Saturday, September 30, 2006

Dont Forget



Mystery Multiplies starting This SUNDAY. Our normal, Bible Study continues Sunday evening Oct 1st at 5:30 AND our new 2nd night will start this Wed Oct. 4th. So if you can come to Steev's on Sunday do. If Mid Week is better come to the Neely's on Wed night at 6pm.
Same Teaching, different night. More convenience. More people. More comfort.

See you Sun. or Wed.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Saturday, September 23, 2006

God and Dollar$













Does God want you to be rich?



The Time article had a pole taken with the following results:
  • 17% of Christians surveyed said they considered themselves part of a (prosperity) movement.
  • 61% believed that God wants people to be prosperous.
  • 31% agreed that if you give your money to God, God will bless you with more money.

A new Time magazine Cover Story asks this same question. So much of "christian hypocrisy" conversations I have tends to center around churches being about money. Jesus did talk about money a lot. He understood its weight, influence and temptation on the lives of man. It's important to remember Jesus himself was homeless. He had rich friends and He had poor friends annd consistantly while talking about money He made His life and work about People. He was concerned with the state of the soul and not the size of their wallet. If as Christians we are to live the example of Jesus, maybe we should try giving, serving and loving first. Maybe instead of asking how much do I have or can I make, we should ask what Jesus would do with the same amount.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Cultural Immersion


Lots of People ask what will make Mystery "different". One thing I long to see is Christians in commmunity loving Jesus, worshiping him as King and understanding his mission for us to the world. Here is a promo video for John Piper's Desiring God Conference by one of my favorite Pastors Mark Driscoll. It's a good commentary viewpoint on the subject of Christians needing to be on mission and living in and among culture for the purpose of accomplishing His Mission.

Faith on the Shelf

A new study by The Barna Group shows that despite strong levels of spiritual activity during the teen years, most twentysomethings disengage from active participation in the Christian faith during their young adult years.
Twentysomethings continue to be the most spiritually independent and resistant age group in America. Most of them pull away from participation and engagement in Christian churches, particularly during the “college years.” The research shows that, compared to older adults, twentysomethings have significantly lower levels of church attendance, time spent alone studying and reading the Bible, volunteering to help churches, donations to churches, Sunday school and small group involvement...

*Read the whole Barna Research article here.

Friday, September 15, 2006

FREE BOOK!


John Piper is one of my favorite Pastor, teacher, authors. A really good easy reading book I enjoyed was Don’t Waste Your Life. Simple, straighforward and honest.
It is being offered for free this month by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association ! Thats right FREE.

Description: God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. In his book, “Don’t Waste Your Life,” John Piper challenges you to make the glory of God your singular passion. Request your free copy online now!

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Safe

"The church is not a safe place because Jesus is not a safe leader."
Mike Farra (A good leader and a great friend)

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

JOY

Joy. Mystery has thre defining missional words: Live, Love and Enjoy. SImply put I believe as Christians today we have lost our Joy. Not hapiness per say but our Joy. We have lost what is is to be a Christ Follower full and Joy and Finding Enjoyment in our creator and king. Also I beleive that in this generation we have lost our understanding of what this joy looks like in the lives of those who truelly sell out for Jesus. I read this devotional thought last month and it stirred my heart. Hope it will do the same for you.

August 31, 2006

"My Joy . . . Your Joy"

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full —John 15:11

What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— ". . . who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . ." ( Hebrews 12:2 ). "I delight to do Your will, O my God . . ." ( Psalm 40:8 ). Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?

Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, ". . . the cares of this world, . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" ( Mark 4:19 ). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.

Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you "will flow rivers of living water" ( John 7:38 ). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His "living water." Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live "your life . . . hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3 ). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.

Oswald Chambers from "My Utmost for His Highest"

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Donate Group



Are you a church looking to donate a church building? Donate Church Group will work with local Church Planting Networks to assess and assist your local church to determine if it can be replanted. If all partners determine it is best to shut the church doors, your team will work with the Church Planting Network to allocate resources and fund new churches. Contact Donate Church Group to learn more.

Twenty Somethings Struggle



Twenty-somethings Struggle to Find Their Place in Christian Churches. Only 3 out of 10 (31%) attend church in a typical week.

Full Article Here at Barna.org