tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20519736837542589132024-03-21T21:30:25.750-07:00Micah 6:8He has shown you what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
The goal of this blog is for us to take a journey together and see how we can do those three things: act justly; love mercy; and walk humbly with our God!David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-23479628281624240762020-11-03T08:07:00.003-08:002020-11-03T08:07:34.743-08:00To the Texas Wesley<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: SegoeUI, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I woke up thinking about you guys today, I know that many of you are feeling anxious, and understandably so with how 2020 has gone. One of the great things about having faith in God is that you know that in difficult times, God is with you and that you are not alone. I get that feeling can be a little less tangible so also know this: you are not alone because you are part of this community. If you are having a hard time today, know that I am here for you as is the staff. Everyone in the Wesley is here for one another - you are not alone! Today will require patience, odds are good that we will not know who is president today because of all the mail-in ballots. It may take some time. So do what you need to do to take care of yourself and one another Finally, remember that our God never lets evil have the final word, and that love always wins in the end - it just may require each of us to be bearers of the good news in the coming days. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7 </span> </p>David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-55066702794512987272018-08-01T08:15:00.002-07:002018-08-01T08:15:46.567-07:005 Practices of Fruitful Congregations - Passionate Worship<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px;">I am going to blog on something that I am passionate about - passionate worship! Bishop Schnase wrote a book on the </span><a href="http://robertschnase.com/books/five-practices-of-fruitful-congregations/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #3d9991; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">5 practices of fruitful congregations</a><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px;">, I will be blogging on it the next few weeks, starting with worship. The five practices are radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional discipleship, risk-taking mission, and extravagant generosity. When we discuss these five practices, the adjective is as important as the word itself!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBTB01dcMvMgOmqunAsH8vT7uZmJZ8HFtiUI7w1eM35lJjOukqEsTfppJ-VSjSoEjPqA0KVA2hMk0pEc4EQZLYz2XPzlMaGoD_NaNkrjQSAx18E0vW5pp8baeUXQyZHy82b0vZDzAXTo/s1600/worship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBTB01dcMvMgOmqunAsH8vT7uZmJZ8HFtiUI7w1eM35lJjOukqEsTfppJ-VSjSoEjPqA0KVA2hMk0pEc4EQZLYz2XPzlMaGoD_NaNkrjQSAx18E0vW5pp8baeUXQyZHy82b0vZDzAXTo/s640/worship.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; word-wrap: break-word;">
To be a radical, world changing church, we must have radical worship. So what is worship? A lot of people think that its about a feeling or emotion that we receive when we sing the songs we like, or hear a sermon that we enjoy. Others say it is where they connect with others on Sundays (or other days of the week). DA Carson says <em style="word-wrap: break-word;">“Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so.” </em>So we will feel powerful emotion, and we will enjoy seeing people, and we will feel filled up - however it about giving God the honor that God deserves. Then, out of God graciousness, God gives us awesome gifts in return!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; word-wrap: break-word;">
So how do we have passionate corporate worship, and how do we have passionate individual worship. Schnase says, "God uses worship to transform lives, heal wounded souls, renew hope, shape decisions, provoke change, inspire compassion, and bind people to one another. The word <em style="word-wrap: break-word;">passionate</em> expresses an intense desire, an ardent spirit, strong feelings, and the sense of heightened importance. Congregations who practice Passionate Worship offer their utmost and highest; they expect worship to be the most important hour of the week."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Is worship the most important hour of the week for you? Maybe you need to change your priorities. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Do you prepare your heart and mind for worship? The best way to passionately worship our Creator is by asking the Holy Spirit to ready our lives for this most important hour of the week. I want to invite you to come to worship full of excitement, joy, love, AND expecting to encounter the Divine, the Holy and for your life to be changed!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; word-wrap: break-word;">
We also need to be passionate about our daily worship! Schnase says, "Through the personal practice of <em style="word-wrap: break-word;">Passionate Worship</em>, we learn to love God in return. Followers of Christ develop patterns of listening to God, allowing God to shape our hearts and minds through prayer, personal devotion, and community worship. We love God."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; word-wrap: break-word;">
It amazes me that we have an all-powerful God who wants to spend time with us, and yet we are too 'busy' to do so. This needs to change for the church to be a movement again! It is only through our relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit that we will be empowered to change the world. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Notice that I did not talk about style of worship? That is because any worship that we give ourselves completely to God can be passionate. It can be 'traditional,' it can be 'contemporary,' it can have incense, it can have a rock concert feel. As long as the scriptures are read, the people have gathered, the sacraments administered and praises are sung - we can worship our God.</div>
David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-83167693614929424972018-07-24T08:47:00.003-07:002018-07-24T08:48:15.329-07:00Ruining Your Favorite Worship Song, Part 2: Reckless Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bTuVj0v0urWXvuMq_vR5NpD5NewRWtjYTJB4i8RIe48HlI0OQvam9renYSo0YrZu48eGL-61HwFH56nv4oyP1AjD3orGFh4FcZeGHTOYXOXqYbhRjcIMz7CaWKyMpI-JSEnWAEKww0s/s1600/lovesun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bTuVj0v0urWXvuMq_vR5NpD5NewRWtjYTJB4i8RIe48HlI0OQvam9renYSo0YrZu48eGL-61HwFH56nv4oyP1AjD3orGFh4FcZeGHTOYXOXqYbhRjcIMz7CaWKyMpI-JSEnWAEKww0s/s640/lovesun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1532445510728_22677">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1532445510728_22677">
I love the song "Reckless Love" by Corey Asbury, you can listen to it <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE" target="_blank">here if you wan</a>t. The idea that God has this incredible, reckless love for us that seeks us out relentlessly absolutely captures the idea of how God's grace is at work in our lives long before we even know it! Each week in our communion liturgy we are reminded, "Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, that proves God's love toward us (Romans 5:8)!" If you do not yet follow Jesus, know that God is pursuing you. In my life, God was with me through the hardest period of my life, from 3 - 5 years old. I had just been put in a home, the Pythion Home in Weatherford, and I was broken because my biological parents would give me up for adoption. And yet...God was with me, comforting me! It was only much later that I understood that God was the rock that saved me from despair. </div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1532445510728_28979">
There is a problem with this song, something that I think teaches an unhealthy idea about God's relationship to us, the line that says, </div>
"And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God<br />
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine<br />
And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away<br />
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah"<br />
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1532445510728_31404">
This song tells us that we don't deserve God love! It is true that we can't earn it, but I truly believe that we deserve God's love and that we need to be careful about teaching this theology through our worship music. I think the issue is the Corey Asbury is confusing grace and love. Grace is the idea that we are sought, saved, and perfected by God! It is God's unmerited favor on us. Ephesians 2:8 says, "You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed." Grace is getting what we don't deserve: forgiveness and reconciliation so that we can be the new creation and fulfill our purpose as image bearers of the divine.</div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1532445510728_39300">
Love is something different, especially agape love which is what we are talking about here. Agape is Godly love, which is different from eros (romantic love) and philia (brotherly love), is the divine love that comes from our Father in heaven, the love that God has for all of creation! Remember this agape love is given to us while we are yet sinners! In 1 Corinthians 13:5 we are told that agape love does not keep a record of wrongs. That means that God loves us even when we don't live the life we are called to. Like a good parent, God will discipline us but still loves us. So do we deserve God's love? I believe the answer is clear: of course we do! If God is our Father, our holy parent, then the answer is clear. I know that as a father, that there is nothing my kids could do that I would stop loving them. The fact is that when we talk about agape love, it is not even about whether or not we deserve it. God is love, God loves us - and that fact changes our reality. As humans, all of our love is predicated on the actions of others. Sometimes this is needed, such as in a relationship where you should receive as much love as you get. But agape love is different. It throws our human calculator out of the window because in God's economy all are deserving of God's love. In God's eyes, we are still that creation that is made in God's image that God saw as very good.</div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1532445510728_39404">
Yes, we are fallen, but God's deepest desire is to reconcile us back to the Triune God, through Christ! My history teacher used to say, "God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it." And you know what, you deserve it. Even when you feel you don't, even when your favorite worship song tells you that you don't! </div>
David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-73857204267225549662018-07-11T12:04:00.003-07:002018-07-11T12:04:39.665-07:00Vision 2030 - A Church Focused on Loving Our Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaQf-AhEtIWD7ITBLo56qTlAJlCEpZH8gElifyXVAKV5B9qk_w-93NxSL5WJ0Eaj0vgW8Toc00fxXgpR3wNndspJyi9A4La_CiA0srlIBipoztbBPOktbt_WeFMVyZc1dvFclhlgPPFo/s1600/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaQf-AhEtIWD7ITBLo56qTlAJlCEpZH8gElifyXVAKV5B9qk_w-93NxSL5WJ0Eaj0vgW8Toc00fxXgpR3wNndspJyi9A4La_CiA0srlIBipoztbBPOktbt_WeFMVyZc1dvFclhlgPPFo/s640/love.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1531335742952_1259" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1531335742952_1259" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Bob Goff, popular Christian author says, "Simply put, love does." We are people of the Great Commandment of Love God, Love others and the Great Commission of making disciple's of Jesus Christ. This is why our mission statement is to make disciple's of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! </div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1531335742952_1259" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1531335742952_1273" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
Our vision is to love our community by helping it heal both spiritually and physically: practicing invitational evangelism and love focused service! By 2030 we believe that God is calling us to spend as much on people outside of the church (through mission and evangelism) as we do on our own church. We also believe that every person should be living out their call by God to serve others. Each and every follower is uniquely gifted and called by God to loving service. We will equip our partners to serve, imagine a community of believers, empowered by God to change the world! We sense a specific calling to help families heal whatever brokenness that they have: fortifying marriage, healing from divorce, financial health, parenting, and more. </div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1531335742952_1273" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
God has incredible plans for Rockbridge! I hope that you catch fire with the vision through the Holy Spirit and find your place to serve.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-81887406641149069832018-07-05T19:21:00.000-07:002018-07-05T19:21:04.277-07:00Vision 2030: A Leader-Making Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRVZ5kD89wLGkBDXZNRt9ebMZiXYXwPAMjMw4AGme_VwddJGOG-xUGMPlexoWt9gj4GdrPC0tecrdtm9t2KcPkv5v1kaIK4j1-Hgv0ObOx3jGlKDiP0NZK8An3pvu1agNaupnWdbCZP4/s1600/leadership.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRVZ5kD89wLGkBDXZNRt9ebMZiXYXwPAMjMw4AGme_VwddJGOG-xUGMPlexoWt9gj4GdrPC0tecrdtm9t2KcPkv5v1kaIK4j1-Hgv0ObOx3jGlKDiP0NZK8An3pvu1agNaupnWdbCZP4/s640/leadership.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.7); font-family: adobe-garamond-pro; font-size: 18px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; word-wrap: break-word;">It is great to be back from all of my travels, after going with our youth on mission trip and then a short journey to Ohio for the Central Texas Conference. It is time to continue to share about our 2030 Vision. Another pillar of the vision is that we will be a leader-making church. I have been impressed with the number and quality of leaders at Rockbridge! God is doing something special with this community. We want to continue that trend and even enhance it! Every follower of Christ is given spiritual gifts, and I believe one of the five spiritual callings from Ephesians 4:11: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, and Teacher. Our goal as the leadership at Rockbridge is to enable each partner and regular attender to find their gifts and to empower our people to lead new ministries and, when the time is right, to even start new campuses and churches. God wants us to make an impact on our community and our world and by empowering every person at Rockbridge to serve in their gifts, their callings, and to find powerful leaders, we will truly collaborate with God to transform the world!</span>David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-59197814415875411952018-06-05T12:49:00.000-07:002018-06-05T13:05:55.926-07:00Vision 2030 A Disciple-Making Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHs92yplEJzzIKNwVVQOZ4ayu00BMVGaVEIlS9QyVeeyMmlu2WbxuyYf60j8FVcep9NwyjTf3S92M6w2teEBPdueZbwHUYj6AcwLjgcOBW550H_oweCMykcZNpQATjx5FkEoNuEv8oBM/s1600/Disciple+Maker+for+David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHs92yplEJzzIKNwVVQOZ4ayu00BMVGaVEIlS9QyVeeyMmlu2WbxuyYf60j8FVcep9NwyjTf3S92M6w2teEBPdueZbwHUYj6AcwLjgcOBW550H_oweCMykcZNpQATjx5FkEoNuEv8oBM/s640/Disciple+Maker+for+David.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Disciple-making is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus. In his earthly mission, Jesus took a unique group of men and women (the twelve disciples plus the other people who followed him) and allowed them to sit at his feet so that they could learn what it meant to be his followers. We are called to be disciples who make more disciples! Throughout my life, I have had person after person share their life with me so that I could learn what it means to follow Jesus. In college, it was a man named Gary who mentored me in my relationship with God. I would not be the man, the pastor, the leader I am today without his guidance in my life at that important stage. That is what we need to do for each other. The <b>first part of our vision is that we will be a Disciple-Making Church</b>. We derive that from Matthew 28:16-20 where Jesus gives the mission of the church to make disciples of all nations! Here is what that looks like<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Rockbridge will be a disciple-making factory. Our definition of a disciple is from Matthew 4:19 – "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people."<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Follow me – Committed to know and LOVE Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">And I will make – Committed to being transformed by Christ, to GROW.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Fishers of People – Committed to God’s mission to transform the world, to GO.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We want to make disciples who LOVE, GROW, and GO!<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Rockbridge will have a well-developed disciple-making process. We are in the business of making followers of Jesus, not simply converts.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We need to allow for people to 'catch' what it means to follow through relationships with others. There will be an intentional mentoring program<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We will have opportunities for people to learn what it means to follow Jesus through GROW classes<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Rockbridge will GROW together by helping every person find a life group<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">For Rockbridge to be a movement that will catch fire by the Holy Spirit we need to commit to being disciples who make disciples!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">What are you thoughts on how Rockbridge can be a disciple-making church?</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";"><br /></span></div>
David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-5505474279047875552018-05-30T11:50:00.004-07:002018-05-30T11:50:46.576-07:00Vision 2030: Our MissionThis is my second blog on Vision 2030: the vision that God is giving us to fulfill our mission at Rockbridge Church! Before we get into that I wanted to take a moment and look at that mission:<div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwWGOVeesHWO5d2mFAjW8TtVVCiUH-i9kz1Xu6s71XW0xSumHMLBmNzGtFF6BrPmqc15k3vL1EqRBSbnN31yy6qqJrkPXPICPgjR8gK6VObp22Zu3b3W8zqSnjnUmhf3q55YtAg8rwFo/s1600/Making-Disciples2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="800" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwWGOVeesHWO5d2mFAjW8TtVVCiUH-i9kz1Xu6s71XW0xSumHMLBmNzGtFF6BrPmqc15k3vL1EqRBSbnN31yy6qqJrkPXPICPgjR8gK6VObp22Zu3b3W8zqSnjnUmhf3q55YtAg8rwFo/s640/Making-Disciples2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Boom, That's IT! It is simple, to the point, and poignant. This mission statement is one we share with our tribe, the United Methodist Church, the question is where is it's origin and what does it mean? This mission statement is derived from Jesus himself when he addressed the disciples at the end of the Gospel of Matthew before his ascension: "Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20)." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The disciples' mission given by Jesus is the same one we have today: to be disciples who make more disciples. We are not looking simply to make non-believers into believers but rather our goal is to make people who follow Jesus. We will talk more about that during the next blog post, however, if we make disciples we believe that we will transform the world. The goal is to work with God through the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God's will on earth as it is in heaven! If we do that, world-wide transformation is possible. I had a high school student receive a call to build a school in Malawi. His goal was for the school to raise $30,000 dollars and provide an education for hundreds! He did this because as a disciple of Jesus, God gave him a heart for those in need. The problem was not the young man's vision or the call but rather the adults at the school who did not believe it could happen. Rather than supporting this vision ($30,000 is a lot of money but a school with several thousand students could raise it with enough effort) they put up roadblocks. Still, even without their support, he raised $12,000! Imagine what it would be like if all the adults, many of them were followers of Jesus, had helped him find his path. We need to get on board with what God is doing in our world.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How does that affect you, today? Each follower of Jesus needs to commit to making Christ the center of our lives so that every action we do goes toward that goal. Every event, every moment, every opportunity for the church needs to fulfill that mission! May we be a church that makes disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!</div>
</div>
David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-32264142714701241702018-05-23T10:26:00.000-07:002018-05-23T12:27:29.948-07:00Why Vision?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmEp-A5BcfL3eKQ91JOYk5usn4Y46Na2i7bJ-j_fD03jWmNjHwImrTBMpBi9roTvGUtewNUSRvVovloLTDjXdLdcKUWuqjsGJKdLOF9X1TGsvfxmwIeEXPbng5FVpOA8Mxr3jzCDM4TY/s1600/vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmEp-A5BcfL3eKQ91JOYk5usn4Y46Na2i7bJ-j_fD03jWmNjHwImrTBMpBi9roTvGUtewNUSRvVovloLTDjXdLdcKUWuqjsGJKdLOF9X1TGsvfxmwIeEXPbng5FVpOA8Mxr3jzCDM4TY/s400/vision.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h4>
Hello all! Sorry for the brief hiatus on the blog, but life has been crazy lately. Over the next few weeks, I am going share about the visioning journey we are on at Rockbridge church. </h4>
<h4>
Why a vision? Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Simply put: to succeed in our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, we need a good, clear, concise vision that sets us on the path. </h4>
<h4>
We have seen countless organizations fail to survive when the world changed for one reason or another because they were not able to adjust their vision to a changing landscape. Our landscape is changing, has been for a while. Here are some facts:</h4>
<h4>
1. Fewer and fewer people feel like they should be in worship on a Sunday morning. In the Austin area, 18 percent of people choose to worship each week. We need to be a church that lets people know that the best life lived is one following Jesus.</h4>
<h4>
2. Most churches are in decline because they have not made the mindset switch that we have to do more than open our doors for people to show up. Many churches are in decline because they are unwilling to change.</h4>
<h4>
3. We don't change who we are, but we change how we do things and how we share our message.</h4>
<h4>
4. We need to face the future with courage and faith!</h4>
<h4>
The reality is that our job has gotten a lot more difficult and its even more important that we have vision from God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to lead us. Jesus tells the disciples in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit Comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Our goal is to share God's love with all we meet and help others follow Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is difficult, but it is worth it! To succeed, we need God's vision for Rockbridge. Check back next week as I share God's vision for our church.</h4>
David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-7926643210541161092018-04-24T21:39:00.001-07:002018-04-25T07:29:06.610-07:00Bible Mock Draft: Picking the 16 Greatest Characters in Scripture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LdLIb_gMYaVKnq5zt4MS1myol-Yuh0r3bFi1SDOXDkbJDagMf9sJ-Z0iz0Wyxqa1qpZs9gS4LbNbMFDQZhI68WA9YNYCR1nS9E5xNOl2WJUwTn2YuR39SDnjAzJ1cCN3GKe9Jbe4lUY/s1600/ct-spt-bears-nfl-draft-questions-20180421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LdLIb_gMYaVKnq5zt4MS1myol-Yuh0r3bFi1SDOXDkbJDagMf9sJ-Z0iz0Wyxqa1qpZs9gS4LbNbMFDQZhI68WA9YNYCR1nS9E5xNOl2WJUwTn2YuR39SDnjAzJ1cCN3GKe9Jbe4lUY/s640/ct-spt-bears-nfl-draft-questions-20180421.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So its mock draft season for the NFL and I wanted to have a little fun so I am doing a Bible Character mock draft! Fun? Sure. Sacrilege? Maybe. My buddy Evan Duncan and I did this draft together and we included only characters that are fully human and not divine. Hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />
Pick 1 (Evan): Mary - Mother of our Lord. She was an activist and revolutionary. Knew her scripture and trusted God - even when it meant virgin birth, being a social outcast, and watching Jesus die.<br />
<br />
Pick 2 (David): Moses - led God's people out of slavery, sent the plagues, cool staff. Got to hang out with God and was given the law. Pretty great all around leader, versatile.<br />
<br />
Pick 3 (Evan): Paul. Early career character issues but turned it around to be the greatest missionary of all time. Opened the door for all to enter. Real student of the game.<br />
<br />
Pick 4 (David): Abraham - Father of nations, faithful. Has some character issues but showed strength overcoming them. Known worldwide for his catchy song.<br />
<br />
Pick 5 (Evan): John - Jesus loved him and so will you. Theology on lock. Writes better than anyone else.<br />
<br />
Pick 6 (David): Peter - Was renamed Cephas or Peter by Jesus because he is the rock the Church will be built on. Will blow up on the sidelines but that passion makes him who he is. Ceiling is pontifex level, played an important role in the acceptance of gentiles.<br />
<br />
Pick 7 (Evan): I'll go David next. Triple threat- artist, warrior, political leader. Lots of off-field issues, but constantly produces.<br />
<br />
Pick 8 (David): Mary Magdalene - Faithful woman of God, first to see the Risen Christ, first apostle, learned faith directly from Jesus by sitting at his feet. All around great prospect.<br />
<br />
Pick 9(Evan): Stephen! Great vision. Prodigy who steps up to what is before him. Can take a punishment. (Too soon?)<br />
<br />
Pick 10 (David): Elisha - Fierce competitor that you don't want to mess with. Has even sent bears after children. Had a double portion of Elijah's power. His lack of humor could be a problem in the locker room, might drive teammates away.<br />
<br />
Pick 11 (Evan): Jael - resourceful. Keep away from tent pegs. Will do whatever it takes to win.<br />
<br />
Pick 12 (David): Joshua - best leader available. Extremely faithful and capable. Can take things too far for victory. Will lead his team to victory, but prefers to do so to the sound of trumpets.<br />
<br />
Pick 13 (Evan): Solomon. Wisdom wisdom wisdom. Ladies love him. Can help fund whatever too!<br />
<br />
Pick 14 (David): Melchizedek - first priest, blessed Abraham. The type of player who will leave a lasting legacy even if only appearing for a short time. A precursor of Jesus himself.<br />
<br />
Pick 15 (Evan): Onesimus - Slave turned disciple who later becomes a bishop. Paul's very heart - they will be a great tandem.<br />
<br />
Pick 16 (David): Shamgar - powerful leader and player, can defeat his enemies with nothing but an ox goad. A man of few words.<br />
<br />
Thats all folks! Who would you draft for your team?David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-5665346167624621272018-04-09T13:21:00.002-07:002018-04-09T13:21:21.642-07:00Be The ChurchOne of the exciting events that I inherited at Rockbridge Church is Be The Church Sunday. For outreach and mission we shut down the campus doors and go be the church in the community. What a great and wonderful idea! We served all over Cedar Park and Leander and Austin: filling homeless bags, repairing fences, and other work projects. It was a great weekend of work and thank you to everyone who helped plan and lead these projects.<br />
<br />
Check out some pics from the weekend:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KPUt7z6GoIbsYMBKRWYVWBqV54Ek8OShsCR9I3EpuzZ2UGYKN7YmgGLfMl7kW6M_YS9Swi5oCwrUAizMf90xD8jhKJGghxBMWd8chEDe0Nm1umwCj3ukXDa1NmyuS1uFquIlvXUsevo/s1600/20180408_103928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KPUt7z6GoIbsYMBKRWYVWBqV54Ek8OShsCR9I3EpuzZ2UGYKN7YmgGLfMl7kW6M_YS9Swi5oCwrUAizMf90xD8jhKJGghxBMWd8chEDe0Nm1umwCj3ukXDa1NmyuS1uFquIlvXUsevo/s1600/20180408_103928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KPUt7z6GoIbsYMBKRWYVWBqV54Ek8OShsCR9I3EpuzZ2UGYKN7YmgGLfMl7kW6M_YS9Swi5oCwrUAizMf90xD8jhKJGghxBMWd8chEDe0Nm1umwCj3ukXDa1NmyuS1uFquIlvXUsevo/s320/20180408_103928.jpg" width="155" /></a><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVybSNPFOvvvNx7SbnoyCQW4V8NPOzzbOv5tYwVZwGlXW0JwLk1n1VImNhu6X3bjWF8yF1zrLRd1VUl2CwBrCtNwQC1S3tyYsEpxKFRXjw063iVn1x1u3EZcNFxzcYgAQO90kOWO3KcrY/s1600/IMG_4507001.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVybSNPFOvvvNx7SbnoyCQW4V8NPOzzbOv5tYwVZwGlXW0JwLk1n1VImNhu6X3bjWF8yF1zrLRd1VUl2CwBrCtNwQC1S3tyYsEpxKFRXjw063iVn1x1u3EZcNFxzcYgAQO90kOWO3KcrY/s320/IMG_4507001.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCrDkce9wcbvwZt01jmsc50iSpy8QTnWzD1cjoxqymi7hX39opGKAfIJjosJy0G6uRmDaYhv5DcawTkYiR0v6A6hL3y43yB-ZrpAQZFfbMTyell9JDzXxZeok7ioCj7lh4FxBPlxQOw8/s1600/20180408_103931.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCrDkce9wcbvwZt01jmsc50iSpy8QTnWzD1cjoxqymi7hX39opGKAfIJjosJy0G6uRmDaYhv5DcawTkYiR0v6A6hL3y43yB-ZrpAQZFfbMTyell9JDzXxZeok7ioCj7lh4FxBPlxQOw8/s320/20180408_103931.jpg" width="155" /></a></u><br />
<u></u><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSJ6WasJcwiFDAimOyHh3DWxaXa5uIJ4MeI80AXXmri0rvofvNRRoTq2W_YgKqzcyM2hCsXib_RLsmVpL2zVZIoiv0EdBDViU4qrv_dHbbeYWEgIjYBnhsxFGubK5BhHYoFrDdsW2aeg/s1600/CB0F0939-BA26-40F7-87FE-2E32E921FA27.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSJ6WasJcwiFDAimOyHh3DWxaXa5uIJ4MeI80AXXmri0rvofvNRRoTq2W_YgKqzcyM2hCsXib_RLsmVpL2zVZIoiv0EdBDViU4qrv_dHbbeYWEgIjYBnhsxFGubK5BhHYoFrDdsW2aeg/s640/CB0F0939-BA26-40F7-87FE-2E32E921FA27.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3Edq0gXVHd_ZyuxC0lmYKxNOv7ozTpiojPI8AkLXcBvcFIjR51jJvKbgOXXNt3fxWb7K20P8NfUxQMZph3iqgi637OUynG_gv6ceNybULmod4ssSFAimMy6hN-ZTdkFc7iqFQcCrmDQ/s1600/20180408_100740.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3Edq0gXVHd_ZyuxC0lmYKxNOv7ozTpiojPI8AkLXcBvcFIjR51jJvKbgOXXNt3fxWb7K20P8NfUxQMZph3iqgi637OUynG_gv6ceNybULmod4ssSFAimMy6hN-ZTdkFc7iqFQcCrmDQ/s640/20180408_100740.jpg" width="640" /></a>David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-34167030697466209182018-04-04T11:54:00.001-07:002018-04-04T11:56:14.090-07:00The Wesley Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m70RVz1A757tA_A5bmzIuzA-LBsNjIbzg3N0r1C4prPi-muGYlNa2IP6A0m67VMHVyKeYnCLCMkMA2eW6zkyagCSJMPdoCcXsjRNYnBdPjfH6QxsTF67kr5Gz_TNUH2cbHRKPU0tP5Q/s1600/wesley+challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="865" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m70RVz1A757tA_A5bmzIuzA-LBsNjIbzg3N0r1C4prPi-muGYlNa2IP6A0m67VMHVyKeYnCLCMkMA2eW6zkyagCSJMPdoCcXsjRNYnBdPjfH6QxsTF67kr5Gz_TNUH2cbHRKPU0tP5Q/s640/wesley+challenge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Today we begin a 21-day challenge to grow in our faith at Rockbridge Church. I hope if you have not already signed up that you will join us tonight at 630pm for our first session! John Wesley, an Anglican priest, was the founder of the Methodist movement and he taught the church to consider 21 question to make sure they were focused on God and God's call on their life. This week we are discussing an upward focus on God in our lives. Here are the questions we will be looking at tonight:<br />
<br />
1. Is Jesus real to me?<br />
2. Am I enjoying prayer?<br />
3. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience uneasy?<br />
4. Did the Bible live in me today?<br />
5. Did I disobey God in anything?<br />
6. Do I pray about the money I spend?<br />
7. Do I give time for the Bible to speak to me every day?<br />
<br />
In John chapter 15, Jesus tells his disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper...Remain in me, and I will remain in you...If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit."<br />
<br />
The best life that we can live is one that we focus our lives on Jesus because that relationship transforms us into people who are new creations. The goal is to be a small copy of Jesus and make an impact on those you come into contact with.<br />
<br />
This is the perfect class to jumpstart your relationship with Jesus! 21 days with a clear focus on who God is, I hope you will choose to join us!<br />
<br />David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-13162472766045503002018-03-20T13:28:00.000-07:002018-03-20T13:28:07.704-07:00Mission Giving at Rockbridge ChurchWe had a fantastic day of worship and connection with different mission organizations! Thank you for pledging to pray, give and go! Our partners stepped up and committed $12,695 to be given to mission organizations plus a deep commitment to prayer and action. If you have not made a faith giving pledge, you can do so <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/IyvKOZu97G5Ce82A3" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I had a partner ask me after worship, what we are going to do now, after this big mission launch. The goal is two-fold:<br />
<br />
1. We want you, our people to get out and serve in missions. Hopefully, you signed up to volunteer with one of the wonderful organizations that we had at our event. Soon we will have a place on our web page and on our Mission Cross (by the donuts) where you can sign up with great organizations. If you have an organization that you would like the church to partner with, then please email <a href="mailto:mission@rockbridgelife.com">mission@rockbridgelife.com</a> and tell us about that organization!<br />
<br />
2. We also want to use the funds that you give in the best way possible. Rockbridge will support organizations that are focused on making disciples and helping our neighbors (locally, regionally, and internationally). If there is a worthy organization that lines up with our mission then please fill out a Mission Support application. Then the mission team will review it and determine if we will support the organization and for how much. You can find the application <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/aGIpB7DfqNo6uJJl1" target="_blank">here</a>. Our criteria for supporting organizations are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Are they are an organization that lines up with our mission and vision?</li>
<li>Do they make disciples AND take care of people's needs?</li>
<li>Will the majority of the funds they receive directly benefit the people in need?</li>
</ul>
<div>
I am excited about the future of missions at Rockbridge Church!</div>
David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-32923349634745371412018-03-12T13:04:00.000-07:002018-03-12T13:04:07.080-07:00Why Faith Promise Giving?On Sunday at worship with Rockbridge Church during our Mission Celebration, we are going to ask partners and regular attendees to commit to a faith promise giving for missions. We believe that we are called to the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, and this faith promise is one part of how we do that! The fact is that there are amazing mission organizations that are greatly impacting the world that we want to partner with. We will select faith-based organizations that will use nearly all of your gift to go directly to serving a need by a person locally, regionally, or internationally. These organizations are ones that are committed to taking care of both the physical and spiritual needs of a person.<br />
<br />
A faith promise is a financial commitment to missions based upon the conviction that God wants to give that amount to missions; an amount not necessarily dependent upon known resources. This is about trusting God to give through you! A faith promise is:<br />
1. Between you and God and not a pledge to the church.<br />
2. Over and above your regular giving to support your church.<br />
3. Beyond what you can see. You trust God to give it to you, then you give it to help others.<br />
<br />
I invite you to pray this week, "God, what do you want to give through me?" Then trust God to provide you with the resources to fulfill your promise! Then on Sunday you can make a faith promise so that we can make plans to share those resources with wonderful organizations. The great part about all of this is that you can then nominate organizations that you think are deserving of our support. This will be the only time we ask you to give to missions above and beyond your regular giving. If you have any questions please email me at david@rockbridgelife.comDavid McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-46733547544785323232018-03-06T11:16:00.001-08:002018-03-06T11:18:14.189-08:00Why a Mission Celebration?I am very excited that we are hosting a Mission Celebration on March 18th this year at Rockbridge. Serving in the community has always been a passion of mine! There is a reason that Micah 6:8 is my theme passage! God requires us to act justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with our God. That means to me, at least in part, that we are called to serve our communities and that bringing God's kingdom means the poor, the oppressed, the suffering, and the hurting in our world are priorities for the church to help. So on March 18:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDqbP43Ixya5-J54GOm1nJKXi-6uTAvFTzLqo0IG8piC-NfSg-Osz9OFtQAagwmGJeBM4M1ZhzLhiceYD-uzm-creRnr2SnVCSz23ReAk0m6gMV59AxfrCPmkdILlJiGwl_HCq2hJSJ4/s1600/mission+celebration.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="663" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDqbP43Ixya5-J54GOm1nJKXi-6uTAvFTzLqo0IG8piC-NfSg-Osz9OFtQAagwmGJeBM4M1ZhzLhiceYD-uzm-creRnr2SnVCSz23ReAk0m6gMV59AxfrCPmkdILlJiGwl_HCq2hJSJ4/s400/mission+celebration.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We are going to have local, regional, and international mission organizations here at Rockbridge so that you can see where you are called to serve! My goal and vision for missions at the church is for everyone to participate in some way serving outside the walls of the congregation. There should be something for everyone. We are looking at being missional, with our hope to be part of God's healing mercy both spiritually and physically. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are made for good works! Come on the 18th to see how God is calling you to serve others with your good works. Each person will have the opportunity to pray, give and go in mission. I hope you will prayerfully consider how God is using you to give toward helping others!David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-5432604970440586422018-02-27T09:55:00.002-08:002018-02-27T09:55:52.182-08:00Finishing up Luke!Confession time: I didn't post last week on Chapters 16-20 because I ran out of time. So I want to apologize and I hope you will forgive me. I also hope that reading through Luke has been a blessing to you, as it has to me. So, without further ado, here are my thoughts on Luke 21-25.<br />
<br />
<b>A Poor Widow's Offering and the Temple's Fate Luke 21:1-28</b><br />
We often hear about the widows offering in stewardship sermons, but there is another side to this other than her incredible generosity. A woman gives to the temple but yet there is more going on here than at first glance. This is where our chapter and verse systems actually hamper our understanding. In the previous chapter, during the same conversation, Jesus talks about legal experts who cheat widows out of their homes and then we have the story about a widow giving everything to the temple. Part of the point is that the whole system is flawed and rather than drawing people to God it is being used to exploit others.<br />
<br />
Then Jesus begins talking about the destruction of the temple and many have taken this section to be about the 'end times.' Jesus is probably referring to the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD. The Jewish people were expecting their Messiah to be a warrior who would drive out Rome. But Jesus refuses to turn to violence and proliferate the same violent system that had already been in place. He could have killed all the Romans but the truth is that Jesus wants to save the Romans too. Jesus wins the victory but in a totally different way! By taking the violence of the world on himself. The Jews, however, would go on to try and overthrow the Romans. Jerusalem and the temple would pay the price.<br />
<br />
<b>Chapter 22: Jesus last days before his death</b><br />
So Jesus is getting ready for what he must do, as the powers of the day plot to kill Jesus rather than witnessing to the power of God in their midst. It is interesting that God chooses Passover, the holiday connected with the liberation of the Hebrews from Egypt as the setting for the final confrontation. Make no mistake, this is not an accident. Jesus, through his death and resurrection, is leading all of humanity on an exodus from slavery to sin and death! Sadly, in the midst of this great achievement, the disciples are debating who will be the greatest among them. We see the same struggles today. Jesus tells them that to be great is to serve, that yes they too will receive rewards but it won't be until much later.<br />
<br />
<b>Chapter 23: The Trial before Pilate, Herod, and Jesus' Death on the Cross</b><br />
Jesus is tried before the powers of the day. Pilate representing the Roman Empire and Herod representing the Jewish civil authority. It is an important part of the story that the crowds shout "Crucify him!" Not only were the powers of the day involved, each of us are complicit, we would rather have a Barabbas, a violent revolutionary, than Jesus' way of peace. Jesus is beaten, tortured, mocked and humiliated. And yet while on the cross he has mercy for one of the two thieves. An innocent man dies on the cross and it looks like all is lost. The movement is over.<br />
<br />
Jesus is dead and buried on the 6th day so that he can rest in the grave on the 7th day. (Spoiler: yes this is pointing back to creation).<br />
<br />
<b>Chapter 24: He's Back!</b><br />
Several interesting stories in this chapter about Jesus' resurrection. First, it is the women who are the first to share the good news that Jesus is resurrected from the dead! They still don't know what is going on, but you can sense that they are beginning to realize this story is bigger than they thought.<br />
<br />
On the Road to Emmaus, Jesus appears to disciples that we know nothing about: Cleopas and his friend. They are disciples, they have heard about the empty tomb but they are still leaving! Jesus explains what is going on (they still don't recognize him) and starting to get excited they urge him to stay. He essentially consecrates the meal like it is communion, and their eyes are opened...then he disappears! "Weren't our hearts on fire...(or perhaps strangely warmed?)" They return to Jerusalem and tell the disciples what happened and Jesus appears to them!<br />
<br />
It's funny because Jesus reminds them that he told them this would happen (many times he told them). With the resurrection, everything Jesus did was vindicated and he ushers in new creation on the first day of the week. Then we are told he ascends to heaven while they await the gift that was promised (The Holy Spirit).<br />
<br />
If you loved this book, don't worry, there is a sequel: The Acts of the Apostles!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-15520295284004154572018-02-14T12:39:00.002-08:002018-02-14T12:39:46.876-08:00Luke 11-15Continuing our journey through the book of Luke!<br />
<br />
<b>Jesus teaches us how to pray, verses 1-13</b><br />
Luke shares his version of the Lord's prayer, and it's pretty similar to the one we find in Mathew. The focus is still the same:<br />
<br />
1. God is both father, yet is holy and other than this world. It is important to remember that God can be both of these things, because, well God is God.<br />
2. We need to trust God with our past, present, and future: forgive our sins - past. Give us each day, our daily bread - present. Lead us not into temptation - future.<br />
3. We are told we need to ask for forgiveness and to forgive! This is a key part of God's design for the world.<br />
<br />
<b>The Sign of Jonah, verses 29-32</b><br />
This seems like an odd story, what is the sign of Jonah that Jesus is talking about? Jonah was in the belly of some sea beast for three days and nights. This part is foreshadowing Jesus death and resurrection. It is also a condemnation of the Pharisees who will not repent and turn to God because of Jesus when the truly evil people of Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria and enemy of the Jewish people, repented and turned to God. We too need to repent (change our ways) when we meet Jesus.<br />
<br />
<b>The Parable of the Rich Fool? Luke 12:13-21</b><br />
The rich man in this story decides to build a bigger barn rather share his great wealth. Jesus is warning against the sin of greed, when we use the resources God only has for us, for ourselves. Thre is nothing wrong with saving money, investing money or being wise with what God gives us. First, though, we need to be generous with what we have and make sure those who have needs have those needs taken care of.<br />
<br />
<b>Do Not Worry, 22-34</b><br />
Do not worry? Really how in the world are we supposed to do that? It seems like an absurd request. We need to separate two things: the natural worry that we have in life, and the worry that debilitates and destroys. Some amount of worry is a natural response to stress. In my opinion what Jesus is talking about is that when we let worry take over our lives and destroy our present and our future. We are to seek God's kingdom and we will have what we need, that is what a good Father gives his children. 32 through 34 remind us that God enlists our help to take care of the poor and the needy. We see Luke's specific focus on the poor and suffering.<br />
<br />
<b>Jesus does the unthinkable, heals on the Sabbath! 13:10-17</b><br />
Again the religious leaders of the day miss the point. Just heal on the other six days Jesus! Jesus reminds them that the healing is more important than following the letter of the law. Of course, they should help someone on the Sabbath.<br />
<br />
<b>Jesus Cries for Jerusalem, 31-35</b><br />
Jesus speaks these incredible words: "I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." Jesus' great desire was to call his people to him, as their messiah. That was his purpose as it was to call the Gentiles as well. You can just feel his heartbreak that more of his people did not believe because they were more obsessed with their own power than following God, who was in their midst.<br />
<br />
<b>Jesus Goes to a Pharisee's House? Luke 14:1-14</b><br />
It has been established that Jesus and the Pharisees don't get along so why is Jesus at the house of a Pharisee? Jesus, I think, would not be happy in the way our world seems to work, that if someone disagrees with me, then we are enemies. Jesus faced conflict head-on, with the goal to change the world. He loved everyone, even those who opposed him! Jesus teaches that it is not right to ignore the sick people who are right in front of us and that we are called to invite the least of these to our banquets, parties, and dinners.<br />
<br />
<b>The Cost of Being a Disciple, 25-34</b><br />
"Whoever does not carry their own cross and follow me cannot be a disciple." In many churches today we try to bring people into the church with glitz and glam, we try to attract people. Jesus is saying that you have to give up everything to follow him. Imagine that on a church bumper sticker! Come to church and pick up a cross (you know, a torture/killing device to be used on you)! You have to give up everything! Not many would show up. Jesus wants to be Lord of our life.<br />
<br />
<b>Parables of the Lost, Luke 15</b><br />
In what is perhaps the most powerful and beautiful chapter in scripture, Jesus tells three stories about lost things, a coin, a sheep and a son. Jesus reminds people that if you have a lost coin that is valuable or a lost sheep that is valuable, you are going to search for it! That is how Jesus views everyone who is not currently following him. They are lost sheep to be found. I think this is an incredibly profound viewpoint for the basis of a religion.<br />
<br />
Then it gets better. Jesus talks about the lost son and we realize that Jesus and God's love for us is even greater than that. Much like <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16" target="_blank">John 3:16</a> or <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A8" target="_blank">Romans 5:8</a>, it shows that God has incredible love and compassion for all of his children. They may be lost, they may have lost their inheritance, but God still deeply loves them and desires for them to be back in the fold. If you feel like you have lost your way if you feel like you have strayed this is the passage for you. If you are not a follower of Christ, then hear the words of the father, as the words of the Father to you, "This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-91660871592983919292018-02-06T20:07:00.000-08:002018-02-06T20:07:27.293-08:00Luke Chapters 6-10Shall we continue our journey through the gospel of Luke?<br />
<b><br /></b> <b>Luke 6:1-11 Jesus Stirs Up Trouble</b><br />
This is a quite remarkable passage as Jesus, a Jewish man, challenging the law about the Sabbath, "Why are you breaking the Sabbath law?" Is what the Pharisees ask him (Pharisees were not an official part of the priesthood but were focused on keeping the law. They believed that the reason the Roman's were oppressing them is that certain folks were ignoring the laws. This is one reason that Jesus makes them really angry). The point here is that Jesus cares more following God and having a heart for God than the law itself. Our cautionary tale today is that we need to focus more on following Jesus than on fulfilling what we think is 'religious.'<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 6:12-16 Jesus Choose the disciples</b><br />
Just want to take a moment that before Jesus makes a big decision before he chooses his team, he spent the whole day in prayer! We should definitely model this practice of going to God before decisions.<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 6:20-26 Blessed and Doomed</b><br />
Again Luke's gospel tracks Jesus intense love for the poor: Blessed are the poor, blessed are those who hunger, blessed are those who weep. God is with us in our difficult hour, but Jesus also wants us to come alongside those who are hurting.<br />
<br />
Then he lists some things that are terrible: those who are rich, those who have plenty, those who laugh, those who are spoken well of. Each of these things is not bad in of themselves, but it is a terrible thing to be rich, have plenty and enjoy life while ignoring the needs of those that don't have anything. This is what Jesus is talking about.<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 6:27-46 Jesus Teaches</b><br />
So Jesus begins teaching and it is radical!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Love your enemy</li>
<li>Don't judge</li>
<li>Don't just love those who love you, love your enemies, do good and lend expecting nothing in return</li>
<li>Don't just call Jesus Lord, but actually do what he says! </li>
</ul>
<div>
This is a shorter version of the sermon on the mount in Matthew but it is potent. If you struggle with these teaching, with living them, don't worry so do I. We must try to live by them and not simply give lip service to 'Jesus is Lord.'</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Luke 7 Jesus Does Some Miracles, More Teaching</b></div>
<div>
Jesus goes out of his way to heal, it is fascinating that Jesus who is on an important mission still allows himself 'Holy Distraction,' to find where God is moving and be there. </div>
<div>
<br />
<b>Luke 7:18-35 Jesus and John the Baptist</b><br />
A lot of stuff going on here, but at the end of this section, Jesus talks about how the people of this day are just missing this incredible thing started by John and now continued by Jesus. This is a cautionary tale for us that we don't miss what God is doing right in front of us.<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 7:36-50 Pharisees Miss the Point, Again</b><br />
Jesus heads over to a Pharisee's house when a woman bursts in and anoints him with oil (interestingly here is a woman performing a priestly function! Luke is so subversive for his time). The Pharisees miss this incredible act of forgiveness because a sinner is touching Jesus (remember, they blame sinners for their current predicament). Jesus tells a story reminding him that those who are forgiven much fall for God easier than those that do not. We must always remember the great debt that has been forgiven on our behalf by Jesus' death on a cross.<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 8:1-3 Women!</b><br />
Again Luke is challenging boundaries of his day by talking about the women with Jesus! We learn about Mary Magdalene, Susanna, and Joanna who were disciples of Jesus along with the twelve and other women. This may not seem like a big deal to us, we are used to equality between men and women, however, for both the Jewish and Roman culture this is a major clue about what Jesus is doing: changing the world so that all people are valued especially the marginalized. I love that Luke includes these details<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 8:40-54 Jesus Gets Distracted Again</b><br />
Jesus has compassion for Jairus and his daughter who is dying and decides to go heal her. On the way, a woman comes us simply touches the hem of his clothes and is healed! Jesus feels the power leave him as she is healed. They have this incredible interplay where Jesus says that it is her faith that has healed her. While all this is going on, Jairus finds out that his daughter has died, but Jesus knows he can still heal her and says she is 'sleeping.' It is again an example that Jesus allows his compassion to change his plans.<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 9</b><br />
This chapter is so action packed there is so much to say about it! A few highlights<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Jesus sends the 12 - they take nothing and trust in God. </li>
<li>Jesus feeds 5000</li>
<li>Jesus asks the disciples who people say he is, Peter responds his the Christ sent from God (Christ means messiah or the promised king). Then Jesus tells them his messianic mission to die on the cross and be resurrected on the 3rd day. The followers of Jesus are to pick up their cross!</li>
<li>Jesus is transfigured on the mountain, the disciples want to stay but Jesus has things to do</li>
<li>Jesus heals again</li>
<li>Disciples argue about who is the greatest, and of course, Jesus rebukes them. It's good to remember that even the disciples forget about what following Jesus is all about. We do the same thing</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Luke 10:1-24 Jesus Sends the 72</b><br />
So first he sends the twelve, but now 72 more! This probably included the women that we heard about earlier and others. The go out and heal, cast out demons, and teach people about Jesus. The key scripture is that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few! Only 20 percent of people today are in churches are Sunday mornings in America. That means that 80 percent of the people in our neighborhoods and cities are the harvest! Get out and start inviting!<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 10:25-37 Love of God and Love of Neighbor</b><br />
A legal expert tries to test Jesus, by asking him what he must do to gain eternal life. This is to test knowledge of the law and prophets. Jesus isn't having it and asks the expert to tell him what the law says. He responds with love of God and love of neighbor! Of course, then the expert asks him who is my neighbor and we get the story of the good Samaritan. Samaritans are an interesting group because they followed some of the beliefs of the Jewish people but not all of them. The Jewish people looked down on the Samaritans, so it's fascinating that Jesus, the Jewish messiah makes the hero of the story the Samaratin! Again Luke being subversive.<br />
<br />
<b>Luke 10:38-42 Mary and Martha</b><br />
This story is usually told that Martha is the worker bee and Mary gets that Jesus is special so she is spending time with him. This makes Martha mad because she is doing the work. Jesus affirms Mary's choice. There is another more powerful interpretation: Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet and that is the term used by learning from Jesus as a rabbi! Women were not allowed to do that at that time and Martha is concerned about the propriety. Jesus, however, affirms that Mary can learn from him, be his disciple, which means that she too could be a religious leader. This is one of the strongest affirmations of Women in ministry! Luke is such a subversive writer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-36458099191601880122018-01-30T13:49:00.001-08:002018-01-30T14:07:24.002-08:00Thoughts from the first five chapters of LukeLast week I challenged people to read the book of Luke over the next month, and I am very excited about that! I am now realizing the challenge, however, of blogging over 5 chapters of the Bible! I am going to hit some highlights, feel free to comment below if you have thoughts or questions.<br />
<div>
First of all, Luke is actually book 1 of a saga that also includes Acts! Many people call it Luke-Acts because it was probably meant to be read as one continuous story (hmm maybe we should read acts together next...). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Chapter 1</b></div>
<div>
"I have also decided to write a carefully ordered account for you, most honorable Theophilus."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Theophilus is probably an honorific and it means friend of God or beloved of God. It is debated whether the book is written to an actual person or to all believers whom Luke is calling friends of God.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The story of the birth of John the Baptist recalls stories in the Hebrew text that are similar such as Sarah and Abraham with the birth of Isaac (Genesis 18) and Hannah with the birth of Samuel (1 Samuel 1). God works miraculously in the lives of people who believed they would not be able to have children. My mom told me that she prayed telling God that he could have me back in the same way that Hannah gave Samuel back to God. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"When Elizabeth heard Mary's Greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A powerful response to the unborn Jesus! Incredible that he could have that effect on someone and not even be born!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jesus is attended at his birth by shepherds (<b>Chapter 2</b>). Ordinary folk. This story seems normal to us now of course, however, what kind of king has shepherds at his birth? By the world's standards, Jesus should have been born in a palace with servants. That is not how God imagined it! He is born in a stable to a peasant family and attended by shepherds. God is on the side of the hurting, the oppressed, the suffering. God loves all but definitely identifies with the marginalized.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jesus is circumcised on the 8th day like all Jewish males. The name Jesus (it's complicated so follow carefully) is derived from the Latin Iesus, which is a transliteration of the Greek word Iesous; which is a Greek rendering of the Hebrew Yeshua, which means Yahweh is salvation (ironically this is directly transliterated into English as Joshua). Jesus name literally means that God is our salvation, yet another clue about who Jesus is!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"The Child grew up and became strong. He was filled with wisdom and God's favor was upon him." Other than what is recorded here and in the other gospels we have very little information on the first 30 years or so of Jesus' life. The story moves directly into his earthly ministry right after the story of Jesus in the temple at age 12. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Chapter 3</b></div>
<div>
John prepares the way for Jesus, starting the soon to be Christian practice of Baptism. Baptism was derived from the Jewish practice of ritualized cleansing. It would soon come to represent 'circumcision of the heart' for followers of Jesus. John baptizes Jesus but recognizes that he is greater saying that Jesus will not just baptize with water but with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Baptism is the outward expression of the inward grace but the true change is marked by the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the United Methodist Church, we recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit by putting a flame on our symbol of the cross.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Chapter 4</b></div>
<div>
Jesus' temptation in the desert is a fascinating but also an important story! Just like Adam and Eve faced temptation, just like others in the story of the people of God faced temptation, so did Jesus. Jesus, however, did not succumb to that temptation but trusted in God, using scripture as a response each time to the devil who was tempting him. The devil tempts him with food, with earthly power, and with using God's power for his own good. Jesus is able to resist the temptation and then he begins his powerful ministry.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Again we see Jesus and his favor for the poor and desire all to receive the good news. He quotes Isaiah saying he has been sent to preach good news to the poor; recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Jubilee). Jesus came to save all but he definitely favored the poor, the hurting, the sick, and the oppressed. His church is on the same mission that Jesus was called to. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Chapter 5</b></div>
<div>
"Don't be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people." Jesus calls Simon Peter, James, and John in this story. Another remarkable aspect of the Jesus story is that he doesn't call those who we would think: the powerful, the wealthy, the teachers of the law, the priest, or the rulers. He calls ordinary folks and through his power they do extraordinary things!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jesus ministry up to this point includes:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Proclaiming the good news</li>
<li>Calling disciples</li>
<li>Challenging the religious leaders of the time</li>
<li>Healing</li>
<li>Teaching</li>
</ul>
<div>
Jesus was a busy man! What are you thoughts on Chapters 1-5?</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-61546344492236507992018-01-23T14:10:00.000-08:002018-01-23T14:10:10.532-08:00A New Challenge!A new year and a new challenge! In addition to getting back on track with my blogging, I am adding in a challenge for you and me. At Rockbridge Church, we are in the middle of a sermon series "The Bible Doesn't Say That" where we look at some popular Christian sayings that are not a part of scripture. That got me thinking that we need to spend more time in scripture so that we know what is actually in scripture! So here is my challenge and I will be participating too: read the gospel of Luke over the next month. I will be using my blog to discuss a portion of it each week with you (on Tuesdays). I believe in starting with a gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) because they are the foundation of everything that we believe as Christians. If you would like to read along, here is your reading plan:<br />
<br />
By January 30 - Chapters 1-5<br />
By February 6 - Chapters 6-10<br />
By February 13 - Chapters 11-15<br />
By February 20 - Chapters 16-20<br />
By February 27 - Chapters 21-24<br />
<br />
I am excited about going on this journey with you. Please let me know if you are joining in and feel free to comment below or on Facebook. See you next week as we discuss chapters 1-5.<br />
<br />
Blessings!<br />
DavidDavid McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-90933144610467967892017-11-28T21:04:00.003-08:002017-11-28T21:04:48.039-08:00Jesus' Down-to-Earth LoveI am very excited to begin our Advent series based on Mike Slaughter's and Rachel Billup's book called Down To Earth (Mike used to be the pastor at Ginghamsburg Church as lead pastor, Rachel is Ginghamsburg's Executive Pastor). This book has inspired our sermon series as we look at Jesus' down to earth qualities: love, humility, lifestyle, and obedience. This week we focus on Jesus' wonderful, world-changing love!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdWjRv3hZDQinz0a_YdxZwAlDHMmhOf-GdIMcAFYziBHyVQ8CTjTdAbNbT2IM3OngM2fPr1-MfgRWxWdo-u4E7DLY9ji_y3klDffaL2TAsxyjakaHkGWpoZEym-_D4yexrHns5Ao7kN0/s1600/Down+to+Earth+Sermon+Series.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdWjRv3hZDQinz0a_YdxZwAlDHMmhOf-GdIMcAFYziBHyVQ8CTjTdAbNbT2IM3OngM2fPr1-MfgRWxWdo-u4E7DLY9ji_y3klDffaL2TAsxyjakaHkGWpoZEym-_D4yexrHns5Ao7kN0/s640/Down+to+Earth+Sermon+Series.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
If I were to write the book on my expectation of who the son of God would be, that person would probably look like Alexander the Great, Augustus, or Winston Churchill. Great leaders who, according to human standards achieved great things. Yet, what they did pales in comparison to Jesus. He was born to a poor family and was a refugee from a powerful tyrant who desired his death. He walked everywhere he went and never wrote anything down. And he definitely never used force or violence to achieve his goals. Jesus saved our planet of this by world-changing, life-defining love. John 3:16 tells us that "God so love the world that he gave his one and only sone that whoever believes in him would have everlasting life." Jesus changed everything because he chose to become like us, but also to be the best version of us. Not only did Jesus save us from our sins but gave us the template to truly be human and that is to love. This Christmas season reflect on who God is calling you to love. Anyone can love their family, can you love people who dislike you? Can you love people who hate you? Can you love people who want to do you harm? It is that love,, that self-sacrificial love, that will transform the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the same love that Jesus exhibited be coming down to earth.David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-85955983542889710502017-11-15T12:23:00.000-08:002017-11-15T12:23:49.654-08:00Be the Church SundayIt was early in my ministry career and I came across an idea in outreach magazine: cancel worship and get out into the community to do projects. It seemed like a great way to both love neighbor as you love yourself AND to make disciples.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to my appointment this year as the pastor at Rockbridge Church and it just so happens that Rev. Wade Killough, the founding pastor at Rockbridge, had started a Be the Church Sunday. The idea was the same! One more reason that I love my appointment at Rockbridge and that we are such a good fit.<br />
<br />
It may seem like a crazy idea, to go out into the community on a Sunday morning! What if people get mad that you don't have worship? What if a visitor shows up? Why are we doing this? I wanted to take a few moments today and explain BTC, why we do it and why you should participate!<br />
<br />
1. Be the Church Sunday is a gathering of local churches in Cedar Park and Leander. For 2 Sundays out of the year, we live out our call to serve others by leaving the walls of the church and serving in the community. What a great testimony to who God is, especially as we near the birth of Jesus. That story is all about God coming into the mess of the world. Be the Church is about being incarnational and active in the community we live in.<br />
<br />
2. The Why. Can you imagine what it would be like to have someone help you out for no other reason than they care? Especially when they are changing their schedule and life to do it. That is what this is all about! Engaging our neighbors with the love of Christ! Its a gift freely offered, and also an invitation. Won't you join us next time?<br />
<br />
3. You should participate because it is an easy way to make an impact right now. It can be hard to actually serve, even if you want to. We take all the stress out of the event, you sign-up and then you help.<br />
<br />
Click on the picture to signup for your slot!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2009921/true#/invitation" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKJawkUR1L23yYswQzlUDUYEHvL9SUDsPO3baowsJ-wxIGHDay9KP31KjjCX6xWXU8fFT4rmvA7jLv_J4s4bD8hx9SGOEl0cGQKqGsBsF0C8tekiXyU1OX0WPeebmM2B47cn2waAs2w0/s640/Be+The+Church+Fall+2017+for+eNews.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I hope to see you there on Nov 26! The Kickoff worship event is at 8am at Veterans Park, and then we will head out on our projects from there.David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-44809439682290465912017-11-07T14:21:00.002-08:002017-11-07T14:23:23.239-08:00When faced with evil.I have to say that when I first heard about the shooting in Sutherland, Texas, that I started to panic. What if this were to happen to my church (for those that don't know, I am the pastor of Rockbridge Church in Cedar Park)? I still have not figured out the answer to that question, and honestly, whatever the answer is, I hope I never have to put it into practice. Right now my heart is broken for this small Texas town and First Baptist Church. My heart is broken for the families who lost loved ones, especially those who lost children to this horrific attack. My heart is even broken for this young man who chose to execute people in a church. My heart breaks for our country that has more gun violence than it should.<br />
<br />
I am not going to get into any policy suggestions because frankly, I do not know the answer to how we stop having nearly as many mass shootings as we have days in the year. I do want to be a part of the solution. So I am going to pray, invite dialogue and see where we can go from here. I do recommend that you read this article from the <a href="http://www.ctcumc.org/newsdetail/9890277" target="_blank">Central Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church</a> that lays out some pretty good ideas.<br />
<br />
Please join me in prayer for all of those hurt by this tragedy. Let us also let our prayer lead to action and work together as a nation to prevent more unnecessary loss of life.David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-11939436097793774842017-10-31T10:12:00.000-07:002017-10-31T10:12:13.554-07:00Joseph: Dealing with successI am continuing my read through the Bible and today's reading was about Israel moving into to Egypt because of the famine. After his happy reunion, there is a very dark passage that is easy to miss; and it partially explains the plight of the Israelites in the book of Exodus.<br />
<br />
"Joseph said to the people, 'Since I've now purchased you are your farmland for Pharaoh, here's seed for you. Plant the seed in the land. When the crop comes in, you must give one-fifth to Pharaoh. You may keep four-fifths for yourselves, those in your households and your children.' The people said, 'you saved our lives. If you wish we will be Pharaoh's slaves. (Genesis 47:23-25)'"<br />
<br />
One of the most painful realities in the Bible is that these great heroes often make great mistakes that end up causing immense pain. Abraham pretends his wife is his sister to get favorable treatment; Noah gets drunk; Jacob favors Joseph; Joseph sells an entire nation into slavery to Pharaoh! This, of course, leads to the Israelites, who are one of those peoples, to be enslaved and leads to the need for deliverance (Side note: there are stories like this in the Hebrew scriptures that are told without comment from the author or from God. I have often found this incredibly interesting as if the original writers knew that the story would tell the lesson itself).<br />
<br />
It seems to me that we, as followers of Jesus, know what to do when we face difficult times: trust in God, seek God, and seek the family of God for support! The struggle is when we have success how do we make sure and live the kind of life that reflects the image of Jesus into the world around us? Time and again these great biblical leaders failed, how do we keep from failing?<br />
<br />
We need to follow the three simple rules that John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, laid out:<br />
<br />
1. Do good.<br />
<br />
When we have been blessed with success and resources we should focus on using it for God and for good. Wealth is a good thing when we have it, success is a good thing when we have it. Jesus simply wants us to use what we have to help others. 1 John 3:17 says "But if a person has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need and that person doesn't care--how can the love of God remain in him." Whatever authority, power, success, and wealth that we have is to be used for God's purposes. Joseph was so focused on success that he was not doing God's will and he did not follow the second rule:<br />
<br />
2. Do no harm.<br />
<br />
Wow. This is incredibly important that we think about not harming others with our actions and with our success. In fact, when we are working we need to make sure that what we do, who we work for, and what we produce follows this rule. Wealth is a good thing but not if it comes at someone else's expense. Joseph made Pharaoh ridiculously wealthy. Basically, he owned everything! If being successful or being wealthy comes at the cost of another person's well being, it is not from God.<br />
<br />
3. Stay in love with God.<br />
<br />
"Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind (Luke 10:27)." Really this is the most important part. We won't struggle with success if we keep God in mind. God is generous. God is humble. God is loving. God is kind. Focus on these things because of your love of God and you can't go wrong when you find yourself in the midst of personal success.<br />
<br />
Do good. Do no harm. Stay in love with God. If you do these things you will reflect God's love whether you are in a valley or on a mountaintop!David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-54800859804151794452017-10-25T13:08:00.000-07:002017-10-26T08:19:27.281-07:00Rushing God's PlanI believe that God has a plan for each of us. Not the 'I am puppet dangling from strings' kind of plan, but the kind where God has a vision and destination in mind for each of us. Afterall, we have work to do. The problem is that God rarely reveals all of that plan at one time. I liken it to walking in a dark room with a flashlight, we can only see to the end of the beam and we must take steps of faith before of the plan is revealed to us. If you are like me, this is incredibly frustrating! Why can't God just tell us everything?! I think that it is probably because we would definitely not go through with it if we were shown the end!<br />
<br />
Our response is usually to rush God along and take over the job of leading for ourselves. We can do it as well as Jesus, right? Unfortunately, the answer is no we can't. There are two stories that come to mind (I recently started over reading the Bible from Genesis, forward) where heroes of the Bible did this very thing. Sarai frustrated that she had not yet born a son, asked Abraham to make a baby with her handmaiden Hagar! (Wait, that sounds scandalous, is that in the Bible? Yes, right there in Genesis chapter 16). This causes all sorts of problems later on. We see almost the same story with Rachel and Jacob and Leah and Jacob (yes he had 2 wives then later added his wive's handmaidens as concubines...I could not make this up! Check Genesis chapter 30 and 31). Again, this rushing God's plan later causes problems because of the enmity between members of the household. Sarai was tired of waiting on God and so forced a difficult situation. Rachel was tired of waiting on God and so forced a difficult situation. God has a way of telling us to be patient and trust that God's got a plan for us. We may not see it all just yet, but its there. It is very difficult to trust and be patient and be obedient!<br />
<br />
Where are you rushing God's plan for your life? Are you trying to force a situation just because you are impatient, waiting on God? Let these stories be a cautionary tale next time you feel like you can lead better than God.David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2051973683754258913.post-18868732263589094082017-10-18T08:43:00.003-07:002017-10-18T08:57:10.594-07:00I desire mercy not sacrifice...Some people see Jesus hanging out with the wrong crowd (sinners and tax collectors) and the Pharisees say, "Why is he hanging out with THOSE people (Matthew 9:9-13)?" Jesus response? Go read your Bible. In Hosea, the prophet says from God, "I desire mercy not sacrifice."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yxueAQzAVH1C0Yiygky-2IAbMIYTbU_E6Qm1LOAkxO75PG-_25-8CR4y23uRHnJDr_qMVSjbrXJqUd1b31PDmTNQ6CnCpd-2D0gfPrlXqlIhAI8ri3iy9Un-Zuxr9_5QMlHKQnd0Rbw/s1600/mercy+not+sacrifice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yxueAQzAVH1C0Yiygky-2IAbMIYTbU_E6Qm1LOAkxO75PG-_25-8CR4y23uRHnJDr_qMVSjbrXJqUd1b31PDmTNQ6CnCpd-2D0gfPrlXqlIhAI8ri3iy9Un-Zuxr9_5QMlHKQnd0Rbw/s400/mercy+not+sacrifice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
That may not seem like a big deal, however, when sacrifice is how your sins are forgiven, God is telling the people that the Creator cares more about compassion and forgiveness than doing that which allowed God to forgive their sins.<br />
<br />
Jesus is reminding the Pharisees that it is more important that we love people than anything else, and all are worthy of our time, our love, our hope for redemption. Whoever you think that God has moved to the margins and excluded from God's grace, they are not. There is a place for that person, just like there is a place for you in God's kingdom. God does want us to change, to sin no more, but don't ever imagine there is a person who is past saving. No longer worthy of our action.<br />
<br />
Too often we look at people who are struggling with poverty, with addiction, or with past mistakes and we say that person is not worthy. The funny thing is when we are the ones who have struggled we want mercy. When it is someone else, we want judgment on them. God says, "I desire mercy not sacrifice." Are you seeping yourself in the form of religion (sacrifice) without the heart of what it means to follow Jesus (mercy)?<br />
<br />
Yesterday I went to a ministry called <a href="http://www.revealresourcecenter.com/" target="_blank">Reveal Ministries</a>, an incredible group of people who are living out mercy. Are you looking to serve, to make a difference? This is one opportunity to grow in mercy!David McMinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884811788580987979noreply@blogger.com0