Three Easy Steps

How to make the most of this (and any) blog "in three easy steps."

1.  Comment.  The real fun isn't in what the blogger writes but in the comments that you and others write.  Many times the comments become a conversation between comment posters.

2.  Email.  You can send any blog post to a friend or many friends by clicking the envelope button below.  For example, let's say you'd like to forward the Easter Invitation (the post below this one) to a friend.  Just click the envelope, put in their address, and even put in a message of your own.

Go ahead and try it - email the Easter Invitation post to yourself just to see what it looks like.

3.  Follow.  You can become a follower of this blog by clicking the follow button to the right.

Blogs are not designed primarily to be informational.  They are designed to be interactive discussions. In fact, it's a lot like Sunday morning.  You can watch or you can participate.  As with everything, you'll get out of it what you put into it.

Enjoy!

Easter Celebration Worship

You are Invited

EASTER CELEBRATION WORSHIP

9 AM & 11 AM

Easter Egg Hunt at 10:15 AM

Biblical Message of Hope

Heart-felt Contemporary Worship

KidZone for K - 5

Safe Clean Nursery

Lifepointe Church

12770 Hamilton Crossing Blvd

Carmel, IN  46032

 (one block west of US 31 and W Carmel Drive)

map and info on site:  www.lifepointeindy.com

Biggest Event of All

There is no bigger event in history than Easter.

There is no bigger event in eternity than Easter.

There is no bigger event in your life than the day that the risen Christ becomes your Lord and Savior!

Today could be your day!  For how, see this:  www.heavenforfree.blogspot.com

New Venue Launched

Aaron Story and Indy Metro Church opened their new East Side venue in Irving Theater last night.  They had done a ton of work on the old theater and also had done a lot of servant evangelism leading up to the grand opening.  The "Indy Metro East" workers were well prepared, smiling greeters, nice refreshments, well-designed guest materials, attractive signage, and staging.  I was impressed by the spirit in the place - very good worship participation and Aaron did a nice job preaching the first sermon in a new place.  I don't know the number but with children I'd guess it was over 100.  Aaron's heart for the city shows.  Congrats to five year old Indy Metro Church for expanding to a second venue - downtown and now Irvington.  God bless Aaron Story and Indy Metro Church.

See their site here:  http://www.indymetro.org

Palm Sunday Worship was Excellent

The Lord was present in our Palm Sunday service this morning.  More than one person used the word, “powerful.”  It’s good to be in church where the gospel is presented and the Holy Spirit is at work.

The re-enactment of the Last Supper was really excellent.  Thanks to each of the guys who took the time and made the commitment to rehearse and present so that the congregation could be blessed.  Thanks to Jimmy who played Jesus.  Thanks to each of the disciples:  Jeff, Eric, Ryan, Josh, Charles, Marcus, Matt, Josh, Gary, Justin, Todd and Rob.  Thanks to Phil and Frank for great music all morning. 

Thanks to Sheila and all who helped her with the ‘upper room’ set.  Thanks to Gord and Jim for putting up the drape back-drop.  And to Gord for running sound today.

It was a team effort to present a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ great love and compassion.

Thanks to those who show their commitment to the gospel and to Lifepointe by inviting friends.  As was said in a very first description of Lifepointe five years ago, Lifepointe is not to be ‘consumed’ but given away.

Glory to God and thanks for His gift of love.

Palm Sunday

The Living Lord's Supper

Dramatic Re-enactment of Jesus' Last Supper

Communion Service

11:00 AM, Sunday, March 28

Lifepointe Church

Just Wondering

After the Prime Minister of Israel visited Washington, D.C. this week and was, for a second time, snubbed by the current U S Administration - no photo op, no joint press conference, no photos released of the meeting and the Israeli media reports that Obama walked out on the Israeli delegation at dinnertime and left them to find dinner on their own - all over President Obama being rebuffed on his demand that Israel divide it's capital as a pre-condition for 'peace talks' to resume.

Wonder if anyone at the White House has read the prophecy of judgment in the book of Joel?

       I will gather all nations
       and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
       There I will enter into judgment against them
       concerning my inheritance, my people Israel,
       for they scattered my people among the nations
       and divided up my land.   Joel 3:2

Inviting Machine

My friend J R Lee is quickly building a dynamic young church in the Atlanta, GA area.  Just a little over two years old, they regularly have over 600 in attendance.  Scores are coming to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  What's the secret?

He touched on at least one key in a tweet today.  Here's what he said:

We've had 452 First Time Guests in the past 10 Weeks! Inviting machines are the people at freedomchurch! Keep it up!

J R say that the secret to 452 first time guests in 10 weeks - over 45 per week - was not a great staff, great preaching, great music or great events (though they have all of those) - no, the secret is THE PEOPLE becoming "inviting machines."

Miracle Delivery

Tonight, my small group study is in chapter nine of Bruce Wilkinson's "You Were Born For This."  It's on the "five steps of delivering a miracle."  It is very interesting.  On the one hand it seems 'out there' that I could be involved in delivering a miracle and yet on the other he presents in a natural way.  Natural and supernatural meet!

We have all come to conviction that God is more interested in delivering miracles that we are in being involved in delivering them!  But think about it - a miracle is essentially God meeting a human need.  How many people do not have a need?  So, the opportunity for miracles is all around us every day!

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. - 1 Cor 4:20

Maybe the church would be gaining instead of losing 'market share' in America if we Christians would talk less and live by God's power more.  There's nothing like a miracle or two to get people's attention!

No New Thing

We are doing a verse-by-verse study of Paul's letter to the Philippians on Sunday mornings at Lifepointe.  There is a lot to learn and apply in this short letter!  I'll give it to Paul, he knew how to pack a lot in a few written words.

Phil 1:7 was our key verse on Sunday - actually just phrase from that verse was the focus of our attention:  "defense and confirmation of the gospel."  We did a word study on 'defend' and 'confirm.'

It turns out that the need to defend the gospel in Paul's day mirrors the need in our own day.  The gospel was challenged from all sides back then:  spiritual, cultural, legal, academic, religious and philosophic.  It's no different today.  The challenges come from the same sources today.

Especially in that, as the President has said, "America is no longer a Christian nation."

For more on how to defend and confirm your faith, listen to the message from 3/21 on the sermons page at www.lifepointeindy.com.

Defend and Confirm

You, your children and your grandchildren live in an increasingly biblically illiterate and gospel ignorant world.  That void is filled with every error and twisted perception of the true and living God.  What are you to do?  Are you equipped to answer skeptical questions about God, the Bible and Christianity?  What ‘proof’ do you have that your faith is real? 

This Sunday, learn how you can be effective in the “defense and confirmation of the gospel” (Phil 1:7) as the Rejoice! message series continues.

Up to Something New

A lady said to me tonight, "God is doing something new at Lifepointe." 

She is right.  And she is not the only one to notice.  Others have made similar statements.

It's like an intangible.  It's an "it."  Whatever "it" is, God is doing it.

As Henry Blackaby has taught, one secret to the satisfying Christian life is "finding where God is at work and joining Him there."

People are sensing that God is at work at Lifepointe Church and joining Him there.

Worship is More

Worship is expressed in more ways than just singing.  In fact, the reason a worship service is called a worship service is because it's all worship!  Singing, praying, hearing and responding to God's Word, giving, ministering to each other and to all generations.

Third Thursday Praise is your chance to express your worship in several ways.  It's just 50 minutes but it's packed full of expressive worship opportunity.

Marcus Hendry will be on keyboards and a friend of his on guitar.  He has a nice music set planned.  But they only play for part of the time.  You can also express your worship through meditation, confession, the Lord's Supper, artistic expression, and outspoken words of thanksgiving.  It's like an MCL of worship expression.  Something for everyone.  Take what you like, leave the rest.

Some fellowship and light snacks follow.

It's low key, casual, easily accessible, self-pacing, non-threatening yet it can be fully engaging.

You have to be there.

With a friend.

C U then. 

The Missional Church

God Story

If you are a Christ-follower, you have a "God Story" that is as unique as your fingerprint.  It's your own story of how Jesus Christ has impacted your life.  It may be the story of when you came to know Him in faith - the day you were saved.  It could be a significant mile-marker on your faith journey.  Maybe it's how you saw God work, "right before your eyes" in a way that could only be Him.  It could have to do with a relationship, a job, an illness, a healing.  Whatever its content, you have a God Story.

Your God Story is your faith conversation starter.  It's your calling card when it comes to faith related discussions.  It's your unique contribution.  Because it happened to you, there is nothing to memorize.  It's not canned.  It's not rehearsed.  It's just an authentic story of God at work in your life.

Why not take some time in the next few days to think about your God Story.  What are the elements in your story with which everyone can identify?  Many times those are emotions - fear, doubt, uncertainty, sadness, joy, surprise, happiness.  How is it a God Story?  Identify elements of faith, prayer, scripture, church, or Christian relationships that played a part in your story.  Try to boil your God Story down to just a handful of sentences - just the essence.  You can always expand it if you have time but start with something that you can communicate in a minute.  I call it the "elevator" version.

Here's my hunch:  if you have your God Story ready to tell, God will give you chances to tell it!

Then you'll have more stories to tell!

The Best Sunday Yet

Do you think that this Sunday will be the greatest Sunday in the history of Lifepointe Church?

Do you think that the answer is dependent upon the song selection?

Do you think that the answer is dependent upon the preaching?

Do you think that the answer is dependent upon your own attitude and participation?

Personally, I think that the music and the preaching are big factors - but not the biggest.

What do you think?

You can give your thoughts by clicking comment below.

Expect God

Last night a person commented about last Sunday at Lifepointe saying, "the room was full of the Holy Spirit!"  It true.  In fact, the last few weeks at Lifepointe I have sensed a new season arriving - a fresh wind of His Spirit among us.

One reason for the sense of His presence last weekend, I believe, is that there were many people there who had been at the Deeper Walk Conference the week before and were full of faith and fresh vision for the work of God in our hearts.  They brought faith and expectancy into the room!

Much of what happens in any church on Sunday morning is dependent upon the congregation.  Most people think it depends on the music and the preaching.  Not so.  Jesus doesn't do miracles where the people are in unbelief (Matt 18:58).  Let me say it another way.  There are some churches where nothing would happen even if Jesus himself gave the sermon!

A good way to think of "faith" is "expectancy."  Faith can be a nebulous word.  So think "expectancy."  One dimension of faith is that you expect God.  You expect Him to answer prayer.  You expect Him to speak to you though the Bible.  You expect His Spirit to guide you into truth.  You expect Him to meet you in worship.  You expect that God will save, restore and renew people.

Do you expect God?

If so, you bring that expectancy into whatever room whatever relationship, whatever circumstance that you enter.

So, expect God today!  (This Sunday, too!)

Exciting Sunday Coming Up

This Sunday, March 7, is a 'don't miss' Sunday for sure.   In fact, it's a bring a friend Sunday.

9:30 AM -- Pastor Woody teaching on "Forgiving from the Heart."  This is one of the most important and freeing teachings in the entire scripture!  It is the golden key to freedom from bondage to hurts from your past.  Almost all emotional healing involves this essential step.

11:00 AM -- Dr. Karl Payne, pastor of Youth Ministries and Leadership at Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, WA, and chaplain to the Seattle Seahawks professional football team, is speaking at the 11 AM worship service.

Bring a friend and share the blessing of what God is doing at Lifepointe!

Henry Blackaby and more

You are invited to grow in your faith and ministry practice by attending the Deeper Walk Conference this Thursday - Saturday, March 4-6 at Marriott East Conference Center in Indianapolis.  At the conference, you can learn from:

Henry Blackaby - the author Experiencing God
Edwin Lutzer - the Pastor of Moody Memorial Church
Neil Anderson - founder of Freedom in Christ ministries

These internationally known leaders and many more are presenting this week at Deeper Walk Conference.

Check out all of the details at www.deeperwalkinternational.org