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Geared Up for Next 2009
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I’m headed off to the Next 2009 conference in Baltimore to spend four days considering who Jesus is and what he’s done for us. Many members of our church will be attending as well. If you’d like to follow along, keep an eye on the Next blog where we’ll be live-blogging and posting photos.
And if you’re able to come for any part of the conference, you can show up and buy a session pass at the door. (Here’s the schedule). We’d love to have you join us.
Please also pray for me as I preach the opening message tonight on “The Preeminence of Christ.”
I’ll miss worshiping with you tomorrow, as Robin Boisvert finishes out our series in the book of Ephesians.
May 21 2009 at 3:24 pm
‘More Church, Mama?’
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Mike Bradshaw passed on this encouraging e-mail to me, sent by a pastor’s wife from Ohio:
Last weekend [May 3] my husband and two daughters (ages 2 ½ and 8 months) and I traveled to the D.C. area for a mini-vacation.
One of the things we were excited about was the opportunity to visit Covenant Life for the first time. Due to a very rainy day, we weren’t able to get any pictures on Sunday. So, we decided to return on Tuesday morning on our way out of town.
Our two year old, Karis, had a marvelous time on Sunday at Covenant Life‘s “Discovery Land.” In fact, she got all excited when we pulled in to the church on Tuesday. ”More church!” was her immediate response. After being told that, no, it wasn’t church day, and we weren’t going to church, her eyes spilled over with very sad tears. Through her tears she kept asking, “Please, more church, Mama?”
Just wanted you to know that a little two-year-old girl had a very wonderful time at Covenant Life Church … so much so that she cried when she had to leave.
—Hannah Tyrpak
Madison, Ohio
Pictured: Karis and Tori, on the morning the family visited Covenant Life.
May 20 2009 at 4:31 pm
How the Christian’s Armor Helps
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In his message this past Sunday from Ephesians 6:13-17, Braden made several references to Peter O’Brien’s commentary, The Letter to the Ephesians
In reference to the shield of faith (verse 16):
“Here the burning arrows depict, in highly metaphorical language, every kind of attack launched by the devil and his hosts against the people of God. They ... include not only every kind of temptation to ungodly behavior, doubt, and despair, but also external assaults, such as persecution or false teaching. Paul’s expression conveys the sense of extreme danger. The forces of ‘the evil one’ are incredibly powerful, and left to our own devices we would certainly fail. But these flaming arrows cannot harm those whose trust and confidence are ‘in the Lord and in his mighty power’ (v. 10). They are able to resist and overcome these satanic attacks.”
In reference to the helmet of salvation (verse 17a):
“As [Christians] appropriate this salvation more fully and live in the light of their status in Christ, they have every reason to be confident of the outcome of the battle.”
In reference to vs. 15, “... and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace”:
“What is in view here is ... the faithful speaking forth of the gospel in the realm of darkness, so that men and women held by Satan might hear this liberating and life-giving word and be free from his grasp.”
May 18 2009 at 1:59 am
Ephesians, Part 25: Application
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Yesterday Braden Greer preached from Ephesians 6:13-17, unpacking the importance of each element of what the Apostle Paul calls “the armor of God.”
You can listen online or download the message here.
Questions to help you apply Braden’s message:
1. A.W. Tozer once wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” How can you “fasten on the belt of truth” more effectively by growing in thinking and believing rightly about God?
2. In what one area of your character can you “put on the breastplate of righteousness” by growing in holiness and godliness?
3. “Unbelief looks at the difficulty. Faith regards the promise”, writes Charles Bridges. In your trials and adversities, what promises of God’s word can your faith hold on to that will “extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one”?
4. Do you ever struggle with doubts about Christ’s love for you, with doubts that ALL your sins are forgiven, or with questions that you really are His child? If so, how can you put on the “helmet of salvation” and remind yourself of your redeemed, reconciled and adopted status in Christ? How can you “preach the gospel” to yourself on a regular basis?
5. Our spiritual armor also includes offensive weapons to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth. In your home, neighborhood or workplace, who can you reach out to in the coming weeks and share the good news of Jesus Christ?
May 16 2009 at 2:20 pm
Tomorrow: Braden Greer and New Members
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Tomorrow we will welcome 146 new members into our church. These folks have joined in the last six months, with such a diversity of ages, ethnicities and stories. I can’t wait to welcome them and pray for them with you tomorrow.
Bob Kauflin will lead us in our time of singing to the Lord, including the hymn we’re memorizing this month, “A Mighty Fortress.”
Braden Greer will be preaching from Ephesians 6:13-17 on “Our Armor.” When I asked Braden what he’s excited about in this message, he said, “In preparing this message, I’ve been excited about the preserving power of God’s word—that when it is taught, God’s word preserves our souls, preserves the church. I’ve also been meditating on the idea that the armor of God, detailed in Eph. 6:13-17, is not dependent on our own abilities, physical or mental. It’s God’s armor for each of us, so young or old, strong or weak, the spiritual battlefield is level.”
May 15 2009 at 11:23 am
Youth Ministry Project: Build an Orphanage
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Our 10:31 youth ministry has been raising money to pay for construction of a baby orphanage (envisioned in the sketch above). Between what the ministry gave through an offering at the May 10:31 meeting and other fundraising efforts, $9,000 has been raised to date!
A little background…
Covenant Life’s 10:31 youth ministry has been serving Rancho 3M Christian Orphanage in Guadalupe, Mexico, for the last five years. Each summer the ministry sends teams to Guadalupe to lead summer Bible camp and do construction projects. This summer’s project is building a baby orphanage on the grounds. Dean Adamek, the director of Rancho3M, has a vision to take in and care for abandoned babies from the area, and then to see them adopted into families from Sovereign Grace churches at very low cost.
While Dean is working with the Mexican government and tending to the paperwork required to become an official adoption agency, the youth will be hard at work building a nursery to house these babies. The plan is to break ground the second week of July!
The youth have shown tremendous initiative in their fundraising efforts. Examples include selling Krispy Kreme donuts in the church lobby on Sundays, selling and purchasing “Rancho 3M” bracelets, giving generously of their own savings, and participating in the youth drama production of “Pilgrim.” All proceeds from concessions sold at “Pilgrim” are going towards the orphanage as well.
I am so grateful to see the ways God is being honored through the youth of Covenant Life. Please keep the teens and parents who are going to serve this summer in your prayers.