I trust you had an incredible Thanksgiving and some special time with your family and friends. I am so thankful for all God has done among us here at First Assembly this past year. As we approach the Christmas Season and the end of 2012, I wanted to thank you for your faithful giving to First Assembly. During the year, … Read More
White as Snow–Advent 2012 Theme
“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red as crimson, They shall be like wool.’” –Isaiah 1:18 This seminal promise of the Christmas season brings one great theme of the Advent to the fore: God’s grace gives in a way that … Read More
MiracleWorker: OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2012 SERIES
Nothing else like the stories of what Jesus did kindles and rekindles the flame of faith in my own life! During October and November, we’ll be visiting these 2000 year-old stories again and finding fresh application for ourselves in the 21st Century! Below you’ll see what days we’ll be focusing on what stories so you can read ahead. Be sure … Read More
WEAPONIZED–Upcoming Series September 2012
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought of … Read More
Upcoming August Series: THE LORD’S PRAYER
Well, I really enjoyed the EPIC series we just completed yesterday. After 7 weeks of some of the most epic tales in the Old Testament, we’ll be shifting to the words of Jesus for two weeks in The Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is important for a number of reasons. Beyond the fact that it is the oldest prayer of … Read More
EPIC–Sunday Series for Summer 2012
EPIC, meaning “extending beyond the usual or ordinary, especially in size or scope”, is the series we’ll be focused on at First Assembly in Lafayette, Indiana for the next seven Sundays. We’ll be taking seven “epic” stories from the Old Testament and seeing how they apply to life and to our individual lives now. Beyond the definition posted above, the letters of the word … Read More
PARANORMAL–June 2012 Series
“Paranormal” is the regular state of the Christian life. To be “paranormal” is to be “beyond what is normal or beyond the reach of scientific explanation”. That’s a great way to express what the Christian life is when it is filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Over the month of June, we’ll be seeking to experience the full and overflowing work … Read More
Prophet, Priest, or King?
This month, I’ll be adding a number of posts on leadership, in keeping with the theme “Under the Influence” that I’m speaking on at Lafayette First Assembly this month. I don’t know who started talking this way first, but one helpful way to think about leading in the church is by looking through the lens of the tri-fold office of … Read More
UNDER THE INFLUENCE–May 2012 Series
Jesus was a person with an absolutely magnetic character. He drew men and women around him who left everything else to hear him speak, see his miracles and just be with him. In the same way, God looks for his people to be “influencers” in the world. That’s the subject of May’s Sunday morning series at Lafayette First Assembly. This … Read More
The Real Thing–Sunday Series April 2012
Over the next two Sundays, we’ll be reflecting on the success of Coca-Cola to spread it’s product around the world to put its name in front of every pair of eyes, every day, everywhere and the command Jesus Christ has given the church to spread the Gospel to the whole world. How can it be that this delicious, brown, carbonated … Read More