From the Field: Haiti Family Mission Update
Over Spring Break, a team of 21 parents and Jr. High students flew to Pignon, Haiti to serve with RBC-supported national pastor, Francois Romelus (featured here in a previous From the Field). While adults from RBC had visited before, it was the first trip that included students, and it was amazing to see the way the Lord used them.
Pastor Francois runs an orphanage of 50+ children, and it was such a blessing to see the ways that our students could play and interact with them, despite the language barrier. Our students were really able to open up the children there and practically show the love of Christ. On top of playing games of soccer, teaching them to skateboard, braiding hair, and hanging out, we also had several special opportunities with them.
We set up Easter Egg hunt with them and talked with them about the resurrection of Christ. We treated them to s’mores cooked over an open fire, after which everyone licked clean their sticky fingers. We had English classes as they taught us some Creole. And we took the oldest ~20 students to a beach a few hours away. Most of them had never been to the ocean and didn’t know how to swim. It was a treat for them, and a blessing to have fun with them.
We also had the blessing of helping the local church run a VBS-style children’s program. While it was a bit chaotic at times with almost 400 children who couldn’t speak English, it was an amazing blessing to serve the community. Our theme for the week was “Mwen Se Trésor Bondye” or “I am a Treasure of God’s”.
We had a great opportunity to play and do crafts with the children and act out Bible stories, as the national pastors taught God’s Word. At the end of each day, each the church provided a meal of rice, beans, and a little chicken for the children, and it was humbling to see how so little meant so much to them. Please pray for the children to understand that they are God’s Treasure.
Finally, we were blessed with many opportunities to connect with and encourage the local church. Eric Smith, the chairman of RBC’s elders, taught a marriage class. We were able to hear the testimonies of and pray for all of the national pastors and elders of the church in Pignon. Please continue to pray for them as they face many hardships and persecution to lead the church.
Thank you to the many who prayed for this team. We definitely saw the answers to many of your prayers. Please continue to pray for Pastor Francois’ children and their futures, as there are very few career opportunities for them.
**Thanks to all who attended the team review on Wednesday, 4/29 in the Jr. High Room. Please continue to pray for Pastor Francois and the ministry there.
Sunday Rewind | 4.26.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Your Love Never Fails (Romans 8:28) – Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture
In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Come Thou Fount (Psalm 16:11) – Original Arrangement
Unending Love (Romans 8:38-39) – God Is Able by Hillsong
Cornerstone (Psalm 18:2) – Cornerstone by Hillsong
TEACHING: Grace Given, Grace Received – Part 1
Grace is not just for salvation – we need it in every ongoing aspect of our lives. Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.
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 sermon?
- What comes to mind when you think of the word “grace”? How would you define grace?
- Read and discuss Ephesians 2:1-9 and Romans 5:6-20. What do you see about the nature of man? What do you note about the nature of God? What do these passages tell us about grace?
- In what ways do we tend to “shelve” grace? What are the results?
- How does biblical grace address sin, pride and self-pity? Which of these three do you tend toward? Why?
- In what ways have you received grace? In what ways have you given grace?
- How can you “drink more deeply from the well of grace”?
- Is there a specific area or situation in your life where you need to give or receive grace? What would it look like in practical terms for you to do that? Spend some time praying about this.
Take 5: Examples from Jonah, Part 24
The marvelous revelation of God’s grace and His redemptive plan through Christ is woven within every book of the Bible.
This is our final Take 5 (for now!) We hope these have been encouraging and helpful for those who teach the Word of God. These videos will remain archived here: vimeo.com/channels/minter.
Take 5: Examples from Jonah, Part 23
The abrupt ending to the book of Jonah forces us to consider God’s great concern for the lost.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Sunday Rewind | 4.19.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Open Up The Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews
Alive In Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God Is Able by Hillsong
My Deliverer (Psalm 18:1-2) – Hello Love by Chris Tomlin
I Stand Amazed (2 Corinthians 8:9) – North Point Live by Candi Shelton (North Point)
Glorious (Psalm 111:2-3) – Glorious by Paul Baloche
TEACHING: Missions Sunday – From the Field
All followers of Jesus are significant in the work of missions. We must move from information and inspiration to personal involvement in Christ’s great work in missions.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- How would you describe “missions” to someone who doesn’t know? What comes to mind when you think of “missions” and “missionaries”?
- Do you have any experience with missions?
- Read and discuss Luke 10:1-24. What does this tell us about the topic of missions? What other scriptures can you think of that inform and inspire us to personal involvement in missions?
- Why is every single believer in Jesus significant in the work of missions?
- What are the dangers of missions? What hinders missions?
- Would you say that you have a “burden for the lost”? Why or why not? How can we develop this?
- How can we as the church discern between significant and insignificant issues as we consider the topic of missions?
- “God does not want to use all of us in the same way, but He does want to use all of us in some way.” How do you respond to this statement? What role do you think God is giving you in the important work of missions?
- Are you willing to make yourself available to the Lord for the work of missions? Why or why not? What are you willing to risk? Spend some time praying about this.
TRAIL GUIDE: The Extra Mile
The “Trail Guide” devotional is used by our adult leaders of grade school groups in Quest as a way to prepare their hearts and minds for the topics we will be covering with the children on the weekend. We have made them available here to help our parents of grade-schoolers engage with their children around the topics we are discussing and also for anyone else that might be blessed by following along.
EXTREME MAKEOVER, Unit 2, Section 3, Lesson 3: Love Your Enemies by Going the Extra Mile
Several years ago I ran in the annual Army 10-Miler in DC. I signed up for 10 miles and I trained for 10 miles. What happened instead was a race diversion. Because of a bomb scare, I (along with 20,000 other runners) ended up going 11.5 miles. When asked to run 10 miles, we ran 11.5 instead. Okay, but that’s not exactly what Jesus was talking about in His most famous sermon (Matthew 5). So what was He getting at? Love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you, if someone forces you to go a mile, go with him two miles. Say what? This is crazy talk, Jesus. That’s just not feasible. He clearly hasn’t kept up with the latest personal assertiveness seminars. Get ahead by standing up for yourself. That’s the American way.
We started out this section looking at how we can love our neighbors in the family, and in the church. Most recently, as we discussed our neighbor in the world, we first looked at the sinner and then the defenseless. So far, so good. All these folks we could look upon with either affection or at least compassion. But God couldn’t leave things that simple. Jesus, as He repeatedly does throughout His ministry, has to push the idea to its divine extreme. Not only does He say it – “love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you…” – but He lives it out. Or maybe “dies it out” is more appropriate (Romans 5:7-10). Jesus, in taking love to its divine extreme, makes it all the more clear that, in our unregenerate, fallen state, we simply cannot love like God loves. Only through the empowering of the Holy Spirit can we truly embrace this brand of extreme love. Read the following definition of love, and meditate on it in light of the cross.
“Agape, or divine love, is eternal and totally independent of the object of its favor. Agape is an affection which stands in spite of any element of attractiveness, desirability, or even value. It also can be hated by the object of its affection, without damaging its intensity or character.”
“So we are not quick to demand justice unmingled with mercy… When we live this way, we magnify the glory of God’s mercy and the all-satisfying Treasure that He is to our souls. We show that because of His supreme value to us, we do not need the feeling of personal vengeance in order to be content.” – John Piper
BE EXTREME – LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. JESUS DID! “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Matt 5:38-48 | Rom 5:7-10
Rom 12:20 | Col 3:13
Sunday Rewind | 4.12.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
God Is Able (Ephesians 3:20-21) – God Is Able by Hillsong
Closer (Psalm 89:14-15) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong
The Wonderful Cross (Galatians 6:14) – The Worship Initiative, Vol. 5 by Shane & Shane
In Christ Alone (Galatians 2:20) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
TEACHING: The Conscience
We tend to think of our conscience as a thermometer that registers the moral temperature around us. In reality, the conscience is more like a thermostat, which can be “reprogrammed” by the influences around us.
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 sermon?
- How would you describe the moral/religious environment in which you grew up?
- Read and discuss Acts 24:14-16. What do you observe about the conscience? Why would the author of Acts “take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man” (v. 16)?
- Have you ever felt the weight of trying to maintain something that is not found in Scripture? What was the source of that pressure?
- What is the distinction between viewing the conscience as a thermometer as opposed to seeing it as a thermostat? Why is this distinction important?
- Are we born with a built-in moral code? What initially forms and shapes our conscience? What examples come to mind?
- What influences/environments have shaped and reshaped your conscience over the years? Can you think of good and bad examples from your own life?
- Read and discuss Titus 1:15-16, Ephesians 4:17-20, Romans 1:18 and 1 Timothy 4:1-3. What warnings are here regarding the defilement of the conscience?
- How does the gospel redeem, inform, enable and shape our own conscience? What does the gospel require of us in regards to others’ consciences?
- What areas of your life need to be readjusted to “true North”? Spend some time together in prayer for this.
Take 5: Examples from Jonah, Part 22
There will be times in life and ministry where it seems that God has “removed” His grace. Do you have the right to be angry if He does?
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Take 5: Examples from Jonah, Part 21
When grace is given, we are to receive, apply, and distribute it. The first two are easy – the third is much more difficult. Ministry requires the distribution of grace.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Sunday Rewind | 4.5.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
Alive In Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God Is Able by Hillsong
Christ The Lord Is Risen Today – Love Divine by Aaron Keyes
Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant
Our God Is Love (1 John 4:9-10) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong
TEACHING: Too Good to Be True
At Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus as the pivotal turning point in the history of man. But is the Easter account too good to be true?
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 sermon?
- What traditions do you and your family have to celebrate Easter?
- Read and discuss 1 Corinthians 15:12-28. What do these verses tell us about the nature of man? What do they tell us about Jesus?
- Why would Paul say that without the resurrection, our faith in Christ is in vain (v. 14)? Why is Jesus’ resurrection from the dead the pivotal turning point in the history of mankind? Why does the resurrection matter?
- Is it difficult to believe in the resurrection? Have you ever felt the gospel is “too good to be true”?
- Chris said, “The path to belief looks different for different people.” Where are you on your own path to belief? What has your path looked like up to this point in your life?
- Where do you see death & resurrection metaphors reflected in our culture?
- Spend some time in prayer for the things you’ve discussed. Give thanks to God for all that we have in Jesus Christ.