We wrapped up the series, "Who Is My Neighbor And How Do I Love Him" this week and it has been an awesome time for our church body. Many have spent countless hours engaging the community in an effort to understand better "our neighbor". Many have shared stories of being able to meet a need for someone bringing this whole idea of reaching out in love to a whole other level. I am thankful for what the Lord is doing in our church. Statistics would say that we are in a period where the "mega-church" is thriving and that 50 percent of our churches (SBC) today will range from 50-200 in worship on any given Sunday. I am reminded this morning as I read this article Small Churches Can Thrive by Ed Stetzer. Ed talks about how smaller churches can thrive and in doing so they will have to be persistent in prayer and maintain an attitude or a mindset of being outwardly focused. I love the fact that Ed reminds smaller churches that we are not exempt from the call to reach people because of their size.
Gateway Fellowship is continually being transformed into the church that He desires for us to be. I am truly excited about what is taking place in the life of our church. May we continue to have a passion to reach out in love to an unconvinced world. May we do all we can in fulfilling our part of what He has called us to as the Body Of Christ.
I love our church
I love our people
I love our team
I love our staff
I love our elders
I love what He is doing in us
I love what He is doing through us
I love that He is not done with us
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Baby Dedication~ June 28, 2009
If you missed the Baby Dedication on Mother's Day and you are still wanting to participate, we will be holding another Baby Dedication ceremony at Gateway Fellowship Church on June 28, 2009 during our 10:30 a.m. service. The idea and process of dedicating our children to the Lord is a time honored, Biblical tradition that goes back thousands of years!
When Hannah, who had been barren for years, finally was given a child, Samuel, here was her promise:
“O LORD Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.”(1 Samuel 1:11 NLT)
Throughout Jewish history, when a child was born, the child would be taken to the temple and dedicated to God and His service. Mary, Joseph and Jesus even participated in a parent/child dedication Ceremony:
“Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. 22Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Luke 2:21-22 (NLT)
Keep in mind, this ceremony was more about the PARENT’S commitments than it was the child! The child could not make any commitments. They were babies! The parents were making the big spiritual commitments!
If you are wanting to participate in the Baby Dedication this Sunday, June 28, 2009,please contact us
When Hannah, who had been barren for years, finally was given a child, Samuel, here was her promise:
“O LORD Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.”(1 Samuel 1:11 NLT)
Throughout Jewish history, when a child was born, the child would be taken to the temple and dedicated to God and His service. Mary, Joseph and Jesus even participated in a parent/child dedication Ceremony:
“Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. 22Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Luke 2:21-22 (NLT)
Keep in mind, this ceremony was more about the PARENT’S commitments than it was the child! The child could not make any commitments. They were babies! The parents were making the big spiritual commitments!
If you are wanting to participate in the Baby Dedication this Sunday, June 28, 2009,please contact us
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday Reflections
We are in wrapping up a sermon series entitled, "Who Is My Neighbor And How Do I Love Them" this week. This has been an awesome series for us at Gateway Fellowship We have answered the questions, (1) Who is my neighbor (2) How do I love them (3) Where exactly is my neighborhood and (4) How do I reach my neighborhood. This Sunday, June 21st, We will be looking at "How we move towards Christ with our neighbors. I love this this series and am looking forward, already. to wrapping it up on Sunday.
The worship today led by Scott Finch and the band was awesome. There was a sweet vibe in the room today. God is doing some amazing things with us as a church right now and I am looking forward to what he has in store for us. We talked this morning about understanding the call that has been placed on us, "You will be my witnesses in all of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. We looked at the fact that Jesus had told the disciples to wait for the fulfillment of the promise that His Father would bring. "When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, You will receive POWER!
It is with this power that He has given to us that we can, do amazing things for the Kingdom. I asked three questions this morning as we looked at what He wants from our church and from us as individuals:
1. Is the greatest dream you have became reality, would it profit and benefit the world around you?
2. What dreams are lying under the rubble of your past?
3. What dreams wait for you on the other side of your fears?
These are questions that we need to keep in front of us as we look at the things He is asking of us!
I love our church
I love our people
I love our team
I love what He is doing in us
I love what He is doing through us
I love that He is not done with us
The worship today led by Scott Finch and the band was awesome. There was a sweet vibe in the room today. God is doing some amazing things with us as a church right now and I am looking forward to what he has in store for us. We talked this morning about understanding the call that has been placed on us, "You will be my witnesses in all of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. We looked at the fact that Jesus had told the disciples to wait for the fulfillment of the promise that His Father would bring. "When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, You will receive POWER!
It is with this power that He has given to us that we can, do amazing things for the Kingdom. I asked three questions this morning as we looked at what He wants from our church and from us as individuals:
1. Is the greatest dream you have became reality, would it profit and benefit the world around you?
2. What dreams are lying under the rubble of your past?
3. What dreams wait for you on the other side of your fears?
These are questions that we need to keep in front of us as we look at the things He is asking of us!
I love our church
I love our people
I love our team
I love what He is doing in us
I love what He is doing through us
I love that He is not done with us
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday Reflections
I love Sundays.
I love coming together to celebrate what the Lord is doing.
I love our church.
I love our people.
I love our team.
Scott Finch did a great job leading us in worship today at Gateway Fellowship Church. I really enjoyed hearing God's people sing out to their Creator. There was an awesome since of "we are a part of something bigger" this morning. I love when you sense this. I love seeing people when it clicks. We answered the question, "Where exactly is my neighborhood" this morning and really enjoyed preaching this morning. You can go to Gateway TV to see this morning service. It should be uploaded by Monday evening at the latest. Join us next Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m., as we continue our series entitled, "Who Is My Neighbor And How Do I Love Them"
We opened service this morning with Psalm 33.
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars [a] ;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth-
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
I love verse 22....
We concluded service this morning with The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.]
Amen.
I love what He is doing in us
I love what He is doing through us
I love that He is not done with us
I love that He is calling us to "think missionaly" and "live communally"
I love that we are "Doing Life Together"
I love coming together to celebrate what the Lord is doing.
I love our church.
I love our people.
I love our team.
Scott Finch did a great job leading us in worship today at Gateway Fellowship Church. I really enjoyed hearing God's people sing out to their Creator. There was an awesome since of "we are a part of something bigger" this morning. I love when you sense this. I love seeing people when it clicks. We answered the question, "Where exactly is my neighborhood" this morning and really enjoyed preaching this morning. You can go to Gateway TV to see this morning service. It should be uploaded by Monday evening at the latest. Join us next Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m., as we continue our series entitled, "Who Is My Neighbor And How Do I Love Them"
We opened service this morning with Psalm 33.
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars [a] ;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth-
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
I love verse 22....
We concluded service this morning with The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.]
Amen.
I love what He is doing in us
I love what He is doing through us
I love that He is not done with us
I love that He is calling us to "think missionaly" and "live communally"
I love that we are "Doing Life Together"
Thoughts from this week
When will we realize that if we cared half as much for our neighbors as we cared for ourselves that this world would be a much better place?
How can we, as the church, begin to embrace our neighbors in such a way that the are drawn to Jesus because of our willingness to embrace the communities in which they live?
Do I even really know my neighbors? Do I even know there names? Who really is our neighbor? Where is our neighborhood? Is it simply just those who live next door to us? Or is it, in reality, all of those who the Lord allows us to cross paths with?
When was the last time you really felt like you met a need in some one's life?
If our church really is "regional" does it make the answer to the question, "who is my neighbor and where is my neighborhood" different?
What does it really look like when the church truly becomes "missional in their thinking" and "communal in their living"?
If we do the two things above are we "worshiping authentically"?
While doing the things stated above, are we doing them for the "name and reputation of Jesus Christ"?
How can we, as the church, begin to embrace our neighbors in such a way that the are drawn to Jesus because of our willingness to embrace the communities in which they live?
Do I even really know my neighbors? Do I even know there names? Who really is our neighbor? Where is our neighborhood? Is it simply just those who live next door to us? Or is it, in reality, all of those who the Lord allows us to cross paths with?
When was the last time you really felt like you met a need in some one's life?
If our church really is "regional" does it make the answer to the question, "who is my neighbor and where is my neighborhood" different?
What does it really look like when the church truly becomes "missional in their thinking" and "communal in their living"?
If we do the two things above are we "worshiping authentically"?
While doing the things stated above, are we doing them for the "name and reputation of Jesus Christ"?
Friday, June 5, 2009
Days Like Today
I love spending time with my kids. It gets even better when that time is spent near a pond or on the lake with a fishing rod in my hand. I have to be honest here ant tell you that I am truly thankful that both of my children love the outdoors, love to fish, love to camp and continually ask me to do so, as often as they can. Fishing is one of the things that I love to do, There is something calming about it to me. Scripture references such as Psalm 46:10 that read, "Be still and know that I am God" or in some translations, "Cease striving and know that I am God" run deep in my soul as I sit on the bank of a river, pond or lake and throw out my line.
Fishing is found throughout the scripture. We know that many of the disciples were fisherman. As a matter of fact, we know that Jesus called for them to follow Him and He would make them "fishers of men". Once again, an amazing picture of what the Lord has called for us to do in our lives. We are called to "fish". He has called us and compelled through His word to become fishers of men!
Days like today remind me of how good our God is. Days like today remind me that my children have been given to me as an inheritance and that I have been called to nurture and raise them in the faith. Let's be honest, they belong to Him anyway. Everything is FOR God and everything is FROM God.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sunday Reflections
Sunday was awesome. The worship team led by Scott Finch did an awesome job. The vibe was good Sunday morning from the start of the first song until the end of the service. I really enjoyed preaching this Sunday. We started a new series called "Who Is My Neighbor" and the sermon was all about "Who Is My Neighbor and How Do I Love Them?". Next week I will be preaching a sermon entitled, "Where Exactly Is My Neighborhood" We would love to have you at Gateway Fellowship Church
Sunday Night we had SNL, this is what we like to call our family time. We discuss things like vision, ministry opportunities, and where we are financially. We always have worship, some sort of devotional and then we just hang out with one another learning to "do life together". It is always a great time of community and it is one the things I look forward to the most. Last night we finished our Children's series called "The Bright Knight". It was great to see parents enjoying what their children have been learning for the last 15 weeks during Sunday mornings.
I love our church
I love our people
I love our team
I love what He is doing in us
I love what He is doing through us
I love that He is not done with us
Sunday Night we had SNL, this is what we like to call our family time. We discuss things like vision, ministry opportunities, and where we are financially. We always have worship, some sort of devotional and then we just hang out with one another learning to "do life together". It is always a great time of community and it is one the things I look forward to the most. Last night we finished our Children's series called "The Bright Knight". It was great to see parents enjoying what their children have been learning for the last 15 weeks during Sunday mornings.
I love our church
I love our people
I love our team
I love what He is doing in us
I love what He is doing through us
I love that He is not done with us
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