Do You Have A Friend Like That?
Sunday Worship Experience
August 15, 2010
Today worship absolutely rocked the house! I loved every minute of it! Here's the set list:
Where The Spirit of the Lord Is by Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels
Say So by Michael Gungor Band
Wow! This rocked the house! I'm pumped about us coming back to this one, soon! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
God You Reign by Lincoln Brewster
I Will Exalt You by Hillsong
God used this to create a beautiful and intimate moment in worship... Stunning.
Bill Robbins conducted a great interview this am with Lee Peak and Montiqua Pettway about their involvement in small groups.
Lee has served as a Small Group leader with Financial Peace University and he emphasized the importance of leaders being "cheer leaders" for the people in their group.
Montiqua talked about how being a part of a small group has provided opportunities to grow friendship, find some accountability and be inspired. Great stuff.
Finally, Caley and the band covered a Watermark song titled, More Than You'll Ever Know. This may be one of the best songs on friendship ever written. Caley and the band did an amazing job covering it.
Here are the notes to today's message. As always, you can download the mp3 on a2's website @ a2church.org or via iTunes.
Do You Have A Friend Like That?
COMMUNITY 101 - Part 2
August 15, 2010 * Chris Goins
Hebrews 10:22 (NLT), …let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:23-24 (NLT), Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV), Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1. Great relationships with people flow out of the context of a dynamic relationship with Jesus.
2. Transformational life change best occurs within the context of great relationships.
3. Your relationship with God is very personal, it was never meant to be private.
4. Hope, motivation and encouragement are a team sport.
"At horse races, the spectators intent on victory shout to their favorites in the contest. From the balcony they incite the rider to keener effort, urging the horses on while leaning forward and flailing the air with their outstretched hand instead of a whip."
~ Gregory of Nyssa quoted by John Ortberg in a message titled, Balcony People
“I seem to be doing the same thing myself, most valued friend and brother. While you are competing admirably in the divine race, straining constantly for the prize of the heavenly calling, I exhort, urge and encourage you vigorously.”
~ Gregory of Nyssa quoted by John Ortberg in a message titled, Balcony People
THOUGHT: Encouragement, correctly understood, is the language of the New Testament. The phrase “to encourage” gets used more than 100 times in the New Testament.
In fact, one of the greatest characters in the Bible—and possibly the patron saint of what it means to be an encourager is a guy who shows up in the New Testament named Barnabas.
How To Become A “Barnabas” Kind of Friend:
1. Develop a generous attitude. Grow a big heart and live with an open hand.
Acts 4:36-37 (NIV), Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
2. Always extend grace. Live with arms wide open. Believe in people who desperately need a second chance.
Acts 9:26-27 (NLT), When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
Acts 9:28 (NLT), So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Acts 11:20-21 (NLT), …some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiless about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:22-24 (NLT), When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God's blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.
Acts 11:24 (NLT), Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.
Acts 13:2-3 (NLT), One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them." 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
4 So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 14:1 (NIV), At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.
3. Cultivate humility and a servant’s heart. Learn to cheer the success of others!
4. Always keep investing in people. Look for their potential and give them a vision of what they can ultimately become.
Acts 15:36-40 (NLT), After some time Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing." 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord's gracious care.
2 Timothy 4:11 (NLT), Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV), …encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV), Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Just Keep Running!
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