| We’re on the journey together: This morning, Jennifer Barmore, who oversees our weekly Tuesday updates, gave the gentle reminder that it would be nice if I wrote something for this week. She also was asking about a new sermon subject line for our website as a response to this past week’s message about “The Good Samaritan.” She said, “It seems like you talk about Cultural Values versus Kingdom Values a lot. How would you like me to label that?” I said, “Let’s go with ‘The Kingdom Way.’” I’ve mentioned this before, but “The Kingdom of God/Heaven” is Jesus’ primary topic. It’s the thing that Jesus talks about and addresses more than anything else, and it’s not close. Jesus makes clear that he sees his mission to bring, teach, illustrate, act out and live God’s Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven. One of my favorite teaching activities as a professor was to draw a line down the center of the white board discussing whatever the issue at hand was and write Culture on one side and Kingdom on the other. Then we would take the topic of discussion, the cultural issue at hand, and write down whatever was being communicated to us by the culture on the Culture side. Then we follow in suit on the other side discussing “What is the Jesus paradigm here? What is the Kingdom Way?” on the Kingdom side. I really do think this is a key practice that all followers of Jesus need to practice in some fashion on a continual basis. We need to be training our minds into being quality discerners that can quickly and adequately filter what is the message that I’m given here and how does that fit or not fit with the ways of Jesus and his Kingdom? We are a people that live IN the world but are not OF the world. When we say YES to King Jesus, we are saying YES to his Kingdom and his ways as the answer to the good, true and beautiful life. This is the life to the fullest that Jesus said he came to bring(John 10:10). Jesus is the WAY. Jesus is the TRUTH, and Jesus is the LIFE. Thus, let’s listen so intently and closely to see what that way, truth and life look like and not be clouded by all the other things that can distort our thinking. This is the path of knowing Jesus, the path of discipleship and the path of living in his Kingdom on Earth. “So here’s what I want you to do, God Helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2 Message Blessings, Josh |
| Spring Break! |
| Spring Break is coming soon! Wednesday Evening Faith and Beliefs class at the Bunce home will take off tomorrow, March 12th and next week, March 19th. This class resumes Wednesday, March 26th.All Sunday Evening Classes will pause on March16th and resume March 23rd. Enjoy! |
| Parenting with Purpose |
| Hey Moms and Dads, have your kids ever had a meltdown? Have you ever responded to that flip-out with your own meltdown? Come join us and speaker Barbara Gruener on Sunday, April 6th after the service, as she provides us with information to help us understand why meltdowns happen and gain tools to help navigate those family blowups. Parents with children of all ages are encouraged to attend. No-cost childcare and lunch will be provided. Registration for one parent is $15 and $25 for two parents. Contact Tena for more information. |
| Register for Parenting with Purpose |
| Church Family Directory |
| Thank you to everyone that completed Step 1 for the new church directory! If you still need to complete Step 1, you can do so here. Step 2 is now available to access on your computer or mobile device! You can begin the Step 2 process by visiting the Instant Church Directory member website: https://members.instantchurchdirectory.com/signup. Or you can download the Instant Church Directory app on your mobile device via the app store for apple users or google play store for android users. No matter how you choose to access Instant Church Directory, you will be asked to enter your email address as it’s listed on the form you provided in Step 1. If you entered an email for multiple adults in your household, you should be able to use either email to create a login. If you completed Step 1 and your email address isn’t found in the directory, email Jennifer Barmore or call the church office so we can help you be added. Once you enter your email address, follow the directions on-screen to complete the log-in process. After logging in, either on the website or in the app, click “Edit My Family.” This is where you will be able to add in a family picture, include birthdays or anniversaries, or make information private so only the church office has access to the information. We would love to have as many pictures and information included as possible by March 25th in order to make a few physical copies of the online directory available. If you would still like to be included in the online directory, you can be added anytime. Simply fill out the form by clicking Step 1 below to get the process started. If you have any questions about the process or need help completing any of the steps, please contact the church office. We are happy to help! |
| Online Directory AccessAccess to Step 2 available 24 hours after completion of Step 1 |
| Directory Website Directory for Apple Users Directory for Android Users |
| CHILDREN’S CORNER |
| Once VBS Registration opened, after a few technical difficulties, we were full with over 240 kids registered in less than an hour. We are so excited to have the opportunity to share with our kids and community about how to trust Jesus in a Wild World. We are blessed to have so many children signed up to hear about Jesus, but we will need Adult and Student Volunteers to make our week a true success. Please use the buttons (that are now working!) below to register. Even if you cannot physically volunteer, we thank you for praying for the many children and adults that will be on our campus in June. |
| Adult Volunteers Student Volunteers |
| Student Ministries Update |
| JH Bible Quiz Volunteers Needed |
| We are hosting Bible Quiz on Saturday, March 29th. There will be many people on our campus that weekend, would you be praying for this event? We are also in need of 30+ volunteers. Specifically, we need judges and scorekeepers during the meet. If you have an interest in volunteering, please reach out to Katelyn Sanders. |
| Camp Quaker Haven Theme Release |
| Join us at CQH for On Mission, where faith meets action! Inspired by Isaiah 40:29-31, we hope to empower our young people to rise up with boldness, soar in their faith, and run the race of the Great Commission without fear. This summer, renew your strength in Christ, step out with courage, and live On Mission! |
| He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 |
| Missions Night |
| Save the Date for Missions Night on March 30th from 5:30-7:00 pm. There will be fun kid-friendly activities and a call with one of our missionaries. We can’t wait to explore how God is working around the world with you. |
