Archive for November, 2011
A Letter From Pastor P To NewSpring Church… November 8, 2011
Howdy NewSpring Church, EIGHT things I would love to share with you today…
#1 – WHAT A SUNDAY…week three of the Job series entitled, “Three Financial Decisions That Changed My Life” actually resulted in over 30 people having an eternal destination changed as they met Christ. That NEVER gets old.
#2 – A few additional thoughts about Sunday…
- Job was blessed financially by God (compare his material blessings in Job 1:1-3 to Job 42:12-13!)
- God wants His children to be blessed financially (II Corinthians 9:6-15) so that we can be a blessing to others!
- Until God is first, our finances are cursed (Malachi 3:6-11)
- Radical obedience in one area of our lives does not excuse radical disobedience in another (said this in regards to people who say “I give to God in other ways,” ie reading the Bible more, serving, etc.)
- I made the decision to put God first in my finances b/c I didn’t want to be the person who believed the verses in the Bible about salvation but not the ones about giving.
- Money is the #1 thing that holds most people back from walking with Jesus, He said it is the #1 competitor for our hearts (Matthew 6:24) and that until our treasure goes to Him then He doesn’t have our hearts (Matthew 6:19-21).
- We cannot follow Jesus and handle money irresponsibly!
- If you are in financial bondage you did not follow Jesus there…but HE WILL lead you out!
- People who follow Jesus do not become more greedy, they become more generous.
- I CANNOT OUT GIVE GOD (Proverbs 3:9-10!)
- It is God who saved us, has blessed us and is always faithful to us…with this in mind how in the world can we stand in the shadow of a blood stained cross and bellyache about giving 10% of what HE ALLOWED US to earn in the first place (Deuteronomy 8:18)
#3 – My challenge to our church was to make the same financial commitments that changed my life…which are…
- Begin To Tithe (and…as I said, if you think this is about NewSpring Church getting your money then I invite you to pick a random church in the yellow pages and tithe to them. I don’t want something FROM you, I want something FOR YOU. God said to test Him…so go for it!
- Get Out Of Debt – below are several resources to help you do this. It won’t happen overnight, it takes SURRENDER and SWEAT…but it’s like chopping down a tree. Swing the ax long enough and the tree will fall! Lucretia and I were over $115,000 in debt when we were married, if WE can do it, YOU can do it!
- Choose Generosity Over Greed – Keep this in mind, GREED WILL KILL the work that God wants to do in and through you (see Joshua 7 and Acts 5!) Generous people change the world!!! AND…Jesus modeled generosity, not greed (see II Corinthians 9:15)
#4 – If you want to read a few more articles I’ve written on DUMB financial things that I have done and how I broke free from the financial bondage I was here, here are a few to check out…
- 12 Reasons I Was Broke…And How You Can Get Out Of Debt
- Top Seven Money Mistakes I Have Made–Part One
- Top Seven Money Mistakes I Have Made–Part Two
#5 – For more help with your money/finances you can check out the following resources…
- The NewSpring Financial Resources Page IS AMAZING…LOTS of info here AND also here the place where you can sign up for FREE financial coaching.
- Here is the page on our website where you can sign up for online giving.
- You can find lots of free downloads, books for purchase and practical advice at Joe Sangl’s website!
- Dave Ramsey is amazing, you should really check out his site and read his books.
- Crown Financial has been around for decades and have helped thousands of people win with money
#6 – I’m REALLY excited about this coming Sunday. (AS ALWAYS!) One of the ten things that I shared with our church back in the summer (you can check out more info about that here in regards to the ten things I said that I really want for every person at NewSpring Church) is that everyone at our church would be able to hear, recognize and respond to the voice of God. Well, this coming Sunday I will be teaching on how we can KNOW we are hearing the voice of God and the four primary ways I believe that God speaks–can’t wait!
#7 – One more thing about Sunday. I understand it was tense because most of us have financial regrets in our lives. Why would I take a whole Sunday to teach through this? It’s simple…I LOVE MY CHURCH and believe the GOSPEL impacts every area of our lives, including our finances. The Bible has more verses on money and possessions that it does faith and prayer combined. When we see what God says (in His Word) we are more likely to do what God says…and doing what God says in regards to finances leads to freedom, not bondage.
#8 – AND…a HUGE “thank you” to all of our faithful givers at NewSpring Church. Over and over again we’ve seen people step up and “put God to the test” (Malachi 3:10) in this area…and because of the amazing generosity from the people here we’ve seen more campuses get started, thousands of salvations, the next generation being impacted like never before, freedom brought to girls entrapped in the sex-slave trade, new shoes given to kids who ordinarily would not be able to afford them, new churches planted both here in the US and overseas…and so much more. I could go on and on…but the bottom line is that there isn’t anywhere on the planet better to invest in other than the local church. Jesus said He would build it in Matthew 16:18…AND HE IS!!! AND…anything that you are investing in right now will most likely NOT EXIST in 200 years, but THE CHURCH (if Jesus doesn’t come back) will STILL BE HERE, STILL GOING STRONG, AND STILL BE MAKING AN ETERNAL IMPACT!
Jesus Is NOT Safe! November 3, 2011
I remember hearing about the Chronicles of Narnia when I was just a kid, little did I know that the author, CS Lewis, would later come back around to me after I received Christ and have such a profound impact on me.
In The Lion, the Witch & The Wardrobe a conversation takes place when Susan and Lucy ask Mr. & Mrs. Beaver to tell them about Aslan, the lion in the story who is the Christ-figure. They ask if Aslan is a man and Mr. Beaver replies:
Aslan a man? Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the woods and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and make no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about being safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
That conversation is loaded…please get the last line, He’s good, He’s the King…but He isn’t safe.
We’ve done a pretty bad job at trying to paint a picture of Jesus in today’s society that is safe. His hair is always perfect (did they really have product back then?) He teeth have obviously either been whitened or capped. His robe never has any wrinkles and is always the whitest of whites (I guess the dust and dirt in Israel simply refused to stick to His clothes.) And…He never becomes irritated, upset or does anything that might offend anyone (despite what we read about in Matthew 12:1-4, Luke 4:28-30, Luke 11:45-54, Matthew 23 & John 2:13-17…just to name a few!)
Make no mistake about it…He IS GOOD but He is NOT safe!
Following Jesus doesn’t EVER lead to a safe, comfortable & predictable life (despite what the guy on TV told you would happen if you purchased his prayer cloth for $49.95!)
How in the world could we EVER expect the guy who said what He said in Luke 9:23 to EVER lead us towards safety?
Jesus didn’t say if we wanted to follow Him that we needed to take up our mattress…but rather take up our cross!
- If you are going to follow Jesus, you are going to upset some people (Matthew 10:34-36!)
- If you are going to follow Jesus, He will bring out changes in you (Luke 19:1-10)–we cannot meet Him and stay the same!
- If you are going to follow Jesus, He is going to challenge you to look straight ahead and NOT behind, no matter how good or bad it may have been (Luke 9:62!)
- If you are going to follow Jesus, you are going to have to lay some things aside (Mark 1:18!)
- If you are going to follow Jesus, HE will IMPACT every area of your life (Romans 12:1), you cannot pick and choose your areas of surrender when you are abiding in Him.
- If you are going to follow Jesus, you ARE going to hear His voice clearly and accurately (John 10:4).
- If you are going to follow Jesus, you ARE going to experience an ABUNDANT LIFE…your life WILL NOT be wasted (John 10:10.)
- If you are going to follow Jesus, you are going to have to stop screwing around–literally (I Corinthians 6:18-20) In fact, following Jesus may make your dating life seem quite “boring” to others.
- If you are going to follow Jesus, you are going to have to surrender your wallet (Matthew 6:19-24, Luke 16:10-13)
- If you are going to follow Jesus, it is going to take a willingness to change the way you think (Romans 12:1-2).
- If you are going to follow Jesus, it is going to move your heart to care about and reach out to people that He deeply cares for (see Matthew 28:18-20!) I cannot say I am a follower of Christ and be unconcerned with the things that concern Him.
BUT…with all of this in mind do not forget, Jesus IS good–He IS NOT SAFE.
True life begins when we no longer live for safety but rather for sanctification…and that is not always a pretty process…and following Christ isn’t always the easy thing (because it is not safe), but it is always the right thing.
The comfort in all of this…He’s good! Scripture talks over and over again about the goodness of God! When I do not understand, agree with or even see what He is doing I can know that Romans 8:28 is true…that HE IS GOOD and that He works for the good of those who love Him. (Also see Matthew 7:9-11)
Following Jesus is the good thing, the right thing…but it is not the safe thing.
So…what will you do today? Play it safe…or follow Christ?
The NewSpring Network November 2, 2011
Interested in being a NewSpring network church?
We are looking for 5 churches to pilot our NewSpring Network program. The NewSpring Network will be a partnership of churches who interact with NewSpring by showing weekend teaching and interacting on a regular basis. If you are interested in more information or would like to apply to be a pilot program, please email hello@unleash.cc . If interested, please email by Nov. 22, 2011.
Seven Reasons You May Not Ever Accomplish Anything Significant In Life! November 2, 2011
#1 – Procrastination! (Remember, procrastination is assassination on the amazing future God has for you – James 1:22!)
#2 – You are allowing your past to identify you rather than Christ to identify you! (See I Corinthians 6:9-11!) You are not who you were…you are who you are in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17) and if you don’t let your past die then it won’t let you live.
#3 – You are more obsessed with what others think about you rather than what Christ thinks about you! (See Colossians 3:2-3, Galatians 1:10)
#4 – You do not understand the fact that God’s Holy Spirit lives inside of you (Ephesians 1:13-14) and has gifted you and is calling you to do something greater than you could ever imagine (Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 3:20)
#5 – You are afraid (see Isaiah 41:10) – and remember, no one who ever accomplished anything significant for Christ didn’t have to take a significant step of faith (Hebrews 11:6!)
#6 – You believe the lie from hell that says you are an accident when Scripture says that God custom designed you (Psalm 139:13-16) and that you were clearly created on purpose, with a purpose and for a purpose.
#7 – You are obsessed with things that have ZERO significance when it comes to eternity (I John 2:17).
A Letter From Pastor P To NewSpring Church November 1, 2011
Howdy NewSpring Church, FIVE things I would LOVE to share with you today…
#1 – In case you might have missed it…I would LOVE for every NewSpring owner/attender to take a few minutes to read yesterday’s post in regards to why I really do believe we are going to reach 100,000 people!
#2 – This past Sunday (the 2nd week of our Job series) was a GREAT DAY as we saw over 60 people surrender their lives to Christ (NEVER GETS OLD). So far in this series we’ve covered the fact that the Bible says in Job 42:12 that God blessed the 2nd half of Job’s life more than the first…and two of the ways to experience this in our own lives are…
- One – Don’t Ever Give Up On The God Who Has Never Given Up On You – Despite what happened to Job in Job 1 and Job 2 he clung to the Lord (see Job 19:25-27) and refused to turn his back on the Lord, despite the fact that all hell had broken loose in his life.
- Two – Understand That God Has Not Called Me To Make Excuses But Rather To Make A Difference! Job refused to allow the pain of his past to dominate his future…and he refused to play the victim card and complain about tragedy all of his life.
#3 – If you want to do a little further study on your own from the message from this past Sunday, here are some passages you can look at (I’ve included them beside the points that we made.)
- God Is Good – Check out Titus 3:3-7, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 2:4 & I Peter 3:9
- (AND under this point we talked about the fact that God has blessed all Christians with at least one spiritual gift (I Corinthians 12:4-7), and that the gift He has blessed us with is for the purpose of us serving others (I Peter 4:10).
- (We also talked about the fact that if you don’t allow your past to die then it will not allow you to live. If you are IN CHRIST then II Corinthians 5:17 and Isaiah 1:18 are true of YOU!)
- Time Is Limited – Check out Psalm 90 (the whole thing), James 4:13-14, Psalm 39:5 & Isaiah 2:22)
- My Life Matters – See Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 139:13-16 & Isaiah 43:1-4) AND…DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT SETTLE for anything less than God’s VERY BEST for your life! All to often we settle for so much less than we should…just like CS Lewis said in this quote…
“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased!”
#4 – THIS COMING SUNDAY will most likely be the most freeing/liberating message that people have ever heard…and yet at the same time will be one of the most difficult messages to apply! I can’t wait! And…AS ALWAYS, I’m asking every to PRAY like crazy about this Sunday…and BRING SOMEONE with you (remember, the relationships we have with people who do not know Christ are NOT ACCIDENTAL…God has placed us on this planet to be HIS ambassadors – see II Corinthians 5:11-21! – and sooner or later we’ve got to actually HAVE CONVERSATIONS with those who do not know Christ – see Romans 10:14-17!
#5 – A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who sent emails and cards for Pastor’s Appreciation Month. I sat down and read every single one of them and was overwhelmed many times by reading the letters of people who shared with me how significantly Jesus has impacted their lives through the ministry of NewSpring Church. I am SO blown away that I actually get the privilege/opportunity to do this…it is an honor to serve this church as a pastor. I’m quite overwhelmed at God’s faithfulness and all He has done for our church over the past 11 years…and I’m more excited about our future than I’ve ever been. THE BEST IS YET TO COME!