The week preceeding Easter Sunday is traditionally refered to as Holy Week. It marks the end of Lent and reflects upon the final week of our Lord in His journey to the cross. It begins with Palm Sunday, leads up to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and finds it’s culmination on Resurrection Sunday. Each of these days within Holy Week depict a crucial event that occurred during Jesus’ final week of His earthly ministry.

As we consider Holy Week and Easter Sunday, I submit that these times of reflection and celebration are made most meaningful and immensly sweeter when we prepare our hearts and minds together as families. Practically, it can be as simple as reading through the Gospel accounts of these events each day with our families beginning with Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem and ending with the empty tomb and the ascension back with the Father.

For further reflection I would offer these 2 resources:

• Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter
• The Passion of Jesus Christ: Fifty Reasons Why He Came to Die

I pray your family will experience the fullness of Christ as you prepare for Holy Week and Easter Sunday.

I look forward to gathering together as a faith family on Christmas Day. I know that Christmas falling on a Sunday can throw a hitch in our usual Christmas plans, but what an opportunity to focus on Jesus. We will sing songs that exalt Christ, read passages of Scripture that tell of His coming, and be reminded of His glory. We will have one gathering for both campuses at 11:00 a.m. at The Factory in Frankfort. Be sure to invite your entire family.

If I could sum up what the Christmas sentiment should be with one word I believe it would be, generosity.  Yes, generosity over merriment. As we take time to reflect on the coming and sacrifice of Christ we should see God’s benevolence being extended to humans. What moves the Father to give His only Son? His merciful loving kindness, His graciousness… in a form His generosity. This act and plan should cultivate the same attitude in us. Not just giving, but giving that flows from generous hearts moved by the greatest gift. We can give and exercise generosity in a multitude of ways this season.

One way that we display generosity corporately is through our annual Generous Offering. This offering will be collected during the Christmas Gathering. The monies collected will go to local ministry opportunities, national church planting efforts, and our international partnerships (Cambodia and Haiti). You can give on Sunday morning or online.

May Christ be exalted as we act generously this Christmas.

Pastor Andy

Lift Up The Name by Josh Caterer, Harvest Music, 2008

This modern song is from Psalm 116. It points us to God’s great mercy in Christ.

“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.”

Like the Psalmist, we respond to the great mercy he has given us through Christ by lifting up the cup of salvation in thanksgiving and praise. We do that by lifting up the name that brings redemption and the forgiveness of sins, the name of Jesus!

Song of Testimony

Come Thou Fount by Robert Robinson, 1758

We will respond to the Truth of God’s great unceasing mercy by singing a modern arrangement of an old hymn. This hymn is an acknowledgement of the sovereignty God at work in our lives and reminds our hearts that every gift is from God including the very gift of tuning our hearts to be able to sing His praise!

What is an “Ebenezer?” (“stone of help”): A tangible reminder of God’s Real, Holy Presence and Divine aid.

Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, “Thus far the LORD has helped us,” (1 Samuel 7:12).

Responsive Prayer

As a community of faith we will confess who we are before a Holy God and in whom we trust. We will do that this Sunday through a responsive prayer used by the Scottish reformer, John Knox, in a liturgy in 1560.

Leader: Almighty God, we are unworthy to come into your presence, because of our many sins. We do not deserve any grace or mercy from you, if you dealt with us as we deserve.

All: We have sinned against you, O Lord, and we have offended you.

Leader: And yet, O Lord, as we acknowledge our sins and offenses, so also do we acknowledge you to be a merciful God, a loving and favorable Father, to all who turn to you.

All: And so we humbly ask you, for the sake of Christ your son, to show mercy to us, and forgive us all our offenses.

Leader: By your Spirit, O God, take possession of our hearts, so that, not only the actions of our life, but also the words of our mouths, and the smallest thought of our minds, may be guided and governed by you. All: Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Song of Adoration & Faith

May Your Power Rest on Me by Joel Gerdis & Neil Robins (Sojourn Music)

This song is about the sufficiency of God’s grace in our weakness and in trials/persecution. As the apostle Paul found, we are to be content in our weaknesses and through persecution because it is in those things that Christ’s power is made perfect (see 2 Cor 12:1-10).

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me,” (verse 9).

Worship through Truth

Preaching Text: Acts 4:22-31

Song of Response

I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) by Charles Gabriel, 1905

The scandalous message of the Gospel, that God, the creator of all that is, giver and sustainer of life, came to us in Christ to reveal Himself to sinful man and to redeem us, is an amazing story.

As we respond to this Truth of the Gospel, may we resound in praise to Christ and sing with unhindered joy, How marvelous, How wonderful, and my song shall ever be, how marvelous, how wonderful, is my Savior’s love for me!

Closing Song of Proclamation

Glorious Day by J. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918) (Casting Crowns Arrangement)

As we prepare to scatter as The Church let us join together in proclaiming Christ’s justifying work on our behalf for the glory of God. May we live in the Truth we proclaim!

Living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried He carried my sins far away, rising He justified freely forever, one day He’s coming, Oh glorious Day!

Scriptural Benediction & Commission to “Go, be The Church”

1 Peter 1:3-7 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 10:17-21

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

This Sunday is Orphan Sunday. As we center around God’s Word we will read this passage in Deuteronomy that reminds us that God is the mighty defender of the weak (v18) and lover and redeemer of the sojourner.

Songs of Testimony & Adoration

Everlasting God by Brenton Brown & Ken Riley, 2005

We will respond to the Truth we’ve heard by singing this great modern text taken from Isaiah 40.

You are the everlasting God!
You do not faint you won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak,
you comfort those in need,
you lift us up on wings like eagles.

The Father’s Love by Joel Sczebel
(Sovereign Grace Worship), 2009

This modern worship songs accentuates the great love of the Father by which we receive the spirit of adoption (Rom 8).

How has the sinner been forgiven? How has the rebel been made clean or blinded eyes been made to see? How have the orphans been adopted? Who hated your love and ran from grace, despised and rejected all your ways?

1 John 3:1

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…

Passing the Peace of Christ

As those who have been given the spirit of adoption and have peace with God through Christ, we will practice the peace of Christ by extending it to one another.

Song of Adoration

Precious Children by Joel Sczebel, Meghan Baird, and Abbott Jones
(Sovereign Grace Worship)

As we respond in Spirit to the truth of the Gospel that makes us children of god, the only appropriate response is genuine worship. While we were still sinners, God saved us by his mercy. May that truth resonate with our hearts as we sing,

Hallelujah! We belong to you!
You have washed our stains and have raised us up with Christ,
precious children in your eyes.

Preaching of The Word: Orphan Sunday

James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Song of Response

All I Have is Christ by Jordan Kauflin, (Sovereign Grace Worship), 2008

As children of God we know that it is only by God’s grace that our eyes have been opened to receive the Gospel that brings salvation. We realize that the very strength to follow Christ comes from God whose Spirit empowers us to be obedient.

As we respond in worship we will recognize Christ’s all sufficient merit before the Father on our behalf and proclaim, “Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!”

Closing Song of Proclamation

Alive by Steve & Vikki Cook and Joel Sczebel, (Sovereign Grace Worship), 2011

As we prepare to scatter as The Church let us celebrate the new life Christ has given us! Like orphans who have been given a new life, a new name, a new inheritance, we have been sought out, bought with a price, redeemed and raised up in Christ!

Verse 1
My heart of stone was dead to You, Asleep within a world that scorned its maker
Until You breathed into my soul, And I woke up to You, my glorious Savior
You became my all, You became my all!

Chorus
Now I am alive, I am alive in You
You are alive, You are alive in me
You called my name and raised me from the dead
Now I am alive I am alive in You

Verse 2
In You my life’s completely new, I’m blameless in Your eyes because of Calv’ry
The Father welcomes me with joy, Your Spirit makes me know Your great love for me
Jesus, You’re my all. Jesus, You’re my all!

Bridge
Bought with a price that cannot be measured
Chosen before all time
You are my joy, my prize, and my treasure
Jesus, You are my life
Closing Scriptural Blessing & Commission to “Go, be The Church”

Ephesians 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Psalm 150:1-2

As we gather around God’s Word we will join the Psalmist in giving God praise for His mighty deeds and proclaiming His greatness.

Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!

In praising God for His greatness and magnifying Him, we remind ourselves that God is much bigger than our problems and joys, greater than all our sorrows and successes and more significant than our tests and triumphs!

Songs of Testimony & Adoration

How Great Thou Art by Stuart K. Hine, 1885

We will respond to the Truth of God’s greatness by singing a modern arrangement of an old hymn based on a poem written by a Swedish sailor/lay minister in 1885 and later translated into English and composed with 2 new stanzas by a British missionary. This hymn is a rich blend of both Spirit and Truth.

Truth Proclaimed: God’s greatness in creation of the entire universe/world and His greatness in sending Christ for our salvation and restoration.

Response in Spirit: Then Sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art!

Prayer

As we continue to reflect upon God’s greatness, we will join our hearts in prayer.

Behold Our God by Jonathan Baird, Meghan Baird, Ryan Baird, and Stephen Altrogge, 2011 Sovereign Grace

This modern worship song magnifies God’s mighty deeds and very being. It culminates in the only proper response: Beholding God through worship and adoration.

CHORUS
Behold our God seated on His throne, come let us adore Him
Behold our King, nothing can compare, come let us adore Him!

As we sing we begin by beholding God’s omnipotent (all-powerful) sovereign work in His creation and His majesty and Lordship over all of it, including Kings and nations. (i.e. His Greatness!)

VERSE 1
Who has held the oceans in His hand?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at His voice
All creation rises to rejoice!

Verse two accentuates God’s omniscience (all-knowing) by asking a series of rhetorical questions that essentially lead us to behold His perfect all-surpassing wisdom. The answer to each question: No one!

VERSE 2
Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of His words?
Who can teach the one who knows all things?
Who can fathom all his wondrous deeds?

As we get to verse 3 we behold God’s ultimate revelation of Himself and His salvific plan in Jesus Christ.

VERSE 3
Who has felt the nails upon His hands,
bearing all the guilt of sinful man?
God eternal, humbled to the grave,
Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign!

Song of Adoration

O Bless The Lord by Lindsay Pritchett & Matthew Westerhome (Harvest Songs)

This modern worship song, derived from Harvest Church, is based on Psalm 103.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,4who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,5who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

The chorus culminates in this incredible truth found in Psalm 30:5:

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

May we respond in passionate worship as we sing these truths in light of current life circumstances and The Apostle Paul’s encouragement in 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV): 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…

Preaching of The Word: Acts

Acts 4:1-22

Song of Response

In Christ Alone by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

In our text, Peter and John are confronted and arrested by the religious people for proclaiming Jesus and His resurrection from the dead. When asked by what power or by what name (authority) they performed the healing of the lame man, Peter once again points them to the only name with that magnitude of power and authority, the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:11-12 (ESV)

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

As we sing this modern anthem of our faith, may we in boldness proclaim and in faith believe that salvation comes from no other source, no other means but by Christ alone. May we walk daily in the epic truth that, No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand!

Closing Song of Proclamation

Blessed Be The Name by Matt & Beth Redman, 2002

As we prepare to scatter as The Church let us join together in proclaiming that, both in the joys and trials of this life, we will trust in and bless the name that is above every name, The Lord, Jesus!

Closing Responsive Scriptural Exhortation & Commission to “Go, be The Church”

The same Spirit that was at work emboldening and empowering the apostles to be about Christ’s mission is at work in the world today! As we scatter as His Church it’s important to know that we are to live “incarnationally,” empowered by the indwelling of Christ’s Spirit as a living extension of His ministry and mission for God’s greater glory!

From Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

LEADER:
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

ALL:
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


Psalm 146

As we gather around God’s Word we will join the Psalmist in giving God praise and declaring our trust in Him alone.

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

Extra: Trust in princes? (146:3) This psalm was most meaningful to Martin Luther who was forced, because of an emperor’s ban, to rely on rulers of German principalities to stand for the Protestant faith. After much soul–searching, he realized that he need not rely on them, or worry, for his “help [was] the God of Jacob” (v. 5).

Songs of Testimony & Adoration

Hosanna! (Praise is Rising) by Paul Baloche & Brenton Brown (Integrity Music)

As our praise begins to rise, we will unite our voices in celebrative response to the truth of God’s Word and together proclaim that the God we’ve come to worship today is Hosanna, The only God who saves us and changes us by His power! When we come into his presence it is there we find strength, hope and refuge.

Alas and Did My Savior Bleed (At the Cross) (Words: Isaac Watts 1707, Arrangement: J. Lambert)

God is Hosanna, the God who saves us, but how? As we continue our worship through singing, we will answer that question by declaring that salvation is through Christ alone. Christ endured divine wrath in our stead for the greater glory of The Father and for the salvation of our souls. It’s at the cross where we find forgiveness and acceptance.

At the cross, at the cross, where my Sovereign died 
and the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by grace, and by Design 
That you and I have a Way

As we sing together this rich old hymn with a modern arrangement and chorus, may our faith be strengthened and our hearts encouraged as we proclaim the riches of God’s grace in the work of our Savior.

Responsive Scripture Reading

Titus 3:3-7 (ESV)

Leader:
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us,

All:
not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Passing the Peace of Christ

As we have been justified through Christ bringing us peace with God, we rejoice and respond through extending the peace of Christ by greeting both those in our church family and our guests.

While this may seem a little uncomfortable to some, it is a good practice in extending love and showing hospitality. Paul writes in Romans 12:9-13:

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Song of Testimony & Adoration

Before The Throne of God Above (Shane and Shane arrangement/chorus)

Jesus is our mediator and High Priest before The Father. He pleads our case based on His righteous life, His spotless sacrifice, His life-giving resurrection and glorious exaltation! As we consider and sing: One with Himself I cannot die, my soul is purchased by His blood; My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ, my Savior and my God, let that culminate in unhindered praise!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One, Risen Son of God!

Preaching of The Word

Acts 3:17-4:4

Songs of Response

There is A Fountain by William Cowper, 1772 (Mars Hill Arrangement)

As we respond to the Truth of God’s Word we gather around the Lord’s table to reflect upon the work of Christ. This Ancient hymn of the faith points us to the saving fountain of Jesus’ blood that never loses its effectual power to save lost sinners. Let this be our claim and our song as we live incarnationally in a world where the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but the power of God for those who believe!

E’er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die!

Closing Song of Proclamation

We Sing (Sovereign Grace, 09)

As we prepare to scatter as The Church we will join together in proclaiming our assurance in the Gospel and reason for singing. Just as Peter points his hearers to Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets, we point to him as the full revelation of God and author of our salvation!

Once we were going our own ways, now we’re a people for your praise! 
It’s all because of Jesus we sing!

Closing Scriptural Exhortation & Commission to “Go, be The Church”

Centering & Call to Worship

Psalm 24:7-10

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty”


The Psalmist here asks the question rhetorically. Yet, it is still a question nonetheless. The infiniteness and transcendence of God are a mystery. Here, we worship with wonder and awe as we sing:

Lord of All

In Acts 2 we find the people clinging to Peter and John for the wonders that God displayed through them. We also find Peter trying to point the people back to Christ and so we sing:

There is none so high and holy
King of Kings, the one only…
You are The Lord of All!

Songs of Testimony/Adoration & Scripture Reading

Next, we turn to the Scriptures to read responsively together, as one voice, to proclaim the answer to the question David asks rhetorically, “Who is this King of Glory?”

Colossians 1:15-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

What better way to answer the question than responding with that truth, as we glory and boast in that. Who could ever question the deity of our Lord? He (Jesus Christ, the anointed One) is the King of Glory and in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…Amen and Amen!

We continue with the following verses (Colossians 1:21-22), which bring the Good News to fruition for us, who were “alienated and hostile in mind.”

And we respond by singing and glorying in the truth that:

All I Have is Christ

Welcome and Preaching of the Word

Pastor John Martin will preach in Frankfort, while Scott Schilb will preach in Lexington. This week’s passage is Acts 3:1-16.

Worship by Responding, Giving, & Communion

Once again, we will respond to the truth of God’s Word by taking part in Communion through the partaking of the symbolic Body and Blood of Christ in remembrance of His sacrifice, which is offered freely to those who are regenerate believers in Christ and who choose to do so.

We continue to respond by proclaiming that it is through Christ’s finished work that we are healed, justified, made alive in the life of Christ. Hallelujah, righteous blood covers every sin.

We Have Been Healed

It is through that finished, sufficient work of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit in our lives, that we can freely and joyfully Praise the One who paid our debt and raised this life up from the dead.

Jesus Paid it All (O Praise the One)

Who is this King of Glory? He is the one who changes the leper’s spots and melts the hearts of stone. O that we may be changed by the Truth of the Gospel proclaimed and through the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit!

Closing Song of Proclamation & Exhortation

It is on this Truth that we stand. The strength and honor is not found in the one standing, but rather on the Rock on which he stands!

The Solid Rock

Exhortation to “Go be The Church”

Be the Church; be the movement in your world that began many years ago in the book of Acts.

This year, each PCG will be responsible for bringing specific items. See your PCG leader for more information on what you need to bring to the packing party. Start collecting items now, and be sure to bring your favorite Christmas snack to the packing party. See you there! Here is the information for each campus’ packing parties:

Frankfort

Wednesday, November 2nd at 6:00 p.m.

Lexington

Sunday, November 13th following the service

Psalm 149:1-4 …For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. 


As we gather around God’s Word we will center on the truth that God delights in those who are His and adorns the humble with salvation.

Songs of Testimony

God Delights in You (Sovereign Grace)

In response to truth of our centering verses, we will sing this upbeat modern hymn that testifies to scripture that God takes delight in those who are his. As we reflect on God’s grace that makes us daughters and sons, may the truth that we are His through Christ cause us to delight in Him and…

Come and sing, come and dance!
The Father’s singing over you!
Come rejoice and be glad, for God delights in you!

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Words: Charles Wesley, Arrangement & Chorus: John Martin)


“I heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands.” (Revelation 5:11)

The great hymn writer Charles Wesley wrote more than 6,000 hymns. He wrote O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing in 1739, shortly after his conversion.

As we sing together this rich old hymn with a modern arrangement, may our faith be strengthened and hearts encouraged as we join with all of heaven in proclaiming our great redeemers praise! Sing the gospel to your soul as you meditate on the work of Christ: 

He breaks the power of cancelled sin He sets the prisoners free,

His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me!

Corporate Confession with Scriptural Assurance

Although we come before God boldly through Christ, we also come humbly, knowing that it is only through Christ and His righteous that we can even approach a holy God. Not unlike Israel in the Old Testament, we are a sinful rebellious people. Yet, God is a just, faithful and Holy God who’s love is from everlasting to everlasting. So, as a sinful people who find our complete dependence upon God’s grace in Christ, we join together in confessing our sins and trust in Christ.

Leader:
Almighty and merciful God, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have broken your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

People:
O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to the world in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And grant, O merciful God, for his sake, that we may live a holy, just, and humble life to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Let us find assurance in God’s Word that our sins are forgiven through Christ.

Leader: (Rom 8:1-2, 16-17a)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…

Song of Testimony & Adoration

Precious Children (Sovereign Grace)

This song is a celebration of God’s sovereign work in initiating our salvation (justification in Christ). It is a declaration of our identity in Christ as seen in Ephesians 2:4-6:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… (ESV)

Come with praise and thanksgiving to the One who changed our status from straying rebels to precious children!

Preaching of The Word (Acts 2:42-47
)

Pastor Tony will preach at each gathering

Songs of Response

How Deep the Father’s Love (Stuart Townend)

As we respond to the Truth of God’s Word we gather around the Lord’s table and reflect on the depth of our Father’s love in the Gospel that brings us salvation. 

It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished 
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished!

All I Have is Christ (Jordan Kauflin, Sovereign Grace)

We will sing this powerful new song that celebrates God’s amazing sovereign grace in saving sinners and declares that Christ alone is all sufficient!

Chorus
Hallelujah all I have is Christ! Hallelujah Jesus is my life!

Verse 1
I once was lost in darkest night Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own a rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first I would refuse You still

Verse 2
But as I ran my hell-bound race indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me now all I know is grace

Verse 3

Now Lord I would be Yours alone and live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands could never come from me
O Father use my ransomed life in any way You choose
And let my song forever be my only boast is You

Closing Chorus of Proclamation

Precious Children (Sovereign Grace
)

As we prepare to scatter as The Church we will declare our identity and assurance in the Gospel that not only saves us but sanctifies us as we live in community as children of God.

Hallelujah! We belong to You
You have washed our stains
And have raised us up with Christ
Precious children in Your eyes


Closing Scriptural Exhortation & Commission to “Go, be The Church”

We have gathered to worship God and now we scatter to do the same. Being the Church is about our identity in Christ. As disciples we know that a vital part of our mission happens outside of our corporate gatherings. We are missionaries who have been charged and sent by God to take the Gospel to the very ends of the earth.

As we gather this Sunday we will center ourselves upon God by reflecting through prayer on God’s perfect justice and mercy. We rejoice in God’s mercy that, those in Christ Jesus, will never know His wrath because it has been placed upon The Son. We live in His righteousness!

Songs of Testimony

Warrior by Sojourn (inspired by Isaac Watts metrical version of Psalm 21)

The Psalm that inspired this song is a Psalm of David rejoicing in God’s justice and gives thanks for victory in battle. Verse 1 of the song contrasts David earthly temporal reign with Christ’s eternal reign, which is a truth seen in our focal text this Sunday (vv 29-36). The psalm (21) culminates in praise to God for the anticipated coming Messiah. We hope as we sing this most unusual hymn that it challenges you and inspires you to remember that the only true Warrior has defeated Satan and will overcome every adversary who plots evil against God. Victory is certain and our eternal destiny is secure through Christ!

Reading of Psalm 21

Celebration of Baptism

In our Lexington gathering we will celebrate God’s regenerating work through baptism! Noah King surrendered to Christ last week and will be baptized by his father, David. We rejoice with the King family in God’s mighty work of salvation in Noah’s life!

Scripture Reading

Ezekiel 36:23-27 will be read to remind us that God’s mercy and grace is for the purpose of His glorification and for the sake of His Holy name. In these verses we find the promise of the giving of God’s Holy Spirit and a foreshadowing of God’s salvific work through Christ. May this lead us to worship!

Song of Testimony & Adoration

Alive by Sovereign Grace

This song is a celebration of God’s sovereign work in initiating our salvation (justification in Christ) and, by The Spirit, sanctifying us. It is a declaration of our identity in Christ as seen in Ephesians 2:4-6:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… (ESV)

Verse 1
My heart of stone was dead to You, Asleep within a world that scorned its maker
Until You breathed into my soul, And I woke up to You, my glorious Savior
You became my all, You became my all

Chorus
Now I am alive, I am alive in You, You are alive, You are alive in me
You called my name and raised me from the dead, Now I am alive I am alive in You

Verse 2
In You my life’s completely new, I’m blameless in Your eyes because of Calv’ry
The Father welcomes me with joy, Your Spirit makes me know Your great love for me
Jesus, You’re my all. Jesus, You’re my all!

Passing the Peace of Christ

Because we have been given peace through Christ, we extend it to one another through greeting those around us in His name. During this time it is fine to simply welcome those around you, encourage someone or literally pass the peace of Christ by saying, “Peace be with you.” This week we will start by reading responsively this excerpt from Romans 5:

Leader:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

People:
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Song of Adoration

Glorious Day by Casting Crowns

This song is taken from the old hymn ‘Oh Glorious Day’ written by Rev. John Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918).

Living He loved me, dying He saved me,
Buried He carried my sins far away.
Rising He justified freely forever,
One day He’s coming—Oh Glorious Day!

As we prepare our hearts to receive God’s Word, we will proclaim Christ’s death, resurrection, effectual work in our lives (justification) and look forward with great anticipation to the day when He will return to restore all things to Himself! This song also finds several connections with our focal text.

1: Acts 2:20: The glorious return of Christ

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming, One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my beloved one bringing, My Savior Jesus is mine
One day He’s coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day!

2: Acts 2:23: Christ’s rejection and death

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain, One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected, Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree, and took the nails for me

3: Acts 2:24, 31-32: Christ’s Resurrection & victory over sin and death

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer, One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered, Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, The grave could not keep Him from rising again

4: Acts 2:33, 36: Christ’s exaltation

Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore!

Preaching of The Word

Focal Text: Acts 2:14-41

Song of Response

Rock of Ages (Cleft for Me) by Augustus Toplady (Sojourn arrangement)

Click here to read the story of the origins of this hymn.

As we respond to the Truth of God’s Word, we will declare our dependence on Christ alone for salvation.

Not the labour of my hands can fulfill thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone.

Closing Song of Proclamation

Happy Day by Tim Hughes (2006)

We will rejoice in the resurrection of Christ and it’s work in our lives through this celebrative modern song. Truly the resurrection was foreshadowed by David’s writing in our text: “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption,” (Acts 2:27 ). This song also points us to our eternal destiny when we are face to face with our Savior!

When I stand face to face, free at last meeting face to face, I am Yours Jesus You are mine!
Endless joy, perfect peace, Earthly pain finally will cease, celebrate Jesus is alive! He’s Alive!

Closing Scriptural Exhortation & Commission to “Go, be The Church”

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:9-11 ESV)

We want to make you aware of some important changes we will be making in our Sunday morning gatherings beginning in October.

Kidstyle Name Change

We will be changing the name of our Sunday morning children’s worship gathering from KidStyle Worship to KidsPoint Worship. We feel that names and terminology teach. The title KidStyle Worship focuses on the difference in style of how adults and kids worship. However, KidsPoint Worship focuses more on what we have gathered to do and who is doing it. It also acknowledges that the children are worshipping within the context of the larger Point Body. We want to put the focus more on the reason for gathering as the Point Body, which is for worshiping, and less on the way we worship.

Time Change

We value families at The Point and have concluded there is as much intrinsic value in children experiencing worship with their families in the larger corporate setting as there is in departmentalized instruction. That is why we dismiss our children from their gathering into the larger gathering during the response time each week rather than having them stay in their area until the end.

After evaluating what we value and how it is practiced, we will be experimenting with the following change effective 10/2/11:

Children, K-3, will gather with their families in the larger corporate gathering at the beginning of each service instead of at the end. They will remain with their families during the first half of the liturgy and will have the option to be dismissed to their teacher prior to the preaching.

Rationale

• Worship Flow: The response time following the message is a special time when God uses the Truth of His Word and the power of His Spirit to be operative in the lives of people. Dismissing children at the front end of the service allows families an unhindered time to respond without having to worry about retrieving their children during that time. Instead, children will be picked up immediately following the service. (For security purposes, children will not be allowed to leave until a parent picks them up)
• Visitors & Late-Comers: Finally, dismissing at the front of the service rather than the end lets visitors know we have an optional gathering for their children and allows late-comers and visitors alike to dismiss their children at the same time. This can be helpful in avoiding awkward moments.

Why we provide an opportunity for children to worship with the congregation

Children learn by example as well as instruction. By participating and observing in the larger worship gathering, we exemplify what it means to gather as The Church. This is a great opportunity for parents to teach their children that worship is a verb, not a noun. It’s what we do, not where we go. Typically, the front end of our liturgy allows for more participation and is more celebrative and engaging for children.

Preparation: Joining the larger gathering for a brief time each week helps children be prepared for the time when they age out of KidsPoint. It helps them know what to expect when they join in the larger context and helps them to not be intimidated.

Click here to read more about The Point’s liturgy.

Centering & Call to Worship

Reading from Psalm 145: The first part of our journey that will call us to worship and center us upon God is a reading from Psalm 145. This ancient Psalm of David centers us upon God’s goodness and power and exhorts His saints to declare these attributes by making known to all His mighty deeds.

Psalm 145:8-12 (ESV)

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Songs of Testimony & Adoration

I Sing the Mighty Power by Isaac Watts

Jeremiah 10:12: It is he who made the earth by his power…

As Psalm 145 exhorts us to declare God’s goodness and power by making known his mighty deeds, we will do so by singing this old hymn of the faith (1715) in an original modern arrangement.

As we worship God in song, we are declaring God’s goodness, sovereignty, omnipotence (infinite power) and omnipresence (God is present everywhere) in creation and in providing for his creation. The same power at work in these sovereign acts was at work in the giving of the Holy Spirit in our preaching text on the day of Pentecost: “both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

Behold Our God by Sovereign Grace

As we continue in our journey we come in awe to behold the God who is sovereign over all creation, omniscient (all-knowing) and enthroned in heaven ruling and reigning over all creation. The last verse leads us to behold God’s most gracious act of love towards us and leads us to the work of our Lord, Jesus.

Who has felt the nails upon His hands, bearing all the guilt of sinful man?

God eternal, humbled to the grave, Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign

The truth of the Gospel, that Jesus, co-eternal with the Father, died for sin, was buried, rose in victory and now reigns, culminates in praise and adoration as we declare, “You will reign forever! Let Your glory fill the earth!

Scripture Reading (Responsive)

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Songs of Testimony & Adoration

May Your Power Rest on Me by Sojourn

This modern composition inspired by the preceding 2 Corinthians reading and an old Isaac Watts hymn (Hymn 15), will serve as a prayer as we continue to worship through singing. Within the text we find a declaration of our security in Christ as well as divine strength when we are weak as we live in the power of Christ.

Though the trial still goes on, Your grace will be my song. For I can bear all things when temptation springs for you sustain me all my days.

How does He strengthen us? How does He sustain us all our days? It’s through the Truth of His Word, the Gospel and by the power of His Spirit at work in the lives of those who belong to Christ.

Preaching of The Word

The week, we continue our series, Acts: The Story of the Church. Our pastors will preach from Acts 2:1-13.

Response Time

Click here to read more about our response time.

Song of Response

Rock of Ages (Cleft for Me) by Augustus Toplady (Sojourn arrangement)

Click here to read the story behind this song.

As we respond to the Truth of God’s Word, we will declare our dependence on Christ alone for salvation. Interestingly, the Pentecost celebration was to commemorate the giving of the law to Israel through Moses. In our preaching text, the Holy Spirit falls on the celebration declaring that salvation does not come through the law, but through the new covenant in Christ! The Spirit points us to Christ. This old hymn, written around 1765, reflects that:

Not the labour of my hands can fulfill thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears for ever flow,

All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and thou alone.

Closing Song of Declaration & Commitment

You Never Let Go by Matt and Beth Redman (2005)

The Holy Spirit is the primary manifestation of the presence of the Trinity among us. He is the one who is most prominently present with us now. He is at work in the World pointing us to Christ, causing us to make much of Him for the glory of God. He is all sufficient and never lets go. Thus, we sing, “I won’t turn back I know You are near” and “I will fear no evil, for my God is with me” so whom shall we fear? Jesus has left us with all we need until He returns!

Closing Scriptural Blessing & Exhortation to “Go, be The Church”

2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

As we begin the fall semester of MidPoint, here is information about the discipleship classes that will be offered for all ages at 6:15 p.m. each Wednesday for the next six weeks:

WeePoint (Birth-Pre-K)

This age group will meet in WeePoint Room A. They will be learning through the Desiring God curriculum, focusing on God’s grace.

KidsPoint (Kindergarten-3rd grade)

This age group will meet in the KidsPoint room in the KidsPoint room. They will be studying God’s grace in our lives and how God works through grace.

Preteens (4th-5th grade)

We will offer a Preteen class for students in the 4th and 5th grade. They will begin their class in the KidsPoint room and end in the front office. The Preteen class will be doing a study on the life and biblical works of Peter.

Students

Middle School and High School will be meeting in the Youth Rooms behind the stage. They will have separate Bible studies but both will be learning how to study the Bible inductively as they study 1 Peter.

Adults

The adults will meet in the worship space and will be studying The Missional Life. Together we will discuss ways that each of us can live a life that fulfills Acts 1:8. It will help us to better understand how we can continue to live ordinary lives with gospel intentionality.

We hope to see you on Wednesdays this fall! Invite friends!

In Frankfort, we will be holding two sessions on August 24th and 31st from 6-8PM at our Frankfort campus location – The Factory.

Register for Frankfort StartingPoint

In Lexington, we will hold a single session on August 20th from 8:30AM to 12:30PM at our Lexington campus location – Apostle’s Anglican Church.

Register for Lexington StartingPoint

If you would like more information about membership at The Point, please click here.

• Give all of our volunteers a break from being involved with both services each week (serving in one service and attending another)
• Allow for all of our members and attendees to be together at one time. Typically, only our members attend the 9 AM, while many visitors come to the 11AM service. Having one service should enable our community to grow closer together as we get to know each other better.

We will hold a single service throughout June, July and August. On Sunday, September 11th, we will resume our 9 AM and 11 AM services.

The Fall is marked by rebellion, disobedience (sin), and a subsequent curse. It has effected and tainted every aspect of creation and all that God has instituted. Our ideas of man and woman, our roles and responsibilities, our concept of marriage and family have all been corrupted by the first family’s rebellion. Yet even in the midst of the penalty for sin being levied there is the divine promise to do a work that would bring about redemption through a Rescuer. This is the Gospel.

In this eight-week sermon series, we will look at how The Fall has wrecked our concept and understanding of the family. Sin has hijacked our ability to function as Godly families; yet, we rejoice as we learn how God is redeeming and restoring the institution and function of the family through the power and work of Jesus Christ. Join us as Gospel truth transforms us and we understand our created roles as man/woman, husband/wife, father/mother, and son/daughter.

Throughout the ninth chapter of Luke the writer tells how Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for what would occur in Jerusalem. The twenty-third and twenty-fourth chapters describe the events of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus knew what would happen in Jerusalem, but those closest to Jesus were blinded to His preparatory words and actions. Here the disciples are recorded as arguing among themselves and desiring to see fire consume an unbelieving town instead of preparing themselves for what was to come. When the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophetic words came, they were all caught completely by surprise. As we read through the Gospels, we see how Jesus was preparing Himself, His disciples, and His followers for the sacrificial offering He was about to make.

Walking in light of Jesus’ example, we also should prepare our hearts and lives as we remember and celebrate the events that occurred in Jerusalem. Join us in gatherings and daily devotions as we prepare ourselves as a church. We will prepare ourselves through a series of daily scripture readings and devotions that the staff has written which will be dispersed this Thursday. Use these devotions for personal meditation or for a family time of worship. Martin Luther wrote, “meditation done rightly on the suffering of Christ for a day, an hour, or even one quarter of an hour is better than a whole year of fasting, days spent singing psalms or even one hundred church services.”

As we will gather corporately, we will be focusing on three words to center us on the sacrifice of Christ: rejected, cursed, and exalted. This Sunday, we will remember that even in the adulations of Palm Sunday Christ was rejected by the masses. On Good Friday, we will gather at 7pm at the Factory to remember that in the cross Jesus was cursed. And lastly, we will gather on Easter Sunday to celebrate the truth that Jesus is exalted through His resurrection from the dead. May we begin the work of preparing our hearts, thoughts and lives to remember the passion of Jesus.

Sincerely,

Pastor Andy

To contact the elders by email you can send an email to: elders@thepointcommunity.net.

Over the last several months we have seen great evidence of God growing His Church. One result of that growth has been more families with children coming to The Point. Another result of God at work has been the addition of our Lexington campus.

These two elements of growth have brought us to a new level of need within the area of ministry to children and families. We are now in a season of the life of our church where we see the need to streamline between the campuses and give more time and commitment to the forward momentum of ministry to children. This will require more time, energy, planning and efficiency necessitating some office hours during the work week in order to be most productive and effective. The best way we can require and accommodate that kind of commitment at this stage in the life of the Church is to combine both the current preschool and children’s ministry roles into one position.

Tabitha Wainscott, who currently serves as our children’s director, has served children and families at The Point faithfully and well during her time in this role. She has been and continues to be a blessing to our church family. Her giftedness and passion for teaching children have noticeably made a lasting impact for the gospel. Apart from her ministry at The Point, Tabitha is employed full time with the state in the Department of Revenue. With the merging of the two director roles and streamlining between campuses come added responsibilities and time commitments that would make the forward momentum we need at this time very difficult for someone with a full time job. After speaking with Tabitha, we have made the following decisions:

1) Tabitha will move from Children’s Director to Kidstyle Worship Coordinator. We feel like this move best accentuates Tabitha’s gifts and passions as she excels relationally and as a teacher of children. Additionally, Tabitha will serve as a teacher and key leader within the area of children’s ministry (mid-week programs, camps, etc…).

2) Jenna Huesing will assume the position of Children’s Ministry Director. This will entail leadership and over sight of both preschool (birth-preK) and Children’s (Grades K-5) ministry. Jenna, like Tabitha, is very gifted in areas of teaching and additionally, administration. She is currently in a season of her life where she is able and available to give the time and energy needed for the forward momentum of the ministry. Like Tabitha, Jenna has a passion to see children come to know and follow Christ and families equipped to lead their children. Jenna has agreed to a two year commitment in this role and will be evaluated regularly.

These changes have been evaluated, prayed over and reviewed by the Elders and will be effective January 1, 2011. Should you have any questions or concerns or if there is a way we can serve your family, feel free to contact me.

I am very excited about the future of children’s ministry at The Point. Please join me in showing appreciation to Tabitha for her faithfulness in serving and welcoming Jenna as she begins her new role.

The Point is registering as a group. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED, Act Like Men is sold out! If you want to be added to a stand by list, email alawrence@thepointcommunity.net

THE PURPOSE of Act Like Men is to challenge men to fight for the radical transformation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their personal lives. This will include examining how Jesus expects men to take responsibility and lead in their homes, their families, their churches, and culture; to be responsible and honor Christ in their use of time and their finances, and to be wise in career and life decisions. The Apostle Paul exhorted the men in the Corinthian church to be watchful, to stand firm in the faith, to act like men, and to be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13). Above all, men will be challenged to examine their lives and to kill sin wherever the Holy Spirit makes it known through conviction.

THE THEME of this year’s conference is ‘CULTIVATE: Godliness is Manliness.’ Men were created to cultivate, starting with our father Adam. We are still called to cultivate our wives, our children, our work, our churches, and our own souls and minds. At Act Like Men 2011 we are going to be challenged by our speakers to strive to instill rhythms in our lives in order to fulfill, by God’s grace, our call to cultivate.

EVENT SCHEDULE

9:00-10:15 Session 1: CULTIVATE: Reponsibility W/ Dave Dorr

10:20-11:20 Session 2: CULTIVATE: Humility W/ Kevin Jamison

11:30-12:00 Q & A Panel W/ Nick Nye

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-1:45 Breakout Sessions:

• CULTIVATE: Church Planting Roundtable — Dustin Neeley, Jerry Funston, Kurt Hannah & Michael Clary
• CULTIVATE: Spiritual Disciplines – Noel Heikkinen
• CULTIVATE: Missionary Mindset – Gary Aston
• CULTIVATE: Rhythms of Rest – Chad Lewis
• CULTIVATE: Worship Leaders: Joe Byler, Phil Wing,
• CULTIVATE: Community – Brad Snyder, Michael Crow, Jason Wing

2:00-3:00 Session 3: CULTIVATE: Prayer

3:00-4:00 Q & A Panel W/ Nick Nye

4:00-5:00 Session 4: CULTIVATE: The Gospel W/ Steve Timmis

MORE INFO >> http://actlikemencolumbus.com/

The class will be held at the Frankfort Campus and is open to both LEX and FKT campus folks.

REGISTER HERE

Brian is a native of Lexington and has just moved back to Lexington after a 9-year hiatus. During his time away he married his best friend, Piper. They will be celebrating their 8-year anniversary in 2011.

Brian is also 2-time graduate from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Marketing and MBA in Finance. Brian has held professional financial positions in banking and corporate finance. Brian also holds a Master’s in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College.

Brian’s favorite past time is playing with his two redheads. Elijah is 4 years old and is the life of the party and will hopefully take care of his dad with his future major league baseball contract . McKenzie is 2 and is doing her best to keep up with her big brother, cracking jokes and taking care of her baby dolls. Brian and Piper enjoy going to sporting events, traveling, hiking, biking and basically doing anything possible outdoors together.

When not working or spending time with his family, Brian enjoys playing basketball, softball or playing drums. Brian and his family attend the Lexington Campus.

God restores. God redeems. He turns our ruins into walls of strength and security for His glory and our joy.

WORSHIP is one of our key core values at The Point. While authentic worship of Jesus should transcend our corporate gatherings and be expressed and lived out in our lives as we strive to follow Christ daily, we know there is something unique, sweet and powerful about gathering together as The Church for corporate worship.

The weekly gathering of The Church for worship should be very high on the priority list of every Christ follower (Heb 10:19-25). However, the truth is many treat the Sunday morning service as just another event that is tacked on to the end of their busy week. If we are in Christ, worship should be reflected in our lives throughout the week in order to truly culminate in worship in Spirit and Truth (Jn 4:24) during our corporate gatherings. Thus, it becomes essential that as we gear up for each corporate gathering, we prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to worship Jesus whole-heartedly.

While there is no instruction manual or magical prescription to help us in our preparation, there are some practical things we can do to help us bring our very best offering as we gather. Here are 10 recommendations that are not all original to me, that can help us as we prepare for Sunday mornings.

1) Continually Preach the Gospel to yourself during the week. This will help you to keep the right perspective each day. Knowing that you are accepted by God only through the work of Christ by grace can help you fight sin and love Jesus supremely!

2) Keep a short leash on sin through regular prayer and meditation. Confession and repentance are paramount in our relationship with the Father. Unconfessed sin is the greatest impediment to worship. Spend time in prayer and meditation with the Spirit, and let him guide you by pointing out possible “blind spots.” Even if you have somehow forgotten about sin in your life, the Spirit will be sure to convict you, not for condemnation, but to spur you all the more quickly to confession and repentance so that grace might abound.

3) Keep God’s Word on the forefront. Find times throughout your day to dwell in God’s word. It doesn’t have to be a 20-30 minute quiet time every day. Print out key passages about various attributes of God or testimonies of the Gospel and hang them on your bathroom mirror, your computer screen or wherever else you will encounter it throughout your day. Begin reading various Psalms on your breaks or during scheduled downtimes. This will help keep your mind set upon God.

4) Keep your Relationships “in check.” Start with your family. Make sure your relationship with your spouse and children (or parents, etc.) is where it needs to be. Be quick to extend forgiveness where it is needed, and ask for forgiveness where you yourself where you have failed. Consider your work relations, neighbors, acquaintances, and church family. Are there any grudged or bitterness being harbored? Offer grace, even where it may not be deserved, just as the Savior has done for us.

5) Have the proper perspective of the gathering. Realize that the main point of the worship gathering is not for you to be blessed, or even for you to be a blessing to others. The primary function of a worshiper is to worship God through exalting and magnifying Christ. Knowing that God only receives our worship because of the work of Christ can help us keep the proper perspective!

6) Determine to come to the gathering with expectation as a participant rather than an observer. Gather together expecting to meet with the Lord. Come expecting the Lord to reveal Himself and transform your life. Enter corporate worship with the reverence and awe the High Priest must have felt as he entered the Holy of Holies, but realizing He is already present within you (Heb 9). You are now the Temple, and the Holy of Holies is inside you. Determine to be a participant not an observer. Remember, you are there to worship God, He is our audience, not you or others. He is omnipresent, we do not have to “conjure” or invite His presence. Worship is ALWAYS an action, even when internal and personal. It is impossible for worship to be passive.

7) Make time for family worship during the week. This does not have to be daily or complex but it needs to be consistent. It can be as simple as reading scripture together and praying. Pray for the gathering on Sunday morning. Pray for the pastor who will preach truth, the worship leaders who lead us in song and liturgy and for our worship to be centered around and upon Christ. The corporate gathering is most authentic and real when it is the culmination of our worship, not the initiation.

Highly prioritize the weekly gathering. Corporate worship should be one of your highest priorities as an individual or a family. When we “neglect meeting together” because of busy family schedules or reoccurring conflicting activities or events, we are devaluing the importance and relevance of worship. Likewise, we once again fail to be active participants in the life of the body. The writer of Hebrews exhorts the early Church and us to, “…let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb 10:24-25)

9) Guard your time and activities the day/evening before corporate worship. Rest long enough Saturday night to be alert and hopeful Sunday morning. .. Without sufficient sleep, our minds are dull, our emotions are flat, our proneness to depression is higher, and our fuses are short. My counsel decide when you must get up on Sunday in order to have time to eat, get dressed, pray and meditate on the Word, prepare the family, and travel to church; and then compute backward eight hours and be sure that you are in bed 15 minutes before that. Read your Bible in bed and fall asleep with the Word of God in your mind. I especially exhort parents to teach teenagers that Saturday is NOT the night to stay out late with friends. If there is a special late night, make it Friday. It is a terrible thing to teach children that worship is so optional that it doesn’t matter if you are exhausted when you come. –adapted from John Piper

10) Desire the Truth of God’s Word more than you desire riches or food. 1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” As you sit quietly and pray and meditate on the text and the songs, remind yourself of what Psalm 19:10-11 says about the Words of God “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Think earnestly about what is sung and prayed and preached. –adapted from John Piper

We are celebrating this Christmas as a church family by intentionally being GENEROUS: Generous with our time, money and love. What greater way to celebrate the birth of our Savior than by reaching out beyond our church to truly make a difference!

One of the components of “A Generous Christmas” will be a year-end special offering. This offering will go toward meeting needs in and out of our body. We are identifying needs within our body, in our community and in our world. And during the Christmas season we will be meeting those needs by being generous to the glory of God because we want to demonstrate to the world that God is generous. We will be announcing the details about how the offering will be used in the coming days.

Our sermons, community group teachings and study material will be focused on the tenets of the Advent Conspiracy as in years past: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. We are excited about HOW we are going to do these things.

Why is this important? Because our worship of Christ is especially threatened, even more so at Christmas. Spending money, wanting things, and spending our time in the chaos of our consumer-culture are just some of the ways that we truly miss the meaning of Christmas. Incredibly, as Christians, our worship of Christ is threatened by another empire.

We must resist the empire of consumption as we live in the narrative of the Biblical account of the birth of Christ, proclaiming to the world that we serve a different King whose Kingdom is one of giving ourselves to others and not hoarding for ourselves.

Let’s teach our children, each other and our world that God is giving.

So join us and let’s make this Christmas different by worshipping fully, spending less, giving more and loving all.

Wednesday, Dec 1 :: 6:15pm at The Factory

$5 suggested donation for book

REGISTER ONLINE

“The things that are essential to salvation are so exceedingly simple that no child need sit down in despair of understanding the things which make for his peace. Christ crucified is not a riddle for sages, but a plain truth for plain people. True it is meat for men, but it is also milk for babes.”

As parents, we carry the primary responsibility for the training of our children. Join us for a very practical workshop for parents on leading children towards Gospel faith and repentance. We will discuss the theological foundations of salvation and how to practically and intentionally lead our children toward a proper understanding and application of the Gospel. We will explore ways to assess a child’s “readiness” and discuss indicators that point us to evidence of regeneration.

Childcare will be provided.

1. God is Great – This means that God is sovereign. He is all-powerful. He alone is in control. Therefore, we don’t have to be in control. We don’t have to stress and worry. We are free to rest in His power because He is Great.

2. God is Glorious – This means that God is ultimate in the universe. Therefore, we don’t need to fear other people or events. Also, we understand that it’s not about us. We are free to die to ourselves in the knowledge that He is Glorious.

3. God is Good – This means that God satisfies our needs. We don’t need to look to other things like money, fame, sex, alcohol, drugs, religion, or social issues to find our satisfaction. We are free to enjoy His good gifts knowing that ultimately He alone satisfies. He alone is Good.

4. God is Gracious – This means that God looks at us through the sacrifice of Jesus. He does not give us what we deserve. He gives us precisely what we do not deserve: forgiveness. Therefore, we don’t need to compete with each other or prove ourselves to God. We are free to love each other and live without religion because He is Gracious.

4G Resources:

• Sermon Audio
• Click for a CHART which summarizes the 4G’s.
• For more information on the 4G’s, check out Tim Chester’s book You Can Change.

• We are evangelical: this basically means two things: (1) we believe that the Bible is God’s Word and is therefore our final authority in all matters of life and doctrine, and (2) we believe people need to be saved by responding to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• We are Reformed in our theology: this means that we embrace the general tenets of Reformed theology, a view of the teaching of Scripture that places God at the center of all things, and places emphasis on the activity of God and the glory of God in saving the lost.
• We are missional. This simply means that we are convinced that we are to be working to engage our culture with the Gospel of Christ. We do this by communicating God’s Truth for every generation by passionately proclaiming the gospel through the planting of churches, serving our community and reaching out locally, nationally and internationally. Simply put, we are convinced that we are missionaries right where we live and work.

More important than any denominational affiliation is our desire to lift up the name and supremacy of Jesus Christ in this world. While we are an independent body governed internally by a team of Elders we are committed to being the church in community with other like-minded churches. We do this in by actively cooperating with churches in our community, state, nation and world for the purpose of demonstrating unity within the body and utilizing joint resources in a more effective and far-reaching way.

The Point is part of the Acts 29 Network and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and Harvest Bible Fellowship.

From Tim Challies Blog:

At the 9Marks Ministries blog I recently came across a brief article that outlined some of the ways church members can (and should!) serve their church on a Sunday morning. These are, in turn, drawn from a Trellis & Vine conference led by Colln Marshall.

Before the Service:

Read the passage in advance

Pray for the gathering

Greet newcomers (act like you are the host)

Think strategically about whom you should sit with

Arrive Early

During the Service:

Sing with gusto (even if you can’t sing)

Help with logistics (if there’s a problem, help fix it)

Don’t be distracted

Listen carefully

Be aware of your facial expressions (you may affect others and discourage preachers)

After the Service:

Connect newcomers with others

Get newcomers information

Start a conversation about the sermon

Ask someone how they became a Christian

Stay late

Father, we confess that we are glory seekers who seek after our own glory rather than yours.

We have craved the approval of men and have avoided confrontation and speaking truth to one another in love. 

We have behaved differently around others in order to hide our true self and have lived as if we have forgotten our identity in Christ.

Remind us, Oh Lord, that you alone are glorious and that you are completely satisfied in Christ who has secured our standing and approval with you.

Crucify our pride that leads us to fear others and help us declare in our hearts, our lives and our mouths:

All:          The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)  

A new website is coming soon too which will better reflect that The Point is now ONE CHURCH IN TWO CITIES.

So what next?

Start connecting. Check out the community groups in your area. Try them all until you find one that meets your needs.

Start serving. We need volunteers for set-up/tear-down, greeters, childcare (background check required), and communion. We are also looking for folks who can play and instrument as part of the band.

Start giving. Simply begin to give a portion of your income each week. This money goes to support the Lexington campus and pay for campus staff salaries, rent, supplies, etc. We keep thorough records and if you use a check or envelope, you will get a year-end report for tax purposes.

Start talking. Take some invite cards each week and invite others to come with you. Talk it up. Simple.

New folks: Eat pizza with the pastors. The pastors would love to get to know you better and we like to eat. So, we’d love to connect with you and some pizza at the same time. We’ll do this often.

We are excited about Lexington and what God is doing in this wonderful city. We are grateful that you are part of this journey.

Basic Christian Doctrine is the study of the revealed word of God.  It is  Christian Theology regarding the nature truth, God, Jesus, salvation, damnation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel, resurrection, and more.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,” (2 Tim. 4:3).

WEEK ONE: The Trinity

Many Christians find the doctrine of the Trinity difficult to understand. Sadly, out of laziness or fear, some give up far too quickly and subsequently have little interest in diligently studying to grow in their understanding of God. Further, they commonly defend themselves by saying that if they love God in their heart, they need not concern themselves with deep understanding in their mind. Yet, Jesus himself urges us to love God with both our heart and mind. While the doctrine of the Trinity is certainly difficult to understand, J. I. Packer reminds believers that it is nonetheless true: ‘The historic formulation of the Trinity . . . seeks to circumscribe and safeguard this mystery (not explain it; that is beyond us), and it confronts us with perhaps the most difficult thought that the human mind has ever been asked to handle. It is not easy; but it is true.’ Indeed, Christians should study the doctrine of the Trinity because God has given the church a great blessing in truthfully revealing something so glorious about himself; namely, he is triune. If he reveals it to us, he must consider it important and valuable for our relationship. He loves us deeply. He wants our relationship to be intimate and deep so he gives us precious insights into who he is. If we treasure our relationship with God, we should also treasure the revelation he gives us about himself so that we can know him as best as we are able. Practically speaking, studying the doctrine of the Trinity helps believers appreciate their great salvation, which is frequently described in Paul’s writings as the work of the triune God. Our salvation is enriched as we understand this triune working. We come into relation with the Father and experience perfect fatherliness as he invests in us. From Doctrine, Chapter 1. Trinity: God Is (pgs. 28–29)

The Parent Summit: Level II serves to resource, equip and encourage parents of teenagers.  As parents we are called by Scripture to nurture our children’s faith at home and to lead them into a solid understanding and application of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  For years parents have looked to the church as the primary spiritual training ground for their children.  Although, what we find in scripture is that the main responsibility of spiritual training lies with the parents, not the church.  This may appear to be daunting, but the Body serves to assist you in carrying out this task.  We understand that parenting, guiding, and shepherding teenagers has its own set of difficulties.  This is why we host parent workshops like Parent Summit.  It is so you can network with other like-minded parents, learn from trusted teachers, and be encouraged by the truth of the Gospel- it is God working through you (Philippians 2:13).

It is a free event for all parents and will be held on October 2^nd from 9:00-12:00 at Venue 328 (328 St. Clair St. Frankfort).  Breakfast will be provided.  Please register online.  No childcare is available for this event.

Featured Speaker | Dr. David E. Adams

Professor of Youth Ministry (1999); Executive Director, The International Center for Youth and Family Ministry

Dr. Adams serves as the Executive Director of The International Center for Youth and Family Ministry. He is the founder of Youth Ministry Development, an organization for equipping and empowering God directed leaders through the local church. He joined the faculty at Southern after serving as president of Lexington Baptist College for five years. Prior to that, he ministered at Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University for 21 years, and is recipient of the “Liberty University Lifetime Achievement Award.”

REGISTRATION INFO HERE

Beginning September 22nd we will launch our fall semester of Midpoint.  Midpoint is our Wednesday evening gathering held at the Frankfort Campus.  We will meet for eight Wednesdays from 6:15 – 7:30.  It is an opportunity for us to worship God as we grow in His Word: through teaching, learning and application.  Studies are available for all ages: toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten-3rd grade, 4th-5th grade, Jr./Sr. High students, and adults.  For those individuals seeking to serve in the role of a deacon, the adult study will function as the first phase of Lead School; our deacon development training.

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the Gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” 1 Thessalonians 2:8

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you for the past two years as an Elder, and now it is all the more true as I begin now to serve Christ and this expression of His Church vocationally as a staff pastor. We really do love the people that make up The Point Community Church. We are excited about all that God is doing to grow His Kingdom and this local church, and have a passion and desire to see believers experience true Biblical community. For us, the best and most practical context for this is our Point Community Groups (PCGs).  It is my priority to ensure that discipleship, fellowship, prayer, and care, are tangibles in our groups.  I am praying that God continues to raise up PCG leaders to partner with the elders to shepherd this flock, and look forward to all He does in our lives. I am also excited to be working with Benjamin and Tresbien Gambino in discipling, shepherding and developing the students of The Point.  Please know that you are loved and being prayed for, continue to pray for us as we serve you and the Lord.

Our prayer and hope has been, and continues to be, that The Point Church would be a community of friends engaged in gospel-centered relationships resembling the early church in Acts 2:42. This sermon series explores biblical approaches to worship, missional living, ministry, community, preaching truth and sacrificial giving that lead to a healthy church. The preaching team will apply New Testament accounts of the early church and the teachings of Paul to the contemporary context without compromising truth. The result should be Christians living to have more impact on the surrounding culture as they carry the Good News of the gospel.

In late 2007, I was about to enter my seventh year of serving as the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Glasgow, KY.  However, after sensing God leading me toward planting a church in Central Kentucky, I resigned and moved my family back to our hometown of Winchester, KY.  Soon after my family’s transition, I began to visit new and growing churches in the area.  Having served in one place for the previous seven years, I wanted to see what other churches were doing in terms of gospel-centered ministry.  During this period of personal observation I learned many useful practices and ideas in terms of how to start/lead a church. That’s not to say that everything I observed should be considered good ministry practice.  Much of what I learned could be classified under the heading “What Not To Do.”  But typically each time I attended a new church, I picked up something I deemed useful to me as I took steps toward planting in Lexington.

Now you have to understand, I had been a pastor in a rural community for the previous seven years.  In terms of vision, the type of church I felt called to plant only existed in my head.  I had listened to numerous podcasts and sermons by successful church planters.  These provided me with a ton of information and motivation that kindled my desire to plant a new church.  But honestly, I had never been in a church that epitomized the type of church I felt called to plant.

Then in April of 2009 I walked through the doors of The Factory.  Looking back I like to say that everything I witnessed on my visits to other churches taught me what to do/not do in building a church.  As I sat through my first worship gathering at TPCC, however, I soon realized that I was gathered with a group of people committed to BEING the church.

So many churches get downright obsessed in building a church.  Due to the difficulty and hard work required to plant a church, this is somewhat understandable.  Financial resources are usually limited.  Willing servants are typically few and approaching burnout.  Each day brings with it obstacles/problems that threaten a new church’s livelihood and existence.  If leaders are not careful, all their time gets spent “keeping the ship afloat” so to speak.  Churches pour all their resources and energy in simply surviving and existing.  It’s a very natural phenomenon.  Thus, what becomes established in their mindsets over time is the urgency in building a church.

What I saw at TPCC, however, was an intentional effort to foster a mindset of BEING the church for the sake of the gospel. One way I observed this was through an aggressive approach to church planting.  Discussion of an upcoming plant in Indianapolis (and later Savannah) along with the Church Planting Residency program demonstrated that TPCC was not seeking to hoard money and/or leaders in building a church in Frankfort.  Right alongside this was a commitment to preach solid Biblical truth instead of motivational/leadership talks designed to build morale and raise funds.  Honestly, in all the churches I visited throughout Central Kentucky, TPCC was the only church that demonstrated a commitment to preaching Biblical Truth through expositional preaching through a book of the Bible (Luke).

I heard repeated intentional calls from leaders to “Go Be the church!”  This was done in far more than just a final charge at the end of each worship service.  I heard this message in future plans (Venue 328), sermon series (“Don’t Go to Church”) and even in how TPCC members often described themselves (Church in a factory).  I can’t tell you how HUGE it was for my family to hear constantly the distinction between the church and the building in which you resided.  After a while, I found the desire in my heart to be a part of what TPCC was doing rather than taking my family and seeking to plant another church elsewhere.

When the discussion with the elders began about planting an additional site in Lexington, we came to realize that God had brought my family to TPCC for this very reason.  And now as we stand on the verge of launching ThePOINTinLEX, I’m absolutely pumped about BEING the church in Lexington.  We are still seeking a place to gather in Lexington.  We are not sure if we will be the church in a factory, church in a school, church in a warehouse or church in another church’s building.  Wherever we land in terms of a place to gather, we go there with the same strong commitment to BEING the church by serving Lexington for the sake of the Gospel.

The location has not yet been determined, we will let you know this week of the specific site.

1. The call of God and the love of Christ compels us to take the gospel to Lexington.
2. More and more people are driving to Frankfort from Lexington to be part of The Point.
3. There is a need for a gospel-centered church in downtown Lexington. There are many good, gospel-centric churches in Lexington, it remains one of the most unchurched areas in the eastern United States.
4. Our vision has always been to plant churches and be a multi-site church.
5. There is a very strong desire in Lexington for an Acts 29 church. Lexington folks are asking for an Acts 29 church.
6. Lexington is the regional hub and a city of influence; we further influence our region with the gospel by being in Lexington.
7. We believe in our God-given mission and vision,  and we want to see it replicated throughout our region For God’s glory and the fame of Jesus.
8. Having multiple sites throughout our region is a much better growth model and certainly is a better stewardship of resources than buying lots of property and building larger and larger buildings.
9. Jesus commanded this. Paul modeled this.

The Point is already a regional church with people attending regularly from seven or more counties. As a regional church, multi-site has always been part of our vision and has evolved into a very proactive approach to establish and empower a strong network of local campuses that each have a campus pastor, a team of elders, deacons, and a core of faithful and dedicated members. In this way, we have decided to establish gospel centered, missional communities throughout Central Kentucky.

Our multi-campus approach allows us to function as one church that meets in many different locations. Each campus in and of itself does the work of a biblical church—including teaching, pastoral shepherding and leadership, large gatherings, small group gatherings for community and fellowship, membership, financial giving, communion, baptizing new Christians, and serving as missionaries to their context. Each campus pastor will serve as the primary preacher for that campus and will serve on our preaching team. We will have one elder body which governs all sites (or campuses), and each campus will have campus-specific shepherding elders. There will be more about the eldership structure in another upcoming article.

While each campus functions much like its own church we have also recognized that there are very strategic resources, benefits, and blessings that come from being a single church entity as The Point Community Church. Those resources are primarily: vision, mission, preaching, theological unity, church planting efforts, administrative operations, technology, leadership training and ministry development. Through these shared resources we work together for the good of the gospel, regardless of campus affiliation. Our goal is not to become a large church in one place, rather we hope to become an influential church which advances the gospel through several sites.

As we continue to expand geographically throughout Central Kentucky we are always wrestling with the question of how to effectively operate the balance between distributed and centralized leadership and care for the people who call The Point home. This is not us sending a church planter to Lexington, this is us going to Lexington. We can go to Lexington swiftly and rather easily because of the close proximity and similar contexts of Frankfort and Lexington.

In the coming days and weeks, our pastors will be writing articles, which cast and capture the vision of our multi-site model and how we hope to have a large gospel impact on our region and beyond. The Point will be ONE church in more than one location.

To God be the glory as He builds His church! (by the way, we really mean it when we say this!)

Go Frankfort

Go to the GO FRANKFORT WEBSITE to register for serving on MAY   15.

Due to the recent flooding of parts of downtown, Go Frankfort will also be organizing volunteers to assist with clean up.

We are encouraging all of our people at The Point to participate and serve our city. Contact the church office at 502.352.2911 for more info or call Go Frankfort directly via the website.

We have a vision for a space that serves to connect the community and benefit the city and its many diverse people. Knowing the history of Frankfort and getting a sense of the city’s hope for a revitalized downtown, The Point hopes to identify and obtain space where Frankfort residents will gather and celebrate the arts, where the people of The Point can utilize a central space for multiple purposes, and where we can engage the unique culture of the city downtown.

We plan for a downtown site to eventually host a worship service, probably on Sunday evenings. It is our desire to make this space a place where people will gather for conversations, forums and events which will bring understanding and commonality among the people of Frankfort.

The walls will be lined with the works of local artists. On stage will be heard the creative works of singers and songwriters. In it all, our hope is that this would be a place where diverse and varied people gather and find common ground and community as we celebrate all that is good and beautiful.

Our hope and vision is for…

A venue for music, worship and the arts.

A space for meetings, forums, gatherings, community, conversations and groups.

A platform for the gospel in the city.

Pray with us. Ask God for this.

WHAT IS OUR ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE?

Our ultimate objective is to reach people and grow a healthy church. It is not to build the biggest church in town or be a mega-church. Nor is it to get to what we think is an ideal size and then stop growing by being content with reaching ‘enough’ people. It is to ask the honest question, “How can we get the most people in this area following Christ and into a healthy church?”

Church, after all, has nothing to do with a physical locale or a building structure. The church is a body of people. And that body of people should be willing to do whatever it takes, and meet wherever it needs to, to most effectively spread God’s glory to their community.

WHY IS MULTI-SITE THE BEST WAY FOR THE POINT COMMUNITY CHURCH TO DO THAT?

Multi-site allows us to take the location of one of our most effective outreaches, our Sunday morning service, closer to where people live. Studies have shown that, by FAR this is more effective than having one big building for everyone, everywhere to come to.

It also allows us to keep weekly ministries closer to people. Children’s ministries, high school ministries, community group–all these things are done best in local community. Ecclesiastes says “Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” We can be better brothers to our community and each other when we are organized locally.

It is also much more cost and time efficient. The multi-site approach is a far better stewardship strategy than building larger and larger buildings on one site.

It allows us to be flexible for ministry in the future. If God really blesses our church in the future and we have 1,500 people coming (a very real dream, I believe!). Community and Fellowship is far more efficient at a campus of 750 than 3000. Multi-site makes us flexible.

WHY NOT JUST PLANT A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT CHURCH?

90% of church plants of this type fail and 90% multi-site campuses succeed. If that is the case, why shouldn’t we start multiple sites in CKY? We want to reach as many people as we can as quickly as we can?

I will add that if a new campus starts and we perceive that the congregation would be more effective at reaching people as an independent church, then we will most definitely turn it loose! The bottom line is reaching people. We must evaluate carefully each situation to determine what is the most effective way to reach people in a particular city.

WHAT WILL THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE BE LIKE? WILL THERE BE MULTIPLE PREACHERS? WILL THERE BE ONE LEAD PASTOR?

I think the question comes from the idea that people feel like they “know” the ‘senior’ pastor. But that is impossible for everyone in any church over 100. I gave up trying to know everyone in our church a long time ago. That’s why we have MULTIPLE pastors and elders. And there will be elders and pastors at each campus. The local pastors and elders will be able to know those people more.

Church community is built not by shaking the preacher’s hand, but primarily by being committed to living in community within a small group of church members and by pastoral care by the local ministry team on campus.

The Point Community Church, if God gives us multiple campuses across CKY, will have:

ONE elder body, divided into specific elder responsibilities; and campus-specific elders for each site. The campus pastor is also the primary preaching pastor for that site. The sites will be governed by the body of Elders.

IS THIS THE BEST WAY TO GROW A CHURCH? DON’T YOU AUTOMATICALLY LOSE “COMMUNITY” AND ATTRACT ONLY “CONSUMERS?”

Churches don’t grow when they don’t reach people. Churches that reach people will grow. Healthy things grow. If your plant is not growing, it’s dead.

We believe you CAN grow large and build a community at the same time, if you value both things, as we do. In Acts 2, the church grows by 3000 in one day and then adds to that number daily. All the while they are growing in community and love for each other.

Jesus often attracted a huge crowd at first (see, for example, John 6 with the feeding of the 5000). Out of that crowd he drew committed disciples and brought them into community.

Frankly, many people that criticize the large, growing churches are people who aren’t reaching others and are in churches not reaching others. It’s a self-righteous way of disguising their own laziness and ineffectiveness. Before we will listen to someone’s critique of our way of reaching people, we will want see their  more effective way of doing so. D. L. Moody said to the man who complained to him that he did not like Moody’s way of reaching people: “I don’t particularly like my way of doing it, either. But I certainly like my way of doing it better than your way of NOT doing it.”

Planting a regional campus is a proven strategy of reaching people and it does so with urgency. If we believe in what we are doing at The Point in Frankfort, then why not do it in other CKY cities?

The bottom line is reaching people and growing healthy churches.

WHY DOESN’T THE POINT JUST SAY ITS FULL AND SEND PEOPLE TO OTHER CHURCHES?

We are counting on other churches to prosper as well. Consider this… Central Kentucky is 1.5 million people currently. So, if our church grew by 15,000 next year, we would only have reached 1% of CKY.

So, it will take lots of other churches to reach this area–for every 1 we reach 6 more will have moved into our area! We will continue to work with other churches, support them and pray for them, and plead with God to sweep through CKY, knowing that when the water in the harbor rises, all the boats rise with it.

But make no mistake, we WILL act in some ways as if we are the only church in CKY because we’re not going to assume that anybody else is going to reach those people. The problem is that nobody is reaching many of these people. We are going to try. And if all the churches would begin to operate this way, we just might actually get the job done, by God’s grace. We are ever mindful that Jesus said that He will build His church.

It is our belief that this is the best way to accomplish our two objectives: to reach as many people as possible as fast as possible and to grow biblical, healthy, Gospel-centered churches. We believe in God’s incredible intentions for CKY. We measure His love for the Bluegrass by the cross and His power to do something here by the Resurrection. We are going to, by His grace, take the gospel to every community in our region.

You have plans for your retirement, your education, your home and your landscaping…do you have one for parenting your children?

The truth is many moms & dads parent “off the cuff,” rarely considering an intentional plan for parenting. Effective parenting requires intentional parents with a plan…we want to help resource, equip & encourage you to have one.

You are invited to join us for our 2nd annual Parenting workshop!

Who? Parents of children birth to 12 years

There is no cost for this event but resources will be on hand for purchase.  Breakfast & childcare will be provided.

BRUCE A. WARE (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary), president of the Evangelical Theological Society in 2009, is professor of Christian Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He has written numerous journal articles, book chapters and book reviews, and has authored God’s Lesser Glory; God’s Greater Glory; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and Big Truths for Young Hearts.

:: Schedule

8:30 – Complimentary Breakfast
9:00 – Welcome
9:15 – Session 1: Dr. Ware: Biblical Role of Parents: 10 Principles
10:00 – Break
10:10 – Session 2: Dr. Ware: Teaching Children to Know and Love God

10:55 – Networking breakouts
11:25 – Break
11:35 – Q & A w/ Panel
Noon- Dismiss Book signing /Resource table open

REGISTER NOW

One of the ways that we as a church are participating in God’s redempive plan is through our church planting efforts. Planting churches is our primary means of  advancing God’s kingdom into the surrounding culture by not only words of truth but also ministries of mercy and justice. This mission of planting churches begins with training qualified men to lead new churches.

We welcome Ernie & Lisa Banks and Jack & Brittany Cheadle to the Church Planting Residency Program. Ernie and Jack will be in training here for the next several months as they prepare to plant Eden Village Church in Savannah Georgia. You will be hearing more and more from Ernie and Jack as they, with their families, spend time doing life with us. Pray for Ernie, Jack and their families during this very important season of their lives.

Ernie  is a native of Savannah, GA and plans to return there in 2011 to plant Eden Village Church. He and Lisa have been married for almost 10 years and have three amazing daughters.  Savannah is 8, Reagan is 5 and Piper is 2.  Ernie enjoys GA Bulldog football, camping with his girls and drinking coffee with his wife, Lisa.

Jack Cheadle, 29 , is married to his wife of 5 years, Brittany Cheadle. They have two sons Alexander, 4 yrs and Jackson, 8 months. Two years ago he moved from his home town of Tipp City, Ohio to pursue ministry. He is currently a full time mechanic in Louisville and plans to move to Savannah and plant Eden Village Church with Ernie in 2011.

The images streaming in from Haiti is disturbing. We feel pity, sorrow and a sense of helplessness at the extent of their plight. The waves of humanitarian aid are washing ashore in Haiti and beginning to meet this massive need but little if any of this medicine will soothe the sores of the suffering church. The country will be rebuilt in time, but so little of that aid will go to the pastors and congregations who are decimated and broken. Who is helping the Haitian churches and the pastors? While so many agencies will be focused on the immediate social needs, the local communities of faith are devastated as well. These bodies of Christ can also contribute toward meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of the local people who are burying their family members and are seeking comfort, counsel and guidance. Churches Helping Churches initiated by Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church and Acts 29) and James MacDonald (Harvest Bible Chapel, Chicago) is calling on the North American church to help restore the ravaged church in Haiti. MacDonald writes, “Without question the priority of the ‘church helping the church’ is commanded by Paul in scripture and modeled by Paul in his crisis care for the Corinthians and the church in Jerusalem. If Paul were alive today there is no doubt his first concern as a church planter and leader in the body of Christ would be for the family of God in Haiti.” “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10 Mark and James are going to Haiti early next week to see first hand and assess what can be done to meet the needs of the church in the toughest areas. They will take a team to help them capture this story so they can report on the hope the North American church can bring. They hope to get some great stories on video about what God is doing in Haiti to help encourage God’s people around the world to be generous and help those in need. They are seeking to provide great photos and other video footage to give away online, to give to Christian agencies who could use it to help expose the need of the church, and to give to mainstream media outlets showing the difference the church and God’s people are making. Acts 29 Network is asking you to consider helping the churches in Haiti so they can continue to contribute in the recovery when other agencies have moved on from the devastated land.

 A website has been formed to assist in the communication of this effort: http://www.churcheshelpingchurches.com/

 Donations : https://www.walkintheword.com/Churches-Helping-Churches.aspx?specID=258&bypassregistration=true&sc=CHC&bt=CHC

• Bethany Christian Services operates orphanages throughout Haiti. Bethany is working through the partners they have there to help ensure that children in Haiti are cared for and kept safe. You can visit www.bethany.org  and designate a gift to the “Haiti-Earthquake Recovery” fund
• World Relief has a great operation already in place in Port-au-Prince and is run by some friends of Acts 29 churches. They run a hospital and an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. http://worldrelief.org
• The Southern Baptist disaster relief effort will be led by Florida Baptists, who have had ministry relationships in Haiti for more than 20 years and currently have six staff members who live and work in the country. Funding for the relief effort will be provided by the IMB’s disaster relief fund. You can contribute to the disaster response effort at gobgr.org.
• The North American Mission Board’s (SBC) disaster relief office is organizing an emergency consultation with state disaster relief directors to coordinate response to the catastrophe. Disaster relief teams from Kentucky are on standby for immediate response. If you have been trained in disaster relief or you are a medical professional, sign up at the Welcome Kiosk for more info on trips to Haiti.

Early in 2010, we are launching the Lead School at The Point.

The Lead School will be our strategy which will form the discovery and development process for men and women who desire to serve in key leadership roles at The Point.  The goal of this process is that men and women will gain knowledge in order to advance The Point’s mission, vision, values and doctrine. This process will also assist in indentifying, training and equipping those who may be potential elders and deacons.

The key elements of this process includes:

• Monthly group meetings for coach training.
• Monthly meeting with an elder coach: 1 on 1
• A customized reading plan.
• A ministry action plan, with specific assignments and projects.
• Questionnaires and assessments.
• Integration for church planters and potential elders and deacons.

Registration opens in January.

> The Point Community Church Podcast

The audio from the 2009 Youth Parent Summit is now available.  Randy Smith’s main and break out sessions, as well as the Q&A session are available.  Unfortunately, Ben Keizer’s break out session is not available.  Listen to the audio directly below, or visit the sermons page to download the files.

Randy Smith’s Main Session
Download audio file (tpcc2009-11-14a.mp3)

Randy Smith’s Breakout
Download audio file (tpcc2009-11-14b.mp3)

Question & Answer Session
Download audio file (tpcc2009-11-14c.mp3)

As shepherds and overseers of the local church, elders are entrusted with protecting, leading, equipping, and caring for the church body and the individual members. The elders of The Point take these responsibilities very seriously and after much prayer, thought, and study, we have determined that it is important for the members of The Point to commit to biblical church membership by entering into a covenant relationship with the body and leaders of the church.

From the Scriptures we find several examples of covenants; some between God and man as in Genesis 6,9,15; Ezekiel 20; Hosea 2; Jeremiah 31; and Matthew 26. Other examples are between people as in 1 Samuel 18 and 2 Samuel 5.

The covenant is first, and most importantly, a promise made to God as a commitment to seeking His glory and the good of the body, the bride of His Son.

This covenant contains many conditions that are general Christian obligations, such as all Christians are required to submit to the Scriptures, pursue holiness, steward resources, etc. The covenant is merely a tool to teach about what it means to be a member of the church. It is not intended to be a legal document.

If at any time a member feels as though the church is not remaining faithful to the statements in the covenant, it is the responsibility of the individual member to lovingly and humbly express their concerns to the church elders. If the church elders are unwilling to change or be faithful to the covenant then the member is free from their membership obligations and is encouraged to seek church membership elsewhere because of the church’s unfaithfulness.

The requirements of this covenant are not intended as an addition to the biblical obligations of a believer. Rather, this document functions as an explanation of what the Scriptures teach about the church and the obedience that faith produces in the life of a follower of Christ.

It is the belief of the elders that the covenant provides a clear explanation of biblical principles of church membership. It is our sole intention, prayer and hope that The Point Community Church would grow in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ as a result.

Finally, the elders are available to you for questions about the covenant. Please contact us if we can answer questions or concerns. We plan to present the final document to the membership in the first quarter membership meeting in 2010.

The elders.

Click here for a DRAFT of the Membership Covenant- Membership Covenant – DRAFT

• The Grand Theater – Volunteers
• Frankfort / Lexington Food Pantry
• Simon House for women and children
• Franklin County Women’s Shelter volunteers
• Frankfort Men’s Shelter volunteer
• Avenues For Women Pregnancy Help Center
• Happy Church – Jackson Ky, loving and serving the children of Appalachia.

Email tpccmail@thepointcommunity.net for more information.

1. John Martin is now serving as our Worship Arts Pastor. This is in addition to his role of Family Life, which consists of general oversight of preschool, children and youth ministries. In order to make room for the worship role, we have decreased his role of leading all missions and outreach projects. Pastor John will plan, coordinate and lead in worship. We have been, and continue to be, blessed by Brad Chase and John Bennett who are gifted worship leaders. Both men will continue to be involved in various aspects of the worship ministry and the broader ministry of the church. I personally am so grateful for both Brad and John Bennett; they have brought our worship ministry to a very good place.
2. Tim Chase is now serving as our Integration (assimilation) Coordinator. This will be a significant leap forward for us as we become more intentional about moving people from being guests toward being committed followers of Jesus who are serving in the church. Tim will serve under Pastor Shane McGrath.
3. Brad Chase has resigned from serving as an Elder. He announced this to the church on Sunday May 17. The reason for his resignation is simple but important: his kids are at an age where he wants to invest as much time with them as possible. He is setting an example of priorities for us all- family before ministry. He and his family are staying put of course; they love The Point and are happy to be a part of our family.
4. Cyndi Hall will begin serving as our Preschool Director. Paula Long has served for a season and has prepared her team for this transition. Paula has done a terrific job at developing this critical ministry to preschoolers and their families. We are excited to have Cyndi in this vital role.
5. Billy and Sarah Reddick have been serving in our student ministry by assisting Jason and Marri. Billy is a very gifted and passionate youth minister. We quickly realized that Billy is the right man at the right time to take our student ministry leadership. Billy is now our Student Minister. We are so grateful for Jason and Marri Hampton’s role in our student ministry for the past six months; Jason will continue to lead the High School PCG for the foreseeable future.
6. Jason Hampton will now serve as our first Church Planting Resident. We have recently launched “Church Planting Initiatives”, which is our formal church planting entity. Read more about it here. Jason and Marri are excited to transition into this role and continue to develop as church planters.
7. Jeremy Triplett has transitioned out of being the Community Group coordinator. Jeremy has served well in this role for more than two years and we are grateful for his leadership. He will continue to serve in a vital role as part of the worship bands. Pastor Shane McGrath will oversee and coordinate Point Community Groups.
8. Pastor Shane McGrath’s title will change from Development Pastor to “Pastor of Adult Ministries and Groups”. This better reflects the primary ministries under his leadership.
9. Ashley Martin is now serving as our First Impressions Director. She will oversee ministries such as greeters, welcome kiosk and the Café.
10. The Lead Team will meet once monthly and will now consist of these positions:
    • Lead Pastor
    • Pastor of Adult Ministries and Groups
    • Pastor of Worship Arts and Family Life
    • Student Minister
    • Preschool Director
    • Children’s Director
    • Administrative Director
    • Integration Director
    • Communications Director
    • First Impressions Director

Please cover these men and women with prayer as they lead us in these vital areas of ministry. We are so blessed to have many, many gifted leaders who are faithfully serving God through His church at The Point.

1. We believe that God has told us to do this. It is that simple.
2. This is doubling our impact by doubling our strength. Corporate worship is something we do well, by God’s grace. By doing more of this, we are using our strength to move forward and broaden our base of ministry.
3. God is always moving us forward and out of comfort zones so we’ll trust him more. The Point is accustomed to change. This church began when God led us to step out in faith and begin a new expression of His church in Central Kentucky. More than three years ago, we held our very first service at the former “Skatarama” skating rink. We had no idea who would show up. As we look back, God has always provided every step of the way. Here we go again.
4. Space is an issue. Current research says that if a church is 80% full new comers visit and think that it is just too crowded for them, and they do not return. We are consistently way beyond the 80% mark in our current service and in our children’s ministry spaces. On special days and on regular Sundays from time to time, it is overcrowded. By adding a new service, we make more room for those who are not here yet. We could add more chairs in our worship space, but we still would be too crowded in children’s spaces and the parking areas.
5. It is time for something uncomfortable. Our human nature likes being comfortable and maintaining status quo. Churches can easily get in ruts, not wanting to change, being comfortable with the safe and predictable. Throughout Scripture, we see that God is always pushing, prompting and prodding His people into new territory. He wants us to live life on the edge, risking and reaching.
6. More options means more people will ‘opt’. Options are huge in our culture. People want their choices. They do not want just a latte; they want a caramel latte, extra hot, with skim milk, and extra foam. Offering two services gives people a choice. They can get up early and come at 9 AM and have more of the day to spend as they please. On the other hand, they can get up late and enjoy the morning with their family, and then come at 11 AM.
7. Those serving in Sunday ministry can worship too. Folks who serve in the children’s ministry, security team, greeters and other volunteers can serve during one service and worship in the other if they so choose.
8. Perhaps the most important reason we are adding a second service is it adds another Gospel opportunity. We are creating another time for the Gospel to be proclaimed. This is what we are all about. In John 4:35 Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

You may be asking yourself, “then why aren’t we starting a third service?” In God’s time, we see multiple services in multiple sites, so buckle up.