Connect to the Info

Hey Guest Services Volunteers! One of the biggest challenges as an information specialist is that sometimes you don’t know the all information and that can be extremely frustrating.

Typically, when we don’t know the answer to a guest’s question, we take the guest’s info and “get back with the right answer a.s.a.p.” While that is ALL GOOD, I know it is frustrating not to have the answers… over and over.

Let me offer a couple of ways you can get connected to timely answers.

#1. Listen…a lot. There are gs team members who have good answers to tough questions. Stick your nose into their business. They don’t mind. When any one on your team is answering a question, listen! One of the best sources of information on this team is your own team members! Also, when a staff member comes over to answer a question, ask to listen to their answer or ask them later how they answered.

#2 Connect to the info stream that is the world wide web. Many of our staff blog about what is happening in their area of ministry. While some of these blogs are not necessarily “official”, and they may not answer your specific question, they are a great window into the life of our church. I’ve put several blogs down below that you could subscribe to. By using an RSS feeder you can read lots of blogs in just minutes (RSS means “really simple syndication”). How does that work? Normally to read blogs you type in addresses or save your favorite blogs as ‘favorites’, then every once and a while you go and see if the blogger has posted new content. With a blog reader, you are notified when a blogger posts new info so that you don’t have to waste time going from blog to blog. The posts come to you! Go here to learn more and sign up. It’s free. You just need an internet connection. Once you’ve signed up, its as easy as clicking on the little orange button in the address bar. Hey, if you still have questions about RSS readers, I’ll be happy to show you how they work any sunday. Have a great week.

Blogs you might find interesting:
Perry Noble – Senior Pastor
Clayton King – NewSpring Teaching Pastor
NewSpring blog -
Jake Beaty - Care and Outreach Pastor
KidSpring -
Brad Cooper - Student Pastor
NewSpring Students -
Sherry Moorhead – Volunteer Director
yours truly – Discipleship, GS, NewBeliever, NewMember, Groups

More to come!

insecurity

Insecurity is a monster.
I’m insecure if I’m under prepared.
I’m insecure if I’m over prepared.
I’m insecure if no one shows up.
I’m insecure if a bunch of people show up.
If people don’t have fun I’m insecure.
If people have too much fun then I probably didn’t speak enough hard truth.
Insecurity replicates in my brain like an out of control virus.

Insecurity starts when my confidence comes from “I” instead of “He”.

He has a plan.
He has given my the privilege of being part of His plan.
He decides who shows.
He gives us a living Word that cuts to our heart.
He lives in me. I will not be ashamed.
He died for me and rose again.
What can man do to me?
He not me.

John 3:30.

uh…this is a great post

http://www.stevenfurtick.com/uncategorized/minister-of-gcd/

Jesus as discipler?

How did Jesus disciple? What do you see as the ultimate paradigm of disciple making?

Getting versus giving.

Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

There is nothing we can do to earn the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We can serve for it, give to it, pray for it, sing toward it: we can’t earn it. It’s a gift.

When we receive that gift a transformation takes place. We become a new creation in Christ. We are form or shaped by God for a purpose.

Giving of tithes and offerings is a perfect illustration of this verse. I’m thankful that I didn’t have to make payments for my salvation. It was a gift. Now that Christ is in me, I have everything. I have been prepared for the purpose of giving. I give, not because I have to, but because I have been created to give. It is in my nature now to give.

Son of God = God

Is Jesus God or is He the Son of God? Great question!

It is accurate to say that Jesus is God and also to say that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. That means that He is God. Allow C.S. Lewis to explain:

“We don’t use the words begetting or begotten much in modern English, but everyone still knows what they mean. To beget is to become the father of: to create is to make. And the difference is this. When you beget, you beget something of the same kind as yourself. A man begets human babies, a beaver begets little beavers and a bird begets eggs which turn into little birds. But when you make, you make something of a different kind from yourself. A bird makes a nest, a beaver builds a dam, a man makes a wireless set – or he may make something more like himself than a wireless set: say, a statue. If he is clever enough carver he may make a statue which is very like man indeed. But, of course, it is not a real man; it only looks like one. It cannot breathe or think. It is not alive.

Now that is the first thing to get clear. What God begets is God; just as what man begets is man. What God creates is not God; just as what man makes is not man. That is why men are not Son’s of God in the sense that Christ is. They may be like God in certain ways, but they are not things of the same kind. They are more like statues or pictures of God.”

Check out John 10:30-39. Notice here that Jesus calls himself “God’s Son” and the Jews understand that he is claiming to be God. To say that “Jesus is God” and “Jesus is God’s Son” are synonymous is an over-simplification but nonetheless, true.

Have you ever thought through this question? What was your conclusion based on scripture?

Begets

Why are there so many “begets” in the bible? I get so bored of all the genealogies in the bible that I just skip those parts.
Great Question! Below are a couple of reasons I think those “begets” are in the bible.

1. From Adam to Jesus, son of God to Son of God, there is a record of God’s work in His people. It is a record of redemption. The genealogical record attests to the historical veracity of the bible. Those were real people who kept good records.
2. To show the supremacy of Christ and to highlight the nature of our birth. The genealogies are records of natural births that point towards the spiritual nature of our birth. Notice that there are no genealogies after Jesus. We are children of God…born not of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God (John 1:12-13 and 3:3). There are no branches on the tree; those who claim Christ are all his children! He is supreme.
3. To remind us that we are now in the same chosen family and should be thankful. We have been engrafted into Israel through our spiritual birth. Galatians 3:29 says, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” All those promises God made to Abraham and his descendants are now “yes” in Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 1:20)

Do you have any further insight as to why those “begets” are in there?

what lasts forever?

Lately, I’ve been thinking a good bit about how I spend my time. Let me just say that there is nothing wrong with rest and relaxation. I’m a big fan and I think God is too (that whole sabbath thing). Sometimes, though, I expect a big return on very little investment. A friend reminded me of Proverbs 13:4, “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” Jerry White, president of Navigators, said this, “According to the Bible, the only things that will last eternally are God, the Word of God, and the souls of men. To the extent that you are involved in these three things, you are involved in eternity.” So how are we doin’? Are we spending our time on something that matters?

Pets in heaven?

Sure, there will be animals in heaven. But pets? Let’s hear your argument.

new believer’s class coming

NewSpringers listen up! Are you a new believer in Christ? Do you have a friend or family member who has recently accepted Jesus? The journey has just started. We want to help you know what to do next! Our next New Believer’s Class begins Thursday, July 23rd at the Greenville Campus offices. We’re going to be talking about the basics of the faith in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Check out the details below.

What: 3 Week New Believers Class
Where: Greenville Campus Offices (81 Rocky Slope Rd. Greenville 29607)
When: Thursdays 6:30 – 8pm (Beginning July 23)
Sign Up: www.newspring.cc or at Guest Services on Sunday
Questions: tom.haren@newspring.cc