Easter Message Preview

Easter is less than 2 weeks away. Research shows people are very receptive to church invites Easter Sunday. I hope you will invite many people. Trust me, we will find room for everyone. This is a preview of the new series starting Easter Sunday.

HIS Great Love

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved."
- Ephesians 2:4-5

It's easy to think that the things here on earth makes us "alive". In reality, we are made "alive" through our relationship with Jesus. He gives us true and eternal life. He gives our earthly life meaning and purpose. The last few years God has given me clear purpose in my life. I feel more certain of what he wants me to do than any other time in my life. It's a amazing, crazy place to be.

In seeing this purpose he has for me, I have come to realize more and more that our goal here on earth is please Him, glorify him, honor him. It's not about what people want. It's not even about what I want (thank goodness). It's all about what God wants and pleasing him.

I hope as my days of leading and serving at Life Church people will always remember that I am here to please God and do his will. I am not here to please people. It's a hard place to be. It's very uncomfortable at times, but I more alive when I am in God's will and no one elses.

Please continue to pray for me, our leadership team, volunteer teams and Life Church as a whole. There is much to be done, especially when we are in His will.

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Life. Money. Hope. - Week 2

Click here to watch Life. Money. Hope. Dave Ramsey Week 2

Are You Good Soil?

This morning I was reading in Mark where Jesus shared another parable. He used the illustration of seed and different types of soil to get his point across. The seed is the Word of God. The soil is us. So he says some crummy soil basically don't grow the seed (Word). There's no harvest of the seed for anything spiritually beneficial.

Then in verse 20 he says this: "Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop–thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

So today I am asking myself, am I good soil? Do I hear the Word, accept it, receive it and produce an abundant crop? Today I am praying that I hear very clearly every moment I am in God's Word and when he speaks to me through the Holy Spirit, so that I might produce a crop that is 30, 60 or even 100 times larger to bring glory to God.

My prayer for you is that you will be that good soil too. That you would be doers of the Word. That when you hears God's truth you would bring change into your life.
Following Christ is all about changing. It about changing from our worldly thoughts to those that are honoring and glorifying to God.
So what kind of soil are you?

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Life. Money. Hope.

Watch Week 1 of Life.Money.Hope.

God Of This City - My Prayer

I have been reminded the last few days how much still remains to be done to reach more people in Franklin with the Gospel of Jesus. It is a huge burden I gladly carry every day. I pray to see people's lives restored and changed. I pray to see followers of Christ making a difference in Franklin by serving their family, friends and neighbors. I pray to see a great move of God through the people of Franklin.

Chris Tomlin's version of "God Of This City" has been a song that means so much to me. It has become an ongoing song of prayer and worship from me to God. The lyrics basically proclaim how awesome and in control God is and that there is still amazing things to come in our city. This is my prayer and worship this morning. Would you do the same today for Franklin, NC?

GOD OF THIS CITY
You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are

You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are

For there is no-one like our God
There is no-one like our God

Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done here

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The Vow - Week 4

Keeping Church Simple

I recently went into an Apple computer store in a mall. I was amazed at the simplicity of it. No flashing sales signs or annoying pictures. It was very clear and simple. It was easy to find what I needed and explore other products.

So what in world does this mean to you. I think it's a perfect example of what the local church can learn about reaching more people with the Gospel of Jesus. The message of Jesus is not all that complicated. It's about his death and resurrection and the salvation and new life we find in a personal relationship with him. It's about changing our lives to live in the grace and mercy he freely offers so we live not as the world but in a way to glorify God and bring him praise.

It really is a simple message. My prayer is that we make the message of Jesus that simple every week at Life Church and that this becomes your desire as well. WE can't save anyone. We can't change anyone...but God can. We have to never grow tired of helping those seeking God find the simple message and truth of Jesus Christ. Life Church exists to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. That's it. Nothing else. No hidden agenda. No plan to busy people with programs and "stuff". More and more of Jesus through worship and Life Groups.

I hope this is your heart and vision for the local church through Life Church. Let's make Jesus famous. If nothing else, keep it simple so people can see the truth found in Scripture and God can bring amazing life changes to those around us.

It's a simple message that brings major change and new life!

Sunday Reflections

Yesterday I had the honor of baptizing 2 more people at Life Church. It was an awesome time of celebration. I was totally overcome by the thought of God smiling down and the angels rejoicing for God's Kingdom as these people made their outward profession of faith in Jesus through baptism. It was just amazing.

The LifeKIDS worship experiences during the adult experience are going amazing. The kids are giving us great feedback that they love the worship and teaching. I have been thrilled to hear the responses from other families and my own. This is such a huge part of who we are at Life Church. We want to prepare and equip these children with truth and love so they can experience Jesus in a real way and be a part of His Kingdom.

in 2 weeks we start a new series with financial expert Dave Ramsey. If you haven't heard and know Dave then you are in for a treat. Dave will be sharing biblical truths about finances from scripture and practical ways to put God Word to work in our finances. Don't miss this series. Seriously, dont miss it! Bring a friend, invite a neighbor. Get people here for this series.

Have a great week!

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The Vow - Week 3

The Vow - Week 2

Sunday reflections

Yesterday was an amazing message for all you married couples, but I was also amazed at the response from singles too. I received feedback that some of the singles were very encouraged and challenged by the message.
Sunday was week 2 of The Vow series. Yesterday Craig spoke about the vow of pursuit. We have focused first on the fact that God has to be out #1 and our spouse right after that at #2. Nothing should be more important than God and the only thing more important than our spouse is God.

VOW #1: I PROMISE THAT GOD WILL BE MY #1 PRIORITY AND MY SPOUSE WILL BE MY #2.
VOW #2: I PROMISE TO ALWAYS PURSUE MY TWO.

As Laurel and I are almost at our 10th year in marriage I will be vigilant in pursing her for the rest of my life. It's easy to get caught in the routine of life and get so busy you take your spouse for granted. It's easy, but its wrong. Especially us guys, we have got to do everything to continue pursing our wives. She needs us and wants us. We need to step up and commit to pursuing our wives forever and pray that God blesses her for her commitment to Him and you.

So, are you going to pursue her today? I hope you will. Don't wait, do it now.