Purpose-Driven

 24 SIGNS THAT YOUR CHURCH IS GOING PURPOSE DRIVEN
1. Change in music to a contemporary rock style.
 2. Removal of hymn books; eliminating the choir.
 3. Replacement of organ and piano with heavy metal instruments.
 4. Repetitive singing of praise lyrics.
 5. Dressing down to casual and informal attire.
 6. Eliminating of business meetings, church committees, council of elders, board of deacons, etc.
 7. The pastor, or a new leader with a few assistants, usually four, takes charge of all church business.
 8. A repetitive 40-day Purpose Driven Church study program stressing psychological relationships with each other, the community, or the world, begins.
 9. Funded budgeted programs are abandoned, or ignored, with ambiguous financial reports made.
 10. Sunday morning, evening, and/or Wednesday prayer meetings are changed to other times; some may even be eliminated.
 11. Sunday School teachers are moved to different classes, or replaced by new teachers more sympathetic with the changes being implemented.
 12. The name “Sunday School” is dropped and classes are given new names.
 13. Crosses and other traditional Christian symbols may be moved from both the inside and outside of the church building. The pulpit may also be removed.
 14. In accordance with Rick Warren’s instructions, new version Bibles are used; or only verses flashed on a screen are referenced during regular services.
15. Purpose Driven Church films, purchased from Saddleback, precede or are used during regular services. 16. The decor, including the carpets, may be changed to eliminate any resemblance to the former church.
17. The word “church” is often taken from the name of the church, and the church may be called a “campus.” Denominational names may also be removed.
18. An emphasis on more fun and party sessions for the youth.
19. Elimination of altar calls or salvation invitations at the close of the services.
20. The elimination of such words as “unsaved,” “lost,” “sin,” “Hell,” “Heaven,” and other Gospel verities from the pastor’s messages.
21. The reclassification of the saved and lost to the “churched” and “unchurched.”
22. The marginalizing, or ostracizing, of all who are not avid promoters of the new Purpose Driven Program. 23. Closed meetings between the pastor or chosen staff members without any reports made to the general membership.
24. Open hostility to members who do not openly embrace the new program, or who may have left for another church.

Love

My testimony today is like George’s:

I have the im­press­ion of this coming to me by

some in­ward voice ra­ther than of work­ing it out my­self . . .

coming like a day­spring from on high.

Words: George Matheson

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

 

Matheson said about this hymn:

My hymn was com­posed in the manse of In­ne­lan [Ar­gyle­shire, Scot­land] on the ev­en­ing of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s mar­ri­age, and the rest of the fam­i­ly were stay­ing over­night in Glas­gow. Some­thing hap­pened to me, which was known only to my­self, and which caused me the most se­vere men­tal suf­fer­ing. The hymn was the fruit of that suf­fer­ing. It was the quick­est bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the im­press­ion of hav­ing it dic­tat­ed to me by some in­ward voice ra­ther than of work­ing it out my­self. I am quite sure that the whole work was com­plet­ed in five min­utes, and equal­ly sure that it ne­ver re­ceived at my hands any re­touch­ing or cor­rect­ion. I have no na­tur­al gift of rhy­thm. All the other vers­es I have ever writ­ten are man­u­fact­ured ar­ti­cles; this came like a day­spring from on high.

deeper

A deeper conversation

Who are we? Our identity is always to be defined by our relation to God, not our current or past behavior. We are children of God and servants of God. We are sinners and we are saints. We are made in the image of God and find our satisfaction only in knowing God. We are disciples of Christ. Never are we to allow our idols, lusts, or false gods to define us. Our counsel to those struggling with sexual orientation, or for that matter, with alcohol, drugs, theft, gluttony, or consumerism is this: don’t ever let sin define who you are. I may have stolen. But I am not a thief. By grace, by adoption in Christ Jesus, I am a child of God. That is my true identity. - Terry Johnson    

Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships  - Saint Paul

God sent me to a [fill in] church to repent, heal, learn and thrive. The pastor there did not farm me out to a para-church ministry “specializing” in “broken(gay/addicted/etc) people.” . . . I needed (and need) faithful shepherding, not the glitz and glamor that has captured the soul of modern evangelical culture. I had to lean and lean hard on the full weight of scripture, on the fullness of the word of God, and I’m grateful that when I heard the Lord’s call on my life, and I wanted to hedge my bets, keep my girlfriend and add a little God to my life, I had a pastor and friends in the Lord who asked nothing less of me than that I die to myself. Biblical orthodoxy can offer real compassion, because in our struggle against sin, we cannot undermine God’s power to change lives. - Butterfield

pride

"How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'…

Isaiah 14:13-14

You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. 'Who can ever reach us way up here?' you ask boastfully. Obadiah 1:3

GETTING /Taking THE CREDIT . . .

the tendency of human male 

ego is to independence,

the "I-did-it-my-way"

syndrome sometimes

stated as "If it's

going to be it has

to be me".

For the homo sapien

male any kind of 

dependence is

"anathema".

this is the essence of pride

that signals a mans downfall.

My first step to humility:

I must STOP TAKING CREDIT

"MY" ACCOMPLISHMENTS ...

the next step:

recognise that I CANNOT

take credit for ANYTHING ever!

"for thine is the Kingdom

and the Power and the Glory

forever, Amen.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4

learn

does my life portray the 

things I profess to believe? 

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will 

find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). 

All I do should be based on a perfect oneness 

with Him, not on a self-willed determination 

to be godly. - CHAMBERS

Seriously

seriously ?

ENTERTAINMENT vs EDIFICATION 

Snoopy is a fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. He is Charlie Brown's pet dog.  

ENOCH on the other hand is given as an example, to encourage . . .

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5 KJV)

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:20, 21 KJV)

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 

KJV)

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. (1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV)

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. (Mark 8:33 KJV)

It is always possible in our 

ENTERTAINMENT - DRIVEN

culture, to lose sight of the command to edify and "build-up" each other.

We feel sometimes an overwhelming need "make light of" or "poke fun at" we joke about things. I was recently thinking about the place of 'humor' in the Christian life after looking over some writings by Neil Postman on "AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH". 

As far as the bible is concerned it seems as if it all comes down to the choice between FRIVOLITY and FERVENCY, the latter being the biblical approach. I would be the last person to "cast a stone" in this. So forgive me if the tone is a little sanctimonious. Maybe I should just "lighten up" and forget the whole thing. 

WATCHFUL

FERVENT

SOBER

VIGILANT

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the focus

There must be a sense of need created before your message is of any use. 

Thousands of people in this world profess to be happy without God. But if 

we could be truly happy and moral without Jesus, then why did He come? 

He came because that kind of happiness and peace is only superficial. 

Jesus Christ came to "bring . . . a sword" through every kind of peace 

that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself. 

I did not come to bring peace but a sword —Matthew 10:34

When you are joyful, be joyful; when you are sad, be sad. 

If God has given you a sweet cup, don't make it bitter; and 

if He has given you a bitter cup, don't try and make it sweet; 

take things as they come. - CHAMBERS

Hurry

"Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). The urgency of our task is bound up in that little three-letter word now.

We are growing; we are prospering; we are even becoming popular in some quarters. Such an experience can become satisfying. But spiritual satisfaction may well breed spiritual indifference. Satisfaction and indifference soon dull the sense of urgency . . . Our message is different. It is urgent! The acceptance or rejection of our life-or-death message carries with it eternal implications. More awesome yet is the fact that our time for preaching is fast running out. There must be divine urgency in our planning for the future of God's work! "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4:35). QUOTE Pierson

LET's not confuse SPEED with URGENCY

"the king's business requires haste" (1 Sam. 21:8). 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2

When God's hand is on the "throttle" we need not worry about speed !

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, 

but one receiveth the prize? 

So run, that ye may obtain.

1 Corinthians 9:24

the "race" sets the pace

blank

'not knowing'...

Leading by following

DID MOSES KNOW

WHAT HE WAS

GOING TO DO

AT THE RED

SEA?

If I am not "in touch"

with God I will not

know how to lead

my family when

we get to our

'RED SEA'

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8 KJV)

saved.com

prefer to believe

Beyond Kipling to Christ

Kipling is a very nice guy

I like the jungle book it's great

kids stuff....When I was a child, I spake as a child, 

I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when 

I became a man, I put away childish things.

Every human is always making calculations in the mind. 

I learned from my early days in math class that

if the formula is wrong the outcome will be wrong.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 

4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty 

through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting 

down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself 

against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every 

thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness 

to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Paul tells us that how we think or make our mental 

"calculations" is where we have our daily "warfare". 

I cannot afford to use this Rudyard Kipling "formula" it will bring 

me an outcome contrary to scripture.

"I always prefer to believe the best of 

everybody; it saves so much trouble". QUOTE

If I choose to believe only the best

does that mean I will ignore the rest?

My dad keeps a roof over our heads.

He gets the bills paid, he is a good provider. 

THE ERROR

I refuse to believe he is wrong to visit his "girlfriend" while 

his wife, my mom, is working the night shift.

The "soldier" of Christ will need to endure the 

hardship of 'confronting' unpleasant realities.

Whereas we are encouraged to think on the things that

are lovely and of good report we cannot ignore our duty to 

"bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ".

It is a DANGEROUS and DELICATE but necessary DUTY.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, 

restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; 

considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; 

reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

THE PRAYER:

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto 

thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word....

unsure

ARE YOU SURE?

The certainty of God allows

me to face the uncertainties

of life with confidence and 

courage in spite of my anxiety.

How sure was Noah that it

would actually rain as he 

was building the ark ?

How sure was Abraham or

Moses or Daniel or David?

...me neither I'm not sure !

but I must remain strong in Faith

"Turning intellectual faith into 

our personal possession is always 

a fight, not just sometimes."- OC

..without faith it is impossible 

to please him: for he that cometh 

to God must believe that he is, 

and that he is a rewarder....

Hebrews 11:6

THE SELFIE

IMAGE, IDENTITY and IMPRESSIONS and why my attitude stinks.

THE SELFIE is growing in popularity. I did not know what it 

was called but I first noticed it when my daughter kept 

taking my wife's cellphone because it had both a front 

and rear facing camera. Tons of my daughter's

'selfies' were left in the cellphone's 'albums'.

So, why can't I see my own back. . . or my own face?

Why Can't You Smell Your Own Breath or body odor?

The answer lies in the nature of the sense of smell. 

Your smell receptors in your olfactory bulb, 

which resides in your nasal canal, are 

very sensitive. But you wouldn't want 

to smell every smell all the time; 

you just want to smell new smells. 

So your smell receptors turn 

themselves off when an odor 

persists. That can be bad 

news when it comes to 

your breath. It's just 

too persistent in your life! 

- See more at: 

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/prevention/why-

can't-you-smell-your-own-breath

'Packaging and marketing' and...why am I "Painting myself in a good light"?

..and yet there are some days, when I try to convince myself that

I don't care what anyone thinks . . . such hypocrisy ! ...right?

. . . so, who am I really ?

Am I who I think I am 

or who I want to be 

or am I who 

you think 

I am?

Was Jesus having 'an identity crisis?'

He asked His disciples one day...

"Who do men say that I am?" After hearing some responses He then

asked their opinion. Peter got a very high commendation for his

answer. It seems that even Jesus saw value in the opinions of others.

Sometimes it is my own pride that makes me want to disregard your

opinion. The fact is, we need to be told when we "stink". There

are ALWAYS potential problems for both the 'teller' and the 'told'.

Although the bible commands us in no uncertain terms to "rebuke"

one another, we rarely find anyone willing to admit this as a duty

because of the 'perils of pride'. The fact of the matter is we will

always find it easier to see the faults of others than to see our

own faults.

ATTITUDES

1. I refuse to criticize (rebuke) ANYONE because I don't want

to be criticized or rebuked. I don't need your opinion !

(this is the 'you don't matter' attitude)

2. I will criticize everyone every day all day - I have that gift !

...but don't you even dare...(this is the 'i'm better' attitude)

3. The bible says I should not judge so who am I to tell anyone

if "their breath stinks" or there is a rip in the back of their pant.

4. This is may seem rare but is actually the norm

..."If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself."

"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

so... I must pray today and every day:

Lord please help me:

to value the "impression" of my friends,

to be less concerned about "my image"

to identify myself only as you "show" yourself 

to others through me

AMEN

choice

. . to those who are . . . called to be saints . . . —1 Corinthians 1:2

Thank God for being able to see all that you have not yet been. You have had the vision, but you are not yet to the reality of it by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God? The beatings will always come in the most common, everyday ways and through common, everyday people.

There are times when we do know what God's purpose is; whether we will let the vision be turned into actual character depends on us, not on God. If we prefer to relax on the mountaintop and live in the memory of the vision, then we will be of no real use in the ordinary things of which human life is made. We have to learn to live in reliance upon what we saw in the vision, not simply live in ecstatic delight and conscious reflection upon God. This means living the realities of our lives in the light of the vision until the truth of the vision is actually realized in us. Every bit of our training is in that direction. Learn to thank God for making His demands known. - CHAMBERS

weak?

He said to them, 'This kind [of unclean spirit] can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting' —Mark 9:29

We can remain powerless forever, as the disciples were in this situation, by trying to do God's work without concentrating on His power, and by following instead the ideas that we draw from our own nature. CHAMBERS

Revived

Gathered on the hillside were dozens and dozens of long-time members and new believers—together, sharing in a moment of wonderful victory and blessing. The doors are repaired. The lights are bright. The staff team is growing. The work is being set in order. The gospel is being preached. Lost souls are coming to Christ. And God is being glorified

The gospel is not dead. Jesus is alive. The Word is powerful. Lost hearts are hungry. And people respond to genuine love.

"Emmanuel Baptist Church is coming to life and celebrating new life! I’m humble to be a part of it. . ."

THIS PAST SUNDAY . . .
God worked in the hearts of at least 15 people who trusted Christ as Saviour. The response to the gospel was strong. It was a miracle to see so many guests choose salvation by faith!

The church family invited friends and family. The testimonies were abundant! “My family came!” “My co-worker came!” “My neighbor came!” “Pastor, meet my friend!” “Pastor, my guest trusted Jesus as Saviour!” WOW! New England is sure responding to gracious, biblical Christianity.

Nine new believers followed in biblical baptism. Seven of them were saved recently through the ministry of EBC, and they were SO excited to identify and celebrate their salvation through baptism.

The church family celebrated the blessings! They clapped! In obedience to scripture… they clapped in agreement after we worshipped! They clapped in celebration of many who trusted Jesus! They clapped in celebration of each person who was baptized! They did exactly what God said to do: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalms 47:1)

It was a joy to hear stories of how people were encouraged today by God’s Word.

The work has just begun! This week and in the coming months we will focus on following up on these new relationships, and hopefully see many more of our guests come to Jesus personally and begin growing in His grace..

http://bit.ly/1hhHuce

Thank God for a church where people are being saved and Baptized and discipled to reach others. Thanking God for a faithful pastor and family who teach and live the bible.
#healthychurches
#expectGodtowork

Cary Schmidt serves as the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newington, Connecticut. He and his wife, Dana, have been blessed with three children and have enjoyed twenty-three years of marriage and ministry together. Cary's passion is to love God, love his family, and point people to Jesus Christ through teaching, preaching, and writing. He has written eleven books, including Off Script, Discover Your Destiny, Done, and Life Quest.
http://amzn.to/15Etrbq

Emmanuel Baptist Church
296 New Britain Avenue
Newington, Connecticut 06111
Phone: (860) 666-1055
Fax: (860) 666-0146
Office Hours: 830 am to 400 pm
http://ebcnewington.com/

Cary Schmidt

www.amazon.com

 

It’s an amazing thing to see God do this—IN SPITE of us! He delights in doing a work that is beyond our ability, beyond our strength, beyond our means—and that is exactly what He’s doing at EBC. This truly is “the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes!” Pray for us!

http://bit.ly/15GqtbP

 

The gospel is not dead. Jesus is alive. The Word is powerful. Lost hearts are hungry. And people respond to genuine love.

"Emmanuel Baptist Church is coming to life and celebrating new life! I’m humble to be a part of it. . ."

THIS PAST SUNDAY . . .
God worked in the hearts of at least 15 people who trusted Christ as Saviour. The response to the gospel was strong. It was a miracle to see so many guests choose salvation by faith!

The church family invited friends and family. The testimonies were abundant! “My family came!” “My co-worker came!” “My neighbor came!” “Pastor, meet my friend!” “Pastor, my guest trusted Jesus as Saviour!” WOW! New England is sure responding to gracious, biblical Christianity.

Nine new believers followed in biblical baptism. Seven of them were saved recently through the ministry of EBC, and they were SO excited to identify and celebrate their salvation through baptism.

The church family celebrated the blessings! They clapped! In obedience to scripture… they clapped in agreement after we worshipped! They clapped in celebration of many who trusted Jesus! They clapped in celebration of each person who was baptized! They did exactly what God said to do: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalms 47:1)

It was a joy to hear stories of how people were encouraged today by God’s Word.

The work has just begun! This week and in the coming months we will focus on following up on these new relationships, and hopefully see many more of our guests come to Jesus personally and begin growing in His grace..

http://bit.ly/1hhHuce

 

Where r u

Religion Cheat Sheet

Surprised by your answer? There's a lot to be learned from many of the religions above. While getting clear about what religious tradition or belief system you most identify with is interesting, even fun, don't let your journey stop there! All of these traditions understand themselves as paths to truth about the divine and/or the universe. Anyone sincerely seeking the truth must go beyond merely clarifying what they or other people believe to ask: but is it true?

http://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/religion/

Our Pastor

Thank God for a church where people are being saved and Baptized and discipled to reach others. Thanking God for a faithful pastor and family who teach and live the bible.

#healthychurches

#expectGodtowork

Cary Schmidt serves as the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newington, Connecticut. He and his wife, Dana, have been blessed with three children and have enjoyed twenty-three years of marriage and ministry together. Cary's passion is to love God, love his family, and point people to Jesus Christ through teaching, preaching, and writing. He has written eleven books, including Off Script, Discover Your Destiny, Done, and Life Quest.

http://amzn.to/15Etrbq

Emmanuel Baptist Church

296 New Britain Avenue

Newington, Connecticut 06111

Phone: (860) 666-1055

Fax: (860) 666-0146

Office Hours: 830 am to 400 pm

http://ebcnewington.com/

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