Hope’s Weekly Connect

Remember: God looks like Jesus, and Jesus always looks like Father!

Good Evening Hope!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks in our house, and I want to thank you all for the support, service, and prayers. This week things have started to get a little back toward normal. Both Life Groups that we attend were great this week, and we spent Monday night with the kiddos!

I wanted to share three things with you tonight: [1 question]

1. I am so thankful for the testimonies that I am hearing from many of you right here in the Hope family. We have heard many testimonies in the last few days. Several of these testimonies are about God’s supernatural provision or move during our 21 day corporate fast. I can’t wait to share some of them with you, and have been excited to hear that you are sharing them among each other!

2. Please continue to pray concerning our next meeting location. A couple of people have spoken with me concerning what they are hearing from the Lord. As a body we must continue to seek Father. I had hoped to have more information for you this coming Sunday and will present the information that I have. [We have had a couple of community organizations, businesses willing to donate some materials to the development of a new location. Be mindful of this development as you are praying. God is showing us favor. We need it in such as time as this.]

Last thought on the building: I believe that God wants to move in a new and amazing way in our body. I think he wants to add spiritually and numerically through this transition time.

3. Sunday I will continue the series Awe and Reverence. I want to share a true fact about this series: It is challenging me immensely. I would be willing to say that it is probably challenging me as much if not more than it is challenging you! I am willing to learn and have embraced the process of fleshing out these theological juggernauts.

I believe that the church is in desperate need of recapturing Awe and Reverence for God. I know the best way of recapturing this is through detailed and scriptural teaching on who God is! The more you know God, the easier it will become to have a relationship with him, while remaining in a position of awe regarding his majesty, power, strength, and mercy. Living in awe of the Lord provides many blessings in our life.

When we have a right understanding and view of God we cannot help but have reverence, and out of that reverence worship!

Join us this Sunday as we continue the series with part III:           God: A Consuming Fire!

4. Please pray for me and my family. We are getting back to normal, and want to begin to enjoy some family times along with time with you!

My greatest passion is doing the will of Father, followed closely by loving my family (which I know is the will of Father). Please pray that I do this well in the midst of ministry, work, and life.

Please pray for Wisdom as I guide our church through an amazing and wonderful time. We are a meaningful church that is life giving that is seeing fruit. It is a wonderful problem to have and I believe that it is one that we will have for years to come.

Blessings,

Pastor Kevin

P.S. I am excited to see you this Sunday! Remember the Kids are in for a BIG treat and surprise from Pastor Ashlee this weekend! I can’t wait!

Hope’s Weekly Connect

 

Revelations 21:5 “Behold, I make all things new!”

 

Tonight Ashlee asked me a question about this powerful scripture. She had been pondering it earlier in the day. The funny thing is that I had been working on the above graphic last night, and was browsing through graphics for this weekend’s service when she asked.

 

It is an amazing truth that when we are reconciled to God all the old things pass away and all things become new! II Corinthians 5:17 says, “¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

 

One of the powerful things that happen when we become reconciled to God is not only do we become captivated by His love, but we have the opportunity to instantly transform our lives. Yes, I know sanctification is a process, but Christ has called for us to go ALL IN. Think about this: What if you drove down to the Nissan lot tonight and purchased a new Sentra for $17,400, then the sales man brought you a frame, drive train, and steering wheel with no body or seats, how would you feel? You would feel cheated, ripped off, and frustrated.

 

Ponder This: The price paid for you = priceless! Christ shed his blood on the Cross, paying with His life for YOU! He did that, so that He could have all of YOU and not some of YOU!

 

These passages from Rev. 21:5 and II Corinthians 5:17 are particularly timely with the end of 2010, and the beginning of 2011. Prepare your heart for God to lay a new foundation in your life this coming year. Give him all of you [time, talent, finances, and emotions]. Let the old things pass away, and embrace the newness of life as He makes all things new in the coming year!

 

Don’t forget to join us this weekend for our Sunday Service as we Connect with God. I know God has something in store each and every week of the coming year. This weekend I kick off my new three week series 3:16. You don’t want to miss this powerful and biblically ground series on one of the Bibles most beloved passages John 3:16.

Blessings, Pastor Kevin

In what areas do you need the old things to pass away, and all things to become new?

Growth

Today at Hope Fellowship I wrapped up a series on Growth. I shared the following truths:

• Real Growth takes a new life, and not a new leaf!

This refers to the fact that many times we simply cover up our shame or problems, instead of receiving the FREEDOM that God promised us!

• Real Growth is a process, and not a destination!

No one every obtains the goals they set or the plan that God has for them overnight! The physician you saw the last time, hopefully spent the required 7 to 10 years in the process of becoming a physician! Jesus waited for 30 years to begin in ministry, and He is the King of Kings!

• Real Growth requires us to “let go” and “grab a hold”

Basically we must let go of what we think is right, appropriate, proper, and the right way to grab a hold of what God has for us!

We often do not do this because we are: Stubborn, feel Trapped, Comfortable where we are, afraid, or change hurts to much!

The truth is that change is difficult, and it is not always easy! It can be uncomfortable, it does require stepping out into the unknown many times. The rewards and benefits are greater than the discomfort!

The main question today is: is the pain of staying where you are, greater than the pain of accomplishing what God has for you?

Important Update

Exciting News…

Over the last few months I have been on a journey of seeking God and where he is taking out church!

During that time God began to speak to me about who we are as a church and what His plans are for our body of believers. With the help of our advisory team we began to explore what kind of disciples He wants us to develop, and what the next phase of ministry would be for Overflow Church.

As this process proceeded we could tell that God was birthing something new, and wanted to eliminate some of the roadblocks and barriers. One of those barriers over the last year has been our name Overflow Church. People, believers and non-believers, have had a hard time understanding the meaning behind Overflow Church. Another roadblock in creating disciples was not having a formal systematic process of creating disciples who passionately connected with God, and engage their community.

God began to speak to me about the various people in scripture where a name change was indicative of a new level of faith or authority. Some samples include Sarai to Sarah, Abram to Abraham, Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul.

Through this process we realized we needed to bring clarity, movement, alignment, and focus. This new process would not change the DNA of who we are, nor would it change the vision or direction that God has been leading us! Instead it brings clarify that would allow us to more effectively transform lives and reach people for the Kingdom.

The clarity required for a simple combination of our vision, mission, purpose, and process.

Our new vision, mission, and process statement is: Connect, Grow, & Engage.

The process has not only birthed a new process, but also a new name: Hope Fellowship

Effective Immediately: Overflow Church will be Hope Fellowship.
Check out our new website at: www.hopefellowshipfc.com