Sunday is Game Day. Not because of the NFL or NBA or any other sports. But as a Pastor, it's the day the church convenes for worship. It's the day our staff plans for all week. It's the day our teams at Grace are on high alert and in full-service mode. It's game day. Here are a few of my highlights from today:
- 1. Baptizing my son Chase - What an honor it was to baptize my 9 year old. He started asking some deep faith questions over the summer - and decided it was time to take the plunge. I wish you all could have been in my office before the services this morning as we prayed together. I prayed that God would use this moment and this experience to breathe faith and love into Chase. That no matter what he will go through in his life - the highs and lows, the disappointments and victories - that he would be able to point back to this day as a marker and a reminder of God's love and faithfulness to him. I'm excited to see what God has in store for his life - he's such a cool and unique kid. Here's the video.
- 2. Next Step Coaches at work - We had a really cool response after both services today. Lots of people came forward to take a step in their relationship with God. I'm already getting some intense emails of God at work. After 11:00 in particular it was so cool to see some of our leaders and Next Step Coaches kick into action having conversations with the folks who came forward to do business. These coaches are part of a new initiative at Grace designed to help personalize the discipleship process for people. We recognized a while ago that the spiritual journey is an individual one and that God is a hand-crafter and not a mass producer. We want to provide coaches or personal spiritual advisors at every step of the journey for people. We need more coaches - if you're interested in serving in this role you can contact Doris for more info. There is an informational/training meeting coming up this weekend. This is one of the most important ministries in the church right now. As we continue to grow as a church - this will help to personalize people's experience at Grace - and help them to progress in their faith journey in a way that makes sense for them.
- 3. Multi-Site Team lunch meeting - following the service today we had a meeting with all the Grace Harborcreek team leaders and their ministry counterparts at Grace McKean. I presented some information about the ways in which the two campuses will stay connected at the ministry level and how each ministry (kids, youth, small groups, communications, etc) possesses constants that will keep our ministries on track when we're in two locations and will assure that each campus will still feel like Grace even if there are some differences in how we do things. It was awesome then to hear the chatter around tables as these leaders interacted and began the collaborative process of starting a new campus at the most basic level. I'm so pumped for Easter when we launch Grace Harborcreek. The stage is being set for a solid new body of believers who are passionate about doing the work of Christ in this world.
On to a new week - will be sermon prepping on Monday and Tuesday. I'm preaching on the Parable of the Sower this weekend. Sometimes the familiar passages are the hardest ones to preach. This one has a very difficult section about Jesus teaching in parables in order to cause confusion and not understanding - it will be a challenge to bring meaning and understanding to that concept.
If you were at Grace this weekend- what were some of your highlights?
1 comment:
From Di5 (sorry I accidentally deleted the original comment but copied & pasted this from my email version)
Without a doubt it would be seeing the answers to prayer. Souls being won for the kingdom and their baptism. I can hardly hold back tears, knowing what they are being saved from and that they are now family. The church should always be a place of confrontation-where are you found, are you in sin, don't harden your heart-repent, etc.
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