Sermon 4 and 5 weeks out (7 14 2009 posting)

Team- We're struggling a bit to get these details to you. Here is a brief summary of the sermons 4 weeks out and 5 weeks out. Clay will be gone next week so there will be no creative team meeting.

5 weeks out (Aug 13/16)
ACTS: The Conversion of Saul/The Damascus Road/Blinded by the Light

This message is on Acts 9. Paul’s story. Clay is still forming the message (Sorry, this will be rough). Clay will definitely deal with the concept that it is difficult to ‘kick against the goads’. You have to resist to be lost. It is hard to press against the pressure to be saved that comes from the Lord. If you come to the end of your life and are not saved there will be skid marks! You had to resist. Jesus talks about how his burden is easy and his yoke is light. Ultimately there is an ease to following the Lord. Clay may talk about the whole series a bit – and setting up the theme of getting outside the walls of the church to impact the world. He will probably also talk about Paul and how foundational he was to the founding of the church. Paul helped us see grace more clearly. Paul articulated it.
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4 Weeks Out: Worship in the Park (Aug 9th)
It will be a celebration day. Celebratory music. There will be a spontaneous baptism – but there are already 22+ scheduled. We are in Loveland at the old fairgrounds.

Baptism in Acts – Clay will preach on Baptism in this message
Happens after repentance: Acts 2:38 (no infant baptism)
Added to the church: Acts 2:41
Same time they heard the message (okay to wait, but not necessary)
Tied to hearing and receiving the “good news” Acts 8:12 (what is the Gospel?, both men and women,…)
Natural response to receiving Jesus: Acts 8:36ff (on the spot, immersion, down into the water, not a camel track! Acted parable, Rom. 6)
Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:18) – will connect to the start of the ACT II series Aug 13/16
Gentiles: Acts 10:47-42 (water—represents cleansing)
Sometimes a whole family was baptized… Acts 16:15; 16:33; 18:8 (age for children…)
Rebaptism… Acts 19:5
What are you waiting for!?!? Acts 22:16 (The appeal at the end)

Updated Song List 7 14 2009

LOOKING AHEAD: Worship in the Park on August 9th
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July 16/19
Message Title: Can You Relate (Series): The Secret to Joy (Rose)

Berthoud: Travis
Everybody Praise the Lord
Wonderful Maker
Continue to Love Me
How He Loves
Let Your Mercy Reign

Loveland: Jorie
I Am Free
Awesome is the Lord
In Christ Alone (New to us? – we like it!)
You Are My King
O Praise Him

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!
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July 23/26
Message: Can You Relate (Series): I want to be Right (Gregg Chaddic)

Berthoud: Roxanne
The Power of Your Love
Hear Our Praises
Hungry (Falling on my Knees)
The Potter’s Hand
Everything

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT with a couple requests. Thank you for the song list!

Loveland: Rough Draft
No song list yet available

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday July 21st
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July 30/Aug 2
Message: Can You Relate (Series): Living Grace (Steve)
Berthoud: TBD (David Boyd?)
Song list not yet available

Loveland: Jorie
Song list not yet available

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday July 21st
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Aug 9th (Fairgrounds – Worship in the Park) The service starts at 10:30AM
One Service: Travis

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday July 21st

Message - July 30/August 2 - Living Grace

How does Scripture define grace. How many times did Jesus use the term? Where is the first use of the word grace in the Bible? These and other questions will be answered. However, knowing about grace and living it out are two different things. The emphasis of Scripture, and in turn this message, is on the "modeling" of grace; first in our relationship with God and secondly in our relationships with each other. My intent is to tie the series together with this message.

Suggestions for illustrations, music, etc. is appreciated.

Song List Update (last one was Sermon...) 7 7 2009

LOOKING AHEAD: Worship in the Park on August 9th
New Series on Relationships starts July 9/12
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July 9/12
Message Title: Can You Relate (Series): Irregulars (Steve)

Berthoud: Travis
Not To Us
Your Grace is Enough
God of Wonders
How He Loves (D.Crowder)
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
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Loveland: Jorie
Hosanna
Enough
Continue to Love Me
You Are so Good to Me
Mighty to Save

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!
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July 16/19
Message Title: Can You Relate (Series): The Secret to Joy (Rose)

Berthoud: Travis
Everybody Praise the Lord
Wonderful Maker
Continue to Love Me
How He Loves
Let Your Mercy Reign
____________
Loveland: Jorie
I Am Free
Awesome is the Lord
In Christ Alone (New to us? – we like it!)
You Are My King
O Praise Him

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!
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July 23/26
Message: Can You Relate (Series): I want to be Right (Gregg Chaddic)

Berthoud: Roxanne
Come, Now is the Time to Worship
Filled with your Glory
Hear Our Praises
Hosanna
My Heart Your Home (New to the congregation – do during offering and make a little more presentational. Move up right after the message)

Gregg Chaddic request – could you try ‘Everything’ by Tim Hughes as a part of the set?

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT with a couple requests. Thank you for the song list!
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Loveland: Rough Draft
No song list yet available

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday July 14th
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July 30/Aug 2
Message: Can You Relate (Series): Living Grace (Steve)

Berthoud: TBD (David Boyd?)
Loveland: Jorie

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday July 14th
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Aug 9th (Fairgrounds – Worship in the Park): Travis

Song List Update 7/7/2009

Four Weeks Out: Can You Relate: Living Grace (Steve)
Came out of the Reveal survey – there was a question about salvation by grace and there was some uncertainty about it among the congregants…people were not as certain as we thought they should be! The Leadership team worked on a statement on ‘what is Grace at Grace Place’. So he wants to talk about how Grace impacts how we live and how we relate. Start out with statements about grace. It isn’t really defined – but there are lots of examples of it being modeled. Jesus models it a lot (obviously). Grace not only impacts our relationship with God and with each other. He is going to talk about all that Grace does as we live it out with each other.

It has been interesting to Steve that Grace is not really defined in scripture. It talks about it and models it. Starts with Noah (found grace/favor in the eyes in the eyes of the Lord). And it is throughout the scripture.

The Irregulars is about those folks who challenge us and to whom we need to give grace. Like family… and the way it brings healing. It’s not just about how you treat people ‘in the world’ but about the people close to you.

Steve is going to try to put a paragraph on the blog himself.

Any personal stories about grace to use for illustration?
Fireproof (movie) – his relationship with his mother
Les Miserables – Jean valjean and the Bishop
Stories from CR?
Everybody think about possible illustrations…

July 23/26 Can You Relate? - I Want to be Right

Worship Leaders: Sorry for the hiatus. Jodi and several of the CPT members have been out for 2 weeks. Please post your song lists for the next several weeks ASAP. See the latest Song List Update to see message titles.

Four Weeks Out: 23/26 Can You Relate?: I Want to be Right (Gregg)

It’s about getting right with God. Knowing God is one of the biggest pursuits in your life.

Knowing who you are in Christ is almost as important.

Knowing who I am in Christ comes down to:
· I am accepted by God
· I am secure in God
· I am significant

The three enemies of God (the flesh, the devil and the world) are constantly telling us that we are not accepted, we are not secure, we are not significant. Many people live half saved lives – we are saved and when we die we are going to go to heaven. It leaves us as forgiven sinners but it leaves us short of living that life of Christ here and now. Living the journey as redeemed saints. How we think – do you think of yourself as only a forgiven sinner or as a redeemed saint – has everything to do with how we live our lives.

Without having a right relationship with God it is impossible to have right relationships everywhere else. We are God’s plan for the world. (As redeemed saints walking in the light). He does not have a Plan B. We often have a Plan B just in case God’s plan for our lives ‘doesn’t work out’. You can’t trust God and not trust him. We are all walking by faith…in something. There is a battle for your mind. Thoughts or things? Which will rule your actions and life? Your thoughts will ultimately become things.

Gregg may use a zip line video he made at family camp this past weekend to illustrate faith.

Summary: Understanding who I am in Christ and allowing the truth about him to dispel the lies that come against me.

Song List Update 6 30 2009

LOOKING AHEAD:
Worship in the Park on August 9th
New Series on Relationships starts July 9/12
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July 2/5
Message: The Truth about America

Berthoud: Roxanne
The Lord’s Prayer
I am Free
Enough
Be the Centre
He Reigns

Loveland: Aaron
Lifesong
Sweetly Broken
Grace Like Rain
Praise you in this Storm
Once Again
America the Beautiful

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!________________________________________________
July 9/12
Message Title: Irregulars (Steve)

Berthoud: Travis
Not To Us
Your Grace is Enough
God of Wonders
How He Loves
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!

Loveland: Jorie
No song list available

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday July 7th
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July 16/19
Message Title: The Secret to Joy (Rose)

Berthoud: Travis
How He Loves
(no further song list available)

Loveland: Jorie
No song list available

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday July 7th
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July 23/26
Message: I want to be Right (Gregg Chaddic)

Berthoud: Roxanne
Loveland: Rough Draft

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday July 7th
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Son List Update 6/9/2009

LOOKING AHEAD: Worship in the Park on August 9th
New Series on Relationships starts July 9/12
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July 2/5
Message:

Berthoud: Roxanne
Loveland: TBD

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday June 16th
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June 25/28
Message: God is CERTAIN (Andy Stanley)

Berthoud: Tom Ewing
Song List not yet available

Please submit your song list ASAP.

Loveland: Travis
Mighty to Save
Strong Tower
He’s Got the Whole World
Great God Who Saves
You Never Let Go
How Great is Our God

Loved it! Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!________________________________________________
June 18/21
Message: One Prayer: God is FOR US (John Burke)

Berthoud: Roxanne
Beautiful One
Let It Rise
Famous One
Cry Out to Jesus (NEW SONG/Presentational)
I could Sing of Your Love Forever

Planning center plan CHANGES reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!

Loveland: Rough Draft
Song list not yet available.

Please submit your song list ASAP.
________________________________________________

June 11/14
Message: One Prayer: God is LOVE (Craig Groeschel)

Berthoud: Travis
You Found Me
God of Wonders
Unfailing Love
God of this City
Jesus Messiah

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!

Loveland: Jorie
Beautiful One
Your Love Oh Lord
Amazed
Continue to Love Me (NEW)
How He Loves

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!

July 2/5 "The Truth About America"

FOUR WEEKS: The Truth About America July 2/5

7 years ago Clay did a message called ‘The Truth About America’. It was based upon a lot of research. It was about how many of us in this generation have been brought up to believe things that are lies about America.

1) That the founding fathers were not Christians or deists or atheists.

2) That the Constitution was based solely on human wisdom and philosophy rather than biblical principles.

3) That the founding intended to establish a separation between church and state. These are lies that have crept into the interpretation of our history. They will be soundly defunct in the message through the historical record.

The vast majority (42/55) were committed Christ follower. Many of the rest were still very positive on Christ and his teachings. Many powerful historical quotes. Many of them from God and Country (a collection of quotes from the founding fathers).
This will be a passionate message filled with proof that our country was founded on strong biblical principles. The founding fathers were steeped in biblical truth as was the history of our nation.

There will be an appeal to teach your children the truth. To get involved in culture in responsible ways. To know the truth yourself! But ultimately our 'patriotism' is in the Kingdom of heaven.

NOTE: Modern coins have moved from ‘In God We Trust’ on the face of the coin to it being on the edge of the coin – where it can wear off.

We ended with God Bless America 7 years ago. Not a mandatory choice – just a bit of how it was presented before. Don’t feel obligated to make this choice in the music set.

If anyone wants to know the verses of the Star Spangled Banner (check out the last verse especially)
http://www.contemplator.com/america/ssbanner.html

Song List Update 6/2/2009

June 25/28
Message: God is CERTAIN (Andy Stanley)

NOTE: It might be cool to do a bit of 'He's got the whole world in his hands' - please consider since it fits with the message SO well!

Berthoud: Tom Ewing
Loveland: Travis

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM Tuesday June 9th
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June 18/21
Message: One Prayer: God is FOR US (John Burke)

Berthoud: Roxanne
Hosanna
Romans 12:1
Sing Alleluia
Cry Out to Jesus (NEW SONG)
Captured

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!
Loveland: Rough Draft
Song list not yet available.

Please submit your song list ASAP.
________________________________________________June 11/14
Message: One Prayer: God is LOVE (Craig Groeschel)

Berthoud: Travis
You Found MeGod of WondersUnfailing LoveGod of this CityJesus MessiahPlanning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!
Loveland: Jorie
Beautiful OneYour Love Oh LordAmazedContinue to Love Me (NEW)How He LovesPlanning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!________________________________________________June 4/7Message: One Prayer: God is GoodBerthoud: Travis (reviewed last week)
Grace Like Rain
Everlasting God
Kindness/Give Us Clean Hands
Be Near Me (presentational only)
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Loveland: JorieCome Let Us Adore HimEverlasting GodBetter is One DayHoly GodCome Let us Adore Him (reprise)Planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Thank you for the song list!

June 25/28 God is CERTAIN

FOUR WEEKS OUT (June 25/28) Any Stanley, God is CERTAIN
NOTE: We will do the Lord’s Supper this week.

This is a video message. We watched and I took the following notes.

Jesus and the disciples were coming to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Remembrance of being slaves in Egypt – celebrating that they would be departing. After 400 years of prayer! God finally sent them a deliverer – and the Passover meal was the night before they left when the Angel of death passed over the city. It was the last time the Hebrew families gathered in Egypt. Jesus gathered with his disciples for the Passover (the Last Supper). Rumors of Jesus’ arrest were rampant. The disciples must have filtered out all he said about his capture and crucifixion. There was a focus on ‘God is with us – things are going to be getting better’. Jesus says – things are going to be bad in Jerusalem just follow me. They sneak into Jerusalem under the cover of night and gather in a home in the upper room. There was no certainty. (Mark 14:17ff “…on me of you will betray me.”) They were in the most intimate setting in that culture – and he speaks about betrayal of an intimate nature. The Bible is filled with stories in the midst of uncertainty. This is not a book about rich people having fun. This is not a ‘wrinkle free life’. Every story that we draw hope from is in the midst of uncertainty and difficulty. Joseph in the bottom of the well hearing his brothers talking about him. God had a plan. David and Absalom raising the army – rebellious son. God came to his aid. Pharaoh decides to murder all the Hebrew babies. Moses was rescued and became the deliverer. God had a plan. The stories around Jesus’ birth (Herod murdering the babies around his birth, the return to Egypt, etc). God still had the whole world in his hands. Things seem like they have spun out of control. And nothing has changed – God still has the whole world in his hands. (Mark 12:22ff ‘This is my body…’) Does God bring more certainty? Does he always bring better circumstances? Think of the week of Jesus death and how the story went. The circumstances kept getting harder. And they all fell away. Even to denying him.

Think of where we are in this present time and the uncertainty that is building. The question – can you trust God? When there is no evidence of his working in your life> Can you trust him? What do you do with uncertainty? Do you equate God with prosperity, with forward motion, with physical/tangible blessing? What if you asked the disciples when their darkest moments? They would have likely said that it began at the Last Supper. Within a few hours everyone had fallen away and Jesus was tried and died. They must have felt – God is not up to anything here. Then ask them – when do you think God was up to his greatest work? They would likely have named those same hours. Those very same hours when it seemed like he was absent he was working his deepest. Those darkest hours were the epicenter of the salvation of all of mankind. But in the moments themselves – it felt like they had wasted their lives, dedicated themselves to a false messiah, the most hopeless time and the ending of a dream. God seems to take broken things and do his most amazing work. The greatest things begin in the biggest messes. This is what God does. Will we maintain faith when we cannot see his hand? IN times of extraordinary darkness and uncertainty do we turn to faith> Do we turn harder into God? Think of this in the context of your most uncertain place – the circumstance that is most frightening – remember: God is NOT uncertain. He still has the whole world in his hands. There is a way to have peace in the midst of this storm. Hang onto God. He still has YOUR entire world in his hands.

The foundation of the message – the story of a man the pastor met. When he was in DC for the National Day of Prayer he had a chance to meet Barak Obama. They were waiting. He was in line behind a man named Revend Otis Moss. He was orphaned when he was 16 in middle Georgia in 1951. He saw the worst. At 19 he gave his life to the Lord and became a preacher. He marched with MLK. He experienced hate, racism and actions that were unimaginable. He maintained faith in a terrible time. In the midst of the story Otis stopped and stared off into space and said ‘and we know that in aaaall things God works for the good of those who love him.’ The things that fell into his ‘all things’ are far more challenging than what falls into my ‘all things’. Otis turned back and said ‘but pastor Stanley, sometimes it takes him a while.’ Around the corner came President Obama. It was a potent moment. And they shook the presidents hand. Andy felt that while he was shaking the hand of the president he had had a conversation with a saint (Otis).

When life if uncertain – God is still in control. He still has you and everything in his hands. He is CERTAIN.

We don’t know what the future holds – but God is in control. Even though life is uncertain, God is not. We have the opportunity to embrace a faithful and unfailing God. God is still in control, he is still on his throne, he is NOT uncertain.

When life if uncertain, God is not and he still has through whole world in his hands.
Closing prayer: Appeal to God as our lifeline. Whether it is now or in the future. In the uncertainty to come make us the people that cling to you. We would be the ones who declare you faithful God and confess that you work in all things. That you work through all things. That your show your hand strong through all things. And that you still have our whole world in your hand. Teach us to express it. To live it. Help us discover how to find peace in peace-less times. Lead us and guide us to know what to do with these times. You are a God who can still be trusted. AMEN.

Song Lists for 5/26

FOUR WEEKS OUT:June 18/21 John Burke, God is With Us
Message: One Prayer: God is WITH USBerthoud: RoxanneLoveland: Rough DraftPlease post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM next Tuesday June 2nd

THREE WEEKS OUT:June 11/14Message: One Prayer: God is LOVE (Craig Groeschel)Berthoud: TravisYou Found Me/Call My Name (we liked them both, you and Mike chat…)
God of Wonders
Unfailing Love
God of this City
Jesus Messiah

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT.Thank you for the song list!
Loveland: JorieBeautiful One
Your Love Oh Lord
Amazed
Continue to Love Me (NEW)
How He Loves

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT.Thank you for the song list!

TWO WEEKS OUT:
June 4/7
Message: One Prayer: God is Good

Berthoud: Travis (reviewed last week)Grace Like RainEverlasting GodKindness/Give Us Clean HandsBe Near Me (presentational)Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)Loveland: Jorie
Come Let Us Adore Him
Everlasting God
Better is One Day
Holy God
Come Let us Adore Him (reprise)

Planning center plan reviewed by CPT.Thank you for the song list!

June 18/21 God is With Us

June 18/21) John Burke, God is With Us
This is a video message. We watched and I took the following notes.

From Austin ‘the live music capital of the world’ at least they think so. People might think that this is where people come who are far away from the Lord. Interview about people being comfortable about going into bars but not really coming into Church. He asked the question ‘Do you think God is for you or against you?” Lots of hesitation in the answers. A lot of uncertainty. John speculated that this might be the most likely place for God to come to minister to the lost. Do they get the message from the church that God is FOR YOU?

God is a God of mercy and he wants people to know that he is for us not against us. But it means we need to be willing to let things get a little messy. The folks that are seeking are generally coming from very difficult pasts (abortions, abuse, divorce, pornography) everyone is struggling with something. Paul wrote to a very messy church in the city of Corinth. They were struggling with many messy things. (1Cor 3:6-9a). God causes the growth. That is not our responsibility. Only God can cause th growth. We do have a responsibility as his co-workers. We tend the soil (the culture, the context). There is good soil and bad soil. Jesus had many interactions with the religious leaders of his day. He saved his strongest words for these leaders. They were creating ‘bad soil’. They called Jesus ‘the friend of sinners’ and these sinners were drawn to him . The leaders were repelled by him. He did not tolerate their inauthentic actions. WE want to create the culture, the environment where ALL people can grow. The whole world longs to be free. We need to lose the religious pretense and get a heart of mercy/ The leaders of the day were very uncomfortable with how messy the ministry of Jesus was because he was surrounded by the people who needed him. It was the ‘sick who need a physician’. The leaders were playing a religious game. They were preserving the illusion of religion. What Jesus wanted was no pretense, just honesty. People who would recognizes their brokenness and come honestly to God in their need. If we are going to be his church, his body here on earth, then we need to be here for the ‘messy’ broken people that Jesus loves and came to save. God does not want us to offer external sacrifice – he wants hearts filled with love and freedom and authenticity. He told a story about a woman who came to their church and felt welcomed even though she and her husband were ‘tattooed’. Another story of a messy situation with odd choices. He felt like he should listen and seek to understand. The story he heard broke his heart and showed him the path of pain that lead to this ‘messy’ lifestyle. Hearing this woman say that ‘Jesus people are mean’ and John had the chance to tell her who Jesus really is and what he came to do. Only God causes growth – we need to tend the soil. God is not interested in our conformity to outward standards. He wants to transform us into real people to live real life. Lose the religios pretense for it is not the soil in which people grow. Learn to trust and depend on him. DO you feel like you need to play a game? The religious game? That is not God’s way. He wants you to live, warts and all, and learn to become more like him. To trust him more. If we are going to see this, growth, then those of us already in the church are going to have to lose the us/them attitude and language. People who visit hear it, they know what we really think – especially if we are judging. (Luke 18:11-14a) There aren’t 2 categories of people – good and bad. There are just PEOPLE. All of us broken and desperately in need of his salvation. God is for us all even before we change. ALL of us. We need to lose the us vs them attitude. What if we focused on what God sees in them (in us all) that was worth dying for. (Eph 2:8-10) If Jesus gave his life so everyone came become the masterpiece he made us to be. We need to help people see themselves like the masterpiece waiting to be revealed. If you saw a masterpiece covered in mud – would you treat it like mud? NO – you would treat it like the masterpiece it is. And you would clean it carefully so as not to damage it. God does for us what we can’t do for ourselves. He restores us. Lets call out the masterpiece in each other. We need to lose this need to be perfect. Create a ‘confessing culture’ (Matt 23:25-26) The way to please God is not to show pharisaical outward ‘perfection’. Jesus didn’t condone wrong behavior – he was showing people the real and fulfilling way to live. Those who were not pretending they were perfect we able to reach for the freedom he offered. (Matt 21:31) The Pharisees hated Jesus for not respecting their outward perfection. But God knew the truth. You can only grow if you realize you are not perfect. None of us are sin free or struggle free. None of us can do it on our ouwn. We cannot become what we were made to be until we depend on him. There needs to be a place where we are free to be who we really are without judgment or condemnation. There needs to be an environment that is safe – filled with Grace. A place where we know that God is for us and not against us. That is where God heals us and grows us – in a supportive environment of mercy and grace. The whole world longs for this. They returned to the 6th street bars in a video. Their worship leader formerly lead ‘drunken sing alongs’ in the bar. He had had bad experiences with Christians and it pushed him into sex/drus/rock and roll. And he came to a place with God where he was really honest and God heard him. Dealing with anger and emptiness. There was a big hole in him. He came to the Lord in the midst of a messy life. And the messiness continued but he started growing. He came into a church environment that welcomed him. God grew him up to lead in worship through learning and honesty. God met him and healed him. And cleansed him of unrighteousness. Jesus really is on 6th street. (Back to the sermon). End in prayer. Thank you God for demonstrating mercy and grace to all of us. Help us to become more of what you made us to be. Help us show the world that you are for them and not against them.

END OF MESSAGE NOTES--------------------------------------------------------------------

We had discussion about where we are as a church. How has it become true that the church in general has not remained a place like Jesus – where people who need Jesus were drawn to him not repelled. Is there something in us as a church that does not communicate that this is a place to be accepted and to grow in the Lord? How do we create a ‘confessing culture’? We are in a small community (Berthoud/Loveland) and people can tend towards judgment. Small towns tend to ‘know everything’ about each other.

Eph 2:10 “We are God’s masterpiece.”Rom 8 “God is for us” (Possible powerful reading in the service? Worship leaders – consider using this either yourself or have someone read…)

Song Lists and the Blog!

Iwill start to try and post the upcoming lists as the Creative Planning Team reviews the services. Let me know if the blog process is working and if you have any ideas to make it better!

http://www.planningcenteronline.com/dashboard/0

June 11/14
Message: One Prayer: God is LOVE

Berthoud: Travis
Loveland: Jorie

Please post songs before the Creative Planning Team meeting 6:30AM next Tuesday May 26th
_________________________________________________________________
June 4/7 Services
Message: God is Good

Berthoud: Travis
Song list
Grace Like Rain
Everlasting God
Kindness/Give Us Clean Hands
Be Near Me (presentational)
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Reviewed – planning center plan reviewed by CPT and updated.
Thank you for the song list!

Loveland: Jorie
Song List not yet available

_________________________________________________________________
May 28/31 Services
Message: And So it Begins: Cross Country (Acts 8:1 - 40)

Berthoud: Roxanne
Song List
Run to You
Blessed be your name
Friend of God
Lead me to the Cross
Hungry (Falling on my knees)

Reviewed – planning center plan reviewed by CPT and updated.
Thank you for the song list!


Loveland: Jorie
Song List
You Never Let Go
We Are Hungry
Holy God
All Who Are Thirsty
Enough

Reviewed – planning center plan reviewed by CPT. Could we move one more to the end from the beginning? Take a look at the Planning Center Online.
Thank you for the song list!

June 11/14 God is LOVE

BERTHOUD Worship Leader: Travis
LOVELAND Worship Leader: Jorie

God is Love (Craig Groschel preaching) will be four weeks out.
We listened to the message and I took notes on it below. It is a video message.

NOTE: Clay will change the message title for three weeks out to God is GOOD to match the series – the content will be the same.

When I understand that God loves you – it is still hard for me to understand how God could love ME. Talking about the unconditional love of God.
Starting with 2 questions: Why would God love someone as bad as me? I know all the things I’ve done wrong etc. I know how undeserving I am. I know how unworthy and sinful I am. There were stories of those in the scripture who felt unworthy (Job 42:5-6; I Cor 15:9)
Q2: Why would God love someone so insignificant? There are 6Billion people on earth. There are wars and disasters etc. There are world leaders and big players. Who am I? Stories in the scripture (Exodus 3:11; I Chron 29:14) How could you love someone like me, God? God doesn’t JUST love –God IS love. Love is not just something that God does – Love is what God IS. God is LOVE. Who is God? God is love! He showed it by sending his son…so that we might live through him. This is love – not that we love God but that he loved us. Love is the essence of who he is. There is nothing I can do to earn more love – or anything I can do to diminish it.

Here is alist of who God loves…A: Artists, Astronaut, Aerospace engineers, Accordian players, ankle biters, etc B: Babies, Boys, bad leaders, bus drivers, bachelors, beekeeps, blondes, brunettes, blue hair, bosses, Baptists, etc C: Catholics, Charismatics, congressmen, cheaters, country music fans, Cubans, Cambodiancs, cooks, cops, clowns, cat owners, etc. God loves everyone. It is who he is. He is love. That changes everything. The next time you feel unworthy – God’s love covers yours sins. Jesus shed his blood to cover your sin (I Pet 4:8). I always felt like I needed to be religious, doing all the right things. Then I learned about His grace. There was something in me that burst to life. I went back into the bar scene to offer living water. They were interested in talking about God. Told a story of an angry street preacher. A crisis of a man Craig was witnessing to leading him to understand the love of God and the gospel.

In the garden God took the skin of an animal and covered the shameof Adam and Eve. The father covered the shame of the prodigal son. God’s love covers out sings. Quoted Titus 3:4-5. It is God’s love who makes you significant. Jer 31:3 God’s loving kindness. Luke 15 – stories showing the love of God. Woman searching for the gold coin, The prodigal Son, The shepard and the 1 wandering sheep. Even though there are 6Billion people in the world – you are the one that God searches for. His lovingkindness is drawing you back. Drawing you to himself. He loves you. He is Love. Maybe you are the very one he is pursing. “For God so loved your name here that he gave his one and only son…”
He talked about having many children. How he loved his first child and wondering how he could love another. But he found he could love all his children with personal and intense love. His love increased as his children increased. He starts to understand how God can love us all with an intense and personal love. God loves us in a very personal sort of way. We love because he first loved us.
A little girl came running into a Dad and said “Daddy, did you know that God will tell you that he loves you if you listen close enough?” God will tell you that he loves you if you will listen closely enough.
Closing prayer Overwhelm us with your love. God help us to know you in a more intimate way. I want to know your love in a more intimate way. May your love become so real to us that we can’t miss it. Make us different because we understand we are living from a position of acceptance not because of our actions and deed. Let us reflect your love to a world that so desperately needs to know you.Appeal: You are here because God is drawing you to himself. Your sin separates you from a holy God – but God loves you so much he sent his son to redeem. You can never work your way to God. But he made a way for you through his son. You are the one God has been reaching out to. Reach out to him. Accept him. He will change you as you call on him. You will never ever be the same. This is the beginning of your real life. Jesus would you save me? Yes, this is my prayer. Empower me to love you and to serve you and help me show it to the world. (There is strong appeal at the end).

June 4/7 - One Prayer: God is Good

Worship Leaders

Berthoud: Travis - http://www.planningcenteronline.com/plans/639747
Loveland: Jorie - http://www.planningcenteronline.com/plans/63979

Text
Gal. 3:28

Big Idea

Four Weeks Out (June: It is the first week of One Prayer – Clay is preaching on week one. This week the theme is “God is…” Possibility for title:”God is My Redeemer”.

People are reading through the Bible and there has been a lot of mixed emotions about all the shenanigans that goes on in the history of God’s people. The key verse to kick it off is: Deut 22:28-30. (regulations concerning virgins). A verse that presents a challenge to say the least. How do we pull this verse into the story about a redeeming God? The woman’s life is ruined in the cultural context. Her future is devastated without God’s redemption. In the culture we see God’s intervention in the story of Tamar (Absalom’s sister). We talked about the fall of man – the story of the dramatic fall and the gradual revealing of the redemption plan and God’s grace. But it is a long journey to the cross and then to the second coming. Looking back through the cross – the Deut 22 law seems so stark, wrong, etc. The only way you can understand any scripture is to look back through the cross. But God’s redemptive plan continues to progress. He is a patient God. He presses culture/gradually leads through his church to move towards his plan – this story about the raped virgin is heinous from our point of view – but in the time it was more protective (she would have simply been cast aside and abandoned with no options – and this forces the man to take care of what he took). This was NOT his final teaching on the value of women – it was merely a cultural step forward. There was much more that he had to say about women. And is continued to affirm value and equality especially in the new testament.

Application: ‘a woman should have her head covered’ – is this universal or cultural? You need to seek the principal. Principals could be: Submission to authority, Protection, Modesty => the sense of appropriateness. At the application level there is a lot of apparent contradiction – but the actual principles illustrated are never in contradiction.

May 21 & 24

Huck: http://www.planningcenteronline.com/plans/594638

Travis: http://www.planningcenteronline.com/plans/563268

Huck & Travis,

I understand you two will be leading worship on the weekend of May 21 & 24. I will be bringing the teaching that weekend at both campuses. The material will be from Acts 6 – 7; the appointment of the 7 to wait tables and the stoning of Stephen. I’ll use the “waiting tables” text as a spring board to the main point of the teaching on Stephen (he was one of the 7 appointed). His death is the result of the content of his sermon. His points:

God works outside of Israel (Abraham in Babylon; Moses in Egypt, etc.)
Moses is not the final revelation
Israel has a poor tract record when it came to following God
The Temple was a mistake

These points frustrated and infuriated the religious establishment so much that they were at a loss of words to combat what he said so they stoned him. As a result the church began its journey into the world (Acts 8:1-4).

The take away point: Stand firm regardless of culture, peers, etc and proclaim truth/gospel even though it looks/sounds different from the norm and represents a change from the norm. Stephen preached change and there were consequences. Haven’t fleshed out the “application” like I want. Suggestions/ideas welcome.

I wanted you to have my thoughts to date so you can begin thinking of music selection for that weekend. Hope this helps.

Thanks for serving.

Steve (posted on blogger by Trav)

May 28/31 And So it Begins: Cross Country

Worship Leaders:

Berthoud: Roxanne
http://www.planningcenteronline.com/plans/594647

Loveland: Jorie
http://www.planningcenteronline.com/plans/563273

Text:
Acts 8:1-40

Big Idea:

Coming off of the stoning of Stephen. Saul was there giving approval to his death. Persecution begins. Scatters the church – and everywhere they went they spoke about Jesus. The church began to spread rapidly outside Jerusalem. (Do we take the message wherever we go?) The new sparks of the church and the spread of the Gospel lead to:

· The breakdown of prejudice/An outpouring of the Holy Spirit in “all Samaria”How does this apply? Are we ethnically diverse? Socio-Economically diverse? Who would we need to ‘step over the line’ to minister to? Getting out of clicks seems like a big thing. Going beyond your comfort zone to talk to people. There is a huge Hispanic population around Longmont – and there is a huge gap. Main street vs Hover is quite a contrast. What about this large and growing Hispanic population around us? Do we need to reach out to them more purposefully than we have? Could we partner with someone else to support it? Could we record the Madiera church message and broadcast it here? (Tangent…) Take a step outside your comfort zone.

· Counterfeits rise up Simon the sorcerer rose up and desired to have this power. There are a lot of people who want the ‘magic’ of it without the path or without the repentance or humility. Simon had a hard heart filled with bitterness – his path should have been one of repentance.

· Seekers cross overAs a result of the Gospel lives are changed. The story of the Ethiopian. There seems like there are two kinds of seekers.

Two kinds of Seekers:
· Supernatural/Power/Experience/’magic’/self/benefitsWhat I can get
· Truth/Jesus/What God has for me.

Who am I?

What kind of church do we want to be?

Rebuke hardness

Minister to soft hearts

Clay wants to spend most of his time on the last point about the Ethiopian.

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