INTRODUCTION
In our culture we like to put things into categories. We have different categories of food (Mexican, Italian, French, etc.), music (R&B, punk, rap, Christian), and movies (romance, action, sci-fi, etc.) to name a few.
Many times we reject God as a category. Our relationship with him is blocked because we view God as the God who hates homosexuals, or the God of the conservative religous people, or the God of judgement, or the God of blind faith, to name a few.
God is not a category. He is personal. Therefore, God will want us to relate to him personally. When we move from seeing God as a category to someone personal our relationship with him will radically change.
DISCUSSION QUESIONS
1. Describe a favorite toy or stuffed animal you had as a small child. What made that toy personal to you and not just another toy or stuffed animal?
2. Read Genesis 12:1-3 and 15:5-6. How did God relate to Abraham in these passages? What does this passage teach concerning how God will relate to us?
3. Read Exodus 3:1-15. How did God relate to Moses in this passage? How did Moses relate to God? What does this say about our relationship with God?
4. Read John 15:1-8. What does this passage say about our relationship with God?
5. What would it look like for you to relate to God in a personal way?
6. How would your relationship to God change if you were to do this?
THINK ABOUT IT
In what categories do you place God? How could these categories jeopardize your relationship with God?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
"This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into this world that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9 (NIV)
Friday, April 11, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Something Crazy, Pt 1
April 6, 2008
In part 1 of the "Something Crazy" series (Messages for April) I shared that this month it is my desire for you to embrace Jesus in a passionate, radical relationship. The observation was made that when you read the Bible you don't receive a bunch of arguements why you should believe in God. Don't you find that kind of odd? What you get instead is a God that says he loves you unconditionally. He doesn't list a bunch of reasons or arguments why you should love God. We looked at Jeremiah 31:3 that says God's affection for us is beyond our understanding. The verse says God waits on us patiently to turn towards his love for us.
God's love for us brings up another question. Why? Why would God love us this much? Mercy Me, a Christian rock band, has this line on thier latest CD, "Who are we that you would be mindful of us? What do you see that's worth looking our way? We are free in ways that we never should be. Lord you know our hearts do not deserve your glory. Still you show a love we cannot afford" (God With Us).
The Bible is replete with God's love for us. My challenge to you this week is to put aside whatever raodblocks, arguements, or experiences that may be keeping you from experiencing God's love, and allow God to love you is a significant way this week. Meditate and pray through these scriptues below to help you experience God's love this week.
Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Eph 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Eph 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Isa 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
1Co 2:9 However, as it is written:
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
Meditate on these verse this week and be sure to memorize Jeremiah 31:3 and let the the Word of God lead you towards the love of God!
Have Yourself Committed!
Kirk
In part 1 of the "Something Crazy" series (Messages for April) I shared that this month it is my desire for you to embrace Jesus in a passionate, radical relationship. The observation was made that when you read the Bible you don't receive a bunch of arguements why you should believe in God. Don't you find that kind of odd? What you get instead is a God that says he loves you unconditionally. He doesn't list a bunch of reasons or arguments why you should love God. We looked at Jeremiah 31:3 that says God's affection for us is beyond our understanding. The verse says God waits on us patiently to turn towards his love for us.
God's love for us brings up another question. Why? Why would God love us this much? Mercy Me, a Christian rock band, has this line on thier latest CD, "Who are we that you would be mindful of us? What do you see that's worth looking our way? We are free in ways that we never should be. Lord you know our hearts do not deserve your glory. Still you show a love we cannot afford" (God With Us).
The Bible is replete with God's love for us. My challenge to you this week is to put aside whatever raodblocks, arguements, or experiences that may be keeping you from experiencing God's love, and allow God to love you is a significant way this week. Meditate and pray through these scriptues below to help you experience God's love this week.
Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Eph 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Eph 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Isa 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
1Co 2:9 However, as it is written:
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
Meditate on these verse this week and be sure to memorize Jeremiah 31:3 and let the the Word of God lead you towards the love of God!
Have Yourself Committed!
Kirk
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Easter Videos
Below are the Easter Videos that I discussed on Easter Sunday. Kirk
1. Did Jesus actually die on the cross?
Thanks to leestrobel.com for this video. You can more info about Jesus at this site.
In Christ Alone,
Kirk Dice
1. Did Jesus actually die on the cross?
Thanks to leestrobel.com for this video. You can more info about Jesus at this site.
In Christ Alone,
Kirk Dice
Friday, March 7, 2008
Points of Clarity
I just finished reading the bookk called THE ONE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW by Marcus Buckingham. He is a business writer that looks into how the best organizations and leaders acheive their goals.
He points out great organizations and leaders must have is clarity. The way to confidence is to be clear and vivid about the future. Clarity gives confidence. vagueness births anxiousness. He gives three questions that everyone organization to be clear on. I thought I would apply them to Celebration Church.
Question #1: Who do we serve?
This question gives our church focus. Who do we serve? Some say the church should serve the poor and the needy. After all, James says true religion is helping out the orphan and the widow. Others might say we serve those who are lost; those without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Didn't Jesus say we are to witness to the ends of the earth? I've heard people argue that we are to serve morality. The church is here to be a force of good on earth. I've even heard people say the church is serve each other.
None of these are the answer. We are here to serve God and his glory. The first thing we have to remember is the church is not about us. It's about God. It's about His glory. It's about briging people into his fame and not ours. In all our endeavors and decisions we must serve God.
How do we know is we are serving God? When we are obedient to Him. How do we know how to obey? By reading the Bible. It is God's word on how to serve.
Question #2: What is our core strength?
Our core strength is small groups. We believe that people grow into disciples by being part of a small community of believers. It is in a small group that realtionships are formed where we can spur each other on to serve God.
Churches can be strong in a lot of areas, and are. Some are strong in worship, evangelism, missions, or fellowship. All of these are good to have in a church. We have chosen small groups because our focus is on making disciples.
Question #3: What is our core score?
Our core score is keeping track of how many people are actively involved in a small group. Right now we have 7 small groups and our plan is to keep growing. Our vision is to raise up 10,000 disciples. If we average 10 people in each small group then our goal is to start and nourish 1000 small groups.
When Jesus set up the church he set it up as an institution that will serve God. It is in a small group where we are discipled that we learn how to serve God happily and effecively.
Hope this clarifies what Celebration is all about.
In Christ Alone,
Kirk
(I apologize about the typo's. I had to type this quickly today.)
He points out great organizations and leaders must have is clarity. The way to confidence is to be clear and vivid about the future. Clarity gives confidence. vagueness births anxiousness. He gives three questions that everyone organization to be clear on. I thought I would apply them to Celebration Church.
Question #1: Who do we serve?
This question gives our church focus. Who do we serve? Some say the church should serve the poor and the needy. After all, James says true religion is helping out the orphan and the widow. Others might say we serve those who are lost; those without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Didn't Jesus say we are to witness to the ends of the earth? I've heard people argue that we are to serve morality. The church is here to be a force of good on earth. I've even heard people say the church is serve each other.
None of these are the answer. We are here to serve God and his glory. The first thing we have to remember is the church is not about us. It's about God. It's about His glory. It's about briging people into his fame and not ours. In all our endeavors and decisions we must serve God.
How do we know is we are serving God? When we are obedient to Him. How do we know how to obey? By reading the Bible. It is God's word on how to serve.
Question #2: What is our core strength?
Our core strength is small groups. We believe that people grow into disciples by being part of a small community of believers. It is in a small group that realtionships are formed where we can spur each other on to serve God.
Churches can be strong in a lot of areas, and are. Some are strong in worship, evangelism, missions, or fellowship. All of these are good to have in a church. We have chosen small groups because our focus is on making disciples.
Question #3: What is our core score?
Our core score is keeping track of how many people are actively involved in a small group. Right now we have 7 small groups and our plan is to keep growing. Our vision is to raise up 10,000 disciples. If we average 10 people in each small group then our goal is to start and nourish 1000 small groups.
When Jesus set up the church he set it up as an institution that will serve God. It is in a small group where we are discipled that we learn how to serve God happily and effecively.
Hope this clarifies what Celebration is all about.
In Christ Alone,
Kirk
(I apologize about the typo's. I had to type this quickly today.)
Friday, February 22, 2008
The Kingdom of God
I've been preaching on the parables that Jesus gave in Matthew 13. In most of the parables Jesus begins by saying, "The kingdom of God is like..." All of these parables are here to explain how the kingdom of God is supposed to operate.
Jesus started out his ministry by proclaiming, "The Kingdom of God is near!" Ever wonder what he meant by that?
Take the Jew of that day. Back in the day there were prophets who would proclaim the word of God. They were the advisors to the King. They helped determine military strategy. Sometimes they were unpopular becasue they would tell the people when they were turning thier backs on God. Some were celebrated and others were hated. In the end though, God spoke through these prophets.
A problem arose though. After Nehemiah built the wall of Jerusalem the prophets were no more and God in effect went silent. All the grand miracles that God had performed went silent. All the advice for military battles was gone.
This silence from God lasted 400 years. Imagine that. Our nation is only a little over 200 years old. For the people in Jesus day God had essentially quit speaking directly to them a long, long, long time ago. The prophecies, the incredible events, God intervening on thier behalf, was just a mere history lesson.
Then, out of the blue, this guy from Galilee, not even Jerusalem, starts proclaiming the kingdom of God is near. He goes around the countryside performing these incredible miracles. People start noticing that he fits the description the prophets of old talked about. Could it be God was moving again?
Not only that Jesus gets up in a synagoge one day, reads one of the scriptures about the Messiah, and says I'm what this prophet is talking about. For some people this was to good to be true. God has been silent for 400 years and all of a sudden this guy comes along and says God's back?
Some believed though. Some understood. Some placed their faith in him.
Then this Jesus died and all his claims with him. Has God realy spoken again?
Then Jesus rose from the dead and ushered in a new Kingdom of God. A kingdom that includes you!
So I have a question for you. How do you see the Kingdom of God in your life? Jesus didn't die to be silent.
Kirk
Jesus started out his ministry by proclaiming, "The Kingdom of God is near!" Ever wonder what he meant by that?
Take the Jew of that day. Back in the day there were prophets who would proclaim the word of God. They were the advisors to the King. They helped determine military strategy. Sometimes they were unpopular becasue they would tell the people when they were turning thier backs on God. Some were celebrated and others were hated. In the end though, God spoke through these prophets.
A problem arose though. After Nehemiah built the wall of Jerusalem the prophets were no more and God in effect went silent. All the grand miracles that God had performed went silent. All the advice for military battles was gone.
This silence from God lasted 400 years. Imagine that. Our nation is only a little over 200 years old. For the people in Jesus day God had essentially quit speaking directly to them a long, long, long time ago. The prophecies, the incredible events, God intervening on thier behalf, was just a mere history lesson.
Then, out of the blue, this guy from Galilee, not even Jerusalem, starts proclaiming the kingdom of God is near. He goes around the countryside performing these incredible miracles. People start noticing that he fits the description the prophets of old talked about. Could it be God was moving again?
Not only that Jesus gets up in a synagoge one day, reads one of the scriptures about the Messiah, and says I'm what this prophet is talking about. For some people this was to good to be true. God has been silent for 400 years and all of a sudden this guy comes along and says God's back?
Some believed though. Some understood. Some placed their faith in him.
Then this Jesus died and all his claims with him. Has God realy spoken again?
Then Jesus rose from the dead and ushered in a new Kingdom of God. A kingdom that includes you!
So I have a question for you. How do you see the Kingdom of God in your life? Jesus didn't die to be silent.
Kirk
Friday, February 15, 2008
To Good To Be True
Lisa and I had a great laugh on Valentine's Day. We are looking for a home but we have limited resources. So looking for a home takes patience and catching a break somewhere down the line.
The other night Lisa was looking at homes on the internet and she found a home on 3 acres for $30,000! Can you believe it! It was a nice home too.
Get this. The site said the average home in the area was $400,000! It was being sold at a -93% of the homes around it. Talk about your built in equity! This was too good to be true.
I decided to call the agent and I told him what the internet site said the price was. He said that was nice of them, but the actual price was $305,000! I told him if that was the actual cost I would buy it that night!
It was too good to be true.
Of course that got me to reflecting as I went to bed at night. Jesus said that I have some real estate waiting for me in heaven. He even went on to say I don't even have to pay for it. He already did with his blood. Plus, I know I have a home because he has placed a deposit called the Holy Spirit in my life. It's waiting for me. I thought that is to good to be true- but it is true!
Plus, this weekend is my Son's birthday. He's turning the double digits- 10! I just heard a comedian talk about birthdays. He says when you are a kind you'll say, "I'm 8 and a half" or "I'm 6 and 3/4's old!" You never hear a thirty year old say that, "I'm 36 and a 1/4!"
I would like to highlight Dietrich today since it is his birthday. I rememebr when he was born of course. It's been exciting to have a boy in my home. Never a dull moment. I hope he knows how much I love him. How much I believe in him. I think of the special gift from God that he is. He's a great gift from heaven. He really is too good to be true.
Kirk
The other night Lisa was looking at homes on the internet and she found a home on 3 acres for $30,000! Can you believe it! It was a nice home too.
Get this. The site said the average home in the area was $400,000! It was being sold at a -93% of the homes around it. Talk about your built in equity! This was too good to be true.
I decided to call the agent and I told him what the internet site said the price was. He said that was nice of them, but the actual price was $305,000! I told him if that was the actual cost I would buy it that night!
It was too good to be true.
Of course that got me to reflecting as I went to bed at night. Jesus said that I have some real estate waiting for me in heaven. He even went on to say I don't even have to pay for it. He already did with his blood. Plus, I know I have a home because he has placed a deposit called the Holy Spirit in my life. It's waiting for me. I thought that is to good to be true- but it is true!
Plus, this weekend is my Son's birthday. He's turning the double digits- 10! I just heard a comedian talk about birthdays. He says when you are a kind you'll say, "I'm 8 and a half" or "I'm 6 and 3/4's old!" You never hear a thirty year old say that, "I'm 36 and a 1/4!"
I would like to highlight Dietrich today since it is his birthday. I rememebr when he was born of course. It's been exciting to have a boy in my home. Never a dull moment. I hope he knows how much I love him. How much I believe in him. I think of the special gift from God that he is. He's a great gift from heaven. He really is too good to be true.
Kirk
Friday, February 1, 2008
Lisa's Trip to the Surgery
Lisa had her wisdom teeth taken out today. As many of you know this is quite the experience. I was the "escort." That means I get to play nurse to Lisa for the rest of the day.
The most interesting part of the trip was on the way there. The doctor's office was just off Battlefield Blvd. down near the Chesapeake Hospital.
For whatever reason traffic started backing up when we got on I-64 just off I-664. According to the road sign flashing it was backed up all the way to the high rise bridge. We were just sitting on the road and we knew we were going to be late for Lisa's surgery. We called ahead to the doctor.
When we go to the route 13 (painstakingly slow) exit we decided to get off not sure how to reroute the traffic. A lot of these roads are still new to us. We quickly determined we needed some help so we called Don Handyside for instructions. Before he could determine where we were on 13 south we somehow looped around and we found ourselves right back where we started at the I-664 to I-64 exit. Traffic was backed up even further now!
From there Don figured out where we were and gave us OnStar guidance to get around the traffic. He told us make sure you are in this lane and make sure you are headed this direction. He did an excellent job. We arrived at our doctor's office not to far off from our scheduled time.
This little adventure led me to this little spiritual thought. When you get stuck in your life, call up God. He will be the OnStar for your life. He will make your paths straight!
In Christ Alone,
Kirk
The most interesting part of the trip was on the way there. The doctor's office was just off Battlefield Blvd. down near the Chesapeake Hospital.
For whatever reason traffic started backing up when we got on I-64 just off I-664. According to the road sign flashing it was backed up all the way to the high rise bridge. We were just sitting on the road and we knew we were going to be late for Lisa's surgery. We called ahead to the doctor.
When we go to the route 13 (painstakingly slow) exit we decided to get off not sure how to reroute the traffic. A lot of these roads are still new to us. We quickly determined we needed some help so we called Don Handyside for instructions. Before he could determine where we were on 13 south we somehow looped around and we found ourselves right back where we started at the I-664 to I-64 exit. Traffic was backed up even further now!
From there Don figured out where we were and gave us OnStar guidance to get around the traffic. He told us make sure you are in this lane and make sure you are headed this direction. He did an excellent job. We arrived at our doctor's office not to far off from our scheduled time.
This little adventure led me to this little spiritual thought. When you get stuck in your life, call up God. He will be the OnStar for your life. He will make your paths straight!
In Christ Alone,
Kirk
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