What about The Bible?

Beginning Sunday, March 3, the History Channel will air a five-week, 10-hour miniseries called The Bible, produced by the husband-wife team of Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, The Voice), and Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel). Are you planning to watch this miniseries? What do you know about it?

Here are three basic facts to keep in mind gleaned from the miniseries' publicity:

· “The Bible miniseries realistically depicts scenes from the Bible including battles, massacres and the crucifixion. Some scenes may not be appropriate for children. We advise parents and leaders to treat the production like a PG-13 movie and make viewing decisions appropriately.”

· “This is not a documentary, it is a scripted, acted docu-drama filmed on location in the Middle East and Morocco. It is important to remember that this is a dramatization of the Bible and certain creative liberties were taken.” Burnett and Downey’s scripts are largely based on their prior book, A Story of God and All of Us. In their own words they write, “We feel very inadequate to teach the Bible, and we are certainly not theologians. We are television storytellers. It will be easy for people to focus on how we have 'compressed stories' or to find 'theological inaccuracies.' But on this point we must be clear: we are not retelling the story of the Bible; it has been told in the richest, fullest possible way, from the mouth of God, and through His chosen prophets…. Instead, we are dramatizing some of these beautiful stories from our scripts.”

· “The Bible was produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, not the History Channel. The History Channel is simply the broadcast outlet."

With all of that in mind, here are three opportunities for you and me because of the airing of The Bible:

1. Use it as a personal opportunity for family worship and discussion with your Bible open! The theme and essential scripture for each week is:
a. Week 1 – Journey from Death to Life – Genesis 22:1-19
b. Week 2 – Journey from Slavery to Freedom – Joshua 2:1-21; 6:20-25
c. Week 3 – Journey from Victims to Victor – Daniel 2, 3, 6
d. Week 4 – Journey from Religion to Relationship – Luke 19:28-48
e. Week 5 – Journey from Darkness to Light – John 20:1-29

2. View it and re-read the appropriate passages from Scripture each week in preparation for Gospel-driven conversations that may be sparked by friends, family or co-workers.

3. Gather a small group and use The Bible 30-Day Experience guidebook and DVD as a follow-up to the series. Preview the entire first week from the guidebook here. If you’re interested in using the Guidebook/DVD for a small group as a follow-up to the TV series, let me know ASAP.

The Bible airs locally beginning Sunday, March 3 at 6:00 PM on:
Direct TV 269
Cox 61

The Bible contains some amazing prayers. Check out Daniel’s prayer of national confession, repentance, and hope in Daniel 9; or David’s personal prayer of repentance in Psalm 51; or Jonah’s desperate, yet thankful prayer in Jonah 2; or the early believer’s prayer for boldness in the face of persecution in Acts 4:23-31; or even Paul’s big prayer for the believers in Ephesians 3:14-21.

And that’s it, the one thing all these and so many other prayers in Scripture have in common: They’re big prayers.

What are you praying for that’s big? Are you praying for anything beyond the
every-day concerns of your life? Are your prayers motivated more by the anxiety and fear of the moment rather than faith in the promises of God for His purposes in the world?

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 shows us that even believers can get caught up in hand-wringing about the basics of life the same way people who don’t even acknowledge God do, and it shows up when our prayers consistently sound like, “Help me to meet the deadline.” “Give me wisdom for the meeting.” “Show me who I should date.” “Open up a parking spot.” “Help my son to pass the test.” “Give us a safe trip.”

Now, there’s nothing wrong with basic, everyday sorts of prayers—I’ve prayed all of those previously-mentioned prayers at one time or another—but what are you praying for that’s big? Is there anything that you pray for that fits into what Jesus was saying in Matthew 33-34, praying “for his kingdom and His righteousness,” praying as he taught in Matthew 9-13, “for His kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?”

In other words, the size of your prayers says something about the size of your God. I’m not trying to school anyone on what to pray or not to pray, but I do want to encourage you to pray big prayers; prayers that move beyond your own needs and focus on the concerns that are on the heart of our big God for this world and all the people in it. That’s where Seek God for the City comes in.

Seek God for the City is a prayer guide that will help you unite God’s promises in scripture with big prayers that show that you believe He will do what He has promised. Seek God for the City is a way to pray every day for forty days beginning Wednesday, February 13 – Sunday, March 24. You can pick up a prayer guide in the foyer for a small donation, or you can go online at http://waymakers.org/pray/seek-god/app/ and download the mobile application for 99¢.

And if you want some extra encouragement in praying for these forty days, then join us on Thursday evenings for a prayer meeting in the worship center. We will meet each Thursday at 7:00 PM, except for Thursday, February 14, when we will meet at 5:30 PM.

Let’s pray big and seek God for the city together!

We’re deep enough into January for me to ask…did you resolve to read your Bible this New-Year and find yourself stalled out? Or are you still reading but it feels like you’re just going through the motions?

Well, it’s not too late to start reading your Bible through for the year, and it’s not too late to overcome the struggle. Here are five promises that will help…

1. God will be your exceeding joy! Psalm 43:3-4
If you’re struggling, don’t just grit your teeth and try harder! Ask God to send you His light and His truth (his personal word to you) as you read, and when he does, you will experience Him as your exceeding joy, and you’ll long to keep hearing His voice as you read His Word.

2. Hearing His Word will increase your faith! Rom. 10:17
If your faith is weak, if you feel like giving up, or giving in, reading God’s word will reenergize, revitalize, awaken and strengthen your weak faith!

3. God’s Word is the perfect source of direction! Ps. 119:105
Don’t head into your day stumbling around in the dark for direction, wisdom or courage. Turn on the light by reading His word!

4. God will answer your prayers – so pray! Matt. 7:7
Don’t fall for the feeling that prayer does nothing. Jesus said our good Father in heaven longs to answer our prayers and will, whenever we pray! He will do things in your heart, your relationships, your work, your children that he would not have done if you had not prayed. So pray already!

5. Time spent with God can never be taken away from you! Lk. 10:41-42
Martha buried herself in the kitchen while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, and Jesus said Mary made the right choice because that could never be taken from her. So, if your tempted to be busy with a dozen other good things stop and ask yourself, “What will bring me joy that can never be taken away?” Then like Mary, set that stuff aside, open His Word and listen to Him speak.

If you wonder where to start reading your Bible, this plan will help you read through the Bible in a year, chronologically. So, don’t fret about starting “late,” just start, and rest on these promises.

It has always been that way....

Resurrection life is about walking with God into the arena of divine life and miracles.

Read:

Exodus 14:10-31
Joshua 6:1-21
Judges 7:1-22
Matthew 14:22-27

Look for God to do the same in your life.

(Parts of this post excerpted from Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry Blackaby)

Then she came and worshiped Him saying, "Lord, help me!" [How many times I've prayed this prayer! - Craig]

But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."

And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

- Matthew 15:25-28

Henry Blackaby says, "When you ask God, do you ask in faith? Faith does not give up; it perseveres even amid discouraging circumstances. THE MEASURE OF YOUR FAITH WILL DETERMINE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH GOD. Little faith receives little blessings; great faith receives great blessings."

Insights:

1. The measure of your faith will determine your worship with God. Little faith, little worship. Great faith, great worship.
2. Satan will take anything we will give him. He is out to steal faith. He is the slanderer. Accuser. We must be aware." Stand firm therefore...." He continues to use the original lie just like he did with Eve in the garden. "God did not say that...." And we doubt the promise God gave us. Unbelief sets in.

Prayer:

Father, I believe. Help me to stand firm in your promises and that with you NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. Amen.

- Craig

The average work crew (12 people) was comprised of students and adults from four to six different churches. My crew, on which I was the only one from Foothills (or Arizona) had four days to tear down a 125 ft. fence, build a new fence, scrape paint, and repaint the trim of our resident’s home; Our residents were Steve, Sue, and their twin grandkids, Hailey and Harley.

We neared the end of our first day, it became apparent that we were moving efficiently and would not take four days to finish. By lunch on Wednesday - 2.5 days in - we had finished completely. Our crew was split up into two and sent to two other sites to assist crews that were running behind. By Friday at lunch, my crew had finished at our 2nd site and headed back to help our other half, where we finished the third site together.

On Friday, our last night, I began reflecting on the happenings of our trip, wondering how God’s Word informed our experience and realizing this week was one long, hot, enjoyable teachable moment. As I thought over my crew, as well as the two other crews we worked alongside, God opened my eyes. Twelve people from different churches, backgrounds, ethnicities, skills and generations came together and finished a 4-day project in half the time given. I realized there was something to this, but I wasn’t quite sure what it was.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains to a diverse and dysfunctional Corinthian church about unity and diversity in the Body of Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. Yet, the reason this church existed in the first place was because of a command Jesus gave to the apostles, including Paul (Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 9:15). Therefore, we must read 1Corinthians 12 in light of, and as a result of Jesus’ command to the apostles, specifically the Great Commission. And yet, the Great Commission is the result of God’s messianic mission from before the foundations of the world (John 1:15; Acts 7:2-53) and thus Jesus’ command to His disciples (including us) carries the weight of God’s purposes from eternity past to the 2nd coming of Christ.

As I was thinking about the diversity in our crew, yet the overwhelming unity exhibited that week, it became apparent that what occurred with a group of twelve people happens with groups all the time, and can happen with a local church of any size. Our success that week had everything to do with two elements - our mission and how we organized around the mission. Our mission was stated, understood, and accepted by all twelve of us early on. On a low level, our mission was simple – fencing and painting. On a higher level, our mission was to make disciples and to do so through helping Sue, Steve, Hailey and Harley. Every member embraced and embodied the mission of the group.

Beyond a clearly stated, understood and accepted mission, our crew had to figure out a way to accomplish our mission – i.e. we had to get organized. Completing the work and sharing the gospel with the residents (our mission) naturally became our organizing principle.

An organizing principle is that around which a group or organization structures its life and activities. It’s hard to imagine a sports team surviving long if it forgets its primary mission to compete and win each game and eventually to win the grand final contest in its league. Winning the prized cup, medal or award keeps the team focused and integrated. For us, completing the fence and trim kept us focused. And when mission is the organizing principle, comradeship takes place along the way. Did you ever win or compete for a league or state championship with a team? I’ll bet you didn’t designate too much time (if any) at deepening the bonds between you and the team; bonding happened naturally as you pursued your goal (i.e. were on mission).

When we seek God’s glory and His mission, we’ll get prayer, worship, study and fellowship as a result. If we seek secondary or self-focuses causes as primary causes, we’ll miss God and His mission altogether. These secondary elements need a greater cause to keep them alive and give them their broader meaning. Below are some next steps to understand God’s mission and how to orient your life and your family’s life around Him.

- David

Also, click here to see pictures from the trip!

Next Steps:

• Keep the larger context of the Bible in mind when reading, asking how what you’re reading fits into the big story.

• If you use devotionals or Bible studies, spend a season reading the Bible without secondary material. Discover God’s intended message using other scripture as commentary.

• Beginning with your family (if you’re married) or with several close friends (if you’re single), find creative ways to be missional in your everyday life. Check this out to get yourself started.

• Look at your daily and weekly schedule. How can you organize your daily and weekly schedule around the mission of God?

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken he said, "DO NOT BE AFRAID; ONLY BELIEVE." - Mark 5:35-36

The Holy Spirit is really talking to me about FAITH.  If we don't have belief/faith in Jesus we have nothing.  Puny faith gets puny results.  Faith made Jesus marvel.

Henry Blackaby says, "God may test our faith by allowing obstacles to come between our prayers and the answer. The test is overcome when we believe God's word is true regardless of the circumstances and the conditions.  Then He will make the answer known."

Faith never gives up!

- Craig

Vacation Bible School photos are here! Check back each day for new pictures!

CentriKid pictures are here!

2012 Fuge photos are here!

More photos from Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, and Day 6.

Photos here and here!

More recently, Dallas Willard wrote that "the last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call to 'make disciples of all nations.' But Christians have responded by making 'Christians,' not 'disciples.' One must not play at 'faith in Jesus,' or at faith in God through Him, without having made the radical choice to live as his apprentice." (Italics mine)

And only one month prior to Platt's Radical, John Stott published his final book, Radical Disciple, in which he said "our common way of avoiding radical discipleship is to be selective: choosing those areas in which commitment suits us and staying away from those areas in which it will be costly. But because Jesus is Lord, we have no right to pick and choose the areas in which we will submit to his authority."

I chose Platt’s Radical for our Growth Groups because he exposes our potential blind spots in light of our purpose to be God’s people in the world, on mission to our neighbors and the nations.  My hope is that as we study the scriptures and consider Platt’s commentary we will become the followers of Jesus we are meant to be; and will not, as Stott put it, "provoke Him to say again 'why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?''' — Luke 6:46

Brian

Click on the banner above to see photos of Living Water's incredible Dinner Theater production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr.!

DVDs: A professional videographer volunteered to record this year's program, and we're happy to announce that DVDs will be available within the next couple of weeks! Each DVD costs $15 if picked up at the church office or $17.50 if delivered by mail. Click here to purchase.

Click on the banner above to see photos of Living Water's incredible Dinner Theater production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr.!

DVDs: A professional videographer volunteered to record this year's program, and we're happy to announce that DVDs will be available within the next couple of weeks! Each DVD costs $15 if picked up at the church office or $17.50 if delivered by mail. Click here to purchase.

$2,210.94 has been collected in conjunction with this year's Living Christmas Tree for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (namb.net/dr). Thanks for contributing!

Manhood. Womanhood. Marriage. Parenting. Singleness. Sex. Divorce. Homosexuality. Same-sex marriage. Polygamy. Pornography. Adoption. Abortion. Cultures around the world perceive each of these issues differently. So how does God's Word address them? During the Secret Church simulcast on November 4, 2011, we will explore how the gospel uniquely affects our understanding of family, marriage, sex, and host of related (and controversial) issues that are ultimately foundational for the display of the glory of God in our lives, in the church, and in the world. Secret Church Simulcast is 6 hours of intense Biblical teaching and prayer for the persecuted church led by David Platt, Pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, and author of Radical. This is not for the uncommitted or faint of heart. But if you desire to know God more deeply through His word and know His church more fully around the world, then please join us for Secret Church.

Click here to sign up now!

North Phoenix Baptist Church

RSVP and get more info at Facebook.

North Phoenix Baptist Church is hosting Francis Chan, best-selling author of Crazy Love, The Forgotten God, and Erasing Hell this Sunday evening, October 16. Francis will be teaching and participating in a Q&A via text messages sent by people in attendance.

A love offering will be taken to offset the cost of the event and to bless Francis for his generosity in coming to share with us.

If you have further questions, you can call 602-795-3015 or e-mail think@rhinocrash.org and someone will be in touch with you.

For more info on Francis’ current ministry and work, check out francischan.org.

7:00 PM
Foothills Sanctuary

Prayer is a wonderful privilege we have as children of our Heavenly Father. Jesus reminded us of His readiness to hear us and answer us with whatever we need (Matthew 7:7-11). With all of the good our Father has blessed us, with all of the hurt that is within and without, with all of the need we see, both near and far, and ultimately for His glory and kingdom to be seen and shown, let us pray, together, for ourselves, our church, our community, our country, and the nations.

$7.00 per ticket ● $12.00 per child for childcare (childcare provided at Foothills; must register by 9/26)

Filled with action-packed police drama, Courageous is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Riveted moviegoers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children. Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That's courageous.

Join a group of Foothills filmgoers as we meet up at Harkins Chandler Fashion Center for the 4:40 PM matinee showing of Courageous on Saturday, October 1.

Tickets will be available for sale at Foothills between services tomorrow morning, Sunday, September 18. Individual tickets are priced at $7.00 each. Please note that this film has been rated PG-13 and is not suitable for all ages. Childcare will be available at Foothills from 4:00-7:00 PM at a per child cost of $12.00. Registration for childcare must be processed by September 26.

Our Rio Vista Center Food Drive continues through September! Bring non-perishable food items and deposit them in any of the big red bins located throughout the building.

Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. — Proverbs 22:9 (NLT)

One week to go, and we've got 28 openings still available for our packing slot at Feed My Starving Children this coming Friday, September 23. This service opportunity is open to the entire Foothills family (ages 5 and up), and we'd love to see your neighbors, co-workers, and friends from school, too!

SIGN UP NOW at the Feed My Starving Children site using code 166446.

Once you've registered, all you've got to do is show up at the packing station on Friday afternoon. See you there!

I'm All In! is an opportunity to join the Worship Arts ministry as we get ready for all of our Fall and Winter programs. Are you new to Choir and Orchestra? This weekend is for you! Have you participated in the past and been thinking about coming back? Now is the time!

We look forward to having you with us for this great weekend of worship and rehearsal!

This is NOT LIMITED TO STUDENTS: parents, family, and friends are welcome. This is a great opportunity to serve and to introduce some school friends or neighbors to Veritas/Roots. Sign up now!

The Truth Project is a world-view study being offered exclusively to High School Juniors and Seniors this Fall beginning August 21. We will meet for 13 weeks, taking breaks over holiday weekends and for Fall Break.

Click through here for additional details.

People worshipping God and giving their all are found from Genesis to Revelation. In Worship: Believers Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby describes one particular account that inspires me in my personal worship of God. It is found in John 12:1-8: the anointing of Jesus at Bethany just before the cross. After the meal, Mary took a "bottle of perfume" that she had been saving. It was very expensive perfume. She shocked everyone. She knelt at Jesus feet, broke the bottle and began pouring it over His feet. She continued to astound everyone when she began wiping Jesus' feet with her hair.

Several lessons can be learned from this all-out, over-the-top act of worship. Let's look at them:

1. What Mary did revealed what was in her heart. She loved the Lord more than anything else and she showed it.
2. A true "heart attitude" of worship will find a way to express itself outwardly. When we love God it will show in our life through our actions, particularly in times of worship. Mary offered her "bottle of perfume." What is your rare bottle of perfume that you can offer to God?
3. Mary's act was one of deep and honest humility. She was unashamed to let everyone know how much she loved Jesus. She risked ridicule, criticism, and embarrassment.
4. Mary's act was one of great sacrifice. She gave "lavishly." She did not hesitate to give what cost her the most.
5. Mary's worship had an affect on her and on others. Her worship was on her hands, it was in her hair, it was everywhere she went – the aroma of a worshiper.
6. Mary's worship pleased God. This is the ultimate test. We may please ourselves, and we may please others with how we worship, but the question we must always be asking ourselves is "Is what I am doing, pleasing to God?" This is the most important thing.

I encourage our Foothills Church family to worship God. Consider Mary and her "all-out" worship of God and incorporate that into your own personal worship of God. In my own "private life of worship" it takes focused time of prayer and scripture reading to come into the presence of God. Why would corporate worship be different? I encourage you to BRING YOUR WORSHIP WITH YOU each Sunday as we gather! If you are unprepared, unfocused, and unconcerned in your approach when you come to worship, that is the kind of worship you will get. But if you come having prayed at home and read the scripture of the day and asking God to open your eyes and heart, tremendous things will happen.

One additional way to help facilitate our corporate worship is through the Worship Arts Blog here on our own Web site. Go to the Worship Arts Blog and you will see and hear a list of all the songs we are doing each week in worship. You can listen and learn them at home and BRING YOUR WORSHIP WITH YOU!

I am privileged to served God at Foothills Baptist. I love all of you and continue to seek God's presence and direction in all our worship.

Craig