Saturday, January 31, 2009

February's Bible Reading Plan

February's Bible Reading Plan

Hope all is well. If you are been following this plan and haven't followed it perfectly, don't despair! Keep moving forward. If you haven't started yet, there's no time like the present. Within the Bible Reading Plan, you'll find a few helpful hints to maximize your reading.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Recovering from the Weekend

Last weekend, Jubilee Church in St. Louis had the privilege of being the host for Mobilise USA 2009. This required the use of our homes, our building, and ourselves. I am always very proud of our church in these moments. It seems that when hospitality, generosity and service are required, you all instinctively step up. You will be glad to hear that the feedback for the weekend has been stellar.
  1. Many reports of changed lives
  2. People were healed
  3. Big decisions for Jesus were made
  4. And people enjoyed themselves due in part because of your hospitality
Personally, I'm still in the recovery process. If you have never been to this conference before, it's a high energy weekend where you stay up late and talk. That equals very tired bodies...and just when I started to regain strength, I caught a cold (boo hoo, right?). My kids are not very sympathetic either.

This Sunday, I plan to speak from Romans 12:1-8 if you want to stew on those verses in preparation for my message. It will be a "pre-qual" to the message I gave two weeks ago from Romans 12:9-16 titled "Genuine Love". My focus will be internal transformation and the role community plays in that process.

If you call Jubilee "home" and you have not signed up for an Action Track, I want to encourage you to do so. They are huge part of what we do and who we are. Although three tracks are already completely full, there are some excellent tracks with space available. Join the 115 who have already signed up and REGISTER TODAY.

See you Sunday!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Action Tracks are Filling up Fast

If you haven't signed up for an action track yet, you should consider doing so soon because they are filling up fast. Three are completely full. Here are ones that still have space available:

1) Connect - for those interested in becoming a member or just wanting to know more about Jubilee Church

2) Foundations - an excellent choice for new Christians or those who are still seeking

3) SOAP Bible Study for women - you will have a blast with Ginger leading

4) Youth Group

5) Good Sense - this is a track that everyone should take once regardless of your financial situation. A good friend of mine who handles his finances in an excellent way took this track and told me he still learned some things that have had a positive impact.

REGISTER NOW

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Great Resource For Parents

Attention Parents (or soon to be parents):

There is a great resource for parenting that I want to make available to you. It is written by PJ Smyth, a friend of mine and the leader of Godfirst Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. Besides being a phenomenal motivator and teacher, a kick butt leader and an all-around whiz kid, he is the author of several instructional e-books that are about 40-50 pages in length. One of those is titled "Quick Start Parenting".

You can get the rest of his off his website, but you must be able to read through some of the cultural differences in language. The one I am making available to you has been "Americanized" for your viewing convenience.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

How to Read the Bible Using the Soap Method

If you use my Bible reading plan, I recommend the S.O.A.P. method. I describe what the S.O.A.P. method is on each month's Bible reading plan.

I've decided to go ahead and show you an example of what the S.O.A.P. method looks like from my reading this morning. Interestingly enough for me, there was the common theme of prayer in both readings. I will be talking about prayer this Sunday in preparation for our week of prayer that starts Monday, January 5.

Here are two examples of the S.O.A.P. method:

S: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!’ And God granted what he asked.”
O: Jabez made his desire and request known to God with passion (prayer) and God granted His request.
A: I want to make more of my desires known to God and not to be afraid for them to be passionate.
P: “Holy Spirit, will you fill me up with more of you that I may passionately approach the throne room of heaven with my desires and requests!”

S: Acts 1:14, “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
O: The first thing the disciples did after receiving the “Great Commission” to go into all the world a preach the gospel is pray. And not just a quick prayer out of reverence, but it says they “continually devoted” themselves to prayer. They were resolute and determined in their prayer.
A: I want to be more intentional and aggressive to make sure I am in prayer.
P: Jesus, I thank you that because of you, the veil has been torn and we can freely enter the Father’s presence and make our requests known to Him. Please help me to be more committed to prayer.

A New Year's Resolution That Will Change Your LIfe

In his message on Sunday, Matt Sweetman was very helpful when he encouraged us to make just one New Year's resolution...a resolution that would change our life. And that is to read our Bibles daily and journal 3 to 4 times per week. It's only through Jesus that real transformation happens and we get to know him through the Bible.

I've provided a few links for you that will be helpful resources:
Now just grab your Bible and be prepared to have your life completely transformed!