Need Help Getting Plugged-In?
If you are looking for a way to use your gifts and abilities for God and would like some help getting plugged into the right ministry, take a moment to fill out our online Ministry Interest Questionnaire.
The questionnaire will give you a list of various ministries to choose from as well as allow you to share about the passions and gifts God has given you. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get plugged into a ministry that is right for you. The online form can be accessed right here.
Spiritual Health and Potential
Our spiritual health is inextricably linked with reaching our full potential. We all know that in order to be healthy, we must eat right and exercise. Eating right spiritually includes reading the word of God, listening to biblical preaching, etc. For most Christians, eating is not the problem. Its the exercise part that usually gets us.
We know how to take in, but it is equally important for our spiritual health that we learn to give out. To be healthy believers and fulfill our potential for Christ, we must learn to move from being consumers to contributors. If all we do is eat, but never exercise by becoming a contributor of our time and talent we will miss reaching our full potential.
When we fulfill our potential as individuals we will fulfill our potential as a church. This is because we are the church. Each believer is an indispensable member of Christ’s body. As we each pursue our spiritual health, it will contribute to the overall health of the body and our effectiveness for Christ as a church.
Happy Day
Some songs you just gotta love! We introduced this one at church on Sunday.
Power Through Prayer
On Friday afternoons at 4:00 I host a men’s prayer group in my office. We are about to read through the book Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds. I read this book a long time ago and am really looking forward to digging into it again. I love the following quote from the opening chapter:
What the Church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods. She needs men whom the Holy Spirit can use – men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men – men of prayer!
If we are not careful, our prayer lives can easily digress into something we do out of rote tradition rather than heartfelt passion. I love reading books that stir up my hunger for God and awaken a new passion for his presence and power.
What does a pastor do with a Sunday off?
This weekend Jess and I were away visiting family in Columbus, Ohio. I decided to visit two churches. My Sunday morning started by catching most of the early service at the Vineyard Church of Columbus pastored by Rich Nathan. VCC is currently the largest Vineyard church in the movement with an average weekend attendance of around 7,500. Really enjoyed the worship and the message!
Then I was able to catch a later service at Radiant Life Church, which is Jessica’s home church pastored by David Gross. Pastor Dave is a great friend who helped to officiate our wedding. Really enjoyed the service in their newly built sanctuary!
While I love being a pastor and ministering every week, it was really refreshing to just go to church! Even pastors need to take a break and receive ministry from time to time. I believe a healthy pastor knows how to pace himself and slow down when necessary. I think the better a pastor can take care of himself, the better he can care for his flock.
I heard the service at ACC on Sunday was amazing! I’m grateful to my friend Pastor Cullen Allen for coming to bring the word to our church. Pastor Cullen and I go way back to my high school days when he was my youth pastor. He is currently the Associate/Youth Pastor at Allison Park Church and Director of the MCM School of Ministry. Also heard that we had our highest attendance of the year this week! Praise God! I’m really looking forward to being back at ACC this Sunday!
This Inspires Me!
One person I have a lot of respect for is Brian Houston, the pastor of Hillsong Church and Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Australia. The following is a quote from him that really fires up my passion as I pray for ACC to become all that God intends for it to be. Take a moment to read his thoughts:
“The church that I see is a church of influence. A church so large in size that the city and nation cannot ignore it.
A church growing so quickly that buildings struggle to contain the increase.
I see a church whose heartfelt praise and worship touches heaven and changes earth. Worship which influences the praises of people throughout the earth exalting Christ with powerful songs of faith and hope.
I see a church whose altars are constantly filled with repentant sinners responding to Christ’s call to salvation.
Yes, the church that I see is so dependent on the Holy Spirit that nothing will stop it not stand against it.
A church whose people are unified, praying and full of God’s Spirit.
The church that I see has a message so clear that lives are being changed forever and potential is fulfilled though the power of His Word. A message beamed to the peoples of the earth through their television screens.
I see a church so compassionate that people are drawn from impossible situations into a loving and friendly circle of hope, where answers are found and acceptance is given.
I see a people so kingdom-minded that they will count whatever the cost and pay whatever the price to see revival sweep this land.
The church that I see is a church to committed to raising, training and empowering a leadership generation to reap the end-time harvest that all its ministries are consumed with this goal.
I see a church whose head is Jesus, whose help is the Holy Spirit and whose focus is the Great Commission.
Yes, the church that I see could well be our church.”
…All I have to say is wow! and Amen!
Grand Opening
On December 7th we had our internal, “soft opening” as we launched weekly services at Ambridge Area High School. Since we began meeting there we have not done a formal, public invitation.
Now that we are getting more and more comfortable with being portable and back in one large service, we are planning to do our public Grand Opening on Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009. In many ways, this will be a kind of re-launching of our church.
The entire month of April will be outreach oriented and designed to help us invite as many friends to church as possible. Studies show that 8 out of 10 non-churchgoers would attend with a friend if simply asked. I believe that God has called us to transform this area by leading as many people to Christ as possible!
Please join us in prayer that our Grand Opening will not only spread the word about ACC, but will be a life-changing, divine moment for many people in desperate need of a Savior!
Current Reading
I’m kind of a book-a-holic. Though I’m not a very fast reader, I typically have about 5-6 books going at any given time. Here are a few that I’m working through right now:
Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs- Bill Hybels. Short 1-2 page chapters. Very succinct leadership wisdom.
Death By Meeting- Patrick Lencioni. Heard this business book recommended over and over. Only a few chapters into it. Easy to read.
Vintage Church- Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears. Mark’s newest book. Pretty good so far.
Crazy Love- Francis Chan. Picked it up yesterday. Also heard it recommended highly.
It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It- Craig Groeschel. Craig’s newest book. Really enjoyed his previous book, Confessions of a Pastor. Looking forward to getting into this one.
The Silmarillion- J.R.R. Tolkien. I hardly ever read any fiction but I love the works of Tolkien. Read this one as a kid so this is a re-read.
Giveaway- Driscoll’s new book
Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!
I get an extra chance to win by including the above paragraph in a blog post!
Last week Mark Driscoll was interviewed on Nightline. They did an interesting story on Mark and the growth of Mars Hill Church. Check out the video below:
Weekend Reflections
I actually really enjoyed meeting this Sunday in the Ambridge High School Cafeteria. Nice ambiance. A little crowded, but lots of energy in the room. Though it was a bit of a last minute curveball for us, we were glad to give the auditorium over to the dance competition. I was so impressed with the way all of our volunteers rallied to make the most of it, and I have to say it was one of my favorite services yet! The free pizza lunch afterwards was a nice touch as well.
Enjoyed kicking off our new series, High Definition: Who We Are and Where We’re Headed with a message on true fellowship and community.
Talked about how Jesus didn’t come to establish a church where people masked their real issues and put on a weekly charade of being perfect while dying inside. The church is to be a community of real people who walk with one another through real issues and experience real community.
Finally I have to say that the Super Bowl was one of the most nerve racking viewing experiences of my life. A fight to the last few seconds! Awesome victory though! Pittsburgh rocks!
