Initiate Belonging

When I first laid eyes on my husband, I thought he was the most attractive man in the bar. The question was, who would initiate the relationship? Considering he had not yet noticed me, I knew I would need to get us started. He was flirting with every girl at the table across the room, so I figured he must not be dating anyone. I was right and the rest of that story is for another time.

In this broken world, people often don’t feel they belong. If you ache for the smaller church community at  Gordon Avenue, small groups are where you will find belonging now. As a church grows, the social circles become smaller. It is not possible to know everyone in the church, but it’s essential you know a few people, intimately.

In order to be known and to belong, each of us must start building a small group. We must initiate the conversation. We have to go from waiting to be asked to becoming the conductor of friendships. Being able to  do this often takes a vertical perspective shift from the Holy Spirit and the horizontal nudging of brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you’re at a loss to initiate, start by asking good questions. People in our church are waiting to be asked and to be invited in. They seek belonging. Those who know they are loved by God should begin the conversation first. It is tiring at times to go first, but we can do it with joy because He first loved us.

Lindsey Ungs
Connection & Communication Architect

Lent 2020 – Day 16

Matthew 12:38-50

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Noah’s Ark Preschool – March Update

Noah’s Ark is hosting a Blood Drive on March 3! If you are able to donate, please consider giving of your time. Not only do you help people in our community who desperately need that blood, but if we get enough donations, Noah’s Ark receives grant money that can be used for supplies in our classrooms. We run a pretty tight budget and every dollar helps us provide a great Christian education to our students.

Wickiup will be visiting us in March. They are always a favorite guest at our school. They bring birds and animals for us to look at.

Ice Cream in March? Our annual Ice Cream Social is this month also. Students and their families look forward to this event to meet other families at our school while enjoying a bowl of ice cream, and don’t forget the toppings!

Spring Break is March 16-20.

Other topics this month are: Dinosaurs, Bees, and our fun Teddy Bear Clinic!

Kris Crowther
Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool

Lent 2020 – Day 15

Matthew 12:25-37

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Lent 2020 – Day 14

Matthew 11:20-30

Woe on Unrepentant Towns

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[a] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

The Father Revealed in the Son

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Do You Remember Prepositions?

As we head into the season of Lent, we are intentionally choosing to abide more with Jesus. In fact, we’ve made that a key goal of the season, to learn more about the practice of abiding with Jesus.

Sometimes when we create new sermon series and discern where we want to go as a church, we throw out fun titles, creative picture ideas, creative stage concepts and logo designs. One thing in particular about this next series is still causing me to think and I hope it has the same effect on you:

LIFE IN THE VINE

Wait, what? Don’t you mean Life ON the vine? Like… Jesus is the vine and we are a bunch of grapes hanging there with Him. Things hang ON vines, not IN vines. How can I be a hanging grape INSIDE a vine? See my frustration??!!!

It’s not just a catchy play on words, but an invitation to someone and something deeper. We are not abiding ON Christ. We’re not just sitting on His lap and gazing at Him. Though we could be. The invitation is to be IN Christ.

Do you remember the study of prepositions in school? I learned a preposition was anything that could fill in this blank: The squirrel goes ____ the tree. In the tree, around the tree, on the tree, up the tree, etc. Each one communicates something different and is distinct.

We are invited to be IN Christ. How can we do that and what does it look like? This is our goal for the Lenten season. I pray you will find time in your schedule to mark out Wednesday nights and join us to go deeper into the vine.

Leah
Director of Worship & Media

Lent 2020 – Day 13

Matthew 11:1-19

Jesus and John the Baptist

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’[c]

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

 

You Belong Here.

YOU BELONG

Discover how to connect and contribute as a partner in ministry at Cedar Hills. This 7-week class starts at 9:45 AM on Sunday, March 29 in room 134.

Led by Pastor Kent and Elders. Public Partnership reception for those interested will be at both services on May 17.

If interested in partnering with Cedar Hills and our ministry of transforming the Corridor, contact the office and let us know!

Children & Family – March Update

Love. Belong. Serve.

Soon these three words will become very familiar to our church, as they will provide the framework and foundation for all of the ministry efforts of our entire church. We hope these words already reflect your experiences with Cedar Hills, but that may not be the case for everyone. Maybe to you, these words represent worthy aspirations for our church to pursue.

It is clear that throughout Scripture these three words (Belong, Love, Serve) are important and distinctive of the Christian faith, for any age and place in their spiritual journey. Wherever you’re at, these three simple words represent some BIG priorities that we believe are central to making disciples who make disciples. In light of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20, we must approach the harvest field like in Luke 10:2, with a humble mindset. Some of those “laborers” for the gospel are wearing diapers today. However, they are no less valuable to the Kingdom work that lies ahead. We should behold the words of Charles H. Spurgeon, “If we dream that the Lord will not notice the little and insignificant, what do we think of this text: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father’s care (Matthew 10:29)? Does God care for sparrows but not care for little children?

The idea of insignificance should be set aside at once” (Spurgeon, Come Ye Children, 41-42). Thus it is of utmost importance to the Kingdom that we must help our children belong, love and serve, today, as they become disciples of Christ.

Kyle French
Director of Children & Family Ministry

Lent 2020 – Day 12

Matthew 10:21-42

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[b]

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Footnotes:

Love. Belong. Serve.