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If you have not already seen it, take a some time when you get a chance to watch this set of talks with Dr. John Piper and Dr. D.A. Carson. Both men cover their life stories and then sit down for a quick Q & A. It is well worth your time...
Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision
How many people really know you? How many people know how terrible you can be, or what you are addicted to, or what you constantly worry about, or what great things God is doing in your life.
It has become more clear than ever to me that we are to be known by people around us. We are made to be in community.
Not nonchalant, nice, surface friendship with a few people...but intentional, honest community where we confess sin, share the gospel with each other, hold each other accountable, and share evidences of God's grace.
This is where sanctification happens and where we can actively repent of sin and grow to be more like Jesus.
We are praying hard and figuring out how to do this best at Redemption. We know that it is extremely crucial in our spiritual growth and that it is commanded in the bible.
I look forward to seeing the way God moves through the community we will have at Redemption!
Posted By Scott Holthaus
Director Of Worship Arts
Spent this evening chatting with a friend in need so as I sit to write this post, I wanted to share the verse that continues to race through my mind,
Ephesians 4:6-7
6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Until next week.
Posted by Tyler Drewitz
Ministry Development & Adminstration
Some links to suck your time away...enjoy!
There are A LOT of blogs out there and quite a few that talk about worshiping God as well as corporate worship.
It can be hard to filter the wheat from the chaff, so I wanted to share a few that I read and that I would recommend you read as well.
The first is The Resurgence. The Resurgence is actually a theological blog made up of a lot of different authors that touch on a lot of topics, one of them being worship.
Next is Sojourn Music. Sojourn church is an Acts 29 church in Louisville, KY and their musical worship is led by a guy named Mike Cosper.
Finally there is The Village Church: Worship. The Village Church is another Acts 29 church in Texas and their musical worship is led by Michael Bleaker.
Check out these blogs, subscribe to them, and take in what they have to say.
Posted By Scott Holthaus
Director Of Worship Arts
Here's a few links for the week...
I want to start a series of ongoing posts introducing our Redemption family to other church families in the A29 network. I want us to realize more and more what we are a part of and what God is doing in other churches around the country, so we can pray with them and for them because we are all on this mission together.
I wanted to begin with introducing you to Brent Rood and Seed Church. Brent was one of the three Acts 29 planters that did Tami and I's assessment and he is now serving Redemption by providing coaching to me. Say, "Hello" to Seed Church...
Church Name: Seed Church
Website/Blog: www.dyingtolive.org
City: Lynnwood, WA
Lead Planter: Brent Rood
What is the story of Seed Church?
"About 8 years ago a group of 5 families were meeting in a home in Greenville, SC to pray and prepare for moving to Seattle and starting a church. Five years ago in April, after moving out to Seattle, and spending a year and a half getting adjusted we had our first service in a coffee shop. Since then we have moved to two locations. Our current project is merging with a dying Baptist congregation and inheriting their property and facilities."
What have been the two greatest obstacles you have faced in your plant?
1) Regularly running into specific barriers or problems that couldn’t be solved through reading a book or going to a conference. We had to prayerfully figure stuff out ourselves and experiment.
2) Those first time situations in the plant. The first time you have to install elders, or leaders. The first time you do a wedding or funeral. The first time someone in your church has cancer, has an affair, or needs to go through church discipline.
What has been the greatest step of faith you have taken in your plant?
There are so many it is hard to list just one. Each time a decision is made to step forward in a direction without adequate money, people trained, or even a clear and fully developed plan it takes faith. This happens in both small and large ways each and every month.
What one piece of counsel would you give to a young church plant?
Figure out early that prayer is truly the most important action plan of your church plant team. Learn to pray proactively so you don’t have to learn to pray reactively.
What are some ways Redemption can be praying for you, your family, and your church?
1) The merge is supposed to happen in September and we have spent the last five months meeting every morning with the other churches leadership to make this as smooth as possible. Pray for unity and that the merge will happen.
2) We are in the process of re-focusing our missional direction. It has involved analyzing what our community looks like in our new location and how specifically to engage.
Thanks, Brent, for all God is doing through you at Seed Church and for all you are doing to serve Redemption!
Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision
