Tag Archive - tampa church

A Letter from Lockdown

May 15, 2012 in tampa church with 0 Comments

We start a brand new series this weekend on the New Testament book of Philippians.  Here is a little background: After his conversion to Christ, the Apostle Paul spent much of his time traveling the Mediterranean area starting churches.  Whenever he started a church he would spend some time developing leaders and then he would hand off the church to the leaders, only to move on to start another church.  We read in the book of Acts about the church Paul started in Philippi.  The book (actually letter) of Philippians is written to the church that he started in Philippi.  He writes this letter while he is in prison and encourages the church to pursue maturity in Christ and a life of joy. Can you imagine that?  Paul is in an ancient prison and he is the encourager. The book of Philippians is only 4 chapters long and yet it is one of the most quoted books in the Bible. This study will encourage you to mature in Christ with an attitude of joy!  Plan to attend every week and bring a friend.
By the way- would you like to see our Spoken Word segment from last Sunday- watch below

No video?  Click here …

 

To Be Or Not To Be…

April 24, 2012 in tampa church with 1 Comment

I am over in Orlando Florida for a couple of days at a conference for church planters called Exponential.  This is the largest gathering of church planters in the world- over 4000 men and women.  I am teaching with Ron Sylvia the founder of Next Churches and some other pastors.  We are teaching potential planters principles and processes for starting a church.  We share the successes and the misses we have all experienced along the way.  This is always a great place for me- I love being around people who are crazy enough to trust God and start a church.  Church at the Bay was blessed to have 12 other churches invest in us when we launched and we have invested in several church plants since we began.  Each year our students do a mission trip or two to help a church plant.  So, church planting is part of our DNA.

That is the background of why I am here- now to the take home point- pastor Mark Lee made a statement yesterday that I loved and plan to steal.  This statement seems to bring real clarity to the role of a Christ-Follower and how we should live.  This is what he said:

Christ-Followers should be living proof of a loving God.

 So many times we talk with friends and co-workers who ask for proof or evidence that Jesus Christ is alive or active today.  That is it- we are not perfect- and yet we are to be the evidence of a loving God.  In the way we respond to our circumstances and environment.  So the challenging questions for me and you are: Am I proof of a loving God?  Does my life exude the living Christ?  Am I living proof of a loving God?  Those questions help me bring my focus to right now, this morning.  I am praying this prayer today:

Father, I surrender to you right now.  Forgive me for living so much of my life concerned with what I want rather than who you have called me to be.  Holy Spirit would you fill me and help me to live moment by moment aware of your calling for me to be “living proof of a loving God”.  Today I live in Jesus name and for His honor.  Amen. 

Wikipedia: exponential definition: of or relating to an exponent. →

Now God …

April 17, 2012 in Now God with Comments Off

Sunday we looked at a Defining Moment in the life of the prophet Daniel.  This teenager (along with 3 friends) was taken captive into a strange culture (for him anyway).  There he was brain washed/re-educated over a 3 year process.  They changed his

  • Location
  • Proximity to family
  • Name
  • Language
  • Education
  • And yet when they changed his diet- he would not follow.

Daniel 1:8 describes how Daniel had made a pre-decision not to defile himself.  Because of his pre-decision we see his “Now God” moment in verse 9.  It is amazing to me that a teenager would have this kind of conviction.  And because he did- God shows up in his circumstances.  If you read the book of Daniel you will see that “Now God” moments don’t always mean you and I avoid the trial or do not experience harsh consequences:

  • The 3 Hebrew boys with Daniel went through the fiery furnance experience
  • Daniel goes into the lion’s den
  • And they spend their lives in captivity.

“Now God” means that God shows up in the midst of your circumstances!  Sometimes its with the peace of God (Philippians 4:7) or the provision of God (Philippians 4:19) or even the strength of God (Philippians 4:13) and sometimes with deliverance from the problem.  All of those moments happen when we step out in faith- trusting God!

Got any NOW GOD moments?

If you missed the message on Daniel- just watch below

 

No Video?  Click here

Thank YOU!

April 10, 2012 in tampa church, Thank You with 3 Comments

For years I have been amazed at how God has taken a guy with so many miss-steps, miss-ques, and miss-speaks and still uses me.  I remember so many failures and times of disobedience in my life and yet when I repent and trust Jesus’ for forgiveness – He uses me and often uses my failure as a platform for His message.  God has not only redeemed me- he has redeemed my failure and uses it for His glory.  So on an Easter weekend when we see so many people said yes to following Jesus, said yes to Baptism, said yes to serving, and said yes to God- I am so thankful to Jesus for His grace and strength.

There is also a group of people I am thankful for and it’s our pastors and volunteers!  God used you all in HUGE ways.  Let me see if I can list a few, let’s begin with Friday Night:

  • Friday night the band and tech team nailed our Night of Worship.  Great job!
  • We Baptized 20 and the baptistry was leaking like a broken pot for the whole service.  BUT- our team kept mopping, emptying water, and smiling.
  • I thought the Lord’s Supper experience was moving as volunteers led it around tables.

Now how about Sunday:

  • Set-up and tear down people- you blow me away- every week you get us going!
  • Our greeters were spot on from the parking lot to the front door.  I loved watching greeters escort 1st time guests to kids check in and class rooms.
  • The ushers doubled up and did a great job of seating people.
  • Tech team another great job
  • Our kids volunteers cared for almost 200 children!  Wow- thank you!

So I just want to say- Thank you Church at the Bay for saying yes to God- and yes to doing whatever it takes to help people take their next step with Jesus.  It’s an honor to serve as your lead pastor.

I did have someone ask me if I “lip synced” the song I sang.  I told them, “no, the song was live- I lip synced the sermon. ;-)

 

Can’t see Baptism Video? Click here

 

 
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