2012 Bible Reading Plans

Last week, I finished Journey Church's (St. Louis) Bible reading plan for 2011.  It was only the second time I have been able to complete a year long Bible reading plan, and it I felt refreshed and much more aware of who God is through the process.

I recommend you consider committing to a Bible reading plan for 2012.  Usually, we avoid Bible reading plans because we hate falling behind and end up not finishing them.  Don't give into that fear!  Thankfully, there are many different Bible reading plans that you can choose from.

There are several links below that will help you choose a Bible reading plan for 2012. 

If you are still working on finishing 2011, keep going!  The two key practices we are trying to instill in our lives is daily (or at least several days a week) getting the word of God into our hearts and minds & getting to know the WHOLE Bible story.  I'd say its more important to keep checking off those days to finish reading through the Bible even if it takes you another year than starting over again.

Bible Reading Plans
Justin Taylor at the Gospel Coalition gives extensive summaries of and tips on different Bible reading plans.  If you scroll to the very bottom, you can see the Bible plan I used last year.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/12/27/bible-reading-plans-for-2012/

Desiring God Ministries gives a much  more condensed version of potential reading plans including one that caught my eye - "For Shirkers & Slackers."
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/2011-bible-reading-plans

Helpful Guidelines for Prayer & Fasting

Fenway Church will be kicking off the New Year with a week dedicated to prayer and fasting. See this post for information on the schedule and daily blog updates. 

I have a passion for prayer and fasting that began in my college years. For those considering embarking on the fast this week, here are three helpful things to consider - Why fast? What does a fast look like? What can prayer look like?

Why Fasting?

God has always used fasts to increase my hunger to spend time with Jesus, allowed me to spend more time in prayer, and reminded me that this world and its desires are passing away. I find at the completion of these fasts I am often more focused on God's kingdom and more filled with God's power simply because I have been spending more time with him!

Many heroes of the faith fasted including Moses, Elijah, and Jesus!  Jesus expected his followers to fast knowing how good it would be for them, "They will fast in that day." (Mark 2:20)

If Jesus did and he expected us to, we should!

What Does a Fast Look Like?

First, please remember that if you have certain health issues a change in diet or a fast can be medically dangerous and should be avoided. As always, remember to drink lots of water especially when fasting.

A Fast

The phrase "fasting" in our context is typically used to mean fasting from all foods for a meal, day, week, etc.

A Water Fast

A water fast involves abstaining from all substances EXCEPT water.  This typically should last for no more than 3-10 days.

A Daniel Fast
The idea of a "Daniel fast" is found in Daniel Chapter 1 where Daniel and his friends refuse to eat the king's fine food and instead embrace a diet of vegetables during their time of training in Babylon. A "Daniel fast" for me consists of not eating any meats or sweats or fine foods (define that however you want :). I generally eat fruits, vegetables, some breads, beans, rice, & grains. Some keep a stricter diet than that.  I have used a "Daniel Fast" for when I am doing fasts of more than 2-3 days.

A Media Fast

A media fast can involve abstaining from some type of daily entertainment - such as twitter, tv/movies, internet, computer games, etc. - for an extended period of time.  I have found these to be very helpful for me when I have done them.

In fasting it is not the diet that matters, it is a heart that wants more of God and less of the world that matters. Prayerfully, consider what God may be leading you to fast for this week.

Finally, it is usually best to use the time normally spent in eating or entertainment in prayer and spending time with God.  Otherwise, we can easily miss the point of the fast!

What can prayer look like?
1) The main purpose of fasting and prayer in the New Testament was to align with God's plan and be filled with his power. Let's get involved where HE is already working - how do we know where he is? We pray and listen! (Acts 13:2, John 5:19)


2) God is sovereign. His plan to redeem of humanity and establish his church among every people group is not in doubt. (1 Cor. 15:24-26) Yet, he calls us to pray for, "Laborers to be sent out into the harvest." Jesus told his disciples to pray for laborers then immediately sent them out! (Matthew 9:35 - 10:5) Will you not only pray for laborers but allow God to make you one?


3) The one thing Jesus desires most for us is to be with him, listening to his voice. (Luke 10:28-42) He wants revival more desperately than we do. A true revival begins when God's people hunger and thirst for Jesus above all else NOT when we desperately plead with God to change the world.. It is in Jesus' presence that we are changed and empowered. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)


4) God has been showing me in the word that he will show his people things in prayer that will open up huge doors to be witnesses for him IF they will act on what they see and hear immediately. (Acts 9:10-12, Acts 10) We too often hesitate after praying seeking "God's will" AGAIN and we MISS opportunities. Don't wait go find out if God spoke or not!

Let's do it!

Come Again, Lord Jesus...

I was driving home tonight in a mid-sized luxury SUV filled with just-opened Christmas presents. Ayanna (my 3-year old) gently asked my wife and I to play some "songs about Jesus" as my girls glanced at the windows looking for more Christmas lights and my almost 2 year old boy drifted off to sleep.  My wife, Betsy, was commenting how this first of what will be three days of Christmas gatherings couldn't have gone better.  I was thinking we are sooooo blessed.

My stomach was stuffed with food.  In fact, I had been different levels of full pretty much all day.  I was warm, warm. Warm and full.  And safe.  Not everyone can say that this Christmas.

Click pictures to learn more.

My thoughts turned to starving children in Africa like the ones I had prayed for early this week.  I thought about the girls hidden in sex-trafficking dens.  Most probably don't even know Christmas is two days away.  They probably just hope tomorrow doesn't come. I thought about the girls abandoned in China...

Click pictures to learn more.

Got home read about people who marched 170 miles over 4 days for freedom who on arriving at their capitol got beat up and killed.  Thought about my friends in Sanaa who since I left in March have lived in a virtual war zone under siege in their own apartments and homes.

Click pictures to learn more.

And in the midst of my car ride home filled with thoughts of Christmas, I found myself whispering, "Come Again, Lord Jesus..."

Come again, and make all the wrong things right.  Come again, and make "all the sad things untrue."

Come like you did at Christmas 2,000 years ago.

Come again, to destroy all evil, wipe every tear, fill every stomach, and banish all darkness.

Come again, so the last can be first and the first can be last.

Come again, so that there will be no longer be any orphans or sickness or pain or sin.  Come again, so the unwanted girls can have a home and the abused children can know love.

Come, come again, Lord Jesus.

The End of All Evil, Nov 13, 2011

"Johnny" Finds a "Home" this Christmas

By Rebecca Nelson

Our church (Fenway Church) did a “month of service” this December in which each of our community groups delivered presents to children whose parents were in prison, made blankets for homeless veterans, hosted dinners for neighbors, etc.

One night, I was in a group that packed bags of stuff for homeless people around Back Bay (granola bars, pen, flashlight, socks, gloves, hand warmers, paper, etc..).

As we did “listening prayer” and asked God where we should go, I saw a picture of the steps of Trinity church.

We were led to pray that “God would reach someone whose family has been praying for them, and who seems like the last person who might come into God’s family”. It was a prayer for lost sheep, especially those who no one really believed could return to God.

Off we went.

We went to the church and didn’t see anyone who needed one of the bags we had prepared. But when we walked around the side of the church and there was a man kneeling in prayer and another man standing nearby. As we had prayed in the apartment, “Johnny” had been praying outside. While two others prayed for his friend’s knee, I sat on the ground and talked with Johnny. He recently left a halfway house where he was required to stay after a jail sentence. In the bitter cold, we talked for quite a while and he told me all about his family, his father and sister who love Jesus and pray for him. We prayed and he promised with much sincerity to come to church Sunday if we’d get him from Copley.

Lost sheep at the church, just like God said.

When we returned to warm up and debrief, we found that the 3 other groups also had successful evenings. They prayed for a blind man to receive sight (we are still looking for him to see if it has happened), they felt great boldness, much more than usual, an answer to prayer. Even those who had never done this kind of thing were deeply encouraged and used by God.

When we returned Sunday with a car to get Johnny, he was nowhere to be found. I checked Finagle a Bagel, Burger King and all the surrounding stores, and he was gone. He had been so excited for church! We prayed for him together, that he would know we looked for him, and went to “friend Sunday” at Fenway Church.

Towards the close of service, who walked in but Johnny? First this shaking, weak man took a guitar and played a beautiful song of praise to God. Then, we prayed for him to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to turn and live a holy life, and he laughed with joy as we closed the prayer.

He got a warm meal, lots of cookies and a hot shower with men from our church. And when I checked my email late last night, I found that Johnny was spending a few nights off the streets with a church member who had offered a spare room.

Today I am thankful for our church family, God's guidance, and his love for every single person in Boston.

www.fenwaychurch.org

Why I am Encouraged

Why I am Encouraged

I am encouraged today by...

Our young men. Young men leading small groups on their campuses and ministering God's love to those who have not experienced it yet.  Young men who persevering in their education and callings in business, law, and the sciences.  Young men who tell me to "be hard on them" because they want to become true representatives of Jesus wherever they go.

Our young women.  Their seemingly insatiable passion for worship and prayer.  The commitment and purity of their hearts towards Jesus.  Their willingness to be the first to go to the unreached people groups of the world. And, their love for the church and the community in and around it.

Our single moms.  Who host community group gatherings.  Who find time in their weeks to cook for the church.  Who bring their children to be a part of our church family.  Who consistently our an example to me of real faith as they proclaim and exhibit a trust, belief, and ability to lean on God each day.

The husbands.  Who have modeled the right way to pursue a young woman with respect, honor, purity, and purpose.  Who lay down their lives for their wives and are learning to lead their families and marriages.

The wives and moms.  Who work harder than anyone I know.  Your reward is great in the kingdom of heaven.

Our inroads in building relationships with our Muslim friends.  Learning their culture, values, and world AND loving them by opening our own lives and homes to them.

Our presence in the club.  The sounds guys and staff who have witnessed miracles, testimonies, and the growth of our church.  The guy who came up and played the tamborine with our worship team after service, and the guy that tattooed a scripture verse on his back that one of our member's gave him.

The way our church family has demonstrated the love of Jesus by taking care of the building and treating the staff with respect.

Our presence in the community.  Volunteers at Operation Peace's after school program this fall.  Funds being raised for local non-profits in our neighborhood. Relationships formed with seniors who live in the Fenway through art, music, and food. Serving at community events and being one of the only places in the Fenway that I know of that consistently provides opportunities for fun and education for children and their mothers.

Our presence among homeless communities.  In transition homes.  In front of Shaw's supermarket.  In conversations in the Fens.  And the ones who find their way into our services knowing they will be welcomed, loved, and embraced.

Our vision.  For transforming neighborhoods like the Fenway.... and now with growing hope for Roxbury.  For the unreached nations of the world and the prayers, travels, and training that are linking us to that world even now.

I am encouraged...

That we love one another.

That those who God moves onto to other cities and nations can say things like, "As I get ready to end this season, I see God giving me victory in things that I never had victory in before."

That the Holy Spirit is alive and active in our midst.

That people are being physically healed.

That Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

That the cross will always be enough.

That faith is growing.

That hearts are turning.

To HIM.

Hope

When we are encouraged, we feel the freedom to dream and imagine what God can do.  Encouragement increases our expectation of "the good" that God has in store for us.  This expectation of good is the definition of hope.  As we prepare to begin 2012, may our hearts and minds be encouraged and freed to hope and may the Lord establish his assurance in our hearts that gives way to a living and active faith our church.

David W. Hill

Listen to Fenway Church's recent messages on Hope and Encouragement.
http://www.fenwaychurch.org/media.php?pageID=5

Jesus & the End Times: How is Kingdom of God Unfolding Today?

In our series on Jesus & the End Times, we have been going through Jesus' teachings on the End Times in the book of Luke.  Each of the 3 passages we are preaching from begins with Jesus correcting or expanding the Jews' view of the kingdom of God.

The Jews' thinking was that if Jesus was the promised Messiah he would establish a physical, earthly kingdom of God immediately in Jerusalem.  However, Jesus had a different plan.  The coming of the physical, earthly kingdom Jesus taught awaits another day, the day Jesus returns. (see Luke 21:31)

For Jesus' contemporaries view of the fulfillment of the kingdom - click here.

A Story
So Jesus told a parable (story) in Luke 19:11-27 to explain the right view of the coming kingdom of God.

The story describes a nobleman (Jesus) who "returns to a far off country to receive a kingdom and then return."  He leaves his servant the responsibility of engaging in his works until he returns. Upon his return, he asks for an account of his servants and destroys those who refused to receive him as their King.

This end represents when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead and establishes a new heaven and a new earth where his kingdom will forever reign.

The Questions
The questions that may arise are if the kingdom is "not yet" if it is awaiting its final fulfillment - what is Jesus currently doing? Is he ruling and reigning in the world today? And if so, how?

To briefly address these questions, I will turn to Psalm 110 which parallels the story Jesus told in Luke 19 and gives us a framework by which we can understand our current place in God's plan in history.

Psalm 110
In verse 1, we have the LORD (Father God) saying to King David's Lord (Jesus), "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."  This verse points to Jesus' ascension after his resurrection to the Father's right hand.  In Acts 7:56, the dying Stephen sees Jesus, "Standing at the right hand of God."  In Daniel 7:13-14, Daniel sees "the Son of Man" presented before the "Ancient of Days" and given dominion, glory, and a kingdom. This scene is once again a picture of Jesus ascending to the Father's right hand in heaven and receiving the kingdom that the nobleman returns to receive in Luke 19:12.

In verse 2, we see that although Jesus has received authority and a kingdom for a time he will remain in Zion (heaven) ruling in the midst of his enemies.  How does Jesus rule in the midst of his enemies?  The clue is found in verse 3.  Verse 3 describes a willing people who volunteer themselves for God's cause in "the day of your (God's) power."  This description is a picture of the church - a willing community of believers who are living for God's mission in the age of the Spirit's power.  As described in Acts 2, the Spirit in these last days is being poured out in an active, empowering on all who believe.

Jesus rules and reigns in the midst of his enemies (those who refuse to acknowledge or have yet to acknowledge him as King) through the Church.  This is the age that we live in.  We as the Church are the empowered servants of Jesus who faithfully bear witness to the gospel message among the nations until he returns.  He reigns and rules as King and great High Priest (see vs 4) in the midst of a rebellious world through his Church.

Lastly, we see in verses 5-7 Jesus returning this time in "the day of his wrath."  He shatters kings, executes judgments, destroys the wicked, and drinks from a brook. This is the physical return of Jesus to earth which parallels the description of the death of the rebellious enemies of Jesus in Luke 19:27.

So here is our historic and future Biblical framework from Luke 19 & Psalm 110.

Past: Jesus' Ministry (Commissioning of Disciples) -> Jesus' Ascension
Now: Jesus' Rule & Reign from Heaven through the Church ->
Future: Jesus' Return (To Judge the Wicked) -> The Kingdom Fully Realized (On Earth)

Jesus & the End Times: Old Testament Prophecies (Video)

Post-Sermon Discussion - End Times Part 2 from Jesse Sudirgo on Vimeo.

In order to understand the second coming of Jesus, we need to get a picture of what the Old Testament says about this coming kingdom. This video is a discussion on what Jesus' contemporaries were expecting the Messiah to do, and how Jesus' work on the cross effects that expectation.

Listen to the message this discussion follows at http://www.fenwaychurch.org/media.php?pageID=5

Stay Awake: Jesus & the End Times

2012, Radio Preacher Predicts End of World.... The topic of the end times has been buzzing in today's culture and media, but what did Jesus have to say about it?

In our upcoming series on Jesus and the End Times, we will be looking at what Jesus said about the last days in the book of Luke and how his teachings help us answer the questions like these.  Why do end times teachings matter? Are we living in the end times? How should our knowledge of ends time impact our daily living?

Sundays 11AM @ Fenway Church - November 6, 13, 20

Scandal: Jesus & Grace

Second Series from the book of Luke starts Sunday October 9!

Jesus was accused of being involved in many a scandal. How what Jesus taught and lived turned religion on its head and made Jesus a friend of many sinners. AND why it matters so much for us today.

Sundays 11AM @ Fenway Church - October 9, 16, 23

Audio

Book Recommendations I

I wanted to share a few books that have really shaped my life, caused me to love Jesus more, and imparted faith in me to believe I could be a part of God's mission to radically change the world.

First, two which were published this year written by two author's whose writings have perhaps influenced me more than anyone else.

King's Cross I became a Christian because I had a revelation at a young age of just how much the Son of God had done in dying for me.  Since that day, I have always loved the person of Jesus. This book by Timothy Keller opens up the life and death of Jesus in a profound and vivid way. You will love and believe in Jesus more having read this book.

The Spirit-Filled Church Many respect and love Jesus as a prophet, teacher, and model for living.  Few however find themselves equally attracted to his Church.  Discover how and why the Church can be a dynamic, transparent community filled with the life-giving presence of Jesus where diverse peoples can find a true home. By Terry Virgo.

Second, two incredible stories of how God can use any person's life in order to bring about his redeeming purpose among the most broken people in our cities and the world.

The Cross & the Switchblade  How God took one young country pastor's decision to stop watching TV and used him to save gang bangers and druggies in NYC. I read this book as a pre-teen, then in highschool, college, and again when I started church planting. Inspired me to believe God could do anything through me. 

Chasing the Dragon  Rejected by missions' agencies a young woman buys a one way ticket to Hong Kong and sees God move in the Walled City, a haven for drug dens and prostitution. This book taught me so much on the importance of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in my life and ministry. Out of print so get a copy! 

Forgotten God: Jesus & the Spirit

Often forgotten but an equal member of the Godhead, the role and work of the Holy Spirit is vital to our regeneration and understanding of God. Join us as we explore the role of the Holy Spirit in the Life and Incarnation of Jesus and what their relationship can teach us about what our own experience of the Holy Spirit can be today.

Sundays @ Fenway Church (September 18, 25, October 2)

www.fenwaychurch.org

Why Sundays? Why CGs?

Many people consider “church” in the Sunday morning tradition boring, routine, and lifeless. Thus, attendance at churches across North America has decreased significantly in our generation. Some are now experimenting with simple church (smaller house or dorm based gatherings) and others have given up on Christian gatherings all together. So why do we as a young, hopefully relevant church meet on Sunday mornings?

One is we are attempting to model the vibrant, life-giving church that Jesus founded through his disciples (chronicled in the book of Acts). Two is we want to give those who live in our neighborhood (Fenway) and our city the opportunity to experience Jesus.

Acts Model

At Fenway Church, we attempt to follow the New Testament model of God's people gathering BOTH in public places (when they could) to worship, pray for the sick, preach Jesus, and be a public witness of the corporate body of Christ AND in households to share meals, pray, build each other up through spiritual gifts, teach, and care for each other. As the church in Acts saw what God was doing in both these public and household-based gatherings, they willingly and gladly participated in and gave financially to the mission of preaching the gospel and care of the poor in their communities. For a vivid picture of this type of church, read Acts 2-6.

These churches were led by teams of men with recognized Spirit-given gifting (see Ephesians 4, Acts 20:28) such as the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 2), prophets and teachers in Antioch (Acts 13), and elders in Ephesus (Acts 20). Theses churches were started by ordinary Christians spreading the gospel in their communities and marketplaces and apostolic (church planting) teams like Paul's made up of among others gifted apostles, evangelists, and prophets.

9 Reasons for Why Sundays @ Fenway

1. To give city residents an opportunity to come experience Jesus and his family in a local, public gathering spot (that's why we meet in a CLUB!).
2. Because a public site is much more comfortable for some people (many people?) to attend than the intimacy of someone's home they don't know.
3. Even though in our culture there are many who avoid Christianity, they still view Sunday gatherings as a place where they would go if they had an interest in exploring or discovering more about God. (They might not think of hunting around for the local private house church gathering, although maybe if you advertised your house church on the web they might show up... which raises other interesting questions.)
4. To with one voice proclaim and exalt Jesus through song (worship as instructed in the Psalms!).
5. To experience the power and workings of the Holy Spirit as he releases gifts (like prophecy, words of knowledge, and healing) to members of the body. I Corinthains 14:24 describes a situation where an outsider walks into a public meeting where this is taking place and immediately begins to worship God! We've had this type of experience happen to several non-believing guests we have had the privilege of hosting in our gatherings.
6. To hear the truth of the gospel of the kingdom preached. (Acts 2:42, Romans 10:17, Acts 19:8,9)
7. To pray for the sick and those who are spiritually thirsty.
8. To be Father's welcoming team on the front porch waiting for prodigals as they return to the family. (Luke 15:20)
9. To join in a corporate vision and give financially to the work of the church that is being administrated by God-ordained leaders and includes care of the poor and the ministry of the word and prayer. (Acts 2-6)

9 Reasons for CGs @ Fenway

CGs are small groups of people that meet during the week in members homes and apartments in the Fenway and adjacent neighborhoods.

1. Because some of your friends are very intimidated by large gatherings of Christians (can we blame them???) but would love to come over to your house and meet the Christian and non-Christian friends who go to your CG and enjoy a free meal.
2. To share meals and build relationships with one another (fellowship - food facilitates that so well!). (Acts 2:42,46)
3. Because every member of a healthy, growing, and effective church needs to be empowered to use their gifts. (Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthains 14:26)
4. Because each member needs to be being building each other up in love. (Ephesians 4:16)
5. There is simply not enough time on Sundays for everyone to contribute!
6. Because church is not a Sunday meeting; it is something we are. We are the church. We are a people not a building. Be the church wherever you meet. Do the things we do – pray, eat, love, encourage, share...
7. Because we can learn more when we can ask questions. Hard to yell out a question in a crowd of hundreds.
8. Because I've learned the most from watching how people live and love in their homes.
9. Because the early church met in people's homes and in public places. (Romans 16:5, Acts 18:7)

This post is dedicated to those that will find Jesus and a home at our Sunday gatherings in the Fenway and in CGs across our city AND to those who forgot why they kept going to meetings every week.

May our expectations of what God can do in the midst of our gatherings soar as we see Jesus' picture of what his church was meant to be.

In Love,

David W.

Moments to Movements II (The Catalyst)

Part II: The Catalyst
For moments to cause real, transforming change, they must become movements. A martyr's death is inspiring. A preacher's words can thrill souls. The stories of sacrifice bring tears to our eyes. The death of a friend causes us to pause and ponder. Rarely though do these moments become a movements, rarely do they cause us to fight more battles and give our own lives. Yet moments that become movements change the very fiber of society, they shake nations, and move history forward.

Biblically, what is the catalyst that takes a moment and makes a movement?

The two of the most compelling moments in history were Jesus' death and resurrection. Yet on their own they yielded no immediate changes in the city of Jerusalem or the nation of Israel. Jesus knew his moment needed a catalyst to become a movement. So, he gave his followers final instructions. He told them to wait. Not a passive waiting, not a reflective waiting, an active waiting. It was the re-positioning of their lives and their priorities. What was the catalyst Jesus pointed them to? The catalyst was prayer.

A person can shape a moment, but only PEOPLE (plural) can create a movement. Catalytic events are never caused by a singular person but by a GROUP of people who become desperate enough to give of their time and themselves to a cause.

For ten days, ALL of Jesus' followers gave themselves daily to prayer.1 They didn't exactly know what would happen. They didn't fully know what to expect. But, they knew they had a cause worth living for. So, they positioned themselves before God. Acknowledging their need for power, acknowledging their need for love, their need for courage, their need for Him.

It was from the catalytic place of united, persistent prayer that suddenly heaven invaded a room. The windows flew open and the doors flung wide. So effective was this catalyst that within hours 120 people had been transformed into a living, dynamic community of thousands who had suddenly found a cause worth dying for (and die they did).

The catalyst is no different today. Many of us at Celebration Northeast experienced a moment on Saturday night that powerfully reminded us how great the cause is. However, it will be nothing more than a moment unless we embrace THE catalyst for change.

The Biblical mandate has never changed. We must shift our priorities from wicked and worthless pursuits to the place of corporately and humbly coming together to acknowledge our need in prayer.

Every moment needs a catalyst to become a movement. Are you ready to pray?

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:14

Part I: The Cause

Moments to Movements (Piper Video)

Found this link on facebook right after I posted the first part of this series. Watch it.

Moments to Movements I (The Cause)

Part I: The Cause
There are moments, and there are movements. Martin Luther King Jr.'s statement, “I have a dream....”1 created a moment. Nathan Hale's, “I regret I have but one life to give for my country...”2 was a moment. But these memorable speeches created more than a historic moments, they inspired movements that would change nations.

What allows moments to become movements?

First, there must be a worthy and compelling cause. In these cases, the rights of a suppressed minority and the rights of an emerging nation captivated the hearts of hundreds of thousands of young people. Second, the cause must be compelling enough to be worth dying for. Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Nathan Hale paid the ultimate price for the beliefs they held. To them, the realization of their beliefs and freedom of their fellow man was worth giving their lives for.

Many in Christianity today will claimed to have experienced a moment, sometimes many moments. In fact in the West, we have become very effective in creating “moments” with compelling conferences, inspiring speakers, and cutting-edge technology. However, society is not fooled by Christianity's moments. They see through much of the hype. Today as always, humanity is looking for something authentic, something genuine, something worth dying for. Thus, the weakness in churches and our lives is not due to our inability to create compelling moments in services but in our inability to live compelling lives.

To live a compelling life, we must find a belief worth living for and a cause worth dying for.

When I discovered Jesus, I found more than just a belief; I found a person. Jesus created his own moment.... on the cross. But the cross is more than the most well known moment in all of history. It has triggered the greatest movement the world has ever known.

It was on the cross that Jesus revealed the how much humanity was worth – the life of God's Son. The cross revealed that freedom is possible only through sacrifice and that the only hope for humanity is found in the proclamation of Jesus' work. It is cause that creation is waiting to see realized.3 It is a cause worth dying for because Jesus found it worth dying for. It's a cause that captivated me. Has it captivated you?

Part II: The Catalyst

Celebration Northeast (No Service on June 26)

On Sunday June 26, we will have no service at the club.  Most of our church will be gathering with several other churches from around the region over the weekend at Gordon College to celebrate our God and be a part of His mission through Newfrontiers, our family of churches. 

If you were unable to attend the whole weekend, you are welcomed to join us at the last session on Sunday morning at 9:30AM in Gordon's chapel building; the meeting is open to the public. It will be a powerful time of experiencing God's presence and catching the vision for what God is doing in the world and through Newfrontiers USA.  You don't want to miss it; come on up!

To learn more about Newfrontiers USA visit - http://www.newfrontiersusa.org/

Directions to Gordon College, MA
• Take 93 North from Boston to 95 North
•Stay on Route 95 North until it separates from Route 128.
•Take Route 128 North towards Gloucester, passing through Peabody, Danvers and Beverly
•Take Exit 17, Grapevine Road
•Turn left at end of ramp, going 0.6 mile to main entrance

Thoughts on our Easter Weekend (Fox25 News, Globe, Baptisms & more)

What can I say but that I am totally blown away by God.  I tried to pick an adjective to describe the weekend - monumental, transformative, catalytic - but couldn't. 

Monumental? Seems like the peak of something, and this is just the beginning of what God is going to do. 

Transformative? Yes. But as some of you know God has been transforming many in our midst for some time, and those of you who have been praying with us the last month weren't blindsided by this at all.

Catalytic?  Only if we allow it to be.  And to allow it to be we must become a church filled with people who, as one young woman from our church put it this weekend, are "recklessly abandoned" to the call of Jesus no matter the cost. (1)

Weekend Highlights

• 3 Prophetic words God gave us during the week of prayer to start April being fulfilled
• Love of God filling club and pouring out into streets (on Easter there was standing room only with 127 chairs setup and our welcomers were greeeting outside the doorway)
• Nets being broken open and Holy Spirit being poured out (it was absolutely electric at times and real conviction from the Holy Spirit for those responding to the message)
• Spiritual gifts being released on Easter Sunday (leading up to and the morning of Easter God released gifts of knowledge, wisdom, faith, and prophecy which directly related to all 127 sits being filled and the salvations & baptisms that tooks place)

One
 Mission
  Serve The
    City

• 40+ people from Newfrontiers churches in the Northeast (Boston, Portsmouth, Norwalk, Portland) serving the a local Boston housing development in the pouring rain and giving Boston residents a tangible reason to celebrate this Easter. These volunteers worked so hard with such joy. I am priveleged to be a part of a group that embraces Jesus' example of servanthood like that.(Check out facebook.com/fenwaychurch for more pictures!)
• 2 people making first time commitments to follow Jesus and be baptized.
• 3 people total spontaneously deciding to be water baptized!!!
• Boston Globe Article from our International Sunday helping drive our website hit total to 273 up 225% from the previous week
• FOX25 filming our Easter Service (watch the segment below to get a great feel for what it was like on Sunday!)
• All of you (you know who you are) who prayed at early morning prayers AND participated on evangelism teams on Friday night AND prayed and worshiped late Friday night AND woke up the next morning and served all day at One Mision AND rehearsed later on Saturday AND got to church at 8AM on Sunday AND SAW GOD MOVE IN WAYS WE'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE. You guys are my heroes.
• Worship team, setup team, prayer team, welcome team, my staff team, breakdown team, kid's church team and all the various people who just kept jumping in to help so that everything that took place this weekend could happen.  Your reward is great in heaven.  It is a joy to serve with you.  Some day we are going to be a part of a party that doesn't stop.
• The Fox newscaster who said, "Their next venue might be House of Blues." (only seen if you watched it live). You words may just be more prophetic then you will ever know.
• EVERYONE who PERSONALLY invited a friend. Almost every single one of our guests who was there came because a friend brought them.  Publicity is nice, but the kingdom grows because we love others enough to invite them into our journey and an encounter with Jesus.
• And finally, a tweet that somes so much of this weekend up...

@littlewilds: @David_W_Hill dude! We can't go back 2 "normal" christian living anymore. We gotta do today more often #OneMission #success

The best is yet to come #fenfam!
 
Love you all so much,
 
David W

(1) To that end, let me put in a plug to listen (or listen again) to our two Easter messages at http://www.fenwaychurch.org/media.php?pageID=5 They reveal just why we believe Jesus is so worth our while to follow...

One Mission: Serve the City (Saturday April 23)

Time: Saturday, April 23 · 9:30am - 5:00pm

Location: Abundant Grace Church // Faneuil Gardens Housing Development // 77 Guest Street  Boston, MA

"As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me..." - Jesus

A day of service with college students & 20s from Boston and the region to give a community something to celebrate this Easter. Restore grounds, paint apartments, and give back to the city.

Lunch will be provided.

If you plan to attend the event, please register at the link below:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dExzZ2ZzRHV6aVJ1ZkZpX1pwdEFnaHc6MQ

Directions via Public Transit from Kenmore Square! Click here
 
 
A Newfrontiers Northeast Event

Contact David W. Hill, dwhill@fenwaychurch.org for more info.

Notes from the Story of Lot's Daughters

Here are some follow up notes I have out to our Community Group (CG leaders) following the message I preached on Lot's daughters (Genesis 19) on March 20, 2011.  You can listen to the message here: http://www.fenwaychurch.org/media.php?pageID=5

The notes have been divided into three sections.
1. The Story
2. The Story Continues (Ruth)
3. The Parallels of the Stories of Lot & Noah (personally I find this fascinating and instructive but you will have to read until the end, :)

The BIG IDEA in this story is that God's mercy is always greater than my sin. To me that is the story of the Bible and no story illustrates this so clearly. The way to see this theme is by looking at ways a couple of different scriptures connect. I think this story more than any other story we have done will give your CG a chance to look at how different passages of scripture connect together. To accomplish that, you will need to take a look at a couple of these scriptures yourself before hand!

 

1. The Story

 

Read Genesis 19:30-38
Notes

 

- How would you have felt if you were Lot's daughters in this situation? What led them to think up such a shocking plan? It is important to note here that up until this point their lives have been dictated by others. How have people in your group experienced or been led into sin by others? It may be worth discussing or at least keeping in the back of your mind as we approach this story. We cannot condone their act, but I am certainly sympathetic towards their plight. Some members of your CG may have experienced or witnessed horrible sins be careful not to focus on how bad this was it may people push people away from experiencing God's mercy and freedom from shame.

 

- The story of Lot in Genesis ends abruptly. Romans 6:23 states, "The wages of sin is death." Lot's life comes to an abrupt end such is the wages of sin. Do we really believe that sin leads to death? What sins are we holding onto or ignoring (or embracing) in our lives?

 

 

2. The Story Continues

Read Deuteronomy 2:9,19
Notes: How does God tell the Israelites to treat Moab and Ammon? Why? An amazing example of God's grace. He is providing for the descendants of this sordid incident. He remembers Lot and his daughter's despite their sins (drunkness and incest). If this is so, why would we ever doubt God's grace towards us through the provision of his own Son when we sin?

 

Read Ruth 1:4-5,15-18
Notes:  One of great,great... grandaughters of one of Lot's daughters is Ruth. God will divinely orchestrate the events of Ruth's life (the arrival of her husband due to the famine, the death of her husband, and later she happens open Boaz's food) to make a path for her (she is the great,great grandmother of King David) to participate in God's long-awaited rescue plan - Jesus. Her willingness to face her fears

Read more »

Fenway Church Summer Internship

Fenway Church is receiving applications for a six-week summer internship program (May 16 - June 28) until March 6. To fill out an application go to: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDU0aGEwaDRTakRINkN0UWVrV0RLR1E6MQ#gid=0
Here is a preview of what to expect!

Mission Statement:
To equip those interested in engaging local and global mission fields through the local church in a six week intensive of discipleship and community engagement.
Who:
Those willing to take a break from normal living to focus on spiritual formation, community living, and discovering what Jesus meant when he said, “Come, follow me.”

Training Capsules
Discipleship (Week 1 and 2)
Become more like Jesus through personal/spiritual inventories, doing what Jesus did, living in Christian community, and being trained in Christ-likeness.

Community Engagement (Week 3 and 4)
Find a cause through assessing a community, developing neighborhood relationships, and volunteering in local non-profits.

World Missions (Week 5 and 6)
Awaken a vision for world missions through spiritual/global mapping, Biblical study, and interaction with international missionaries. 

The internship will end at Newfrontiers Northeast Celebration weekend, June 24-26.