Sorry this is being posted so late.
I was away from the internet for a week, with the new addition to our family.
Summary:
First, we dedicated Haynes Cole Hartsock and Emily Jean Ray to the Lord.
This was simple, but was an important day for our spiritual family.
This was the day we can mark on the calendar and
say this was the day we made a promise to one another over our kids.
The Hartsocks and Rays made a vow to the community, and the community made a vow to them.
We vowed to do our best to raise up these kids together
to know the heart of the Father.
We then spent some time praying for them.
We love Haynes and Millie and
are honored to reveal Jesus to them as they grow in the Lord.
We'll have more children dedications next week as well.
On to the content...
Last Sunday we began our abiding time by trying to get a more accurate grid for what it looks like to know God as Father.
Bryan Ray did an excellent job by walking us through some of the attributes of God's Fatherhood.
The outline below is definitely worth a read.
Click the link to download a Word Document on Abiding: God as Father
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Content Review from July 5th Celebration
Summary:
This past Sunday, Mike Billingsley spoke at Celebration about agreeing with God's promises.
He outlined how we empower God to have access to our hearts and move in our lives when we agree with him.
He also contrasted that same truth to the enemy. It was really good.
Audio of the sermon can be found by clicking HERE
This past Sunday, Mike Billingsley spoke at Celebration about agreeing with God's promises.
He outlined how we empower God to have access to our hearts and move in our lives when we agree with him.
He also contrasted that same truth to the enemy. It was really good.
Audio of the sermon can be found by clicking HERE
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Content Review from June 28th Cluster
Summary:
THE PRUNING PROCESS: The Fear of Man and Mission
Proverbs 29:25
"The fear of man brings a snare,
but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted."
On Sunday, we defined the fear of man, and discussed our response to it.
We outlined how the control spirit, selfishness,
pride, and the fear of man together
produce a fear of mission.
We then split up in small groups and decided how we were going to respond.
We put ourselves in 1 of 3 categories:
1. I am still determining where the fear of man
has affected my living out the kingdom?
2. I have confidence that I have clearly recognized the places,
the fear of man has affected my living out the kingdom.
3. I have a plan in how I am going to live differently, free of the fear of man.
Download a Word Document on Pruning: The Fear of Man and Mission
THE PRUNING PROCESS: The Fear of Man and Mission
Proverbs 29:25
"The fear of man brings a snare,
but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted."
On Sunday, we defined the fear of man, and discussed our response to it.
We outlined how the control spirit, selfishness,
pride, and the fear of man together
produce a fear of mission.
We then split up in small groups and decided how we were going to respond.
We put ourselves in 1 of 3 categories:
1. I am still determining where the fear of man
has affected my living out the kingdom?
2. I have confidence that I have clearly recognized the places,
the fear of man has affected my living out the kingdom.
3. I have a plan in how I am going to live differently, free of the fear of man.
Download a Word Document on Pruning: The Fear of Man and Mission
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Content Review from June 21st Cluster
Summary:
THE PRUNING PROCESS: Selfishness and Pride
If you were not at House church on Sunday,
Alex Benton shared more on our pruning process.
We want to be pruned in the areas of Selfishness & Pride.
-What are you selfish with?
-Do you have a spirit of Pride?
Be thinking & praying through....
How can we allow the Lord to change our hearts?
What steps will you be taking to rid yourself daily of these things?
We discussed the fruits that come out of these two areas of Selfishness & Pride
We were asked to be praying and asking the Lord to prune and refine us in these two areas.
Download a Word Document on Pruning: Selfishness and Pride
THE PRUNING PROCESS: Selfishness and Pride
If you were not at House church on Sunday,
Alex Benton shared more on our pruning process.
We want to be pruned in the areas of Selfishness & Pride.
-What are you selfish with?
-Do you have a spirit of Pride?
Be thinking & praying through....
How can we allow the Lord to change our hearts?
What steps will you be taking to rid yourself daily of these things?
We discussed the fruits that come out of these two areas of Selfishness & Pride
We were asked to be praying and asking the Lord to prune and refine us in these two areas.
Download a Word Document on Pruning: Selfishness and Pride
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Content Review from June 14th Cluster
Summary:
THE PRUNING PROCESS - The Control Spirit
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardner. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15 1:4
What has the Lord entrusted you with on earth to use to further HIS KINGDOM?, what comes to mind?
Are you being Possessive of these things the Lord has given you?
Read the handout to "listen and respond" to what the Lord is asking us.
Download a Word Document on Pruning - The Control Spirit
THE PRUNING PROCESS - The Control Spirit
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardner. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15 1:4
What has the Lord entrusted you with on earth to use to further HIS KINGDOM?, what comes to mind?
Are you being Possessive of these things the Lord has given you?
Read the handout to "listen and respond" to what the Lord is asking us.
Download a Word Document on Pruning - The Control Spirit
Monday, June 8, 2009
Content from June 7th Celebration
Summary
Ken talked about corporate prayer at Celebration last night.
It might feel like a teaching you've heard before,
but the way he went about the issue was new.
He explained that God reveals threads of a person's destiny at the moment of their "new birth".
For us as individuals, our "new birth"
is the moment we surrender to Jesus.
For us as a community,
it was when we started meeting together.
If you aren't familiar with the origins of Norman Community Church,
we started as a group of people meeting consistently
to pray for the "Church in Norman".
The point of the teaching was to encourage us
not to discount prayer as seasonal,
but embrace it as a part of our community's destiny.
This teaching is a really good message for all of us, not just our intercessors.
I will confess that I am not a "prayer person".
Meaning the thought of praying for long,
extended periods of time feels exhausting.
I find more enjoyment in being a "doer of the word".
I want to be having the conversations, meeting the needs, etc...
I was reminded last night that the work of our hands,
will only be fruitful if it is first, covered in prayer.
Listen to the teaching by clicking HERE.
Ken talked about corporate prayer at Celebration last night.
It might feel like a teaching you've heard before,
but the way he went about the issue was new.
He explained that God reveals threads of a person's destiny at the moment of their "new birth".
For us as individuals, our "new birth"
is the moment we surrender to Jesus.
For us as a community,
it was when we started meeting together.
If you aren't familiar with the origins of Norman Community Church,
we started as a group of people meeting consistently
to pray for the "Church in Norman".
The point of the teaching was to encourage us
not to discount prayer as seasonal,
but embrace it as a part of our community's destiny.
This teaching is a really good message for all of us, not just our intercessors.
I will confess that I am not a "prayer person".
Meaning the thought of praying for long,
extended periods of time feels exhausting.
I find more enjoyment in being a "doer of the word".
I want to be having the conversations, meeting the needs, etc...
I was reminded last night that the work of our hands,
will only be fruitful if it is first, covered in prayer.
Listen to the teaching by clicking HERE.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Content Review from May 31st Cluster
Summary
This week we learned 2 tools that we will use throughout the summer.
TOOL #1: The Learning Circle
The first tool helps us process everything we will walk through this summer. It has to do with our lives and moments when the Lord is teaching us something. It clarifies more steps to listening and responding. Some of these things we do intuitively but it is helpful to have a more concrete process, especially when teaching new believers. It’s also really helpful when we are having a hard time hearing the Lord, or when we are trying to respond but are not seeing any fruit.
Download a Word Document on the Learning Circle: HERE
TOOL #2: The Semi-Circle
The second tool outlines the rhythm of our spiritual family. We are using this tool to identify the plan for this summer: Pruning, Abiding, Growth, and Fruit.
Download a Word Document on the Semi-Circle: HERE
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