Sermon Notes from August 31, 2014

A quick blog to post the sermon bullet points from this last Sunday.

I. The Will of God for Us:  Knowing Christ and Developing the Mind of Christ

We first are called to know Christ in a personal relationship. Then His Holy Spirit begins to transform us as new creations who take on the attributes of Christ and develop the mind of Christ.

II. The Work of God Through Us: The Ministry of Christ Flows Through Us to the World

Christ is always at work in the world, and He desires to use us as vessels to communicate the gospel message.  2  Corinthians indicates that we are "ministers" and "messengers" of reconciliation.

III. The Love of Christ Compelling Us: The Nature of Christ

His love for us and then our growing love for Him and His kingdom compels us to engage the world with the gospel message.  One of the greatest expressions of believers is to demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways.

Information as mentioned in Sunday's Sermon

I appreciate the interest and feedback from the sermon time this past week.  As I indicated, I'm dropping in here a link to a video that will give more information about YesOnOne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgLoLkkrCc4

Annual Meeting and New Leadership Team Members

Calvary elects the new leadership team members at our annual meeting, which will be held on March 2, 2014. The two for election are: Randy Ball and Keith Young.

Randy served on the first leadership team when Calvary began in March of 2000. He is currently an Adult Bible Study leader for one of our Sunday Connect Groups, and has been involved in other areas of leadership -including he and his wife, Lisa, assisting with the implementation of our recent Collide Weekend (Disciple Now).  Randy and Lisa have three children who are involved in our collegiate and youth ministries.

Keith and his wife Kim are both involved in our worship ministry as vocalists on the praise team and the choir.  Keith currently serves as an Adult Bible Study leader for another of our Sunday Connect Groups. They also have served in support roles for the youth and collegiate ministries. They have three children who are involved in our youth and children ministries. 

Children's Ministry Position Filled

The Leadership Team is pleased to inform the congregation that Michal MacDonald has accepted the invitation to join the ministry staff of Calvary. She plans to begin her work with us in the middle of this month. We are thankful for the Lord's leadership that brought her unique gifting, education, and experience to our attention. For more information, please note the previous blog update.

Also we are thankful for many who have served in interim or transition leadership positions to allow us the time to make the necessary decisions on behalf of the Children's Ministry and the Calvary Preschool Express.  I specifically want to mention Robyn Griffith, Mary Leigh Brown, Lee Cochran and LeAnn George who have served in various capacities!

We appreciate the prayers and support of the congregation. Please continue to pray for Michal and Scott as they begin making preparations to move to Murfreesboro.

Dr. Mark

Children's Minister Update

We welcome Michal MacDonald and her husband, Scott, to Calvary this Sunday. She is a prospective Children’s Minister who is visiting with us. Among her many experiences in Children’s Ministry, she served for two years as an International Mission Board Journeyman in Capetown, South Africa, where her role was developing and conducting children’s ministry. She subsequently began training South African churches to implement children’s ministry.

She also has been attending the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City where the degree she is pursuing is in Counseling which she believes prepares her for ministering to children and their families.  They are currently living in her hometown of Marion, Illinois, while she continues her studies online.  Her undergrad degree is elementary education from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. 

Her husband, Scott, has a master's degree in theology and is currently doing online work for Moody Church in Chicago.  Scott has roots in Canada and his family currently leads an inner city ministry in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Parents are invited to a meet and greet with Michal following services this Sunday in the children’s lobby.

Back to the 'Boro

We got back to Murfreesboro after an overnight flight Friday/Saturday, followed by a short hop from Atlanta to Nashville. Good flights all the way.

It was wonderful being back with Calvary yesterday in the worship service, loved the music and so good to see all of you!

In my sermon I mentioned a couple of things that I'd thought I'd drop in here with the pictures.

The first is of the ladders that we used while working on the dorm. Despite the difference in manufacturing, they were actually quite sturdy - with the exception of when the bolt slipped out of the hinge.  As I mentioned, I was up the ladder about halfway, and ever so slightly reached to sand a spot on the wall. It was just enough of a twist for the ladder to slip it's hinge point.  I felt it collapsing, and there was nothing I could do but flail my arms and ride it to the floor.  All in all I suffered only a scrap on the arm and a goose egg on the back of my head.  I'm thankful that's all.

The second picture was from our last day in BA. Before we went to the airport, Laura Baggett, one of the missionaries, took us downtown to Florida street for a meal and some last minute sightseeing and shopping.  On the street there were people exchanging money and also selling miscellaneous items.  As we walked by one of the sellers, a group members heard a young woman speak in English, saying, "Jesus loves you!"  We quickly stopped and the missionary began talking with her. At one point, in my limited Spanish, I heard her say she wanted to tell us her testimony. She took a step back and began proclaiming the gospel. What an incredible and powerful moment.

In the next blog or so, I'll give an overview of the work of the TBC and Buenos Aires partnership effort.

A Kitchen Table, Among Other Things

Today, missionary Earl Quick and I built the frame for a table that was planned for the dorm kitchen. I had sketched a design yesterday and we took an an hour or so this afternoon to cut and assemble it.  Without the benefit of a miter saw we had to bevel cut the angles with a circular saw and also taper the legs.  Considering the basic tools, it seemed to turn out well, and when we turned it up to check how it sat, low and behold, it was level without any rocking.  One of the other guys said it was a "miracle."

Note the picture of me and Earl standing inside the frame.