Here are 7 questions to consider when asking yourself about your belief system. We all have a worldview. The question is what determins what you believe.
Transformed By What Believe
James 2:14-26
We have a lot of questions posed to us by this issue
1. Is saying we believe in something transforming? Or are we transformed by what we believe
2. Who determines what you believe?
3. Do you think what you believe makes a difference?
4. What determines what you believe in?
5. Is it possible to believe in something that is false?
6. Is it possible to believe in something, but not really believe it?
7. We cannot dictate what others believe - we can only have the conviction to believe something that will make others ask what it is that they believe.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Big Day Ahead
When do you plant a shade tree? You plant it today! On September 18th, 2011 we are going to have a Big Day @ the Springs. We are going to blow away our highest attendence day ever. On this day we will have over 150 in worship attendence and one of the greatest services ever at the Springs. Why? Because we want to see the lives of people transformed by the power of Jesus Christ who is able to save, heal, deliver, restore, do miracles, move mountains and anything that needs to be done. When you jump over a hurdle you always take a running start and that is what we are doing this summer at the Springs. We are praying, we are planning, we are preparing to make the Springs the Church that God has called us to be for this hour in our city. The partners of the Springs are on mission to be a growing and effective ministry on the border of the NW and the SW corner of 1604 in San Antonio, Texas. Make your plans to be a part of a historic and significant day @ the Springs. We have some exciting news to unfold along the way so stay tuned.
The Springs has begun its worship center expansion project so we ask for your prayers and patients as we will have dust on our pews over the next few months. In the mean time join us every Sunday at 11am and ever 3rd wednesday during the summer months as we continue to be "A Gathering of Transformation"
The Springs has begun its worship center expansion project so we ask for your prayers and patients as we will have dust on our pews over the next few months. In the mean time join us every Sunday at 11am and ever 3rd wednesday during the summer months as we continue to be "A Gathering of Transformation"
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Mission Partners
Today at the Springs we did away with church membership and started mission partnership. What is the difference and why even address it? Here are some of the reasons.
We have become so comfortable with the term "church membership". And after all, isn’t the idea of “church membership” biblical? Paul does say ”so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom. 12:5).
Despite it’s historic use and traditional use I think its time for a shift. In fact, I think churches would benefit changing the terminology of “church membership.” I recommend the change for one purpose: to make the mission of Jesus for His church more clear and concrete in the hearts of our people.
Here are five reasons to start. You help me build the list!
#1 Membership is culturally hijacked terminology by its use from country clubs to platinum cards. Partnership is a term that carries less baggage and brings new Biblical clarity
#2 Membership may emphasize privilege to the neglect of responsibility. Partnership emphasizes both.
#3 Membership could bring deeply rooted assumptions about church in general that are no longer valid for your church. Partnership creates an opportunity to reset expectations.
#4 Membership is a static. Partnership brings a sense of both action and direction.
#5 Membership is a relatively small portal for vision-casting.
Partnership opens a dynamic way to express impact, togetherness, adventure and risk-taking. It captures the “sentness” of a missional reorientation.
We have become so comfortable with the term "church membership". And after all, isn’t the idea of “church membership” biblical? Paul does say ”so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom. 12:5).
Despite it’s historic use and traditional use I think its time for a shift. In fact, I think churches would benefit changing the terminology of “church membership.” I recommend the change for one purpose: to make the mission of Jesus for His church more clear and concrete in the hearts of our people.
Here are five reasons to start. You help me build the list!
#1 Membership is culturally hijacked terminology by its use from country clubs to platinum cards. Partnership is a term that carries less baggage and brings new Biblical clarity
#2 Membership may emphasize privilege to the neglect of responsibility. Partnership emphasizes both.
#3 Membership could bring deeply rooted assumptions about church in general that are no longer valid for your church. Partnership creates an opportunity to reset expectations.
#4 Membership is a static. Partnership brings a sense of both action and direction.
#5 Membership is a relatively small portal for vision-casting.
Partnership opens a dynamic way to express impact, togetherness, adventure and risk-taking. It captures the “sentness” of a missional reorientation.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
3 Ways to Take Up Your Cross
I have thought about how some live Christianity as a competition. Some use there faith as manipulation of others. The Bible says we are to die to self. Here is a great blog about taking up our cross.
This is From the Blog of Mark Batterson
3 Ways to Take Up Your Cross
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34-35
This may be the most important description of what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the entire gospel, yet most of us have no idea what it means. We understand the imagery, but we don’t know how to live it out. What exactly does it mean to take up your cross?
First, it means self-denial. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t want to experience self-fulfillment, but the only path to self-fulfillment is self-denial. There is no other way. While self-denial may sound miserable, it’s actually wonderful. We simply deny ourselves those things that are temporarily pleasurable but eternally painful. We deny the desires of our flesh. We deny the temptation of sin. We refuse to settle for anything less than the best which is God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Second, taking up your cross means torture. And we wince at the thought, but stop and think about it. Any great achievement requires torture. Athletes torture their bodies. Thinkers torture their minds. And we get that on the physical and intellectual plane, but wish there was another way on the spiritual plane. There isn’t. Just like the physical realm: no pain, no gain. Are you willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal gain? That’s what it comes down to.
Finally, it means death. You have to die to self everyday. How? By allowing your circumstances to help you become more like Christ–especially the circumstances you don’t like. Anytime you feel the pain of an insult, disappointment, suffering, physical challenge, failure, injustice, or trial–it’s an opportunity to die to pride, die to ego, die to sin, die to self. And if you keep dying to self, you’ll come alive in ways you never imagined. In fact, you’ll live forever.
We worry about all the wrong things! You only have one job and it’s this: take up your cross. That is your portfolio as a Christ follower. You simply need to deny yourself, endure torture, and die to self. If you do that, God will do the rest. If you do it everyday, you have all of eternity to look forward to
This is From the Blog of Mark Batterson
3 Ways to Take Up Your Cross
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34-35
This may be the most important description of what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the entire gospel, yet most of us have no idea what it means. We understand the imagery, but we don’t know how to live it out. What exactly does it mean to take up your cross?
First, it means self-denial. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t want to experience self-fulfillment, but the only path to self-fulfillment is self-denial. There is no other way. While self-denial may sound miserable, it’s actually wonderful. We simply deny ourselves those things that are temporarily pleasurable but eternally painful. We deny the desires of our flesh. We deny the temptation of sin. We refuse to settle for anything less than the best which is God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Second, taking up your cross means torture. And we wince at the thought, but stop and think about it. Any great achievement requires torture. Athletes torture their bodies. Thinkers torture their minds. And we get that on the physical and intellectual plane, but wish there was another way on the spiritual plane. There isn’t. Just like the physical realm: no pain, no gain. Are you willing to suffer temporal pain for eternal gain? That’s what it comes down to.
Finally, it means death. You have to die to self everyday. How? By allowing your circumstances to help you become more like Christ–especially the circumstances you don’t like. Anytime you feel the pain of an insult, disappointment, suffering, physical challenge, failure, injustice, or trial–it’s an opportunity to die to pride, die to ego, die to sin, die to self. And if you keep dying to self, you’ll come alive in ways you never imagined. In fact, you’ll live forever.
We worry about all the wrong things! You only have one job and it’s this: take up your cross. That is your portfolio as a Christ follower. You simply need to deny yourself, endure torture, and die to self. If you do that, God will do the rest. If you do it everyday, you have all of eternity to look forward to
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Keeping things Clear
Clarity is important if we want to see the results we are looking for. Just exactly what are we going to do to achieve the results we desire. Do you need money to expand? How are you going to bring that money in? Do you want more people? What are you going to do to get those first time guests? Do you want people to commit to the ministry? How are you going to make that happen.
To help with clarity keep things simple. In ministry sometimes we equate business with progress. We can spread ourselves so thin that we become ineffective. We must learn how to devote ourselves to those things that are helping us fulfill the vision. Here are some of the things we are doing over the mext 6 months to give clarity to the vision of The Springs.
THE SPRINGS=TRANSFORMATION
Our emphasis over the next few months is GOING BIGGER GROWING DEEPER.
We want to go bigger so we need more sanctuary space. Our plan is to improve and inlarge our worship center space. We need money so we are going to have a vision banquet to raise the money to make this happen.
We want to go bigger so we are doing everything we can to make our Sunday morning service a destination for people who need to take there next step toward Christ. We have committed to 3 summer events to expose people to the ministry of the church. That means putting our mid week gathering on hold until September 2011 to focus on these events and make them our focus. We have entitled them the 3rd Wednesday.
We want to grow deeper so we are planning to provide a summer devotional series for people to do at home through a worksheet or online. We are going to encourage people to spend time in prayer through providing a weekly prayer list and specific times of prayer before service on sundays.
Our mission is to see transformation in the lives of people. We want to help people experience life change that can only come through an encounter with Jesus Christ.
On September 18th, 2011 we will have a big day to fill our new worship space with 150 people and then in December we will have 3 Christmas services with a total attendance of 200 plus.
To help with clarity keep things simple. In ministry sometimes we equate business with progress. We can spread ourselves so thin that we become ineffective. We must learn how to devote ourselves to those things that are helping us fulfill the vision. Here are some of the things we are doing over the mext 6 months to give clarity to the vision of The Springs.
THE SPRINGS=TRANSFORMATION
Our emphasis over the next few months is GOING BIGGER GROWING DEEPER.
We want to go bigger so we need more sanctuary space. Our plan is to improve and inlarge our worship center space. We need money so we are going to have a vision banquet to raise the money to make this happen.
We want to go bigger so we are doing everything we can to make our Sunday morning service a destination for people who need to take there next step toward Christ. We have committed to 3 summer events to expose people to the ministry of the church. That means putting our mid week gathering on hold until September 2011 to focus on these events and make them our focus. We have entitled them the 3rd Wednesday.
We want to grow deeper so we are planning to provide a summer devotional series for people to do at home through a worksheet or online. We are going to encourage people to spend time in prayer through providing a weekly prayer list and specific times of prayer before service on sundays.
Our mission is to see transformation in the lives of people. We want to help people experience life change that can only come through an encounter with Jesus Christ.
On September 18th, 2011 we will have a big day to fill our new worship space with 150 people and then in December we will have 3 Christmas services with a total attendance of 200 plus.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The Great Commission
Jesus made it crystal clear that He wants us to reach the world with the God News of Jesus Christ. The Church needs to enlarge it's circle and the church needs to grow deeper. The Great Commission gives us these 2 important mandates. When a church starts to get serious about going bigger and growing deeper it will face challenges. The challenges the church faces will come in many different faces. Sometime a church will have to look at what it is doing schedule wise. Sometime programs will need to be reevaluated or even eliminated. Parking will always need to be addressed. Space issues are always a concern. Worship space, Children and nursery areas will need upgrades. Bathrooms are key to maintaining larger crowds.
Now is the time for the church to take to heart the great commission. Now is the time for the church break down walls and fear not the unknown. Our God is able to provide for every need. Now is the time for us to seriously reach out to a world in desperate need for a savior who transforms us with His great power. We must pray. We must study. We must work. We must give. We must go bigger and grow deeper.
Now is the time for the church to take to heart the great commission. Now is the time for the church break down walls and fear not the unknown. Our God is able to provide for every need. Now is the time for us to seriously reach out to a world in desperate need for a savior who transforms us with His great power. We must pray. We must study. We must work. We must give. We must go bigger and grow deeper.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Go Bigger Growing Deeper
There is a tension between numerical growth and Spirtual growth in the church. We know it is Gods will for the church to grow numerical but it is equally essential for the church to help the body grow spiritually. As we reach out to the unchurched and the drop out church member we need to make our message meaty enough to spur the believer to greater maturity.
During the month of May here at the Springs we are going to be adressing this issue with the goal of challenging the church to go bigger and grow deeper. I am excited that our church is growing and I want to make sure that we help all people saved and unsaved take that next step to Christ and in Christ.
During the month of May here at the Springs we are going to be adressing this issue with the goal of challenging the church to go bigger and grow deeper. I am excited that our church is growing and I want to make sure that we help all people saved and unsaved take that next step to Christ and in Christ.
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