From the Field: Ireland
RBC-supported missionaries Steve & Julia left for full-time work in Ireland only a few weeks ago. Here is an update from them:
We have been in Ireland now for 5 weeks and God has been very gracious to us as we get settled in. We arrived during a difficult rental housing marked with little property available and it disappearing fast. In spite of that, within the first week God provided us with a beautiful modern 2 bedroom furnished apartment with lots of windows and light in an excellent neighborhood. God has also helped us get our utilities and broadband set up, find a reliable used car, obtain car insurance, open a bank account, get our Irish version of social security numbers, and begin the process of getting permission to remain in the country. We are living in the suburbs of Cork in southeastern Ireland.
We are currently working with Douglas Baptist Church outside of Cork. Douglas Baptist is one of 14 churches in Cork and Kerry counties that have joined together in coordinating activities and in working together to plant new churches in areas with no evangelic church. There are two new church plants in the works. These churches have one joint service each year; we attended that service at the end of September. It is exciting to see how God has grown His church in southern Ireland as the 500+ people came together for worship and teaching.
We have been able to get heavily involved in ministry here also. There are several Bible studies each week that we participate in along with special ladies’ and men’s meetings we have attended. These activities have been very important in helping us meet people, build relationships, and gain trust for future ministry. Steve was asked to teach a lot sooner than expected and just finished teaching 3 Bible studies and preaching the Sunday sermon in the last week.
We would appreciate your prayers for:
- Gaining permission from immigration to remain in the country.
- Julia, a North American, serving as a coordinator for a wedding on Oct 19 between a Filipino man and a Brazilian woman in an Irish
- church – lots of cultural issues come up.
- Learning the culture – new vocabulary, word pronunciation, and behaviors.
- Steve’s short-term mission trip (Oct 15-22) to Croatia with some men from Reston Bible Church to work on a church building
- Our trip back to the States (Oct 30-Nov 11) to visit family and have our belongings shipped to Ireland
Please be in prayer for Steve & Julia as they begin their new life & ministry in Ireland. Pray for grace and opportunity as they seek to know Christ and make Him known in Ireland.
Take 5: Entering the World of the Unknown, Part 3
The Bible opens and closes with peace. Everything in between is war. Our people must understand that to live in this present world system to live in a world that is hostile toward believers.
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: The Goal of the Soul
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, Section 2, Lesson 3: The Goal of the Soul
What is the goal of the soul? Our souls were built for relationship with God. That relationship, once founded in Christ, can either be cultivated or neglected. Remember back to your childhood for a moment. When you learned to turn cartwheels or dive headfirst into the pool, did you shout, “Daddy! Look at me”? How about when you got good grades, your first job, or got engaged? In a healthy father-child relationship it is natural to want to please Dad.
How much more so our perfect heavenly Father? Cultivating our relationship with God means aiming to please Him out of love, not obligation. When we love God with our soul, we are pleased to please Him. Take a nice slow read of the following two passages and then prayerfully reflect on how we can help the kids cultivate their soul relationship with the Father.
“And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” – Jesus (John 8:29)
“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” – David (Psalm 40:8)
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation, He is my fortress – I will never be shaken.” -Psalm 62:1-2
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
John 8:29| Ps. 40:8 | 1 Peter 2:25 | Ps. 35:9-10
Sunday Rewind | 10.19.2014
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Your Love Never Fails (Romans 8:38-39) – Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture
Alive In Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God Is Able by Hillsong
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Psalm 16:11) – Original Arrangement
Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant
Give Me Faith (Psalm 73:25-26) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong
TEACHING: A Study of Deeper Faith in Colossians, Part 12
Our vertical relationship with God deeply impacts our horizontal relationships with others, and peace with God gives us the peace of God. The world defines peace through the lens of security; the Christian’s peace comes from confidence in the gospel.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this sermon?
- How do you define “peace”? What brings you peace?
- Read and discuss Colossians 3:12-17. What do these verses tell you about you? What do they tell you about Jesus?
- What “vertical” and “horizontal” elements do you see in these verses?
- What does it mean to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (v. 15)?
- What is the difference between peace with God and the peace of God?
- How does the world tend to define peace? Is this different from the peace of God? Why or why not?
- How does the gospel bring us peace? How have you experienced this peace during a painful trial?
- What is one way you can intentionally impact someone else’s life this week with the peace you have in God?
- Spend some time praying for the things you’ve discussed. Thank God for the peace we have with and from Him through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Take 5: Entering the World of the Unknown, Part 2
The wisdom of God is counter-intuitive to the fallen mind, so we must teach our people to be wise in the Scriptures.
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: Entering the World of the Unknown, Part 1
When you open the Bible, you are entering the world of the unknown. The “sixth sense” of biblical revelation allows us and the people we teach to think rightly.
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: Making Jesus the Hero, Part 5
In the final session of Making Jesus the Hero, Pastor Mike shares two visual illustrations that can help people grasp the gospel and all its implications.
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: Soul Mate
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, Section 2, Lesson 2: Soul Mate
Who is your favorite person to be with? Who is your soul mate? If you could, would you spend every free moment with that person? I have often asked my children, usually when I am frustrated by their lack of time in the Word, if they truly love God. Of course their answer is “yes.” I usually follow up that question with something like this, “Do you find it strange that you spend so little time with someone who you claim to love above all others?” It’s a great question, but one that rightly should be turned back on myself. David wrote, “My soul thirsts for you, the living God.” Wow! What makes David different from many of us? Is it that we don’t thirst? I don’t believe so. Our souls do thirst and so do the souls of the children we minister to. What made David a man after God’s own heart was that he recognized what – or better, Who – would quench his thirst.
Our problem is that often we don’t recognize what we are thirsting for, so we try to quench our thirst with other things. It could be work, relationships, recreation, television, or video games. Does my soul thirst for God as the deer pants for streams of water? It sure does. The question is whether I choose to go to the Source of living water or something else. This isn’t a guilt trip, but it should be a call to each of us to examine our souls and ask the hard questions, then cry out to God for a soul makeover. Let’s try to help the children understand the depths of God’s love, that by Jesus’ death He purchased for us a front row seat in the Father’s presence now and forever. God wants to be our soul mate and Jesus died to make that possible. Don’t miss out on the gift of the gospel, God’s presence, which is living water for our soul.
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation, He is my fortress – I will never be shaken.” -Psalm 62:1-2
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Psalm 63 | Psalm 143 | Psalm 42:2 | Psalm 23:1-3 | Psalm 107:9 | Luke 1:46-47
Sunday Rewind | 10.12.2014
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
How Great Thou Art (Psalm 145:3) – Hymns Ancient $ Modern by Charlie Hall (Passion)
Hosanna (Mark 11:9-10) – Savior King by Hillsong
Awesome Is The Lord Most High (Psalm 47:1-2) – See The Morning by Chris Tomlin
Unending Love (Romans 8:38-39) – God Is Able by Hillsong
I Lift My Hands (Psalm 46:10) – And If Our God Is For Us… by Chris Tomlin
TEACHING: Take Refuge
Chris Anderson teaches from Psalm 1 & 2 on life as it ought to be, the vain rebellion of man, the coming judgement, and God as the ultimate place of refuge. We cannot take refuge from God, but we can take refuge in God.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this sermon?
- What things/places/events tend to regularly remind you that the world in which we live is not safe? How do you tend to react when you are reminded of the dangers around us?
- Read through and discuss Psalm 1 & 2. What do you note about the nature of man? What do you see about the nature of God?
- “We cannot take refuge from God, but we can take refuge in God.” How do Psalm 1 & 2 support this statement? What other scriptures can you think of that teach us this?
- What does it mean to take refuge in God? Why is this easier said than done?
- Are there areas of your life where you try to take refuge from God?
- In the sermon, Chris gives this breakdown of the first two Psalms: Life as it ought to be – The vain rebellion – The coming judgement – The place of refuge. Where do you find these in Psalm 1 & 2? What are the implications of each?
- What is “the good life”? How does Psalm 1 define the good life for us? How does the gospel provide this good life?
- Can you think of someone in your life who is hurting or afraid? How can you reach out to them this week to serve them or encourage them to take refuge in the Lord?
- Spend some time praying for the things you have discussed. Give thanks to God that He is our great refuge using Psalm 1 & 2 as a guide.
Take 5: Making Jesus the Hero, Part 4
The gospel isn’t a formula – it’s a Person. It’s not an add-on – the gospel must be the solution to whatever tension you’ve presented in your message.
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.