Archives For Vision

Get Ready For Easter

March 22, 2013

easterprepEaster is the day we celebrate that Jesus defeated death and rose in victory! And THAT DAY is ON THE WAY! Here’s how to make the most of this BIG day this year.

Get Ready to Grow:
Here’s an online daily devotional that you can use as a guide to draw closer to God during this season: Crosswalk Easter Devos
Also, make plans to attend the Good Friday service on March 29 to remember and reflect on Jesus sacrifice on the cross.

Get Ready to Invite:
Stats consistently show that 9 out of 10 people would attend a church if they were invited. God has placed people in your life for a reason. So, step up and invite them to be with you on Easter Sunday.

Get Ready to Serve:
Our service strategy is very simple: Attend a service and serve a service. (Of course, it would be great if the service you attend is the 9 or Noon to make more room at the 10:30.) If you’re not already on a ministry team, you can go here to let us know you want to serve on Easter Sunday: Volunteer . Just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we’ll get in touch with you soon.

Get Ready to Give:
We’ll be receiving a special Easter Offering to fund 2 specific opportunities: expanding our current facilities and caring for those in our own community. Be praying about what God would have you give over and above your regular tithe to invest in our shared mission. If you want to give online, you can do that here.

As we get ready together, I know we’ll make a huge impact this Easter.

In Evangelism, Spiritual Growth, Vision
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Stupid Separations

February 14, 2013

“Or! What is it good for? Absolutely Nothing!” The Coke Zero commercial nails it! Why do people think “or” when we should be thinking “and“? If you’re not careful, people will try to back you into a corner, making you choose between two alternatives, when both options are true. Of course, the result is that you end up with only half of something that’s meant to be an incredible whole.

Paul dealt with this very issue in Galatians 3:28 where he wrote, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Why choose between one or the other, when God says yes to both?

One example that really hits home for me is Quality or Quantity. Some people think when it comes to a church, you have to choose one or the other. They ask, “Do you want a lot of people to be a part of your church, or do you want to have just a few, but those few are spiritually mature?” That’s a Stupid Separation! Why not both? Those aren’t mutually exclusive.

Do you want the church to be Deep or Wide? Why not both?

At The Connection Church, we want to see as many people come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord and we want them to grow to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.

Another Stupid Separation is between Attractional or Missional. This is a question of whether or not we invite people into the church to tell them about Jesus or send people out into the world to tell them about Jesus.

I say, “Why not both?” In the Gospels, you hear both of these statements: “Come and see.” AND “Go and tell.” So at The Connection Church, we do both. We bring ‘em in and send ‘em out.

We have zero tolerance for divisiveness. Why make a Stupid Separation when God says it’s both? I’m done with “or.” Say it again!

In Evangelism, Pop Culture, Spiritual Growth, Video, Vision
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Making Christmas Count

December 12, 2012

We’ve been planning and praying for The Presence Christmas Offering that is happening this Sunday, December 16th. Now, it’s finally here!

We’re so excited to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our world by showing His love to the people of Agua Zarca, Guatemala.

Through this offering, we will:

  • Throw a big Christmas party in the village, complete with delicious & nutritious food & Christmas cake, Christmas gifts, and needed supplies
  • Feed the 45 children in the village every day at school
  • Establish a mission base where we can go and share the Good News of Jesus
  • Be positioned to take the next steps God leads us to during 2013

I know it’s a busy time of year and some people may not be with us this weekend. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to be a part of the offering even if you’re not here. To make your donation now, click the link below and follow the instructions on the page.

You can give by clicking here today.

Please join us in prayer for this offering, as it’s a BIG step of faith that will make a BIG difference in our lives and the lives of those in another part of the world.

In Evangelism, Missions, Travel, Video, Vision
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What Are You So Excited About?

November 10, 2012

Last weekend, Kenzie’s volleyball team, the Hill Country Lady Rams, played in the state finals for the championship. Needless to say, I was excited. This was the game of the year, equivalent to the Super Bowl fur us. We got there early, carefully chose our seats on our team’s side, and as the game started I stood there and began to clap and cheer for the Rams, along with the other fans.

Within a few moments, a man from behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Hey, would you sit down? My wife and I would like to see the game.” I said, “Excuse me, could you repeat that?” He said it again. I looked at Pam in disbelief and said, “This guy is asking me to sit down.” The funny thing is, all of this was caught on camera so you can see our discussion.

At that point, I had a couple of options. I could have said, “Forget it,” or “Sure, I’ll sit down,” or gotten violent, but remembering that I’m a pastor, I moved out of the way and stood with the students to cheer on our team. You see, I wasn’t there to just observe, I wanted to participate. I was a part of the team and I wanted to help our team win. This other guy wasn’t a part of either team. He was just there to watch. He didn’t have a vested interest in either side.

And it occurred to me, it reminds me of what happens at church every Sunday. You’ve got some people who get there early, find a seat where the action is, stand up ready for God to do something amazing, cheering on people who are making life-changing decisions. They want the team to win and they are going to help make it happen.

But there are some people, usually those who’ve grown a little too comfortable, who show up and sit and soak. They look around at all the people who are pumped up and they say, “Why do these people have to be so excited? Can’t they just chill out and take a seat? We just want to quietly observe and not get involved ourselves.” Don’t be that guy!

It’s been amazing to watch as more and more people at The Connection Church come ready for something great to happen. We don’t want to just go through the motions. The interesting thing is, the total experience is different for those who get involved instead of just staying passive and checking out.

And the game? The Lady Rams are the 2012 TAPPS State Volleyball 1A Runner-Ups!

 

In Devotional, Spiritual Growth, Sports, Vision, Worship
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Are They Visitors or Guests?

August 28, 2012

I was talking with some dudes from another church the other day and they were talking about the visitors at the church they attend. Several times in the discussion, they used the term “visitors” and it was getting all over me. Then I mentioned it to Pam and she asked, “Well, what do you call them?” and I realized that maybe I’ve been lax about communicating this important attitude. When I realized how passionate I am about these particular semantics, I thought I should post about it.

So, every weekend at The Connection Church, we have many, many guests. We refer to them as guests and we treat them like guests. What’s the big deal and what difference does it make if we call people “visitors” or “guests”?

Think about it this way: a visitor is someone who shows up at your house, usually uninvited. They are out of place. They are somewhat uncomfortable. That’s best case scenario. The worst case scenario is that they are secretly aliens who look like lizards and are here to take over the earth and maybe have us for dinner.

A guest, on the other hand, is invited, expected, and welcome. At The Connection Church, we’re “a family expecting guests.” We love our guests. We address them respectfully in our services. We give them each a special gift with some fun stuff and helpful info. We follow up with them in non-intrusive ways. We listen to their opinions. And we look for them to return the next week or soon.

So, it cuts to the core of the way we interact with those who are checking out our churches on the weekends. And it makes a huge difference in connecting with people. So, if you’re thinking about checking out The Connection Church this weekend, BE OUR GUEST!

In Church Growth, Evangelism, Guest, Leadership, Vision
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