Bill Plowden Memorial Service
VISITATION & SERVICE | On Tuesday, March 3rd visitation and a memorial service for Bill Plowden will be held at Reston Bible Church. The visitation is from 2:30-3:30pm and the service will begin at 4:00pm. A reception will follow at the church.
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS | Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Bill Plowden to the Plowden Family Fund at Fundrazr.com (http://fnd.us/c/3iF3b) to support the children’s college fund. Letters for the girls about Bill can be sent to theplowdengirls@gmail.com.
FROM THE FAMILY | We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all of the many friends and family who have walked with us throughout this journey. The Lord has used your prayers and support to sustain us in every possible way. We would also like to thank all of the wonderful staff of Massachusetts General Hospital who have cared for Bill over the past 18 months. A special thank you to our RBC family for your loving support and for helping us to plan Bill’s Celebration of Life.
TRAIL GUIDE: Forgive and Pray
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 2, Lesson 2: Forgive & Pray
The church is made up of people. As people being transformed into the image of Christ, we are by definition not finished products. This leaves us open to mistakes or offenses committed against one another. The question is not whether we offend one another but rather when it happens how do we respond in a way that is not of this world?
Forgiveness and prayer – this is the model we have in Christ. If we behave as the world behaves, we diminish our witness to the lost, inflict pain on the body of Christ, and damage our own walk with the Lord. As we take a look at the topic of forgiving one another and praying for one another, take personal inventory of your relationships in the church. Are you actively praying for those with whom God has brought you into relationship within the body? Are we keeping short accounts with our brothers and sisters in Christ? As you prepare for this week with the children, I encourage you to read the two articles on forgiveness and prayer, keep your kids before the Lord on your knees, and ask the Father to continue your extreme makeover in this critical area of our spiritual lives. (CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLES.)
Thank you for giving to the Lord by serving His children. Your offering is making an eternal impact.
”Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” – John 15:12-14
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Acts 4:33-35 | Phil 2:25
1 Corinthians 16:13-18
Take 5: Examples from Jonah, Part 9
Here are some reflections from Jonah’s prayer that we can incorporate into our own prayer lives.
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 | 3.1.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Our God Is Love (1 John 4:9-10) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong
In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Lord I Need You (Hebrews 4:16) – All The People Said Amen by Matt Maher
The Lord Our God (James 1:17) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
Majesty (Isaiah 53:5) – Majesty: The Worship EP by Leeland
TEACHING: Why the Gospel is Never Given the Same Way Twice
There is a massive difference between knowing the facts of the gospel, and putting your faith in the gospel. The gospel is a Person, not a formula.
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?
- Read and discuss 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. What do these verses tell you about the gospel? What do they tell you about Jesus? What do they imply about us?
- Why is the gospel “good news”?
- When did you first hear the gospel? What happened? How did you respond?
- What people or events in the Old Testament can you think of that serve as a foreshadowing of Christ?
- “The gospel is a Person, not a formula.” What does this mean? What the practical implications of this statement as you live your everyday life?
- What is the difference between knowing the facts about the gospel, and putting your faith in the gospel? Why is this distinction important?
- What felt needs can you identify in this season of your life? How does the gospel address those needs? How do you need to apply the gospel to those areas?
- Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ. Ask Him to help you know Him more through the wonders of the gospel.
Take 5: Examples from Jonah, Part 8
The Word of God is more authoritative than signs, miracles, human reasoning or human experience.
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.
Fun, Fun, Fun at Family Fun Night
Over the upcoming Spring Break, a missions team (led by Mike Meyers and Jason Goetz) will jet down to Brazil to help host a Vacation Bible School program for up to 200 children of the Terena Indian Tribe. On Friday February 20, the RBC Family-Quest Brazil team hosted a Family Fun Night at Reston Bible Church as a team-building exercise.
About 230 people (55 families!) came out despite record cold temperatures to play games, make crafts, watch movies, and devour pizza, popcorn, and ice cream. The mission team had its first chance to work together on a project, and it was wonderful to hear our younger volunteers ask (after having served for 5 hours), “Is there anything else I can do?” We were also happy to hear people say, “When are you doing this again?”
Special thanks to:
– The Don’s Pizza for giving us a great deal on our dinner
– Our volunteers who served alongside of us even though they are not going on the trip
– Our church family for coming out to support us. We hope you had FUN!
If you would like to support the team’s mission financially you can do so by clicking HERE (this link will take you to the Open Arms Worldwide website) and then following the instructions at the top of the page.
You can also support the team by eating out at The Jukebox Diner (46900 Community Plaza, Sterling VA, 20164) on Sunday, March 8th. For the whole day, (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) you can leave your receipt in the jar at the register and 10% of your bill goes to support our mission team!
Take 5: Examples from Jonah, Part 7
There’s a huge difference between fearing the storm and fearing the God of the storm.
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.
TRAIL GUIDE: Serve One Another
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 2, Lesson 1: Serve One Another
“You Should Do As I Have Done For You” – Jesus
The dusty and dirty conditions of the region necessitated the need for foot-washing. Although the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet, they could not conceive washing each others’ feet. This was because in the society of the time, foot-washing was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers did not wash one another’s feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love. Luke points out (22:24) that they were arguing about who was the greatest of them, so that none was willing to stoop to wash feet. When Jesus moved to wash their feet, they were shocked. His actions serve also as a symbol of spiritual cleansing (vs. 6-9) and a model of Christian humility (vs. 12-17). Through this action Jesus taught the lesson of selfless service that was supremely exemplified by His death on the cross.
The foot-washing was an example, a pattern. Many groups throughout church history have practiced literal foot-washing as a church ordinance. However, present culture in many lands does not call for the need to wash dust from the feet of one’s guests. Whereas the Lord’s Supper was practiced by the early church, it apparently did not practice foot-washing as an ordinance in church gatherings. This passage emphasizes inner humility, not a physical rite. A Christian widow’s practice of “washing the feet of the saints” (I Tim. 5:10) speaks not of her involvement in a church ordinance but of her humble slave-like service to other believers. Not to follow the example of Jesus is to exalt oneself above Him and to live in pride. “No servant is greater than his master” (cf. John 12:26).
Take this time for some introspection. Have you ever, consciously or unconsciously, considered yourself “better” than someone else? Would you gladly clean the toilets in the church building or are your gifts or your “position” above that sort of thing? What was Jesus’ perspective on this subject? If we are His body then this is critical information.
Recommended Resource: Manners and Customs of the Bible by J.I. Packer & M.C. Tenney.
“Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” – John 15:12-14
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Galatians 5:13; 6:2
Romans 12:2-3 | James 2:1-12
Philippians 2:1-7
Take 5: Examples from Jonah, Part 6
The story of Jonah is one of the greatest portrayals of the gospel in the Old Testament.
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.
Ideas for Worshiping at Home
SUNDAY, FEB. 22, 6:25AM – BOTH SUNDAY SERVICES, CLASSES & MINISTRY ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELED FOR THIS MORNING due to hazardous road conditions. Please be safe and enjoy time worshiping the Lord at home this morning!
The Youth Missions Application meeting scheduled for this afternoon is also canceled.
Updated 11:55AM – AWANA and Financial Peace University are canceled for this evening.
Scripture is clear about the importance of being a part of the church – both the “big-C” Church (the universal body of believers for all time) and being involved in the localized expression of the Church, what we might call the “little-c” or local church. Scriptures like Acts 2:42, Hebrews 10:25, 1 John 4:12, Hebrews 10:24, Galatians 5:13, Romans 12:10, Romans 15:14 and 1 Corinthians 12 – among many others – show us the importance of the Christ-based community unique to church, where we can use the gifts God has given us to love, serve and instruct one another for His glory. Though we will not meet together this morning as we usually do, we encourage you to use the time at home this morning to do the same – to love, serve and instruct one another in the context of worshiping our great and glorious God.
Here are some quick ideas for at-home family worship this morning:
- Worship God in song: Put on some of your favorite worship songs and sing along. Our live worship album No Other Name offers some familiar voices to sing along with.
- Proclaim His excellencies: 1 Peter 2:9 tells us “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Tell about a time you recently saw God do something great.
- Honor the Word of God: The early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Peruse our sermon archives and pick out an old favorite to listen to or watch again, or catch up on a missed Sunday. Take some time to read some of your favorite Scriptures aloud and share why they are meaningful to you.
- Pray: Spend some time praying for each other, for others you know are in need and for our church.
- Give: To give tithes or offerings, you may do so securely online here.