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One Year Challenge

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One Year Challenge

Monthly Archives: April 2020

Purity and the Mission

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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It’s like playing in an intense basketball game. I get tunnel vision. Winning is all I think about. My mind does not wander one bit. In the same way, when my wife and I are intensely pursuing God’s cause and kingdom, our minds don’t wander toward sin. Soldiers stay focused when they are in battle. “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4). It’s when we relax, when we forget we are actually on a mission, that trouble comes.

-Francis Chan, “I Would Rather Die” (Sept. 2, 2017)

Read the full article here.

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Featured Article: Idols Exposed

29 Wednesday Apr 2020

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This weeks featured article is written by Eugene Park. His point is one we all know from experience, but don’t like to face; our challenges and trials give the opportunity to drive us closer to Christ. Failing reveals our weakness and humility. As Jesus teaches in John 15, God will prune the branches in our lives and characters that don’t bear fruit. That won’t be a comfortable process, but a necessary one.

Empty shelves at a grocery store | Nope not a natural disast… | Flickr

The hoarding of groceries, masks, and toilet paper revealed how we value our personal flourishing to the detriment of the broader community’s. Calls to end the lockdown sooner, in hopes of getting a head start on economic recovery at the “cost” of the elderly or at-risk, similarly reveal our willingness to let others suffer so we don’t have to.

We also see self-idolatry in our homes during this lockdown. Working-from-home parents with children might find lose patience with their kids or spouse, struggling to live selflessly in times of stress and close quarters. Others indulge fear by breathlessly monitoring Twitter or the news, filling our now-open calendars not with acts of service for others, but with needlessly scrolling through stressful headlines on screens.

This quarantine and pandemic have confronted us with the realities of our self-idolatry. We see not only the spiritual toll but also a dire physical toll. Our addiction to personal freedom is making this situation worse.

This virus has brought death and destruction to the economy and human lives, unlike any other crisis in the 21st century. However, one silver lining is that what we used to turn to for escape (sports, hangouts, movies, travel) are no longer available. Instead of obsessing about when this quarantine will end, what if we consider how we might use this pause to be transformed?

Recognizing the depth of our self-idolatry should lead us to repentance. Jesus offers clear instructions to his followers that ring true in any context, but now more than ever before: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24–25).

Jesus calls us not to double down on our freedom, but to sacrifice it out of love for our neighbor. There is no better time to do that than now.

Read the full article here.

Giving up our own mission in life to take up Christ’s is not easy, but it will reveal much of our character and push our dependence more and more on him, rather than self. Consider taking the One Year Challenge and offering God a year of devoted ministry.

What We’re Reading Today

28 Tuesday Apr 2020

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From the book “Golden Rule Leadership”, by Gordon Ferguson and Wyndham Shaw. This week we zoom in on the measurement of success in leadership.

9781577821328: Golden Rule Leadership: Building a Spirit of Team ...

When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:24-28)

Working off of this scripture, Ferguson and Shaw bring the following conclusions:

We see that true greatness of leadership is determined not by how many are “under” our leadership, but how many we serve as leaders. The serving in Matthew 20 was of the most demeaning variety: the washing of feet, a gesture of hospitality normally performed by a household slave. Too often, we leaders stay very busy doing good things, but we often limit ourselves to what is easiest for us, rather than what calls us out of our comfort zones. Further, we may find it far more convenient to serve certain types of people than others. Jesus was clearly most attracted to the needs of the downtrodden in society; we, however, may be attracted to persons at the other end of the scale. Let’s all evaluate ourselves on this important point, for a worldly view and use of leadership is not restricted to those early disciples.

As followers of Christ, and especially as leaders for others, whether it be a congregation or a few friends, we will be defined not by our knowledge but by our love.

If you are thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, consider that the challenge is not just going to another place, but to take up the call and imitate Christ in service to God’s people!

Music Monday

27 Monday Apr 2020

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Because he lives, sung in Chinese and English. We can face tomorrow because of Christ. We have a hope worth sharing with whoever has ears! Praise God!

Saturday Zoom In: “I Was Hungry” Relief

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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https://www.disciplestoday.org/i-was-hungry-covid-relief-update

The results: We have fed over 500 disciples throughout Central America, Mexico and are now adding Venezuela with a total of nine churches where members are being supported.
How: Disciples sponsor families of disciples and have the ability to communicate and build relationships with the family or individual they sponsor.
Who: We prioritize by widows, elderly, disabled, sick, single moms, and other disciples in extreme poverty or temporary crisis. Those physically able to work are encouraged to learn English, computer skills, pursue higher education , sewing or other programs that become available as way of increasing their income and break break the cycle of poverty.
Vision: Our vision is that every church starts an I was Hungry ministry and sponsors a third world church so that someday there will not be a hungry disciple in the entire kingdom.

There is so much going in the world today and many ways to give. Check out how Hope is doing to provide for the needs of those in Central America.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

(Matthew 25:35-40)

Great Images: Peter

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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Peter, Jesus declared, would be the rock his church was to be built on. You might expect a guy who had everything together. And you may also expect that when he messed up, a new guy would be found. God gives a lot of grace and excercises great patience. If you’re thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, know that it isn’t about performing perfectly, but submitting and and continuing to surrender to God. There will be highs and lows, but our hope is not in performance, but in what Christ has achieved. Out of joy and gratefulness, let us make the gospel known!

NIV Quick View Bible » Peter: A Complicated Character - Gospel

Thursday Links: Online Ministry

23 Thursday Apr 2020

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Connecting online. Its different, but so necessary right now.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

You’ve got a light, but its harder to shine it now so that others can see it. How can we use the tool of the internet for God’s glory and mission: taking care of His people.

6 Ways to Shepherd When You Can’t See the Sheep

Church Plants, Fight for Community During COVID-19

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Top 10 MN apple orchards, picked by KARE's Facebook fans | kare11.com

This article, by Samuel Parkison, addresses the realities that many churches, and especially young church plants are experiencing during this time. He talks about what to hold onto and focus on in this time.

COVID-19 does some interesting things, but it doesn’t have the ability to turn these biblical commands into suggestions.

For those who are considering taking the One Year Challenge, there may be much to sway you in this time. As the above quote makes clear, our commitment doesn’t need to change simply because the manner in which we may need to carry it out does.

What We’re Reading Today

21 Tuesday Apr 2020

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“Golden Rule Leadership”. Highly recommended to anyone in ministry leadership or aspiring to be, this book takes a deep look into Jesus’ example and the golden rule of Luke 6:31.

9781577821328: Golden Rule Leadership: Building a Spirit of Team ...

So, the relationships in the church should be like those in an ideal family, If it is not, two tragedies occur: (1) people leave and (2) people stay but are not fired up about helping their friends and physical families become disciples. Mark it down: The sense of being loved, appreciated, accepted and esteemed does more to draw people and old people than anything we an think of. The greatest commands in the Word have to do with love. Love is greater than faith and greater than hope, and without it, nothing else really matters (1 Cor 13).

If you are thinking of taking the One Year Challenge, you would do well to consider how you can be a contribute to the family feeling wherever you go. The OYC sites ask for help for a reason; whether it be a new church plant, young campus ministry, or revitalizing a struggling church. How sweet it is when God’s people dwell in unity!

Music Monday

20 Monday Apr 2020

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From the New York Church of Christ, enjoy!

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