Discipling

90-Day Discipleship Challenge

90-Day Discipleship Challenge

Sometimes it takes a challenge and a goal to begin a new habit. I am inviting anyone not in a discipleship group to join me for a 90-Day Discipleship Challenge starting February 1. Those who take up this offer will experience what it means to be a disciple who makes disciples. We will meet each Wednesday at 6:30 PM over these 90 days. Ask yourself: Do I have a plan to strengthen my obedience to Jesus by May? This challenge is one way to answer "Yes!" to this question. 

Saturday Service Days:

For the upcoming weeks, at 9:00 AM on Saturdays, we are organizing workdays in the community to help neighbors with storm clean-up. We will meet at the Crestview campus. Members and friends are welcome. Bring gloves, rakes, chainsaws, wheelbarrows, and other tools that may be helpful.

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities:

Samaritan’s Purse at Oak Hill Church plans to continue operating until the second week of February if you have time during the week. Volunteer to serve on clean-up teams Monday through Saturday. Trainings begin at 7:30 AM and 12:30 AM daily.

Crestview Camping Trip: March 31-April 2

Sign up in the Church Center App or follow this link for Information and Registration

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

The Opportunity for Disciple-Making

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …  Matthew 28:19

Church Family,

Replicating disciples is a principal component of being a follower of Jesus and a member of his church. Growing as disciples and helping others to do the same should be fundamental to our daily lives.

Dr. Mark Leiderbach, one of my professors at Southeastern Seminary, casts an inspiring vision for discipleship: “The eternal privilege and adventure of discipleship will always involve us chasing the Lord’s infinitely wondrous, perfectly good, beautifully loving, just and holy, mercifully gracious self. This was Gods’ design and desire for Adam and Eve in the garden before the Fall, it is His desire for every believer today, and it will continue to be the privilege of every sinner saved by grace forever into the eternal future.”[1] It is a terrific opportunity to be part of disciple-making!

Beginning Wednesday, August 10, and continuing each Wednesday night through August, I will lead a 4-session disciple-making practicum. We will cover the theology and methodology of leading others to follow and mature in Christ. Then, starting in September, we will launch new long-term discipling groups that will run through next June. I invite you to lean in and take part in this new disciple-making wave!

I will be traveling to Southeastern Seminary in North Carolina on Wednesday for my next doctoral seminar, "Critical Issues in Disciple-Making.” The course is strengthening my understanding of discipleship to the people we minister to in the world in which we live. Please pray for my travel and growth.

I’ll fly back Saturday night and plan to lead gathered worship on Sunday. Brandon Vaughn will preach this week from Psalm 66, “Sing the Glory of His Name.” As is your habit, please be praying for the preaching of the word and gathering of the church this coming Lord’s Day.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

 

[1] Mark Liederbach, Chasing Infinity: Discipleship as the Pursuit of Infinite Treasure, (Orlando: Cru Press, 2017), 12.

Summer Opportunities

Church Family,

Welcome to summer! The start of the summer quarter brings two exciting opportunities for you.

Operation Arctic VBS Starts Sunday

Operation Arctic VBS begins this Sunday at 6:00 PM. Please be praying for families who this ministry will touch. See the info above about registration.

Summer Equipping Courses Start Sunday

Below, you will see the listing of new equipping courses that begin this Sunday, June 4, from 9:30 AM to 10:10 AM. The purpose of equipping courses is to teach believers to learn and apply the Bible to daily life. These courses are a time to hear a basic lesson, participate in guided discussion, and make friends. They are an opportunity to get to know your church family, especially those not like you. So, courses are not generally age-graded. They are organized like college classes, so they change topics each quarter. Members are encouraged to go to the course they think will be most beneficial. Summer course topics are in the graphic below. The Coffee Corner opens at 9:00 AM. 

Foundations for Disciples

Many of you participated in the Foundations for Disciples equipping course during the Spring. The Training Guide for this short-term discipling is now available. You are encouraged to use Foundations as initial discipleship with new or novice believers. If you have questions or would like further training, please see Pastor Thomas. DOWNLOAD TRAINING GUIDE

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

Resuming Wednesday Night Activities

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

This past Lord’s Day was a wonderful day of worship and fellowship as a church family. The Spirit of God was clearly at work in hearts during gathered worship. The Lord is stirring our church. May we continue to walk in faithfulness to him, keeping in step with His Spirit, and obeying his commands. 

RESUMING WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

Wednesday night we will resume our mid-week activities at 6:30 PM.  Everyone will begin the evening together in the worship center and then scatter to our various meeting locations. Elementary Kids will be applying the Gospel Project lesson from this past Sunday. Student ministry will enjoy a bit of fun and games and then focus on discipling by studying Galatians.  Any parents who need nursery for children (walking through 5-yrs) please contact Cole Barnes: cole@crestviewbapitst.org

Adults will continue our Bible-centered discipling. This is a PERFECT opportunity to get involved in a discipling group.  We plan to form men’s, women’s, and couple’s groups. In the announcements below you can find a link to the discipling format and daily Bible reading plan. This week we will be completing 2 Corinthians and starting Galatians.

 SURPLUS FOR ADDITIONAL MISSIONS

Each quarter that church giving exceeds expenses a portion of the surplus is directed to additional mission and ministry efforts. This week, on behalf of Crestview, I was able to pass along additional financial gifts to support two of our ministry partners:

These gifts are over-and-above our regular monthly gifts to these ministries. Praise the Lord!

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

The Word of His Grace

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

THE WORD OF HIS GRACE

If you are following the daily Bible reading plan we are utilizing for our Wednesday discipling, and I hope you are, then you know we are currently reading through Acts.  Join us Wednesday night at 6:30 in the worship center as we learn to grow as disciples utilizing God’s word.

This morning’s reading was in Acts 20, Paul’s farewell message to the elders of the church of Ephesus. In verse 32, there is a remarkable statement about the power of God’s grace in Scripture. These men were learning the disappointing news that they were seeing Paul for the last time this side of heaven. There would be no further visits from their spiritual older brother. Paul commends, or entrusts, these men to God’s ever-capable, all-wise hands. What is more, he entrusts them to “the word of his grace”. While there were threats on the horizon, these elders had all the provision they needed in God and in his word. The Scriptures are at their heart the revelation of God’s grace! This grace is the root of salvation and sanctification. A few verses earlier, Paul describes the gospel as, “the gospel of the grace of God” (vs. 25). If they would abide in God and pay attention to this word of his grace, then they would have all they needed for the countless responsibilities that lay ahead of them.

Are you treasuring God and the word of his grace today?  Have you spent time reading, studying, and reflecting on the grace-packed Scriptures today? If so, you can be confident God is using this to prepare you for today, tomorrow, and eternity. Take up and read.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

How are you growing as a disciple of Christ? (Daily Bible Reading Plan)

We are called to be progressing as disciples in every season of life. Our COVID world may be challenging in many ways but it should not stop your forward progress as a disciple of Jesus. In fact, every trial and hardship is designed by God to strengthen your appreciation of Him and grow in faith. So, how are you growing as a disciple?

You may already have your own plan for daily Bible reading. If so - great! If not, then I want to give you the loving challenge to make the most of this season. Whether or not you are currently participating in our Wednesday night discipling gathering, I'm encouraging you pick-up and participate in the daily Bible reading plan and journaling we are doing. This is a wonderful way to grow together as a church family.

Attached you will find the DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN we are following. (For those who use the ESV Bible app or ESV Study Bible website, this is the "Digging Deep Into the Bible" 1 year plan if you want to take advantage of digital resources.) We are following the Gospels and Epistles track but feel free to add any of the other three tracks if you'd like more reading. We are currently reading through the Gospel of Luke.

Each day read the assigned portion and journal your observations. Attached instructions for daily journal entries.

Even if you cannot meet with us currently on Wednesday nights, by keeping up with this reading plan you will be sharing the experience, growing in God's word, and will be ready to jump into discipling groups when you are able to attend on Wednesdays.

I pray this is a blessing and encouragement to you!

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas


DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN

JOURNALING INSTRUCTIONS