“I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” -Acts 26:17-18
What an amazing year 2009 has been! Since the beginning, we have said we exist to “point people to life.” And all over the city, in homes and on campuses, under bridges and in the streets, from flood destroyed condos to dorm rooms, you have been doing just that! You continually show that life lived for Christ and others is the only life worth living and I am so thankful for the opportunity to lead this great church into 2010!
While it has been exciting to see all that God is doing, in order to effectively continue Reaching, Equipping and Sending people to bring the life of Christ to others, we felt it necessary to implement a couple of changes to our schedule beginning in January 2010.
One major change we felt was critical to growth and maintaining momentum as the new year turns: Are you ready…? We will have a worship service every week at the AMC! That means we will no longer meet in the parking lot the first Sunday of the month to go out and serve but will actually gather together to worship God as a church.
However, we also recognize that serving the city via Resolution:serve projects is a strategic part of our DNA and culture. As people have shared our story and others have joined us in serving, it has been amazing to see how God is impacting people through us living out our resolution to “live as the church on God’s mission,” not just “have church” and “do missions.”
As followers of Jesus, it is our duty to “extend our souls to the hungry” (Is.58:10) in serving those who are poor, forgotten or oppressed. And it is always good to remind ourselves that “whatever we do for the least, we do for Jesus (Matt.24:40).” With all that being said, our leadership team has come to two other important conclusions: 1) We must continue prioritizing worshiping Jesus through service to others. 2) We will do that on the first Sunday of each month* in 2010 immediately following our regular church service.
We will adjust the timing of the projects so as not to take up your entire day. And we have a team of people researching some of the best organizations in Atlanta we can partner with. To accomplish all this will require greater sacrifice, leadership and teamwork than ever, but I am confident that God is faithful who has called us and you are up to the task! And for those who have not yet experienced the Life offered through the Gospel, there is too much at stake!
*with the exception of January 3rd, when we will have NO SERVICE PROJECT. See you at the theater!
On Sunday, October 4th we had the privilege of joining with Samaritan’s Purse to serve the recent flood victims of the Atlanta area. We took 30 volunteers and honestly weren’t prepared for what we would witness. It’s estimated that at least 10,000 homes were completely devastated by the floods. Our team of 30 volunteers worked all afternoon, and didn’t even finish the 3 homes we were working on. And if any of us felt overwhelmed, imagine how the homeowners felt. There is so much work to be done. Thousands of volunteers are still needed to get the job done and you can be a part of restoring hope amid a seemingly hopeless situation. If you have time available, click here to volunteer to work alongside another great church in Atlanta that is bringing together hundreds of volunteers over the coming weeks.
As Christians, we have been sent by Jesus to love others with his love, and here we were able to do that through service, sweat, and tears, and hopefully to move them closer to rebuilding what was lost. What a truly a life changing experience. Stay tuned for future service opportunities with Resolution!
“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” -Romans 6:4 NLT
This past Sunday was incredible! Seven people chose to publicly profess their faith in Christ and be united with him through baptism! It was our first baptism service and what better place to go public than to the Chattahoochee river?
We began with a time of worship down at the river bank, followed by a brief message from pastor Sterling. Then we got to celebrate with those being baptized as pastor Chris interviewed each and one by one they gave a bold confession of faith. Then they entered the water to bury their old lives. It was incredible to witness and then each received prayer and words of encouragement from the Holy Spirit.
Check out the Resolution Facebook page for more pictures.
This month at Resolution we’re unpacking the “Box of Fears.” Everyone’s afraid of something. The rich are afraid of losing their money. Pro athletes are afraid of failing in their sport. Some people are afraid of commitment, or the future, or the economy. There’s a myriad of things we can be afraid of. In fact, a simple search will yield over 500 listed “official” phobias. And often all we have to do is look around, watch the news or check your phone messages to find some reason to fear.
However scripture boldly proclaims that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). So what do we do with that?
Well, I believe in Christ, we have the answer for everything we can be afraid of. So we’ve decided to talk about this issue so we can all live courageous lives free from fear. The first week, we talked about overcoming the fear of rejection and how the fear of man can be paralyzing. Last week, we touched on the fear of failure. It’s amazing how much we can do trying to mask a fear of failure, knowing well that failure is a natural part of life. The good news is that, though we will fail, the grace of God allows us to overcome every obstacle, set back and hindrance.
check out the podcasts at resolutionchurch.com and join us Sunday as we break free from the “fear of death.”
I had an incredible time in Washington D.C. at the Every Nation North America Conference* last week. The theme was “Cross Culture,” talking about how we engage the culture with the power of the cross. It was an incredible time in God. I was impressed with a greater sense of God’s calling upon us as a spiritual family and felt the impact of that more than ever. We are privileged to be a part of such a movement that is reaching the world with the gospel.
We know that the best way to reach the world for Christ is to plant new churches & make disciples. I hope you’re encouraged to know that as of today, there are currently over 100 church plants taking place around the world through Every Nation Ministries, and Resolution Church is one of 10 new churches or restarts taking place in the U.S. right now! We took time to highlight each of those new churches over the course of the week, so I had the opportunity to share some of what God has been doing in Atlanta through each of you at Resolution! It was wonderful to brag on you and celebrate the grace of God that has been with us.
*Watch some of the EN NAC on Ustream.tv.
Check out the Every Nation World World update as well.
We had an unbelievable time together this past Sunday! But without a doubt, we were far more impacted than anything we could ever do for someone else.
It is a privilege to serve God alongside the amazing people at Resolution Church and the incredible warriors at 7 Bridges to Recovery. Pastor 7 Wells and his team of radical, fearless servants of Christ have opened up the door for us to partner with them the first Sunday of each month to bring food and sanitation supplies to the homeless. They have prepared the way and are knocking it out of the park for Jesus 24-7 for years and we get the benefit of drafting off their courage and faith. Pray for them and for all of our new friends without a place to lay their heads.
It was a great reminder of Jesus’ words…
Matthew 25:31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Serving others in need will rock your world! Won’t you join us the first Sunday in July?
I love our church! I love the fact that we love Jesus and love people. And I love knowing that’s pretty important to God. In fact, one of the things we discussed at our Launch Team retreat was that one of the great strengths we have as a church is our relationships. And it’s my hope that people all over Atlanta experience the benefits of walking in god honoring, authentic, supportive friendships.
As we enter the summer we’re looking forward to “Project Summer Fun!” That simply means we’re taking time this summer…to party!!! All over town, we’ll be having parties, barbecues, game nights, etc. If you’re hosting a party or know about one, post a comment & let everyone know what’s going on!
Ever try to break a habit? What about start a good one? It’s funny how when you know what you should or should not do, action doesn’t always line up with our good ideas. Think about it: You know you should “love your neighbor” but more often than not aren’t other people more of a bother to you than a blessing? Or you know you should “love God with all your heart” but if a stranger took a survey of your time, energy and money spent on other things, would it be obvious that you love God?
Well, needless to say we all have areas that we know what we should do but don’t follow through. That’s exactly what one of the greatest religious thinkers and leaders was wrestling with when he penned this incredibly transparent statement:
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:15 NLT)
He was saying sometimes, you may be free to choose, but are you really free to live? That’s what we’re talking about this month at Resolution. If you’re in Atlanta, I encourage you to join us and discover, like Paul, how to be really free to live the life God has for you!
A broken vase won’t hold water. A broken bicycle won’t ride. And a broken foot won’t support weight. And if you’re anything like me, you know what it’s like to feel broken. Sometimes we feel broken because of our mistakes. Other times it is because of loss and pain. But whatever the reason, I believe God has great purposes for us even when we feel broken.
In Judges 7, we find the story of Gideon. Gideon is called by God to lead the army of Israel and to defeat their enemies. However God gives Gideon one of the craziest battle strategies of all time. He “divided the 300 men into 3 groups and gives them each a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it” (v.16). The story goes, as they approached their enemies what they were to do was break the jars while lifting up the torches and blow the trumpets. I remember reading this thinking “That’s it??? Clay pots? Horns?! Where are the swords??? Crossbows? Catapults?” Here’s a brief application.
To point people far from God to Life in Christ means we will face opposition. But it’s obvious the Lord doesn’t need our ingenuity, our weapons or great numbers for us to succeed in our mission. May I suggest we pray and consider how to do two simple things:
1. Break the clay pots – The clay pots symbolize our hearts. Paul says “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” He’s talking about the incredible treasure of the Spirit of God that comes to dwell in the heart of every person who believes in Him. It’s interesting to note that Gideon’s pots each had “a torch in it.” The candle/torch is a classic picture of the Spirit of God among His people.
We know what it’s like to feel broken and sinful. And because of God’s grace, we don’t need to cover up our weaknesses or our brokenness, but first take them to the cross to be healed. And secondly, share with others the areas of brokenness in our own lives. Chances are, if you do that, you’ll find you’re not alone in the things you struggle with and you’ll grow in real relationships (James 5:16, 1 John 1:7-10).
2. Blow the trumpet – The trumpet symbolizes telling your story and sharing the Gospel. Again, the Apostle Paul gives us insight “Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” In fact, the Apostle John learned this is absolutely key to overcoming evil in the world (Revelation 12:11).
We have the greatest story in history to share with a culture that is already broken. No need for cover ups or hiding out. If you have been forgiven, then you have a story to tell. So break your pot, blow the trumpet and let’s see Jesus glorified in Atlanta and the world!
As the first Sunday of the month, today was the day we go out into the city to serve others. It is a privilege to be a part of a church community so passionate about living like Jesus.
One group went out to the house we worked on last month to help with some finishing touches (painting, drywal, etc.). Another group worked really hard to get the old facility cleaned up for move out. And another group (the kids) went out to serve as well. And as a parent I couldn’t be more proud of the kids who lovingly went to a nearby senior center to spend quality time with some of our honored citizens. They sang songs, played games, did crafts, even did “The Electric Slide” together! It’s amazing how small gestures can go so far to communicate the love of God. And that from the youngest to the oldest among us. Here are some images from as awesome time today.
