New video - Jedi Battle

Pastor Jeff, Pastor Rory and I had a little bit of down time, so we cut a little video. Check it out.

Soil

In Matthew chapter 13 we find many stories from Jesus about the kingdom of heaven, but I want to highlight one in particular, the story of the soil. In this story there are four types of "soil" or conditions of our heart. I'm going to list each with a brief description and the remedy for it if needed.

1. The footpath - These are people who not only don't understand the Word of God when it is preached or they read it, but they don't really want to understand. There is no desire in them to understand the Word. As a result the Word is stolen from their heart. Change - This person needs a desire to understand. Ask God for a desire to understand and ask others to explain the word.
2. The Rocky Soil - This person hears the Word, understands it and is excited about, but has no depth. This person lacks character and discipline. This is the person who never prays, never reads the word. This person is a roller coaster. They go up weekly when they go to church and down during the week. They are unstable and as a result they don't last long. They fall away as soon as problems or persecution comes. Change - Read the word, pray, surround yourself with people who are strong. Go to reach teams. Make it a daily pursuit and not a weekly event.
3. Among Thorns - This person hears the word and receives it, but is too concerned about the world. They are too concerned with what others think, what's hot on TV, music and in movies. Their desire is not for the things of God, but for the riches of this life, material things, popularity, and fame. They care more about their favorite celebrity and what they are doing that the Word of God and what He has for them. As a result the worries of this life choke the Word out and they produce nothing for God's Kingdom. They may come to church their whole life, but it is a waste because they never do anything for God, church is all about what God can do for them. Change - First repent. Then make a decision to crucify your flesh and your fleshly desires and follow Christ. You may have to fast (give up) what feeds that desire in you and read the word or pray. Instead of picking up US weekly pick up the Word. All that stuff is not bad, but it is if it consumes you. Ask yourself am I consumed by the cause and call of Christ or this world. Really examine and make the changes necessary.
4. The Good Soil - This is the produce who truly hears and understands God's word AND produces fruit. This is someone who reads the Word, Prays, invites people to church, is active in serving and lives a life open to God changing them. This person sees their friends, peers and family changed for Christ. This is the place we all need to get to.

Our hearts are like soil and the condition of it is up to us. Examine yourself and make the changes necessary so God can use you and you can thrive!

For more on this particular story click here.

Fall has arrived...

This morning I let my dogs out to use the bathroom and felt the chilly air even though it was sunny and realized for the first time fall has arrived. The seasons are changing and I am so excited!

The seasons are not only changing in the natural, but also in the spiritual. The summer has been a time of intense personal growth and devotion. We have seen many people overcome and explode with passion and devotion. We have focused primarily on personal growth and now that Fall has arrived a new season has begun. Summer was the season of devotional growth fall will be the season of numerical growth. We looked inward during the summer, now it's time to look outward.

Fall is always the greatest season of growth in the church and this year I am expecting God to grow our church. Begin to look for opportunities to share what God is doing and to invite people to church. In youth we are going after 100/100. 100 people weekly in services and 100 people in reach teams. I've asked every young person to find one person to pray for and invite to church then get them to a reach team.

Who is one person you could invite?

My one person that I've been working just gave his life to Christ on Sunday and is charging ahead! Choose somebody pray for them and invite them. Lets look outward, seize opportunities and watch God grow our church through the salvation of our friends, peers and family!

Authority

In Matthew chapter 12 we read that Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders of the day. They are saying false things about him and his ministry, telling others that he does his miracles through the power of Satan. The whole chapter we see Jesus walking in great authority. He did not back down to the crowds, but stood with authority and communicated the message. Jesus walked with authority every where. Authority when questioned about his faith, authority of the works of darkness and authority over sickness and even death. That same authority he had we also have...

When we choose Jesus we become children of God. Jesus told the Apostles that all authority in heaven and earth was given him and he has passed that on to us. That means that we have authority over sickness, we have authority over death and when confronted by those who do not believe we don't have to back down, but can be strong and walk with authority. You have incredible authority at your finger tips to expand the kingdom of God, but one thing must be done to walk with authority.

Submission... Four chapters earlier in Matthew eight we read about the Roman Centurion. He had a sick servant and asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus said yes he would go with him, but the Centurion stopped him. He told Jesus that he had the authority to make soldiers do whatever he wanted because he was under or submitted to a higher authority. He believed Jesus had authority because he was submitted to a higher authority, God, and therefore could heal his servant with only a word. Jesus marveled at his faith and his grasp of the concept of authority and healed his servant with only a word.

The same power to heal and to stand resides in us and is available to us, but can only be released by authority. In order to walk in authority you need to submit, surrender, listen to, obey those in authority over you. You parents, pastors, teachers, police officers, government officials, coaches, bus drivers and so on even if you don't like them or they treat you unfairly. As you submit to authority you will have authority and the power to do great things for God!

Temptation

In Matthew chapter 4 we see Jesus enter the wilderness to face temptation. The devil and him have a chat and the devil tempts him to sin three different times. The writer of Psalm 119 in verse 11 says that they hid the word of God in their heart so they would not sin. In Matthew four we see Jesus using the Word of God to overcome temptation and not sin.

Three different times he says it is written, or the scriptures say, depending on your translation, and then uses the following scripture to overcome temptation. Temptation is going to come knocking on your door, will you be ready? Read the word and hide it in your heart so you will not sin.

For more on overcoming temptation check here.

Next Steps

Last night we had a service called "next steps." It was one of the most important services we've ever had in youth ministry because I unveiled the vision God has given us. This Sunday I will again communicate it for those who missed last night, but I also want to lay it out on the blog.

Why does TVM exist? To connect people to life! That is our purpose and mission. What is our vision for accomplishing this. Well read on...

In Joshua chapter 1, 3 and 6 God is speaking to Joshua about the promise land. In chapter one he tells Joshua to be in the word, follow it, be strong and courageous and He will make his way successful. In chapter three he tells the people to purify themselves because God is about to do wondrous acts among them. Then in chapter six God tells Joshua that he's given them the city Jericho and all they have to do to take the city is obey and praise.

Over the last seven months God has been speaking to me about these three scriptures. Every time I go to him about vision He says the same thing over and over. "I have given you this city." Over and over I have heard Him say that He has given us this city. In other words, nothing can stand in our way from taking this city for Him. Nothing can stand in the way of our friends and peers who are hurting and lost, from being healed and saved by Him. He has given us this city and now it's up to us to obey and praise like He's given it to us, pray like He's given it to us, Give, serve, and act like He's given it to us.

The vision of TVM is very simple. We are taking our city for Jesus Christ. This is the vision. Now just as the Israelites had to take "steps" (theirs were literal) we also must obey the steps and in doing so, step by step, we will take our city. Here are the first few steps we will take. You ready because God has a place for you in each of these and it will take all of us in order to take our city. Oh and if you're from another city, don't worry, after we take Monroe and there is an army of us living for Christ, we will take your city too! Here are the steps...

1. The Word - the foundation of our ministry is the Word. It is built upon the Word and it is the Word that we stand upon. Joshua 1:8 says Study this Book of Instruction (The Bible) continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. ONLY THEN WILL YOU PROSPER AND SUCCEED IN ALL YOU DO. You reading your bible will be the very thing that brings us success. Every person has got to be in the Word everyday, it is then we will prosper and succeed. To help in that we have a bible reading plan available here and for pick up on Sunday.
2. Prayer - The word is the foundation, prayer is the power. The word gives us a foundation to stand upon, prayer gives us the grace and the power to accomplish the vision. With the bible reading plan is a daily prayer nugget. We've got to be in prayer everyday for our friends, our lives, our families, and the vision. We will also be doing monthly prayer and worship times to be announced soon!
3. Wednesday Nights/iNights - We need a service we can invite our friends to and that is Wednesday nights. Beginning October 1st we will be doing weekly Wednesday night services with worship and preaching. Also once a month on the last Wednesday beginning in November we will have iNight services. iNight stands for invite night. These will be great services to invite your friends too. We need every person to be at Wednesday nights and to be inviting their friends with no faith to come. Here are some upcoming series we will be doing:October - "What the... Hell?" - A series on hell, the devil, eternity, repentance and salvation. November - "Text" - A series where we answer questions about anything that you text in.
4. Reach Teams - I cannot stress how important it is for you to have a leader that is discipling you, praying for you, encouraging you, holding you accountable and correcting you. You will not thrive in Christian life unless you have this and this will happen in Reach Teams. Some are weekly, some every other week, but EVERYBODY needs a Reach Team that they go to. Sign ups on Sunday! Do it!
5. 100/100 - 100/100! This step is 100 weekly in services and 100 in Reach Teams. Right now we average between 60 and 70 weekly in services and we want to see that grow to 100/100. Here is your part in this. If everyone of us will go after 1 person. Just 1, pray for them and invite them every week. Get that person to church, see that they find salvation and get them to their Reach Team we can take this step before the end of the year. I want you to go after 1! Get them to church, pray for their salvation and get them to your Reach Team. Now here's the deal. Your one person cannot be someone from another church. I'm not interested in young people from other churches. They have a church and a pastor and they need to help their church grow. We want people who have no faith to encounter Jesus and become full of faith. Go after 1! Who is your 1 going to be?

These are the 1st five steps in front of us. Now it's our turn to obey and to praise. Get in your word, pray, be at Wednesday nights, go to a Reach Team and get 1. Together we can take our city. Together we can see friends and peers we never thought would know Christ, bow their knee and live the life you know! We are taking this city the question is will you be one of those who takes it with us?

Be there Sunday for more and be ready because God is going to use you!

September to October reading plan

Date Daily Word Daily Prayer
9/18/2008 Matthew 1-3 God use me to show others that Jesus is the Son of God.
9/19/2008 Matthew 4-5 God open my eyes and heart to follow your Word.
9/20/2008 Matthew 6-7 God create in me a clean heart that is for you and that trusts in you.
9/21/2008 Matthew 8-9 God fill me with faith and use me and others around me to reach my city.
9/22/2008 Matthew 10-11 God send me to my friends, my peers, and my school.
9/23/2008 Matthew 12 God show me the authority and power I have in your Son Jesus.
9/24/2008 Matthew 13 See you at and after the pole. Pray for this day.
9/25/2008 Matthew 14-15 Show me what to give and give me the strength to give it.
9/26/2008 Matthew 16-17 Lord reveal yourself to me. Let me know you more.
9/27/2008 Matthew 18-19 Lord help me to give you everything. Even the things and areas of my life I don’t want to.
9/28/2008 Matthew 20-21 Lord MAKE ME a servant you can use.
9/29/2008 Matthew 22 God I give you everything I am.
9/30/2008 Matthew 23-24 Help me to recognize the signs around me and hear what you are saying.
10/1/2008 Matthew 25 Lord I offer my time, talent and treasure to you. Use them to build your kingdom.
10/2/2008 Matthew 26 Lord I receive what you did for me on the cross.
10/3/2008 Matthew 27 Let it be finished in my life. Pray for anything that needs to be finished.
10/4/2008 Matthew 28; Mark 1 God I will go. Open doors for me to speak to my friends.
10/5/2008 Mark 2-3 Pray for your leaders today. Pray for strength and blessing for their lives
10/6/2008 Mark 4-5 Ask for boldness and then take the step to reach someone.
10/7/2008 Mark 6 Lord give me a proper perspective on suffering.
10/8/2008 Mark7-8 Purify my heart, so out of me will flow rivers of living water.
10/9/2008 Mark 9 Fill me with faith to do the impossible.
10/10/2008 Mark 10-11 Show me areas where I'm sinning and I ask for forgiveness.
10/11/2008 Mark 12 God show me anything that I love more than you!
10/12/2008 Mark 13-14 God give me a willing heart to worship you no matter the cost.
10/13/2008 Mark 15 Lord let me be in your presence everyday!
10/14/2008 Mark 16 Lord give me the faith to believe for miracles and let me see them come to pass.
10/15/2008 Luke 1 God make me strong in the Word, Prayer and faith!
10/16/2008 Luke 2-3 Lord give me wisdom!
10/17/2008 Luke 4 Give me such a burden for my generation that I must tell them.

Baptism

Today we began a brand new Bible reading plan in TVM. We are reading through the new Testament between now and the end of this year. Today's reading was Matthew 1-3 and I want to highlight one area of the scripture we read today.

In Matthew 3:13 we find that Jesus goes to the Jordan river to be baptized. John baptizes Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes upon him then he is lead into the wilderness to be tempted. Baptism is a very important step in our journey of faith. If Jesus felt the need to be baptized then surely we should be baptized.

What is baptism all about?

Rom 6:3-6
3 Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. 6 Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. - NLT

Baptism is identifying with Christ. It’s saying I go under the water as this old sinful, foolish person, and rise out of the water made brand new through the cross and now I am associated with Christ. Baptism says that I'm not longer associated with the world or who I used to be, but my association and identity is found in Christ. It is a doing away with the old and bringing of the new. It's a doing away with the power of sin and walking with the power of Christ!

Baptism is a command of Christ and one each of us should follow. Many people get baptized when they are young and don't really understand what it means. If you've never been baptized before or did it when you were young and didn't understand what you were doing you need to get baptized. The next time you hear about a baptism get signed up!

Thoughts on the seventh anniversary of 9/11

Seven years ago today, our country was rocked with the news of a terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York. I can still remember the feeling of grief and sadness as I and other mourned the loss of people we didn't even know. I remember the uncertainty that I felt, the fear and the sorrow. I remember the shock and horror of the images that I saw as our fellow countrymen were killed senselessly. That was seven years ago and yet the memory is still fresh in my mind.

As I went about my business today, I've had great joy because of all that God is doing in our city and our church. He is moving and touching lives like never before. In the midst of all my to-do's I have had a deep sense that I need to remember. While we cannot change what happened seven years ago we can do some things to honor and remember those who died without need and those who died as heroes.

With that in mind here are some things we should do today:

• Make sure and tell the ones you love, how much you love them... Many people didn't get that chance.
• Be thankful for what you have and don't focus on what you don't... Many people would trade it all to have what you have.
• Say a prayer for the families of those who lost a loved one... Their memories and pain run far deeper than ours.
• Pray for the soldiers... they have given their lives to keep us safe from this happening again.
• Pray for the family of soldiers... they have given their mom's, dad's, husbands, wives, children, brothers and sisters to make sure we are safe.

Take a moment today and remember. Pray and ask God to continue to heal our nation and to bring salvation. Honor those who gave their lives with your time and prayers today!

Volunteerapalooza

On September 21st at 6pm we will be having a festival of funness for all you volunteers. Be sure to save the date and sign-up at the Information Kiosk. Cost is $10 per person with family rates available.

This is a night where we will honor all of our volunteers, so make sure you come! There will be games, prizes and dinner! See you there.

Oh yeah, you need a ticket to get in, so sign up ASAP at the information kiosk.