You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.    -Jesus talking to a crowd of people (message bible)

Body to Body- I have come to know many people at my church through Twitter and Facebook. Without these tools our relationship wouldn’t be as strong as it is today. Have you ever met someone at church then went home and added them as a friend on Facebook… before you know it you are looking at pictures  of them with their family and friends.  If your a FB stalker you can find out what friends you both have in common and even see what they have been up to the last 4 years (photo albums). Don’t judge I have been guilty of this too… Its crazy, never before has the body been able to connect so quickly.

Body to Guest- We could probably improve this one a little bit. But the tools are at our finger tips.  How can we as a church body better reach out and invite “guest” to our services?

Body to Missions- This is probably my favorite. Switch is in Mexico right now. One of the leaders had the idea to set up a Twitter account MotionMexico . The account is used to update the parents on the status of the trip. No longer does every kid have to make the expensive phone call back to Mom. All that is required is for the group to update their twitter status and everyone can know how the trip is going.   

This is cool for people like me. I couldn’t go, but I feel like I’m a part of the trip because I’m tracking them along the way.     On second thought, this shouldn’t replace those phone calls to Mom.  Moms need to hear from their babies.  Its more for people like me who want to stay informed on the trips status and know what the needs of the team are,  so I can pray better.

Please feel free to comment and tell me why you like or don’t like the church using social media.

I want to thank Michael Trent for helping me come up with these ideas. Actually,  it was mostly him.

Is your Church Plant Growing? I know that church isn’t all about the numbers, but it is about reaching people, sharing Christ and seeing real life change.

replace organization –> church

1. Has the organization made specific commitment to grow and develop people?                        yes, no, maybe

2. Is the organization willing to spend money to develop employees’ [leader's] growth?

3. Is the organization willing to make changes to keep itself and it’s people growing?

4. Does the organization support leaders willing to make the difficult decisions necessary for people’s personal growth and growth of the organization?

5. Does the organization place emphasis on production rather than position or title?

6. Does the organization provide growth opportunities for its people?

7. Do organizational leaders have vision and share it with their people?

8. Does the organization think big?

9. Does the organization promote within?

10. Are there other leaders in the organization willing to pay the price of personal sacrifice to ensure their growth and the growth of others?

If the majority of the answers to these questions is Seldom or Sometimes, a change is in order.

These are the questions that John C Maxwell asks in his book, “Developing the Leaders Around You”.

Do I Need Another Baptism?

Hebrews 6:1

Foundations: Idea for 6 week class

1. Repentance
2. Faith
3. Baptisms
4. Laying on of hands
5. Resurrect from dead
6. Eternal Judgment

Must have these 6 to go onto maturity.

3 Baptisms Salvation (Holy Spirit introduces you to Jesus ) 1 Cor 12:13 Water Matt 28:19

Spirit Matthew 3:11 Mark 1:8 Luke 3:16 John 1:33

The reason may churches haven’t said hello to the Holy Spirit is b/c they never said good bye to Jesus.

Holy Spirit= comforter

Story of his wifes buying a comforter that was just for you

Three Baptisms literally

Acts 2:38 8:12

Repent, Water & Holy Spirit

Acts 19:22 “Did you receive the holy Spirit when you believed?”

Three Baptisms Figuratively

1 John 5:7 John 3:3,5 Gen 12:1 17:5

Take the I out and the H

Sari’s name change I out H in, I out Holy Spirit in

God is strict about order, he doesn’t thinks his way is the best way. He thinks his way is the only way.

Notes from Connect Conference @ Gateway Church “free audio will be on the website”

Random Notes

• Was Jesus born again? No b/c he was born right.
• Was Jesus water baptized
• Jesus didn’t start his ministry until he received the holy spirit.

Beauty of Spiritual Winter

2 Tim 4:1

^{1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.}

Pasted from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20timothy%204%20;&version=31;>

Our Finest Hour

Early church was living under extreme Roman rule.

Acts 2:43 How did the local church operate back in the day?

^{42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.}

Pasted from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=51&chapter=2&version=31>