Not a sermon…just a thought
The Miracle Grow series continued this past Sunday at EPIC Church with a message entitled Growing Faith from Matthew 14:22-33 (click here to listen to the message). The following is an excerpt from Growing Faith.
“These guys are afraid. It’s the middle of the night between 3am and 6am. It’s dark and the disciples are afraid. Why? What are they afraid of? Water. The wind is creating waves that are crashing against the boat. These expert fisherman are afraid of water. And what was Jesus walking on? Water! I believe Jesus was demonstrating his power over their fears. And Jesus is still greater than any fears we may have. That’s why we can release present fears.”
Not a sermon…just a thought!
(listen to Growing Faith or another message from the Miracle Grow series by clicking here)
Not a sermon…just a thought
What we want God to do for us, He often wants to do through us.
Mark 6:30-44 records the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. The miraculous feeding is recorded in all four Gospels. This past weekend I shared a message entitled When a Little Becomes a Lot from the Miracle Grow series (to listen to the message click here). Here’s a thought from the sermon.
Jesus could have done this miracle without the disciples and without the little boy. He could have just rained manna. He could have fed everybody instantly. But He didn’t. He waited for the disciples to get concerned, and He waited until a little boy came forward and said, “Here’s what I’ve got, Lord. It isn’t much but here’s what I’ve got.”
Why? Because God likes to do miracles through people. When it comes to miracles, He likes to use people. It blesses them by being an instrument of a miracle. He didn’t need the little boy’s lunch. He didn’t need the disciples to point out the problem or to pass out the baskets. He chose to do it because God uses people. Men are God’s method.
So remember this truth: What we want God to do for us, He often wants to do through us.
Not a sermon…just a thought!
Giving THANKS
Today is Thanksgiving and I want to give THANKS for the following:
- T – Truth (God’s Word)
- H – Help (God’s Hand)
- A – Assurance (God’s Promises)
- N – Name (God’s Character)
- K – Knowledge (God’s Wisdom)
- S – Salvation (God’s Son)
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?
Not a sermon…just a thought
God never promised us a storm-free life!
Everyone one faces storms in life.
Storms can be relational, situational or emotional.
Storms are inevitable, unpredictable and impartial.
In Matthew 8:23-27 there are two reactions to a furious storm:
- The disciples are filled with panic.
- Jesus is filled with peace.
Jesus calms the storm and the disciples make it through. So how do you make it through the storm?
The answer is in the message entitled SINGING IN THE RAIN. You can listen to it here.
In the meantime, remember this: God never promised you a storm-free life!
Not a sermon…just a thought!
Not a sermon…just a thought
Do you dwell in a tent or a stronghold?
This past Sunday I preached the second message in the Miracle Grow series entitled Grasshoppers & Giants from Numbers 13-14. You can listen to the message here. The following thought was not shared in the message, but I think it will challenge fellow ministers who read this blog and help the church to understand the significance of spiritual strongholds.
In Numbers 13 Moses sent out twelve spies and gave them specific instructions including this paraphrase, “…see whether they dwell in tents or strongholds.” That specific phrase sparked a thought in my mind regarding ministry that has consumed me for the last couple of days. I’ve asked myself this question and now let me ask you: Do you dwell in a tent or a stronghold?
What’s the difference in dwelling in a tent versus a stronghold?
1. Tents are portable; strongholds are permanent.
2. Tents are easier to put up; strongholds take much more time to build.
3. Tents provide partial shelter; strongholds provide complete safety.
4. Tents can be easily destroyed; strongholds are created to endure.
I think one of the biggest problems I see with many ministers is they have become tent dwellers. Tent dwellers don’t stay in a place long enough to see long-term results. As my friend Herbert Cooper says, “We over-estimate what we can do in the short-term and under-estimate what God can do in the long-term.”
Here’s an example. The reason that the enemy has such strongholds in our cities is because he’s never left. Satan has built strongholds and continued to wreak havoc for years on end while many of our churches and ministers have come and gone with the wind. They’ve pitched their tents and moved on while the enemy has built strongholds of fornication, alcoholism, drug addiction, violence, etc.
If we want to bind up the strongman and see lasting results we have to commit to build strongholds for God in our cities. We must dig deep roots and commit ourselves for the long haul. Anyone can put up a tent, but strongholds take time and perseverance. It’s much easier, and cheaper, to pitch a tent rather than building a stronghold day by day and brick by brick.
You see tents provide temporary shelter from the elements but do not serve as a place of complete safety. Our churches and ministries should provide more than temporary shelter. They should be fortresses where the lost and hurting can run and find peace. If you’re on the run and you see a tent on one side and a stronghold on the other which will you choose for safety and security? A stronghold. Exactly! Then why should we expect hurting people to run and dwell in our tents?
Finally, strongholds are made to withstand and endure battles. Ministry is full of battles. The enemy engages us from every side. When you have a tent the only option is to run. When you have a stronghold you can stay and fight. I’m tired of the enemy having the strongholds in our cities. It’s time to plant ourselves, build our strongholds and fight for our cities.
Not a sermon…just a thought!
Not a sermon…just a thought
Jesus never told his disciples how to preach; he told them how to pray.
The previous quote is from this past Sunday’s message at EPIC Church. I concluded the Prison Break series from Philippians chapter four with a message entitled The Keys to Freedom. Philippians 4:9 says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.” Based on the first eight verses of chapter four we should practice the following:
- Practice Peace to live free from Dissension (vs. 2-3).
- Practice Praise to live free from Discouragement (vs. 4).
- Practice Patience to live free from Disappointment (vs. 5-6).
- Practice Prayer to live free from Distress (vs. 6-7).
- Practice Purity to live free from Disobedience (vs. 8).
So practice, practice, practice. Not a sermon…just a thought!
(Click here to listen to the entire message entitled The Keys to Freedom)
Ten Minute Tuesdays
Click here to listen to Ten Minute Tuesdays from the EPIC Blog.
Today’s topic is about the leadership/ministry structure of EPIC Church.
Check it out.
Thoughts on Tithing
The following is an excerpt from a post my friend Mark Batterson wrote on tithing:
We need a paradigm shift. So many people perceive the tithe as an obligation. It’s an opportunity! Yes, Malachi 3 says you are “under a curse” if you are not giving a tenth. But what a promise! God wants to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on you that you cannot contain.
Here are a few principles I shared this weekend:
1) God can do more with 90% than I can do with 100%
2) U cannot out give God
3) 2 be blessed beyond your ability u need to give beyond your ability
4) When u start tithing, your financial problems become God’s problem
5) The tithe keeps money from becoming your master
6) Tithing positions u 4 blessing
7) Tithing = Trusting
To view the full post visit Mark’s blog at www.evotional.com
Thank You EPIC
Vanessa and I want to extend a big thank you to the leadership and membership of EPIC Church. This past Sunday we were overwhelmed on Pastor Appreciation Day. Your wonderful cards and gracious comments were much appreciated. It is a privilege to pastor such a great church.
Thank You EPIC!
Bobby & Vanessa
AG Think Tank
AG Think Tank posted an article I wrote entitled FIRST things FIRST. Click here to check it out.
Bobby’s Bio
Bobby grew up in Independence, Missouri, which is located just outside of Kansas City. He graduated from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri with a BA in Bible/Theology. After graduating from college he married Vanessa and moved to Metro Detroit to plant a church. Bobby and Vanessa spent five years establishing Pontiac Family Worship Center before moving back to Kansas City to start another new church. Bobby launched the Synergy Church Network in 2008. He and Vanessa also started EPIC Church in 2009. In addition to serving as Lead Pastor at EPIC, Bobby’s desire is to plant churches and develop leaders.
Bobby is a passionate Christ follower, a loving husband, a future father, a gifted communicator and a church planting pastor. Bobby has been preaching for the last fourteen years both nationally and internationally. His primary passion is to see people come to Christ. To contact Bobby regarding a speaking engagement or to find out more about EPIC Church or the Synergy Church Network click email me on the right side of the page.
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