Sunday, December 28, 2014
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Never Say Never
Among those with whom you will be spending Christmas, who is most
unlikely to ever become a Christian?
The passage we will be studying this Sunday at White Pine is all
about someone just like that person. And what happened to him will make you
dream again about what can happen to them. Sure they're stubborn, but God is
stubborner.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Blocking
This is one time of year when almost
everybody thinks about Jesus. How can they not, with all those Christmas carols
playing?
But how can we capitalize on the
opportunities to we have during the holiday season to help people find and
follow Jesus? Acts 8:26-40 is packed with practical ideas that we will highlight
this Sunday at White Pine.
And if you're still investigating
Christ, you need to know that there is as much for you in this passage as there
is for those who have crossed the line of faith. Join us and learn how to access
the information you need to make the decision that is best for you.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
A Family Christmas Album
Seems like every December we are
determined not to let the busyness of the season distract us from the true
meaning of Christmas.
And every January, we say, "Oops, I did
it again."
This Sunday at White
Pine, our goal is to help you get a breather and regain your focus on the reason
for the season. If you are kid from 1 to 92 (OK, not 1, we have a nursery for
them), there will be something for you in this special service we are calling
A Family Christmas Album.
And if you'd
like a preview of our Community Christmas Eve service, this is
the Sunday for it.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Crossing Borders
Does the story of your life include any
miracles? Has anything happened since you
started following Jesus that is so remarkable, only God could have done
it?
Scan your past, and you may not see
signs and wonders--but look more closely. Some miracles are too slow and too shy
to grab headlines, and yet their power is unstoppable.
This Sunday at White Pine, as we study
Acts 8:5-25, the Spirit of God just might show you something He has been doing
out of the public eye to make you a walking miracle.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
One Solitary Life
Is a Christlike life an attainable
goal?
Theologians may say no, but this Sunday we'll meet a man whose life
begs to differ. And from his example we will catch a vision of the difference we
can make in the world if becoming like Jesus is our consuming passion.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Growing Pains
Almost everybody I know has a love-hate
relationship with church growth. They want more people to find and follow Jesus,
of course, but can't the church grow without changing? We like it the way it is,
thank you.
Statistically, more churches are
successful at resisting change than they are at accommodating growth. But what
if White Pine could grow without losing that which makes it special? And what if
you could help the church do that?
This Sunday we will be studying Acts
6:1-7, a passage that shows both you and me how each of us can help the church
keep getting better, even as it gets bigger.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
When Submission Is Sin
Submission to authority is something
that should characterize every Christian. But is there ever a time when it would
be a sin to submit?
The Book of Acts answers that question clearly. Yes.
But how do we know when that time has come? We'll find out this
Sunday at White Pine, so that we'll be prepared for that moment when obedience
to God calls for holy rebellion.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Faking It
The fact that you are reading these
words right now tells me that you are more vulnerable to committing one
particular sin than are those who would never darken the doors of a
church.
With the desire to pursue godliness
comes the temptation to fake it.
How can we overcome the urge to appear
more righteous than we really are? We'll find out in our study of Acts 4:32 -
5:11 this Sunday. I hope you'll make it a priority to be there, because, trust
me, hypocrisy is a dangerous trap to get caught in.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Where Courage Comes From
Sunday, 10-19-14
Imagine being used by God to help
someone else live forever.
I know, it seems unlikely. After all,
most people you rub shoulders with couldn't care less about the secret of
eternal life you possess. And you're not exactly a natural when it comes to
talking about something as personal as your faith. The thought of being part of
a spiritual conversation between two equally uncomfortable people makes you
shudder.
But what if God did the impossible?
What if He loosened your tongue and opened their heart? Can you imagine anything
more fulfilling?
This Sunday at White Pine, we are going
to study together Acts 4:5-31, a passage that reveals where the courage to share
our faith comes from. I hope you will be there, because the destiny of someone
you care about hangs in the balance.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Trust the Nudge
Sunday, 10-12-14
Sometimes the difference
between an ordinary day and an extraordinary one is what we do with
nudges.
I'm not talking about physical nudges.
I'm talking about those times when the Spirit of God whispers to us so softly
that we're not sure if it's Him or not. What can we
expect to happen if we take the risk of
altering our plans to obey that still small voice?
This Sunday
at White Pine, we will study Acts 3, which describes a remarkable day that began
with a simple nudge. My prayer is that it will help you recognize those times
when God is nudging you, so that more days in your life will go from ordinary to
extraordinary.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
The "Yes" Effect
Sunday, 10-05-14
Put the Spirit of God into a human being, and what happens?
That's a question that might seem irrelevant to everyday life, but if
you are a follower of Jesus, it couldn't be more relevant, because you are one
of those human beings in whom the Spirit of God lives. This Sunday at White
Pine, we are going to see what kind of Monday-through-Saturday changes we can
expect when we let Him do what He came into us to do.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sinners in the Hands of a Gracious God
Sunday, 09-28-14
Believe it or
not, it was in our neck of the woods that the Spirit of God worked so powerfully
in the 1740s that historians gave the phenomenon a name.
The Great
Awakening.
Could it
happen again? Here? If so, what would it look like?
This Sunday
at White Pine, we are going to study together the second chapter of the Book of
Acts, which describes an earlier Great Awakening and gives us a vision of what
is possible in area code 207 today, since the One who did it in the first
century and again in the 18th century is still alive and well in the 21st
century.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Prepare for Liftoff
Sunday, 09-21-14
If Jesus materialized in front of you
like a State Farm agent, what is the one thing you would ask Him
for?
Here's a better question: What would
He most want to give you?
This Sunday is our Fall Kickoff, but
before we head to the Ministry Center for great food and fellowship, we're going
to launch into a study of the Book of Acts, which begins with an astounding
truth: The ministry of Jesus has not ended. In fact, it has spread to area code
207. He is here. Now.
I can't wait to discover the
implications of that truth with you. It's going to be a great year at White
Pine!
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Kindness
Listen to, "Kindness" by Randy Reynolds,
Sunday, 09-14-14
The apostle Paul said that one of the
qualities that Spirit-filled people cannot help but exhibit is kindness. But
when was the last time you thought deeply about how to better reflect God's
kindness?
This Sunday at White Pine, you'll have
the opportunity to do exactly that, under the teaching ministry of Randy
Reynolds. This is a topic that the Spirit has led Randy to teach, so I have no
doubt it will nourish and encourage you.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Transformed by the Truth
Listen to, "Transformed by the Truth" by Greg Sidders,Sunday, 09-07-14
Someone has described the game of football as 22 men on the field
badly in need of rest and 50,000 people in the stands badly in need of
exercise.
That could also be a description of the church.
Too many of us never get in the game because we don't think we have
what it takes to help the team. But what if God showed up and endowed you with
the ability to make a significant contribution?
This Sunday at White Pine, you will see that He has done exactly
that, and you will have the opportunity to begin exploring new ways to help the
church become what it has the potential to be.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Take the Plunge
Show up at any public beach, and you will encounter two types of people--swimmers and waders. Some dip their toes in, and some go all in.
The same is true in the church.
There are all kinds of reasons for our differing levels of engagement, but this Sunday at White Pine we're going to think together about what "swimmers" get out of church that "waders" don't.
Don't worry, we're not going to ask you to sign up for anything. I just want to give you some food for thought as you set a course for the next 12 months of following Jesus. I hope to help you see that diving into WE is better than staying in ME.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Catching the Wind
Truth reveals itself in many ways. Sometimes even on a motivational poster. That's where I saw this acronym: T.E.A.M.
Together Everyone Achieves More.
Synergy. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. There are many ways to say it, but there's no denying that teams can accomplish what collections of individuals cannot. I think that's one reason why the church exists. Following Jesus is not a solo mission.
But getting from ME to WE as disciples does not come as naturally to some as it does to others. That's why we're going to invest the next three Sundays at White Pine focusing on the benefits of teamwork. Even if you're fiercely independent--especially if you are fiercely independent--this series is for you. I mean, for us.
Monday, August 18, 2014
The Marks of a Disciple
Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?
A question like that elicits different answers--everything from "What's a disciple?" to "Absolutely!" But in between those two extremes are a great many people who want to be worthy of that designation but don't know whether they qualify.
In this message, you'll learn from the Bible what a disciple of Jesus looks like so that you can be a better one. Our teacher will be Doug Erdmann, our missionary to the Asian world via Singapore. Doug is a veteran disciple (and disciple-maker), so I know it's going to be a great day for White Pine.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
A Day in the Life: Like Lightning
Jesus is the light of the world--the One who illuminates the personality of and the path to God--but as much as we might wish His light was as constant as the sun, it can be as fleeting as a flash of lightning.
How we respond to whatever light we are given determines not only the course of our life, but also the destiny of our soul.
In this message we're going to learn from John 9 how to be guided by the light rather than blinded by it.
Monday, August 4, 2014
A Day in the Life: Your Best Life Later
Has following Jesus made your life better or worse?
If you're like me, it has probably made it better in some ways and worse in others. You may have experienced God's presence and power like never before, but you've also had your share of suffering, haven't you? Delight and disappointment--both are part of the Christian life.
It's during times of disappointment that we most need what the Spirit of God is going to give us in this message. Even if you don't feel the need for a spiritual pain reliever right now, it's a good idea to stock up.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Notes and Discussion Questions: Believe What You Believe
A Day in the Life: Believe What You Believe
It's natural for us to think that Jesus did the
things He did to make believers out of unbelievers, but the more I read
the Gospels the more apparent it becomes that He had another purpose
for His miracles--to make believers out of believers.
It's one thing to believe in Jesus conceptually; it's something else
entirely to trust in Him concretely, where the rubber meets the road.
If, right now, you are facing a challenge that requires a depth of faith
that you never needed before, I encourage you to listen to this message.
It'll help you to believe what you believe.
Monday, July 21, 2014
A Day in the Life: Slaying the Dragon of Fear
What scares the faith out of you?
Fear is a dragon that seems to know where we are most vulnerable. It attacks us skillfully and mercilessly, turning us into practical atheists.
How do you slay such a powerful beast? In this message we're going to observe a day in the life of Christ that can teach us how to develop faith that is stronger than fear. I hope you will listen to be equipped for the fierce battle that is in your future (if not your present).
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
A Day in the Life: The Anti-Pharisee
Some people have very few positive things to say about religion. Jesus was one of them.
What did He have against religion? Why were his most heated conflicts
with the most religious people around? And how can we follow Him
without becoming religious?
Monday, July 7, 2014
A Day in the Life: A GoPro View of Jesus
What if you could put a GoPro camera on the forehead of someone who actually met Jesus?
In this message we will use our imagination to get that close to Him, and we will learn things about Him that will change the way we think about what is most important to us.
If someone you love has needs that only Jesus can meet, this is the message to share with them. And if you are the one with those needs, I hope this will be the day when you find the One you are seeking.
Monday, June 30, 2014
The Pharisee and the Sinful Woman / Notes and Discussion Questions
A Day in the Life: The Pharisee and the Sinful Woman
By Randy Reynolds, Sunday 06-29-14
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)