Why I Love LifeChurch.tv 's Network

Since starting Life Church Franklin last year we have been using LifeChurch.tv's free teaching resources. It has been a relationship that has been a large part of the success of LCF.
LifeChurch.tv gives us free access to all their teaching resources (messages, graphics, small groups curriculum, etc...) and we are able to stay totally autonomous. We have our own leadership, finances, etc... It allows us to have relevant, life changing Gospel teaching from very gifted communicators, without the burden of a having a qualified teaching pastor on staff. Living in a rural area and finding highly gifted gospel communicators can be difficult and quite a burden. Being a LifeChurch.tv Network church, this is no longer an issue.
This allows us more time to concentrate on building relationships and community that will positively affect the Franklin area and lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
I am very grateful to LifeChurch.tv and their staff for this resource and how they have poured into and prayed for Life Church Franklin, even though they don't really have to. Without their efforts there would be no Life Church Franklin. The teaching was the biggest obstacle when planning for starting a church in Franklin.
It's all about building God's Church, not their church.
That's why I love LifeChurch.tv's Network.

Monday Morning Reflection

Yesterday was pretty amazing. It was great to see all the fathers at Life Church. It was a great day for me personally too. My kids and wife really spoiled me. They are way to good to me.
Anyways, here's just some random thoughts I have this morning thinking about on yesterday and what's to come at Life Church Franklin:

- Yesterday's message was so perfect for Father's Day. Simply put: God is Father. I hope you cling to this and remember he is your father. He is patient and loving and always waiting with open arms for you.
- This Sunday we are having our 3rd Baptism Bash of the year! Amazing! I hope you are there to celebrate along with us.
- Things are moving very quickly in relation to our move to the Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts and The Factory. Don't forget we will have a church lunch meeting immediately after worship on Sunday, July 12th to share the vision of the move and opportunities for you to serve.
- We need everyone to find a place to serve. We have an incredible opportunity to turn this community upside down with the life saving message of Jesus, but we can only do it with your help. It doesn't take a ton of time or lots of ability...it just takes a willingness to serve others.
- I just have to say that I really love everyone at Life Church Franklin. Many of us are different and I may not know every person personally, but I pray for you and want to see God use you in great ways. God's gifting and opportunities don't just get offered to pastors and leaders. YOU are the church. Be strong. Be proud of the father who lives inside of you and loves you. Use the opportunities God gives you this week to point people to Jesus.
- Be involved with our current series, One Prayer, online at www.oneprayer.com . Join thousands of believers each day praying for the church and encouraging each other.

Have a great week Lifers! Don't forget...Greater things are yet to come, in this city!

P

What A Jouney So Far...

I was looking through old files on my computer today and realized we have visited some really great series this past year with LifeChurch.tv . I through all the series graphics into a collage just as a reminder of the messages we have dug into this year and part of last year. So, as we have been applying these messages through God's word into our lives, which one was your favorite or most impactful?
P

 

What's the move look like?

After announcing our future plans to make use of the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts and The Factory here in Franklin on Sunday mornings starting sometime in August many people have wondered what the facilities look like. So, here you go...

This is from the parking lot looking at the front of the arts center.


This is just after entering the front doors and looking to the right in the front lobby.


This is on stage looking towards the seating area. (I know. It's big, but lets pray we fill many of these seats with people searching for truth only found in God!)


Looking from the seating area towards the stage.


Looking from the parking lot towards The Factory where LifeKIDS will meet Sunday mornings for age appropriate worship experiences.


Just remember our goal is this move is simply to give us more room to reach more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's not about a building.
I pray Life Church Franklin will be used to ignite a fire of life change through Jesus here in Franklin, western North Carolina and North Georgia!

P

We're Moving

Sunday I was pleased to announce our long awaited move to a facility with more room for Life Church Franklin to grow into. Currently, our building on Depot Street has no more room for growth.
Here are some thoughts before I talk about the new facility we will be using starting in August:
- We (the leadership team) have been looking for another facility since the end of December.
- The building on Depot Street has been great for the last year. We out grew it much faster than we expected; and that's ok.
- Sometime in the next few months we will lose the store front just down from our building that has hosted the LifeKIDS/Johnny Rogers worship experience. The other non-profit that is sub-leasing that store front to us will be moving into it very soon. (BTW, we are very grateful to them for allowing us to use it at no cost!)
- With much prayer and consideration the leadership explored many buildings and facilities in the central Franklin city area. This decision was not made overnight.

So, where are we moving to? Starting at a to be determined Sunday in August we will begin using the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts and The Factory for our adult and LifeKIDS worship experiences. This is a amazing opportunity that we are very excited about.
Here's a few thoughts about this opportunity:
- First and foremost, this is not about a building. This is about using a facility that will allow Life Church Franklin to reach more people with the Gospel message of hope, love, faith and salvation through Jesus Christ. We remain committed to our mission of leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
- The expense of using the arts center and The Factory is mush more economical than purchasing, or renovating a facility large enough for us to grow. This facility also gives us an abundant room for growth.
- Is this to much space? Right now, maybe. In the future, hopefully not. The reality is that there are 1,000's of people right here in Franklin that need to here the saving message of Jesus and let God transform there hearts and minds. If using this facility allows that to happen, than lets do it!
- There's a lot to be done between now and August, but I know we can do it...And I mean WE. We have to be in this together. Myself and a few people can't pull this off alone. We have to have great participation for each of you. I will be sharing more about this in the coming weeks. It's not about burning you out, but giving you an opportunity that fits your gifts to encourage others growing in or seeking Jesus.
- With the move to this facility we will become a "portable church". This somewhat foreign to our area, but done very effectively with participation from the church. We will have to grow our LifeKIDS teams, Host teams, Setup teams, etc...

I will share more in the coming weeks. As I shared Sunday, please keep the negative thoughts to yourself. We are confident in this move and know that God has moved and guided us in very clear ways to make this opportunity possible.

Thank you for joining us in this journey. We are and will continue to impact this community all the while pointing everyone to Jesus! Let's make Him famous!

In His grace,
Patrick

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One Prayer - Week 1

Click here to watch One Prayer Week 1 with Francis Chan.

We're Moving!

Sunday I was pleased to announce our long awaited move to a facility with more room for Life Church Franklin to grow into. Currently, our building on Depot Street has no more room for growth.
Here are some thoughts before I talk about the new facility we will be using starting in August:
- We (the leadership team) have been looking for another facility since the end of December.
- The building on Depot Street has been great for the last year. We out grew it much faster than we expected; and that's ok.
- Sometime in the next few months we will lose the store front just down from our building that has hosted the LifeKIDS/Johnny Rogers worship experience. The other non-profit that is sub-leasing that store front to us will be moving into it very soon. (BTW, we are very grateful to them for allowing us to use it at no cost!)
- With much prayer and consideration the leadership explored many buildings and facilities in the central Franklin city area. This decision was not made overnight.

So, where are we moving to? Starting at a to be determined Sunday in August we will begin using the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts and The Factory for our adult and LifeKIDS worship experiences. This is a amazing opportunity that we are very excited about.
Here's a few thoughts about this opportunity:
- First and foremost, this is not about a building. This is about using a facility that will allow Life Church Franklin to reach more people with the Gospel message of hope, love, faith and salvation through Jesus Christ. We remain committed to our mission of leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
- The expense of using the arts center and The Factory is mush more economical than purchasing, or renovating a facility large enough for us to grow. This facility also gives us an abundant room for growth.
- Is this to much space? Right now, maybe. In the future, hopefully not. The reality is that there are 1,000's of people right here in Franklin that need to here the saving message of Jesus and let God transform there hearts and minds. If using this facility allows that to happen, than lets do it!
- There's a lot to be done between now and August, but I know we can do it...And I mean WE. We have to be in this together. Myself and a few people can't pull this off alone. We have to have great participation for each of you. I will be sharing more about this in the coming weeks. It's not about burning you out, but giving you an opportunity that fits your gifts to encourage others growing in or seeking Jesus.
- With the move to this facility we will become a "portable church". This somewhat foreign to our area, but done very effectively with participation from the church. We will have to grow our LifeKIDS teams, Host teams, Setup teams, etc...

I will share more in the coming weeks. As I shared Sunday, please keep the negative thoughts to yourself. We are confident in this move and know that God has moved and guided us in very clear ways to make this opportunity possible.

Thank you for joining us in this journey. We are and will continue to impact this community all the while pointing everyone to Jesus! Let's make Him famous!

In His grace,
Patrick
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Elijah - Week 4

Watch week 4 of Elijah series from LifeChurch.tv

Our Response To God Saving Us

Ephesians 2:4 says, "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 our transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved."

Last week Laurel and I and the family enjoyed a week long break on vacation. It was really refreshing to do much of nothing all week. Because I was so not busy, I had lots of time to think and pray. Nothing really struck me with great revelation until the drive back home. I was thinking about Ephesians 2:4.

The reality is that we have done nothing to deserve God's mercy or the gift of salvation. We have been "good" people. We haven't done something to justify being "good" enough to get to heaven. Scripture even says in Isaiah 64:6 that "All of us have become like one who is unclean,and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags...". So, even our greatest deeds we can try and do are not good enough.

God's standards are not ours. His goodness is not ours. His righteousness is not ours.

We I am getting at is this...we are unworthy. I am unworthy of God's love and grace and mercy in the context of what I am as a human. But, God choose to save us anyways through Jesus. He allowed you a way to be made clean and made new and made righteous and made good enough...but only through Jesus.

Our only heart felt response should be to live a life in gratitude and appreciation towards this display that God has made towards us and for us. We can't go through the motions anymore. We can't just get by. It's time we respond to God in thanksgiving and worship to him because he saved you and me. We did nothing but accept that invitation.

So how are you going to respond to God for what he has and is doing for you?

P

Elijah - Week 3

Watch week 3 of the Elijah series.