LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS

On June 24th Mystery hosted a block party for the church and the neighborhood around where we meet. Numerous people spent the week walking the neighborhood, meeting our neighbors and inviting them to come join the fun.



Local businesses gave away prizes, we had kids games, basketball, horseshoes, live music and tons of food. There were balloons, air guitars, sun, inflatable monkeys, puppies, babies, grandparents...too much excitement for one day! It was a great time for Mystery.




We saw over 100 people come by the park that afternoon.
Some simply for a free meal, others to see what the hype was about.

There were people from the neighborhood, folks from Mystery and friends of Mystery. It was great to meet so many new people and bless our neighbors with no strings attached.


The Food was great as usual and the mission of loving our neighbors was at the for front of our minds. I really think we were the church that day, young and old, rich and poor, gathered for the purpose of extending kindness to the community. We are already excited about the next one.



Thanks to everyone who put in so much effort to pull this off. SUCCESS!

Arrogance and Authenticty

“The more we talk about ourselves, the more occasion the world will have to charge us with hypocrisy. The more we confess our sins and receive forgiveness, and pass this good news (the gospel) on to others, the more our lives will be authentically changed in the bargian."
- Michael Horton

Religion vs. The Gospel

There is a vast difference between religion, which most people practice or avoid, and the gospel which is the truth of God in Christ.

Religion has good people & bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.Religion sees Jesus as the means. Gospel sees Jesus as the end.

Mark Driscoll has a great blog post over at Acts 29 comparing our response to God in Relgion and the Gospel.

Read it Here

FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 10th

ANNOUNCEMENTS

•BLOCK PARTY SUNDAY JUNE 24th!
We are having another cookout! We have a goal to connect with and
invite people from your neighborhood, work, and around First Pres. Church.
Sunday June 24th at Memorial Park in Webb City. 12-2pm. Food, games,
raffles and prizes.

• If you are able to help with the cookout please see Jeff, Lindsay, Gabby, Ryan
or Anna F. We need volunteers, cooks, set up and clean up to make it great!

• If you are an Artist or Musician please let Jeff, Nate or Steev know. We are
looking for musicians to play iSundays and also for artists willing to contribute
work to be displayed on Sunday evenings and on the Mystery web site.

PRAYER
If you have a prayer need please email: prayer@mysterychurch.com

• Pray that God would continue to send workers to carry out the mission of
living the Gospel (Matt 9:38). Pray that God would continue to bring people to
Mystery to help further God’s Kingdom.
• Pray for Mystery to reflect the glory of God (John 17:21-23).
•Pray also that Mystery would speak and live the Gospel clearly (Col 4:3-5).
• Pray for those who need comfort, for those who need hope. For the lonely &
the poor in Spirit. Pray for those in pain. Bring the needs of the city before the
Lord- Ask Christ to meet others deepest needs and move our hearts.

SERMON TEXT
Exodus Chapter 18, Deut 30:19-20, John 3:16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11,50-58, 2 Cor. 5

BLOCK PARTY JUNE 24th!

WE'RE HAVING A BLOCK PARTY!
Sunday June 24th 12-2pm At Memorial Park in Webb City. (corner of Ball and Daughtery)
Free food Games Live music Raffle prizes every 15 mins

Mark your schedules, cell phones, calendars etc. Invite your friends and neighbors.
We want to see and connect with as many people as possible this night and really make an
effort to meet new people, bless the area residents and even invite others to join us at
Mystery. We will have our usual Sunday Evening Service that Night at 5:30 so it would be a great time to bring visitors to experience Mystery first hand.
This is a really important summer event, please do everything you can to attend and bring as many people as possible.

...A Church Called Mystery

God in your Pod?

"Bringing the bible to your hethen ipod."

That's the tag line for this little gem. Download the entire ESV new testament to your ipod FOR FREE! That's right, free.
You can access book and chapter right on your ipod screen.

Now you have great music (assuming you have good taste:)
and the Word of God right in your pocket at any given moment.
It's still no substitute for the "real deal", but as we move into a digital society its a conveneint and cost justifying step.

Download and take it for a test drive at PODBIBLE.ORG

WORSHIP

Why do we Sing?

EXODUS 15
We sing because of whose we are.
God himself sings. Jesus sings. The Holy Spirit sings.
We sing to remember what God has done.
Col. 3:16-17-The Church teaches itself through singing.
We sing because of who God is.
When you look at music and singing today, what does it glorify?
No One and No thing is like God…That is why we sing to Him…he is our only hope.
We sing because of what God will do.
Looking back, Looking forward. We look, expecting God to move.

ISRAEL SANG IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S DELIVERANCE. WE DO THE SAME.
ISRAEL RECEIVED FREEDOM FROM EGYPT THROUGH MOSES
WE, THE CHURCH, RECEIVE FREEDOM FROM SIN/DEATH THROUGH CHRIST

God’s people have always been and should continue to be a people of song.

Good News Misunderstood

"Preach the gospel--and if necessary, use words." This is a misunderstanding of the gospel.
If you believe the gospel is good news, declaring it's truth, the "goodnewsiness" itself, must be irreplacably central.

Lloyd-Jones: Advice is counsel about something to do that hasn't happened yet, but you can do it. News is about something that has happened. If a king defeats an invading army, he sends back messengers (heralders, good-newsers) who bring a report: respond with joy and live in because it's all been the defeat has happened.

Taken partly from Tim Keller's address, "Gospel-Centered Ministry," from the Gospel Coalition conference.

The Cross Centered Life

“If there is anything in life we should be passionate about it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others. I mean passionate about thinking about it, dwelling on it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world. Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be.” CJ Mahaney

I highly recommend this short little book by CJ Mahaney. It’s an easy read and great place to start when thinking about what it is to have a gospel-centered live. All of life should hinge on the gospel in the life of a Christian. Sadly, all too often we find ourselves distracted, forgetful and ultimately discourged in following Christ. The Way of Jesus is hard, but it should be a joy. Mahaney points out some keys ares in our life where we need to believe the gospel and apply it to our lives.

I recommend picking up a copy today and begin to read and pray through where it applies to your life. Jesus came to give us life a life that is full. The gospel must remain our strength, our identity and our hope…the cross of Christ must remain at the center of our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:1-3

Mission at Memorial

We had our end of season house group cook out this past Wednesday night. The weather was great, the food tasty, lots of fun and games and the people were a great joy to be around. Over 50 people showed up and I think percentage wise we most of broke some record for most church attendors who actually showed up for an event...haha it wass Great! We had tons of visitors and met lots of new and diverse people. It's always a joy to share in the fun with friends and new acquanitences.

This was one of the most encouraging and missional gatherings I think we have had as a church. It was very cool to see people mingling and meeting people for the first time. There was another church meeting in the park that night and there was not just a different demographically but the two gatherings were just night and day. They were wonderful people and aboviously enjoyed each other, but to look around and see so many people who normally would not darken the doors of a church, being welcomed by Mystery just really moved my heart to worship. God desires to be God and for us to reflect his love for people and community. We experienced that image in a very vivid way this week and it was incredible.

Jesus is good. Only he breaks down barriers and walls of division. Only he gives us the true acceptance we need and long for and this in turn allows us to be ourselves and to love others different from us. Much credit to the God's grace for making the people of Mystery such an enjoyable group of people.

We have several things "cooking" this summer including another, hopefully even larger outreach cookout in June. Come join us for more mayhem and mission!

The Tomb

The empty tomb says, “You are more wicked and flawed than you ever dared to believe, and more loved and accepted than you ever dared hope.”

The empty tomb says you are so lost Jesus had to die to save you. But you are so loved Jesus was glad to die to save you.

COOK OUT THIS WED!

JOIN US THIS WEDNESDAY EVENING.
Mystery is having our end of the season,
beginning of summer COOK OUT. It's a fun
gathering of all our different house groups
and friends for an evening of eating, games
and conversation.

Join us at Memorial Park in Webb City.
Its at the corner of Ball and Daughtery near
the senior center. Party starts at 6pm.
Bring your appetite and a friend and help us
kick off Mystery's first full summer.

See ya there!

FOR THE WEEK 5-22

ANNOUNCEMENTS
•MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW
Mystery Up Coming Events:
May 23rd: Home Group Cookout at Memorial Park in Webb City
June 3rd: Service Project
June 17th – Block party Gathering Event

PRAYER
If you have a prayer need please email: prayer@mysterychurch.com
• Pray for God to grow your compassion for your neighbors and to see them
how God sees them.
• Pray that God’s Spirit would move in your neighborhood, doing the work
God promised.

SCRIPTURE
Exodus 12:29-42, 13&14, Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 7:17-38, Romans12:1-2, Galatians 3:12-14

LOVING YOUR HOOD PT2

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-32

We love our neighbor because we love our God and because he first loved us. Spend some time loving God through prayer as you endeavor to love your neighbor. Pray for God’s heart to be yours.

Here are some prayers to begin with:
Pray for the families in your neighborhood that you know—if you know them by name, pray specifically for them and any needs they might have. Pray for God to soften their hearts to hear His Gospel.

Pray for the families in your neighborhood that you do not know. Pray for opportunities to get to know them. Pray for opportunities to demonstrate God’s love to them.

Pray for those neighbors that have acted cruelly toward you (Matt 5:44). Pray for opportunities to smooth out tensions, as you take the first step toward reconciliation.

Pray for God to grow your compassion for your neighbors and to see them how God sees them (Col 3:12).

Pray for God’s Spirit would move in your neighborhood, doing the work God promised (John 16:8-11).

Pray that God would continue to send workers to carry out the mission of living the Gospel (Matt 9:38). Pray that God would continue to bring people to Mystery to help further God’s Kingdom.

Pray for Mystery to reflect the glory of God (John 17:21-23). Pray also that Mystery would speak and live the Gospel clearly (Col 4:3-5).

Relaxing Your Grasp

"All around us we see Christians and churches relaxing their grasp on the gospel, fumbling it, and in danger of letting it drop from their hands altogether." John Stott Guard the Gospel

LOVING YOUR HOOD PT1

We, as followers of Christ, are called and commissioned to “Love our Neighbors.” As a church, we are committed to living this out. We begin with our own neighborhoods, and we practice this intentionally on Mondays. Try something new each week. Be intentional and authentic. Be prayerful and deliberate-we are on mission together.

Here are some ideas to get you going:
Take a walk and pray
Attend or host a garage sale
Spend time on your front porch (play your guitar,read a book, cook out)
Mow your neighbor's lawn
BBQ (in your front lawn! For your neighbors!)
Clean up your street (pick up trash)
Put trash cans back for people after trash day
Bring people bread/cookies
Spend time outside in your yard/garden
Have a lemonade stand
Ride your bike, run, jog, or walk your block
Fast for your neighbors
Meet their practical needs
Do house projects together-help them paint and they can help you
Host a neighborhood Memorial Day, 4th of July,
Superbowl, or Labor Day Party
Have your neighbors over for dinner and games
Give the ice cream man $20 and tell him to comp the next 10 people that order
Rake leaves, shovel snow, weed-eat
Invite others in Mystery to do this with you!
Invite your neighbors to Mystery

Mistake and Temptation

"Our greatest mistake and temptation, is to try to smuggle character into God's work of grace." Sinclair Ferguson Know Your Christian Life

FOR THE WEEK

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR! We are beginning a summer long
project to encourage us as a church to be more about
others than ourselves and to think about living missionally
each day. Look for more in the coming weeks and check
the Mystery Blog for more information also.
This week’s goal- Continue to walk your neighborhood, pray and pick up trash.
Meet someone new and spend time in prayer for your neighbors.

• Only Two More Home Groups until Summer. Make plans to be with your
“home family” this week and then enjoy a church wide cookout next week.

• As a new church we have many areas of need. Some of these are set up and
tear down, audio and video, outreach/mercy team, hospitality and more.
If you would like to get involved in any area please see Steev or email Jeff at
jeff@mysterychurch.com and we can get you plugged in right away.

PRAYER

Why we pray: 1. Move our hearts 2. To be focused and effective

If you have a prayer need please email: prayer@mysterychurch.com

• Pray for the families in your neighborhood that you do not know. and ask God
for opportunities to get to know them.
• Pray for opportunities to demonstrate God’s love to your neighborhood.

Culturally Savvy Pt 3