fresh wind, fresh fire the communicator christ community … · it comes from jim cymbala’s book,...
TRANSCRIPT
On our recent mission trip to Greece, one of the most striking things we learned about was the profound ineptitude of the Greek Orthodox Church (GOC). 98% of all Greeks are
members of this church, yet Greece remains one of the most spiritually dead countries on the planet. The GOC is essentially a secular, state-run church in which it is considered heresy to read the Bible personally and a crime against the state to invite someone to leave the GOC for an evangelical church.On our way out of the country, we were making our way through the security check-point when one of our team members discovered he had forgotten to put his pocket-knife in his checked bag. It was a knife that had great sentimental value because it had been a gift from his father. He decided to show it to a security guard and ask for mercy. To his, and our, surprise the security guard pulled out a plastic bag, tried to cut it, and gave it back to him when the knife failed to cut through the plastic. To be quite honest, I was happy for my friend, but a little less confident about the security of our plane! The message, however, was clear: a dull knife is no danger to anyone. The same thing can be said about a dull church. While it is easy to see the spiritual dullness of a church like the GOC, I wonder how much closer we are to walking down the same path in America? I’d like to invite you to read and reflect on an excerpt I shared with our team in Greece. It comes from Jim Cymbala’s book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. As you read, please pray for yourself, Christ Community Church, and the body of Christ in America.
I have not meant to portray New York City as totally godless and pagan, because in fact, Brooklyn has historically been known as “the borough of Churches.” We have countless buildings that once housed active, vibrant congregations. Unfortunately, they are almost empty today. As the neighborhoods “changed,” as drugs became more prevalent, the momentum faded. Many parishioners died or moved into the suburbs but generously left large endowments. Today these churches may have pitifully few people in the pews on Sunday but they can still pay a pastor’s full-time salary and keep the enterprise going. One of the most famous is a downtown church we used to rent for special outreach events. The sanctuary, which seats 1,400, was packed in the 1930’s and 1940s, but it has not been used for regular Sunday worship since the 1960s. The congregation currently meets in the basement. Inner cities have thus become a forgotten mission field. Church buildings are empty in places where they should be crowded. Sin is abounding—but contrary to Romans 5, grace is not abounding more.Is this because the pulpits are not declaring the truth?
In some cases, yes—but in many cases, no. That may surprise you if you have assumed that the decline is always due to theological liberalism or false doctrine. But many groups who own these silent sanctuaries are as orthodox as a church could be. If you quizzed them about the divinity of Christ, the Virgin Birth, or their adherence to the Apostles’ Creed, they would pass with flying colors.So what is missing? The absent element is what is expressed in the final sentence of the prayer recorded in Acts 4:30 “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders” (v. 30). What gains unbelievers’ attention and stirs the heart is seeing the gospel expressed in power.It takes more than academic rigor to win the world for Christ. Correct doctrine alone isn’t enough. Proclamation and teaching aren’t enough. God must be invited to “confirm the word with signs following” (see Hebrews 2:4). In other words, the gospel must be preached with the involvement of the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.The apostles prayed for God to do supernatural things. They wanted people to know their belief was more than positional or theoretical. There was power in this faith. “0 God, stretch out your hand—work with us in this.” They wanted a faith that was obviously alive, a faith based not just on the cross but also on the empty tomb. The cross, as poignant as it is, is understandable from a human perspective: an innocent man was murdered by crooked politicians and religious leaders. But the empty tomb—what can you say? Only a supernatural God could accomplish that.In too many churches today, people don’t see manifestations of God’s power in answer to fervent praying. Instead, they hear arguments about theological issues that few people care about. On Christian radio and television we are often merely talking to ourselves.What we are dealing with today is an Old Testament “vow religion” comprised of endless repetitions and commands to do all the right things. Modern preachers, like Moses, come down from the mount calling for commitment. Everyone says yes but then promptly breaks the vow within two days. There is little dependence on God’s power to mike an ongoing difference. There is little calling upon God to revolutionize us in a supernatural way.Jesus is saying today, as he said to the church at Sardis, “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake, up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.... But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief.... He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:1-3, 6).
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
by Dr. Keith Cowart
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Pure PraiseRecently, CCC was blessed to serve as the host church for the first Columbus Area Worship Conference and Workshop. Dwayne Moore, author of Pure Praise, came from Huntsville, AL to lead the main sessions. He did an awesome job teaching and encouraging. The most exciting part for me was to see 7-area churches, worship leaders, and praise teams gather together to better to lead our churches. I was so impressed by the other worship leaders in this town (as well as our own tech guy Jimmy Rabon) as they taught the break-out sessions.
The subjects covered were anything from stage presence to worship theology
to music theory. Over-all, there were 7 breakout sessions taught, and they were all amazing! Lunch on Saturday was amazing as our own Jerome Harrell prepared it for us. It was good for my soul to see different denominations, churches, leaders, and volunteers all meeting for one reason...to honor God with our talents.
It is our goal to do a spring workshop next year. If you or someone you know would benefit from this event, consider this an open invitation. God likes it when we meet together and lock arms for His purposes, and I do too!
Jae LesleyWORSHIP [email protected]
I am thrilled to introduce to you our volunteer SERVE intern, Sharita Knobloch. Sharita and her drill sergeant husband, Brandon, started coming to CCC a few months ago, and I knew right away that Sharita would be an asset to our team. She is pursuing a Masters in Christian Leadership and told me she wanted to jump in and serve anyway she could. She has a true servant’s heart with a passion for the Lord and a strong gift of administration – what a blessing! Please make her feel welcome as she shares her heart with you. ~ Kelli
Serving is beautiful. Sure, it might require a little bit of effort on our behalf, but the blessings and rewards are more than worth it. As Christians, we have the privilege to serve by leading, and lead by serving. Just as it says in Matthew 20:28, Jesus came to serve… not to be served! Regardless of where or how you serve within God’s kingdom, know that your efforts please God. I don’t know about you, but
when I get to heaven, I would love for God to scoop me up in His arms and say “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”
We would like to thank all of YOU for serving His kingdom with love, passion and motivation, whether it is within our church doors or outside in the world. We also encourage you to consider how you will continue to live a life of servant leadership. It isn’t about having a title or status, but rather it’s about the blessed opportunity to humble ourselves and be like Jesus. We serve through showing the love and sharing the life of Christ by serving in His steps. So are you ready? Take a deep breath… and let’s get to stepping! Sharita Knobloch
Kelli WommackSERVE [email protected]
Serving is Beautiful
The Problem-THE SOLUTIONNo hurt is beyond HEALING
The feeling of being hurt is an emotional reaction to another person’s behavior or to a disturbing situation. (Abuse, abandonment, co-dependency, divorce, relationship issues, etc.)
No hang-up is beyond HOPE
Hang-ups are negative mental attitudes that are used to cope with people or adversity. (Anger, depression, fear, shame, unforgiveness, etc.)
No habit is beyond HELP
A habit is an addiction to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, pornography, shopping, smoking, etc.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12: 1
Reading over the descriptions of hurts, habits, and hang-ups above, you may find that you can relate to one or more of the issues mentioned. Even the scripture from Hebrews includes all of us. It identifies that which hinders as everything, and that which so easily entangles, as sin. So we all have problems, right?
The Good News is that we can all find THE Solution as well. As a matter of fact, we have several options for consideration: a community group is a great place to start, but there is also Celebrate Recovery on Thursday nights (6-8:30 pm). Fellowship on Sunday morning is great, but there is also Life Healing Choices class during LifeSchool. Even teens and young children can find a safe place by attending The Landings and Celebration Station, which are offered on Thursday nights alongside Celebrate Recovery.
The point is, no matter how big or irritating our problem(s) may appear, there is a place for us to connect and find a solution. By the way, the solution has a name- it is JESUS CHRIST!
Derrick ShieldsLIVE Ministries
A COMMUNITY GROUP PRAYER(Recognizing His presence. Joining in His purpose.)
Community Group facilitators recently pondered: “Why do we meet together in small groups week after week?” The following prayer captures the essence of our answer...
“Father God, we gather in your presence as deeply devoted brothers and sisters. Thank you for our group; for bringing us together. What rich gifts we are to each other (from you).
We rejoice that You are here with us. We need you! Apart from you our gathering is pointless. We want you to speak to us, to open your Word to us. We yield our hearts and minds to you.
Holy Spirit, pull our attentions away from other things and draw us to yourself.
Help us to love each other with our ears - listening attentively with genuine caring.
Help us to love each other with our
mouths - asking thoughtful questions, offering words of encouragement, praying sincerely for each other.
Help us to love each other with our hands – serving each other tangibly and sacrificially.
Ignite our hearts with your passion for the lost and wounded. Fuel our prayers for such people, to pray for them by name, and to ask how we might be a part of your salvation and healing for them. “Let us consider how to encourage one another to love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24). Give us vision for ways we can serve as a group. How might we share your love with others - together? Demonstrate your gospel - together?
Gracious Father, we are yours. We surrender to your good purposes. Grow in us your extraordinary life - - that transforms us and impacts our world.
Have your way with us . . . for your glory!
In the redeeming name of Jesus . . .”
Will you join with us in this prayer?
Billy GrossCONNECT Ministries
Brent DumlerGROW Ministries
I stongly believe that growth
requires challenge.
‘grow’-to spring up and develop to maturity (Merriam/Webster)
GROW Ministries here at Christ Community Church is highly focused on discipleship…the spiritual growth that is the by-product of leading others in the way of Jesus! GROW Ministries is to be a strong resource support to children, youth, and young adults in our church. It also involves LifeSchool. One piece of comfort for me is that I have had experience in all of these areas. The part that is new is that I have not served in a position that encompassed all of them before.
Will this be a challenge for me? I answer with a big, ‘Absolutely!’ And I’m happy for it. I strongly believe that growth requires constant challenge. When we are not feeling challenged or stretched in life, we are often not growing in our faith. I’m not saying that going through difficulties naturally leads us to spiritual maturity. What I am saying is that our attitude and actions in the
midst of life’s challenges present the opportunity to know and understand the heart of God better than before.
One critical part of this growth process is the practice of self-discipline. Trust me, this is a life-long journey. In the sixth chapter of his book, “Ordering Your Private World,” Gordon MacDonald relates monetary budgets to our personal lives. There are fixed funds…what we must do, and discretionary funds…what we would like to do. Much like our
budgets, our personal time needs to be ‘budgeted.’ If not, we often find ourselves at the end of the month realizing just how much time got away from us. It’s an excellent book, one I highly recommend you read this month before the rush of the holiday season takes over.