ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

YOU ARE INVITED!  Don’t you just love invitations?  Well, most of the time?!!  Quite some time ago, my husband and I came across an article in a Christian magazine, WORLD, and a full-page graphic with some profound words on it have gripped us mightily.  In fact, we feel it is so life-changing as based on Christ’s words in the Great Commission, we sense God calling us to make this the foundation of everything we do as we kick-off our new fall/winter/spring ministries here at Elevation North!  No … not the article.  No … not the author.  Yes … the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.  Yes … Jesus’ words.  His command!  Sometimes God uses one of His servants to help us see a bit clearer just what Jesus meant when He said what He said!  Rich Stearns, author of the best-selling book, The Hole in Our Gospel, has written a new book titled, Unfinished.  Allow me to share a very brief book report to help you see why we are so excited about what we are getting ready to embark on as God leads us.  Here is my summary and excerpts of just a few of the highlights.  When talking with people everywhere in recent years as we hear their stories, if we really listen - we hear a longing in them for a deeper sense of purpose and significance in their walk with the Lord.  They want to discover that one thing that God is calling them to do.  They long to feel that they are doing something important for God and that their lives really count for something.  Many of them express that they feel incomplete, as if something about their lives is unfinished.  It doesn’t matter who they are; they all desire the same thing – to live in ‘the zone’ of God’s calling and purpose for their lives.  We need to face the pure, simple fact that this purpose is not found in any job, any relationship, or any accomplishment.  Get this:  the meaning, purpose, and significance of our lives are found only by aligning our lives with God’s purposes, in lives committed to following Jesus Christ.  In other words, it is not anything we do, nor is it anything we have that brings purpose to our lives.  Rather, the author says, it is the purpose of our lives that brings meaning to everything else.  And we find the purpose of our lives only in Christ.  Jesus said in John 10:10:  ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  So then why is it that so many Christians feel like they are living totally unfulfilled lives?  The bigger part of the story is that often we cannot see the forest for the trees.  And just what does that mean?  It means that as Christians, many of us have become people who are so absorbed in the things right in front of us that we lost a sense of the bigger story within which our lives take place.  Think about your life.  The things that occupy most of your waking hours – your job, your marriage, your kids, your daily struggles – they are the ‘trees’ of your life.  What about your church life?  That isn’t so different, either.  We go to church, sing some songs, listen to a sermon.  Perhaps we even pray before our meals, read our Bibles daily, participate in Bible studies.  While all are good things to do, they can become just more ‘trees’ in our lives already cluttered with ‘trees’.  So what happened to the forest?  And what happened to the bigger story?  How long has it been since you asked yourself, who am I?  Why am I here?  Where am I headed?  And where do I fit into God’s big story?  Yes, these questions are important.  Because if we are ever truly going to find purpose and meaning in our lives, we first have to rise above the trees to rediscover the forest – we have to understand what God is doing in the world and how we fit in.  We do have a God-given role to play, you know.  A very specific role.  Different than Mary and Joseph, or Peter, Paul, Luke, and John – but they, too, had a God-created role – and they played their parts.  But now, 2000 years later, we have become so absorbed by the ‘trees’ of our everyday lives that we have lost the plot for God’s unfolding story.  God’s Word suggests that if we are His followers, then we still have some unfinished business in our world:  ‘And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’  (Matthew 24:14)  When we have played our part in making this happen the way God has in mind, the end will come – and that will be a good thing!  Everything Jesus promised will come into place and He will establish His wonderful Kingdom forever and ever.  But before all of this happens … Jesus called His followers to complete a crucial assignment He gave to them just before He left.  That assignment is what we know as the Great Commission, and we have an invitation to follow Christ in this revolutionary vision and mission to reconcile humankind to God’s purposes through His unique Kingdom on earth!  There’s more to come … all I can say is – do not miss the on-fire message from God’s Word this coming Sunday here at Elevation North!  God is up to something!  You see, it’s only when we say “yes” to Jesus’ invitation to change the world that we discover real purpose for our lives!

 

Credit:  Summary and excerpts taken from Unfinished, by Rich Stearns 

 

 IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 A SPECIAL WELCOME to Ellouise who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  May God bless you! 

 

TODAY, SUNDAY, SEP 08:  FALL MINISTRIES KICK-OFF!
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHP / COMMUNION 
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH - beginning our walk through the Bible! 
11:30 A.M. - CHURCH LUNCHEON/MEETING to follow service 

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY BIBLE "DOING" / SEP 11 & 12 at 7:00 P.M. -
WED - Digging into the book of Hebrews at the church 
THU - Continuing in the book of I Peter at 905 El Dorado Street SE 

SATURDAY, SEP 14: 
9:00 A.M. - LADIES PRAISE & PRAYER
("The Prayer That Changes Everything - The Hidden Power of Praising God!") 
9:00 A.M. - BARNABAS TEAM MEETING 

NEXT SUNDAY, SEP 15:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP 
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH
 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

This Sunday as part of our Fall Ministries Kick-off, we have a new set-up for KidZone classes for all ages beginning with nursery through high school!  The classrooms are ready and teachers are in place – and we are excited about ministering to our little ones and our young people!  There will be Bible lessons, music and singing, puppets, crafts and activities, Our goal is to provide solid teaching with learning experiences in an exciting atmosphere that points the children and youth to Christ!  If you have any questions or comments, or would like to help in some way with this awesome ministry, please see Verla, our Christian Ed Director. 
 

 REMEMBER . . . THE GREAT COMMISSION:  “And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,’  Amen.”  ~ Matthew 28:18-20 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . . 

Pastor Doug and Debbie