Project: Stronghold – Episode 1

One word, SHOWBREAD! The Raw Rock Theology tour came through town a week or so ago. They were amazing, per usual. We got to sit down with the guys after the show and talk about the free tour, the free album, and how they came to come&live records. For more info on them and their tour you can go to www.showbread.net and www.rawrocktour.com Thank you, and may raw rock kill you forever and ever.*

*That last part is a reference to their album; I thought it was clever. -Ian

Project: Stronghold – Episode 0.5

This is our official first release, but just a mini-sode. If you’ve never heard of the stronghold, and have no idea what we do or why you should even listen to this….that’s what this is. Get to know your hosts and what we’re doing in the first place. Hear what God has put on our hearts and what he’s doing with this ministry.

For more info about The Stronghold check out www.thestrongholdvenue.com and we’ll see you at a show.

3-27-11 Blessed Are Those Persecuted For Righteousness

None of us like the word persecution; we generally run from it.  But then Jesus says those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed!  What’s this all about?  Join us in our study of Matthew 5:10-11.

Download the PowerPoint here.

The AWANA Grand Prix

Tonight’s AWANA Grand Prix was a GRAND event!  Check out some photos from our Friday night at the races.

Oh Glorious Day!

I have a soft spot in my heart for hymns.  As a music minister’s kid, I grew up on all kinds of church music (and quite a bit of Barry Manilow and ELO), so this new trend of taking the lyrics from hymns and re-arranging them to new melodies is right up my alley.  I think what I love best about the old hymns are the theological content.  Pound for pound, I think you get more theology out of the old hymns than you do in much of the new music.  That being said, I think that modern worship music creates a relevance and accessibility that is admittedly lacking in the older music.

I guess I don’t much understand the “Worship Wars.”  There should be a place in our worship services for all these songs.  To lose any of them is to lose an important piece of the church.  That’s why I love the reworked hymns so much.  They (and “modern hymns” like “In Christ Alone (My Hope is Found)”) are truly the best of both worlds.  The video below is a song that’s one of my new favorites.  It’s been out for a while, but I just heard it for the first time at a Casting Crowns concert in December.  Awesome!

What’s your favorite worship song?  Sound off in the comments section below.

Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

3-20-11 Blessed Are the Peacemakers

What does a peacemaker look like?  If it’s what I think it is, I’m not so sure I want to be one.  Aren’t they wimps who never defend themselves?  Why does Jesus bless people like that?  Find out as Pastor Mike shares this beatitude from Matthew 5:9.

Download the PowerPoint here.

Mike issued an assignment after this lesson:  “How did God use you to make peace this week?“  Leave us your comments below.

Dynamic Duo Weekly Questions

Week of 1/29:

Q1 – How is your walk with Jesus?

Q2 – How have you reflected Him to others?

Q3 – Moses first resisted God’s call.  Where are the places you tend to resist Him and operate from fear?

Q4 – Read John 8:54-59.  How do Jesus’ comments affect your faith and your view of the message of the Bible?

Week of 1/22:

Q1 – How is your walk with Jesus?

Q2 – How have you reflected Him to others?

Q3 – In what areas of your life do you sense that God wants to shape your character?

Q4 – How might this season of your life be a preparation for things to come?

Week of 1/15:

Q1 – How is your walk with Jesus?

Q2 – How have you reflected Him to others?

Q3 – What negative consequences have you experienced by trying to make (what you thought was) God’s plan happen on your own?

Q4 – How can you let God work through you this week so others see Him in you?

Week of 1/8:

Q1 – How is your walk with Jesus?

Q2 – How have you reflected Him to others?

Q3 – What evidence do you see that the world was created to be a good and beautiful place?  How will you thank God for that?

Q4 – What does God’s act of judgment at the Flood tell you personally?

3-13-11 The Pure in Heart

Who are the pure in heart and what really does it mean to live this way?  The promise is that they will see God…how do I see God?  Join Pastor Mike as he studies this beatitude from Matthew 5:8.

Download the PowerPoint here.

2-6-11 The Power of Blessing Integrity and Grace (The Story of Esther)

Join Youth Pastor Mike Hoverson as he explores the story of a young woman who showed the power of blessing, integrity, and grace during a pivotal moment in Israel’s history, and find out how you can live your life “For such a time as this.”

Download the PowerPoint here.

*Due to technical malfunction, there is no sermon audio for this message.

3-6-11 The Merciful

What is mercy?  Kindness?  Compassion?  Or is there something more that Jesus has in mind?  Find out as Pastor Mike takes us through a study of Matthew 5:7.

Download the PowerPoint here.