SUNDAY, MARCH 30th, 2014
Ken Elsner, Lead
In light of recent events around World Vision this week, it's interesting that we're wrapping up our Irresistible series around the idea of Influence. Christians are so concerned about what we're against rather than what we're for. No wonder we have a terrible name. I appreciate Pastor Andy Stanley's tweet today "Imagine a world where unbelievers were critical of what we believed but envious of how well we treated one another."
I want us to come Sunday prepared to talk about Transformed Influence. We have the power through the Gospel of Jesus to change the world for good. The question remains, "Do we actually want to bring change through truth, or just hate?"
Part 7
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
IRRESISTIBLE PART 6: Sent
SUNDAY, MARCH 23rd, 2014
Ken Elsner, Lead Pastor
Have you watched the news and it seems like everyone is more concerned about the rest of the world and not your own town? Ya, me too. Sometimes it really irritates me. What's the big deal about everywhere else? Why are their problems any worse than mine. Or why is that child more important than mine? Sometimes I just think it's easier to get motivated when there's a Tsunami or earthquake in a remote part of the world. But, we have problems here too? Right?
So here's where God comes in! Ya, I'm bringing God into the conversation. God has a incredible gigantic heart for the nations. ALL of them. If we think that we can wait to go to the world until our junk is figured out, then we're very, very misinformed. What does it mean to be both local and global? What does it mean to be "sent ones?" What does it mean to be Irresistible to the nations?
Part 6
Ken Elsner, Lead Pastor
Have you watched the news and it seems like everyone is more concerned about the rest of the world and not your own town? Ya, me too. Sometimes it really irritates me. What's the big deal about everywhere else? Why are their problems any worse than mine. Or why is that child more important than mine? Sometimes I just think it's easier to get motivated when there's a Tsunami or earthquake in a remote part of the world. But, we have problems here too? Right?
So here's where God comes in! Ya, I'm bringing God into the conversation. God has a incredible gigantic heart for the nations. ALL of them. If we think that we can wait to go to the world until our junk is figured out, then we're very, very misinformed. What does it mean to be both local and global? What does it mean to be "sent ones?" What does it mean to be Irresistible to the nations?
Part 6
IRRESISTIBLE PART 5: People
SUNDAY, MARCH 16th, 2014
Ken Elsner, Lead Pastor
I don't know about you, but I tend to lean towards being an introvert. Which means, when it comes to my neighbors or going out of my way to meet new people, it's challenging. I have enough to deal with in my life than have to worry about other people who aren't my family. Once you open the door a crack into someone's life, BAM, the floodgates tend to open.
So here where the problem is. Jesus was all about people. I mean, he went all over Judea meeting people. Getting into their stuff. Their lives. He even went where no other self-respecting Jew would go. Samaria. Why did he do that? Why did he have to be so "loving?" Because people matter to God. And they should matter to us. Our neighbors should matter to us. Our coworkers. And yes, our extended family too!!
Part 5
Ken Elsner, Lead Pastor
I don't know about you, but I tend to lean towards being an introvert. Which means, when it comes to my neighbors or going out of my way to meet new people, it's challenging. I have enough to deal with in my life than have to worry about other people who aren't my family. Once you open the door a crack into someone's life, BAM, the floodgates tend to open.
So here where the problem is. Jesus was all about people. I mean, he went all over Judea meeting people. Getting into their stuff. Their lives. He even went where no other self-respecting Jew would go. Samaria. Why did he do that? Why did he have to be so "loving?" Because people matter to God. And they should matter to us. Our neighbors should matter to us. Our coworkers. And yes, our extended family too!!
Part 5
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
IRRESISTIBLE PART 4: Response
SUNDAY, MARCH 9th, 2014
Ken Elsner, Lead Pastor
When you get a gift what is your response like? Is it totally appreciation? Thankfulness? Gratitude? How we respond at those times speaks a lot towards the state of our heart. Do we find it hard to be thankful? Are we unsure of how to respond? Do we become uncomfortable? Maybe it's because we've never been taught how to respond. Whatever the case may be, we need to learn some new responses, especially when it comes to our relationship with God.
Part 4
Ken Elsner, Lead Pastor
When you get a gift what is your response like? Is it totally appreciation? Thankfulness? Gratitude? How we respond at those times speaks a lot towards the state of our heart. Do we find it hard to be thankful? Are we unsure of how to respond? Do we become uncomfortable? Maybe it's because we've never been taught how to respond. Whatever the case may be, we need to learn some new responses, especially when it comes to our relationship with God.
Part 4
IRRESISTIBLE PART 3: News
Sunday, March 2nd, 2014
Ken Elsner, Lead Pastor
What kind of news do you like to receive? Bad or good? My guess is that you like the good news significantly more than getting bad news. I'm right there with you. I especially hate the line that I sometimes get which goes something like, "We need to talk!" It's especially awful when it's done over the phone and the person on the other end says, "in a couple of days." Ever get one of those calls? There's something about good news that can just make a day go by a little faster and a little brighter. The news of a baby being born healthy. A friend getting a promotion. Approval for that dream house. Whatever the "news" is, we like it when it's good.
So what if there was news given that could change everything? How we see the world. How we live in the world. How we respond to the world. What would you do with it? Would you walk away and say that it can't be true, or would you run as fast as you can and embrace it?
That's the direction tomorrow. We all need some encouragement. We all need to hear some good news for a change.
Part 3
Ken Elsner, Lead Pastor
What kind of news do you like to receive? Bad or good? My guess is that you like the good news significantly more than getting bad news. I'm right there with you. I especially hate the line that I sometimes get which goes something like, "We need to talk!" It's especially awful when it's done over the phone and the person on the other end says, "in a couple of days." Ever get one of those calls? There's something about good news that can just make a day go by a little faster and a little brighter. The news of a baby being born healthy. A friend getting a promotion. Approval for that dream house. Whatever the "news" is, we like it when it's good.
So what if there was news given that could change everything? How we see the world. How we live in the world. How we respond to the world. What would you do with it? Would you walk away and say that it can't be true, or would you run as fast as you can and embrace it?
That's the direction tomorrow. We all need some encouragement. We all need to hear some good news for a change.
Part 3
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