Adam's Tuesday THOUGHT - October 21, 2014

Each week at our Tuesday small group, I am sharing what we're calling Adam's Thought of the Night. We are  looking at the building blocks of the future Bloomington-Normal Campus.

Continue Jesus' Ministry - WEEK #1

This week, we enter into the third "key idea" of our future campus.
•Culture of ________
•Community of ______
•Continue Jesus’ Ministry•Commitment to Excellence
•Carriers of the Gospel of Grace

 

The church's mission is not about trying to "hire new employees," it is about taking over the family business.

(1)Jesus starts the family business of the Kingdom.

John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

(2)Jesus releases us to continue the family business of the Kingdom.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

(3)The Father helps us continue the family business of the Kingdom

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Key thought: The Father sent Jesus…

Jesus sent the 12, the 72, Paul & others.

NOW, they are sending us!

Adam's Tuesday THOUGHT - October 14, 2014

Each week at our Tuesday small group, I am sharing what we're calling Adam's Thought of the Night. We are  looking at the building blocks of the future Bloomington-Normal Campus.

Community of Hope - week #3

When I went on-line this week and searched Community of Hope, all I could find was needs organizations. The most common ideas were orphanages, homeless shelters and food pantries. All of these things are good! In fact, many of the organizations were started by churches. Plus, the Vineyard is focused on creating organizations like this through our Hope Centers at all of our campuses.

But, I think that when this idea filtered it's way into our DNA in the early 2000's it was meant to be more than that. The idea was that we are more than a building… a community of hope is more than just helping people practically… it's about introducing people to Jesus.

John 1

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

KEY THOUGHT:

All around us, the world is trying to bring HOPE to orphans, to the broken, the homeless & the hurting. BUT they have the wrong answer(s).

HOPE is a person.

Adam's Tuesday THOUGHT - October 7, 2014

Each week at our Tuesday small group, I am sharing what we're calling Adam's Thought of the Night. We are  looking at the building blocks of the future Bloomington-Normal Campus.

Community of Hope - Week #2

What stirs your heart to action? For some it's a mission or organization that you support… for some it's the hurting children of the world… for me, it's my friends who are doing God's work (example: Stephen and Anna Price) all around the world.

Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people”

The cross is what stirs my life to action… the truth of the gospel of Jesus… our salvation… our new identity. Let's take communion together and ask the Lord to "stir our hearts again."

KEY THOUGHT:
When our hearts are stirred, the natural outflow of a changed life will be to create a community of hope.

Adam's Tuesday Night THOUGHT - September 30, 2014

Each week, I am sharing what we're calling Adam's Thought of the Night. We are planning on looking at the building blocks of the future Bloomington-Normal Campus.

Community of Hope - week #1

What does "community" mean to you?

Actual Definitions

•a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

•a group of people living together in one place, especially one practicing common ownership.

•a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

•COMMUNE (v.) – share yourself

•UNITY – united or joined together

Colossians 1
 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

KEY THOUGHT:
We are NOT building a community for fellowship sake.
We are joining together to bring the truth of our hope to the 70,000 people in Bloomington-Normal who don't yet have a church home!