Last Sunday elder Ron Peron walked us through suffering as a Christian (1 Peter 4:12-19). Ron put together a set of questions to challenge ourselves with. Are we being open about our faith? Are we afraid of the reaction? Do we make our beliefs clear through our actions and lives? Peter makes it quite clear that we are utterly dependant on God and that we are called to share his love. All throughout life, suffering has only brought forth the “why oh me” reaction and I wouldn’t see the bigger picture that it is He who provides and that we should be happy to suffer as He did. I look to Romans 8:17 for strength and reassurance during the hardest of times. What I took from the sermon on Sunday is this, to expect suffering, rejoice in suffering, examine ourselves, and to commit to God and rest in him.
-- C3's Kennedy King
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sermon Reflection::2 Thessalonians
Austin Lambert got to preach this past Sunday. He talked about being worthy of the calling of Christ from a passage in 2 Thessalonians. This is an idea that I have struggled with on and off throughout the years. I am totally depraved. I do not deserve Christ or his gift of salvation, and yet by the grace of God, here I am. And that is really the clincher, isn’t it? By the grace of God! I am made worthy because God makes it so, through his grace! That is such an uplifting thing. We are taught that everyone is a sinner, there is no one perfect but Jesus, we are broken, dirty, and deserve death. What a joy comes to my heart to know that though all of that is true, my God loves me and makes me worthy to bear his name because He says so. And how that pushes me into action is remarkable. It’s as if this is the motivational speech that God strategically placed for those of us who need positive reinforcement. I know that is a crude analogy but still, it makes sense doesn’t it?
Something I learned when taking graduate classes last fall was that when you delve deep into the Word and you spend a good portion of your day thinking about God, it leaves you feeling just like Paul when he said “I am the worst of sinners.” It really makes you feel that way! And I believe it is meant to. The problem I had was that once I got that feeling of depravity…I mean REALLY got it so deep down that it made me want to be in a constant state of metaphorical ashes and sack cloth, I decided I needed to take a step back from God. If he’s going to make me feel this way, I thought, I’m gonna have to take a break because it’s making me really unhappy. And I think that may be a place where a lot of people end up. It took me a couple of months to realize what I had done was that I had decided that God didn’t make me happy, so I wanted something else. I took a route of idolatry. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. God pointed me back to Him and showed me that that place where I ended up…that deep depravity that I felt…was exactly the state where God (shown in examples throughout the Bible) comes in, shows you his incredibly marvelous grace, and shows you that He makes you clean. You are truly made free in Christ from the bondage your depravity holds you in. So yes we are unclean because of sin, but God in his wonderful love, makes us worthy to be called Children of the Living God. It is this discovery that has put me in a state of joy so profound that it makes me want to act upon it. That is the goal. That we have such joy in God and his mercy and grace that we act in such a way that it pleases God and glorifies Him. He makes me worthy of His calling…what a joy it is to show the world by building my brothers and sisters in Christ up to love and good deeds. It is a joy that causes me to desire to love my neighbor even when I don’t want to and to seek after my Savior with all of my life. It is a life changing joy that is spurred on by God’s grace…His worthiness.
-- C3 Member - Heather Bowshier
-- C3 Member - Heather Bowshier
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sermon Reflection::1 Peter 4:1-11
This past Sunday, Ron, one of our elders, walked us through 1 Peter 4:1-11. In this passage Peter gives believers a call to action - to live your new life by the standards set by our Savior, Jesus Christ. These standards teach you to suffer in the flesh, always seeking to please the father. This is in stark contrast to the world's standards - live by passion. While the Lord gives us passions for things in which we are to seek to glorify the father with, the world's passion is different. This kind of passion is unruly, reckless and dangerous. The kind of passion that brought sin and ultimately death into the world. Believers are to continue to live like Christ, constantly looking toward the Day of His return.
Within these packed verses, I found that verses 4-6 touched on something that I rarely talk about, or let myself think about. When I began to live for Christ I lost a lot of friends. Not immediately, but it became pretty obvious that we didn't share the same interests anymore, and our priorities definitely changed. There comes a time in a believer's walk that they realize certain things about the past - the Lord may convict you to apologize to someone for a former wrongdoing, you may be called to witness to them directly, you may even be given the task of 'calling someone out'. Then there is a time that you are supposed to just walk away. All of these are to be done through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ron told us that we are to pray for the people from our former life, and in my case, the people I don't ever see anymore. I realized I was harboring bitterness about somethings and against people I haven't spoken to in years. As a believer I seek unity with my fellow believers, by why would I not apply this to non-believers as well?
Fellow brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for the people from your past life. You may come from a rough background, you may not. Either way, ask God to save the people in your former life. Ask him if there is something he would have you do - are you to share the Gospel with a certain person, apologize, forgive, or just walk away and continue to pray for them. Through all of this seek to please the Father, be lead by the Holy Spirit in your actions, and live like Christ. Because in the end, "this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (1 Peter 4:6 ESV)"
--C3 Member - Rachel Evans
Within these packed verses, I found that verses 4-6 touched on something that I rarely talk about, or let myself think about. When I began to live for Christ I lost a lot of friends. Not immediately, but it became pretty obvious that we didn't share the same interests anymore, and our priorities definitely changed. There comes a time in a believer's walk that they realize certain things about the past - the Lord may convict you to apologize to someone for a former wrongdoing, you may be called to witness to them directly, you may even be given the task of 'calling someone out'. Then there is a time that you are supposed to just walk away. All of these are to be done through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ron told us that we are to pray for the people from our former life, and in my case, the people I don't ever see anymore. I realized I was harboring bitterness about somethings and against people I haven't spoken to in years. As a believer I seek unity with my fellow believers, by why would I not apply this to non-believers as well?
Fellow brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for the people from your past life. You may come from a rough background, you may not. Either way, ask God to save the people in your former life. Ask him if there is something he would have you do - are you to share the Gospel with a certain person, apologize, forgive, or just walk away and continue to pray for them. Through all of this seek to please the Father, be lead by the Holy Spirit in your actions, and live like Christ. Because in the end, "this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (1 Peter 4:6 ESV)"
--C3 Member - Rachel Evans
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Sermon Reflection::Marriage Series
This past Sunday David continued C3’s sermon series on marriage, in which he focused on the importance of beginnings. For marriage, it’s important to spend time where Scripture first introduces the idea of marriage. The beginning of marriage is found in Genesis chapters one through three, and it’s in these chapters that David spent our time unpacking God’s Word.
In his breakdown of Genesis 1-3, David presented two principles that provide us with a foundation for our understanding of marriage. First, in chapter one of Genesis we’re presented with the truth that God created man and woman in His image for His glory. This truth, further broken down, means that humankind, both men and women, were created to resemble and represent God to the world. We were created to resemble God, meaning that everything that we are is like God. In John 14:8 Philip says to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us,” in which Jesus responds, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus was acknowledging the fact that he was “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15 ESV), meaning that he so perfectly resembled God the Father that to look at him was to see God. The bride of Jesus, who is one with Him (Ephesians 5:31-32), was established to do the same. Men and women who follow Jesus are being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29), so that they may reflect the image of God to a broken world. Marriage is such a sweet gift from God, through which men and women are made able by the power of Christ to resemble God with their relationship. Likewise, men and women were created to represent God. Not only do men and women who follow Christ resemble God with their lives like Christ, but their task is also identical to Christ. Like Christ, we are called to be ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) who proclaim the good news of Jesus in which people place their faith in Christ and submit to the sovereign rule of God. This is what it means to usher in God’s kingdom and continue the work that Christ began until His return. In the sermon David mentioned Philippians 2:14-15, in which believers are challenged to do all things without “grumbling or questioning, so that we may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.” The challenge is clear, that we would so resemble and represent God with our lives that we shine as lights in the midst of darkness. Again, marriage is such a sweet gift from God in which believers are able to do so. As men love their bride as Christ loves the church, and as women willfully submit to their husband as the church does unto Christ, the image of God is on display and the gospel is proclaimed, in which the power and righteousness of God is seen (Romans 1:16-17) both of which provide testimony to His glory. Therefore, this first principle is essential in understanding marriage, man and woman were created in God’s image for His glory.
Second, David presented us with the principle that while men and women were created equal they were also created distinct. There is no doubt that men and women equally share in their identity in Christ (Galatians 3:28), and therefore are equals through Christ in resembling and representing God for His glory. However, God purposefully created man and woman with equal but distinct roles in which to do so. There is little doubt that this truth, specifically in the context of willful submission by wives, is under attack in our culture today, but the cultural attack should not change our understanding of God’s truth. There seems to be a heavy amount of shame and disdain attached to the thought of submission in our world today, but for us there should be no shame in identifying with Christ. Jesus willfully submitted to His Father’s will by making himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, and being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:6-7), and Christ so willingly submitted to His Father’s will and the hands of men that He allowed Himself to be crucified. There is no shame in submitting; there is only the opportunity to further identify with Christ. Marriage is a sweet opportunity for both men and women to further identify with Christ, as men love their bride as Christ loves the church and women willfully submit to their husbands. Therefore, the second principle is essential in understanding marriage, men and women were created equal but distinct.
For me, in personally reflecting upon the sermon, it can be challenging seeing as though the message was speaking to marriage and David spent a lot of time addressing the woman’s distinct role. It can be challenging, because as many may not know this about me, I am both single and a man. Nevertheless, the truth that all believers, whether man or woman/ single or married, were created in God’s image with distinct roles to both resemble and represent Him stands true. I was created in God’s image, an image that is being restored in Christ, and is an image that I am called to reflect to the world around me. This is a truth that has shaped everything about who I am and how I live, and it is a truth that I love. Also, although being single, I am not quick to overlook the fact that God has used married men and women to train, equip, and transform me. I love the marriages that I see all around me, because it is from these marriages that I have learned what it truly means to be a man of God and what a woman truly pursuing an identity in Christ looks like. For me this marriage series is sweet, because as I listen to David preach and look around at the marriages all around me, I am reminded that marriage is such an amazing gift from God when rooted in Scripture and pursued through Christ.
--C3 College Minister - JT
In his breakdown of Genesis 1-3, David presented two principles that provide us with a foundation for our understanding of marriage. First, in chapter one of Genesis we’re presented with the truth that God created man and woman in His image for His glory. This truth, further broken down, means that humankind, both men and women, were created to resemble and represent God to the world. We were created to resemble God, meaning that everything that we are is like God. In John 14:8 Philip says to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us,” in which Jesus responds, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus was acknowledging the fact that he was “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15 ESV), meaning that he so perfectly resembled God the Father that to look at him was to see God. The bride of Jesus, who is one with Him (Ephesians 5:31-32), was established to do the same. Men and women who follow Jesus are being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29), so that they may reflect the image of God to a broken world. Marriage is such a sweet gift from God, through which men and women are made able by the power of Christ to resemble God with their relationship. Likewise, men and women were created to represent God. Not only do men and women who follow Christ resemble God with their lives like Christ, but their task is also identical to Christ. Like Christ, we are called to be ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) who proclaim the good news of Jesus in which people place their faith in Christ and submit to the sovereign rule of God. This is what it means to usher in God’s kingdom and continue the work that Christ began until His return. In the sermon David mentioned Philippians 2:14-15, in which believers are challenged to do all things without “grumbling or questioning, so that we may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.” The challenge is clear, that we would so resemble and represent God with our lives that we shine as lights in the midst of darkness. Again, marriage is such a sweet gift from God in which believers are able to do so. As men love their bride as Christ loves the church, and as women willfully submit to their husband as the church does unto Christ, the image of God is on display and the gospel is proclaimed, in which the power and righteousness of God is seen (Romans 1:16-17) both of which provide testimony to His glory. Therefore, this first principle is essential in understanding marriage, man and woman were created in God’s image for His glory.
Second, David presented us with the principle that while men and women were created equal they were also created distinct. There is no doubt that men and women equally share in their identity in Christ (Galatians 3:28), and therefore are equals through Christ in resembling and representing God for His glory. However, God purposefully created man and woman with equal but distinct roles in which to do so. There is little doubt that this truth, specifically in the context of willful submission by wives, is under attack in our culture today, but the cultural attack should not change our understanding of God’s truth. There seems to be a heavy amount of shame and disdain attached to the thought of submission in our world today, but for us there should be no shame in identifying with Christ. Jesus willfully submitted to His Father’s will by making himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, and being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:6-7), and Christ so willingly submitted to His Father’s will and the hands of men that He allowed Himself to be crucified. There is no shame in submitting; there is only the opportunity to further identify with Christ. Marriage is a sweet opportunity for both men and women to further identify with Christ, as men love their bride as Christ loves the church and women willfully submit to their husbands. Therefore, the second principle is essential in understanding marriage, men and women were created equal but distinct.
For me, in personally reflecting upon the sermon, it can be challenging seeing as though the message was speaking to marriage and David spent a lot of time addressing the woman’s distinct role. It can be challenging, because as many may not know this about me, I am both single and a man. Nevertheless, the truth that all believers, whether man or woman/ single or married, were created in God’s image with distinct roles to both resemble and represent Him stands true. I was created in God’s image, an image that is being restored in Christ, and is an image that I am called to reflect to the world around me. This is a truth that has shaped everything about who I am and how I live, and it is a truth that I love. Also, although being single, I am not quick to overlook the fact that God has used married men and women to train, equip, and transform me. I love the marriages that I see all around me, because it is from these marriages that I have learned what it truly means to be a man of God and what a woman truly pursuing an identity in Christ looks like. For me this marriage series is sweet, because as I listen to David preach and look around at the marriages all around me, I am reminded that marriage is such an amazing gift from God when rooted in Scripture and pursued through Christ.
--C3 College Minister - JT
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Sermon Reflection::1Peter2:9-12
Let the Neighbors Be Glad - (Listen Online).
As the last sermon in this series, Pastor David reiterated the call to make disciples and the arguments about reaching “neighbors” from the previous weeks. But what about the method of actually making disciples? It is wrapped up in verses 1 Peter 2:9-10 about our identity, followed by the simple strategy in verses 1 Peter 2:11-12.
First, our Identity will drive our focus. We are a chosen people, making reference to Israel in Ex 19:5-6. A special and treasured possession(1 Pet 2:4-5). We are set apart to be radically different from the World, in our allegiance, beliefs and actions. We are called priests, ones who intercede and sacrifice for a people, as well as pray to and praise the Lord. The goal is Praise to God.
The Strategy is REALLY easy and simple to memorize – Fight Sin, do Good Deeds, Trust God!
How do we fight sin? We could run away and live in a cloister, but then we would never have a personal outreach. We could be stealthy and relate to World by living and looking like it; and the World would say that we are NO different than them. We are called to renounce the World system (Phil 3:7-8, Eph 3:8) counting Worldly gain as “loss”; and seeking a heavenly reward.
Doing Good Deeds means we do the things of God and Speak of him to others. The Good Samaritan did the first part. The Lord commended that as an example of love, preaching without words. Lest any think we are just NICE folks we need to also tell of the change that Christ is working in us and can do in them.
Trusting God - David mentioned the Theology of Sleep (a bedrock principle for farmers). Work hard and do all you can, then don't worry, but trust God for the increase. This works for farm crops and spiritual “fields” too. Live like a Child of God (life preaching), Speak of Him (verbal preaching), Trust Him (to work His will). Doing ALL for the glory of God.
--C3 Member - Steve Barrett
Check out our C3forChrist.org website and learn more about our families, Community, beliefs and joys as we embrace all our callings in Biblical faith together.
As the last sermon in this series, Pastor David reiterated the call to make disciples and the arguments about reaching “neighbors” from the previous weeks. But what about the method of actually making disciples? It is wrapped up in verses 1 Peter 2:9-10 about our identity, followed by the simple strategy in verses 1 Peter 2:11-12.
First, our Identity will drive our focus. We are a chosen people, making reference to Israel in Ex 19:5-6. A special and treasured possession(1 Pet 2:4-5). We are set apart to be radically different from the World, in our allegiance, beliefs and actions. We are called priests, ones who intercede and sacrifice for a people, as well as pray to and praise the Lord. The goal is Praise to God.
The Strategy is REALLY easy and simple to memorize – Fight Sin, do Good Deeds, Trust God!
How do we fight sin? We could run away and live in a cloister, but then we would never have a personal outreach. We could be stealthy and relate to World by living and looking like it; and the World would say that we are NO different than them. We are called to renounce the World system (Phil 3:7-8, Eph 3:8) counting Worldly gain as “loss”; and seeking a heavenly reward.
Doing Good Deeds means we do the things of God and Speak of him to others. The Good Samaritan did the first part. The Lord commended that as an example of love, preaching without words. Lest any think we are just NICE folks we need to also tell of the change that Christ is working in us and can do in them.
Trusting God - David mentioned the Theology of Sleep (a bedrock principle for farmers). Work hard and do all you can, then don't worry, but trust God for the increase. This works for farm crops and spiritual “fields” too. Live like a Child of God (life preaching), Speak of Him (verbal preaching), Trust Him (to work His will). Doing ALL for the glory of God.
--C3 Member - Steve Barrett
Check out our C3forChrist.org website and learn more about our families, Community, beliefs and joys as we embrace all our callings in Biblical faith together.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Sermon Reflection::Luke10:25-37
The importance of the message is found in the context of the narrative. In it the question is raised: who is our neighbor? In this text the lawyer’s question to Jesus is not far from our own lips. Who is our neighbor? In addition, a deeper question we might seek to gain from the answer is: who is not our neighbor? To me this is such a normal and relatable question. Who should I be investing in? Who should I not be? Who should I be loving? Who do I have permission not to? Who should I be pouring myself out to, and who shouldn’t I? The truth presented in this text is one which wrecks me. Jesus’ response to the lawyer is one which calls us to take our judgment off of those we try to assess and place our judgment rather on ourselves. Our question to God as to who is our neighbor, is sovereignly overturned with His question and calling to us which screams WHO are you? Is our affection, heart, mind, motive, and method anchored in Him or a legalistic morality of dos and don'ts? That is the question.
The method is the messenger. As the messengers, may we reflect the glory and likeness of the First Messenger… Jesus Christ our Lord.
--C3 Member - Austin Lambert
Check out our C3forChrist.org website and learn more about our families, Community, beliefs and joys as we embrace all our callings in Biblical faith together.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sermon Reflection::Matthew 24:14
At C3, we are a church that is about the Word. We stay true to the Scriptures and fight for each person to have a clear understanding of God’s redemptive plan. We are about Family and Community and creating Relationships that become unbreakable bonds. You can ask anyone, from our Elders down to Brady, Lily or Drew – “What is your purpose?”, and the answer [in one form or another] is – “To Bring Glory To God”. These things are all Great things that give me confidence about our body and the direction God has set before us.
In my opinion, David laid into one of the heaviest texts in the Bible last Sunday (listen online). God Demands for us to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ to ALL Nations. Sometimes I think we forget this truth in the light of our beliefs in election and predestination. It becomes relatively easy to dismiss evangelism if you justify it with: God has already written that person’s fate. However, we are charged to proclaim the Gospel; to endure hate and hardship for the name of Christ (Mark 13:13); to declare throughout the Earth as a Testimony [as Proof, as Evidence, as a Witness] to every Nation.
If you were to ask me how I spend a regular day, [what things consume my time], I would probably answer: Life. On a day to day basis, a large portion of my time is consumed with work…pursuing the top of the corporate ladder. This is not “Life”. 1 John 2:15-17 hit it home for me. The desires of the flesh are not of the Father and will pass away. We have to be in the world because that is where/how we declare the Kingdom. However, our purpose should be to live for Him! My daily fight [because it is a fight] is to remember what is important, put away my fleshly desires, and do the will of God. I, a sinner saved by Grace, need to be constantly on my guard, waiting patiently and doing the work [Proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom throughout the Whole World] that GOD CHARGES TO US.
--C3 Member - Wade Boggs
Check out our C3forChrist.org website and learn more about our families, Community, beliefs and joys as we embrace all our callings in Biblical faith together.
In my opinion, David laid into one of the heaviest texts in the Bible last Sunday (listen online). God Demands for us to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ to ALL Nations. Sometimes I think we forget this truth in the light of our beliefs in election and predestination. It becomes relatively easy to dismiss evangelism if you justify it with: God has already written that person’s fate. However, we are charged to proclaim the Gospel; to endure hate and hardship for the name of Christ (Mark 13:13); to declare throughout the Earth as a Testimony [as Proof, as Evidence, as a Witness] to every Nation.
If you were to ask me how I spend a regular day, [what things consume my time], I would probably answer: Life. On a day to day basis, a large portion of my time is consumed with work…pursuing the top of the corporate ladder. This is not “Life”. 1 John 2:15-17 hit it home for me. The desires of the flesh are not of the Father and will pass away. We have to be in the world because that is where/how we declare the Kingdom. However, our purpose should be to live for Him! My daily fight [because it is a fight] is to remember what is important, put away my fleshly desires, and do the will of God. I, a sinner saved by Grace, need to be constantly on my guard, waiting patiently and doing the work [Proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom throughout the Whole World] that GOD CHARGES TO US.
--C3 Member - Wade Boggs
Check out our C3forChrist.org website and learn more about our families, Community, beliefs and joys as we embrace all our callings in Biblical faith together.
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