<![CDATA[newsong community church - BLOG]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 04:33:56 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[DISCIPLESHIP: Thoughts from Experience [J. Peatfield]]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 13:07:40 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/05/discipleship-thoughts-from-experience-j-peatfield.html When one thinks of discipleship several definitions race to mind. “It's mentoring.” “It's apprenticeship.” “It's teaching.” These are among the top definitions of discipleship. I would like to suggest it's starts here and grows. The practical is where we forge the trust and relationship to disciple God's people in the greater things of God and His Kingdom.

Many think that discipleship is helping another get a grip on a practical and tangible thing such as skiing, cooking, auto repair, fixing your computer, learning that new hand-held device and more. While discipleship in these ways is helpful in a practical way, how does it help with one's spiritual life and walk? I would like to suggest that discipleship is about helping the new, as-well-as the aged Christian, become a true disciple of Christ. Therefore, discipleship requires us to impart our Godly knowledge and experience to others of any age both chronologically and in Christ.

We must therefore be proficient in the things of God ourselves in order to make true disciples. How can you disciple someone in hearing God if you do not hear from Him yourself? He does speak to His children through His written word, situation, through others, and in our own ears audibly like another human being. How do you disciple someone in hearing God this way?

I have entered into discipleship with a friend to help them hear God in the way He speaks to them. We all hear His voice differently. My friend is just now, after 9 months of working with them, beginning to hear God's voice in the way He speaks to them. Just recently they have found they are hearing Him more and more frequently. How would you disciple someone this way?

Frequently people have problems and are looking for God's discernment in how to best address their issue with a Godly choice. How would you disciple someone in this way?

Sometimes, decisions are clouded with ambiguity because two or more paths look equally rewarding and blessed of God. Yet only one is God's choice. How does one discern which is God's path in this place?

Have you heard God help you make a decision when the view is filled with ambiguity? Have you heard God help you make the right choice when the path is not clear cut? - When each choice seems to carry equal reward and blessing? If so, how would you disciple someone in this? Could you disciple someone in this?

I believe this is why teaching on discipleship is either poorly done, or not done at all. It's easy to disciple someone in a practical and tangible thing because we can see, feel, taste, touch and smell it. The things of God are not so practical and tangible as they are based in things not of this world. They are frequently concepts with different outcomes in different people so that the definition of successful discipleship is not always the same. However, if you know what the different outcomes are, you can have some idea of what to expect for a successful discipleship outcome. What will mark victory in that person's life that we have entered into discipleship with? Where are your limits of discipleship? How far can you go into the abstract things of God and make them real in someone else as they are in you? How long can you walk beside someone when they repeatedly have failure in the pursuit of a successful outcome they earnestly desire to have?

How would you disciple someone to have more faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.” We need to disciple everyone in this. So how do we disciple someone to have faith in something they cannot see?

We have faith in airplanes to fly because we see it. We know very infrequently they have trouble and so we have faith they can get us where we need to go and do it safely. This is because our faith is based in tangible facts and knowledge of flight and airplanes. What happens when we posses only the knowledge of what God's word tells us and we cannot correlate that with something tangible? - Something seen and/or experienced? How do we teach it to others so as to disciple them?

God's word is the only thing we can see when we open a Bible. A message from a Pastor or Teacher is the only thing we can hear. Everything else is unseen requiring faith that it exists because God said it does. In these things we are charged with discipleship in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Note: Emphasis added to point out our charge.)

]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP 05.06.12]]>Sun, 06 May 2012 16:59:11 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/05/sunday-recap-050612.htmlPicture

Last Sunday, Jonah's story came to a close - but it was not the happy ending we would have written. 
[listen to the message]
You would think that Jonah, who ran from God, who repented of his sin, who obeyed God and saw the city of Nineveh repent and turn from evil – you would think he would get the happy ending to his story here... but he doesn’t.
Because even repentance & obedience fall short if our heart is not transformed by God.

[Jonah 4:1] -- But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
  • Jonah was angry & depressed about the Ninevites repenting & turning to God because despite his repentance & even outward obedience, Jonah’s heart had not changed.
  • Jonah’s actions were in line with God, but his heart was far from God
  • We can be in the will of God, doing the work of God, but our hearts might be far from God.
  • Throughout this journey, Jonah’s character has been exactly opposite to God’s character
  • But God has been gracious and forgiving, slow to anger, abounding in mercy and loving-kindness... because that is the heart of God.
While Jonah is camped out waiting for Nineveh to be destroyed, God creates a plant to keep Jonah cool in the heat of the day - and for the first time in the story, Jonah is happy and grateful. But that night, God sends a worm to destroy the plant, and Jonah returns to his anger.
  • God sends a worm to remove Jonah’s comfort – what comforts does God seem to be removing from you right now?
  • Are these punishments – or are they awakenings? 
  • Is God angry with you – or is he trying to change your heart? 
  • Jonah was a living contradiction: he knew God intimately, yet was far from the heart of God
[Jeremiah 17:9] "The heart is deceitful, desperately sick; who can know it?”
5 Ways Our Hearts Are Sick:
1. I would rather be comfortable than transformed 
2. I would rather run from God than admit I’m not God 
3. I would rather serve my self than love & serve others 
4. I am jealous when God gets the glory 
5. I quickly forget the grace & forgiveness I have just received

God does not want to leave us with broken hearts, 
broken lives, and broken spirits

:: Heart Transformation 
1. Protect your heart
[Prov.4:23] - “Guard your heart... for it determines the course of your life.” 
The heart is core to who we are, the centerpiece of our life

2. Realize that transformation means change
Our faith and hope are in Christ for salvation and transformation

3.Let God’s Word speak new life to us
[Psalm 119] – “I have stored your Word in my heart... that I might not sin against You”

4. Allow the Holy Spirit to convict, lead to repentance and renew
[Psalm 51] – “Create in me a clean heart...”
[Prov. 16:3] – “Commit your actions to the Lord...”
]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP 04.29.12]]>Sun, 29 Apr 2012 10:25:21 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/04/sunday-recap-042912.htmlPicture
Last Sunday, we followed Jonah's journey from the belly of a fish to the heart of a city - and in the middle of his journey we find a story of grace, obedience and second chances.
As he stepped onto the dusty road, with the city of Nineveh looming in the distance, Jonah felt mixed emotions.
         Yes, God had spoken to him and asked him to go.
                  Yes, he had refused and run away.... and God had found him.
                           Yes, he had been as good as dead... and God had saved him.

And God had spoken again. A second chance had been given, not only to Nineveh and its citizens, but to Jonah as well.

He should be so grateful, so happy to be alive and breathing! But he just couldn't shake his anger and hatred for the people of this city, he couldn't help but feel utter contempt for their lifestyles and their culture, he despised them.

But he had made a vow to God... and he would obey.
[listen to the message]
I think Jonah is one of the easiest people to relate to in the Bible. His struggle with living in obedience to God's call while being manipulated by his sinful nature is a story we have all shared in at some point. 

The apostle Paul summed up this struggle this way: 
"I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." [Romans 7:15, 18-19, 21-25]

Throughout this series, we have described sin as "any area in our lives where we have run from the love and presence of God." This includes all of us.
God, in his grace, pursues us and extends to us the invitation to return to him. We have described this process as "repentance."

But what good is an understanding of our running, or even of turning our running back towards God, if we don't take the next step? This week, we defined the next step after repentance as "obedience."

Repentance turns you around. 
Obedience lets you take the next step forward.

Here's some thoughts from Sunday's teaching & discussion:
1. OBEDIENCE HAS INCREDIBLE INFLUENCE
Jonah’s obedience influenced the Ninevites to:
o Believe God 
o Call on God 
o Repent of their evil ways 
o Receive God’s mercy

2. GOD HAS CHOSEN US TO ACCOMPLISH HIS MISSION
How willing are you to be God's messenger, 
taking good news to undeserving people?

3. REPENTANCE & OBEDIENCE GO HAND-IN-HAND
And they share a common factor: sacrifice.
In what situation(s) would you consider fasting and giving up your (rightful) comforts - sacrificing - in order to seek and find God?
[Jonah 3:10]
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
• Repentance brings us to God’s mercy 
• Obedience brings us to God’s grace
Missed last Sunday? Catch up with the teaching series and more here!
]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP: 04.01.12]]>Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:57:41 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/04/sunday-recap-04012012.htmlPicture
Last Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday together with Matthews Memorial Church. 

Pastors Ryan Reveley and Travis Jarrett co-preached on the events leading up to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, focusing on Judas, 
Peter & Jesus.
:: Heart Matters - Judas
Judas is an easy target when we want to pin a "bad guy" label on someone; let's face it, how much worse can you get than the guy who betrayed his Master to face trial at the hands of the religious leaders and crucifixion at the hands of the Roman government?
We love stories that tell us about "the good within" 
- but our "good" is meaningless if we are 
disconnected from the heart of Jesus.
What was really in the heart of Judas? Is there anything redeemable, restorable within his story? John 12:6 gives us some insight into the heart of Judas - "... [Judas] did not care about the poor, because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Judas had a hard heart; even though he was working with Jesus, the heart of Judas was far from the person and mission of Jesus, it was disconnected from the heart of Jesus.

:: 5 Ways a Heart Grows Hard
If Jesus had addressed Judas' heart and actions directly, I think he would have said this: "Judas, your heart is hard because..."

1. You have selfish motivations
-- nothing says, "I'm selfish" like the label "thief"
-- when we sit above the desires of God and the needs of others, then                   we know we have a "self" problem 

2. You have an unwillingness to be inconvenienced             
-- Judas watched as another washed Jesus' feet without any motivation                  to share in that service to bring honor to his Master 
-- Jesus' life and ministry modeled a willingness to be inconvenienced                  in order to minister to the needs of others

3. You are misusing the gifts & blessings you've been given
-- Judas' responsibility was stewardship over the moneybag 
-- He took advantage of that trust, using what was given to God for his                  own benefit             
-- Our heart hardens when we are poor stewards of God's blessings

4. You have misconceptions & false expectations about God's plan
-- Judas' heart-hardening was probably subtle and progressive             
-- The more Jesus spoke of his death, the more the truth of Jesus failed to line up with Judas' expectations & image of a Messiah, the more distant he became, until finally he plots against Jesus while still sitting with him

5. You think that your secret sins are unknown because you look "good"--- This was the final stage of Judas' heart-hardening; there is nothing more deceitful than the lie that says, "I'm fine" while living disconnected from the heart, life and mission of Jesus Christ
-- Judas had forgotten God's earlier warning to his people: "...your sin will find you out."
"A hard heart becomes completely disconnected from Christ; 
our solution, then, is to confess our sin, allowing the Holy Spirit 
to transform our hardened heart into hearts of soft, new flesh, 
and then to receive forgiveness and grace from Christ, 
that we may walk fully in new life with Him."
]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP: 03.18.12]]>Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:14:14 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/03/sunday-recap-031812.htmlPicture
Last Sunday, we continued our Lenten teaching series as Pastor Travis preached from John 3:1-17.

In this passage, Nicodemus - a prominent Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council - comes to Jesus in the night, and says, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

If you had a "one-on-one" with Jesus, 1) what would you say, and 2) what would you ask?

We can learn a lot from Nicodemus when we come to spend time with Christ:
1. Nicodemus recognized the importance of COMING, 
regardless of time and situation
Some debate why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night: was it fear of persecution? Was he worried about losing his prominent status? Was it simply a convenient time and place? Whatever the reason was, the important thing is that he came and spent time with the Lord.
2. Nicodemus came HUMBLY and 
acknowledged Jesus for who He was
Given his lofty status, his extensive doctrinal and theological background, his impressive career and accomplishments, it would have been expected that Nicodemus come to Jesus as a peer, not as a student at the feet of the Master. But that is exactly how Nicodemus came, and reminds us of how we should come as well; not as equals to Christ, but as disciples.
3. Nicodemus came LISTENING
This might be our greatest challenge yet: to come into the presence of Christ and leave everything - our thoughts, our questions, our debates, everything else spinning through our head - leave it to the side. Nicodemus acknowledges the Person of Jesus, then... waits. He says nothing more, asks nothing else. Just waits for the words of the One sent from God.
Jesus responds to him with the most fundamental, basic truth: there is a Gospel and there is a Kingdom, and you need 
to be part of them. Without them, you are not with God.

Listen here for the breakdown of what it means to be part of the Gospel and the Kingdom.
]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP: 03.04.12]]>Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:04:49 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/03/sunday-recap-030412.htmlCALL TO WORSHIP:
Picture
Last Sunday, we continued our Lenten teaching series as Pastor Travis preached from Mark 9:2-9. 

In this passage we find Jesus leading Peter, James and John up a mountain. While on the mountain, Jesus is transfigured, his Divine glory visibly seen by his disciples. Peter, not knowing what to say,  shouts out, "Lord, let us build three tents - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah!"

Immediately, a cloud overshadows them and the voice of God the Father is heard saying, "This is my beloved Son - listen to Him!"
1. The Transfiguration was a lesson for the 
disciples about who Jesus was
In the first phase of his ministry, Jesus taught the disciples to identify him as the coming Messiah - and that phase reached its finale when Jesus asked them "Who do you say that I am?" and Peter, speaking for the group, replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of God." 

With that confession, Jesus began to teach them what it meant to live in the understanding that He was the Son of God.
  • At times, we forget that identification and understanding are two different phases in our relationship with Jesus. 
  • Our goal needs to continually be understanding that leads us to the path of Jesus.
2. The Transfiguration was an example of 
how the disciples were to live
The transfiguration declared that Jesus had full authority and was the sole recipient of worship.
  • Peter's desire to build three temples in memorial to Moses, Elijah and Jesus would have lowered Jesus' authority and shared his worship. 
  • God immediately removed Moses and Elijah from their sight and commanded the disciples to listen to Jesus alone.
  • This is a strong word and reminder for us as well - where have we set up "tents of worship" in our lives to something or someone other than Jesus? What needs to be removed so that only Jesus is seen and heard in our lives?
3. The transfiguration is key to preparing for 
the Cross and coming Kingdom of Christ 
Jesus wanted his disciples to know that he would be glorified, but not the kind people expected (a worldly kingdom) nor in the way they expected (war with Rome). 
  • Jesus’ glory would be found in the journey to death and resurrection – and could not be attained without them. The cross was the path to the glory of God. 
  • This was the teaching point of Jesus in the transfiguration – that eternal life lay through death and that death would be defeated by resurrection.
  • And this hope for life and victory over death and sin would be found in Jesus alone. 
“Jesus alone” that’s really what the mountain of transfiguration is all about. Only Jesus is God’s beloved Son. Only Jesus shines with the Glory of God on the mountain. Only Jesus died on the cross bearing in his body the sins of the whole world. Only Jesus rose again from death never to die again. Only Jesus sits with God and prays directly to the Father for us. Only Jesus comes to save and strengthen you. Only Jesus is changing you from the inside out, changing you to become like him. 
Music from Sunday was led by Travis Jarrett and Chris Donahue. Songs were "Death in His Grave" (John Mark McMillan), "All Because of Jesus" (Steve Fee), "Marvelous Light" (Charlie Hall), "Glorious One" (Steve Fee), and "Mighty to Save" (Hillsong United)
]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP: 02.19.12]]>Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:27:36 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/02/sunday-recap-021912.html
Last Sunday we wrapped up our "Finding Your G.P.S." teaching series by asking, "What motivates you to give?" Pastor Nelson addressed these "matters of the heart" as he continued building on the Kingdom-based principle, "God owns it all" and challenged us to examine our motivations and heart when we give so that our offerings, tithes and sacrifices would be pleasing and acceptable to God.

If you missed last Sunday or a previous teaching from this series, visit our media archive where you can listen to the message online or download it and take it with you.
Music from Sunday was led by Travis Jarrett. Songs were: "Be Praised" (Michael Gungor), Faithful (Steve Fee), Mighty to Save (Hillsong United), Here I Am to Worship (Tim Hughes), Only the Blood (The Village Church) and 
"I Stand Amazed in the Presence" (The Village Church)
]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP: 02.05.12]]>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:51:44 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/02/sunday-recap-0205121.html Picture

What's guiding your life? Last Sunday, Pastor Nelson began a new teaching series called "Finding Your GPS" which lays out what life looks like when it is guided by a "God-Purposed System." 


This series offers practical and spiritual insight for managing your resources so that you can do great things for God and also reminds us that God's system for 
success is often different than our system.
You can learn more about the series here or listen to Sunday's teaching here.
Music from Sunday was led by Travis Jarrett and Chris Donahue. Songs were: "Ancient Skies" (Michael Gungor), "You are Here" (Steve Deal), "Glorious One" (Steve Fee), "Your Love, Oh Lord" (Third Day), "The Solid Rock" (Mars Hill), and "I Stand Amazed in the Presence" (Traditional). 
]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP 01.29.12]]>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:43:37 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2012/01/sunday-recap-020512.htmlLast Sunday we wrapped up our teaching series, "4 Ways to Live Like Jesus."
If you missed a week of the series or want to review a teaching, click here to listen to the podcast.

Over the past few weeks, we've shared that living like Jesus requires:
1. Courageous, faith-driven obedience with the resources you have
2. Existing for the mission of Jesus to seek and save those who are lost
3. Living in a sharing community where your life, faith and mission are relationally and spiritually connected to others

This week we examined our fourth area: the public ministry of Jesus.
Life in the public eye is stressful and oppressive - and those negative elements can create negative responses in us such as fear of people, paranoia and anxiety concerning other's agendas/interests, and even situations where those close to us fail us or betray us. How did Jesus deal with all that in his public ministry?

1. Jesus put his trust in the love and approval of the Father:
* He began his ministry hearing the Father's words, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased." When we begin to fear and panic, it is important to remember that God the Father is pleased with us and supports us.

2. Jesus knew that people were not the real enemy:
* Throughout the Gospels, Jesus encountered opposition - and He knew the hearts and motivations of those opposing him. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we do not fight against "flesh and blood" but against the "powers of the air."

3. Jesus stayed connected to community and to the Father:
* Opposition and pressure can often cause us to isolate ourselves; they can trigger our self-preservation mechanisms. Jesus - knowing that he would be betrayed - connected himself to his friends at the Last Supper and to His Father in the Garden of Gethsamene.

Music from Sunday was led by Chris Donahue and Travis Jarrett ]]><![CDATA[SUNDAY RECAP 12.04.11]]>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:00:00 -0500http://www.newsongs.org/1/post/2011/12/sunday-recap-120411.htmlLast Sunday we celebrated the second week of Advent; during this forty-day period, we turn our focus and our spiritual rhythm to the incarnation of Christ and we prepare for an encounter with Jesus.
[Mark 1:1-8]
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" - "a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.    
John comes, speaking of a Messiah, a Savior, who is to come... and while many respond in hope, there are still those in the crowds who must have thought, "I've heard this one before."
Our nature is prone to disillusionment; we hate to be let down and disappointed. 
Our lives seem to tell story after story of times and people that have done just that. So we are left, jaded and numb, questioning and skeptical.

But then Jesus steps in.
[John 1:14-15]
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This is the one I spoke about when I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'")
1. As the Word, Christ was God become vocal. Through Christ, God speaks His great and glorious message - that salvation is here - in a new and living language of life in Christ. 

2. As the Word, Christ was God become visible. Jesus portrays the mind and heart of God, reminding us that God loved the world so much, He gave Jesus so that all could believe, all could be forgiven, all could enter into life.

We should ask ourselves, "What difference does the incarnation make in my life?" As people who have been brought from darkness into light, who have heard the Word of God and responded to it, we are to make known the glorious name of Christ, the one who came to live among us and die for us. 
  • This is the Word of God – have we become jaded with it?
  • This is the Unexpected Word who came to an unexpecting world to save us in a most unexpected way – have we taken it for-granted?
  • This is the message of Christmas – are we bored with it?
  • This is the message of the Logos, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh – are we connected to Him?
]]>