I wasn't planning on writing today, but I ran across a verse from one of Paul’s letters that just hit me in the face.
“…while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.” 1 Corinthians 8:1
Paul is writing to a church that some believe had slogans for the way they should live their lives. He said they had the head knowledge of what to do, but they didn’t have the love associated with being a child of God. He goes on to say in verse 3, “But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.”
My limited observation of the local church today would lead me to believe that we have gotten love and knowledge mixed up. Churches today are filled with wonderful teachers and classes that know the difference between a Sadducee and a Pharisee, but when was the last time that class left the building and showed God’s love in their neighborhood? Ouch, that hurts me too.
Why are we closing the doors on more churches than we are opening on new churches? Why is the Southern Baptist Convention not growing, but reached a plateau for the last two years? Why are churches weak today? I believe one of the reasons is we have abandoned hair on fire love for people for knowledge of the Bible.
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe the answer for our world today is the truth and proclamation of God’s word. I of all people love to understand and teach God’s word, but have we escaped into the church with an excuse to learn more and abandoned the people God has called us to love?
One of the great things from our student led echo groups formed during Falls Creek is that they have actually gotten out meeting people’s needs. They have shown love. A couple of groups have spent time at a senior adult care center.
Let’s reverse this trend of knowledge over love. Let’s be a people that the world would say, “They really know how to love people and take care of those in their neighborhood.” Let’s let love strengthen the church!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
August News for Surrey Hills Baptist
And just like that summer is over, well not quite yet. August 19th and 20th most of our students will return to school. We have a lot planned in the month of August so don’t blink or you might miss something.
The most important thing we will do in August with our student ministry is welcome the new 6th graders. We have many things planned to help transition them to the “big time”.
First, on August 2nd and 9th the new 6th graders will be invited to a brunch at 11:00am. Tim Perdue and our student leadership team will teach a series on preparing for middle school.
Secondly, on August 22nd we will have an awesome Back to School Bash with inflatables, our youth band playing and great food. This will be open to all youth and we really want this to be an opportunity to invite friends who may not otherwise go to church. At the bash we will invite them to come back the next day to Sunday School.
Then on August 23rd we will have promotion Sunday. This will be the day that students move up to their new classes. New 6th graders will promote to their new Sunday School class in the youth room. We will also be adding 2 new youth classes that day as well.
For our current students we will be attending the Youth Evangelism Conference in Norman August 7th and 8th. The cost will be $20 and well worth it as Skillet and Blue Tree will be performing concerts along with great training from Chad Norris.
A busy, but great August ahead! An opportunity to invite new friends to some fun events at church. A chance to welcome the new 6th graders to the student ministry. A time to start school with a goal of sharing the love of Jesus with your friends.
Ministering with you,
Doug Brown
405-317-8076
rev.dougbrown@gmail.com
P.S. follow me on Twitter, pastordougbrown, or Facebook it’s fun!
The most important thing we will do in August with our student ministry is welcome the new 6th graders. We have many things planned to help transition them to the “big time”.
First, on August 2nd and 9th the new 6th graders will be invited to a brunch at 11:00am. Tim Perdue and our student leadership team will teach a series on preparing for middle school.
Secondly, on August 22nd we will have an awesome Back to School Bash with inflatables, our youth band playing and great food. This will be open to all youth and we really want this to be an opportunity to invite friends who may not otherwise go to church. At the bash we will invite them to come back the next day to Sunday School.
Then on August 23rd we will have promotion Sunday. This will be the day that students move up to their new classes. New 6th graders will promote to their new Sunday School class in the youth room. We will also be adding 2 new youth classes that day as well.
For our current students we will be attending the Youth Evangelism Conference in Norman August 7th and 8th. The cost will be $20 and well worth it as Skillet and Blue Tree will be performing concerts along with great training from Chad Norris.
A busy, but great August ahead! An opportunity to invite new friends to some fun events at church. A chance to welcome the new 6th graders to the student ministry. A time to start school with a goal of sharing the love of Jesus with your friends.
Ministering with you,
Doug Brown
405-317-8076
rev.dougbrown@gmail.com
P.S. follow me on Twitter, pastordougbrown, or Facebook it’s fun!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wow, time flies when you are having fun. I just looked up and it has been more than a month since my last post. It has been a busy and great month though.
Last week we had an incredible week at Falls Creek (church camp for our students at Surrey Hills Baptist). God blessed the entire week and many of our students really connected with God.
We had several students make recommitments to Christ, meaning they knew they had wandered away from God and they wanted to make a public commitment to return to him. If you are a person of prayer please pray that they will stick with their commitment to follow Christ. We also had 2 or 3 students that are beginning to seek God’s call on their life to missions, either short term or long term. And then we had one young lady who prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her boss and forgiver on Wednesday night. When she shared her decision with our group they erupted in great applause and joy for her.
Placing faith in Jesus is the most important decision that anyone can make. Alexis has begun a journey with God that will literally change her life and destiny. Again if you are a person of prayer lift up Alexis as she begins this journey.
The theme for Falls Creek this year was Echo. The verse for the camp was Psalm 145:4, “One generation will commend your works to another, they will tell of your mighty acts.” The challenge all week was to take the experience and the message of Falls Creek home and pass it on to others. What a great challenge that is for all of us. Pass it on!
To help the students take camp home they were encouraged to form Echo groups that will be student led. Echo groups will meet as the students can, to encourage and challenge each other to live the Christian life at home, school, and with friends. Another strong aspect of Echo groups will be serving others outside of the church.
I really want to brag on the Echo groups from Surrey Hills. They have already been meeting and growing and planning their service projects. They have made contacts with orphanages, nursing homes, and hospitals seeking places to go and spread the love of Jesus. One group is planning to mow lawns for those who need it free of charge. When we begin to serve God’s love will spread and God’s love is infectious.
I want to thank the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma leadership in general and James Lankford specifically for making Falls Creek a great camp for students. Falls Creek has gone through some amazing changes in the last 10 years and it is a result of leadership catching a vision of making it a place God would be honored and students would be connected with God through Jesus. Way to go BGCO! Way to go Falls Creek! Way to go Surrey Hills Echo groups! Way to go God!
Last week we had an incredible week at Falls Creek (church camp for our students at Surrey Hills Baptist). God blessed the entire week and many of our students really connected with God.
We had several students make recommitments to Christ, meaning they knew they had wandered away from God and they wanted to make a public commitment to return to him. If you are a person of prayer please pray that they will stick with their commitment to follow Christ. We also had 2 or 3 students that are beginning to seek God’s call on their life to missions, either short term or long term. And then we had one young lady who prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her boss and forgiver on Wednesday night. When she shared her decision with our group they erupted in great applause and joy for her.
Placing faith in Jesus is the most important decision that anyone can make. Alexis has begun a journey with God that will literally change her life and destiny. Again if you are a person of prayer lift up Alexis as she begins this journey.
The theme for Falls Creek this year was Echo. The verse for the camp was Psalm 145:4, “One generation will commend your works to another, they will tell of your mighty acts.” The challenge all week was to take the experience and the message of Falls Creek home and pass it on to others. What a great challenge that is for all of us. Pass it on!
To help the students take camp home they were encouraged to form Echo groups that will be student led. Echo groups will meet as the students can, to encourage and challenge each other to live the Christian life at home, school, and with friends. Another strong aspect of Echo groups will be serving others outside of the church.
I really want to brag on the Echo groups from Surrey Hills. They have already been meeting and growing and planning their service projects. They have made contacts with orphanages, nursing homes, and hospitals seeking places to go and spread the love of Jesus. One group is planning to mow lawns for those who need it free of charge. When we begin to serve God’s love will spread and God’s love is infectious.
I want to thank the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma leadership in general and James Lankford specifically for making Falls Creek a great camp for students. Falls Creek has gone through some amazing changes in the last 10 years and it is a result of leadership catching a vision of making it a place God would be honored and students would be connected with God through Jesus. Way to go BGCO! Way to go Falls Creek! Way to go Surrey Hills Echo groups! Way to go God!
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