Church, Redeemer Church

New Year Plans

I love the start of a new year because it brings so much hope. It also brings an opportunity to evaluate and make future plans. The best leaders have clarity of direction. The best leaders also carve out time to evaluate the health of their people.

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The Bible has helpful teachings on making future plans. Naturally the Bible explains that people can make plans out of their flesh…their own selfish desires (2 Corinthians 1:17). God reserves the authority to frustrate our plans (Psalm 33:10). But the Bible also highlights human plans in a supportive light. Nehemiah’s plans to rebuild Jerusalem were honored. We also instructed to get advice when we make plans (Proverbs 15:22). Ultimately the Bible teaches us to devote our plans to Him, but also rely upon Him to fulfill our plans. This is the meaning of “commit” in Proverbs 16:3 (Commit your work to The Lord, and your plans will be established). The Bible encourages making plans that rest upon the soveriegnty of God. But our hope is not in our plans, and not just in God’s soveriegnty. Our hope is in his good soveriegnty. God rules over all things, is good himself, and even works good for us. Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Be encouraged, God has plans for your good!

Praying and thinking through 2014 is a thrilling exercise for me. This past Fall we have gathered a faithful group of friends to help us launch Redeemer Church in 2014. We have served together, deepened friendships, and studied the hallmarks of Jesus’ life and ministry. Each week new people joined our group and we ended up with twice the people we thought we would have at this point.

During the Spring of 2014 we will take our second step. In January and February we will hold some fun events, devote a week to prayer, hold a planning week, do a practice worship service, then launch a Sunday evening gathering on February 9th. The goal of these gatherings is to lay out the details of our vision for Redeemer Church. We won’t abandon our focus to be out in the community though. We already have two service projects planned for the Spring.

We have been seeking the wisdom of others. We have gauged our own hearts. We are encouraged knowing that Jesus loves Denton and Redeemer Church more than we ever could. We are seeking to devote our plans to Jesus and rest upon Him to “Grow us into a Church.”

Happy New Year

Micah

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Jesus

King of Kings

Ok, that picture isn’t the King of Kings…only Pastor Chris Respess of Antioch Christian Fellowship?!  It was a blessing to get to worship at Antioch on Sunday morning.  Antioch has been an incredible support in our effort to launch Redeemer Church.  Pastor Chris Respess has been a faithful and fun friend, encouraging us each step of the way.  His leaders have loved us and been willing to help whenever we need them.  Antioch is opening their doors to us and allowing us to meet on Sunday evenings when we put on some Vision Services in February.  Pastor Respess invited us to their service last Sunday and I had the opportunity to thank the congregation for their support.

Chris Respess

Pastor Respess is a great preacher, and the worship at Antioch is amazing.  During our singing we repeated a lyric that included a number of Jesus’ titles.  One title we sang was that He is our “King of Kings.”  Sunday night we also gave everyone a Christmas Tree ornament from Family Life that is designed as a crown and says “King of Kings.”  Jesus as King of Kings has been on my heart the past few days.

King of Kings means that Jesus rules over all other kings.  He is soveriegn over other kings.  When we compare Jesus to any king, Jesus is more powerful and has more authority.  Jesus is greater than any king in your life, in fact, He is the greatest of all the kings.  We don’t have a king ruling our country, but even as Americans we have numerous authorities in our lives.  Jesus is more powerful than all those authorities.  Even if you have an authority in your life that is keeping you in some sort of bondage…Jesus is more powerful.  Jesus’ power over all rulers means that we can trust Him.  We can trust His will for our lives.  When Jesus takes us in new uncertain territories we can trust Him.  Jesus is our King of Kings.

Not only is Jesus more powerful than any authority in our lives, He is better.  Every king or authority will fail you at some point.  Some authorities can fail us in disasterous and painful ways.  Many fathers are abusive, many bosses cheat and steal, many rulers take advantage of their power.  These authorities can leave distruction and wounds, but as Christians we can hope in someone better.  In fact, we can hope in the best.  Jesus is perfectly good.  Jesus is even holy.  When other authorities and kings fail us because they are not good or holy, we can trust in Jesus.  Jesus is our King of Kings.

I pray that this Christmas each of you find great joy in the fact that Jesus is the King of King.

Merry Christmas

Micah

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Church, Redeemer Church

Conference and Matching

Kristen and I had the opportunity to attend a church starters conference last week. I always love a conference that lets you see under the hood of another church. We were blessed to see how a great church reaches their neighbors, helps people grow in their spiritual lives, and starts new churches. We were also very encouraged to meet other church starters from all across the country. I learned so much from these faithful brothers and sisters who are giving their lives to share Jesus’ gospel. I was inspired by their commitment and took endless notes as they shared their stories.

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It was also a blessing for Kristen and I to go through an assessment process. Pastors and their wives evaluated our marriage, finances, and ministry experience. It was a honor to receive their endorsement at the end of the week.

This endoresement opened up an exciting opportunity for our new church. This organization will match the funds we raise by the end of the year. I stink as a salesman, and don’t want to put any pressure on anyone, but in the past I have become a motivated donor when their is a matching option. After praying, if you feel led to support our new church, know that your gift will be doubled! If you feel led, visit RedeemerDenton.com/Support for more information.

Merry Christmas

Micah

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