Preparing for Sunday | September 18
My hope and prayer for this blog each week is that God would use it to stir your affections for Him and for His Word, and to help you prepare for and eagerly anticipate what God will do through our time gathered together on Sunday. Here’s the first Preparing for Sunday post with a more in-depth explanation of why we do this.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Good Good Father | [listen]
by: Anthony Brown, Pat Barrett
Your Great Name | [listen]
by: Michael Bleecker, Hunter Hall, Lauren Chandler
I Will Look Up | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye, Matt Redman
This I Believe | [listen + lyrics]
by: Ben Fielding, Matt Crocker
Revelation Song | [listen]
by: Jennie Lee Riddle
SERMON TEXT
Luke 4:18-21
THEME/TOPIC
Exposure to the reality of slavery in our world.
ESL Conversation Partners Update
During the summer, International Connection, the English as a second language program at RBC, does not have classes. Instead I match upper-level students who can carry a conversation, with volunteers from the church. Students benefit from having someone that they can regularly speak English with all summer long. We suggest meeting once a week or once every other week at a public place such as cafes, fast-food restaurants, playgrounds, the mall or parks.
Recently, I met with a good-sized sampling of the 26 pairs that I put together in June and we chatted about their experiences over the summer – both the students as well as the volunteers. Early on, I had heard some negative responses from those who had trouble maintaining communication with their students (this was the tiny minority) so I was not prepared for the inspiring comments that I heard from the partners who attended last week’s meeting.
One volunteer had waded into the bureaucracy of a government-run, low-income, home-buying program in which his Chinese student and his wife had found themselves. Imagine dealing with all of that government and real estate jargon in another language! The volunteer patiently helped them figure out what documents were needed and then also why they had not heard back from the agency in question. They finally ended up with an application that is now being processed and this couple will soon start the search for their new home! This volunteer also assisted the student’s wife as she tried to find books in the library that were at her reading level. All of these activities are intimidating to people not born in this culture.
Another volunteer helped her student navigate the complexities of scholarship programs available to her high school child – a task that she was eminently suited for as a Fairfax County school teacher!
Several volunteers mentioned the hard-working nature of their students and cited their international friends as admirable examples to their own children of perseverance not only in language acquisition but also cultural integration. These students were/are serious about living and working here!
Very often we take our comfortable lives here for granted and we do not realize the uphill climb it is for 99 percent of the immigrant population that choose to settle here. When we do not develop a personal relationship with an international person, we miss out on knowing the great highs and lows of the immigrant experience. My faithful volunteers got to see this and are richer and more empathetic people because of it. Thanks be to God!
Sunday Rewind | 9.11.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Nothing But the Blood (Ephesians 2:13) – Already Not Yet by Citizens and Saints
But God (Romans 5:8) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Aaron Bleecker
In Christ Alone (Galatians 2:20) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
Jesus Paid it All (Colossians 2:13-14) – Everything Glorious by Kristian Stanfill
TEACHING: Be the Church, Part 3
God gives us gifts then gives us as a gift to a local church body. No God-given gift is better or worse than another. Unity in the body is the result of corporate humility.
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 has the Lord used the church in your walk with Him?
- Read Ephesians 4:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. What do these verses tell us about God? What do they reveal about us?
- What does it mean to equip the saints for the work of ministry? How do you think you need to be equipped? In what ways can you equip others?
- What causes divisions among churches? What examples of division in the church have you seen?
- What examples of unity have you seen in the church? Is there an area of unity within the context of the church that you need to move toward?
- What gifts, abilities or talents do you think God has given you? Where could those fit in the church?
- What is the difference between unity and uniformity? Which does scripture call us to?
- How does the gospel compel us toward unity through diversity?
- Spend some time praying for the things you’ve discussed. Pray that the Lord would lead our church to a gospel-centric unity within our body and with other churches in our area.
New Staff Announcement
Here’s a short video from Pastor Mike announcing some staff changes here at RBC.
Preparing for Sunday | September 11
My hope and prayer for this blog each week is that God would use it to stir your affections for Him and for His Word, and to help you prepare for and eagerly anticipate what God will do through our time gathered together on Sunday. Here’s the first Preparing for Sunday post with a more in-depth explanation of why we do this.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Nothing But the Blood | [listen + lyrics]
by: Robert Lowry (1876)
But God | [listen]
by: Michael Bleecker, Hunter Hall, Lauren Chandler
In Christ Alone | [listen + lyrics]
by: Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
Jesus Paid It All | [listen + lyrics]
by: Elvina M. Hall, (1865)
SERMON TEXT
Ephesians 4
READ
1 Corinthians 12
READ
Carried to the Table: Lessons from Mephibosheth
We don’t often use the term “lame” much anymore, except in the vernacular to describe someone who is not “cool.” As we celebrated communion this week we looked at a character from the Old Testament who was physically lame. In 2 Samuel 9 we read of Mephibosheth, who was Saul’s grandson. Saul had been the first king of Israel and had, on more than one occasion, tried to kill David, who was anointed by the Lord to be Saul’s successor. David and Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a deep friendship and were as close as brothers. In chapter 9, Saul and Jonathan are now dead, David is king; and, for Jonathan’s sake, he wants to show kindness to living members of the house of Saul. Ziba, a servant from the house of Saul was found and he identified Mephibosheth as a son of Jonathan. Mephibosheth was crippled from the age of five because he was dropped when his nurse was fleeing with him after the death of Jonathan and Saul at the battle of Mount Gilboa. David brings Mephibosheth to his household to live with him and says he will eat at the King’s table like one of the King’s family. Mephibosheth’s name means “dispeller of shame.”
Though we may not have physical disabilities that cause us to be lame, we are all spiritually lame, unable to bring ourselves to salvation. But God, in the greatest act of grace, reached out to us and provided salvation through the death of His son Jesus. There is nothing we can do to earn this salvation. God, the great bearer of our shame through the crucifixion of His son Jesus, carries us to His table and invites us to dine with Him. This is the gospel.
Many of our missionaries are so wounded that they may feel emotionally lame. Mark and Donna McDonnel have served in Kiev, Ukraine, with WorldVenture for 18 years, 13 of which with RBC as a supporting church. The McDonnels have been through some hard trials lately, but they have endured. Mark’s primary ministry is as a seminary professor at Kiev Theological Seminary, but they also felt the Lord drawing them to become involved with a ministry of their local church to the physically and mentally disabled. There is far less government assistance there than in the U.S., making any ministry to these families especially meaningful.
Each year the church hosts a camp for these special people. Because of your faithful giving RBC has been able to provide financial help toward this camp. The McDonnels have shared a short video from this year’s camp. During the video, Pastor Sasha is asking the candidates if they believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and that they are saved by faith in Him alone. Each responds, “I believe.” Then he asks if they will commit their lives to serving Him, and they respond, “Yes.” Then Sasha says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The last one to be baptized, Andrei, is carried into the pool.
Sunday Rewind | 9.4.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Come To Me (Matthew 11:28-30) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Lauren Chandler
Great Things (Worth It All) (Galatians 6:14) –Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
But God (Romans 5:8) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Aaron Bleecker
In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: Be the Church, Part 2
The church is called to be salt that preserves the world from decaying and light that cuts through darkness. The salt sets the stage for the light.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- How would you describe the mission of the church, in one sentence?
- Read Matthew 5:13-16. What does it mean for believers to be the salt of the earth? What does it mean to be the light of the world?
- Read John 3:16-21. How does this passage, with its imagery of light and dark, describe the hopelessness of man’s condition? What is the hope-filled solution the Lord provides?
- Why do most religions offer a performance-based path to salvation? What is Scripture’s response to someone who believes they must work to earn God’s favor?
- Why must we act like “salt” before people will be receptive to our “light”? How might that affect your day-to-day life?
- What fears or doubts keep you from sharing the Gospel? What truths from Scripture might help you overcome those fears?
- Spend some time praying that the Lord would help you to be salt and light to those around you.
Preparing for Sunday | September 4
My hope and prayer for this blog each week is that God would use it to stir your affections for Him and for His Word, and to help you prepare for and eagerly anticipate what God will do through our time gathered together on Sunday. Here’s the first Preparing for Sunday post with a more in-depth explanation of why we do this.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
This week we’re introducing a new song, “But God.” This song is taken right out of Ephesians 2:4-7:
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
I want to encourage everyone to take some time and get familiar with this song this week. It’s full of rich, gospel truth. May this song and the truth that God, by his grace in and through Jesus, has saved us “even when we were dead in our trespasses” encourage our hearts this week.
I look forward to singing this song together with you all this Sunday!
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Come to Me | [listen + lyrics]
by: Lizzie Akers, Jeff Capps, Michael Bleecker, Hunter Pecunia
Great Things | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye
But God | [listen]
by: Michael Bleecker, Hunter Hall, Lauren Chandler
In Your Presence | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, London Gatch, Jane Williams
SERMON TEXT
Matthew 5
READ
Sunday Rewind | 8.28.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Good Good Father (2 Thessalonians 2;16) – The EP by Zealand Worship
Come Thou Fount (Psalm 16:11) – Public Domain
Unending Love (Romans 8:39) – God is Able by Hillsong Worship
Jesus Is Better (Mark 9:24) – King of Love by Austin Stone Worship
Doxology (Romans 11:36) – Public Domain
TEACHING: Be the Church, Part 1
As followers of Christ, we don’t go to church. We are the church.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- Prior to hearing this message, what came to mind when you heard the word “church”? Has that changed at all now?
- What passages of Scripture come to mind that describe the design, purpose, or mission of the Church?
- What does it mean that we, as followers of Christ, are the Church? Why is it so important to get these terms right?
- Have you, or anyone you know, left a local church for any of the reasons that Pastor Mike described? What are other reasons (right or wrong) that someone might leave?
- What does it look like for the truth to bring conviction rather than guilt?
- How would you respond to a friend who said he was leaving the church because he thought it was boring or irrelevant? What if he thought that the church was full of hypocrites?
- Read Romans 6:15-23. What is the difference between how the world defines “freedom” and how Scripture defines it? How does Jesus give freedom to His followers? What should our lives look like in light of that freedom? How should it affect our interactions with unbelievers?
- Spend some time praying that your group, and all the believers at RBC, would truly reflect and honor Christ, as His Body. Pray for the unbelievers in your lives, that they would put their faith in Christ and become members of the Church.
Preparing for Sunday | August 28
My hope and prayer for this blog each week is that God would use it to stir your affections for Him and for His Word, and to help you prepare for and eagerly anticipate what God will do through our time gathered together on Sunday. Here’s the first Preparing for Sunday post with a more in-depth explanation of why we do this.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 28
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Good Good Father | [listen]
by: Anthony Brown, Pat Barrett
Come Thou Fount | [listen + lyrics]
by: Robert Robinson (1758)
Unending Love | [listen + lyrics]
by: Jill McCloghry, Sam Knock
Jesus Is Better | [listen]
by: Aaron Ivey, Brett Land
Doxology | [listen | lyrics]
by: Thomas Ken (1674), David Crowder
SERMON TEXT
Acts 14:27
READ