Paul Jeami Prayer for the offering Watoto Choir is coming back, November 20th and 21st We need host homes Jon Can you remember a first worst job? Shoveling manure, shoe salesman, taco del amo We have shared Teaching Ryan to drive stick shift I remember my dad teaching my sister to drice a 1987 Nova (stick shift next the the driving wheel) She actually got out of the car and walked home I learned in a Ford Escort Great stories help connect us By sharing something, we hope it will help us connect with people Connection happens when someone throws out a “Me too” Life Is Mostly Edges by Calvin Miller What it feels like to be a pastor You mean you can actually make it through being a pastor and still be sane? Sometimes you connect to a book or a song or a movie where you feel like … Continue reading →

Paul Jon Tried to celebrate Shannon’s birthday yesterday by going to the beach, but it rained, so we sat in a group and sang songs It’s hard dealing with all the emotions involved in remembering this day As we move through tonight, contemplate what our nation has walked through and what we’ve gone through as Christians And I think about the teachings of Jesus Christ My thinking changed on this day Do not become the evil that is done to you, turn the other cheek Lord’s Prayer Paul Sterling Psalm 4 Katie Keating Psalm 27 Anna Warde Isaiah 61 Stephen Keating I was thinking about tragedies Hurricanes on the East Coast, fires in Texas If we’re not careful, we try and put meaning on it and talking for God instead of listening Look at Job, the three men looking for meaning and they’re wrong Ecclesiastics God doesn’t point fingers, this … Continue reading →

Paul Mike Prayer for offering Men’s Retreat coming up Oct. 7,8,9 Redondo Union High School is hosting a tribute for 9/11 around 7pm next Sunday Paul Communion Rob Acts 9 Jon Christianity is something that takes us up Philippians 4:12-23 He goes from this violent zealot who understands everything Some kind of power converted him Is that how conversion is supposed to be? Cuz mine wasn’t that sparkly Last week the Ethiopian fisherman had a simple conversion There are some commonalities Up until this point, Saul had a very good idea of who God was A couple of chapters ago, Stephen said we don’t need the temple or the rituals Rubbed Saul the wrong way, sounded like absolutely blasphemy First question when Saul meets Jesus? Who are you? Saul had a lot of Bible knowledge and understanding He was still deeply unsettled and restless I need something greater than my … Continue reading →

Paul

Paul (Worthy Is The Lamb Who Was Slain) (Mighty And Strong To Save) (Tell Me The Story Of) Jon Acts 6-8 Background before we talk about Stephen The church has experienced a lot of growth and excitement One of their leaders is about to be murdered and it changes everything the apostles have received threats, but nothing further until now This scatters the church of Jerusalem to the four winds Acts 2 and Pentecost God revealed His plan of renewing and restoring the world Christianity flourishes amongst persecution and punishment Tom Bohlinger Acts 6:8-15 Jon Want to ask a question of us as a community Do we have the characteristics of Stephen? What would people say about me in 4 words? And what would they say about this community? V. 8 says Stephen is full of grace and power Speaking with authority = power If Jesus is somebody that speaks … Continue reading →

Paul (Praise Is Rising) Stephen Announcements VBS celebration this week No Agora this month Big Sur trip for teens coming up Photo slideshow   Katie Welcome to VBS Celebration Thank you for your kids this past week We only get the kids 1 hour a week, so we’re partnering with the parents to teach the kids Compassion – helping someone, anyone in need Forgiveness – if someone hurts our feelings, letting go of that grudge Grace – the story of the prodigal son and how our Father is waiting with open arms for us Two boys going at each other this week (Timmy and Tommy) Timmy is instigating poking, hurting feelings, Tommy keeps forgiving him Bible Verse – show me your ways O Lord an teach me your paths, guide me in your truths and save me…and my hope is in you all day long Chef Pierre Special Video from … Continue reading →

Paul (You Are Amazing God) reprise Announcements In-N-Out truck next week After this next song will be communion (Your Love Never Fails) Jon Picture of New York Post Bin Laden dead cover Restorative justice is just as valuable a redemptive justice Retribution has finality Shouldn’t be a gleeful celebration That’s God’s dream for the earth That’s the dream we believe in No shame or guilt Tom Rice, bishop from outside the West Controversial Acts 6 Really transformative period of the church here New king Look ahead to Acts 9 Saul was essentially a terrorist, killing Christians The restorative power of the gospel changes Saul Saul becomes Paul In chapter 6 we see problems already visible Growth problems, leadership problems, relationship problems Jerusalem is a cultural mecca or melting pot Walk through the text but 3 focus points God’s power, people, place V. 8 Stephen is full of something, speaking in … Continue reading →

Paul

Paul (How Great Is Your Love) Jon Acts 4:23-35 Book of the development of the first church of Christ Chapters 3-5 talk of the first persecution levelled against the church The response was astonishing and positive They die unlike any other Uneducated and socially marginalized took over Thr Roman Empire Something happened to them to make them respond the way they did In Acts 17, these men are causing this upheaval in the greatest empire we’ve ever known Get to a point where empire isn’t shaking you, but you’re shaking empire As we walk through this text we’re going to talk about this Peter and John went back Lord look upon their threats The civil authorities over the church could take possession of vital things If that threat happened to us, how would we respond In v. 29 they say give us boldness The fact that that’s what they asked … Continue reading →