History In The Making
This Sunday, November 30 marks the final Sunday morning services at 424 Duss Ave. This is a major milestone and turning point in the history of our church. While we will still be using the building for offices, youth group, prayer meetings, small groups, special evening services, and fellowship events, Sunday morning worship will soon be taking place at the new Ambridge Area High School located at 909 Duss Ave beginning Dec. 7.
Dec. 7 also marks the 10-Year Anniversary of Ambridge Christian Center! It is amazing to look back over the last ten years and see God’s hand of faithfulness at work. I find it particularly amazing that God would allow such a significant moment in our history to launch us into a new location and new phase of ministry.
How To Make A Faith Pledge
This Sunday we will be making Faith Giving Commitments and giving the Firstfruits Offering for our Momentum Campaign. A Faith Giving Commitment is a promise made to God by faith to give over and above regular tithes and offerings for a particular need. It is by faith because it requires sacrifice and trust in God.
A Firstfruit’s Offering is the initial offering made along with the pledge to trigger our faith. It is through the firstfruit’s offering that we “step out of the boat” and bring the first part of our offering to God as an act of worship and faith.
So how do you make a faith pledge? My friend and mentor, Pastor Jeff Leake posted the following principles about making a faith pledge that are absolutely fantastic. He writes:
How does one determine a faith pledge amount?
Build A Budget – the first step in financial health as a person is to write out a Monthly Budget. Think through all of your bills and spending habits. Make value based decisions on how you want to spend. If you need a tool to help you do that, here is a worksheet: Download budget_profile.pdf
Decide To Tithe – before you can get to ‘over and above’ giving, you want to work toward the step of obedience called the TITHE. Tithing is giving 10% to God. It is an obedience thing. We don’t designate it. We don’t divide it. We give the tithe to declare that God is the Master of our finances and Lord of our lives.
Remember God’s Faithfulness – think back to ways that God has provided for you in the past. Consider specific financial blessings.
Consider The Need – [At ACC, our goal is to seek and to save the lost. We want to see people far from God find life in relationship with their creator. All of our financial goals are fully directed by that mission. Financially, our first goal is to be debt free. We currently owe $17,739 on our current mortgage. Additionally we need to raise $15,100 for equipment and $12,000 to cover the first 6-month's rent]
Determine What You Can Afford To Give – as you evaluate your budget and consider your spending, what can you afford to give every month to these needs?
Ask God For A Faith Goal - don’t stop with what you can afford. This is where the miracle takes. When we ask the Holy Spirit to tell us what He wants to do through us. God can take what you can afford and add to it. He can provide unexpected raises, gifts, inheritances, etc.
Trigger Your Faith By Giving - when we pledge this weekend, we will also GIVE THE FIRST PART of that pledge. We call this a first fruits offering. God’s provision is not triggered by our pledging but rather by our actual giving. When we give, we create a hole for God to fill.
Jessica and I, along with the leaders of our church have already made our faith commitments to the campaign. We want to fully devote not only our time and talent to Christ but also our resources. We feel privileged to be a part of what God is doing and we look forward to all that he will do through our faith commitments.
The words of King David inspire me in 2 Samuel 24:24 when he said, “I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing.”
Week of Prayer
As we prepare for this new season of transition and ministry we realize that the battle is won in prayer. Lasting transformation in our communities will not be because of our intelligence or innovation, but due to the power of the presence of God among us. Prayer is not a warm-up before ministry. Prayer is the ministry.
It is through prayer that we declare our dependence upon God. It is through prayer that we remember that everything is to him and for him. It is through prayer that we grow in passion for God’s glory in all the earth.
I love how E.M. Bounds put it. He said, “Natural ability and educational advantages do not figure as factors in this matter of prayer; but a capacity for faith, the power of a thorough consecration, the ability of self-littleness, an absolute losing of one’s self in God’s glory and an ever present and insatiable yearning and seeking after all the fullness of God.”
We are excited to be having a Week of Prayer Tuesday-Friday, Dec. 2-5. Special prayer meetings will be taking place daily from 12:00-1:00pm at the church.
2 Chron. 7:14 tells us that “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Come and join us as we call on God with all of our hearts!
Monday Reflections
Had a great meeting Saturday morning with our Launch Team Leaders! I’m so proud of how this team is coming together to make our transition to the school over the top.
Enjoyed dominating at the ACC Football Festival on Saturday (maybe that’s a little strong). Although, I’ve never seen so many people so eager to hit and tackle their pastor, hmmm…
Loved having Earl Creps and his wife Janet in town Sunday morning! Earl shared his calling to plant a university church in Berkeley, CA. He shared how we must lower our shields when it comes to God’s will and be willing to follow God even when it goes against conventional “wisdom.”
Finally, really enjoyed speaking to our Community Group Leaders on Sunday night. I am so blessed by their sacrificial dedication to discipling our congregation!
Dr. Earl Creps at ACC This Sunday
This Sunday, Nov. 23 we are incredibly privileged to have Dr. Earl Creps as a guest speaker in both morning services.
Earl, the former director of the Doctor of Ministry program at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (where I’m currently working through a master’s program), is now following the call of God to plant a university church in Berkeley, CA. He is a specialist in missional Christianity, Postmodernism, Communication, and Pentecostal Leadership.
He is also the author of “Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders” and “Reverse Mentoring: How Young Leaders Can Transform The Church And Why We Should Let Them” (love that title!).
If you’re in the Pittsburgh area this weekend consider yourself invited! You won’t be disappointed.
Check out earlcreps.com
ACC Football Festival This Saturday
If your game for some sweet football action meet us at the church (424 Duss Ave. Ambridge) this Saturday, Nov. 22 at 12:30. We’ll play from 1-3.
(All credit to MJohnson Media for the video!)
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Thoughts On Worship
A good portion of the message this week focused on the importance of worship when facing battles in life. Just before facing the stronghold city of Jericho, Joshua encounters a divine messenger who reveals himself as the “commander of the army of the Lord.” Here are a few thoughts about worship from the story:
1. When you are facing a fierce battle in life the best thing you can do is worship God- Josh. 5:14b. This is true whether it is a spiritual battle, depression, financial chaos, or addiction. In fact, the times we least feel like worshipping God are the times we need to the most.
2. Worship is not about getting God on our side, it is about getting on God’s side- Josh. 5:13-14a,c. When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” We tend to pursue God more ardently when we’re in some kind of jam or to get God to do things for us. Joshua said, “What does my lord say to his servant.” Instead of asking God to serve him, he asks how he can be of service to God. This is the attitude of a true worshipper.
3. Worship is responding appropriately to God’s presence- Josh. 5:14b,15 And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped… And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
It is dangerous to face battles in life without first worshipping God, declaring our dependence upon him, and making sure our hearts are fully surrendered to his will.
Campaign Vision Sermon & Podcast
Click here to listen to this week’s vision casting and information message for the Momentum Campaign.
You can also subscribe to our weekly audio podcast on itunes by clicking here.
Momentum Campaign Launch
If there’s one thing I hate about being a pastor, its having to talk about money. There is such a bad stigma attached to preachers and churches talking about money… and for good reason! I know exactly what its like to sit through a 45 minute schpeel from a creepy preacher who seems to only care about draining my pockets.
Well, this Sunday I confronted one of my greatest fears as we introduced the Momentum Capital Campaign. So I decided to minimize my remarks about money and maximize my remarks about vision. From Acts 26:16-19 we looked at several realities:
- Satan is not taking a break from destroying lives all around us.
- God has saved us for a purpose, to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, to deliver them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the kingdom of God.
- The hope of the world is not Oprah, Dr. Phil, Obama, or Bush, the hope of the world is the church of Jesus Christ.
- People all around us are heading for eternal torment in hell unless we step us and do what we are called to do as the church.
- God hasn’t called us to play church, he’s called us to proclaim his love to a lost world.
- We are all passionate about what we want to be passionate about, but at the end of the day, if we’re not passionate about Jesus and the people he died for than we are missing everything.
I think that when we begin to gain an eternal perspective, realize who God is and what he’s called us to do, and that people’s souls are at stake, sacrificial giving becomes a great joy and a privilege.
When all is said and done, I’m not giving to this campaign like its some kind of charity. I am investing my resources to make an eternal difference in the lives of people Jesus Christ died to save. I am becoming an active partner with God in his mission to redeem humanity from sin, destruction, addiction, death, and hell. I believe that the powers of darkness fear nothing more than the church of Jesus Christ fully unified, working together, giving sacrificially together, and reaching out under the authority and power of the risen Son of God.
Leader’s Summit
Looking forward to teaching a breakout session called “How To Study the Bible” at the APC Leader’s Summit in the morning. I’ll be sharing some basic principles to fruitful and applicable study of the Scriptures.
No other book is more worthy of our intense devotion and careful study. And no other study is more rewarding than the study of God’s Word. Indeed, it is the calling, responsibility, and privilege of every Christian leader.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” – 2 Tim. 2:15
Looking forward to the summit!
A Post Election Prayer
Let this verse serve as a guide in your post-election prayers:
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. —1 Timothy 2:1-4
Fall Prayer Initiative: This Week
As we prepare to transition to our new location in December, we are joining our hearts together in prayer each week with a specific focus. Use the following points to guide your prayers this week.
Pray for all who serve:
- Give us humble and willing hearts (Gal. 5:13)
- Equip us in volunteer service (2 Cor. 9:8)
- Use us where we work (1 Thess. 1:3)
- Preserve integrity in government and courts (1 Tim. 2:1-4)
Vote Your Conscience
Check out this powerful video on the importance of Christians voting their conscience in this election.
Earl Creps at ACC Nov. 23
On Sunday, November 23 we are privileged to have Dr. Earl Creps with us as a guest speaker. Earl, a native of Pittsburgh, is a specialist on missional Christianity, postmodernism, communication, and leadership. Most recently he served as the director of the Doctor of Ministry program at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary where I have had him as a professor.
Earl is also the author of Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders and Reverse Mentoring: How Young Leaders Can Transform the Church and Why We Should Let Them (love that title!), both published by Leadership Network.
Earl and his wife Janet are now following the call of God to plant a church in Berkeley, CA. Earl is an amazing communicator with a passion for God. We are really blessed to have him speak to our community. You won’t want to miss the services on Nov. 23!
Check out earlcreps.com
