CARE TEAM RALLY - February 22, 2015

In the Fall of 1997, I was 6 months into my first ministry and I got terribly ill…

   ·      Some details of the illness

   ·      Wiffle ball appendix

   ·      Springfield

   ·      Daily people coming to pray for me

   ·      Sr Pastor came many times …once to give last rights

   ·      Mom read me JAMES… I recovered

   ·      But the people by the bed-side made a huge difference… the body of Jesus taking care of one of it’s own with time, energy and prayer… makes a huge difference

Don’t know exactly why you are here today… marriage, hospital team, or another ministry… but one thing I do know: YOU ARE NEEDED

This may be my last time addressing this group

   ·      Transition

   ·      I want to do a few things today

o   Thank you!

o   Encourage you

o   Share some video stories

o   Turn this over to Mike for the future

o   Celebrate you!

THANKS – hours, time, prayers à you don’t know who’s life has been impacted à look at what’s happened in my life due to the fact that I am still here!

ENCOURAGE – Philippians 2:1-7

   1.     I believe these teams have a unity of heart… let’s not lose that!

   2.     I believe these teams can have a unity of purpose… let’s pursue that!

   3.     I believe these teams will have unity when they model Jesus… let’s stay intimate with Him, so that when we are “squeezed” that’s what comes out!

TUESDAY TALK - February 3 and 10

We spent 2 weeks in Bloomington-Normal unpacking the idea of "WHY Multisite?". Here's a brief overview of those Tuesday nights.


Week #1 - We looked at the VISION of our church.

Proverbs 29:18
•KJV - Where there is no vision, the people perish…•ESV – Where there is no prophetic vision the people are discouraged…•MSG - If people can’t see what God is doing,  they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.

…a vision revealed and realized

"More Stories from more people in more places!"

How are the Waters and others beginning to pray? 

Not that we'd be just another CAMPUS but that we'd actually create a new NETWORK of churches. That we'd be a campus that plants more churches and campuses just like Urbana has.

PART #1 Key Thought:

We’ve been given an incredible vision. Begin asking yourselves, “what’s my role” and we believe God will do amazing things through you!

Week #2What is the NT model for a multi-site church… actually might be more Biblical than church-planting is.


NT MODEL

Acts 15:40-41 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 16:4-5 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

NT LEtters

1Timothy 3:14-15 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

Ephesians 6:21-22 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

ONE CHURCH IN MANY LOCATIONS

Church Plants Characteristics

•Independent

•Prayers of the local body

•One person’s revelation

•Single vision

•Financial uncertainty

•What can I/we develop?

Multi-Site Campus Characteristics

•Dependent on larger body

•Spiritual covering

•Multiple voices revealing God’s heart

•Part of a larger vision

•Financial backing

•Programs/resources supplied

Part 2 - Key Thought:

Not only is a multi-site church actually closer to the Biblical model found in the New Testament, but it actually makes doing church & life together a little easier.

TUESDAY TALK - January 27, 2015

In the third week of our "Start Again" series we addressed the question of WHY CONFERENCES?

•High energy snack.
•Interaction w/ our other campuses.
•Interaction w/ the larger Vineyard.
•Levels of Jesus’ involvement.

Then we looked at the levels of Jesus' engagement with the crowds. We specifically looked at how you cannot have miracles to the 1,000's if the crowd wasn't gathered.
•Jesus’ THREE– Matthew 17
•Jesus’ TWELVE – Matthew 10
•Jesus’ 72 – Luke 10
•Jesus’ 4,000 – Matthew 15
•Jesus’ 5,000 – Matthew 14
•Early Church (3,120+) – Acts 2
•5,000 men + families – Acts 4:4

We really encouraged everyone to engage in the Urbana conferences as we hope they will be a key part of our growth as a campus. We also talked about doing some of our own in the future.

Key Thought: 
Conferences allow us to ENCOUNTER the Father in a new way. They EQUIP us for greater levels of partnering with the Holy Spirit. Plus, they ENVELOP us into the greater body of Jesus. 

SIDE NOTE: thanks to all who volunteered last week!