Paul) of Tarsus, who would shift from being what we would term in modern society as a murderous terrorist to becoming one of the fathers of Christianity.

When is the last time we have taken a risk to be a follower of Jesus?  Would we be willing to die for Him?  Are we willing to live for Him?  Who can we encourage and inspire today?

Lord, help us to be ministers of the Gospel in our circles of influence - our workplaces, our friends, our families, our schools.  Help us proclaim your goodness in all situations; not just when it's convenient or comfortable.  Help us to see people through your eyes and heart.  Break our hearts for what breaks yours.

Much love in Christ,

Pastor Drew

Prayer, Outreach, & Discipleship

Prayer puts us in the position where God can do something great. 

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." - Acts 2:1

Prayer does not give you spiritual power.  Prayer aligns your life with God so that He chooses to demonstrate His power through you.  The purpose of prayer is not to convince God to change your circumstances, but to prepare you to be involved in God's activity.

The fervent prayer of people at Pentecost did not induce the Holy Spirit to come upon them.  Prayer brought them to a place where they were ready to participate in the mighty work God had already planned.

Jesus told His followers to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:4-5).  The disciples obeyed His command, waiting for God's next directive.  As they prayed, God adjusted their lives to what He intended to do next.  As they prayed, a unity developed among them.  (They were all with one accord in one place.)  For the first time, the disciples used Scripture as their guide in decision making.  The Day of Pentecost arrived, and the city of Jerusalem filled with pilgrims from around the world.  When God released His Holy Spirit upon the disciples, He had already filled the city with messengers who would carry the Gospel to every nation.  Prayer had prepared the disciples for their obedient response. 

Prayer is designed to adjust you to God's will, not to adjust God to your will.  If God has not responded to what you are praying, you may need to adjust your praying to align with God's agenda.  Rather than focusing on what you would like to see happen, realize that God may be more concerned with what He wants to see happen in you. 

We should never pray, "God bless what I am doing."  RATHER, "God, would you help me do what you are blessing?" 

(Portions of this article came from Dr. Henry Blackaby)

Stepping Out for Jesus / Message #1 (Part #1)

October 7, 2012
Series: "Hitting the Reset button on God's Church"
Message #1: Stepping OUT for Jesus (Part #1)
Hebrews 13:11-14
Scott Howard

Question #1 for the Church:

• "Will we die in our Religion, or die in our Devotion?

"The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.  And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.  Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.  For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come."   ---Hebrews 13:11-14

The new Christian Church in this time in Hebrews were living as Jews still, in the "camp" of Judaism, while trying to live the Christian life. 

Two problems:

• They were driven by Formalism.  They were so engrossed in their formal religious rituals of worship that they had forgotten Who they worshipped.  So much style with no substance.
• They were paralyzed by Fear.  Fear of others, fear they would be expelled from the "camp" of Judaism. 

So, there are two Options:

• Retreat from the mission. 
• Risk everything for the mission.

What's the mission?  Acts 1:8 ---  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  The mission is to bring the message of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus our Savior, to everyone in all the earth.

The Isrealites had a history of Retreating from teh mission, (whatever mission God gave them at the time).

1. Standing at the edge of the Promised Land, the Israelites grumbled, complained, and rebelled against God's mission for them.  (See Numbers 13:30-33-->14:1-4, 14:20-24) God forgave them, but did not allow them (that generation) to see the Promised Land. 
2. The next generations who were still fighting the remaining Canaanites were told by God to destroy the altars of the false gods of the Canaanites.  But they didn't.  So God told them that even though they broke the covenent with Him, He would not banish them from Canaan, but that the gods of the Canaanites would ensnare them.  (See Judges 2:1-3, 2:10-15)
3. Still, later on, the Isrealites reject God as their King, as they ask for an earthly king just like the other nations had.  They were warned how earthly kings would be, but they still insisted.  (See 1 Samuel 8:6-9, 8:19-22)

God will not force us to obey Him.  He wants our true devotion.  Let's not Retreat from the mission as we (the church) have done.  God will forgive, but He will allow us to wander in our "religion" (the hollow and meaningless style with no substance).  Let's Risk everything for the mission, for the sakes of our family members, friends, and neighbors who do not know the saving power of Jesus Christ, and who are on their way to Hell. 

The worst that could happen?  Rejection from people.  The best that could happen?  Receiving the promises of Almighty God!

From the Pastor's Heart: October

The stores are already full of them. It's October; known best in our culture for the changing color of the leaves, pumpkins, and Halloween. With Halloween comes stores filled with costumes and masks. But the reality for many Christians is that they consistently wear a spiritual mask. 

A spiritual mask is worn to try to conceal our true spiritual identity.

How many of you have ever been to a family reunion? There's usually a lot of work and preparation to get ready for a reunion. There are usually a couple of the family members who make all the arrangements and then send out the invitations. Everyone that can make it shows up at the specified place of meeting and share a wonderful day together.

There is a lot of reminiscing. Remembering past get-togethers and laughing about funny memories. There are discussions about those family members who have passed away, memories filled with laughter and tears. Yet the whole day is spent with family.  Family members know a lot about one another.  There is the ongoing grapevine. You hear things about cousins and aunts and uncles because Aunt So-and-so called your grandma, who passed it on to your other aunt, who shared with her husband who calls his brother who is your dad and the grapevine continues.

Your family are those people who know you, mistakes and all.  They know your past and where you have come from.  They know the things you have done and they know what you are doing now.  They are able to see beyond the masks that you wear.  And they still love you in spite of it all.

This is exactly how it should be when we come to church.  When we get together here every week to worship, we are having a family reunion for we are the Family of God.  No, we don't need the grapevine to spread rumors or gossip about anyone, nor should we justify using the prayer chain as a means of doing such a thing.  We should be coming together and sharing with one another with no fear of judgment and rejection. We all count.  All members of this family count and there needs to be laughter and yes, sometimes tears as we take off the masks and learn to be open with each other.  Celebrate and worship together our God who has made all this possible.  So, what masks do you wear?  Ask God to reveal the things in your life that maybe you have overlooked and forgotten about.  His Word says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139: 23-24)  It's time to start taking off the masks.

Believing in you,
Pastor Scott

Announcements 10-7

Salvation Army Soup Kitchen - The following people will be serving on Sunday October 28 @4:00 PM: Andy & Erin Smith, James & Barbara Cannon, David and Kathleen Dietz.  We are needing another team to go help serve food at the soup kitchen.  If you are willing to serve, please see Pastor Charles.

Operation Warmth- Coat Drive for children in our area schools.  We will be collecting the coats during the month of October.  Look in your closets, your boxes, your plastic tubs - if you can't find one there, try the local thrift stores.  If you have any questions or would like to help with this outreach, please see Pastor Charles.

Open Arms Food Pantry - The Food Pantry provides a vital ministry to our community.  But in order for it to be able to supply the needs of others, the Open Arms Food Pantry needs you.  We need food (Especially canned meat items, breakfast cereals, pasta, and crackers.) and monetary donations to help feed the needy in our community.  Please let Pastor Charles know if you can help in this area of outreach.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Join us for this time of Prayer and Fasting through November 6th for our nation.

Golf Tournament - Saturday, October 27th @ The Glenn Oaks Golf Course in Maiden.  Four man, Captain's Choice format with a cost of $50 per golfer.  Registration and lunch begins at 12:00PM with a Shot-Gun start at 1:30 PM.  This is a Youth Fundraiser for the "Follow" - International Wesleyan Youth convention in Louisville, KY on December 28-31.  Flyers and more info are out in the foyer.  Please support our youth by sharing this news with the golfers that you know.  Thank You!  Please spread the word to anyone you know who may be willing to donate a door prize or sponsor a hole in our tourney, please let Pastor Drew know.

Follow International Youth Convention- December 28-31 @ Louisville, Kentucky.  Parents can go to http://www.mywycon.com/for more information.

Spaghetti Dinner - The SRWC Children's Ministry is sponsoring a Spaghetti Dinner on THIS WEDNESDAY, October 10th @ 5:15PM.  Come early for church, enjoy a great meal, and support the children of our church all at the same time.  Meal includes:  Spaghetti, Salad, Dessert, & Drink.

Prayer Breakfast - Men's Prayer Breakfast Sunday, October 14th @ 8:30 AM.  All the men of the church are invited to join us for a great time of fellowship, food, and much needed prayer!

Hot Dog Supper- On Wednesday, October 24th @ 6:00PM the SRWC Youth will be having a Hot Dog Supper.  Join us and support our youth as they try to raise funds to attend the International Youth Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

WEE Sing - Our children will be practicing their Christmas Program TONIGHT & the 3rd Sunday Night @ 5:30PM. Parents, please remember to bring your child early for this practice.

Board Meeting - The Local Board of Administration will meet Tuesday, October 30th @ 7:00 PM.

Girl Scouts - Jessica Shook's Gold Award Project Dates:
        October 13th  - Car Wash @ Advance Auto on LR Blvd.
        October 16th - 31 Party @ SRWC
        October 20th - Hot Dog/Yard Sale @ SRWC
        November 1st - Shells BBQ Night
Come out and support Jessica!

Tri County Area Revival - When: October 14-17  Where: Long Shoals Wesleyan Church in Lincolnton. Evangelist: Rev. Jerry Lumston.  Youth & Children Tracts are available.  A Nursery will be available each night.

Fall Festival - Our annual FALL FESTIVAL will be held on Sunday, October 28th @ 5-7:30PM.  Bring your kids to this great night of FUN and GAMES.  Invite others to come with you.  Donations of candy are needed for this event.  If you can bring a few bags of candy and place them in the Church Office it would be greatly appreciated.

Trunk or Treat- Wednesday, October 31 from 6:30 to 8:30PM in the front parking lot of the church.  Bring your candy and treat our kids to a night of sweets.  This can be a great outreach for our church!

Woodcutting - Saturday, November 3rd @ 10:00AM.  We will be cutting & splitting wood at Terry Shook's house for the up-coming BBQ.  Bring your axes & your strong backs!

Barbeque - We're havin' a barbeque!  Saturday November 17th.  Begin NOW spreading the word!  If you can help work, please see Janie Carter.  THANK YOU!!

Soul Shift: Me to We / Message #8

September 30, 2012

Soul Shift: ME to WE / Message #8

Acts 1:1—8; Acts 2

Scott Howard

 

This shift is from individualism to community.   Heaven will not just be a reunion of God and me, it will be a reunion of God and His Bride.  The Bride is the entire church community.  We are a Family.

Ø  Christianity is not just about me; it’s about we.

Ø  Me to We means that we intentionally show up to be a provider.  Not just a consumer, but a contributor.

This shift happened to the disciples after the Holy Spirit was given to them.  They were worried only about themselves and Isreal being restored, not about the rest of the people.

“On one occasion, while he [Jesus] was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’  He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”    ---Acts 1:4-8

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ….Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off---for all whom the Lord our God will call.”   ---Acts 2:36-39

Ø  This was Peter speaking in the passage above.   It is no longer just about Israel or the Jews, but about All who are far off.  He had made the shift from me to we.

Mini Shifts to go from ME to WE:

·         We must protect the unity of our church

o   We act in love toward others

o   We refuse to gossip

o   We support the leaders

·         We share in the responsibility of the church

o   We can pray

o   We can invite the unchurched (not just unbelievers)

o   We can serve in the ministry of the church—may not be easy, may not be what we want to do

o   We can allow ourselves to be equipped to serve—get involved and be willing

·         We develop a servant’s heart---be humble and take an interest in others

·         We support the mission of our church

o   Attend faithfully

o   Support the mission by living a Godly life

o   Give regularly to further the mission of the church (invest time, resources, finances)

 

Review of all Soul Shifts:

1.       Me to You –a shift in orientation from focusing on ourselves to focusing on others.

2.       Slave to Child—a shift in identity from serving God to loving God.

3.       Seen to Unseen—a shift in values from embracing things that are temporary to embracing things that are eternal.

4.       Consumer to Steward—a shift in ownership from acquiring things for ourselves to offering what we have to God and others.

5.       Ask to Listen—a shift in posture from asking others to listening to God.

6.       Sheep to Shepherd—a shift in influence from following the crowd to leading like Christ.

7.       Me to We—a shift in priority from individualism to community.

These shifts cannot be attained on our own.  We must be humble before God, receive help from Him and the Holy Spirit in order to make these shifts.  Even if it’s one at a time.  Ask God to help you become a better You, to become the You He made you to be.

The Harvest

Photo by:UGA College of Ag on Flickr.com

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

²⁷ Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
²⁸ Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” ³⁰ They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
³¹ Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
³² But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
³³ Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
³⁴ “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. ³⁵ Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. ³⁶ Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. ³⁷ Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. ³⁸ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Many Samaritans Believe

³⁹ Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹ And because of his words many more became believers.
⁴² They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”                                   John 4:27-42
 
In verse 27 we get a glimpse of the social status of women of the time.  The disciples were not surprised to find Him talking to someone.  They were surprised to find Him talking to a woman.   This shows us just how Jesus was breaking down all social barriers.  Something we should try to do today.  I’m not talking about taking money from the rich and giving to the poor.  If you are rich, that is great.  God has blessed you.  We should see everyone as a brother or sister in Christ before we see anything else about them.
 
Well, after they got over the fact that He was talking to a woman, they tried to get Him to eat.  Jesus said that He had food which they knew nothing about.  This confused the disciples.  Jesus explained that His food was to do His Fathers will.  You know, all the times in my life when I didn’t think that I had enough and went ahead and did what God wanted me to do, I found that I had more than enough.  That is what Jesus was talking about here.  If we will do Gods work and not worry about will we have enough, God will provide.  He is sufficient.  Do what God has called you to do and you will reap a reward.  God has called all of us.  Jesus is calling us in this passage.  He isn’t just talking to His disciples, He is talking to us all. 
 
In verses 28-30 we see the once sinful woman rushing to tell everyone about what Jesus had told her, and many believed just because of what she had said.  She was in such a hurry that she forgot what she had come there for.  She left her water jar, she was that excited.  In that respect I wish we were all like the woman.  So excited to tell others about what we have found in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  We are all just as sinful.  Why can’t we all get just as excited about our salvation?

I guess it because we think that since everybody knows us as sinful creatures that they won’t believe us.  Don’t you think that everyone in that little town knew her?  Everybody knew who she was and that she slept around.  They believed her!  They believe her because she spoke the truth about Christ.  Don’t get me wrong.  There are those will turn their backs on you because they are not ready to hear the Truth, but they will believe.  Deep down, we all know our makers voice.
 
If this is your first time hearing the good news of Jesus Christ, and you want to follow Him, you too can know his joy. The peace that passes all understanding. All you have to do is ask Christ into your heart and ask him to forgive your sins. He stands at the door, ready to come in. If you would like to know Jesus and God the father, please pray the following prayer or one like it. Or, you can contact me at jeremylail@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to pray with/for you.
Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless. I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus for give me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend. I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Announcements 9-30

Have you ever imagines a better you?  God has a dream for you!  It's you restored to his original plan.  Join us each Sunday Morning in Pastor Scott's Sunday School Class as we unpack what SoulShifts are with practical, Biblical suggestions for life.  NEXT WEEK: SHIFT #5:  ASK TO LISTEN










40 Days of Prayer and Fasting - We are in the midst of our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for our country.  Please find time in the days ahead to pray for our leaders and our country as we approach this up-coming election.

Car Show - A Car Show here at SRWC THIS Saturday, October 6th.  This is a fundraiser for our youth to raise funds for the International Youth Convention in Louisville, Kentucky in December.

Coupon Books - The Children's Ministry of SRWC are selling Coupon Books which provides discounts at local businesses and restaurants.  The books are $20.  If you are interested please see Phyllis Howard.  All monies raised will go toward our Children's Ministry.

SRWC Youth Golf Tournament - Come our and support our youth in this golf tournament which is a fundraiser for the Youth Convention in December.  Are you a golfer or know of any golfers, get a team up and play some golf and support our youth ministry at the same time.  See Pastor Drew for details.