Thursday, July 8, 2010

THIS WEEKEND IS NOT FOR WIMPS!

Scientifically, the word WIMP is short for "weakly interacting massive particles." I won't even attempt to explain it, because I don't really understand it...

If you're an ordinary dude like me, the word WIMP just means, "weak, frail, cowardly, gutless or unadventurous."

If you're "old school" we're talking Eddie Haskell from Leave It To Beaver. If you don't go back that far, we're talking Milhouse from The Simpson's, Spencer Pratt from Heidi and Spencer, Jake from The Bachelor, or Tony Hayward, the CEO of BP.

Get the picture?

I said all of that to say this: this weekend @ a2 is NOT for WIMPS! We're talking two worship experiences jam-packed with truth on steroids! Two straight-forward, hard-hitting, muscle-building and life-changing messages! Music that really matters. The weekend is going to rock!

Here's the buzz on this Sunday @ a2 Church.

You Can Change!
UNSHAKABLE - Part 7

Sunday Morning, July 11, 9:45

Maybe you're a new Christian struggling to break free from past hang-ups, hurts, sin and self-defeating habits? Maybe you're a "seasoned vet" who feels like you're stuck or plateaued? There is hope! You really can change! This Sunday we'll talk about God's promise and power to transform and overcome our messed up, broken lives. Invite a friend to join you for this important worship experience.

The action doesn't end on Sunday morning... Make plans to join us Sunday night...

The Beauty and Mystery of Spiritual Language
Special Sunday Evening Worship Experience

Sunday Evening, July 11, 6 pm

What about the miraculous "gifts of the Holy Spirit"? Are they still in operation? What about the "gift of tongues" or "spiritual language"? Is this gift something every believer can experience or something that needs to be avoided at all costs? Is the whole subject something only wackos and nutcases waste time on? This Sunday night I'll teach on the often misunderstood and controversial subject of "speaking with tongues" or "spiritual language."


If you're a bonafide WIMP, you may want to stay away from a2 Church this weekend. It's not for the weak of heart...

But if you're a guy or gal who has ever struggled with self-defeating behavior patterns or sin... If you're a guy or gal who wants to dig deep in Scripture... If you're a guy or gal who believes that truth matters... If you're a guy or gal who longs to be transformed... If you're a person who loves God-centered worship... Well, this weekend is for you! See you this Sunday @ a2.

I "Heart" Revolution Extended Notes - I "Heart" a2 (Part 5)

Sorry about the delay in getting up the extended notes from this past weekend's worship experience at a2 Church. What an incredible day! God was present.

Here's an overview of the WORSHIP SET LIST for the day.

I Am Free - New Life Worship
Where The Spirit of the Lord Is - Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels
Jesus Reigns - Eddie Kirkland, Todd Fields, North Point Church

We did two item numbers this weekend that totally rocked:
History Maker - Delirious
Change - Taylor Swift

I love what God is doing at a2.

This was the wrap up of the series "I Heart a2."

Check out the podcast available on our website or via iTunes. Here are the extended notes of the message.


I "Heart" Revolution
I "Heart" a2 - Part 5

Chris Goins

Approximately 234 years ago fifty-six men gathered in a room that would later come to be known as Independence Hall. This group gathered on July 4, 1776 to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Those who signed it did so at great personal risk. They were willing to pay whatever price necessary for freedom from the tyranny they had experienced at the hands of King George III.

They wrote their intentions on paper as a way of putting the King of Britain on notice that America had every intention of being a free nation.

Fifty-six men signed their names to that document, realizing that it could very well be a death sentence. John Hancock was the first person to sign it… Hancock was the son of a minister and a graduate of Harvard. If you’ve seen a copy of the document you know that Hancock wrote his name in huge, massive letters… Even though he wasn’t the primary author, his signature is the largest on the document… That’s why sometimes people will refer to someone’s signature as, “Give me your John Hancock…”

Do you know the reason Hancock made his signature so large? He was also a relative of King George and he knew that King George III suffered with poor eyesight. He wanted to be certain that the king understood the fact that he intended to fight for freedom.

The fifty-six men who signed that document paid dearly for their signatures and their stance. Five were captured, tortured and eventually died. Twelve had their homes ransacked, looted and burned to the ground. Two lost their sons in service to this country… One of the signers had two of his sons captured. Nine of the fifty six men died in the Revolutionary War, either from hardships or a bullet.

These men, the declaration they signed and the cause for which they were willing to live and die is the reason we’re able to gather here today…

On July 4, 1776 fifty-six men drew a line in the sand and united as one to put their king and former allegiances on notice that they would settle for nothing less than FREEDOM.

The fighting would go on for seven more years. It would be eleven years before they finally finished their Constitution. But the result of their united decision is still being experienced today…


I said all of that to say this: more than seventeen hundred years before these men signed their declaration, one man made another important declaration. This was no ordinary man… He was completely man, but at the same time, He was also completely God…

After forty days of prayer and fasting, Jesus himself stepped out of the wilderness, walked into the local synagogue in which He was raised, He took the scroll of the prophet Isaiah in his hand and opened to what we refer to as Isaiah 61 and in his first public sermon, Jesus spelled out the mission statement of His entire ministry by making this declaration.

Luke 4:18-21 (NIV), The Spirit of the Lord is on me, 
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor. 
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”


In his very first sermon, Jesus said, “I came to bring good news… I’ve come to set you free… I’ve come to bring you freedom…” This was the theme of his entire ministry… Make no mistake about it: Jesus launched the original REVOLUTION


Three Great "Loves" In My Life:

• My relationship with Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:19 (NKJ), We love Him because He first loved us.

• My love for my wife and three girls.

• My love for the local church.


The word “church” doesn't show up at all in the Old Testament. In fact, it was not until Jesus was two and a half years into His ministry that the concept shows up in the N.T.

The first time Jesus mentioned the “church” – the primary statement from the lips of Jesus regarding the “church” occurred toward the end of a dialogue Jesus was engaged in with his disciples. Check out Matthew 16.

Matthew 16:13-18 (NLT), When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15Then he asked them, “Who do you say I am?”
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.



Three Important Realities About The Church

1. The Church Is Built “Out There”!

Matthew 16:13-18 (NLT), When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”


Caesarea Philippi was a hotbed for all kinds of religious trends and belief systems in the first century. It was a smorgasbord of spirituality…

• It was the stronghold of Assyrian Baal worship… There were no less than fourteen temples built and dedicated to Baal in that very region…

The worship of Baal was very connected with first century fertility cults, so you can imagine the practices that were occurring on a regular basis in those temples were immoral to the highest degree…

• There was also a huge hill there with a deep cavern at its core and that cavern was said to be the birthplace of the Greek god “Pan,” the “god of nature.” Caesarea Philippi was actually the birthplace of Greek mythology…

• Herod had built an unbelievable temple there that was dedicated to the worship of Caesar…

• The same mountain that was believed to be the birthplace of the Greek god “Pan” was also believed to be the source from which the Jordan River sprang to life… According to the first century history, Josephus, this thought was dominate in the minds of first century Jews… The point being that this location was strategic in the Jewish mind, as well.


Here’s the point: You can’t possibly get more dramatic than this… It was against the backdrop of the major world religions of His day… It was against the backdrop of a world system that was diametrically opposed to His agenda, His purpose and His plan that Jesus – a homeless, penniless carpenter surrounded by twelve utterly ordinary guys made this incredible statement...


Matthew 16:18 (NLT), …upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.


Jesus looked around at a depraved and immoral culture and said, “Guys… Guys… Guys… The church that I’m going to build will be invincible and indestructible… It will not be crippled or hobbled, overpowered or overcome by anything the arsenal of the evil one throws at it! Nothing… Not even the very powers and forces of hell itself will be able to stop the movement that I am going to build…”


2. The Church Is Built In You.

Matthew 16:13-14 (NLT), When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Matthew 16:14 (NLT), “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”


John MacArthur writes, “Some people saw in Jesus the character and message of John the Baptist. Some saw the fire, passion, power and intensity of Elijah… Then, some saw the grief, compassion, tenderness and sensitivity of Jeremiah.”

In the first century Jewish mind, comparing Jesus to one of these three “heavy hitters” was a high compliment, but not high enough…


Matthew 16:15 (NLT), Then he asked them, “Who do YOU say I am?”

Matthew 16:16 (NLT), Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:17-18 (NLT), Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being…”

Matthew 16:17-18 (MSG), “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. 18And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock…”

Matthew 16:18b (NLT), Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…


The “rock” upon which Jesus would establish his church was the transformation that would take place based upon the confession that Peter had just made that “Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God!”

Jesus looked at Peter and said, “Pete, You used to be Simon – a reed tossed and driven by the wind… You were moody, vacillating, shifty and not real dependable… Up until this point, your life has been littered with failure… But now… Now you’ve had your eyes opened by my Father in heaven… And because of the grace that you’ve experienced, you will now become Peter – a rock… And the transformation that has taken place in your life will be pivotal to what I’m going to do on this planet…”

“I’m going to build my church on the lives of people who’ve seen the reality of who I really am… I’m going to take people from every strata of society – and based upon the confession of their faith – I’m going to revolutionize and transform their lives to such an extent that they become my agents for changing this planet…”


The church is built in you!


A few years ago an anonymous author penned some words that I believe describe what life must have been like in that first century church and what God desires life to be like in the church today.

The Fellowship of the Unashamed
I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals!
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, live by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let go, or slow up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops.
And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me…my colors will be clear.
~ Anonymous


3. The Church Is Built By God.

Matthew 16:18 (NLT), Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…


Circle one word… “…upon this rock I will build [MY] church…”

The church belongs to Jesus Christ! It doesn’t belong to me… It doesn’t belong to our Board of Directors… It doesn’t belong to our largest donors… As much as I love and respect them, it doesn’t belong to our ministry leaders… The church belongs to Jesus Christ! To use today's vernacular, Jesus is the CEO, CFO and COO of the church!

The church was His idea! It was His genius! He designed it and originated it! He alone is its Master and Lord! And He alone promises sustain the process by which it will grow and develop!


That fact should create two important attitudes

• Confidence

Because the church is built by God, that takes a boatload of pressure off of you and me! This is “HIS” church…

• Dependence

Our best offense and defense when it comes to God continuing His purpose and plan for a2 Church is to trust Him with His Church…


Our Response:

• If the church is built “out there,” then recommit yourself to living out the mission and vision of a2 Church by being an extension of God’s love to this broken, messed up world.

Acts 2:42-47 (NLT), All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.



• If the church is built “in you,” then ASK GOD to continue the process of transformation in your life.

Acts 17:6b (ESV), These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also…


• If the church is built by God, then TRUST GOD for the fulfillment of His purpose and plan for a2 Church and in your personal life.

Matthew 16:18 (NLT), …upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.