I'm blown away by the power that God provides from simply teaching the truth found in the Bible. Over the past month or so we've been walking through the life of Jesus in our Bible study. Since we've been telling all our new friends that we believe Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life" we figured it was important for them to know that these aren't empty words. We wanted everyone to see that Jesus' life was authoritative, miraculous, sinless and powerful.
We had only one regular this week and 4 new faces at the Bible study. We looked at the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and specifically at the Beatitudes. We just spoke truth as it is written in the Bible and people were drawn in and engaged by the power of the gospel. I have a unique perspective being given the honor of leading our Bible study and it was truly awesome this week to look into the eyes of those who were with us... at least 2 who have no relationship with Jesus, and they were truly being drawn in by the power of the word. We dialogued during the study and afterward and I'm convinced that God is moving in their lives.
Over the next week we're really trying to pray more specifically for transformation to occur in individual lives. Although that will look different for different people at different times, we are convinced that the Bible is about transformation for the glory of God. We all just continue to stand in awe of what God is doing and all that he has planned for The Pathway in Tacoma!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Continuing on The Pathway
We marked the end of the beginning last week as we said good-bye to our Oklahoma interns who served with us whole-heartedly for the entirety of the summer. We will always look back at the summer of 2009 and know that we were laying the foundation for a movement, an awakening, that God will bring to Tacoma.
As we turn the corner and say good-by to our awesome interns, we're asking God "what's next?" We can only meet in the park for so long and then the weather is going to turn cold and wet. We're praying for an indoor location that we can use so we can continue our Bible study. Please pray with us that God would provide the perfect spot at the perfect time.
The last few weeks the park has been thinning out. This week we only had enough guys to play 3 on 3 basketball which is a huge change from the 20+ guys that are usually out at the courts. Our numbers were down at our Bible study too but not by much. We have a few regulars that have been coming every week and have started to bring friends which is encouraging to see. We're just praying for salvation and spiritual growth so that The Pathway grows and reaches more people for the kingdom. Pray that the people God has brought to us will really start to comprehend what the Bible is teaching them and that they would say "yes" to God's offer of salvation!
This week we're really going to focus on finding an indoor location and over the next few weeks Kelli and I will be looking for a place to live in Tacoma. This is an absolutely crazy roller coaster ride that Jesus is taking us on and I can't wait to see what's next. It's all for Him and all for His glory! Please continue to pray for our church and the people God is reaching.
As we turn the corner and say good-by to our awesome interns, we're asking God "what's next?" We can only meet in the park for so long and then the weather is going to turn cold and wet. We're praying for an indoor location that we can use so we can continue our Bible study. Please pray with us that God would provide the perfect spot at the perfect time.
The last few weeks the park has been thinning out. This week we only had enough guys to play 3 on 3 basketball which is a huge change from the 20+ guys that are usually out at the courts. Our numbers were down at our Bible study too but not by much. We have a few regulars that have been coming every week and have started to bring friends which is encouraging to see. We're just praying for salvation and spiritual growth so that The Pathway grows and reaches more people for the kingdom. Pray that the people God has brought to us will really start to comprehend what the Bible is teaching them and that they would say "yes" to God's offer of salvation!
This week we're really going to focus on finding an indoor location and over the next few weeks Kelli and I will be looking for a place to live in Tacoma. This is an absolutely crazy roller coaster ride that Jesus is taking us on and I can't wait to see what's next. It's all for Him and all for His glory! Please continue to pray for our church and the people God is reaching.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Humble Comfort
Well, I'm just sitting here in the San Antonio International Airport waiting on a delayed flight and reflecting on all God has done and is continuing to do in, through and around our lives. The last couple weeks in Tacoma have been pretty awesome. Two weeks ago we met more people at the park than we ever had and had 12 people attend our church service under a tree. It was really cool to get to teach God's word so informally while still sharing truth very passionately and seriously.
This past Friday is where the humble comfort came into play. As I mentioned, I've been in San Antonio, and that meant I would not be in Tacoma for the first time since we've begun work in our new city. I was talking with Becca Hurst, one of our team members, before I left and shared with her that I had mixed emotions about being gone. I was really bummed that I would not get to go to the park and encounter the numerous opportunities to share God's love in physical and verbal ways but I was comforted to know that I am not the church. I can honestly say that even in our beginnings, The Pathway is made up of God's people and the Head Pastor is Jesus Christ. While I know God is using me to plant this missional and local expression of his body, I'm humbled to be reminded that he does not need me. Kelli informed me that we had at least 12 adults this week and God continued to open doors for the gospel and form new relationships between our team and the lost.
It's really pretty cool you know? God doesn't need any of us but he chooses to use us and allows us to experience the joys and the sorrows that come from placing our complete faith in his sovereign and sufficient plan. AMAZING!
This past Friday is where the humble comfort came into play. As I mentioned, I've been in San Antonio, and that meant I would not be in Tacoma for the first time since we've begun work in our new city. I was talking with Becca Hurst, one of our team members, before I left and shared with her that I had mixed emotions about being gone. I was really bummed that I would not get to go to the park and encounter the numerous opportunities to share God's love in physical and verbal ways but I was comforted to know that I am not the church. I can honestly say that even in our beginnings, The Pathway is made up of God's people and the Head Pastor is Jesus Christ. While I know God is using me to plant this missional and local expression of his body, I'm humbled to be reminded that he does not need me. Kelli informed me that we had at least 12 adults this week and God continued to open doors for the gospel and form new relationships between our team and the lost.
It's really pretty cool you know? God doesn't need any of us but he chooses to use us and allows us to experience the joys and the sorrows that come from placing our complete faith in his sovereign and sufficient plan. AMAZING!
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