Sat
Jan
30th
2010
0

Enough

I was reading Proverbs 30 earlier today and was struck by these verses.

 Proverbs 30:15b-16

…”There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: 16 the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

I can think of one more: Us. We live in a culture that constantly tells us how much is enough. Just a little bit more. So how much is enough? Is Jesus enough? If so why do we feel we need to add so many other things?

 

categories: Personal, Southbridge

Mon
Jan
25th
2010
1

Seeking

Does it ever blow you away that God is the one who does the seeking? God comes looking for us. I was reading a commentary by William Barclay on Revelation 3, while he was writing about a seeking God he writes this:

In his book, Out of Nazareth, Donald Baillie cites three witnesses to the uniqueness of this idea. C.J.G. Montefiore, the great Jewish scholar, said that the one thing which no Jewish prophet or Rabbi ever imagined is the ‘conception of God actually going out in quest of sinful men, who were not seeking him, but who were turned away from him’. A document produced by the National Christian Council of Japan describes the distinctive difference of Christianity from all other religions as being found in ‘Man not seeking God, but God taking the initiative in seeking man’. Way back in the twelfth century, St. Bernard often used to say to his monks that ‘However early they might wake and rise for prayer in their chapel on a cold mid-winter morning, or even in the dead of night, they would always find God awake before them, waiting for them – nay, it was he who had awakened them to seek his face.’”

God took the initiative and is seeking us.

categories: Personal, Southbridge

Sun
Jan
17th
2010
0

What is a Community Group?

What is a Community Group? We played this video today to help explain to people who may wonder. If you are interested in getting connected with a group visit our website. There you can you can see groups that have a spot for you. When you click on the group you are interested in you can see a description of the group and if you would like you can send a message to the leader asking any questions you may have.

Community Group Video #2 from Ascending Productions on Vimeo.

categories: Community, Southbridge

Thu
Jan
14th
2010
0

The Bridge Initiative FAQ’s (part 2)

If there is no facility, what is being considered?
There are three options we are considering. The first option is to buy land to prepare for long-term growth. The second option is to buy a building. Lastly, we could enter into a medium-term lease (approximately 5-10 years), with plans to move into our own building afterward. Leasing a building will solve our near-term challenge of providing space for more people now. It will give us time to continue to build the financial base necessary to move into a more permanent building of our own following the lease period.

Is it really time to do this if there is not a specific facility?
We have been presented with several opportunities for facilities that would not only allow us to continue what we’re already doing but would also help us reach more people. However, being a young church without money in the bank for these projects, we have not been able to move forward with these opportunities. We want to get ready for the right opportunity.

Do we have a revenue target?
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV

Through The Bridge Initiative, we want to watch God do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. We know that having 1 to 2 million dollars in the bank will allow us to make a reasonable down payment for land in our community and to begin the building process when it is time.

Should my commitment to The Bridge Initiative affect my regular giving?
No, the objective of The Bridge Initiative is to give over and above your normal tithe. If you simply divide what you would already be giving, the campaign will not raise the needed additional capital.

When will we make a commitment? 
In January 2010, the church body will receive more information on The Bridge Initiative. February 28, 2010 will be ‘Commitment Sunday’, where we will each make an individual commitment to carry out God’s plan for us.

categories: Southbridge, The Bridge Initiative

« Older Entries