What an awesome day of working together and cleaning up the Virtue House! The weather coorperated and people showed up! Thanks to all those that were able to come out! If you missed us this time, try and catch us next time! Check out the NEW PHOTOS of TRUENORTH people serving!
Our focus this entire week has been on becoming a servant like Christ. Steve did a great job this past Sunday, reminding us that not only were we made for a mission, we were made to fulfill our life's purposes with each other. That is when weneed to serve together. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:8 thatthe one who plans and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. This is an excellent example of how we should do things as a team. If you take each letter inT.E.A.M. and break it down, you will find fundamental truths and benefits of serving together. It starts with Trust. Many people claim to be loyal, but it's hard to find a trustworthy person. Next, there is Empathy. When we have empathy for our teammates, we understand the other person and validate how they feel. From there, we need to be Accommodating. This requires selflessness on our part. Be faithful, loving and easy to get along with (2 Timothy 2:22). Finally, we need to be on Mission together. Philippians 2:2 says to be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intend on one purpose. If we're going to serve together, these things are essential to making an impact as a team. THIS SATURDAY, October 24, is "SERVE SATURDAY"! We will meet at 9 am, at the Virtue House, 225 S. Franklin Street, we will NOT meet at the Hickory Point Theater! If you need better directions give me a call! We will be outside working, so dress warm. The final days of WE UNITE: 40 Days of Community are quickly approaching. The journey has awakened hearts and lives to the presence, peace and power of Jesus. What has Jesus done in your life the last 40 Days? What has changed in you? Have you found new community in a Journey Team (small group)? Did the WE UNITE daily devotional cause you to draw closer to Jesus and obey His truths more? Did you memorize any verses? What was your favorite memory verse during these 40 Days? Did you touch someone else's life during these 40 days as you made the choice to serve others? Have you made a choice to serve on a ministry at TNC on Sundays? WE WANT TO HEAR HOW JESUS HAS TOUCHED YOU!!!!! I want to encourage you to put that story in words this week. Your story may seem small to you, but no story is small when Jesus is changing lives! Write your story and email me at shaned@truenorthchurch.com. Sunday we continue WE UNITE, week 6- Worshiping Together! You won't want to MISS IT! LOVE YOU, Shane LIFT UP, LOVE IN, LIVE OUT
Hey gang,
This past Sunday we continued "WE UNITE" with week 2, "Reaching Others"! Check out this scripture passage: "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:39-42 NIV)
What does this mean? It means developing relationships, and centering those relationships around love. This is the opportunity we have, but we cannot love without the love of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them. (2 Timothy 1:7 LB) Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians the way he develops relationships with people, and then goes on to share the fruits that come out of reaching others: Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:22-23 LB)
It's easy to get caught up in two extremes: isolation and imitation. People who are isolated aren't doing a whole lot in finding common ground in order to reach others; they are staying sheltered from the world. There are also those believers who are imitating the world around them in ways that are counteractive to a transformed life. Rather than isolation or imitation, we need to have insulation. This is where we go in the world, find common ground with unbelievers, and enjoy being with them why staying true to the life God wants us to live.
In the midst of our story together are our individual stories that we have to share with the world. Reaching others involves telling your story. You are ... God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you. (1 Peter 2:9 MSG) The stories of the power of Christ in us change the world. Each believer has a story of how they became passionate followers of Jesus Christ they can spend a few minutes sharing with others. What's your story?
This SUNDAY would be a great day to invite a friend or "fish" who is struggling with a relationship in their life. I promise you that they will leave with something that could resuscitate a dying relationship. Who do you need to bring with you Sunday? I'm expecting Jesus to change hearts and heal relationships as WE UNITE together for worship at TNC! See ya Sunday!
