What would it look like, if a group of people joined forces to make a difference?
Would the community notice…
5000 bottles of water
¼ ton of ice
360+ volunteers…
passing out water
mowing lawns
feeding the hungry
delivering sweets
visiting shut-in’s
re-vitalizing neighborhoods
reaching out as far as
Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, & New York
1200+ man hours
6000+ personal invitations
What would it look like?
Maybe something like this…
On the bottom of this post is a small red link that says “LEAVE A COMMENT.”
We would love to know your name, how you blessed someone with this generosity, and how the recipient responded to your generosity. You may also leave a comment if you were on the receiving end of this project.
LIFEPOINT GIVES BACK is a project to enable the people of Lifepoint to be generous with that which God has blessed us with! On Sunday, January 25th, 2009, Lifepoint Church gave its people $12,000 in cash. Each person was given a cash envelope filled with $10, $20, $100, $500 or $1000. The only requests were that you could not give it back to Lifepoint, and you had to give it away to someone else in need!
We saw overwhelming response to this amazing project. Want to see for yourself? Just go here to read the comments of people who were blessed by giving to others.
LIFEPOINT GIVES BACK will continue for another chapter on Saturday, June 27th, 2009. Over 350 people will go out all over our community on over 35 teams to serve Fredericksburg in a practical way! This time, not by giving financially, but by radical acts of kindness. We want them to know that we do not simply say we love our community, we want to show it! Our goal is to leave as lasting impact on this town that we so desperately love.
On the bottom of this post is a small red link that says “LEAVE A COMMENT.”
We would love to know your name, how you blessed someone with this generosity, and how the recipient responded to your generosity. You may also leave a comment if you were on the receiving end of this project.
Easter Sunday, 04.12.09
Lifepoint Church saw God move in historical ways. It truly was a day to remember the fact that God changed the lives of people in our community. This day was the culmination of 21 Days of Fasting and praying, asking God to break our hearts for Him and move in ways that could only be Him.
Lifepoint volunteers and staff worked very hard to spread the word in our community, inviting friends, and putting tools to reach those who are lost… but at the end of the day, we can only say that it was due to the fact that the Spirit of God moved! We saw our largest attended service in the history of Lifepoint, with 101 decisions for Christ!
SERVICE ELEMENTS:
“O Happy Day” (Old School Version with Hammond Rock Organ)
“Happy Day,” Kristian Stanfill
Welcome Video / Headlines Series Trailer
“All Around the World,” Elevation Worship
“It Covers Me/Amazing Grace”
“Lift High/Oh Praise the One/Jesus Paid It All,” Eddie Kirkland, Kristian Stanfill
“You Found Me,” The Fray (playing with LostinFredericksburg.com video.
Easter Message Intro Video
Message - Pastor Daniel
“Glory in the Highest” - Chris Tomlin (with choir entering during the end of the song)
04.05.09
Title: “The Stone of Obedience”
Pastor Daniel preached on the important of obedience to God through believers baptism. This day was clearly a move of God and a result of the 21 Days of Fasting leading up to Easter.
Lifepoint Church saw 107 come forward to be baptized not knowing they would be baptized when they arrived in the morning. We had packets prepared for them with new clothing, toiletries, and everything you could think of to eliminate excuses!
Pastor Daniel gave four excuses people give on why not to be baptized, and then gave scripture eliminating those excuses.
1. It doesn’t make sense!
2. I have already been baptized as an infant or before salvation!
3. I need to pray about it!
4. I’m a little fearful about going through with it!
SERVICE ELEMENTS:
“Salvation is Here,” Hillsong United
“Glorious One,” Steve Fee
Message Intro Video
Message: “The Stone of Obedience”
“Come and Listen,” David Crowder Band
Spontaneous Baptism - 107 Baptisms!
03.22.09
“The Stone of Surrender”
MESSAGE RECAP
This week Pastor Daniel kicked off a four part series called Old Time Religion – Lifepoint Church is a new school church with some old school roots.
In Joshua 4 after the children of Israel had just crossed the Jordan River Joshua told the people to take stones from the river and place them as stones of remembrance.
As a symbol to remind them of the great thing that God had done.
The first stone that must be laid is the stone of surrender.
Pastor described how that we are in a “my right” generation and that this attitude has made it’s way into our faith.
And we begin to view Jesus as a means to have my desires met instead of a king to surrender my life to.
In Matthew 16:13-14 - Jesus is hanging out with his disciples and they have just come off a rock star tour. They have seen Jesus feed 5000, perform many miracles, and walk on water. When he poses this important question.
Who do people say that I am?
The disciples responded some say Elijah some say Jeremiah – they didn’t really know who Jesus was – but they knew there some powerful about him – they knew there was something supernatural about him.
They had seen the miracles He performed – they had heard him teach and it had impacted their lives.
But they were unsure about who He was.
Then Jesus – as only he can do, holds up the mirror to His disciples and says in verse 15.
But what about you?
What about you guys – you’ve been with me – you know me better than the crowds – who do you say that I am?
Are you going to go with the public opinion polls?
What about you?
I’ve heard what the crowds are saying but I want to know
What about you?
And Peter responds in verses16-17.
“You are the Christ!! The Son of the Living God!”
In other words Peter was Jesus you are God!! You are the Savior.
You’re not a cheap imitation of the real thing – you’re not a prophet that has come back to life.
Jesus you are worthy of our total surrender.
See surrender means to cease resistance and hand over authority.
That means that Jesus has ALL authority in your life!!!
That means that your money now belongs to Jesus.
That means that Jesus has authority over your relationships.
That means that Jesus has authority over your career plans.
That means that Jesus has authority over your thoughts and actions.
That means that Jesus has authority over your time.
To cease resistance and hand over authority.
It’s a transfer of power!!
For most of us there are three things that will keep us from total surrender.
John describes them like this in 1 John 2:15-17
The Lust of the flesh – sexual, physical desires – those that are outside the boundaries God has placed for your protection
The lust of the eyes – a desire for stuff – not that things are bad in and of themselves.
The pride of life – the idea that I have rights and I want what’s mine!!!
John said Hey, don’t follow after these things – because the world and the lust of the world are fading away.
See, this isn’t about what Jesus is trying to take from you – it’s about what he is trying to get to you!!
See you think Jesus is trying to pry all the fun out of your hands when he is trying to pour out unmerited favor on your life so that when the promotion comes your at the top of the list – so that your children walk in perpetual blessing – so that your family is covered under God’s protection.
But here is the deal – God can’t pour His blessing into your life until you release the grip you have on the things of this world.
SERVICE ELEMENTS:
“Point of Difference” Hillsong
www.lostinfredericksburg.com video
“No One Compares” Lifepoint Worship
“Solid Rock” Charlie Hall
“Losing My Religion” R.E.M.
Message Intro Video
Message
03.15.09
Message Title: “Growing Through the Pain”
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7
Message Recap:
This Sunday Matt Willmington was our guest speaker and brought a message on “Growing through the Pain”. Matt shared a message from Acts 6:1-7 on the growing pains of a growing church. He said that when you birth something that is natural and healthy it will grow. Which causes change in four areas.
Change in your experience - as a church continues to grow your experience on Sunday’s, in a volunteer role, in Life Groups will begin to change.
Change in your access - when a church is smaller the access to the pastor and staff is open but as you continue to grow their access will become limited because one person only has a limited amount of capacity.
Change in your influence - those who once may have had the ear of staff in decision making may loose that influence because there are now more voices to hear.
Change in opportunity - while there is a place for everyone in the ministry the opportunities may began to become limited of require different skill sets in order to accomplish the mission.
Matt concluded with giving 3 things that will allow you to grow through the growing pains and one question.
1) Beware of division!
2) Release the leaders to devote themselves to prayer and the study of the word!
3) Do the job God has for you to do!
Will you impede growth or promote the spread of God’s glory through the growth of His church?
SERVICE ELEMENTS:
“Mighty to Save” - Hillsong
“Lift High” - Eddie Kirkland, Northpoint Music
“He is Lord” - Hillsong, This Our God
“Marvelous Light” - Charlie Hall
Message Intro Video
Message - “Growing Through the Pain”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
LC 360 Tour - 04.05.09, 10AM
21 Days of Fasting - Beginning on Monday, March 23
Easter Services - 9:30 & 11:15
Sunday, 03.08.09
Message Title: “The Power of Unity”
Scripture: Exodus 15
MESSAGE RECAP:
Pastor Daniel said that sometimes when our expectations aren’t met our response isn’t “God you are good to me”. Instead we quickly forget what He did for us just one month ago. We so quickly forget how GOOD God has been to us. So yes sometimes blessings are dangerous because of US…and because it is dangerous we need to be aware of the pitfalls.
The Israelites have seen some amazing miracles: the ten plagues to free them, the parting of the Red Sea, a whole army drowned in the Sea they just crossed over in order to deliver them. And now the Bible says they are 3 days into their journey and they have a problem.
What is their immediate response? They complain against Moses, the man of God, their leader! We find ourselves in a bitter place in our life and get stuck there and never leave. We get bitter. Bitterness spreads like cancer and can kill. It can kill a family, it can kill an organization, and it can kill a church.
Just 3 days prior the Israelites were singing, dancing and partying it up and now they are complaining. Just three days earlier Moses is great – the people are unified around a single purpose. And now Moses is “an idiot who led us out into the desert!” If you and I are not careful we can fall into the same trap and forget how good God has been to us.
Overnight they went from being a unified group of people who had accomplished the amazing task of crossing the Red Sea and now they are complaining and divided! And no matter how gifted the leader, no matter how big the budget, no matter how good the track record, no matter how beautiful the building – DIVISION will kill a family, an organization and has killed many churches!! Why? Because Di-vision means that everyone is NOT locked into the same vision.
There are at least three barriers to UNITY:
1. Disappointment – you get your eyes on something other than Jesus!!
2. Not Following the Leadership – God has an ordained leadership structure for the local church, just as He does for the home, etc. We are all in roles of mutual submission with different roles and responsibilities.
3. Giving Life to Complaining – gossiping and rallying support for your point of view instead of going through the proper channels to express concern.
They were complaining and Moses’ response is incredible. All of us should first respond this way to criticism. He sought the LORD - He asked God what to do. And the Bible says God showed him a tree. Pastor Daniel said that sometimes when God gives you a direct vision from God, others will criticize you. Often, people leave you hanging when God gives you a clear directive.
Pastor Daniel had 25 names in the chairs before people sat down. The names in the chairs represent all kinds of situations - financial ruin, depression, sickness, broken marriage, dead-end career, regrets, unhappy marriage, unable to have children, rejected, loneliness, unfulfilled, job loss. And we have the answer. In fact, if we don’t believe that the message of Jesus is completely true, we need to sell our church equipment and call it quits.
The TRUTH is that God has strategically placed us in neighborhoods and jobs so that PEOPLE FAR FROM GOD WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S DESIGN FOR LIFE. We quickly forget what it is like to live with regrets, unhappiness and feelings of rejection. But most importantly we too often forget what it felt like when Jesus changed us – how grateful we were!!
The bottom line…what could God do through us in the next 5 weeks if we determined in our hearts that no one within our sphere of influence was going to be left far from God?
Together we are powerful. Together we are united. Together we can change our community!
SERVICE ELEMENTS:
“You Are” - Todd Fields
“Walk in Love” - Elevation Worship
Welcome / Intro - Josh Lazar, Creative Arts Pastor
“Let Me Sing” - Todd Fields
“No One Compares” - Lifepoint Worship Original
Message Video Intro
Message - “The Power of Unity”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1 - Lifepoint Church is looking for a Graphic Design Intern for the Summer of 2009. Please email info@visitlifepoint.org for more info
2 - You do not wan’t to miss our Easter Services: 9:30 & 11:15
3 - We gave away Krispy Kreme doughnuts to celebrate the Time Change!
Sunday: 03.01.09
Week Four: He Said, She Said
Message Title: “’Till Death Do Us Part”
Scripture: Song of Solomon 7 & 8
MESSAGE RECAP:
In week four Pastor Daniel concluded the series, He Said She Said, with a message entitled “Till Death Do Us Part”
Looking at the interaction between Solomon and his wife in chapter 7, Pastor highlighted four principles that lead to a “Till Death DO Us Part” kind of marriage.
Principle #1 - A Heart of Service!
Pastor showed how Solomon positioned himself in a place of service at her feet. Signifying that he was there to serve her and encourage her and bless her.
Principle #2 - A Deepening Trust
This means you have to communicate beyond the day-to-day issues of life of work and school until you get to the place of exposing the heart.
This means honesty, integrity! This means being completely transparent to one another even when it hurts or could be potentially painful.
Principle #3 - A Growing Passion!!
Your best years should not be behind you!! They should be in front of you!!
But this requires intentionality. It requires that you build into the relationship in the beginning what you want in the end.
Principle #4 - An unyielding commitment
This is seen clearly in Chapter 8:6-7 when Solomon’s wife says “place me as a seal over your heart and on your arm”. She was speaking to the permanence of marriage, the finality of marriage.
She goes onto say that her love for him is an unyielding as the grave.
Pastor concluded sharing the story of how his mother cared for his father during a seven year period of extreme illness. He said that through those years he saw first hand a picture of unyielding commitment. A commitment that says for better for worse, for rich or for poorer, in sickness and in health Till Death Do Us Part!
SERVICE ELEMENTS:
* LC 411 - Live Edition
“Broadcast” - Steve Fee
“Glorious One” - Steve Fee
“Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone” - Chris Tomlin
“I Need You” - Sonic Flood
He Said, She Said Intro Video
Message - “Till Death Do Us Part”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
* Online Giving is now up - see www.visitlifepoint.org for more info
* Unleash Conference - for Volunteers, March 11-12
* The 2008 Lifepoint Annual Report is now available each Sunday @ The Resource Table
* Next Sunday is Time Change - Spring Forward!
Sunday, 02.22.09
Week Three: He Said, She Said
Message Title: “No Pod Shots Allowed”
Scripture: Song of Solomon 5 & 6
MESSAGE RECAP:
In week three of He Said, She Said Pastor Daniel preached on Fighting Fair, looking at the example of Solomon and his wife in Song of Solomon 5 and 6.
Pastor began by describing how that we would all encounter conflict in our lives. Therefore the issue is not if we will fight but will we fight fair. We all have a choice to fight towards a resolution, which bring progress or fight for personal victory, which causes everyone to loose.
Pastor said that conflict is the result of unmet expectations. That we all, weather we realize it or not, carry unmet expectations into our relationships. Expectations about money, disciplining our children, religion, in regards to In-laws.
Pastor said that instead of acting in love to often we poke and prod until there is an explosion and then we spend the next few hours, days, months picking out the pieces of shrapnel from our lives. Simply because we choose the low ground – we didn’t overcome evil with good – we had to get our point across!! When we should overcome evil with good and leave the heart change of others up to God.
Pastor strongly advised couples that if they spend any amount of time trashing their spouse to their friends that they need to shut their mouth!!
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
* Will you act in love or react and try to bully your way in?
* Will you overcome evil with Good or will push your will?
* Will you play God or leave changing someones heart up to God?
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT IN CONFLICT:
1. Remove ALWAYS and NEVER from your vocabulary.
2. 10 second rule – wait 10 seconds to respond.
3. Timing is everything – know the right time to confront.
4. Leave the kids out of it – not in front of them and def. don’t bring them into it. (they will reproduce what is modeled for them)
5. Throw away old ammo
6. Be an Adult – no name calling, no stomping out of the room, no bringing other family members into the conflict.
SERVICE ELEMENTS:
Opener - “Love Song,” Sarah Bareilles
“Salvations Chorus” - Northpoint Music
LC 411 - Special Live Edition, with Ashley LaSource
“He is Lord” - Hillsong, This is Our God
“You are my King” - Billy James Foote
He Said, She Said Intro Video
Message - “No Pod Shots Allowed”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
* Online Giving is now up - see www.visitlifepoint.org for more info
* Unleash Conference - for Volunteers, March 11-12
* The 2008 Lifepoint Annual Report is now available each Sunday @ The Resource Table
