A good, full day

Though it was a crazy week with being out of town unexpectedly, and then getting ready for this Sunday, things came together well.  Sunday was a bit busier than normal, but it was an exciting day.  Started off with what is now the "norm" of setting up for church, holding our celebration service, and then trying to tear everything down before the YMCA opens at noon.  Usually we have plenty of time, but yours truly talked a bit longer than usual and left us less time for tear down.  Part of the reason for that was my excitement over the passage of Luke 15...drawing heavily from Tim Keller's Prodigal God book, I tried to show how both the younger brother and the older brother are really lost in this parable.  I think this is and will continue to be a huge point of reference for our church.  The answer is not irreligion, but it's also not religion.  The gospel is a distinct third way.  I love that people are beginning to see this distinction and find great freedom in the gospel.  We showed the following video during the teaching, from one of the people in the CrossPointe community.  So encouraged by these type of stories.

 

After the service was our first Pizza with the Pastors meeting.  This was a time for new folks to gather for lunch at our house and hear a quick overview of what CrossPointe is about.  There was also an extended time for people to ask questions.  It's always challenging to have to go off script and field questions, as you never know what kind of background people are coming from.  We had some really good questions, and I'm particularly encouraged that there are some folks who really seem to be exploring Christianity for the first time.  It's an interesting place to be when God answers your prayers by bringing people who have never been in or around the church, and then feeling inadequate to answer many of their questions.  Shows me my continual need to trust in the power of the gospel, and not any "wise or persuasive words" on my part.  

The day concluded with our Sunday night community group over at Ethan and Amy's.  Really enjoying this time, and finding it's good for me to be in a group that I don't have to lead. We had some really challenging conversation, as the topic was on "trusting in money" and looking at the story of the rich, young, ruler.  

I was pretty worn out by the end of the day, but it was a good kind of tired.  Now it's time for some real tiredness...Heather flies out of town today and I'm on dad-duty until Thursday!  I'm sure Sundays will seem like nothing compared to this.