You’ve Got Questions!

This Sunday we did things a little differently at Ginger Creek… YOU had the opportunity to ask our pastoral team ANYTHING you wanted. That’s right – ANYTHING! And wow, did you all have some great questions. We’ve been hearing a lot of great feedback on this. If you missed this Sunday, CLICK HERE to listen to the podcasts. There are two podcasts for this service because we had two different sets of questions from the audience.  If you still have questions, email us at servingu@gingercreek.org

On Sunday Pastor Charles recommended a few books that could help answer more of your questions about the Christian faith. If you’ve got questions, these are great reads for you. Here’s the list:

The Reason for God – Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Timothy Keller)

The Case for Christ (Lee Strobel)

Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions (Kenneth Richard Samples)

Origins of Life (Fazale Rana & Hugh Ross)

Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message (Ravi Zacharias)

What’s So Great About Christianity (Dinesh D’Souza)

The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters (Charles Colson & Harold Fickett)

Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church (D.A. Carson)

The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Gary R. Habermas & Michael R. Licona

Are you trusting God with your life?

This week we talked about the power of the words in the Bible and the study of God’s Word. Some of us study God’s Word all the time, some of us read it occasionally, and some have never read it. Our challenge this week applies to all levels: to read Psalm 1 every day this week.

This study of the Bible is not just something that the Pastors here at Ginger Creek want you to read – it anchors our lives to Christ. When questions come, we have an anchor to hold on to and wrap ourselves around. In our crazy moments in life, we have God to anchor ourselves on. It helps us answer all of the “How can I…” questions.

• How can I find peace in my finances?
• How can I keep my job and provide for my family?
• How can I find restoration for my relationship with my spouse, kids, ect?

In the midst of all of the busyness in our lives, we can always come back to the Scripture for answers. We can always rely on God.

The study of God’s Word gives us the anchor point of who God is and teaches us how to live out our lives for Christ. We’re constantly chasing things and we’re never content – true happiness and contentment is not found in these things; it’s found in our relationship with God, and embracing and meditating on the Word of God. If you let those other things control you, you will never be fulfilled, but if you meditate on the Word and embrace and accept God, you will experience true joy and happiness.

When we live outside of the plan of God, the major events of life completely shake us and turn us away from the path of God’s grace, to the point where we cannot recover. However, a person who engages in the lifestyle that God asks us to live will be happy and content.

Every day is a new day. Begin to institute some of the practices you are learning in this current series into your life. You might be surprised to see how your perspective on life and your overall attitude will change.

Some thoughts to reflect on…

• Have you spent time in the Word today?
• Are you living your life with God as your anchor?
• Do you trust in Him when things in your life get tough? And do you refer back to scripture when you need that support?
• What stands out for you when you read Psalm 1?

Spiritual Discipline: Study (the Bible)

How do you actively pursue Godly living? What would happen in your life if you began or further developed this spiritual discipline of reading and studying the Bible?

This week we will be encouraged and challenged to take 5 days and read 5 different translations of Psalm 1.  As you read this scripture each day, reflect on how the verses affect you and what you think about as you read. Then look back at your notes after those 5 days.

You may notice that each day brought about different discussion points, feelings and ideas. Why do you think you can read the same passage, yet have different ideas on what you have read each time?

Beginning a new series, Sacred Pursuit, with “Prayer”

As we dive into this new series, our aim is for us as a church to grow closer to God. We will cover the practices that will help encourage a closer relationship with Him. Please feel free to use this tool and communicate your views, questions, and experiences, and give encouragement and feedback to those who have posted.

This Sunday Brian Zehr, who served for 15 years and was one of the founding pastors at Ginger Creek, will be joining us. He will start our series by taking a look at Prayer. No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, Prayer can help bring you closer in an intimate relationship with God.

For more information about this series, please visit gingercreek.org.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself before we begin:

• How do I feel about communicating with God through prayer?
• How should I pray? And what should I pray about?
• How can I incorporate prayer into my personal relationships with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, ect?
• Why is corporate prayer so effective?

Here are a few Scriptural verses for this week’s message. Read them over and reflect on them. How do these verses affect your perception of prayer? What does God say about Prayer?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciplines.” -John 15:5-8

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” -Jeremiah 33:3

“I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.” -Psalm 142:1-2

“Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” -Mark 14:35-36

PrayerLink

Thank you for being a part of PrayerLink. You’ve signed up to pray on behalf of our church for a 30 minute session wherever you are at the time. This information is to help guide you through your time in prayer with God.

PREPARATION — Get as comfortable as you can and bring your mind and spirit into a time of complete silence to the world. Concentrate your full attention on loving God with your whole being.

PRAISE — Begin your prayer by declaring all that God is. State every name, description, and character trait that comes to mind.

CONFESSION — Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal to you unconfessed sin, either against God or others. Then seek forgiveness from God for everything He brings to your mind.

THANKSGIVING — Thank God for everything that comes to mind. Move beyond words into an attitude of thanksgiving.

INTERCESSION–To intercede is to stand in someone’s place. Think about people and situations important to you. Then ask God for guidance as to how to pray for each specific need.

LISTENING–Ask a question and then listen for an answer. What would you ask God if you knew that He was listening? He is listening–Ask! Be aware of scriptures that may come to mind in answer to your question. Write down any impressions that you may have so you don’t forget them.

PRAISE–End your prayer as you began with joyful praise!

You may wish to read the related scripture verses by each section to help you complete your time in prayer.

At the conclusion of your prayer time, please call the next person in the link that is listed on your participant sheet.

Click on the COMMENTS section ABOVE and enter any thoughts God revealed to you as your were praying.

Thanks again for your participation. We pray that God blesses you for your involvement and step of faith.

We’re Listening

OK…you heard about it from Sunday…the blog is back

We talked about leveraging the talents God has given to us to make a big difference in the world. Doing the greatest good, not for ourselves but for the world. We want to hear how you’re making a difference, or how someone has made a difference in your life. For the next few weeks we’ve opened up this blog to share our stories with each other.

To share your story click on “comments” (right above this post) and type away (and read what other’s have to say).