Monday, January 07, 2013
Happy 2013 - Two Events To Attend
Happy New Year!
We're off and going this year with two very special eventful gatherings @ CentrePoint.
The first one is Life After Tragedy with Dr. Brenda Jepsen and myself. This will be a great opportunity for those who have been challenged by life to get a fresh perspective on what the word of God has to say about Life
Brenda and I will be sharing our hearts with you from our respective points of view. Her as a psychologist and me as a pastor.
Be with us Sunday January 13, 2013 @ 3:00 pm. See flyer and video below.
Then Coming in February
We're off and going this year with two very special eventful gatherings @ CentrePoint.
The first one is Life After Tragedy with Dr. Brenda Jepsen and myself. This will be a great opportunity for those who have been challenged by life to get a fresh perspective on what the word of God has to say about Life
Brenda and I will be sharing our hearts with you from our respective points of view. Her as a psychologist and me as a pastor.
Be with us Sunday January 13, 2013 @ 3:00 pm. See flyer and video below.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Was Jesus Serious?
For the last several weeks we've been analyzing Matthew 10 and identifying how Jesus interacted with His disciples. Today we're going to look over verses 1-31 and share key points we've learned as a congregation.
Open your Bible and get ready to participate for the next 20 - 30 minutes. Remember, As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
As you are reviewing these passages, ask yourself how serious Jesus was and if or not you take Him serious pertaining to these scriptures.
The Call - Describe what Jesus did when He called His disciples in Matthew 10:1-4
The Sending - Talk about the detailed instructions Jesus gave the disciples as He sent them out in Matthew 10:5-15
The Expectations - Matthew 16-26 paints a picture of what the disciples can expect on their journey. Choose a scripture among verses 16-26 and re-state it as if Jesus was talking to us today.
Don't Fear Man, Fear God - Verses 1-26 would give anybody a reason to fear in the natural. Matthew 27-31 point out the significance of obedience. Elaborate on the verses that Jesus seems to be giving instruction to obey.
Stay blessed,
Pastor Cedric
Skype: cedreynolds
909 263 4569
p.s. Thanks for your prayer. Barbara is back home and enjoying the comfort of her recliner and real food with seasoning.
Open your Bible and get ready to participate for the next 20 - 30 minutes. Remember, As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
As you are reviewing these passages, ask yourself how serious Jesus was and if or not you take Him serious pertaining to these scriptures.
The Call - Describe what Jesus did when He called His disciples in Matthew 10:1-4
The Sending - Talk about the detailed instructions Jesus gave the disciples as He sent them out in Matthew 10:5-15
The Expectations - Matthew 16-26 paints a picture of what the disciples can expect on their journey. Choose a scripture among verses 16-26 and re-state it as if Jesus was talking to us today.
Don't Fear Man, Fear God - Verses 1-26 would give anybody a reason to fear in the natural. Matthew 27-31 point out the significance of obedience. Elaborate on the verses that Jesus seems to be giving instruction to obey.
Stay blessed,
Pastor Cedric
Skype: cedreynolds
909 263 4569
p.s. Thanks for your prayer. Barbara is back home and enjoying the comfort of her recliner and real food with seasoning.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
"Evangelism Is Not Popular"
As we have been talking about evangelism, I thought it would be good to share with you an article I read from Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Ministries.
Enjoy,
Pastor Cedric
909 263 4569
Skype: cedreynolds
Originally posted by: Pastor Greg Laurie
A popular trend in the Church today is to not share your faith.
USA Today had an article about a man who described himself as a "recovering evangelist." He said that he used to engage in what he called "bait-and-switch" methods. In other words, he would engage a person with the purpose of bringing the gospel to them, but now he has changed his approach.
Instead, he advocates "All bait, no switch, and he thinks others should, as well." He advocates promotion by non-promotion, evangelism by attraction, goodwill mongering, or simply letting one's life speak for itself."
He suggests that we just "live the life," and let the "spiritual chips fall where they will."
The cure for cancer?
OK, let's use an analogy to play out that scenario.
Imagine that I am a scientist (I know, not easy to do) who found out that I have cancer, so I have worked feverishly for years on a cure and have just found total success! One pill, taken one time, and the cancer will be gone immediately.
So what should I do? Try to make the most money possible, and take my sweet time getting it to market? How about befriending cancer patients and never letting them know that I have been cured, only that I am a caring scientist, never telling them about the cure, In other words, I reason that I'll just let the "mortality chips fall where they will."
The gospel is needed
Needless to say, that attitude would be the epitome of selfishness, even criminal. The correct answer is that you want to get this cure out to as many people as possible, as quickly as you can.
To use another example, let's say that you were walking down the street and you heard screams coming from someone trapped in a burning house. What would you do? Just hope someone does something, or do you take action?
How much more important is the truth of the gospel message--for it is a cure that is even more significant than a cure for cancer (as wonderful as that would be). That does not mean doing it rudely or harshly, or look at people as "notches on your belt." It means lovingly, yet boldly engaging them with the gospel message.
When we share the gospel with others, it's like we are going to a person who is trapped in a burning house, with only moments to live, and pulling them to safety. Scripture describes it as "Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment" (Jude 1:23 NLT).
Enjoy,
Pastor Cedric
909 263 4569
Skype: cedreynolds
Originally posted by: Pastor Greg Laurie
A popular trend in the Church today is to not share your faith.
USA Today had an article about a man who described himself as a "recovering evangelist." He said that he used to engage in what he called "bait-and-switch" methods. In other words, he would engage a person with the purpose of bringing the gospel to them, but now he has changed his approach.
Instead, he advocates "All bait, no switch, and he thinks others should, as well." He advocates promotion by non-promotion, evangelism by attraction, goodwill mongering, or simply letting one's life speak for itself."
He suggests that we just "live the life," and let the "spiritual chips fall where they will."
The cure for cancer?
OK, let's use an analogy to play out that scenario.
Imagine that I am a scientist (I know, not easy to do) who found out that I have cancer, so I have worked feverishly for years on a cure and have just found total success! One pill, taken one time, and the cancer will be gone immediately.
So what should I do? Try to make the most money possible, and take my sweet time getting it to market? How about befriending cancer patients and never letting them know that I have been cured, only that I am a caring scientist, never telling them about the cure, In other words, I reason that I'll just let the "mortality chips fall where they will."
The gospel is needed
Needless to say, that attitude would be the epitome of selfishness, even criminal. The correct answer is that you want to get this cure out to as many people as possible, as quickly as you can.
To use another example, let's say that you were walking down the street and you heard screams coming from someone trapped in a burning house. What would you do? Just hope someone does something, or do you take action?
How much more important is the truth of the gospel message--for it is a cure that is even more significant than a cure for cancer (as wonderful as that would be). That does not mean doing it rudely or harshly, or look at people as "notches on your belt." It means lovingly, yet boldly engaging them with the gospel message.
When we share the gospel with others, it's like we are going to a person who is trapped in a burning house, with only moments to live, and pulling them to safety. Scripture describes it as "Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment" (Jude 1:23 NLT).
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Better Than Any Reality Show Story
One of the biggest crazes today is Reality Shows. People are basically opening up their entire lives telling and showing the world how they live. What's so strange to me is that the way that most of these people live is nothing to admire or pattern our lives after.
The word of God speaks about the life of believers in Revelation 12:11 "how we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony" (paraphrase). It's talking about overcoming and not airing our inadequacies and short comings to the world.
I am thoroughly convinced that believers have far better stories to tell than folks of the world no matter if they are on television or just plain folks living their lives. Our initial testimony of how we came to know Jesus is the beginning of our story. What makes each of our stories unique is all of them are completely different even though we are connected to the same Savior.
Listen, I not only want to encourage you to think about the power of your testimony more frequently, I want to challenge you to share it more purposefully. We have every reason to share with others how we overcome.
Below is a short tutorial on how to put together your testimony. It can be longer but a 2-5 minute testimony can really have an impact on somebody's life.
Formatting Your 2 to 5 Minute Testimony
Pre-Salvation
1. Take about 30 to 90 seconds talking about where you were born, grew up, your family life and a couple of distinguishing truths about your past before being saved.
Salvation
2. Take another 30 to 60 seconds describing how you came to know Jesus and the circumstances.
Post Salvation
3. Spend about 30 to 90 seconds describing what the Lord has done in your life and how you're living now. Could include family life, personal deliverance, ministry, employment, financial etc...
Invitation
4. Spend the last 30 to 60 seconds inquiring of the reader/listener and invite them to accept the claims of the Bible (if they are a non believer) or challenge them to share their testimony the same way you're sharing yours (if they are a believer).
Stay Blessed,
Pastor Cedric
(909) 263-4569
Skype: cedreynolds
The word of God speaks about the life of believers in Revelation 12:11 "how we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony" (paraphrase). It's talking about overcoming and not airing our inadequacies and short comings to the world.
I am thoroughly convinced that believers have far better stories to tell than folks of the world no matter if they are on television or just plain folks living their lives. Our initial testimony of how we came to know Jesus is the beginning of our story. What makes each of our stories unique is all of them are completely different even though we are connected to the same Savior.
Listen, I not only want to encourage you to think about the power of your testimony more frequently, I want to challenge you to share it more purposefully. We have every reason to share with others how we overcome.
Below is a short tutorial on how to put together your testimony. It can be longer but a 2-5 minute testimony can really have an impact on somebody's life.
Formatting Your 2 to 5 Minute Testimony
Pre-Salvation
1. Take about 30 to 90 seconds talking about where you were born, grew up, your family life and a couple of distinguishing truths about your past before being saved.
Salvation
2. Take another 30 to 60 seconds describing how you came to know Jesus and the circumstances.
Post Salvation
3. Spend about 30 to 90 seconds describing what the Lord has done in your life and how you're living now. Could include family life, personal deliverance, ministry, employment, financial etc...
Invitation
4. Spend the last 30 to 60 seconds inquiring of the reader/listener and invite them to accept the claims of the Bible (if they are a non believer) or challenge them to share their testimony the same way you're sharing yours (if they are a believer).
Stay Blessed,
Pastor Cedric
(909) 263-4569
Skype: cedreynolds
Saturday, January 14, 2012
What Shall We Do Then?
A couple of Sundays ago the Lord led me to share a scripture in 2 Corinthians that I believe pertains to CentrePoint and parts of the church at large. Often we search and search for new things to do when we really ought to be doing what we've been instructed to do in the first place.
Let me share with you how it reads in The Message Bible.
2 Corinthians 8-9 I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
10-16 So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written,
Nothing left over to the one with the most,
Nothing lacking to the one with the least.
This passage led me back to where the Lord had us discovering how to become fishers of men. It's so nice to talk about the scripture but it's a much better thing to see the scripture come to life.
So now here we are in 2012 and what does the Lord have us do? Go back to where we started the year before but with exuberance and a strong will to finish what we started. So for CentrePoint it's about becoming fishers of men.
Where we spent a little time last Sunday was in Mark's gospel in the 6th chapter. Our primary reference was in verses 7-13 where Jesus sent the twelve out two by two to preach the word and cast out unclean spirits.
Mark 6:7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever[a] will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.[b] Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
What is key for us as believers in this era is to utilize the word in methods that are different from the disciples of Jesus' time. We're in an age of technology and I highly doubt if the Lord is opposed to believers heralding the gospel via the means that are available to us. The great thing the disciples and we have in common is we love Jesus just like they did, we have testimonies just like they did and we are called to go into all the world just like they were. The advantage is we have access to technology that allows us to reach the world like they never could.
You want to talk about responsibility? We have a responsibility to carry out the work of preaching the gospel. That's just a few of us, that's all of us. Rather we think we're called or not, it our responsibility as believers to do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of our ministries.
Timothy said it best.
2 Tim 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at[a] His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
I sometimes feel like Jeremiah the weeping prophet. Crying over the lives of believers who refuse to do what God has instructed. Nevertheless, my assignment is clear. I will continue to compel believers to testify about the goodness of God. I will offer the resources that give assistance to those who are uncomfortable taking the necessary steps to share their faith.
I've heard it preached by more than a few preachers that we are living in a "saints revival." The saints of God will lead this revival. In the marketplace, in their neighborhoods, over the airwaves, basically everywhere the saints gather is an opportunity for the gospel to be shared.
While there are churches around the world prospering there are literally thousands of churches closing every week. Even though churches are closing, there is no excuse for the gospel not to continue to be preached. We're in an era where so many people have been saved for such a long time and know the goodness of God that just this remnant alone can turn the world right side up with the truth that is within them.
Get ready church. It's time for your light to shine. It's time for you to be used by the Lord. Like 2 Corinthians said, all it takes is a willing mind. We know God is able and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you but do you have a willing mind?
Stay blessed,
Pastor Cedric
(909) 263-4569
Skype: cedreynolds
Sunday, December 11, 2011
God's House Part 1
"The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, says the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 2:9
What a fascinating word to hear. Many believers have heard this statement and have shouted praises to the Lord on this verse alone. The truth of the matter, there is a lot that went on before this word.
Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!
6 “ You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! Haggai 1:3-7a
The portion of scripture found earlier in Haggai is something every believer should consider. The question the Lord had in verse 4 is one major key. Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple in ruins?
Today there are churches all over the world and especially in the United States that are just barely hanging on because the leadership and the people have chosen to focus more on their own interests rather than the interests of the household of faith. But that's not the real issue.
We see in verse 6 that not a lot of good was happening among the God's people because their attention to God's house was secondary. Now this might sound a little harsh but God does want all of His children to give His house priority. In a day where many believers are challenged some might think God would give us some slack. But we have to remember we are His children on His mission.
So is God overly concerned that we be concerned about "a building?" In Haggai's time the representation of God was more closely associated with the location of where His presence was found. Today we know His presence is found in us. To answer the question, buildings where we worship God in a general assembly serve well in the accommodation of groups too large for homes.
Our aim should be to see the people within our sphere of influence come to know Jesus in an intimate and personal way. The temple we talk about today has more to do with us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The question today is, are we allowing the temple of the Holy Spirit to be used for our own pleasure more than for God's purpose? This is a serious question.
More to come...
Pastor Cedric
(909) 263 4569
Skype: cedreynolds
What a fascinating word to hear. Many believers have heard this statement and have shouted praises to the Lord on this verse alone. The truth of the matter, there is a lot that went on before this word.
Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!
6 “ You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! Haggai 1:3-7a
The portion of scripture found earlier in Haggai is something every believer should consider. The question the Lord had in verse 4 is one major key. Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple in ruins?
Today there are churches all over the world and especially in the United States that are just barely hanging on because the leadership and the people have chosen to focus more on their own interests rather than the interests of the household of faith. But that's not the real issue.
We see in verse 6 that not a lot of good was happening among the God's people because their attention to God's house was secondary. Now this might sound a little harsh but God does want all of His children to give His house priority. In a day where many believers are challenged some might think God would give us some slack. But we have to remember we are His children on His mission.
So is God overly concerned that we be concerned about "a building?" In Haggai's time the representation of God was more closely associated with the location of where His presence was found. Today we know His presence is found in us. To answer the question, buildings where we worship God in a general assembly serve well in the accommodation of groups too large for homes.
Our aim should be to see the people within our sphere of influence come to know Jesus in an intimate and personal way. The temple we talk about today has more to do with us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The question today is, are we allowing the temple of the Holy Spirit to be used for our own pleasure more than for God's purpose? This is a serious question.
More to come...
Pastor Cedric
(909) 263 4569
Skype: cedreynolds
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