I'm sure we can all agree there's safety in numbers. There's also freedom in numbers too. Imagine having the capability to draw on the resources of a global organization for inspiration, guidance, best practices, and a great deal more. Imagine how these treasures can affect our mission as a church here in Chico. We have the opportunity to truly connect people to God, to other people of like minds, and to a higher and better purpose. In one short year as Abundant Life Church, we have done great things. Lives have been changed, people have been healed and brought to a deeper understanding of God and his will for us. But He has so much more to do!
On Sunday, take a look around at the people you worship with. Remember this moment. I believe that a year from now the faces you see today will be surrounded by an astounding number of new faces that aren't with us today. We will grow. Our mission will be stronger, our reach greater, and our lives fuller than we can imagine.
Christian City Church (c3church) is a global movement that has been blessed by God and is growing by leaps and bounds. Pastor Peter says that when you see or hear of God doing a great work in a particular place RUN! Don't walk. Get there. Share in that blessing. c3 church is a great work being done by God, through some amazing people, half way around the world, on a global scale.
And that is why c3. Our mission is theirs; they are kindred spirits who have been where we are and are eager to help us achieve great things in Butte County and even beyond.
In the end, I feel there is nothing better than the feeling of being a part of something larger than yourself, something that connects you to all people in a work that is for the good of all.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
God Is Good! Always
"God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good."
This is a great saying, and so true of the God we serve.
Not only that, but we need to REALLY believe it!
So many times when Christians experience a rough patch, or even a series of tragedies, their faith and belief in 'who' their God is, gets shaken, and sometimes falters.
One thing we HAVE to get down into our spirit, is that Jesus is totally good. There is no shadow of bad in Him. Everything He does is good and he never changes (Hebrews 13:8).
We also have to remember there is an enemy out there called Satan, or the devil, and everything the devil does is bad - there is absolutely no thread of good in him.
God is totally good, the devil is totally bad.
Therefore, the next time something good happens to us, praise God. When something bad happens to us, don't blame God, blame the devil, get mad at him. Start declaring who you are as a child of God and start telling him where to go.
James 4:7 tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee - literally run in terror - He is scared of YOU and he should be! Remember, you have the power of God within you.
Love God, resist the devil. That's the way it should be. Everyday we need to love on God. Praise Him. Get so full of Him that He just oozes out of you.
God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.
Have an awesome day,
Pastor Peter
This is a great saying, and so true of the God we serve.
Not only that, but we need to REALLY believe it!
So many times when Christians experience a rough patch, or even a series of tragedies, their faith and belief in 'who' their God is, gets shaken, and sometimes falters.
One thing we HAVE to get down into our spirit, is that Jesus is totally good. There is no shadow of bad in Him. Everything He does is good and he never changes (Hebrews 13:8).
We also have to remember there is an enemy out there called Satan, or the devil, and everything the devil does is bad - there is absolutely no thread of good in him.
God is totally good, the devil is totally bad.
Therefore, the next time something good happens to us, praise God. When something bad happens to us, don't blame God, blame the devil, get mad at him. Start declaring who you are as a child of God and start telling him where to go.
James 4:7 tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee - literally run in terror - He is scared of YOU and he should be! Remember, you have the power of God within you.
Love God, resist the devil. That's the way it should be. Everyday we need to love on God. Praise Him. Get so full of Him that He just oozes out of you.
God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.
Have an awesome day,
Pastor Peter
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Why c3? (Part One)
Things are changing. Last year at this time Abundant Life Church had about 15 solid members; we met at the Holiday Inn where we set up our stage and our chairs every Sunday and put people out front to wave cars in so they wouldn't get lost if this was their first time visiting.
Today we have a stage that we share with two other wonderful churches but the caravan of equipment now stays put for the most part when we finish service on Sunday. We used to have three to five people meeting in the Wolcott's small living room for an informal Bible study. Today we have a mens connect group, a women's connect group, a vibrant and crazy young people's ministry and each service is including more and more children which means the start of our children's ministry is not far off.
Our pastors, Peter and Gay Chapman finally have their belongings with them in their new home that has a bedroom for both the Chapman kids and we all feel better that they are settled. We are attracting many new members and are even welcoming some old friends back from the original Abundant Life Center. These are the things we have been praying for and God has been faithful to answer those prayers in a positive way.
So, if everything's going so well, why spoil a good thing by aligning ourselves with a church that's half way around the world? Well, let's look at their values:
According to Phil Pringle, Pastor of Christian City Church (c3 Church), their values include fervent, heartfelt prayer, the worship and praise of God, and a foundation of faith and vision. In their services prayer plays an important part as it does in all of Abundant Life's services. We don't rush through "the singing part" to get to the preaching. We take time to "love on God" with worship and praise music and he answers by visiting His Spirit on us. At c3 church Worship is such a big part of who they are, that recordings of their music are known worldwide.
We do not practice "religion" - a systematic approach to the worship and service of God - we live faith. At c3 Church, faith is what they have built their church on as well. A culture of faith permeates all of the c3 churches around the world. Peter and Gay Chapman have imparted the vision they have for Chico and Butte County to Abundant Life and we as members have made it our own; bring the people in this area closer to God and make them disciples who can then go out into the world and spread the Good News. c3 Church is also committed to making not just believers but disciples for Christ. Abundant Life and c3 both seek to train up leaders in the service of the one to whom we owe all.
This lifestyle doesn't mean a life of austerity; it is a lifestyle of abundance! as the current name of our church implies. Jesus said in John 10: 10, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly". Some of the richest men who ever lived wrote down the words found in the Bible. David gave 2.5 billion (yes, that's with a B) for the building of the temple. Solomon had boatloads of gold arriving at his ports daily. Even Jesus, who had received kingly gifts at his birth did not want for money. Both Abundant Life Church and c3 Church support and celebrate the financial blessings God showers on us.
(continued next week in Part two, Why c3?)
For a look at the culture of C3, check out this video by Phil Pringle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTBZKaualTc
Today we have a stage that we share with two other wonderful churches but the caravan of equipment now stays put for the most part when we finish service on Sunday. We used to have three to five people meeting in the Wolcott's small living room for an informal Bible study. Today we have a mens connect group, a women's connect group, a vibrant and crazy young people's ministry and each service is including more and more children which means the start of our children's ministry is not far off.
Our pastors, Peter and Gay Chapman finally have their belongings with them in their new home that has a bedroom for both the Chapman kids and we all feel better that they are settled. We are attracting many new members and are even welcoming some old friends back from the original Abundant Life Center. These are the things we have been praying for and God has been faithful to answer those prayers in a positive way.
So, if everything's going so well, why spoil a good thing by aligning ourselves with a church that's half way around the world? Well, let's look at their values:
According to Phil Pringle, Pastor of Christian City Church (c3 Church), their values include fervent, heartfelt prayer, the worship and praise of God, and a foundation of faith and vision. In their services prayer plays an important part as it does in all of Abundant Life's services. We don't rush through "the singing part" to get to the preaching. We take time to "love on God" with worship and praise music and he answers by visiting His Spirit on us. At c3 church Worship is such a big part of who they are, that recordings of their music are known worldwide.
We do not practice "religion" - a systematic approach to the worship and service of God - we live faith. At c3 Church, faith is what they have built their church on as well. A culture of faith permeates all of the c3 churches around the world. Peter and Gay Chapman have imparted the vision they have for Chico and Butte County to Abundant Life and we as members have made it our own; bring the people in this area closer to God and make them disciples who can then go out into the world and spread the Good News. c3 Church is also committed to making not just believers but disciples for Christ. Abundant Life and c3 both seek to train up leaders in the service of the one to whom we owe all.
This lifestyle doesn't mean a life of austerity; it is a lifestyle of abundance! as the current name of our church implies. Jesus said in John 10: 10, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly". Some of the richest men who ever lived wrote down the words found in the Bible. David gave 2.5 billion (yes, that's with a B) for the building of the temple. Solomon had boatloads of gold arriving at his ports daily. Even Jesus, who had received kingly gifts at his birth did not want for money. Both Abundant Life Church and c3 Church support and celebrate the financial blessings God showers on us.
(continued next week in Part two, Why c3?)
For a look at the culture of C3, check out this video by Phil Pringle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTBZKaualTc
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