Here is this morning's sermon. Listen here.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
April Bible Reading Plan
April's Bible reading plan focuses on the Book of Genesis. The next 30 days will allow us to investigate God's Word and put into practice some biblical principles in major areas of our lives. I encourage you to use the SOAP method of reading the Bible found at the bottom of the page.
April 1 – John 13 (Maundy Thursday)
April 2 – Luke 22 (The Last Supper)
April 3 – Luke 23 (The Death of Jesus)
April 4 – Luke 24 (Easter Sunday)
April 5 – Genesis 1
April 6 – Genesis 2
April 7 – Genesis 3
April 8 – Genesis 4 (April 11th Sermon)
April 9 – Genesis 5
April 10 – Genesis 6
April 11 – Genesis 7
April 12 – Genesis 8
April 13 – Genesis 9 (April 18th Sermon)
April 14 – Genesis 10
April 15 – Genesis 11
April 16 – Genesis 12
April 17 – Genesis 13
April 18 – Genesis 14
April 19 – Genesis 15
April 20 – Genesis 16
April 21 – Genesis 17
April 22 – Genesis 18
April 23 – Genesis 19
April 24 – Genesis 20
April 25 – Genesis 21 (April 25th Sermon)
April 26 – Genesis 22
April 27 – Genesis 23
April 28 – Genesis 24
April 29 – Genesis 25
April 30 – Genesis 26
Complete the "S" by reading the scripture. Don't just skim through it, but really think about what it means. Imagine what the people involved were experiencing. Write down a verse or two that really stood out to you in your journal.
Complete the "O" by writing down observations about the scripture you just read. You may want to write your own summary of the passage, but more importantly, think about what God has to say to you through this part of his word.
Complete the "A" by writing down how this Bible passage applies to you right now, in your daily life. For example, in the parable about the prodigal son, which character do you identify with most: the loving and merciful father, the son who squanders his life and then repents or the resentful older brother? Do you see similar situations in your life right now? How can you respond in the way Jesus taught?
Complete the "P" by writing down a prayer. This is a personal message from you to God, so don't worry about getting the perfect words down. Just make it honest and heartfelt. Remember that God always listens, and already knows your needs. He just wants to hear from you.
April 1 – John 13 (Maundy Thursday)
April 2 – Luke 22 (The Last Supper)
April 3 – Luke 23 (The Death of Jesus)
April 4 – Luke 24 (Easter Sunday)
April 5 – Genesis 1
April 6 – Genesis 2
April 7 – Genesis 3
April 8 – Genesis 4 (April 11th Sermon)
April 9 – Genesis 5
April 10 – Genesis 6
April 11 – Genesis 7
April 12 – Genesis 8
April 13 – Genesis 9 (April 18th Sermon)
April 14 – Genesis 10
April 15 – Genesis 11
April 16 – Genesis 12
April 17 – Genesis 13
April 18 – Genesis 14
April 19 – Genesis 15
April 20 – Genesis 16
April 21 – Genesis 17
April 22 – Genesis 18
April 23 – Genesis 19
April 24 – Genesis 20
April 25 – Genesis 21 (April 25th Sermon)
April 26 – Genesis 22
April 27 – Genesis 23
April 28 – Genesis 24
April 29 – Genesis 25
April 30 – Genesis 26
Complete the "S" by reading the scripture. Don't just skim through it, but really think about what it means. Imagine what the people involved were experiencing. Write down a verse or two that really stood out to you in your journal.
Complete the "O" by writing down observations about the scripture you just read. You may want to write your own summary of the passage, but more importantly, think about what God has to say to you through this part of his word.
Complete the "A" by writing down how this Bible passage applies to you right now, in your daily life. For example, in the parable about the prodigal son, which character do you identify with most: the loving and merciful father, the son who squanders his life and then repents or the resentful older brother? Do you see similar situations in your life right now? How can you respond in the way Jesus taught?
Complete the "P" by writing down a prayer. This is a personal message from you to God, so don't worry about getting the perfect words down. Just make it honest and heartfelt. Remember that God always listens, and already knows your needs. He just wants to hear from you.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Palm Sunday
Jesus enters Jerusalem. It wasn’t like when the President enters a city. There were no motorcades. No security. No road closures. No television cameras. No great big masses of people. Just a guy on a colt with some of his friends walking beside him. But it was a moment of triumph for Jesus.
It reminds me of the story of Terry Fox. He was a twenty-one year old with cancer. With one leg amputated, he touched his foot in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John’s, Newfoundland and began running across Canada toward the Pacific Ocean. His goal was to run a marathon a day and raise twenty-four million dollars: one dollar for each person in Canada. The crowds that greeted him were sparse. By the time he got to Thunder Bay, he had run over 3,000 miles in 143 days. He also had developed lung cancer and could no longer continue. The last dozen or so of his marathons were run with cancer—two tumors—one the size of a golf ball in one lung and the other was the size of a lemon in the other lung. He died shortly after he stopped running and today is one of Canada’s greatest national heroes. At the time he had finished running, he had raised less than two million dollars – about seven percent of his goal. Today over 500 million dollars has been raised in his name. In September, 2010, the 30th Annual Terry Fox Run will take place with millions of people participating from over 80 countries.
It reminds me of the story of Terry Fox. He was a twenty-one year old with cancer. With one leg amputated, he touched his foot in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John’s, Newfoundland and began running across Canada toward the Pacific Ocean. His goal was to run a marathon a day and raise twenty-four million dollars: one dollar for each person in Canada. The crowds that greeted him were sparse. By the time he got to Thunder Bay, he had run over 3,000 miles in 143 days. He also had developed lung cancer and could no longer continue. The last dozen or so of his marathons were run with cancer—two tumors—one the size of a golf ball in one lung and the other was the size of a lemon in the other lung. He died shortly after he stopped running and today is one of Canada’s greatest national heroes. At the time he had finished running, he had raised less than two million dollars – about seven percent of his goal. Today over 500 million dollars has been raised in his name. In September, 2010, the 30th Annual Terry Fox Run will take place with millions of people participating from over 80 countries.
With Jesus, a few people kind of understood what was going on. Others supported him because they loved him. Others were there because they had nothing better to do. As he entered Jerusalem, he cried because of the lack of peace in God’s holy city. He died with a broken heart shortly after he entered Jerusalem.
And the world hasn’t been the same ever since. His work today includes billions of people of most every tribe and tongue. People discover daily that:
- His tears bring peace to our lives.
- His brokenness brings us wholeness.
- His emptiness gives us fullness.
- His grace conquers our sin.
- His power is greater than our weakness.
- His courage covers our fear.
- His heart becomes our heart and his love becomes our love.
With all these and more—our world will never be the same again. With Jesus, we will be able to do more and to become more than we could ever imagine. Just as Jesus entered the great city of Jerusalem, I invite you to allow Jesus to enter your life.
The best is yet to come…
Craig
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Vision and Commitment
Listen to this morning's sermon.
It is very dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities which one has oneself prevented from becoming realities. A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it. -Sören Kierkegaard
No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities – always see them, for they're always there. -Norman Vincent Peale
I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life. The problem is that I can't find anybody who can tell me what they want. –Mark Twain
Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified, but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” –Nehmiah 2:1-5
Prayers
The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him. -William McGill
What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approve ours. -Helga Bergold Gross
Presence
They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. -Acts 2:46
Gifts
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. -Winston Churchill
The people of Israel responded immediately and generously by bringing the first of their crops and grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced. -2 Chronicles 31:5
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. -2 Corinthians 9:7
Service
Small things done in great love will change the world.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. –Matthew 20:28
Witness
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. –Acts 1:8
It is very dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities which one has oneself prevented from becoming realities. A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it. -Sören Kierkegaard
No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities – always see them, for they're always there. -Norman Vincent Peale
I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life. The problem is that I can't find anybody who can tell me what they want. –Mark Twain
Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified, but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” –Nehmiah 2:1-5
Prayers
The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him. -William McGill
What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approve ours. -Helga Bergold Gross
Presence
They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. -Acts 2:46
Gifts
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. -Winston Churchill
The people of Israel responded immediately and generously by bringing the first of their crops and grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced. -2 Chronicles 31:5
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. -2 Corinthians 9:7
Service
Small things done in great love will change the world.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. –Matthew 20:28
Witness
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. –Acts 1:8
Friday, March 19, 2010
Eight Days that Changed the World Forever
- March 15th, 44 BC – Julius Ceasar was assassinated
- December 25th, 800 - Charlemagne unified most of Europe under his rule
- October 12th, 1492 – Christopher Columbus discovers the New World
- October 31st, 1517 – Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation
- July 4th, 1776 – The signing of the Declaration of Independence
- June 19th, 1815 – Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo
- August 6th and 9th, 1945 – United States drops an atomic bomb on Japan
- July 20th, 1969 – Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon.
The above eight days are some of the most significant days in human history. For the next eight days, we will look at the eight days that changed the world forever. Jesus entered Jerusalem. He was crucified and buried. And he rose from the dead. Because of these eight days, the world will never be the same again. God saved the world through Jesus Christ and God is wanting to save your world as well.
March 28th – Palm Sunday: Jesus Enters Jerusalem. Jesus Enters Your World.
April 1st – Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper. Friendship with Jesus. 6:30 @ Faith-Westwood. Craig Finnestad speaking.
April 2nd – Good Friday: The Death of Jesus. Forgiven by Jesus. 6:30 @ Faith-Westwood. Chad Schuchmann speaking.
April 4th – Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of Jesus. New Life for You! Services at 9:00 and 10:30.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Week in Pictures
Getting ready for worship
Career Day at School - Attorney
Superhero Day at School - Batman
You should have seen him five minutes before this picture was taken
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Giving Our Lives to God
Here is Sunday's Column:
For the last month we have looked at God’s love and grace for us. No matter how bad we have been, God forgives us. No matter how much bitterness and resentment we carry, God invites us to drop our burdens and embrace Him.
We can respond to God’s love and grace in many ways. Some ignore God’s offer. But God keeps offering. Others offer their thanks. Nothing wrong with a little thankfulness for a God who heals and saves. That is a good start.
The disciple doesn’t ignore and is more than thankful. The disciple offers his or her life to God as a response to God’s grace and love. As United Methodists, we respond in five ways. And it’s in these five responses I want to challenge us to grow in the coming year.
Prayers – I want us to pray for our church, our city, the oppressed, the world, our family, and ourselves. Prayer is talking and listening to God. It helps us to communicate with the Holy and lays the foundation to become the person God wants us to become.
Presence – I want us to worship and participate in our small groups whenever possible. Think about missing all your meals for an entire month. Our bodies would become malnourished. Likewise, missing community with God and others can leave our souls (and a lot of other areas of life) malnourished.
Gifts – Giving of our resources does two things. First, it resources God’s vision through the local church. Second, it shows the priority that we give God in our lives. Jesus pretty much says the same thing: “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” –Matthew 6:21
Service – Since long before we launched The Water’s Edge, I have been telling people to serve inside and outside The Water’s Edge. Inside I encourage people to serve once a month in a ministry area. The reason I want people to serve is not because work needs to be done. The reason is because we most look like Jesus when we serve.
Witness – A witness is simply a person who tells a story of what they have seen or experienced. As Christians, we tell the story of Jesus. The simplest way of doing this is to invite somebody to worship with you. You can become part of somebody’s testimony!
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things. –Mark 4:1-2
The Water’s Edge is where the people come to hear the teachings of Jesus. People are equipped and inspired to do what Jesus came to do: to seek, to serve, and to save. And giving our lives to God will allow us to partner with God and do for others what He does for us. I can’t wait to see what God does among us this year.
In Christ,
Craig
For the last month we have looked at God’s love and grace for us. No matter how bad we have been, God forgives us. No matter how much bitterness and resentment we carry, God invites us to drop our burdens and embrace Him.
We can respond to God’s love and grace in many ways. Some ignore God’s offer. But God keeps offering. Others offer their thanks. Nothing wrong with a little thankfulness for a God who heals and saves. That is a good start.
The disciple doesn’t ignore and is more than thankful. The disciple offers his or her life to God as a response to God’s grace and love. As United Methodists, we respond in five ways. And it’s in these five responses I want to challenge us to grow in the coming year.
Prayers – I want us to pray for our church, our city, the oppressed, the world, our family, and ourselves. Prayer is talking and listening to God. It helps us to communicate with the Holy and lays the foundation to become the person God wants us to become.
Presence – I want us to worship and participate in our small groups whenever possible. Think about missing all your meals for an entire month. Our bodies would become malnourished. Likewise, missing community with God and others can leave our souls (and a lot of other areas of life) malnourished.
Gifts – Giving of our resources does two things. First, it resources God’s vision through the local church. Second, it shows the priority that we give God in our lives. Jesus pretty much says the same thing: “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” –Matthew 6:21
Service – Since long before we launched The Water’s Edge, I have been telling people to serve inside and outside The Water’s Edge. Inside I encourage people to serve once a month in a ministry area. The reason I want people to serve is not because work needs to be done. The reason is because we most look like Jesus when we serve.
Witness – A witness is simply a person who tells a story of what they have seen or experienced. As Christians, we tell the story of Jesus. The simplest way of doing this is to invite somebody to worship with you. You can become part of somebody’s testimony!
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things. –Mark 4:1-2
The Water’s Edge is where the people come to hear the teachings of Jesus. People are equipped and inspired to do what Jesus came to do: to seek, to serve, and to save. And giving our lives to God will allow us to partner with God and do for others what He does for us. I can’t wait to see what God does among us this year.
In Christ,
Craig
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