Chip Wheeler.com

Enjoy The Journey

Another great day yesterday. We dove into part 3 of “Finding Purpose” and investigated how to understand God’s plan for our lives. Matthew 7:7-11 was our focus text, and we walked through the meaning of what it means to “ask….seek….knock.” The entire theme was simply “Persistent Prayer Pays Off.” Here are a few thoughts:

1) Keep On Asking – come to Christ in humility, frequently and knowing that He loves us. Asking doesn’t mean that we just come to Him with the big stuff, but with the little stuff as well. God calls us to frequently ask Him.

2) Keep On Seeking – this takes effort, application of God’s word and perseverance. We just don’t seek God in times of confusion, but all times.

3) Keep On Knocking – we can be assured that the good gifts come from God (James 1:17) and the Holy Spirit guides us as we knock.

4) Beware: of counterfeits and compromises. So many times we want an answer to prayer so bad that we compromise or accept counterfeits – listen to God.

5) Finally – Thomas Dean – one of our children’s interns completed his internship yesterday. He is headed back to North Georgia College to continue to pursue his education. Thomas has done an outstanding job and I am thankful for his involvement in our Kid’s Connection. Send him a shout out of Facebook and tell him how much we appreciate him.

Have a great week!

This morning during my time alone with God I was reading Mark 1:1-8 and I was overcome with the message that John the Baptist brought to the people of Israel. He was a radical Christ following world changer who was willing to step out and serve. Here are five things that he teaches us about our church about serving our community:

1) Call people to repentance. A big Biblical word, but one that we must embrace and practice if we are to know Jesus (and for other people to know Jesus as well).

2) Communicate Grace! There is a forgiveness found in Christ – we have a new identity, a reason to live – and our community needs to embrace that truth.

3) Commit to doing the thing that is unusual in our methodology – as long as it is holy.What are those things that we must do in order to connect with the lost – things that are not typical for a church – things that will communicate grace and truth? We don’t need more events, Bible studies or devotional guides – we need the church to not be defined by walls, but by its people engaging others in a Christ-loving way.

4) Commit to developing strategy that is unusual. When we think about the “what we need to do” – we must also think about “how do we do it.” Be ok with embracing those who are farthest from the Truth – and be ok with doing it in a way that is unusual.

5) Always point to Jesus. Always point to Jesus. Always point to Jesus. Its never about us – always about Him.

God is moving – get out there and bring truth and people together!!!

Awesome day at River Hills! I am digging the new teaching series and pumped about all the new small groups. We had a busy day yesterday – student ministry kick-off for the fall, “What Next?”, volunteer training, worship, Launch, and small groups – thank you for all of you who stayed late to serve!

Here are a few thoughts from yesterday:

1) God has created us for peace. The crazy thing about peace is that He initiates peace with humanity and provides it through the cross. In Jesus – there is no hostility or confusion.

2) To experience peace we have to work through “repentance.” Knowing Jesus means that we have to turn from ourselves and sins – and look to Him. Growing in Christ means that we will have to make repentance a habitual activity.

3) Are we more like Christ than we were yesterday? Growing in Jesus helps us not only negotiate rough waters, but experience peace during stormy seas. Are we being radical in our relationship with Christ? Are we developing spiritual discipline?

4) Go where God sends you. Being in the middle of where God wants you to be is the most peaceful place on earth.

5) Keep calm, Carry on!

Our small groups are rocking out – I am so proud of our people and those who are leading. Almost 100% of our adults are in a small group – that is awesome!

God is doing some great things in our church – but make sure that we are expressing peace by serving those around us with no strings attached. Have a great week!

Each Sunday is always “bigger” than the last. There may not be a special emphasis, guest speaker, push to get new people in the church – what have you, but when we look at why Sunday was created, and who we are there for – each Sunday gets bigger and bigger.

Here are a few reasons why each week is bigger than the last.

1) Jesus is that much closer to returning. This is HUGE – because to believe in Christ, to apply and acknowledge His word – we have to expect and wait patiently on His return. With the expectation of our Homecoming – we are anxiously awaiting on Jesus to return – drawing closer to His appointed time.

2) If your church is being true to the Great Commission – there should be new faces in the crowd – those we welcome into the family because they are new to Christ, or those who are trying to find out more about Jesus. Either – way – just as we get excited about a  new baby, adoption, or marriage – we should get even more excited about the new face and the new creation in Christ.

3) Sunday is an opportunity to take a next step in the process of Sanctification (growing in your relationship with Christ). To be renewed, refreshed and refined – is a great thing. As we grow in our relationship with Christ – each Sunday is not only an opportunity to celebrate that growth, but a place to grow even more.

4) The word of God is exposed. God’s purpose for His church is to express and explain truth. Recognizing the Bible is God’s word – and we are molded together into the body of Christ – what an incredible opportunity to come together and hear and study what God says.

5) A place to rub shoulders with other believers. The Bible is clear that we are to sharpen one another – Sundays are a big part of that.

Finally…

6) God is the center of our lives – Sunday is a great opportunity to become increasingly more Christo-centric – a place to taste the sweetness of repentance.

Sunday is big – and it is always a great day at River Hills Church. Why? Because Christ died – rose from the dead – and we now have hope.

I get made fun of – a lot – for many things. One of those areas of amusement for others is that every week I say “its going to be a great Sunday” – and after church I say “It was a great day at River Hills.” I truly believe that. Each Sunday is bigger and better than the one before – having this mindset is not only a source of encouragement for me, but also a personal recognition that God is doing great things.

For many, it is difficult to come “expecting” God to do great things, and when we don’t “feel” as if God has done something, or the music was too loud – or the sermon was boring – or it was too hot, too cold….you get the picture – we don’t think that it was a very good Sunday. The problem that many of us have is that we judge Godly action/involvement with human standards. All of us must work hard to prevent this perspective from settling in – when we don’t – here is what happens:

- We buy into bad Theology. Instead of being Christo-centric – we become ego-centric in our relationship with Christ. This is very subtle, but we begin to interpret Scripture based on what is comfortable rather than what is true. We begin to buy into things like “health/wealth”, “name it claim it”, “Dispensational Premillennialism”, “Let go and let God”, and “God will never give us more than we can handle.” Every Sunday is great because we celebrate that Christ is the only hope.

- We become consumers, rather than Christ-like. The more polished the worship team, the more programs, the more glitz, the bigger buildings must mean that we are experiencing God – right? Encountering God’s holiness and expressing His redemption – is of far greater value in spiritual growth.

- We lost sight that Jesus is coming back. The Bible is clear on two important truths: 1) Remember what God has done, 2) Be prepared for the return of Christ. Christ has saved – and each week we look forward to being with Him – this Sunday is bigger than the last.

- We lose focus on reaching those don’t know Jesus. The last thing a seeker wants to hear on Sunday morning is “you should have been here two weeks ago – then you would have really experienced God.” There are new lost people (or at least there should) coming into churches each week – this is a big deal! Show them the Jesus that renews our hope every morning, sustains our lives every minute, and forgives our sins every moment.

Sunday is big – and the next Sunday will be even bigger…in part 2 we’ll deal with why each Sunday is bigger than the last.

Answer these three questions:

1) Have you ever waited more than an hour for a doctors appointment?

2) Can you shuffle from side to side with turtle like speed?

3) Can you identify EXIT signs?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you qualify. Qualify for what you might ask? You are qualified to work in our kid’s connection and nursery ministries.

I know what you’re thinking:

- I already serve in those areas of ministry (this blog is not for you)

- I don’t want to miss a worship service.

- I just don’t like working with kids.

I can relate to almost all of those thoughts, but we are the product of our own success at River Hills: we are growing – and growth means that our kids ministry has more opportunities for service. Our desire is to only have people serve ever six (6) weeks – but because we need more volunteers, people are serving every 3-4 weeks, and this can become draining.

So here is what I’m asking you to do: volunteer. I know, I know – spending an hour with 20 preschoolers is no one’s idea of a great Sunday morning, but the flip side of that thought is that you get to serve them and teach them about Jesus.

I’m praying for THE TOP TEN! We need Ten hero’s who do not currently serve in our kids ministry to volunteer. Ten people – male or female – but all with a willing heart and an understanding that our children need us – they need to hear the gospel, and they deserve an opportunity to have others “bring truth and people together.”

Please let us know ASAP if you’re willing to serve by responding to this e-mail or e-mailing our volunteer coordinator Sandra Williamson at sandra@churchatriverhills.com.

Be a hero – be in the TOP TEN!!!!

Great day at River Hills yesterday – had a blast doing “Q and A” with my buddy and executive pastor Spencer Breedlove. We took your questions and did our best to answer them in a relaxed format. Because we talked so much – we didn’t cover all of our questions, but over the next week – we’re going to have answers to the questions that we didn’t discuss (and those we did discuss as well).

Please check out Spencer’s blog at http://blog.spencerbreedlove.com – and he’ll have a list of his questions as well.

Instead of reflecting on yesterday – I want to spend some time discussing our August 8 worship service:

School starts back next Monday – and in light of that special day and the ending of summer vacations, we’re inviting 20,000 people to our August teaching series “Finding Purpose.” We’ve challenged everyone on our church to give $10 each to help send out the mailers, but we’re also calling everyone to invite 5 people to the August 8 worship service. This is going to be a very applicable and enlightening teaching series that will help everyone understand “why on earth are we here?”

Please begin to pray now for August 8 – and for the five people in your life that need to hear this teaching series. Have a great day!

There are people in our lives that we can point to and say “they made a difference.” For many of us, the difference that they made was extraordinary – for others it was a moment of encouragement or correction. Whatever the case – mentors are important – and we need more of them.

The mission of our church (which combines the Great Commandment and the Great Commission) is to “bring truth and people together.” One way to do that is to become a mentor. Every school in Barrow County needs mentors to meet with a student several times a month. I’ve had the opportunity to this – and it is an incredible way to impact the life a child and to “bring truth and people together.”

I want to encourage you to pray about being a mentor. If you’re interested – please e-mail me at riverhills@churchatriverhills.com. We will help you find the school that is right for you.

What an incredible Sunday! Our current teaching series “Q and A” has been tough to talk through – but a very important issue(s). I’m very excited about this Sunday as we tackle some of your tough questions. Please let us know if you have a “tough” questions by e-mailing us at questions@churchatriverhills.com. We’re going to do our best to address each of your questions – and they will be kept anonymous.

Since I got back from Peru – life has been a mixed with fatigue and excitement. Honestly I can feel my age a bit more because of all the traveling I’ve done in the last few weeks, but I’m excited about what is happening in the life of our church. Currently we’re working on our missions strategy for 2010-2011. It is our intention to make permanent relationships with the same people overseas – so we’re prayerfully working toward going back to Arequipa. We’re also working on potential trips to Romania, New Orleans and Africa. Our plan is to offer at least one trip stateside and two trips internationally. Begin to pray now about how God might use you.

This week was incredible – here are a few thoughts…

1) “Give and Go” is going great. We are over halfway to our goal – we will be sending out the mailers next week – hopefully 30,000. Also – don’t forget to invite five people to our August 7 worship service.

2) We baptized yesterday – always a joy – awesome!!!

3) We walked through “Godly Grief” – tough talk, but we can’t forget the main point: There is a hope that heals. The question for us is simple – are we willing to grieve?

4) Christ was willing to grieve – are we?

5) Psalm 42 gives us a great outline on how to grieve – sermons should be posted by the end of the week.

Cannot wait until Sunday – it is going to rock out. Also – please get involved in a small group – they are coming up soon! Have a great week.

Yesterday was an amazing Sunday! The summer crowd is beginning to come back to church, and we heard some amazing stories from our Peru mission team. I’m super pumped about our church – and the desire that many of our folks are having to go on a mission trip. What is most intriguing is that many folks started to the “Give and Go’”challenge – and that was awesome.

If you missed yesterday – here are some highlights:

1) Our Peru mission team rocked. Special thanks to all of those who shared about their experience. Please pray for us as we begin to plan for our 2010-2011 mission trips.

2) Started “Q and A” yesterday! Tackled a huge topic “Why do bad things happen to good people.” We learned from Luke 13:1-5 that there is no such thing as a “good” person and because we live in a “fallen” world – bad things will happen. Ultimately Christ conquers all of this and brings hope to us all. Make sure to be there this Sunday as we deal with “Godly grief.”

3) “Give and Go” started this week. We want to invite 20,000 – 30,000 people to our August sermon series (Finding Purpose) – which will cost about $2500. We’re challenging people to give $10-$50 so that we can spread the word through direct mailers and invite five (5) friends to our August 7 worship service.

4) Thanks so much for coming to our church wide cookout – it was a blast. I’ve never been to a church cookout where the “Black-eyed Peas” were a group not a food, and line dancing was an activity not a put down! Our church rocks – it was awesome! Sarah Beth and I loved having you all at our home.

Great things are happening at our church – it is awesome! Please continue to give, go and grow – have a great week!