tance - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/leroycommunitychapel...Tim Keller on March 23, 2003....
Transcript of tance - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/leroycommunitychapel...Tim Keller on March 23, 2003....
New Year’s resolutions sort of repulse me,
but renewed commitments to walking by
faith, going deep in repentance, and seek-
ing hard after God invigorate me. It’s the
difference between routine broken prom-
ises and revival … the difference between
making a bigger checklist to accomplish
and moving heaven on your knees. I vote
for the later. And I pray that this year we
all w ill “ train ourselves for godliness” as
Paul exhorts Timothy (1 Timothy 4:7). Don
Whitney writes – “ Spiritual disciplines are
the God-given means by which we are to
bring ourselves before the Lord. And as
we enjoy a growing relationship with Him
through them, He changes us ‘for the pur-
pose of godliness,’ that is, He makes us
more like Jesus.” Do you want to be more
like Jesus? Then with a heart of worship
and a delight to know Him more, evaluate
– repent – commit.
It’s the perfect time of year for you to
Evaluate how you are doing in your prayer
life, Bible reading, serving, evangelism,
etc. And as you take spiritual inventory,
the Spirit of God will expose to you where
your have been deficient.
Let that evaluation lead you to Repen-
tance, not for the sake of dwelling on your
failure and having a pity-party, but to own
your apathy and move into action. Repen-
tance brings freedom … freedom to quit
pretending and the freedom to look full in
the face of Jesus and know He alone
makes you acceptable in the sight of the
Father.
Then you can Commit to seeking Him
with your whole heart (fall short) and seek
Him again and again. Knowing that your
performance earns you no greater standing
before God, but your pursuit of God and
progress in obedience is the path to your
greatest joy. William Secker writes – “ I
would neither have you be idle in duties –
nor make an idol of duties.” It’s always
about worship from the heart, so fight both
your laziness and your legalism, and with
laser-like focus give yourself to spiritual
maturity. You won’t drift into holiness nor
will courageous obedience be easy, but
without a grace-driven effort you will drift
into compromise. Let’s not let that be the
story of 2014.
Pastor Mark Spansel
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by
Donald Whitney
Podcast: http://sermons2.redeemer.com/
sermons/sermonlist/265, Work and Rest by
Tim Keller on March 23, 2003.
Blog: Thegospelcoalition.com, How to Read
the Whole Bible in 2014 by Justin Taylor on
December 26, 2014.
The Praying Life by Donald Miller
Thank the Lord
that that He pur-
sues you and
speaks to you
through spiritual
disciplines.
Confess to the
Lord what spiritual
disciplines are a
struggle for you.
Ask him to give you
a renewed passion
for Him in these
areas.
Ask that this year
would be a year of
great growth for
you, that your heart
will be soft to the
things he has for
you and you’ll ma-
ture in Him.
Pray for the con-
gregation of LCC,
that we would be a
well disciplined
congregation for
the Lord’s work in
NEO and across
the world.
I'm thankful for the privi-
lege of prayer that can be
exercised in so many ways
and places. I'm thankful for
Paul's reminders regarding
prayer:
--Pray without ceasing.
I Thess 5:17
--I thank God upon every
reminder of you, always in
every prayer making re-
quest for you all with
joy...for your fellowship in
the Gospel. Phil. 1:3-5
--The effective fervent
prayer of a righteous per-
son avails much. James
5:16
And Jesus' examples of
prayer in His time here on
earth. There is no specific
posture for prayer, how-
ever, the circumstance and
condition of my heart often
calls for one of kneeling in
thanksgiving, contrition and
petition. I may be lying in
bed as the Lord reminds
me of a need of the body in
the early hours of the day,
or standing w ith a brother
or sister who has shared a
need, or responding to
prayer chain requests or
Flock List needs shared by
my faithful callers. These
provide great opportunities
for prayer w ithout ceasing,
as God gives these remind-
ers.
Anita and I usually alternate
praying aloud during our
family devotions. And what
a privilege it is to sit around
a table with fellow prayer
warriors on Wednesday
nights, or on Sunday morn-
ings w ith pastors, elders
and others, asking the Lord
to work in the hearts of
you, His people, in the ser-
vices of the day. I can say
with confidence “ I' ll pray
for you” , because of Jesus'
faithfulness and promises.
May the Lord help me to be
faithful.
Elder Don Schoenwald
Interested in sharing what God is doing in your life? Submit
your testimony to [email protected] to be
considered for a future newsletter.
January & February 2014
January 4-15th
Ethiopia Trip
Remember to pray for Jeff Pierce,
David Ortiz, Hilary Ortiz, Kate
Spansel and Jill Butler as they are
ministering in Ethiopia.
January 8
Clubs Ministry
Our weekly Wednesday night pro-
gram from 6:30 - 8:00pm for stu-
dents is starting up again. Pioneer
Girls (K-6th) will meet at the Chapel.
STIR (7th-12th) w ill meet at the
Chapel and then carpool over to the
Schoenwald’s. Tree Climbers (K-
2nd) and Stockade (3d - 6th) meet at
the Cornerstone. Battalion (7th -
12th) meets at the Chapel. These
are great opportunities for your chil-
dren to be discipled and learn life
skills. Cost is $20 for the first child
and $15 for the second, every child
after that is free. To register please
contact the Church Office.
January 9
Mastering Motherhood
If you are a mother of any age or
hope to be, than we invite you to be
a part of our Mastering Motherhood
program. Our time together consist
of teaching and a small group book
study. We meet Thursday's at the
Chapel through the school year. The
cost is $10 and you can sign-up at
the Church Office or just show-up.
January 9
Men Doing Business
Every second Thursday of the month
in the Chapel basement at 8pm a
group of men meet to “ do business”
together w ith the Lord. Doing Busi-
ness is the act of prayer among broth-
ers in Christ. We share what’s going
on in our lives and lift one another up
in prayer. Our hope is that this time
would build a greater transparency and
vulnerability with the men of LCC.
January 10 & 11
Men’s Bible Study
This ministry season the men will be
studying the book of Ecclesiastes.
They meet every Friday morning at
6:00 am at Sunny Street Café or Satur-
day morning at 6:30am at Grand River
Community Chapel. This is a time of
fellowship and digging in to the riches
of God’s Word w ith brothers who are
desiring to grow and be encouraged.
January 15
Women’s Bible Study
Our Wednesday night Bible Study is
going through the book “ The Disci-
plines of a Godly Woman” by Barbara
Hughes from 6:30 - 8:00pm through
the Spring at the Center. This book
discusses the daily disciplines of a
woman’s life. It w ill be a time of great
encouragement and fellowship. Regis-
tration is at the Information Center.
January 24
Klondike Overnight
All Battalion young men are invited to
participate in the Klondike Overnight at
Stony Glen Camp. This is a great op-
portunity to meet young men from
other churches and participate in some
fun competition. For more information
please contact Gary Schoenwald
440.286.7353.
January 24
STIR Overnight
A sleepover for all girls 6-12th grade
will be at the Schoenwald’s. This is a
great time of fellowship, there will be
crafts, baking and snow activities for
more information please contact
Denise Schoenwald, 440.286.7353.
February 9
Winter Fun Festival
Leroy Community Chapel will be host-
ing a night out for the Leroy Commu-
nity at 6:30pm. This will be an evening
of games with blow-ups and snacks
for the whole family. It’s a great time
to invite your friends to come and hang
out. For more information or to volun-
teer please contact Pastor Jeff Pierce
at the Church Office.
February 21-23
Youth Winter Retreat
The Student Ministry of Leroy Commu-
nity Chapel will be having its Winter
Retreat at Camp Fitch this year and is
open for all Jr. High and H.S. students.
The cost is $30 per student for the first
two students of each family and free
for all other siblings. We will be leaving
from the Center at 6pm on Friday the
21st and retuning to the Center on
Sunday the 23rd at 4pm. It's going to
be a quick but fun trip that will Lord-
willing spiritually encourage and chal-
lenge our students. If any students are
unable to make the first bus on Friday
evening there w ill be another vehicle
leaving on Saturday.
March 1
Membership Classes
We’ll be having our Core classes for church membership March 1 from 8:00am to 3pm, lunch will be provided. Please register in the bulletin or call the Church Office.