Together We're Better - Part 5

In preparation of new small groups beginning next week at the Celebration, this week, we are looking at five reasons why you need to be in a small group.

• I need others to walk with me to help me grow spiritually.
• I need others to work with me to help me serve Him.
• I need others to watch out for me.
• I need others to weep with me.
• I NEED TO MAKE WILLING SACRIFICES FOR OTHERS.

Did you notice the shift from what we need from others to what we need to do for others?

A sign of spiritual maturity is a willingness to sacrifice our own convenience for the greater good.

When I ask people why they are not involved in a small group they often say that they don’t have time. What a selfish response.  Being a part of a small group allows you the opportunity to walk with others in need, to work at serving others, to watch out for others weeping with them if necessary.

God may be calling you to be a part of a small group not for what you can get out of it, but rather what you can give to it.

Click here to find a group!

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

THIS SUNDAY 5^TH SUNDAY

Baby Dedications, Adult Baptisms, New Member Recognition,

RSVP by emailing ericka@celebratejesus.org

Bring some non-perishable food items to stock C3’s food pantry

Together We're Better - Part 4

As new small groups begin next week at the Celebration, this week in this blog   we are looking at five reasons why you need to be in a small group.   

• I need others to walk with me to help me grow spiritually.  
• I need others to work with me to help me serve Him. 
• I need others to watch out for me.  
• I need others to weep with me 

We all need people who are going to be there in the inevitable crises of life. As your pastor, I feel this one deeply because I see it all the time in our church.  There are many situations in life that no one should ever have to go through alone. Nobody should ever have to sit alone in a hospital, waiting during a life or death surgery. No woman should have to be alone while she’s waiting for a lab test from a problem pregnancy. No man or woman should ever have to spend the first night alone when his wife dies or her husband dies or when a wife or a husband has walked out. I could go on and on and on.  We were not meant to face the crises of life alone.

God’s word says that His plan is for you to surround yourself with a group of believers who are committed to you.  The Bible says “You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other.”1 Peter 3:8.

If you ever go to the hospital, you don’t need or want the whole church to visit you. But it would be nice to have a few folks visit you, and to say, “We’re praying for you.  We’re going to be here for you.”  That is the benefit of a small group and I can’t begin to tell you how much small groups taking care of each other has lessened my load over the years. You need to be a part of a small group. If you are not yet a part of a small group click on the link below and connect with a group that might turn into life long friends.

Click here to find a group!

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Together We're Better - Part 3

As we begin a New Year’s emphasis on starting new small groups we are looking at five reasons why you need to be in a small group.

• I need others to walk with me to help me grow spiritually.
• I need others to work with me to help me serve Him.
• I need others to watch out for me.

We all need people in our lives who will defend, protect, and will stand up for me when I need somebody to help me stay on track. Philippians 2:4 says “Look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.” Now that’s a countercultural statement because in America, the mindset is “It’s all about me. It’s all about my needs, my interests, my hurts", and yet the Bible says, “Look out for one another’s interests”.

Satan who is real wants to hurt God. But he can’t hurt God. God can’t be hurt. So what does he try to do? Hurt God’s children. If you couldn’t hurt me, what would you do? You’d go after my wife or my kids. And so, Satan can’t hurt God, so what does he do? He tries to destroy God’s children.

How does the devil try to destroy your life? Habits, you can’t break. Hurts, you can’t forgive and let go of. Hang-ups you can’t change. Problems, circumstances, relationships that mess up your life. And most of the time, we’re defeated because we try to fight it on our own. And you’re never going to beat the devil on your own. We need other people in our lives who are watching out for us. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” That’s why you need a small group to watch out for you.

Here’s a great part about the new small groups that are starting next week at C3; they are 12 weeks in length so if for some reason the group you chose isn’t a good fit, there is a convenient time to exit. New small groups are starting this week I encourage EVERYONE to sign up for a short term small group.

Click here to find a group!

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Together We're Better - Part 2

* I need others to walk with me to help me grow spiritually.
* I need others to work with me to help me serve Him.

Do you know that the Bible says God put you on earth to do some certain things for Him? And you need other people to help you accomplish those things. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:10, “God made us to do good works, which he planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” God even tells us why we need others to work with us. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says “Two people are better than one because they get more done by working together.” You know that’s true. You always get more done by working with other people. My mother Lorraine used to say, “Many hands make light work” What a wise woman she was.

Have you ever seen the movie the movie “Witness“ where the Amish community build a barn in one day? The whole community turns out together to accomplish a unified goal. Everybody does a little bit and the project is complete in record time.

This is one of the reasons why it is important to be a part of a small group.

Saved people serve people and serving together is way more fun.

Do you know what the biggest obstacle to seeking out help from others is? Our pride. Get over it and realize you were never made to handle stuff alone. That is why God gave us one another. This is why I like to say “We’re better together”

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Click here to find a group!

New small groups are starting this week I encourage EVERYONE to sign up for a short term small group

Together We're Better

“Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other and each of us needs all the others.” Romans 12:5

Christians were created to live in community together.   God wired all of us in such a way that we can only fulfill his purposes for our lives in the context of a community of believers.

In this blog this week we will look at five reasons why you need a church family, and more than that, five reasons why you need to be in a small group with a few other friends who you get to know on a deeper level than just casual acquaintance.  

As a believer:

I need others to walk with me to help me grow spiritually.  The Bible says in “Just as you receive Christ Jesus the Lord…so walk in him.” Colossians 2:6- 7 ESV

The Bible often calls your spiritual life, your walk but one of the important things is that God never intended for you to walk through life alone.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two people are better than one because they get more done by working together.”

We’re better together,

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

New Small Groups are forming contact alicia@celebratejesus.org

Connect With a Church Family

The beginning of the New Year is a great time for us to make new commitments. To give up unhealthy addictions, to take on new healthier lifestyle choices regarding our physical, emotional and spiritual lives. I would like to invite you to join myself and Pastor Brant this Sunday  January 24th at 1am for Celebration Community Church’s “Connection Class”. While becoming a Christian means committing yourself to Christ, it also means committing yourself to a body of believers with whom we can practice the 47 “one-another's” we find in the New Testament directed to the church. (Love one another, serve one another, pray for one another…etc) The Apostle Paul mentions two different types of commitment in 2 Corinthians 8:5 "First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God's will, they gave themselves to us as well" (GN). Think about that. We are to give ourselves to one another after we give ourselves to the Lord. Now THAT is what a church is all about. C3’s Connections Class, is a basic introduction to our church and is designed to clearly explain what our church is all about and how you can connect, grow, serve, and share, all in the context of this fellowship we think of as the C3 family. Connections is being offered THIS SUNDAY January 24th from 1pm – 2:30pm (approx) in the Pond Children’s Area. Lunch is served and child care is provided upon request. Please RSVP TODAY on the  C3 Hays app on your smartphone at https://celebration.ccbchurch.com/form_response.php?id=32  or call the church office at 625-LIVE. When it comes to church membership you were not created to be a spectator sitting in the stands or watching the game on T.V. but rather a pivotal player on the greatest team of all… Christ’s church. Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle



TONIGHT (Friday) 7:05 FREE!

If you have not yet connected with C3 as a member, come THIS SUNDAY AT 1pm. Lunch will be served and child care with be provided if you RSVP.

https://celebration.ccbchurch.com/form_response.php?id=32

God Uses Everything In Your Life To Bring About His Purposes.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

When you read this verse do you believe it? Does all things include the bad things?   Does all things include the things that you wished had never happened? Yes!

And we know that in ALL things God works together for good...For everybody? No! He works in all things to bring about good to those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose.

If you are in Christ Jesus, you are the masterpiece created for the Master's purpose. I hope you can realize that He is the Artist and that you are His masterpiece.  He is the Potter, you are the clay, and He's forming you using all things to bring about His purpose.  

Before I knew Christ, I lived for myself, selfishly seeking out things for my own profit and pleasure. Since then I have heard people ask me, "Do you ever regret that season of your life?"

I wouldn't want anyone to go through what I went through and I wouldn't want to go through it again but I don't regret it because God used it to make me into the masterpiece that I am today. He even used all the bad stuff I did so that when I preach against sin, it's because I've lived in sin and it's because I know how destructive it is. When I tell you that Christ can change someone, it's because I was brought from darkness to light in a moment

I know what it's like to go from being selfish and lustful and sinful and arrogant and prideful, to being transformed into a servant of God. I know the transformative power of the Lord Jesus Christ. When I tell you about it, it's because I know it firsthand. I don't regret the darkness, because it makes the light so much brighter!

When you are going through difficult times know that God can use those times to bring about the good if you love him and recognize his purpose in your life.

You pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle



THIS FRIDAY 7:05 FREE!

If you have not yet connected with C3 as a member, come THIS SUNDAY AT 1pm. Lunch will be served and child care with be provided if you RSVP.

https://celebration.ccbchurch.com/form_response.php?id=32

Born With A Purpose

In the Book of Ephesians, God’s word tell us that we are God’s handiwork, His masterpiece, a beautiful poem or tapestry created to give glory to God through good works God created for us. As God's masterpiece, you are created for the Master's purpose. As God's masterpiece, you exist to bring glory to Him. Psalm 139:13 says:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16

You are the masterpiece created in Christ Jesus to do good things which God prepared in advance before you were even born.   

David says, all the days ordained for me were written in God’s Book of Life before I was even born.   

You are the masterpiece of God, created to serve the Master's purpose. And this is what's so powerful to me. In all of history, in all the span of time, God decided that this little slice; this seventy years, or eighty years, or ninety years, whatever you have on earth, God decided that in this moment in history, you would serve Him best.

There was no better time for you then to take your gifts, your talents, your skills, your personality, your make-up and figure out how to best serve the Master with them and bring glory to Him.

The problem though for so many people is they don't believe they are a masterpiece.  But when you believe you are, really believe that, then you will know who you are, and then you will know what to do.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

THIS FRIDAY 7:05 FREE!

If you have not yet connected with C3 as a member, come THIS SUNDAY AT 1pm. Lunch will be served and child care with be provided if you RSVP. rsvp@celebratejesus.org

GOD DON'T MAKE NO JUNK

Over the years I've seen this bumper sticker on several cars.   

GOD DON'T MAKE NO JUNK

You have to pronounce it that way too, not the grammatically correct, God doesn’t make any junk. ☺  What’s funny about this is that every time I've seen that bumper sticker, it's always been on a junky car! ☺   

The statement is true though; when you're in Christ you need to understand, God don't make no junk! You are the workmanship of God Almighty, His  masterpiece created for the Master's purpose.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

You are the Master's creation, In fact, the Greek word that is translated as "masterpiece"  is the word "poiema" and here it can be translated as a beautiful poem. That's what your life should be, a poetic statement of the glory of God. In Christ, you are the perfect workmanship of God. It also can be translated as "tapestry". In other words, all of these different threads intricately woven, coming together to create this beautiful picture. You are, with Christ, a poetic statement, a beautiful tapestry, the perfect workmanship of God, His masterpiece.  Believe it!

Tomorrow we see that as God's masterpiece, how we are created for the Master's purpose.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

REVEREND Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Following in the footsteps of his father, in February 1948, at the age of 19, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. entered the Christian ministry and was ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In 1954, upon completion of graduate studies at Boston University, he accepted a call to serve at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. From 1960 until his death in 1968, he also served as co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church. As a nonviolent protester Dr. King was arrested 30 times for his participation in civil rights activities.

During one of his incarcerations he wrote a letter to a group of white clergy who were generally supportive of the movement, but thought King was moving too fast. His response came to be known as the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”.

It was in this letter that he wrote:

“In deep disappointment, I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. Yes, I love the church; I love her sacred walls. How could I do otherwise? I am in the rather unique position of being the son, the grandson, and the great grandson of preachers. Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ. But oh! how we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and fear of being non-conformists.”

My prayer for us all this day, the only National holiday dedicated to a church pastor, is that we do not add any more scars to the body of Christ. My prayer for us this day is that we do whatever we can to heal the scars that are already there. My prayer today is that we work hard to personalize King’s dream of equality for all that has been blemished by our personal prejudices. My prayer is that we, Christ’s Church conform not to the pattern of this world but learn to truly live out what King’s Savior, Jesus Christ commanded us to do:

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…  'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." “Mark 12:30

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

You Are Christ’s Ambassadors Part 2

A United States ambassador to a foreign country is the direct representative of the president. Whenever this person interacts with people, his words and actions directly reflect those of the president. Similarly, the apostle Paul reminds us that we are to be Christ’s ambassadors: “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’”  2 Corinthians 5:19-20. This is an awesome privilege and a big responsibility. Whenever we interact with our neighbors, co-workers, family members and even strangers, we need to remember our words and actions represent Jesus Christ. How do we know what Jesus would say or do? Start with reading the Bible, especially the Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). The more time we spend learning about Jesus, the better prepared we’ll be to represent Him. Then spend time in prayer getting to know Him personally by recognizing His still small voice speaking to us through His Holy Spirit. There is NOTHING more important you can do with your life than to recognize and live out your responsibility as Christ’s Ambassador. Your pastor and partner in ministry, Kyle

What is going to be yours?

This Saturday 7:30am

WELLNESS FAIR THIS SATURDAY

9am-12noon At Big Creek Crossing

You are Christ’s Ambassador

We are therefore Christ's Ambassadors as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20   

If you are a Christian, the Bible says you are Christ’s ambassador. An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat sent as a representative from one country to another.  

For example, if I became the Ambassador from the United States to Armenia (my ancestor’s nation of origin), Armenia would not be my home, but I would be the highest ranking diplomat sent to represent my home government to that country.  The same is true for you. The Bible says that you are an alien here, this isn't your home. If you're a Christian understand who are you; you are a citizen of heaven, an alien to this planet but one who is sent to represent the King who sent you. You represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords as His ambassador.  

Tomorrow in this blog we will explore the implications of being an ambassador for Christ.  

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Reconciled

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that as Christians we have been reconciled to God. Now, what does reconciliation mean? It's just a big word, that in this context in the Greek language, means to restore to the divine. It means to help people be made right with God. It's to take that which is broken, as we are separated from God by our sin, and to help others know who Christ is so they can be whole and made right with God.

Because we have been reconciled we have the privilege and responsibility of encouraging others to do the same.  

Paul tells us that God has committed to us to this message of reconciliation.

If you're a Christian, sharing this Good News is your message, your calling, your ministry.  He's committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Tomorrow we will look at what he means when he calls us ambassadors.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

You Are A New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! 2nd Corinthians 5:17

if you are a Christian, if you've turned from your sins and met the risen Christ, you're a new creation. All new creations have new purposes. The old, the filth, the junk, the sin, the guilt, the shame is gone. All of your sins have been forgiven, you're a new creation. The problem is, many Christians don't understand who they really are as a new creation. It's like a caterpillar that becomes a new creation, the butterfly. Now imagine if the butterfly continues to crawl around in the dirt like a little caterpillar? That's what some Christians do because they don't understand who they have become in Christ. You are a new creation, the old life is gone a new life has begun.

The Apostle Paul also tells us something amazing in 2 Corinthians 5:19. He says, God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. This means if you're a Christian, you're given this message of reconciliation to share with others.  God has committed to you the message; it's your message, it's your calling, it's your ministry, He's committed to you the message of reconciliation.

What does reconciliation mean?  It means to help people be made right with God. To take that which is broken, as we are separated from God by our sin, and to help others know who Christ is so they can be whole and made right with God. God brings us back to himself (reconciles us) by blotting out our sins and making us right with him. When we trust in Christ, we are no longer God's enemies, or strangers or foreigners to him.

God has committed to you this message of reconciliation. Because we have been reconciled to God, we have the privilege and responsibility  of encouraging others to do the same.  

This is not the work of a caterpillar… So fly butterfly fly. You are a new creation, share that with others.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Who Do You Think You Are? Part 1

When you were a kid and an adult would ask you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, what did you answer? A fireman?  A nurse? The first baseman for the Chicago Cubs? (That’s what I would answer). None of those really answered the question correctly. The question was NOT what profession am I going to DO? How would you answer the question, “Who are you going to BE?” We are human beings, not human doings.

Appropriate answers may be; I’m going to BE … Honest… Faithful… Responsible... Charitable… Being precedes doing. Who we are will determine what we do.

Here is a statement I have heard recently that resonates in my heart.

“When you know who you are, you'll know what to do.”

There are so many Christians, who don't really know who they are in Christ. And because they don't know who they are, they often don't know what to do.

In this blog we will be looking at who the Bible says you are and then what we are to do.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

Choose Your Scripture Verse of the Year

For nearly 20 years we at Celebration Community Church have started the New Year by choosing a scripture verse of the year believing that the Bible is the foundation upon which we build our lives.  A couple of years ago I chose as my verse 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (NLT)

As you think this week about choosing your scripture verse of the year remember:

1. “All scripture is inspired (God breathed)   

2. All scripture is useful to teach us what is right and wrong.  

3. All scripture prepares and equips us to do God’s will.

God wants us to put into practice what we learn. He gives us a message to not just to listen but to obey.  

The Bible is an intensely practical book. It tells us what to do, and it tells us how to do it.  It prepares and equips  us. It contains God's practical plan on how to build a successful life, on how to build a family that God can bless, how to be happy, how to live a life of significance. All of the messages that Pastor Brant and I are deliver are basically "how to" messages. Why? Because the goal of the Bible isn't to make us more knowledgeable. As  2 Timothy 3:17 says "It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do."

As you choose your Scripture Verse of the Year pick one that will equip you for what God wants you to do.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle


Couples, come to UNITE Marriage Ministry’s "Date Night" at Celebration Community Church TONIGHT from 7-9pm