Thank You from Nicaragua
We are thankful that over 500 hundred bikes have been donated by RBCers in support of the Casa Bernabe orphanage in Nicaragua.
Thanks in part to your generosity, the orphanage has developed Nica Bikeshop, a thriving bicycle shop where orphans are discipled in Christ as they learn vocational skills like bike repair, sales and customer service. We recently received the photo above from some of the Nica Bikeshop workers – the sign reads, “Thank you RBC Friends. You are a blessing!”
We also received the message below from Cal Covert, our ministry contact for the bike donations. Cal is on the board of directors for NicaWorks, the non-profit organization that oversees the bike collection and many other aspects of care, support and ministry in Nicaragua.
The bike shop has provided opportunities for many Nicaraguans, including orphans and at-risk youth. It is now the largest bike shop in all of Nicaragua. RBC has played a vital role in donating more than 500 bikes to the ministry. The shop has been a tremendous opportunity to mentor young men and women who otherwise would have no hope of a future for themselves or their families. For example, Josh, the director of the bike shop is a recovering alcoholic. Last fall he looked me square in the eyes and said, “If it wasn’t for this business, I know I would be dead right now.” Not only has he pulled his life together, but he is in a strong walk with Jesus that he never had before. Josh meets with his Nicaraguan and American (via Skype) mentors at least once every week.
Thank you, RBC, for your continued generosity as we know Christ and make Him known in Northern Virginia and around the world!
VIDEO: Post-Election Considerations
Here are some post-election considerations from Pastor Mike as we interact on social media. As you interact with those around you – even (or especially) those with whom you disagree – consider how you might live out these these words from Colossians 3.
Colossians 3:1-17
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(From the English Standard Version, emphasis added)
Preparing for Sunday | November 13
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Be Thou My Vision | [listen]
by: Eleanor Henrietta Hull, Mary Elizabeth Byrne (Arrangement: Ascend The Hill)
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
O Praise The Name | [listen + lyrics]
by: Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson
Romans 5:8
Jesus Is Better | [listen]
by: Aaron Ivey, Brett Land
This I Believe (The Creed) | [listen + lyrics]
by: Ben Fielding, Matt Crocker
Romans 1:16
Rejoice | [listen]
by: Dustin Kensrue, Stuart Townend
Philippians 4:4
SERMON TEXT
Ephesians 5:17 – 6:9
Preparing for Sunday | November 6
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
I Will Look Up | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye, Matt Redman
But God | [listen]
by: Michael Bleecker, Hunter Hall, Lauren Chandler
Rejoice | [listen]
by: Dustin Kensrue, Stuart Townend
Only King Forever | [listen]
by: Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
Amazing Grace | [listen]
by: John Newton (1779)
SERMON TEXT
Romans 1:32
Judges 21:25
Preparing for Sunday – Green Room Sessions | October 30
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Open Up The Heavens | [listen + lyrics]
by: Meredith Andrews, Stuart Garrard. James McDonald, Andi Rozier
Come To Me | [listen]
by: Elizabeth Akers, Jeff Capps, Michael Bleecker
This Is Amazing Grace | [listen + lyrics]
by: Josh Farro, Phil Wickham, Jeremy Riddle
Good Good Father | [listen]
by: Anthony Brown, Pat Barrett
Rejoice | [listen]
by: Dustin Kensrue, Stuart Townend
SERMON TEXT
Philippians 4:4-7
Guilford Book Drive Update
Praise God for all who donated books and gave their time sorting, setting up, and assisting the children at last week’s Guilford Elementary Book Fair.
We were able to give out over 2,000 books! Each child took home three of their very own, just-right books, and their faces were beaming as they picked them out.
While the book fair was going on, the children were also getting their fall pictures taken. One of the photographers came over to the tables and asked where the books came from. We were able to tell him about Reston Bible and our partnership with Guilford. We told him about the many ways we are able to show the love of Christ by meeting the needs of the community. He shared how much it meant to him as a father who cannot always provide extra things like books when he is struggling to put food on the table. Because of your generosity, we were able to give him and the other photographer a stack of books for their children as well!
After the last child picked out his books, the teachers were able to come and gather the remaining books for their classrooms. There are many first-year teachers at Guilford this year, so they were incredibly thankful to stock their classroom shelves.
The Guilford staff, children, and parents thank you for your continued support. We will have another book fair in the spring, so hold on to those books!
Sunday Rewind | 10.23.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
YOUR LOVE NEVER FAILS (Romans 8:28)
Skinner, McClarney | Thankyou Music
FOREVER REIGN (Lamentations 5:19)
Ingram, Morgan | Hillsong Music Publishing
IN YOUR PRESENCE (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Brown, Williams, Gatch, Brock, Furtick, Joye | Elevation Worship Publishing
HOSANNA (Mark 11:9-10)
Ligertwood (Fraser) | Hillsong Music Publishing
CORNERSTONE (Psalm 18:2)
Mote, Morgan | Hillsong Music Publishing
TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 4
Spiritual food is greater than physical food. Learn, love and live the Word of God to reap the fruits thereof.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- How important would you rate the Bible in the life of a Christ-follower?
- Read and discuss Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:12, and Psalm 119:1-24. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What do you observe about the Scriptures from these verses? What other verses can you think of that directly teach us about the Word of God?
- Would you say you have an appetite for God and his Word? How does one develop or acquire this appetite?
- How is the Word of God a light for our path (Psalm 119:105)?
- How can we know the voice of God?
- What is one verse that has shaped your life in a profound way?
- How does the Holy Spirit and the Word of God work in tandem?
- Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the goodness of His Word. Ask Him to help you learn, love and live His Word.
Preparing for Sunday | October 23
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Your Love Never Fails | [listen]
by: Chris McClarney, Anthony Skinner
Forever Reign | [listen]
by: Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan
In Your Presence | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, London Gatch, Wade Joye, Jane Williams
Hosanna | [listen]
by: Brooke Ligertwood
Cornerstone | [listen]
by: Eric Liljero, Reuben Morgan, Edward Mote, and Jonas Myrin
SERMON TEXT
Matthew 4:1-4
Sunday Rewind | 10.16.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
GREAT THINGS (Isaiah 12:5)
Cartee, Furtick | Elevation Worship Publishing
UNSTOPPABLE GOD (Matthew 17:20)
Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
BE THOU MY VISION (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
Norsworthy, Hull, Byrne | Heartsong Music
BUT GOD (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Bleecker, Hall, Chandler | Bleecker Publishing
OUR GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:9-10)
Houston, Ligertwood | Integrity Music
TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 3
Naked and ashamed, we are far more broken that we are willing to admit. Shame sculpts the soul and gives birth to fear. Only the gospel paves the way back.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- Would you consider yourself a vulnerable person? Is it easy for you to open up to others? Why or why not?
- Read and discuss Genesis 2:25-3:13. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What do you observe about shame from these verses?
- Share a time when you were ashamed. How does shame drive us away from vulnerability?
- How does shame “sculpt the soul” and give birth to fear? What does fear lead us to do? What kind of people does fear lead us to be?
- How do we hide from God, others and ourselves?
- In what ways do we tend to cover our brokenness? What are your go-to “fig leaves”?
- How does scripture provide us with a reference point through which to view ourselves, others, and the world?
- How does the gospel of Jesus call us out of shame, fear and self-atonement?
- Read and discuss Hebrews 12:1-2. What shame in your life do you need to despise? Where do you need to be vulnerable and honest with someone else? With yourself? With God? What is one step toward vulnerability that you can take in each of these areas? Spend some time in prayer in prayer about this and ask the members of your group to help you be accountable to take those steps.
Being the Church with First Fruits
As the leaves begin to change, the air becomes crisp, football is on, and you may hear the words “First Fruits” thrown around at Reston Bible Church.
Each year the fall season and First Fruits go hand in hand. First Fruits is a church-wide community service project. That can mean a lot of different things, so let me explain a bit more.
On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, an army of over 700 volunteers in different teams move in full force across the Northern Virginia area from 8:00-5:00 p.m. raking leaves, cutting grass, moving things, cleaning yards, and more. Donations are then collected from the jobs, and at the end of the day the teams go to Shoppers in Sterling to buy food for a family whom they will deliver the food to that night. In physically delivering the food to the family, you have the privilege of making a personal connection with families in our community. This is enjoying the “first fruits” of your labor. We work hard together all day and then get to see what our hard work accomplishes.
First Fruits began some 25 years ago with a dream to do something different than the norm. There are a lot of great service projects out there, like collecting blankets for the homeless. Yet a desire was born to help those who are under the radar—like a single mom who has no government assistance and is working many jobs, but still cannot make ends meet. Or a family with both parents working that still has financial struggles. Or a family where one parent is battling cancer or a spouse has died.
First Fruits works with the local schools who know those who fit what this project is looking for. RBC attendees also submit forms for those they believe could benefit from this day. God has consistently used this one day of serving to provide in a unique way for our local community. Last year over $37,000 was raised in ONE day!
First Fruits started as a Youth Ministry event, but has morphed into a church-wide one, as the Lord has blessed and grown the efforts of so many since its conception. The need is BIG to allow the day to happen. We truly cannot do this without the help of each person at Reston Bible Church playing his or her part. We are in need of over 700 volunteers. Yes, 700! There are a few ways you can be involved:
- This year we are praying and asking the Lord to provide more Team Captains so we can have more teams that are smaller and more manageable.
- You can be a volunteer to work that day.
- You can provide a job for a team to do that day.
- You can refer someone you believe is in needs of food assistance.
- You can make a donation toward First Fruits.
You can go here for more information on how you can be involved, or to register.
Having participated in First Fruits for the past three years, I can say the day is truly soul satisfying, not to mention you sleep well that night. First Fruits is being “The Church” outside of the church walls. I believe the emotional and spiritual impact we have far outweighs the physical and financial gift we bring. Yet the physical and financial gift is what paves the way for the emotional and spiritual impact.