Glueless in Greensboro

Sojourn, as you prepare for worship tomorrow, spend a few moments and read the following verses from the book of Acts.  Acts 2:42; 17:34 and 20:37.   Below is the outline for the message tomorrow which will be given by Pastor Glenn.  

I. The Phenomena of the "Glueless" Christian - Acts 2:42-46

Acts 2:42-46 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,…"

Marks of "Gluelessness"

         #1 Lack of concern for the apostle's teaching

         #2 Lack of concern for the other members

         #3 Lack of concern for the work of God - v. 42c

         #4 Lack of concern for prayer - v. 42d

II.     Selfish Motivations to Remain "Glueless"

         A. "Gluelessness" avoids accountability.

         B. "Gluelessness" avoids responsibility.

         C. "Gluelessness" makes it easy to leave.

Acts 20:36-38 - "When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship."

         D.  "Gluelessness" appears to be emotionally safer.

III.    A Strategy for Gluing

 Heb. 10:23-25 - "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Making it Count

As we put the holidays behind us and dig out from underneath all of the wrapping paper many of us turn to the upcoming New Year’s celebration to engage in a ritual that would confuse any visiting alien.  We call it New Year’s resolutions. For reasons I don’t fully understand, it is this single point in time each year that we try and make major changes in our life.  The more popular resolutions are Starting to exercise, eating better, getting more education or a better job Get a better job, getting out of debt, spend more time on relationship, or to give up something like cigarettes or alcohol.  According to one recent survey, almost 92 percent of individuals fail in their attempts at these changes.  Why?  Because our intentions don’t determine where we end up.  Our direction does.  Direction trumps every time.   

In 2012—you can intend with great determination to certain destinations in your relationships, in your profession, in you time management, financially or spiritually.  But that really doesn’t matter because you will end up right where the path you are on leads.

As you might imagine, the bible weighs in on resolutions this whole idea of intending to do change.   If you were to take the whole of the Old and New Testament’s teaching in this area, you might summarize the principles this way. Don’t trust yourself and follow God’s ways regardless of what your heart is telling you.  Proverb’s 3 says it this way; Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, 
and he will make straight your paths. 
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away.

So with one eye on scripture and another on the year ahead, let me offer this challenge.  Rather then making a list of resolutions that you won’t keep, ask yourself a few questions. 

Are their disconnects in my life between where I really want to be and the path I am on?

Where is there misalignment between my intentions and my direction? 

Then ask God to help you with four things.  First, for the courage to take responsibility for any misalignment rather then blame circumstances or others. (Heb. 4:12)  Second, for forgiveness where you have deviated from his direction (I John 1:9).  Third, to show you the right direction (II Peter 1:3). Finally, for wisdom in plotting a new course (James 1:5).  And, next year at this time when you are overwhelmed by the freedom and peace this gives, smile and give God the credit.  Here’s to making it count.  

Digging Deeper in the David Series

Sojourn Small Group Study

Message Series: David:  Lessons from the Life of a Renegade King

Session:  # 1

Title: The Nobody Nobody Noticed

INTRODUCTION

The life of King David is a remarkable study.  David is a central character of the Old Testament. One scholar said if he had to name a single Renaissance man in human history, somebody with extraordinary capacities on multiple fronts, David would be at the top of the list for all of humanity.  One of the reasons God gave us dedicated so many chapters of the bible to this one man, is to show us the inner workings of our soul and our creator.  Think about it--66 chapters devoted to the life of David in the Bible! 

BACKGROUND

The best backdrop to the life of David is to read the first 15 Chapters of First Samuel.  In the first 7 Chapters, you will meet the last Judge, Samuel, who becomes known as a "King Maker" because he anoints both Saul and David.  You will also meet the “Peoples Choice” for King, Saul, in Chapters 8-15.  David, mentioned by name for the very first time in I Sam. 16:13,  is then followed through the remaining chapters of I Samuel and II Samuel. 

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD

With Chapters 1-15 of I Samuel as background, read  I Sam. 16:1-3 and answer the following questions.  

         1.  Why is Samuel so fearful of going? 

         2.  Why would the people be nervous about the presence of Samuel? 

Now read the next 10 versus of I Samuel 16 (through verse 13) and discuss these questions.

         1.  What do you think God is specifically looking for in a King of his choice? Compare this with the people's choice of Saul in I Sam. 9:1-2. 

         2.  Why does God make Samuel go through this long drawn out process of 7 “nos”  before he reveals his choice? 

         3.  Why do you think David was not asked to be at the “Parade of Sons” (I Sam. 16: 6-11)?

         4.  Read I Sam. 1:13 again.   Now that David is anointed King, what predicament is he (and perhaps all of Israel) now in? 

BRINGING IT HOME

         1.   Can you think of any examples where external qualifications are more important than a persons heart?  What impact does television have on shaping our view of what is most important in life?  

         2.  Is God calling you to something and you're asking "how?"  How would you apply I Sam. 16:2-3 in your specific situation?

         3.  If you’re a parent, take a few moments and ask your son or daughter what are the three most important characteristics in a godly man or a godly woman.  What major influences do you see shaping their thinking?  

         4.   What other lessons or applications can you take away from I Sam. 16:1-13? 

PRAYER TIME

Spend some time praying with your group.   Spend part of your prayer time in “kingdom centered” prayer.  Kingdom center prayer  focuses on God’s work among the lost and marginalized of Greensboro, other parts of the world,  and the work of our local church community.  In other words, prayer that goes beyond our own needs.  As you pray, try and imagine  how God sees our world.  

MEMORY VERSE

Psalm 119:11 says to "hide the word of the Lord in your heart".  In other words, encouraging us to commit scripture to memory. 

For this week, try and memorize this verse and think about it throughout your week.  

For the Lord sees, not as the man sees; man looks at the outword appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”   I Sam. 16: 7 (ESV)

Remember that you can listen to this message series online by going to the podcast at www.sojourncommunity.org.

The Life of King David

This Sunday, September 25th,  we begin a series on the life of David.  David is a central character in the Old Testament.   One scholar said if he had to name a single Renaissance man in human history, somebody with extraordinary capacities on multiple fronts, David, would be at the top of the list for all of humanity. .

I believe that God gave us this living biography to show us the inner workings of our soul with that of our creator.  I am reminded again as I study David’s life, that I too am broken and in need of a Savior. That realization drives me to daily dependents upon Jesus who offers healing for our souls and the hope of a remarkable future. 

A great way to prepare for this study is to read the opening Chapters of First Samuel (chapters 1-15).  This will give you a great backdrop as you meet Samuel, the kingmaker and the very first king, Saul.  Saul was the people's choice.  Now God is looking for a man after his heart.  What characteristics make a godly man or woman?  

Praying for your time in His word,

Pastor Jeff

Grace and Freedom

Nothing invokes passion like the images and sounds of freedom.  From William Wallaces's cry,  to the visceral reaction of cheering throngs today as Egypt’s ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, appeared this morning in court.  The bible talks a lot about freedom.  One of the hallmarks of the Spirit’s movement is freedom. It’s a mark of God at work. 2 Corinthians says that “[t]he Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Just north of my summer quarters, a group of Moroccan protesters will be brought to justice for "incitement to break the fast in public" during Ramadan. As most of you know, during the month of Ramadan, Muslim’s are supposed to abstain from drinking, eating, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset.

This is the first time in Morocco that a group of "non-fasters" appears in public to protest against the current law and call for the right not to practice Ramadan in public, observers note. They want to get rid of a law that "punishes every Muslim openly breaking the fast of Ramadan, before the “iftar” meal which marks the end of daylight.

The local branch of the Moroccan Council of Ulema (Muslim theologians), denounced the protests describing them as "agitators". Saying it was an"abhorrent act that defies the teachings of God” and deserving of “serious sanction."

The oppression of Islam and the desperation of masses of humanity searching for the true and living God is especially evident during Ramadan which began August 1. Millions about millions not even allowed to swallow their own Saliva as they try to please a god who offers no grace or promise of salvation.

Precept Ministries - Charlotte, NC Training Workshop

Precept Ministries - Charlotte, NC Training Workshop

Praying for an Impossible Calling

May I remind you of the incredible opportunity that lies before us?  You are part of a community that God is gathering called Sojourn.  He has placed us in the midst of one of the most exciting seasons in all of redemptive history, setting us in the midst of the nations.  Greensboro?  In the midst of the nations?  Consider this: there are approximately 100 native languages represented in the Guilford County schools. The other evening I stopped in at one of our Sojourner’s homes hosting a dinner for International students.  Their home was filled with students from all over the world including countries completely closed to the gospel.   This morning we are focusing on just one language group—our friends who speak the beautiful language of Spanish.

Hispanics are growing 6 times the rate of the U.S. population as a whole. They will add the largest number of people to the population through the year 2050. America now has the 3rd largest Hispanic population in the world. The birth rate is expected to more than double by 2050 at which time one in three births in this country will be Hispanic.  Hispanic immigration will be the largest contributor to the US population so that by 2050 it is projected that four out of every ten added to this country will be Hispanic. The explosive growth of the Hispanic community poses an enormous opportunity. As Latinos become part of our Sojourn family, we will be enriched by the sharing of culture, gifts and a shared passion for service.  This ministry not only reflects the heritage of this country, but the heart of God.

I continue to pray that God will set before us an impossible calling. One that only He could accomplish—one that only he could get credit for.  What will the early days of Sojourn best be remembered for?   Establishing a nice comfortable church or a community that risked everything for the once in a lifetime opportunity to be used by God to do something that will last for all eternity?   
                                  
~ Pastor Jeff

Jesus vs. Religion: This Sunday at Sojourn Gathered

As we look this Morning at the last section of Colossians two (vs. 16-23), Paul warns us of a most sinister type of enemy that can rob us of the deep joy and peace that is ours in Christ.   Rather then enemies that are inherently bad, these enemies of our faith act like a spiritual vaccine, inoculating the heart.   These enemies are insidious, giving us a false sense that all is well, like the warmth felt by a man freezing to death.  Rather then a sign of life, it is illusion, designed to blind the heart and fool the mind.  The good news?  The same victorious theme woven throughout the versus of Colossians---Jesus.  I encourage you to read Colossians daily during this series and dwell on the truth that our peace and joy in life is directly proportionate to the extent our faith can grasp the full measure of God’s grace through Jesus.

Come Celebrate God with Us!!

If years were Chapters in a book, this week the Sojourn Community will celebrate the end of Chapter two!  The story of Sojourn is about Jesus and a community of people from all walks of life seeking to adjust their lives around His teachings.  We welcome you as you are---there are no prerequisites to being a part of our community.  So learn at your own pace.  Ask questions.  Seek. We believe you will find what you are looking for.  And the amazing thing, as we learn to relate to God, we will change.

We are so thank to you, our friends, who  put wind in our sails and cheer us on!  Any ministry "success" we might enjoy is simply the grace of God working in the midst of imperfect and ordinary people serving a very extraordinary God! 

www.sojourncommunity.org

The Church Inside/Out

Sojourners and Friends:

In a few weeks, Sojourn will celebrate its second year anniversary as a church!  For this reason, we are going to stop and pause for a few weeks to be reminded again, exactly what the church is and how we believe God is leading Sojourn to make a unique kingdom contribution. I encourage you to read through the book of Acts and re-live the birth of the New Testament Church.  The local church is always defined by that which it is committed. 

Here at Sojourn we are committed to being the incarnational presence of Jesus to the world around us.  Our guide is the bible.  Our center is Jesus.  Our ministers are you.  Our goal is to be the revolutionary church that God intended.  What seems radical must become normal. Our desire is to raise our sails and catch the wind of the Holy Spirit that will allow us to become everything God dreams for us.  We want to make God famous in our city and our world!  There are lots of ways to change the world---pick one!

Pastor Jeff

Astronomical Grace: A Unique Worship this Week (Jan. 2nd) at Sojourn!

We are given glances into God's grandeur when we stare out into the universe. Stars and nebulas and pulsars and galaxies all beautifully and intricately created by Him. However, contemplating the vastness of God can make it harder to wrap our minds around His grace. How can it be that a God this big, this creative, this imaginative, would stoop down, take the form of a man, and die a humiliating death on a cross? Could the One who made the stars also offer me grace?

Join us this Sunday as we experience a videocast of  Indescribable tour of Louie Giglio taking us on an image-rich journey through the Cosmos, allowing us to peer into God’s Universe to discover the amazing magnitude of His greatness and grace.  

Kids 3^rd grade and up will join us for worship! Sojourn Gathered @ Kernodle.  For Directions click here to go to our website.  

Sojourn's old fashion Christmas Eve at Flint Rock Farms!

Join us! Sojourn's old fashion Christmas Eve at Flint Rock farms! Stay toasty warm inside by the wood-burning stove with some hot cider and lots of homemade goodies. Or, bundle up for Hay rides, pony rides for kids, tour the leather shop or gift shop. Starts at 3 PM. At 5:15 we will gather as the kids reenact a live Nativity, Lynn Goodwin leads us in Carols by candlelight, and we read the Christmas story. Come relax in the warmth of fire and friends. Leave for home at 6!  Bring your friends and family--all welcome!!  For directions click here!

ANSWERS TO CHRISTMAS QUESTIONS!

 ANSWERS TO CHRISTMAS QUESTIONS!  KEEP UP WITH THE SOJOURN COMMUNITY   AT WWW.SOJOURNCOMMUNITY.ORG!  AND THE SOJOURN FACEBOOK PAGE!

1 Santa Claus

2 Uncle Billy

3 His heart was two sizes too small

4 Suzy Snowflake

5 "White Christmas"

6 Ebenezer

7 On the Stairs

8 Yukon Cornelius

9 Tiny Tim

10 "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

11 What was the matter

12 Dasher, Donder, Dancer

13 Her medication

14 Six geese a-laying

15 New York

16 He jumped into the river first

17 The ox and the lamb

18 By the chimney

19 Clara

20 The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

21 Green

22 Eleven

23 Tim Allen

24 Could not play in reindeer games

25 Pigpen

26. It's a Wonderful Life

27 Bert and Ernie

28 A button

29 Italy (Romans)

30 Angel

1. Isaiah

Matthew 1:23 / Isaiah 7:14 - part of a difficult passage of prophecy written

some 700 years before the birth of Jesus.

2. God with us

Immanuel (OT) or Emmanuel (NT) appears 3 times in the Bible and means "God

with us".

3. He would be born in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 - Bethlehem Ephratah, to distinguish it from another Bethlehem,

which was in the tribe of Zebulun.

4. Sixth

Luke 1:26 - while she was pregnant with John the Baptist.

5. Gabriel

Luke 1:26 - Gabriel, who also announced the birth of John the Baptist and

was presumably the same Gabriel who appeared to Daniel 500 years earlier.

6. Mary

Luke 1:46 - the scene of two happy mothers-to-be.

7. Jacob

Luke 1:32-33 - Jesus would be given the throne of David and reign over the

house of Jacob.

8. Anna

Luke 2:36 - daughter of Phanuel.

9. Augustus

Luke 2:1 - originally named Caius Octavius Caepias, born in 63 BC, the

grand-nephew of Julius Caesar.

10. Simeon

Luke 2:32 - though you have to look back to v25 to see who is speaking.

11. Went quickly to Bethlehem

Luke 2:15 - likewise we should seek out our Saviour without delay.

12. Quietly divorce her

Matthew 1:19 - the option of divorce was available under the Law of Moses,

Deut 24:1. Normally the circumstances would have to be made public and

required witnesses to testify, hence Joseph wanted to do it "privately".

13. Hosea

Matthew 2:15 / Hosea 11:1 - waiting in Egypt until Herod had died.

14. Angel of the Lord

Matthew 1:20-21 - this was to be Jesus' great work, to save people from

their sins.

15. Wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger

Luke 2:12 - there might have been many other babies around, but none in

swaddling clothes and in a manger. Without the direction from the angels

they may never have thought to look in such a place.

17. How long did Jesus remain in Egypt?

Until the death of Herod

Matthew 2:15 - Heord died in the 37th year of his reign.

16. There is no 16.

18. Two turtledoves or pigeons

Luke 2:22-24 - among the Jews, a mother would remain at home for about 40

days after the birth of a boy and about 80 days for a girl because she was

considered unclean. After this she presented him as "holy to the Lord" and

offered the sacrifice as according to the law.

19. John

Luke 1:36 - John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, by six months.

MARRY CHRISTMAS TO THE SOJOURNERS AND FRIENDS FOR AN AWESOME YEAR OF SERVING AND COMMUNITY!!

Answers to Chritmas Trivia Questions

The questions to the Christmas trivia questions will be posted on Christmas Eve Morning!  Stay tuned!

FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN

Incarnational Living

The incarnation was God’s radical act of humility and love in which he took on human flesh in order to enter the chaos and pain of our world.  It was this remarkable act by which all other acts of  God in our world would be defined.  Divine love now had a face and locality in a quiet Nazarene neighborhood.  The New Testament letter to the Philippians tells us that it was not despite the fact he was God that he took on human flesh, but precisely because he was God.  

While the incarnation is in many respects a mystery, it shows the great lengths our heavenly father will go in order to rescue us from our bondage and reconcile us to Himself.  God has made your heart in such a way that you will never be content until your thirst for an infinite God is  satisfied by the glorious redemption he offers through the finished work of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  The simple act of receiving forgiveness and new life through Christ is as easy as receiving any other gift during this season.  It’s yours for the asking—no strings attached.  

~ Pastor Jeff

SOJOURN ON MISSION

Over 100 Sojourners and friends are volunteering to help with Sunday's Downtown Dinner for the homeless.  That is simply incredible!  So, in advance, we say THANK YOU!

Pray with us that God's presence would be felt through this week of planning and logistics, and that He would be preparing our hearts and the hearts of our friends who arrive Sunday for a warm meal. 

If you will be joining us as a volunteer on Sunday, please plan on attending a 10-minute orientation immediately after worship Sunday morning.  Steven Still, Kathy Speight and Chris Scalici will be providing information about the evening. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Blue's Brothers Theology

Missio Dei can be translated as the "sending of God." Remember the Blue’s Brothers? The story of a paroled convict Jake Blues and his brother Elwood as they decide to reform their blues band in order to raise funds to save a Catholic orphanage where they grew up. Their claim? “We’re on a a mission from God.” While I don’t often look to Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi for theological insight,  it seems they at least had a handle on the notion that God is a sending God.  I used to think of “Missions” as a program or a committee or something the church did.  Come to find out, it’s who God is. Mission is an attribute of God, not a program of the church. It wasn’t until the church got off mission that it began to form “Missions committees.”  The Sojourn Community exists because there is a mission, not the other way around.

A Stake in the Ground

This Sunday we will be looking at the next 6 versus in our Journey through Colossians. There we will find the Gospel as the central theme. Did you know this is the central theme of Sojourn as well? Check out our website and you will find where we have driven some stakes in the ground. In other words, the stuff we won’t compromise. One of those stakes is our intent to be what we call Gospel Driven. So what exactly does that mean? It means that we believe to our core that the gospel is the good news that through Jesus the power of God's kingdom has entered history to renew the whole world. And that when rely on Jesus' work and record (rather than ours) for our relationship to God, that kingdom power comes upon us and begins to work through us. SO when we dream, we love to imagine what it might look like in Greensboro and the Triad to have God’s kingdom become visible. Nothing moves Christ-followers to humbly serve, live with, and love all the diverse people of the city like the gospel does.