From the Field: Mumbai
Ernest and Evelyn work in partnership with Oakseed Ministries with the Colaba Slum Project in Mumbai, India. Oakseed assists local ministries that serve abandoned children and the poor who live in the megacities of the Third World by bringing the good news of Jesus in word and deed.
It has been a joy for them to actually see the fruit of evangelism teams that are reaching out daily to both lower middle-class and poor families in that area. These are people who live in the slums, roadside huts, streets and hospitals. A special team even visits the brothels of Colaba five days a week providing prayer, worship, counseling and guidance.
Recently, this ministry led a couple from death to life. Ernest and Evelyn had developed a close personal friendship with a drug addict and his girlfriend, who was working as a prostitute. They and their church community reached out to them, befriended them, prayed for them, counseled them and tried to love them like Jesus loves. After much time, the addict and his girlfriend came to faith, were transformed, left their old lives behind and were baptized. In an amazing celebration of new life, they were married before the Lord in December 2012. In February 2013, Ernest and Evelyn were able to help them move from a garage shelter in the slums to an apartment. Praise God for His transformational love at work in their lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Colaba Slum Project is currently planning to begin a preschool in the Balwadi Slum in Colaba. Pray for God’s provision of a building, teachers and administrative staff. Please pray for Ernest and Evelyn and their teams as they seek to love the poor and forgotten people of these slums.
Community Outreach: Guilford Elementary
The mission of our partnership with Guilford Elementary School in Sterling, VA is to help meet the physical, relational and spiritual needs of the disadvantaged through service and generosity, and to encourage the staff who work with these families.
In this short video, David Stewart, principal of Guilford Elementary, shares about the impact of this partnership from his perspective.
For more information on our partnership and how to get involved, please visit www.restonbible.org/guilford.
Sunday Rewind | 7.28.2013
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Rock of Ages (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) – Death of Death by Charlie Hall
Give Me Faith (Psalm 73:25-26) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Alive In Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God Is Able by Hillsong
In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
I Lift My Hands (Psalm 46:10) – And If Our God Is For Us… by Chris Tomlin
TEACHING: Andrew, the Relational Apostle
The apostle Andrew is known as being a quiet, humble servant, a man “seized by the power of a great affection.” Dr. Lee Corder, former chaplain for the Washington Redskins, teaches on the large impact of this lesser-known follower of Jesus.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO/VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- As you reflect on this sermon, what one insight or principle stands out as being particularly helpful, insightful or difficult to grasp?
- Would you consider yourself a humble person? Why or why not?
- Read and discuss John 1:35-42 and John 6:1-11. What do you observe about Andrew in these verses?
- Andrew was an example of a “quiet, humble servant.” How would you define humility? What other examples of humility have you seen?
- What role does humility play in following Christ?
- How does the gospel call us to grow in humility?
- How are humility and evangelism related?
- What does it mean to be “seized by the power of a great affection”? How can we grow in our knowledge of Christ’s great affection for us? How can we grow in our affection for Him? Spend some time in prayer with your small group about this.
Sunday Rewind | 7.21.2013
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong
Open Up Our Eyes (Ephesians 1:18-19a) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Rock of Ages (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) – Death of Death by Charlie Hall
Forever Reign (Lamentations 5:19) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong
Jesus Paid It All (Colossians 2:13-14) – North Point Live by Kristian Stanfill (North Point)
TEACHING: Ruth: A Story of God’s Redemptive Love, Part 4
There is often a disconnect between how we see ourselves and how others see us. As representatives of Christ in a fallen world, we should take inventory of our character in light of Scripture. The character of Ruth and generosity of Boaz point us toward an integral life in Christ.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO/VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- As you reflect on this sermon, what one insight or principle stands out as being particularly helpful, insightful or difficult to grasp?
- What is “character”? Can you think of any examples of bad character? Of good character?
- Read and discuss Ruth 2. In terms of character, how does the foreman view Ruth? How does Boaz view Ruth? How does Ruth view Boaz? How does Naomi view Boaz? How does the author view Naomi?
- How does the character and generosity of Boaz point us to Christ?
- Is it important to consider how others see us? Why or why not?
- In what ways are you prone to have a “heat index” in your view of yourself and think more highly of yourself than you ought?
- How does the gospel help us see ourselves as we really are? How does the gospel tell us about how God views us? How are our personal character deficits redeemed in the gospel?
- Just based on outward observation, would your faith in Christ be evident to others? Why or why not? Can you think of any areas for intentional improvement? Spend some time in prayer about this with your group.
Next Generation Project Update – July 2013
Last Sunday, June 14, 2013, Pastor Ed and Pastor Mike give a report on the progress of the Next Generation Project, which we started last November.
You can learn more about the Next Generation Project and get involved at www.restonbible.org/nextgeneration
Sunday Rewind | 7.14.2013
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Be Lifted High (John 3:30) – Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Majesty (Isaiah 53:5) – Majesty: The Worship EP by Leeland
Lord of All (Psalm 97:5-6) – Louder Than Creation by Kristian Stanfill (North Point)
With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong
Unending Love (Romans 8:38-39) – God Is Able by Hillsong
TEACHING: Ruth: A Story of God’s Redemptive Love, Part 3
How does God accomplish His great purposes without negating our choices as free moral agents? As we continue our series, Pastor Mike looks at how the providential goodness of God is seen in the life of Ruth and in the arrival of Christ.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO/VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- If you were to give a one-sentence synopsis of this message, what would it be?
- What is “providence”? What theological or practical tensions are there when considering the providence & sovereignty of God?
- Do you have any stories, situations or scenarios from your own life that can only be explained by the providence of God?
- Read and discuss Ruth 2:1-13. Where do you see the providence of God at work? What does this tell us about the nature of man? What do we see about the nature of God?
- How does personal character & integrity play out in to the story of Ruth & Boaz in the verses above?
- How are we “resident aliens” like Ruth? What impact should this have on our daily life?
- How does the Gospel give purpose to even the most mundane aspects of our lives? Can you think of someone with whom you could pray to “find favor” with for the sake of the Gospel?
- Is there an area or situation in your life where you are “playing chess with God”? What would it look like for you to surrender, trust and obey Him instead? Spend some time in prayer about this with your group.
Praying for Muslims During Ramadan
Muslims fast for thirty days once a year during a period called Ramadan (or Ramazan). Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of the religion of Islam and one of their highest forms of worship. During these thirty days, Muslims around the world will fast from first light until sunset, not even drinking water. They will typically break fast to eat and drink in the evenings. In the Muslim culture, Ramadan marks a period of heightened religious sensitivity and is regarded by Muslims as an act of obedience and submission to God as well as a means of atoning for sin. They view their fasting during this time as a way to purify themselves and earn favor with God.
As followers of Christ, clearly we do not celebrate Ramadan as a holy month like so many Muslims do. However, the Islamic emphasis on earning favor with God though the fasting and abstinence during this season should call to mind at least two things for us:
1 – We should be humbled and grateful before God that we do not have to earn His favor. Jesus Christ atoned for our sins – no other atonement is sufficient or necessary (Romans 3:22-26). God has done that for us, a great gift of redemption that cannot be earned or achieved through our good works. It is God in His great love and mercy that makes us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-9). Thus, we should be both immensely humbled and grateful. Mind you, our gratefulness shouldn’t be in the Pharisaical sense (“God, thank You that I am not like these other people…”) but with a sense of wonder that He should have mercy on sinners at all (Luke 18:9-18:14).
2 – We should be drawn in compassion toward those who do not know His gift of grace in Jesus. In the first chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul urges Christ-followers to comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from our Heavenly Father – the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (1 Cor. 1:3-5). Muslims have no concept of God as Father, and without Christ, cannot know Him as such or be reconciled to Him. So for the Christian, the Muslim celebration of Ramadan is a special opportunity to pray that they might come to know the great and eternal comfort in Christ.
Why should we pray for Muslims during Ramadan? Our compassion for the lost should draw us – at a minimum – to prayer for them. Prayer for Muslims during Ramadan is a means by which Christians can missionally identify with Muslims for a fixed period of time and call for God’s sovereign intervention in the lives of Muslims during a time of the year when they are particularly religious.
We would certainly be clear that praying for Muslims during the month of Ramadan does not mean that we conform ourselves to the Muslim practices. As believers in Jesus Christ we do not hold to Islamic ideas, theology and practice. However, we can – and should – place an emphasis on God’s love for Muslims. All believers should cultivate a spirit of humility, love, respect and service toward Muslims, and the month of Ramadan is an entirely appropriate season to redeem for the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Though Muslims have been caricatured as “unreachable” with the Gospel, this simply is not true. About 20 years ago, the world had about 1.1 billion Muslims. Islam was a little-known religion in most Western nations, and efforts on the part of the Church to share their faith in Christ with Muslims were scarce. Today, efforts have increased ten-fold, and the technological advance of the past 20 years has transformed the way in which the Gospel is communicated to previously-unreached Muslim groups. For example, radio and satellite broadcasting throughout the Muslim world has resulted in millions of Muslims responding to the message of Christ. In the Arab world alone, one ministry, SAT 7, has a regular audience of 8.5 million. RBC supports a number of missionaries who are serving in Muslim communities around the world.
Many Christians are finding a new passion and commitment to see God’s kingdom come in Muslim nations, according to an article from Thirty Days Prayer Network.
In November 2012, 70,000 Christians from all denominations gathered in Cairo to pray for their nation. Others are finding increasing boldness as they lovingly reach out to their Muslim neighbours in new ways during these uncertain times.
Across the region there is an explosion of stories of Muslim people coming to faith in Christ and meeting together for support, encouragement and discipleship. Increasingly, however, these movements are finding themselves the targets of intimidation and persecution by their family, community or governments.
The challenges in reaching Muslims for Christ are great, but the power of the Gospel is greater. Our prayer is that Muslims will experience the love and grace of God the Father through the revelation of His Son, Jesus, to them as their Savior.
We encourage you to seek further information and gain a greater understanding reaching the Islamic world for Christ by viewing articles online at www.30-days.net. There, you can find daily prayer ideas though the month of Ramadan, as well as general articles and ministry ideas relating to Islam.
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Jason VanDorsten with Bill Hurley
Sunday Rewind | 7.7.2013
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Sing to the King – The Best of Passion by Candi Pearson (Passion)
King of Glory – Hello Love by Chris Tomlin
In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Blessed Be the Name (Job 1:21) – Sacred Revolution by Matt Redman (Passion)
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) – See The Morning by Chris Tomlin
TEACHING: Ruth: A Story of God’s Redemptive Love, Part 2
Both Ruth & Naomi experienced seasons of famine, departure, harvest and return – but one returned full of faith, the other full of bitterness. The mystery of pain & suffering in the hands of a sovereign & loving God should lead us not to bitterness, but to greater faith in Him.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO/VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What is one thing from this message that you hope to discuss as a group?
- If God is good and sovereign, why does He allow suffering? Have you ever had a season in life where you struggled to reconcile the sovereignty/goodness of God with the suffering of a painful circumstance? What happened?
- Read and discuss Ruth, chapter 1. With whom do you relate to more – Ruth or Naomi? How would you describe Naomi’s spiritual state? How would you describe Ruth’s?
- What role does suffering and pain play in the life of a Christ-follower?
- Read and discuss 1 Corinthians 13:12. How might this verse encourage Naomi? What other verses can you think of that would encourage her away from bitterness and toward deeper faith?
- How does the Gospel of Jesus Christ provide context for our pain and redeem our suffering?
- Is there an area of pain in your life that has lead you to bitterness toward God or others? What would it look like for you to rest in God’s grace in that area? Spend some time in prayer with your group about that.
Men’s Ministry News – July 2013
Men of RBC: The Men’s Ministry would like to invite you to some upcoming activities that have been designed to positively and encouragingly impact your walk with the Lord and in turn your spheres of influence.
WEEKLY DISCIPLESHIP CLASSES
Men’s Ministry weekly discipleship classes are a great way to get connected and increase your knowledge of the word and provide you with some mid-week encouragement. No previous experience or Bible knowledge is required; all you need is a willingness to grow and be challenged. For a course listing and full details, please visit www.restonbible.org/men.
- FUEL – Men of Action: The Role of Authentic Men in the Next Generation Church. Join us on this journey to authentic manhood. Tuesdays 6:25-7:30 AM – Sr. High Bldg. www.restonbible.org/fuel
- Training Faithful Men – Great Doctrines of the Faith. No registration required. For questions, call or email Ray Shoaff (703-625-5595) or ray@shoaff.com). Wednesday 6:00-7:00 AM – Sr. High Bldg. https://www.restonbible.org/men#TFM
Upcoming activities are scheduled in August and beyond. So mark your calendars.
2013 RBC Men’s Retreat
- Speaker: Dr. Richard Blackaby
- Where: Meadowkirk Retreat Center, Middleburg, VA
- When: Sept 20-22, 2013
- Topic: Living on God’s Agenda
Stay tuned – registration will open on July 15th and the limited space will fill up quickly for this nationally sought out speaker. Want to learn how to hear from God and live it out? Enjoy fellowship with other like-minded men in the scenic, quiet and local Virginia countryside. Close enough for a day trip if you can’t stay overnight. Save the date on your calendar and stay tuned for more details. www.restonbible.org/
THE SUMMIT
When: October 21, 2013-6:30 Dinner, 7:30 Event
Speaker: Congressman Daniel Webster of Florida
Where: RBC Sanctuary and clubhouse for dinner
Registration: Further information and registration coming soon.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Men’s Ministry is looking for a few good men to help with our event logistics and to take photos of our events. No special skills needed—just a servant heart. Events are The Summit, Marriage Conference, Boosters, and special men’s events. We plan to have teams that can alternate events. If interested, please contact Brad Hummel at mensministry@restonbible.org.
As always, the Men’s Ministry is here to be an encouragement in your walk with the Lord. Contact us at mensministry@restonbible.org if you have any questions or concerns.
God Bless,
The Men’s Ministry Leadership Team
Kids Camp 2013 Update
Radically trusting in the promises of God.
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2)
RBC Kids Camp is a week-long day camp open to all children between the ages of 4 and sixth grade and takes place the last week of June.
Through quality Bible teaching, art, drama, music, and a ton of awesome games, Kids Camp (formerly VBS) is a unique opportunity for children to begin or grow-in their relationship with Jesus and to learn to share their hope and joy with others.
This year we hosted more than 500 children and 200 volunteers for our 2013 edition of Kids Camp called, “The Rock.” Against the backdrop of a rock climbing adventure, the children learned that when we trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God guarantees certain things to us. These “promises” are things we can trust in completely. As we put our weight on these promises we see that God is faithful and we will grow in our faith. With each passing day we grow to trust Him more and more.
We are very thankful to the parents and volunteers for their commitment to making this event a success and to raising a generation that knows the goodness of our God.
Stay tuned for Kids Camp 2014!