Wed
May
30th
2012
0

Purpose, Placement, Personality

Perhaps you have heard it said that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Have you ever thought to yourself, “What is that plan?” Maybe even, “If you love me, can you tell me?” Some of us feel like we would do exactly what God wants, if He just told us. Others spend their lives wondering what they are “supposed” to be doing. How do you know if you are doing what you were made to do?

Several weeks ago Shanna was not able to be at church because she was at home with sick kids. When I came home she asked me how the day went. I told her there was a moment when I was praying and realized I had been doing exactly what God wanted me to do by preaching the gospel that morning.

I believe we all have something we are made for, where our purpose, placement and personality meet.

Purpose: We all have a purpose in life. Very simply stated we were created for God’s glory (Isa 43:1-7; Col 1:16). That seems very general though. What does it look like for us to glorify God? For followers of Jesus we are given a very specific mission that fulfills our purpose of glorifying God. That mission is to share Jesus with the nations. It is called the great commission and is stated at the end of each Gospel account and in Acts (Mark 16:15, Matt 28:18-20; John 20:21; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8). It is not optional, and it is not fuzzy in anyway. It is a mandate from the King. It looks different for each of us based on our placement and personality.

Placement: God has placed each one of us in a specific place at a specific time. You weren’t born in the 1500′s, 1800′s or even the 2100′s. You were born at this point in time in human history. You live in a specific part of the world. You had specific parents and as a result have had specific experiences (Acts 17:26-28). That is your placement and it wasn’t an accident.

Personality: Everyone of us has a personality. Some people are introverts, some extraverts. Some people are A type and some are B type. Everyone of us has a personality that is given to us by God and shaped through our experiences, and each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Each one of us bears the image of God through who we are (Gen 1:27). One of the amazing things is no two people are exactly the same. God through the unique way He created you and the specific experiences He has given you, has formed your likes and dislikes, your sense or humor and seriousness. God has made you and developed you to relate with the world around you in a way that is very unique to you.

So what were you made for? Well, you were made for that place where your purpose, placement and personality intersect. That spot where God fulfills His purpose in your life through your sphere of influence and your personality. Do you know what it is like to do what you were made for?

I love what Peter and John say when they are standing before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4 and are commanded to stop teaching in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:20 “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Jeremiah says it like this, Jeremiah 20:9 But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

In other words, I have to do this. This is what I was made for. They found that place where their purpose intersected with their placement and personality. Where is that for you? What were you made for?

Some helpful resources on this topic:

Max Lucado’s book Cure for the Common Life
Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life
John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life

categories: Growth, Southbridge

Mon
May
28th
2012
0

Baptism May 2012

categories: Baptism, Southbridge

Sat
May
26th
2012
0

Renewable Church Membership

On May 6th we started what we at Southbridge are calling: Renewable Church Membership (or RCM). In the short amount of time we have been doing this (3 weeks as of this post) we have already seen God use it in the lives of the people of Southbridge for spiritual growth. We believe God is going to use this to strengthen our church and make us more effective at reaching this city for Jesus Christ. Below you will find a brief video explaining what RCM is and why we are doing this in an attempt to better care for our members.

For the information mentioned at the end of this video or to renew your membership please click here: RCM

For more information on why church membership is biblical click here: Membership Matters

For the full sermon click here: New Expectations Acts 4:32-35

categories: Southbridge

Wed
May
23rd
2012
0

Future Property FAQ’s

These are certainly exciting days at Southbridge. God is moving in our midst. Just this past Sunday, we had a great baptism celebration and we continue to see God grow us as a church and change lives. When we initially moved here to the RDU area, we asked God to give us a city for Jesus Christ. We are continuing to see His answer to that prayer unfold. We praise God for everything He has done in our brief five years of existence.

Today I am writing to you to celebrate the next step we have taken as a church in purchasing a piece of property in the heart of Brier Creek. Through much prayer and work of many people, God has moved in our midst and, through your sacrificial giving, provided a way for this to become a reality. Today we closed on the property at 10931 Glenwood Avenue! In a moment like this it would be a mistake to not stop and praise God for what He has done and thank you for your part in the process. So we celebrate God and thank you!

We also realize this next step will raise many questions. Below you will find the FAQ’s we handed out after the services this past Sunday.

Why this location?
Over the years, we have heard Pastor Scott mention the fact that God specifically led him and his wife Shanna to this area. Coming to the Triangle was a prayerful decision. Further, this property is strategically located in the heart of the Triangle, which will allow Southbridge to reach people throughout the Raleigh-Durham area. After much prayer and literally years of searching, the church leadership feels confident that this location will serve as an excellent home base for the future ministry of Southbridge Fellowship.

Where is the land located, and what does it cost?
The property consists of approximately 10.79 acres and is located at 10931 Glenwood Avenue (the property borders the eastbound lane of Rt. 70 just west of T.W. Alexander Drive). The contracted price is $1,460,000, which means the cost per acre is approximately $135,000.

What was involved in making this decision?
Prayer – the united prayer of hundreds of our members and attendees, the prayer of our elders, the prayer of others outside our fellowship, and even the prayer of our realtors and consultants. Additionally, we have gone through an extensive period of due diligence where we have considered not only the financial aspects of the deal terms, but also the usability and suitability of the property itself. We believe the Lord has opened this door and we are following Him in this.

When will we close?
Closing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 23rd.

How are we going to pay for this? How will the The Bridge Initiative (TBI) funds be used and how much debt will the church incur?
Our plan is essentially to pay for the land and the prep work, which includes things like the site plan, out of our existing funds. However, current TBI giving (thru April 2012) is slightly below projections – to date, we have collected just over $1,150,000. Our prayer is that people commit to ‘catching up’ on their pledged amounts by the end of the year. If this happens, the total TBI giving through the end of 2012 will total over $1,500,000, which will nearly cover the total initial land price plus the estimated development costs required to break ground, allowing us to rapidly move to the next step. Pray that we exceed this goal!

As TBI concludes, we will launch a second campaign to help pay for the building and site preparation. If this second campaign matches the giving of TBI, we will be able to pay for a very significant portion of the cost of that building. Of course, the more that is given, the less we will have to finance. Naturally, we are depending on the Lord to supply our needs and have great confidence in His provision through His people.

It is important to know that the monthly bank payments for this project will be in the range of what we are currently paying for our three leases (the theater, the church office, and The Annex – our youth facility).

When will we start building and how long will that take?
This will depend on a number of events. First we will need to submit a preliminary site plan, which typically takes 30-60 days to design. The subsequent approval of the site plan by the regulatory authorities can take another 7-9 months. This will take us to sometime around the first quarter of 2013. Second, we will need to obtain a commitment from our bank for a construction loan. From there, the construction phase is expected to take approximately one year. Our current thinking is that we will be able to move into our new facility in the spring of 2014. Please pray that the planning process goes smoothly and all necessary approvals are gained.

How can I contribute towards this project?
To give towards this project, go to our website southbridgefellowship.com and click on the ‘GIVE’ link at the top of the page.

categories: Southbridge, The Bridge Initiative

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