Strengthened By Grace

RPC's Top Ten Questions!

Usually, I take this time to write you all in hopes of encouraging you all mid-week, but this week, you have the opportunity to write! I would like to give you all the opportunity to share with us what God's doing in your life, how He has used RPC in your life, and what RPC can do to enhance our community as we walk through life together.

So, below are 10 questions. Here's your mission if you choose to accept it:
Double-click on the word "COMMENTS" below.
You will be taken to a new page where you can click on "Show Original Post" and give us your feedback in the "Leave Your Comment."
You can include your name OR if you would like to post your feedback Anonymously, just click on the radio button to the left of the word "Anonymous."

If you don't want to leave it on RPC's BLOG, you can simply email us at rpcpca@gmail.com.

We would love to hear from you all by the end of the week, you're feedback is much need and appreciated.

Thanks in advance for answering "RPC's Top Ten Questions!"

1. How did you get introduced to RPC?

2. What has kept you coming back to RPC?

3. What do you like most about RPC?

4. Name one thing that you would like to see RPC work on and/or make better (this can be anything from Sunday School, nursery, Fellowship Groups, how the church looks, basically anything) and please include your ideas on how we can do that?

5. What excited you most about what God is doing at RPC?

6. Name one thing that God has been teaching you lately or another way to ask that is name one spiritual area of your life that you have seen improvement or growth?

7. Where and/or How do you see God using your specific gifts and talents at RPC?

8. What questions do you have for RPC leaders (this can be anything)?

9. If we did one (1) thing really well at RPC, what would you want that to be?

10. Is there any other feedback you have been wanting to voice your opinion on or is there any other questions that you have that you would like to be answered?

The Impact of the Campus Outreach Summer Beach Project!

I asked Katie Rolf, a college student at UNA and new member of RPC, to share with RPC's Blog readers what she learned at CO's Summer Beach Project. Here's Katie in her own words . . .

I knew that it was going to be an amazing summer but my expectations of what God was going to do were completely wrong… He did so much more. It went by extremely fast but it’s great to be back in Florence. Jonathan asked me to share with y’all about this summer so I’m going to try and summarize what our amazing God did in one paragraph… It’s a challenge but here we go!

On my drive back and just through some hours of down time, I've really tried to focus on what God wants me to take away from this summer. While reading a book, the author cited the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:12 which says, "For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but the grace of God, and supremely so toward you." It spoke to me. Through all the experiences this summer (which I have some crazy stories) God has been showing me how I still rely on myself… the big things, the small things, anything. And basically what I'm telling God when I do this is that Katie Rolf can handle just as much as Christ can. Which is a joke, I fail every minute. He has humbly taught me that He is so big and powerful that He doesn't even need me to bring glory on earth. He doesn't need me to tell people about Jesus. He doesn't need me to be the best Room Leader or Winn Dixie employee. He is fully sufficient and sovereign to follow His own plan. But at the same time, despite how many times I mess up and try to do it myself, He has chosen me to be a worker of His plan. He loves the things I do for Him, He loves me! All He asks me to do is to be faithful. And by faithful I learned that it's all about working for Him. It's just amazing. He just wants me to apply, to live, and to share what He is teaching me and let Him do the rest. To simply live as a change life and small example of Christ. It isn't lazy, it's the truth. This beautiful picture has made me crave for Christ so much more. I can't change lives but if I am working for Him, on that sweet day I'll hear "Well done my good and FAITHFUL servant."

Strengthened By Grace

Talk To Yourself!

Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones wrote a great book entitled “Spiritual Depression.” In it he admonishes Christians to talk to themselves. Not in a way that would get you a fast entry into an asylum, but in a way that would encourage you and strengthen you as you live out God’s call of the gospel on your life.

The Apostle Peter tells us the same thing in 1 Peter 1:13, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. How should we work this out practically? While I don’t have all the answers, I will take up the banner of Dr. Lloyd-Jones and suggest that we talk to ourselves (if it makes you feel better, you can call it “preaching the gospel to myself” or “speaking God’s words of affirmation to myself” . . . call it whatever, just as long as you try it out and see God use it for His glory and your joy)!

I suggest that you write out a paragraph of God’s affirmations of you as His child. What I am proposing is not the SNL Stuart Smalley “I’m good enough, smart enough, and dog gone it people like me” routine. This goes much farther and deeper than any self-help routine. Why? Because if we’re honest with ourselves, we know that we all need to be genuinely encouraged and affirmed. We need to know more of how God thinks about us as His child. While we need encouragement, we hate empty flattery. God never gives His children empty words of encouragement. He is unchanging and His word always accomplishes it’s purpose. So, you need to be pumped up by who God is and what He says of you.

Below is an example of a paragraph that you could write with some scripture references. Remember, as a believer you want this to be based on what God’s word says of Himself and you as His child.

Lord, You have graciously given me this day and I will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). Thank you Lord that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, I will choose to praise You (Psalm 63:3). Today I am in Christ and I am a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). By Your grace and with full faith in You I will strive today to love you Lord with my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). I will also seek to love my neighbor and consider them as more important than myself (Matthew 22:39, Phil. 2:3). I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but you Lord Jesus live in me (Gal. 2:20). Because of your mercy, I willingly offer my body as a living sacrifice to You today (Romans 12:1). Because you are my Almighty God, I am more than a conqueror today (Romans 8:37). I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength and nothing will separate me from your love in Christ (Phil. 4:13, Romans 8:39).

Now, this is just example, but come up with your own and see how God uses it to get you pumped up about loving Him and serving others.

Sunday Wrap-Up

Redeemer Members and Guests,

I don't know about you all, but I had a blast yesterday! It was great to see everyone at RPC's "Picnic in the Park." It was great to see so many new folks getting to know other members and guests at Redeemer! We would love to get your feedback from yesterday. You can double-click on the "Comment" link below and let us know what you liked, what you didn't like, and how we can improve upon our Fellowship Groups in the future. Your feedback is not just welcomed and appreciated, but needed. We want to continue to enhance our events at Redeemer because we want to continue to see our vision of "Multiplying Disciples and Engaging the World, to the Glory of God" become a reality. Thanks again for all of you who joined us and to all that couldn't make it, we hope to see you at our Fellowship Group Events in September!

- RPC Leadership

"Proof of Discipleship" Sermon Outline

"Proof of Discipleship"
Rev. Brad Tubbesing
John 14:1-31
8.10.08

Introduction
- Jesus' disciples are scared, fearful about the future ahead. He gives them a "call to action" to motivate, encourage them to press on and continue his work
- He does the same for us when we are discouraged and want to give up

1) Promise of glorification (vv. 1-11)
- He gives them a promise:
- "trust in God; trust also in me" "I go to prepare a place for you"
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life"

The promise of glorification leads to …

2) Pursuit of good works (vv. 12-14)
- When we begin to grasp his grace it makes a radical difference in how we live our lives:
- "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" we carry on his mission
"through even greater works"

The pursuit of good works requires …

3) Provision of Holy Spirit (vv. 15-24)
- He will send us a "helper" to assist them in this work
- "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you"

The provision of the Holy Spirit results in …

4) Peace (vv. 25-31)
- Peace/Shalom that rests in the fact that we are eternally accepted by God
- "My peace I give to you" "peace which passes all understanding" (Phil. 4)

Conclusion
- If you really believed these truths what risks would you undertake for his kingdom?
- How would your life look different?
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

RPC Sunday School Study: The Gospel for Real Life

You all are encouraged to attend our new Sunday School Class, starting this Sunday, August 10 at 9:15 am in the Adult Sunday School room in the hallway at RPC.

We will be studying a book by Jerry Bridges, entitled "The Gospel For Real Life." Our plan is to discuss 2 chapters a week. This is sure to be a great study for young and old alike! Below is a teaser from the publisher's website regarding the book. We hope to see you all there!

What difference does the gospel make?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the door to eternal life, but what difference does it make once we're inside God's kingdom? Jerry Bridges says the gospel is the very lifeblood of our walk with God. Without doubt it is the key to our salvation, but it is also the power for our daily progress in holiness. The Gospel for Real Life will help you:

• Experience freedom from the grip of sin and know the joy of pursuing holiness
• Revel in God's acceptance of you and participate in His grace as a daily reality
• Expose the subtle acids of legalism in your life and enjoy the liberty of the cross
• Discover how to "preach the gospel to yourself daily" and so partake of its continuous transforming power
• Carry the true fullness of the gospel to a desperately needy world around you

This new paperback edition includes a study guide to help you experience every day "the unsearchable riches of Christ" that are available to us in the gospel.

Spending Time with God

For years I have over-analyzed and hyper-spiritualized my time alone with God. I have become so overwhelmed at the task of spending time with God because I feel that I have to spend 30 minutes to 1 hour in prayer and bible reading, that I end up spending no specific time with Him. Thus, I end up not being fed spiritually and God is not glorified in my life because my connection to the vine is fragile.

Because of this, I have challenged myself and the guys in my Discipleship Group to spend 5 minutes alone with God daily. Just before you think that sounds extremely unspiritual . . . just think how much more efficacious it is to get at least some time in the word and prayer rather than none at all. I am not encouraging you all to limit your time alone with God to just 5 minutes, but I am encouraging you if you are new believer or you are out of the habit of spending time with God daily in bible reading and prayer, to start off spending 5 minutes with the Lord daily. Read a verse or two say in the Gospels or in Paul's Epistles and try to jot down a quick summary of what you think the writer is trying to convey. Then pray to God. Ask him to help your life reflect better the truth of what you just read. You might want to end by praying the Lord's prayer or singing the Doxology.

Whatever you do, remember whether you're spending 5 minutes in prayer and bible reading or 4 hours, God's love for you isn't more or less depending on the time you spend with Him. You're relationship with Him is founded on and grounded in Christ and His finished work on the Cross. However, if you begin spending 5 minutes with God daily, it will eventually turn into more. You don't grow tired of being filled up on God, the more of Him you "have", the more of Him you desire. The more time you spend with Him, the more you will love about him, and that's a good thing!

Psalm 16:11 "In Your Presence is Fullness of Joy . . . "

JM

Hello Redeemer

Hey guys! This is Jonathan and this is our first go at "Blogging" about and for RPC. Hopefully, we can use this to keep up with one another and stay informed about what's going on at Redeemer. Check back often for updates!