www.lifepointchurch.com
www.lifepointaudio.com

Sunday Night Live: A great place to “Grow your Faith”  

Last night was the first night of our 10 week fall session for Sunday Night Live. Sunday Night Live is our offering of exciting small groups coming together to grow their faith as well as fellowship with each other and get to know new people. One of the great things is that we are centralized at the YMCA and are able to accomodate childcare.

We had almost 117 people in attendance which is quite remarkable in a church of 200-300. It is so exciting seeing friends and family come together for the common good of learning, sharing and growing together as a body as well as in our individual walks. The SNL lineup for this ten weeks is:

Financial Peace University: This 13-week sign up group is offered to anyone interested in learning how to manage money God’s way. Very practical, very doable….based in Gods wisdom from Scripture. Learn more here. If you didn’t get signed up for this class, there will probably be another one offered in January 09. Most people who attend this group describe it as a “life changer”.

sHe-The Book of Philippians:  This is a six week women’s sign-up group studying the book of Phlippians. The key to the letter to the Philippians is joy. The book of Philippians is made up of four chapters designed to teach us how and why we should rejoice. In studying this book we discover who we are in Christ Jesus and the difference it should make in our lives. In it is the secret to “happiness” and the steps we can take to not let circumstances govern our Hope, Faith, or Love.

Following this six week group will be a four week group titled, “God’s Amazing Book- A Study all about the Mighty Word of God and its Author”

sHe-Women’s drop-in group: Last night the topic was a study based on thoughts from “The Sacred Romance”, a book by John Eldridge. In the coming weeks you will see topics such as “The Proverbs Woman”, “Assurances”, “Breaking Down Barriers- The Image of God”, “Forgiviness” and “sHe Serves- A Card Project”.

Deeper-A coed drop-in group: This is a drop-in group for everyone. The topic for the next four weeks is, “Stephan- A Historical Retrospect”. Other topics will be introduced throughout this ten week session.

Roots is our teen group that meets each Sunday at the the YMCA in the Gym. For the next four weeks the Roots Teen Group will be studying Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace for Teens called “Generation Change”. There are also exciting and relevent topics  each and every Sunday. It’s a great place for your teens to get involved.

Additionally, there will be other periodic groups meeting on subject such as
“Cybersafety for Parents”, “Discover LifePoint, “Scripture Study Techniques”, and more.

Come check us out! Sunday Night Live is a great place to Grow your Faith as well as grow in friendship through thoughtful study and fun fellowship.
(Childcare is available)

www.LifePointChurch.com
www.LifePointAudio.com

Baptism……An Outward and Visible Sign of an Inward and Spiritual Grace

Last Sunday I had the honor of baptizing my good friend Sean Cunningham. What an exciting day! Sean has been a faithful attender at LifePoint since it’s beginning in 2002. A month ago he called me with the great news that Jesus had been stirring in his heart and that he wanted to be baptized. What an honor….God bless you Sean

Matthew 28:18-20 (TNIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

From the times of the early church, baptism has been regarded as the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, and signifies the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Acts 2:38-42 (TNIV)
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Sean Cunningham Baptism Celebration from Phil Ayres on Vimeo.

Welcome to another night of “Grace and Grits AND GLORY”

Every Wed night at the Sanford Civic Center, Sanford, Florida

ACTS 17:16-33

It’s rather easy, as Christians, to hang out and follow Jesus in “The First Place“. This is where we meet people that are believers, right in our churches….people who are like us. The Apostle Paul speaks of this place in Acts 17:17 when he ministers in “the synagogue“.

It’s also not so hard to hang out and follow Jesus in “The Second Place“. This is often where people are not as much like us, many are unbelievers…..these people are often found where we work or in our schools or just “out in the world” where we do our shopping, driving, etc. The Apostle Paul speaks of this place in Acts 17:17 when he ministers in “the marketplace“. 

But Jesus ministered and cared for people so very often in “The Third Place”……….. this place is not so easy…this place is probably where people need Him most….among sinners, prostitutes, addicts, pagans, scoffers, the marginalized in society. The Apostle Paul ministered eloquently in The Third Place as recounted in Acts 17…this is where he went to minister to the “Epicurean and Stoic philosophers” in Acts 17:18.

As Christian leaders….as well as followers of Jesus….I believe that it is important not to spend all of our time in The First Place. We should spend time in The Second Place and……as followers of Christ…we should spend some of our time in The Third Place.

Loving people, caring for people, sharing Jesus……allowing the holy Spirit to move….

<<– My wife, Kelly and some other ladies did the cooking (appropriately…Shepherds Pie).

<<– Our guest have arrived and seated in the dining hall. Our servers are preparing their trays of food

<<– Our honored guest

<<– Serving our honored guest

<<– The Vicar Bry Band (This is Kevin and I. Bry was not able to be here this particular night). Kevin plays keys and bass (sometimes both simultaneously), I sing and play guitar (and sometimes harmonica and percussion).

<<– This is Linda…she does some awesome Janis Joplin!

<<– This Richard…awesome songwriter and awesome singer!

<<– Linda and Richard

<<– Desert anyone?

<<– Wow…these folks are hungry!

<<– My friend James

<<– My friend Mike

<<– Sharing some laughs together w/ Marcia on the right.

<<– Marcia and her husband ask for prayer

<<– Pat and Donna ask for prayer too.

<<– The LifePoint Drama team performed a drama called “Everything” by LifeHouse

<<– “AND GLORY” is our church service afterwards. Marcia prays before the service.

 <<– Communion prayer

<<– Yes……Our worship band at LifePoint Christian Church is louder than yours!

<<– Tonight’s sermon at Grace and Grits AND GLORY: “Climbing Down to Reach the Top”

<<– thank you Lord….Amen.

Thank you LifePoint…for meeting with us in “The Third Place“.

Seeing God’s Glory

Sun, 9 March 2008 Intercessory Prayers This message given on March 9th 2008 at LifePoint Christian Church by Associate Pastor, Jan Puterbaugh For more information about LifePoint Christian Church visit www.lifepointchurch.com Direct download: 20080309.mp3

I preached this last Sunday and it was quiet a God thing. I was asked at 8PM on Saturday night to preach due to an illness in the band, I chose to preach a sermon that was appropriately on the subject of Intercessory Prayer (Praying for others), and quickly discovered that I first preached that sermon exactly 2 years to the week earlier (12 march 2006). Not only that, the third and my main illustration in this sermon was about a drug addicted friend that I had been praying for that had moved out of state (I have not seen him in over two years!) and minutes after the service started I turned around….and he was standing there in front of me. He said my face got as white as a ghost and all I can remember is that I could not speak. To make a long story short,  I regained my composure and (well…somewhat) , preached the sermon.  Upon telling his story……. I shared with the congregation that we had had the unique opportunity to see God in action, to see God’s Glory in a way that is not often seen…as I could not have orchestrated this series of events in a  better way. I have been receiving phone calls and emails ever since concerning that message. It’s interesting, but I am so reminded of a story in the Bible from Exodus where Moses see’s God’s glory. I feel like we have just been afforded the opportunity to see God’s Glory…and it will stay with me forever.

Exodus 33:17-23

17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

    18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

    19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

    21 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

The point is, very often as we are in relationship with the living God and as we trust in Him every day in every thing in our life……when it is all said and done, we can look back and see the Glory of God in a real way, we can see that He was there working in our situations and guiding us….of course, the key element is that we must trust in God for all things as well as look to see His presence in our lives….it is better to live in God’s will rather than our own. Look to God to guide you, have patience and seek His presence….and you will see His glory!

“Hunger for God will not starve one to death, but to life!”    Lynn Anderson

Years ago I read, “They Smell Like Sheep” by Dr. Lynn Anderson. In my opinion, this is one of the best books I have ever read. Recently I started reading the recently released Volume 2. I would like to share a quote from this book that hit my heart:

A Heart Compelled by the Glory of God:

It is not the pearly gates, however, but the presence of God that makes heaven appealing. If we do not relish the presence of God, here and now, then heaven forever would be a drag. The reward for serving God is getting more of God himself. The reward for seeking God is not a place, but a presence.

God bless!

 We survived two weddings in one year!

It has been quite a journey this year! I am so very proud of both of my girls! Here are a few pics:

Mike and Jessica Monroe: 1 September 2007

<<– Walking my daughter, Jessi down the isle.

I was blessed and honored to have the opportunity to officiate the ceremony –>>

<<– Proud mom and dad, Mike and Jessi

 Shannon, my daughter in the Air Force (Stationed in Turkey) and “da” –>>

<<– The love of my life….Kelly and I

Tim and Shannon Donohue: 16 June 2007

<<– Shannon and Tim

Proud Sister, Jessi, Shane and Tim –>>

The Dance –>>

<<– Shane and “Da” dancing to “Daddy’s Eyes”

I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life as a grandfather

Slowing Down For Awhile ………

I will be slowing my posting down for awhile (if you hadn’t noticed already ) as I am now literally working over 15 hours a day (two jobs). This is certainly not a complaint as God has blessed me with a wonderful relationship with my wife and she is behind this temporary surge in work 100%. She is even taking up some slack by mowing the grass….will wonders never cease (LOL)…..I never liked doing yard work anyway [grin]!

Rest assured that even in this time, I am taking daily quiet time, in fact, my quiet time has become more regular than in the last 6 months. It is important to look to God for all things in our life, not only in tough times (like now)….but also in the easier and more secure times! I am blessed to serve an awesome God! I have found that living in God’s will means being on what I call a “magical mystery tour”. I am blessed! May God bless you!

Word Study Reference

I was asked the following question by by Xanga friend, a youth minister at New Hope Baptist Church in Tennessee,  Justin:

“I have a quick question about some Greek resources. Just wondering what are some additional and excellent resources I can include in my diet? “

I thought I would share my reply. Thank you Justin for asking

Check out Justin’s websites at:
Justin’s Xanga blog
Jusitin’s Blogspot Blog

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First, I will share with you that all the books listed in the LaleoCafe Resource library are in my collection. This represents about 3/4 of my library and I am working on getting the rest of the books in.

Second, to answer your question more directly, the following are the books I use the most for word studies. One of my “rules of thumb in understanding” is that I am careful to look at scholarly information from two or three sources so that the information is not easily skewed. In other words, if I am doing a word study and I consult three references and one is different than the other….I might question the difference. Where two or three scholars agree……I can bet that this information is pretty solid.

Here are the books I use most often for word studies:
1. “Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts“,  From Hendrickson Publishers 
    
2. “New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology: Abridged Edition“, From Zondervan
I love this book because it examines word usage not only in the Holy Scriptures but in the Septuagint (The Greek translation of the Old Testament, which is the Bible quoted most by Jesus and the Apostles) and other extra-biblical sources. I believe this is a must have! to fully use this book it is important to have a reference to Strong’s numbering system. This book uses the “Goodrich-Kohlenberger numbering” system but has a great section in the back for determining which Strong’s number corresponds to the Goodrich-Kohlenberger number.

3. “Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (10 Volume Set)“, By Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich
This is the “big daddy” of the book above. While the price at Amazon is $700 for the set, it can be found at ChristianBook.com for $149.99.

4. I use a variety of interlinear’s when I really want to dig deep….such as:
– “The Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament“, By Mr. John R. Kohlenberger III

– “The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament (Personal Size)“, By Robert K. Brown

– “Interlinear Greek-English New Testament“, From Baker Academic

5. “The Septuagint with Apocrypha: Greek and English“, By L. C. L., Sir Brenton
I believe this should be in any serious Scripture students library. Fascinating!

6. Two very good on-line references can be found at Ken Shenke’s site. Ken teaches New Testament at Indiana Wesleyan University, an evangelical college located in Marion, Indiana. . 
KenShenke.com  and  KenShenke.blogspot.com

Article: “The Benefits and Dangers of Word Studies“

Ken also has an excellent site called, “Cafe Tutor“. Check it out!

God bless!