Time Change this Sunday

Hey all, don't forget to turn the clocks back Saturday night for daylight savings time. Actually, it would be pretty sweet to see our second service show up an hour early! This would make them on time! Love you all!

Work on the building continues. I am so proud of all of our volunteers. Keep it up. Look at their progress over 13 days.



I look forward to studying 2 Corinthians 5:11 through the end of the chapter on Sunday morning and then going out TOGETHER to serve some folks. See you all there.

Instead of a Show

Please read Isaiah 1:11-17 right now.

I recently saw Jon Foreman sing this song live in Atlanta... I have not been able to get it out of my mind since that day. I'm not sure why Jon wrote it. He mentioned it was straight out of Isaiah. I have no clue if it was motivated by a personal experience..... but I can say that it resonates with me because of a few personal experiences.`I constantly am afraid of being a "show." I fear that church growth, musical growth, and etc.... will make it too easy for us to go through motions rather than truly being cut at the heart for God.

This song may come off as offensive, but is Isaiah 1:11-17 any less straightforward?

Watch the video, pick either one below. (facebookers check my blog)





Check out the lyrics...

I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stomp on my ears when you’re singing ‘em
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show

Your eyes are closed when you’re praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There’s blood on your hands
You turned your back on the homeless
And the ones that don’t fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There’s blood on your hands

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show

Let’s argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let’s argue this out
You’ll be one of the clouds
Let’s argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can’t love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can’t stand at all, all
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show

Before He Speaks

Finally a music video I can relate to! :D

Building a Church Building.

Hey all, I have not been posting much. I have literally been building a Church location. You can view pictures over at www.rogerdurbin.com . It is a good thing that church is not a building, because we have chosen to spend less money and invest in the community. It is a part of our DNA to engage the culture with the gospel, not our pride or ego.

So it has been a while since I have last posted. What's been going on? A lot.

1. My daughter Halle is getting her first tooth.. that is so much cooler than any ministry
2. Brylee will not stop talking about her halloween costume. Trunk 'n Treat next wednesday at Bridge Kids!
3. Last weekend I missed the sermon on parenting because I was at Windemere. I led 300 jr. high students in worship. I also wrote a new song straight out of 2 Corinthians... We are recording it ... you can hear it sometime.. Sometime... maybe
4. In 8 days we have done a lot of work on the Sprung
5. Becky and I are going to Honduras in Nov. We got our iternary Fedexed today. It looks terrific.
   
6. I started a new seminary course on The theology and practice of Worship. I have been reading a lot about the Doctrine of God and have picked up a new book entitled: Worship Old and New.. I am also ordering....
7. I am ordering.. "The mortification of sin." ...
   
8. Conquering Addictions based on "Recovery at the Village" begins Nov. 4th.. Take it
9. "How to Study the Bible" will run on three Sunday nights when Crown Financial ends.. All cell family leaders NEEED/MUST take it if at all possible.

I have not had time to blog much. I'll try to get back in the swing. Keep praying for God to be glorified through all of our efforts at The Bridge!

Updates and Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

Hello all, we are back from Catalyst and I have officially caught up on seminary. Is that a miracle or what? Catalyst was terrific. The worship was terrific, the speakers were terrific, but most of all God was terrific. He was glorified and He spoke very loudly to me last week.

What did he say?

1) Well he told me not to go with Tim this week. Tim, our senior leader is speaking tomorrow at Willow for the Reveal Conference. It is an amazing honor for our church and Tim, but God said sit at home with your family. Andy Stanley was speaking and proclaimed, "Some pastors were sacrificing their family on the altar of ministry." I knew God was speaking to me. I spent last week at Catalyst, this coming weekend I am leading teens in worship at Windemere.. I am heading to honduras the first weekend of November. I argued a bit with God that this was like a once in a lifetime thing for our community and Tim... but he said spend time with your family. So right now I am watching a Halloween spooktacular cartoon featuring Barney and Thomas the train.

2) God changed yesterday's message. He laid 2 Timothy 2:14 through the end of the chapter on my heart and wouldn't let the fire burn out. I preached it pretty hard. And I shared some very serious things God had laid on my heart. Things dealing with "moralistic therapeutic deism." You can read more about it: here ... Moralistic therapeutic deism is the dominant american religion and I believe forms of it has penetrated the church and is not limited to youth or young adults. Actually, if you will read this study you will see that many of the deists are active in local churches and many adults follow this religion...

I'm ashamed to say, that I think some churches unknowingly lead people to this belief through their teachings. They teach moralism rather than grace. They teach therapeutic sermons rather than truth. And they teach about God and sin in a generic way.

We will not be a church like this.

I'll post some pics and more catalyst moments later.. Matt Chandler's message from 1 Timothy 4:6-16 was very challenging for every pastor/elder at the conference. They should have let him preach longer.

Busy few weeks

Hello all, I thought I would drop a note to say I will blog on and off as I travel. The family and I had a great time at a cabin Monday and this morning. Tomorrow, Becky and I leave with 8 leaders from our church 30 and under to attend the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta. I'll blog some of our experience.

Other cool happenings:

1) Concrete is being poured tomorrow at the new church site for the Sprung. Men we'll begin work next week.
2) This coming Sunday's message is on dealing with crummy co-workers and how we can "be the church" at work reflecting God's light.
3) Next week Tim is speaking at Reveal. I'll be traveling with him and a crew from our church.
4) The weekend of the 17th I am leading worship at Windemere.

Not so cool happenings:
1) I am behind on my seminary.


I just wanted to keep you updated. More to come.
2)

Discussions from "I am Church" series

We kicked off a new series at The Bridge last week. Our primary focus was on 1 Peter 2:1-12. Below is the beginning of a discussion we are having between now and November 2. Please feel free to join in. These questions are developed as a guide for our cell families to use with last week's sermon and notes. If you missed the teaching, you can pick up a DVD. If you are not in a cell, please consider joining one today.

Starter questions:

What was your first experience with “church” like?

What comes to mind when you hear the word “church?”

What do you think Jesus intended His church to be?

Popular misconceptions:

• Church = services

• Church = clergy

• Church = a particular denomination

• Church = a building/place I go to

What does the Bible say about church?

Background:

In the New Testament, the word church is the Greek word ekklesia, which means assembly. The word ekklesia was primarily used to describe the followers of Jesus, however at times it was used for a nonreligious gathering (cf. Acts 19:32, Acts 19:41).

In a primary gathering aspect however, ekklesia is most used to describe groups of followers of Jesus as they met in homes (Romans 16:5, 1 Cor. 16:19). The church “gathered” on mission (Acts 14:27), but never do we see that people met at church.

The following discussion really centers around, "Is church a building or a people?"

Scriptures to Study:

Ephesians 1:22-23

Ephesians 2:19-22

1 Peter 2:4-12

Question 1: If the church is a place, how can it fill everything thing and be everywhere? (Ephesians passages)

Question 2: What does 1 Peter 2:5 and Ephesians 2:22 tell about what God’s house/temple actually is?

Question 3: Who does 1 Peter 2:5 say God’s priests are?

Dialog: Is church a place for people, or is church the people of God all over the place? Is it theologically correct to say that you are going to church? Why or why not?

Question 4: What is the difference between going to church, and being the church? 1 Peter 2:9-12

I go to church vs.	I am the church
Services/Church is seen as a dispenser of religious goods and services. People come to a building to be fed, to have their needs met through quality programs, and to have the professionals teach their children about God.	Church is seen as a body of people sent on a mission who gather in community for worship, encouragement, and teaching from the Word that supplements what they are feeding themselves throughout the week. This gathering (ekklesia) equips the people of God to be the church and shine the marvelous light (Christ in You) in culture.

Question 5: What are the implications of being the church rather than going to church? 1 Peter 2:12

Question 6: Where does Acts 1:8 tell spirit-filled followers to be God’s witnesses?

Question 7: Sunday, Nov. 2^nd we are concluding this series with a sermon called “We are Church.” We are challenging the people of God to “leave the building” and to be the church in our community in the surrounding days. What ideas do you have for your cell family to be able to do this? What ideas can you share for The Bridge Community as a whole to consider?

P.S. Yes, we still have celebration services at 9:00 and 10:45 at E-Hall. These teachings/discussions are challenging our people to "leave the building" and to be the church in their world beyond walls.

Fire proof....and now Bullet proof?