The Redemption Blog

Sunday @Redemption...

If you are normal, your first response to the word "discipline" in general and "church discipline" in particular, is probably not positive.

We hear that word and our thoughts harken back to childhood. We think of things like...

The many times we were forced to sit in the corner...

The hours we spent grounded in our rooms...

The bars of soap used to wash the profanity from our mouths...

For some of us it brings to mind dark memories of abuse, or severe and over harsh punishments we both did not deserve and did not understand.

Needless to say, it is a loaded word for each of us.  

Join us this Sunday at Redemption as we work to both unpack this word from God's perspective and discuss how we work it out as a church family. My promise to you is that it will be a time of healing, challenge, conviction, and encouragement.  

You won't want to miss it!

Map and Service time here...

Good morning friends!

We are getting ready to start a more intentional level of missional living at Redemption. If you have been around a while you know that our vision at Redemption is to see rebels redeemed for the glory of God and the good of our city.  We fulfill this mission in three primary ways:

1. Seeing lives transformed by the gospel

2. Seing the gospel lived out in community

3. As a community we take the gospel to our city

I am humbled to report that we have seen the first two of these in amazing ways. People are giving their lives to Jesus and giving their lives to each other.

Where we have tremendous opportunity is taking the gospel to our city.  

We do not want our community to simply center around a desire for relationship.  While this is good there is more we have been called to.  

Our desire is to see community center around common mission.

This is where we are seeking to bring some intentionality.  Here's some questions we as a community need to think and pray through:

• How are we intentionally building relationships (both individually and corporately) with those who do not know Jesus in our neighborhoods?  

• How are we intentionally building relationships with people we work with?

• Where are the areas of brokenness and need in our cities that require the gospel to heal? 

• Where are the areas no one else wants to serve that Jesus may be calling us to?

• How can each of our community groups center on a common mission? How can they serve the cities they live in?

I want to invite you to pray with and for us concerning these issues.  I also want to invite you to offer up your ideas and help us sort this all out.  

If you have ideas on how we can bring greater intentionality to our mission post your ideas here...

You can also email us at info@redemptionbiblechurch.org.

God has done amazing things in our young church and greater things are yet to come.

I love you guys!

 

Sunday @Redemption...

Remember that scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when Chevy Chase cuts into the Christmas turkey that's looks amazing?

As soon as he makes the first cut the turkey explodes and reveals nothing but a burnt carcass on the inside.

Many Christian lives are just like that.

We work hard to keep it together on the outside, but if the reality of our heart, our attitude, or our motivation were revealed we would see nothing but dead works detached from a heart of worship. 

We have been called to more than trying to make God love us more by living a good life.

We have been called to more than behavior modification detached from heart transformation.

We have been called to more than trying to make everyone think we have it all together when in reality we're as broken as everyone else.

We have been called to MOVEMENT.

Join us this Sunday at Redemption as we explore Redeeming Church Movement.

Sunday Worship Gatherings

9:45 @Cutting Hall (150 E Wood ST)

MAP

A note from Ryan...

Can you believe we are already five weeks in?!

We are half way through our new series, starting new community groups, getting ready to begin our first round of membership and the holidays are quickly approaching. It is getting colder outside and the Bears are running head on into being this years Super Bowl champions...yeah, that last part may not happen, but we can pray...

This is right about the time we may begin to settle in and get comfortable.

The excitement of our launch has come and gone and now we are into the grind of living life in gospel-saturated community, setting up and tearing down weekend worship gatherings, and generally just trying to keep our heads above water.  

But the truth is,the journey has just begun. 

There are countless people you and interact with each day who have no relationship with Jesus.  Whether they be family members, classmates, coworkers, a spouse, a child, or a stranger at Starbucks, God is putting people in your path.

So here's my challenge for us this week:

DON'T GET COMFORTABLE!

Let's continue to lean into the angst ridden feeling of knowing that God has put lost people in our lives for a reason. Let's seek God for the courage to open our mouths and share the gospel. Maybe you're wondering how we can do this together. Let' start like this:

1. Pray

Ask God who He has put into your life for gospel reasons. Who would He have you reach out to and get to know? Who is He calling you to for the sake of sharing the gospel and being a source of light in their lives?

2. Invest

Once God has revealed to you who that person is begin to ask Him how you can invest in that person. Maybe it will mean going to the same coffee shop each day to get coffee before work and intentionally starting conversation with a specific barista. Maybe it will mean going out with people after work in order to get to know them on a personal level. Maybe it will mean having neighbors over for dinner. The question is, how can you invest in the person, or people God is directing you to?

3. Invite

Simply begin inviting your lost friends to church. As you invest in these relationships and begin to have credibility and voice in these people's lives, invite them to come and check out Redemption with you some Sunday. Go to breakfast before, or lunch after. Offer to give them a ride, or meet them there. Have the courage to not just open your life, but open your mouth and invite someone into what God is doing in and through Redemption.

This is a simple way we can each be involved in the mission of Jesus at Redemption. Let's not get comfortable. Let's not just settle in and be content with who's already here. Let's ask God to keep us uncomfortable and bent on seeing rebels redeemed for His glory, their good, and our joy!

A Note from Ryan...

Greetings Friends!

Another amazing weekend of gathered worship at Redemption. I never cease to be amazed at all the new faces each week, along with the faces I see returning since our launch just four weeks ago!

This past Sunday we talked about Redeeming Church Community and I wanted to follow up with further encouragement to make sure everyone takes responsibility and plugs in.  If you missed the sermon this weekend you can listen to it here...

I am obviously excited about what I see God doing in our Sunday morning worship gatherings, but I'm more excited about what I see God doing in the life our church throughout the week in our community.  We are getting ready to launch our third community group this week, have a fourth in the works and will most likely need a fifth in the next two months. 

Here's what this means:

1.  You NEED to be in a community group
We currently have community groups in Palatine, Mundelein, and Crystal Lake.  We are working on starting a fourth group in McHenry and will probably have a second Palatine group in the next couple of months. In you are not currently in a group please email us at community@redemptionbiblechurch.org so we can get you plugged in.

2.  We need community group host homes
Our overarching vision for community groups is to have them intentionally started based on geographical location.  Community groups are to be our most local expression of Redemption wherever we have people coming from.  If you are interested in hosting a community group in your home please email us again at community@redemptionbiblechurch.org.

3.  We need community group leaders
Have you ever thought about leading a community group? Even the idea makes some of us nervous and brings to mind a host of reasons why we feel unqualified. Regardless, I would like to invite you to pray about whether or not God may be asking you to step into this role. Here's what we're looking for:

• People who love Jesus
• People who love people
• People who can facilitate conversation

You don't have to teach, you simply have to be able to walk your group through the discussion questions we write.  If you are interested in even discussing this please email me at ryan@redemptionbiblechurch.org.

Our goal is to grow larger and smaller all the time.  This means as our worship gatherings grow on the weekend we want our smaller community groups to be multiplying as well.

It's already impossible for you to know everyone at Redemption, so it's vitally important you get plugged into a community group so you can get to know some people and they can get to know you.

I love you guys and want to encourage you to continue to grow in community.  Have a great week!

A Note from Ryan...

Each week I tell you guys what's going on at Redemption and how things are going, but this week I want to let you read what someone else is saying about Redemption. The following post is from a blog called "Theologically Blonde" authored by Sarah Cathey.  Sarah is working on her Masters of Divinity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity school in Deerfield and has been attending RBC for the past 3 weeks.

What follows is her post following her first visit to Redemption. 

church, Church, body, bride...

I’m starting to fall in love.

Sorry for those of you who just got excited for some juicy romantic gossip, I’m about to disappoint you by telling you it’s with a church. In a previous post I mentioned the elusive Acts 29 church plant*. Well, it does, in fact, exist. And it’s awesome.

For the first few weeks here at school I sat in pews of new churches and felt empty, lost. When you leave an amazing church, and you’re trying to find a new one that compares, it’s like thinking back on a past lover: you forget all the bad things and feel overwhelmingly nostalgic about the good. And going on first dates with new churches can be like bad first dates in real life. You’re 5 minutes in and you know you aren’t meant to be together, but you have to stick it out.

I went to Redemption Bible sort of by accident. Every Sunday I had in my mind that I was going to visit some other church, but circumstances led me to tag along with some guys to this “new Acts 29 church plant”, whatever that was.

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d like it let alone ever go back. But as I sat in the dim light of the an old theater, I heard the GOSPEL preached, and all I could think about was how I’d love to invite my non-christian friends to this church… and I knew this whacky rockbandplayinghymnsandpastorwearingjeansandchucks church was the one.

At first I thought it was good because it wasn’t about ME or my agenda. I threw out the nitpicky checklist of things that make a good church. It was what it was. And I would love to go out and invite people who needed Jesus to come and check it out.

Then after spending time eating with and fellowshipping (is that even a word?) with the people there, and being stalked by those same people on twitter, facebook and email, and having coffee with the pastor, and being invited to community group… I realized that yes, it was about me. It was about something I can be a part of: a body. We are all one body and to be able not just to meet on Sunday mornings and worship together, but to “break bread” together, share a meal, incessantly @reply on twitter, etc… that is what counts. I can be loved on and love back. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

It was that sense of community and love for one another that made me fall in love with this particular church, and reignited my romance with THE Church. Yes, I love the Church, because Paul tells us the Christ loved the Church as His bride, and “gave Himself up for her”. THIS IS HUGE. I don’t even know the depth of this analogy, given I am outside of a marriage relationship, but I know to feel this love for something so dear to Christ Himself is to bring glory to the Son of God.

And just like I won’t find the perfect man, I won’t find the perfect church… but I will find the perfect church (and hopefully someday the perfect man) for me.

And if you find the perfect church, please let me know so I can stay far, far away.

I was humbled to say the least when I read this post. To all of you involved with Redemption at any level, let this serve as a blessing and a reminder that Jesus is at work in our church.  Thanks to Sarah for her gracious words and for joining our family.

Find Sarah's blog here...
Follow Sarah on twitter here...
Friend Sarah on facebook here...

Sunday @Redemption...

Mission matters because it is why you were made!

If you are like me than at some point you have asked the all too familiar question,

"Why am I here?"

How you answer that question says a lot about you and a lot about where your life is headed.

You have your pick of possible answers:

To make money

To get married

To get an education

To work

To enjoy life

To make the world a better place

Any of those sound right?

If not, how do you answer that question?

This Sunday at Redemption is about more than just the mission of our new church.  It is about God's reason for creating you, me, the Church, and all of creation. Needless to say, this is a big deal and you need to find a way to gather with us for worship this weekend.

Bring a friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor, or even a stranger.

Mission matters because it is why you and I were made. Join us this weekend as we unpack life's mission together!

Redemption Bible Church Worship Gatherings

9:45 @Cutting Hall in Downtown Palatine

150 E. Wood St (Map)

Calm before the storm...

 
It feels like the “calm before the storm”.

We are getting ready to take the next step in the life of our church and move our weekly worship gatherings to Cutting Hall on September 13!  It would be easy to get swept away in the details so I want us to stop and remember.

In 1 Chronicles 16:12 David sings, “Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered.”

I want us to remember all Jesus has done so we remember that it is Jesus who builds His church.  3 years ago Redemption was nothing more than a dream and a prayer...look at far Jesus has brought us:

• On Saturday night February 28 of this year, 21 adults and 6 kids gathered in the Herr’s living room for the first time to seek God for His leading and vision for Redemption.

• In March of this year Tami and I flew to Seattle for assessment with the Acts 29 network and were approved!

• From March to June we continued to gather on Saturday nights, making our way through the book of Ezra and talking about Jesus’ vision for Redemption.

• In June, Tami and I were able to work full time with Redemption thanks to the faithful and worshipful giving of our core team.

• In June, Tami and I found a home in downtown Palatine and moved June 26th.

• In buying our home we “stumbled” across Cutting Hall for a great price and amazing location.

• Also in the beginning of June we began meeting each Sunday morning at the Palatine Community Center.

• On July 19 we had our first vision gathering at Cutting Hall where 51 people heard the gospel and worshiped Jesus together.

• From March to August our core team has nearly tripled in size!

• On August 23 we gathered for our second vision gathering and 56 people heard the gospel and worshiped Jesus together.

• Our Fight Club discipleship groups began gathering the last week in August

• Our community groups begin the second week of September.

• Finally on September 13 we move into Cutting Hall for weekly worship gatherings and begin the next season of ministry at Redemption!

It’s been an amazing journey so far and Jesus has just begun the work He has planned through Redemption. 

Thank you for your gospel-partnership!  Thank you for your faithful service!  Thank you for your prayer!  Thank you for your generosity!

HERE WE GO!!

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

Weekend Recap...

Another great weekend of gathered worship! 

If you couldn't make it we gathered for the second time at Cutting Hall where we begin meeting weekly on September 13.  56 of us worshiped through song, Word, communion, giving and serving.  We have lots of loose ends to tie up and challenges to overcome, but most importantly the gospel is going forth and I'm seeing it at work in so many lives.

As promised I wanted to put the sermon overview on the blog in case you were unable to take notes.  Here's the gist of it:

Sermon Title:  "A Pastor's Prayer for His Young Church"

Text: Colossians 1:9-14

Focus:  As a young church in a sea of self-help, self-improvement, and spirituality, how do we keep from being swept away by every theological fad and cultural compulsion?

Big Idea: "Living a  life worthy of Jesus means living life rooted in the gospel"

Notes: 4 Pastoral Prayers for Our Young Church

1.  I pray we would be grounded in the gospel (v. 9)

2.  I pray we would live out the gospel (v. 10)

3.  I pray we would stand strong in joy (v. 11)

4.  I pray we would be filled with thanks for the gospel (v. 12-14)

Make sure you grab the podcast on iTunes if you were unable to worship with us this weekend!

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

Sunday @Redemption...

There is a constant assault on our lives.

Don't believe me?  Just stroll by the magazine rack at your local Barnes & Noble. 

Every cover is something about how to get six-pack abs, live more green, look more like a movie star, diversify your portfolio, have better sex, be a better spouse, be a better parent, or find a deeper sense of spirituality inside of yourself. 

My point? 

Everyone is trying to sell us on how to best live our lives.

If we are honest, we are all prone to be heavily influenced by our cultural context to the extent that we overlook, write off, or ignore God's context for how we are to live. 

God's way and the cultural assault you and I experience every day, often stand in stark contrast to each other. 

So what do we do? 

In Colossians 1:9-14 we hear the Apostle Paul pray for a young church, much like Redemption, that was wrestling with same things we are. 

Invite a friend and join us this Sunday as we look at "A Pastor's Prayer for His Young Church".

Redemption Gathering Info:
When: Sunday, August 23 at 9:45am
Where: Cutting Hall
150 E. Wood Street
Palatine, IL 60067
Map

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision