Coming Soon; “Playing For an Audience of One”
Imagine if Christs church were filled with people willing to follow in the apostle Paul’s footsteps, willing to live with this same conviction about playing for an Audience of One………Deep down, isn’t this the way you want to live? Page 21; Playing for an Audience of One…Learning to Live for the Approval of Jesus.
Fully formed Followers of Jesus Christ are under construction here!!! Life groups are Sharing Life, Connecting Journeys, and Following Christ. A new season of ministry is underway and along with it new opportunities to celebrate what Christ is doing in our midst. October will be a special beginning for our Life Groups with several options for Life groups to connect with. In the past we have utilized specific books (Purpose Driven Life, Connecting Together, Andrew Murray—On Prayer) as an option for Life Groups during the fall. This Year we are very fortunate to have available to us an outstanding book entitled “Playing For an Audience of One”. Arranged in such a way that each chapter has a specific point/topic that focuses on living a life of holiness and significance it naturally lends itself to weekly Life Group discussion. In an exciting and timely opportunity this book is also authored by our incoming Pastor Joshua Brooks. Several of us have read “Playing For an Audience of One” and I was approached by one of our life groups leaders interested in utilizing the book for his life group’s focus for this fall. One thought led to another and of course after much prayer, discussion with other leaders within our church, our Life Group leadership team and then obtaining permission from Pastor Joshua we pursued this as an option for you. Since we would be able to purchase the books at a significant discount we can pass that savings on to you and the sale proceeds beyond the cost of production are being donated to the Burundi Widows fund. When I approached Pastor Joshua about the concept he shared with me that his desire from the beginning has been that the proceeds of the book sales would go to further the kingdom. What a truly unique opportunity we have to partner in this ministry, and be blessed in our own discipleship.
In celebration of what the Holy Spirit has done, and in anticipation of what He is yet to do among us!!! Stephen Bishop; Interim Director of Life Groups
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Moments of Reflection
Sharing life—connecting journeys—following Christ
So Where is Oberammergau?
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
In the early 1600’s, much of what is modern-day Europe faced an overwhelming foe; The Black Death. As a result of the ravages of the Bubonic plague many perished both in the countryside and cities from this indiscriminate foe. One small Bavarian village called Oberammergau had lost a large number of its citizens by 1633 and the future seemed bleak. As a community they turned to the great physician for help and prayed that if they were spared they would create a lasting memorial to God. They committed themselves as they had known suffering; they would honor God by performing a “Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ” every ten years until the end of time. As the number of deaths began to dramatically decreased, plans for what we would come to call, “The Passion Play” began to take shape. On the still fresh graves of the town cemetery in 1634, Oberammergau performed its first Passion Play. Every decade for the last three centuries (except in 1870 and 1940 during war time) the village has performed the Passion of the Christ. The now famous Passion Play is performed in all years ending in zero and involves over 2000 actors and artists, whose good moral standing is as crucial as their acting ability. Anyone involved must have lived in Oberammergau for at least 20 years. The play is performed in the open air before an audience of five thousand, and lasts six hours and is repeated five days a week from May through September.
Our lives when taken in the context of our time can seem so meaningless and insignificant but when taken in the context of eternity can be so much more. As Life Group leaders and members of the Body of Christ we have such a privilege to be influencers for eternity. The Passion of the Christ can play out every day in our lives. Certainly not always in the scale or production that Oberammergau exhibits, but the impact on eternity can be just as significant.
Sharing life—connecting journeys—following Christ
So Where is Oberammergau?
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
In the early 1600’s, much of what is modern-day Europe faced an overwhelming foe; The Black Death. As a result of the ravages of the Bubonic plague many perished both in the countryside and cities from this indiscriminate foe. One small Bavarian village called Oberammergau had lost a large number of its citizens by 1633 and the future seemed bleak. As a community they turned to the great physician for help and prayed that if they were spared they would create a lasting memorial to God. They committed themselves as they had known suffering; they would honor God by performing a “Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ” every ten years until the end of time. As the number of deaths began to dramatically decreased, plans for what we would come to call, “The Passion Play” began to take shape. On the still fresh graves of the town cemetery in 1634, Oberammergau performed its first Passion Play. Every decade for the last three centuries (except in 1870 and 1940 during war time) the village has performed the Passion of the Christ. The now famous Passion Play is performed in all years ending in zero and involves over 2000 actors and artists, whose good moral standing is as crucial as their acting ability. Anyone involved must have lived in Oberammergau for at least 20 years. The play is performed in the open air before an audience of five thousand, and lasts six hours and is repeated five days a week from May through September.
Our lives when taken in the context of our time can seem so meaningless and insignificant but when taken in the context of eternity can be so much more. As Life Group leaders and members of the Body of Christ we have such a privilege to be influencers for eternity. The Passion of the Christ can play out every day in our lives. Certainly not always in the scale or production that Oberammergau exhibits, but the impact on eternity can be just as significant.
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