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Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Transitions
" The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. "-Colossians 1:15-20 NIV
A historic day occured at the Sacramento Metro church of Christ on August 31, 2011. The Ministry Staff decided that it was best to step out of the pulpit and into secular life. One is dealing with a rare, but serious autoimmune disesease and needed it rest as he recovers. It is the Spirit's calling to have these valliant people of God step back and allow God to move in this transitional period. I am grateful for the Los Angeles church of Christ for their willingness to offer support as our congregation figures out wht to do next.
Transition happened before in terms of leadership. However, unlike in the past, this congregation is willing to make things happen, rather than wait for things to happen. As disciples of jesus, while the Sacramento Church is in transition, we must remember that the Lord Jesus is the Head of His Church regardelss of the leadership that will be installed. Furthermore, this congregation must step in and shephered His people and continue to obey the Great Commission. With a lot of new faces coming to the congreagation (and a lot more old faces returning to the fold), giving up is not an option.
I pray that God continue to bless the Sacramento Metro church of Christ as a new era begins.
Charles Linzie
Monday, August 1, 2011
Reflectioms from the Southwest Singles Conference.
From July 28-31, the Los Angeles church of Christ hosted the annual Southwest Singles Conference in Rancho Mirage, CA. The Singles Ministry of the Sacramento Metro church of Christ took it upon themselves through the Spirit's leading to go and learn from this conference to not only share within ourselves the changes we need to make, but to feed of different perspectives within our two congregations.
I arrived from Sacramento to the venue just as the starlight devotional began. People as far away as Toronto shared their visions and dreams about what they see happening within the Lord's Church. The official kickoff was a song devotional based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134), hence the theme "Elevate". Later, we went into breakout sections, and I attended a Christian evidences class entitled "Bones, Boxes, and Copper Coins". The speakers not only gave me a new insight on the Bible and the early church, especially the lives of women, but reminded the attendees that the best evidences of Jesus and His Church is found in Scripture.
Later, I attended a cl;ass entitled "Robots, Rambo, and Relationships", which exposed my biggest weakness of relating to the Body of Christ and learned some practicals on how to really build them (One start-be myself). After eating one of several meals from the women in the church, (which not only saved me a ton of money on meals, but blew my mind away), I heard the first keynote speech from AT Arneson of the Chicago church of Christ as he shared candidly about being a cancer survivor and losing his mother to cancer (she knew the Lord when she passed on).
The next two breakout sessions, the first one on worship, is simply about glorifying God and lifting Him up, not about music, lifting holy hands, or even praise. The last, and most challenging was an evangelism class entitled "Jesus and Chewbacca". The Star Wars analogy exposed how unrelatable I am on the mission field and how ineffective I am on winning the lost. Just as within the church, I must be myself to build stronger relationships. The Sunday Sermon by AT Arneson using Acts 27 about spiritual storms as well as the HOPE worldwide offering for the churches in the Ivory Coast and Honduras concluded the conference.
As I traveled home, I knew that the Spirit moved through each of the attendees. Now, it is time to make changes to glorify God. Look for my insights on the breakout classes on my blog in the coming week. To God be the glory!
Charles Linzie
I arrived from Sacramento to the venue just as the starlight devotional began. People as far away as Toronto shared their visions and dreams about what they see happening within the Lord's Church. The official kickoff was a song devotional based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134), hence the theme "Elevate". Later, we went into breakout sections, and I attended a Christian evidences class entitled "Bones, Boxes, and Copper Coins". The speakers not only gave me a new insight on the Bible and the early church, especially the lives of women, but reminded the attendees that the best evidences of Jesus and His Church is found in Scripture.
Later, I attended a cl;ass entitled "Robots, Rambo, and Relationships", which exposed my biggest weakness of relating to the Body of Christ and learned some practicals on how to really build them (One start-be myself). After eating one of several meals from the women in the church, (which not only saved me a ton of money on meals, but blew my mind away), I heard the first keynote speech from AT Arneson of the Chicago church of Christ as he shared candidly about being a cancer survivor and losing his mother to cancer (she knew the Lord when she passed on).
The next two breakout sessions, the first one on worship, is simply about glorifying God and lifting Him up, not about music, lifting holy hands, or even praise. The last, and most challenging was an evangelism class entitled "Jesus and Chewbacca". The Star Wars analogy exposed how unrelatable I am on the mission field and how ineffective I am on winning the lost. Just as within the church, I must be myself to build stronger relationships. The Sunday Sermon by AT Arneson using Acts 27 about spiritual storms as well as the HOPE worldwide offering for the churches in the Ivory Coast and Honduras concluded the conference.
As I traveled home, I knew that the Spirit moved through each of the attendees. Now, it is time to make changes to glorify God. Look for my insights on the breakout classes on my blog in the coming week. To God be the glory!
Charles Linzie
Monday, July 18, 2011
Known by God
Note: This is a sermon delivered by Josh Petersen of the Los Angeles church of Christ to the Sacramento Church on July 17, 2011.
Matthew 7:21-23
-Not all who acknowlwedges Jesus as Lord will enter Heaven.
-Are you a friend of God or see Him as a means to an end?
-Are you performing a religious duty or being real with God?
(Do you really want to tell jokes to Jesus or just see Him as someone distant?)
Our relationship with God is more than going to His church!
John 14:5-11
-Do you really know Christ?
-Do you pray the kind of prayers that only God can answer (even if it's "no")?
-In prayer, be a pioneer, not a settler!
Believe much=expect much!
Great faith=great prayer; little faith, litte prayer.
Matthew 7:24-27
-Build your relationship with God to code (His Word).
-Putting the Word into practice is a sign of a true relationship with Christ.
-Be a friend to God! He can be trusted!
Comment: This is a culmination of an evangelistic campaign in the Sacramento-area colleges led by the LA Church. I appreciate their zeal and willingness to partner up withn us. In the meantime, it is time for all of who claim to know Christ to build a more intimate relationship with Him. It is the difference of spensing eternity with God or apart from Him. -CL
Matthew 7:21-23
-Not all who acknowlwedges Jesus as Lord will enter Heaven.
-Are you a friend of God or see Him as a means to an end?
-Are you performing a religious duty or being real with God?
(Do you really want to tell jokes to Jesus or just see Him as someone distant?)
Our relationship with God is more than going to His church!
John 14:5-11
-Do you really know Christ?
-Do you pray the kind of prayers that only God can answer (even if it's "no")?
-In prayer, be a pioneer, not a settler!
Believe much=expect much!
Great faith=great prayer; little faith, litte prayer.
Matthew 7:24-27
-Build your relationship with God to code (His Word).
-Putting the Word into practice is a sign of a true relationship with Christ.
-Be a friend to God! He can be trusted!
Comment: This is a culmination of an evangelistic campaign in the Sacramento-area colleges led by the LA Church. I appreciate their zeal and willingness to partner up withn us. In the meantime, it is time for all of who claim to know Christ to build a more intimate relationship with Him. It is the difference of spensing eternity with God or apart from Him. -CL
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Food that fufills!
Note: This is a Bible Talk held during an evangelistic campaign at California State University, Sacramento on July 14, 2011.
Ice Breaker: What food to you frequently buy at a grocery store?
John 6:25-27
-Do you find stuff that will make you hungry or be full?
-What are you looking for in college? Success? Friendship?
John 10:10
-Jesus wants us to have life to the full?
Do you want a full life?
Comment: I would like to thank the Los Angeles church of Christ for assisting in this thought provoking discussion. As disciples of Jesus, we ought to remember that He fulfills us, not just doing waht satisfies us. -CL
Ice Breaker: What food to you frequently buy at a grocery store?
John 6:25-27
-Do you find stuff that will make you hungry or be full?
-What are you looking for in college? Success? Friendship?
John 10:10
-Jesus wants us to have life to the full?
Do you want a full life?
Comment: I would like to thank the Los Angeles church of Christ for assisting in this thought provoking discussion. As disciples of Jesus, we ought to remember that He fulfills us, not just doing waht satisfies us. -CL
Friday, April 1, 2011
Through Hope, They Will Know
Note: This is the Sunday Sermon at the Sacramento Christian Conference on March 27, 2011. It was delivered by Wes Wright of the Greater Reno church of Christ. I Samuel 30:4-6, Romans 8:18 -Hope has no value until you lost all hope. I Samuel 22:6, 18-19, Colossians 2:20 -False hope will kill you! -Do you place your hope in structure, accountability, and rules above Scripture? I Samuel 23:1-16 -Through hope, they will know. -Rely on God for every decision you make. Comment: legalistic red tape and hopelessness hinders the Spirit's ability to work through us. As the Lord's church, we must always put our hope in Him.
Through Your Faith, They Will Know
NOTE: This is the second keynote address of the Sacramento Christian Conference from Don Splitt delivered on March 26, 2011. Hebrews 11:1-6 -Faith is the human response to God's faithfulness. -Satan atttacks our faith through circumstanses and emotions. vv.35 -Hard situations out to refine our faith. Hebrews 10:32-39 -Have you shrunk back on your faith? -(Does it affect your evangelism?) Hebrews 11:7-21 -Don't complain about God's will! Hebrews 12:1-5 -Be faithful to the end! -True faith in Christ is remaining faithful to Him to the end. Luke 16:19-27 (Lazarus and the Rich Man) -Do you regret not sharing the gospel to more people? -Example from Schindler's List Comment: This is a sobering message about the subject where I am weak: evangelism. Too often, I use circumstances as an excuse not to share the gospel. I realize is that my weakness in social intereaction due to how I was mistreated in the past hinders my desire to win people to Christ. That is something I need to change now!
Through Your Love, They Will Know
NOTE: This is the first keynote address at the Sacramento Christian Conference, delivered on March 25, 2011, from Drew Nitchoff. John 13:34-35 -Jesus command that His disciples love one another. John 15:12-13 -You must sacrafice yourself for others -This is the difference between a nominal believer and a true disciple of Jesus. I John 2:6 -You must walk as Jesus did in love. John 13:1 -The full extent of Christ's love-to the end! -The Lord's church is not some social club! I Corinthians 13:1-3 -Love is not optional! (see I John 1:5-10) Matthew 5:14-16 -Let your light shine; it will lead others to Christ. Comment: The way God shown His love for us through the sacrifice of His Son is the exact same way we ought to show the love of Christ through our sacrifices for one another.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Super Faith Sunday
Note: This a sermon from Don Splitt to the Sacramento Church on February 6, 2011.
Hebrews 5:7-10
-Do you Believe that God has a Beautiful plan for you?
-Do you believe, at one time, you can do great things for Him?
Example: The Masculine Journey; Go beyond the wounded warrior to a sage.
Luke 5:1-11
Because you say so, Jesus...be prepared to go into deep water.
Allow God to help you make things happen rather than watch things happen!
Haggai 2:9
The second house will be bigger than the first house.
(Don passes a post card of our facility once belonging to the Winding Way church of Christ upon its erection in 1972).
DREAM AGAIN! BELIEVE AGAIN!
Comment: On the heels of Phase One of our Special Missions Contribution and the subsequent improvements to our facility, I must dream again. Perhaps, the Sacramento Church will be regarded as a "pillar" church in the Central Valley region. -CL
Hebrews 5:7-10
-Do you Believe that God has a Beautiful plan for you?
-Do you believe, at one time, you can do great things for Him?
Example: The Masculine Journey; Go beyond the wounded warrior to a sage.
Luke 5:1-11
Because you say so, Jesus...be prepared to go into deep water.
Allow God to help you make things happen rather than watch things happen!
Haggai 2:9
The second house will be bigger than the first house.
(Don passes a post card of our facility once belonging to the Winding Way church of Christ upon its erection in 1972).
DREAM AGAIN! BELIEVE AGAIN!
Comment: On the heels of Phase One of our Special Missions Contribution and the subsequent improvements to our facility, I must dream again. Perhaps, the Sacramento Church will be regarded as a "pillar" church in the Central Valley region. -CL
Go Big or Go Home!
Note: This is a summary of a sermon from Luke Donatello of the Bakersfield church of Christ to the Sacramento Church on January 30, 2011.
Ephesians 1:18
Do you love a big God or do you pray to the "baby Jesus"( aka Will Ferrel in Taladega Nights)?
Romans 1:1
Do not be blind to God's greatness!
Hebrews 11:1, 6
-God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
-Do you have a conviction that God rewards? Does it change with circumstance or environment?
Matthew 9:27-36
-Are you cynical? That makes you blind to God's love!
Matthew 6:6
God sees us even when we don't see Him.
Pray BIG!
Matthew 13:54-58
Lack of faith=lack of miracles.
Luke 11:1, 5-8.
Be disruptive and shameless in prayer.
Luke 18:7-8
Do you ask God in faith?
GO ALL IN! STOP BEING LAZY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS YEAR IS A CAREER YEAR!
Comment: this year, I need to dream big not only for my own faith, but for the future of the Sacramento Church. -CL
Ephesians 1:18
Do you love a big God or do you pray to the "baby Jesus"( aka Will Ferrel in Taladega Nights)?
Romans 1:1
Do not be blind to God's greatness!
Hebrews 11:1, 6
-God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
-Do you have a conviction that God rewards? Does it change with circumstance or environment?
Matthew 9:27-36
-Are you cynical? That makes you blind to God's love!
Matthew 6:6
God sees us even when we don't see Him.
Pray BIG!
Matthew 13:54-58
Lack of faith=lack of miracles.
Luke 11:1, 5-8.
Be disruptive and shameless in prayer.
Luke 18:7-8
Do you ask God in faith?
GO ALL IN! STOP BEING LAZY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS YEAR IS A CAREER YEAR!
Comment: this year, I need to dream big not only for my own faith, but for the future of the Sacramento Church. -CL
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