How Do We Respond to the Present Crisis as The Church?
Some prayer targets and some biblical wisdom for navigating these crazy times ...
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Can This Be Our Cathartic Moment? (Saint Augustine and our current fragile state of America)
This is not the first time the Church has faced a crisis. Let's look back at Saint Augustine's ministry to the Church during the sack of Rome in 410 A.D., and examine his pastoral, Gospel-centered message that still relevant to us today....
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How Do We Respond to the Present Crisis as The Church?
Some prayer targets and some biblical wisdom for navigating these crazy times ...
Advent: Using Handel's "Messiah" as an Advent Devotional Guide
Everyone has family Christmas traditions. I'm sure one of yours instantly was brought to mind. After years of Alexandra and I trying to establish our own for our kids, we have finally discovered one that was an instant hit, and that is being repeated as we speak - hopefully to be repeated year after year: Using Handel's "Messiah" as a sort of Advent Devotional Guide for nightly family worship....
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Heart Lessons from Sabbatical #1: The Tension of the Parable of the 99 and the 1
After being on sabbatical for 2 and a half months, the Lord has shown me (Pastor Eric) some interesting things and I am eager to share them with the body...
New Sermon Series: Joy in the Mourning
A brief introduction to this Summer's sermon series...
So Why Plant a Church?
We are a month away from launching our 2nd church plant and here's a little description about how and why we do it...
Prioritize Corporate Worship During Passion Week
The Passion Week, aka the week leading up to Easter, usually presents the church with extra opportunities to gather for corporate worship. I am merely suggesting that we should take advantage of those opportunities. ...
Having conversations with people who are not "Right, like ME"
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated by many of these issues be highly politicized. It's hard to know what to say or do. But even if it's difficult to know what to say or do, doing nothing and saying nothing should not be an option. The church is on the precipice of opportunity to be a light in the midst of confusion. But how do we engage this topic with wisdom from above and be vessels of change? Hopefully this modest contribution is a start....
The Gospel and Race: On Earth as It Is in Heaven
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated by many of these issues be highly politicized. It's hard to know what to say or do. But even if it's difficult to know what to say or do, doing nothing and saying nothing should not be an option. The church is on the precipice of opportunity to be a light in the midst of confusion. But how do we engage this topic with wisdom from above and be vessels of change? Hopefully this modest contribution is a start. ...
Thoughts to Consider As We Discuss Racial Tension and Injustice
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated by many of these issues be highly politicized. It's hard to know what to say or do. But even if it's difficult to know what to say or do, doing nothing and saying nothing should not be an option. The church is on the precipice of opportunity to be a light in the midst of confusion. But how do we engage this topic with wisdom from above and be vessels of change? Hopefully this modest contribution is a start. ...
How do we as a church wisely address the racial tension and injustice in our nation?
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated by many of these issues be highly politicized. It's hard to know what to say or do. But even if it's difficult to know what to say or do, doing nothing and saying nothing should not be an option. The church is on the precipice of opportunity to be a light in the midst of confusion. But how do we engage this topic with wisdom from above and be vessels of change? Hopefully this modest contribution is a start. ...
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Why no, we're not a "home-schooling church"...
We take a look at our church's role in Christian education. It is an area that often has more questions than answers, so rather than looking at the macro, I will leave that to the "experts" while I try to share a non-experts thoughts on an important matter. ...
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Brick Church Plant (Q#1): Why plant churches in our own back yard?
As we get closer each day to our new church plant, we want to use every means possible to help people be as informed and as prayerful as possible as we embark on this new mission. For many, the idea of planting churches is a new concept. Others have perhaps heard about it but never participated and have questions. Others may question the model, things like: "what do you mean by campus?". or "why plant so close to the existing church", or "why not focus our efforts on growing the church that we already have rather than reproducing so quickly?". This series of blogs, video blogs, teachings from the pulpit and prayer meetings will be aimed at creating a dialog and helping us to embark on this journey as a called, prayerful, prepared and informed people. If all of your questions are not answered in each post, that is kind of by design. Each entry is aimed at taking a look at one discussion point and fleshing it out enough to help answer questions and promote future dialog. ...
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Christian Freedom and the American Dream: You are free to be content with less!
Recently on a NPR special, they were taking calls concerning the realization that the “American Dream” isn’t as readily available for my generation (those born in the 1980s to now) as in past generations. It’s too expensive, good paying jobs are harder to come by, and college is becoming essentially unaffordable for the average American. The question posed was this: “How can we fix this, or can we fix it? - Call us with your answers and ideas.”...
Celebration of New Life
This is a time of year where we celebrate new life. Trees are growing new leaves, flowers are in bloom, people are emerging after a long winter. This is also a time where we celebrate the greatest of all New Life, our new life in Christ. ...
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Meditations on Suffering Through Chronic Pain
I have done my best to take a look at the issue of "chronic pain" through first and third person lenses. I am my no means an expert on the topic. Nor do I claim to always be victorious in the struggle. These thoughts are my own. That being said, I believe they are in line with what I read in God's Inspired and Holy Word. ...
Foundations #6 - Church Planting, Replanting, and Revitalization
Paul and the Apostles understood this commission of Christ as a call to plant churches. He would travel to major urban cities with regional influences, plant a church, and then move on to the next city. People traveling to and fro from these cities would carry the Christian message to the outer limits and small towns outside the city, and thus more churches were planted. In this way, the Gospel traveled from "Jerusalem, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8)....
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Foundations:#4- Breaking Down Our Mission: Love God
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to clarify, encourage, cast the vision for a new year by simply rejoicing in truths that we share together and celebrate as a new work here on the Jersey Shore. ...
Foundations: Foundational Piece #3- Know Your Mission
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to clarify, encourage, cast the vision for a new year by simply rejoicing in truths that we share together and celebrate as a new work here on the Jersey Shore. ...
Foundations: Foundational Piece #2- Intentionality
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to clarify, encourage, cast the vision for a new year by simply rejoicing in truths that we share together and celebrate as a new work here on the Jersey Shore. ...
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Foundations
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to clarify, encourage, cast the vision for a new year by simply rejoicing in truths that we share together and celebrate as a new work here on the Jersey Shore. ...
The True Nature of Giving and Generosity
What is the nature of true generosity and giving? This question needs to be asked as we enter into the Christmas season, where giving and generosity has actually been embedded not just within the Christian church, but also in our secular culture. This annual December generosity often takes the form of Christmas presents, but it is not unusual to see local food pantrys get stocked for the year, or churches to have large end of the year tithes, or needy families receive help and more. ...
Kicking off our Community Groups
As we prepare to kick off our Community Groups, people have had a variety of questions. This is a copy of what we have sent to each of the community group leaders, and we wanted to put it out to the church so we are all on the same page and to do our best to answer any questions. ...
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The MIRACULOUS way that God used VBS
We just finished our 2016 VBS, but I couldn't help but think how God used the 2015 VBS to set in motion a unique work of God on the Jersey Shore. ...
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Spiritual Forgetfulness
Check out the new blog on Spiritual Forgetfulness, how it impacts our pursuit of Jesus and what we can do to combat it. ...
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A Pastor's Wife is not a Free Unpaid Staff Member
As I enter year 12 of being in pastoral ministry, I am noticing a sad reality. Many who began when I did are no longer along for the ride. It is sad and it is sobering. This series is aimed at rethinking how we view the pastoral ministry, calling and vocation. There has been much written about how a pastor is to relate to their congregation, but tragically little aimed at how the congregation should engage their pastors. ...
The Pastor is Usually NOT the Most Sanctified Person in the Body
As I enter year 12 of being in pastoral ministry, I am noticing a sad reality. Many who began when I did are no longer along for the ride. It is sad and it is sobering. This series is aimed at rethinking how we view the pastoral ministry, calling and vocation. There has been much written about how a pastor is to relate to their congregation, but tragically little aimed at how the congregation should engage their pastors. ...
Becoming a family NOT acquiring a building
As we prepare to move into our new home I'd love to share some thoughts on what humility and the heart of God look so we can join Him in His work here on the Shore. ...
Marriage not Merger
In coming together as two separate churches from two different backgrounds, and becoming one family, language matters. When we take greater care to have our language and imagery be grounded in Scripture, it is easier to make a direct connection to God's Wisdom (what James refers to as "Wisdom from above (James 3:17)" rather than leaning on the wisdom of man and "hoping" God blesses it. ...
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Rejoicing Exceedingly With Great Joy
How is it possible that one event could produce such polarizing reactions? When we look at Matthew 2, the star that appeared marking the birth of Jesus drove some to the heights of joy and drove others to total madness. Not much has changed in 2000 years. Still the name of Jesus is seen as the sweetest of all names or an total intrusion into a conversation depending on wh...
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Long Walk Part of Gift
This morning, I was walking the kids through their bible curriculum. This story from 30 Days to Understanding the Bible really impacted me. I am preparing to teach through the visit of the Magi this week and this missionary testimony of a "long walk" that was in itself, part of the gift, really touched my heart as I considered the long trek that the Wise Men took to follow...
Keep ReadingThe Sad and Joyous Passing of Our Friend Syd Lawrence
I got a call early this morning from my dad. His dear friend and ours, Syd Lawrence, had gone home to be with the Lord at 4 AM. Syd always referred to me as "The Part-timer", an old joke that people make about pastors "only really working on Sundays" but that joke never got old to Syd. He welcomed me with it just this past Sunday, 2 days ago, so "The Part-timer" would like...
Keep ReadingNot Knowing How to Receive Grace is Exhausting
This is blog #8 in our series Sabbatical Musings. To catch up with the previous blogs in the series, you can click HERE and it will take you to a page with all of the other blogs. Today's musing is on my most favoritist topic in the whole world- GRACE. In particular, I want to write on why it is so difficult for some people to receive grace and how exhausting it can be wh...
Keep ReadingAn Honest Look At Christian Friendships
UThis is blog #7 in the Series "Sabbatical Musings". If you would like to keep up with what was previously written in this series, you can follow along by clicking HERE Disclaimer:Thank you for all of the friends along the way who have fanned my flicker into a flame, who have stuck by me through thick and thin, who have loved me enough to point out areas of sin, who have ...
Keep ReadingGod Actually Cares if Christians Are Nice People
This is the 6th Entry in a Series of Blogs called Sabbatical Musings. If you want to catch up with any of the blogs in the series, justCLICK HERE This is likely to be the shortest blog in the series but it is a result of something that I have been thinking about for a long time that I got to really settle in my heart over Sabbatical. This thought is really not connected t...
Keep ReadingMusings on Running the Hamster Wheel of Anxiety
This is now the 5th blog in the series "Sabbatical Musings". To read yesterday's blog, clickHERE To keep up with the series Sabbatical Musings, click HERE Today's musings come from a topic that I could easily have a PhD in: Running on the Hamster Wheel of Anxiety. If I had to pick one area where the Lord was doing the greatest amount in my heart, it would be on this issu...
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Heart Lessons from Sabbatical #1: The Tension of the Parable of the 99 and the 1
After being on sabbatical for 2 and a half months, the Lord has shown me (Pastor Eric) some interesting things and I am eager to share them with the body...
Keep ReadingA Home Church is So So Necessary to the Christian Life
This is the 4th Blog in a series called "Sabbatical Musings". To read the previous blog click HERE and to keep up with the series, Sabbatical Musings, clickHERE For anyone who's been reading along as I share the different reflections on things that the Lord was doing in my heart through this time of Sabbatical and sharing some of those things through this blog series- Tha...
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Confessions from a pastor who was exhausted by caring too much about what people think about me and
To check out the first blog in the series "Sabbatical Musings" click here I did not write this because I want to just beat up on myself for my shortcomings and I did not go into sabbatical looking to focus on me. My desire was to see Jesus and more specifically to see Jesus REALLY BIG again. In His mercy, He revealed much of Himself, but along that road God's Spirit real...
Keep ReadingHonest Reflections of the Impact of Caring Too Much About Man's Approval
This blog is a continuation of yesterday's blog "Confessions of a Pastor Who Was Exhausted from Caring Too Much About What People Think and Didn't Even Realize it" which can be read HEREand is part 3 on a series called "Sabbatical Musings" Yesterday's entry was about the EFFECT that caring too much about the approval of man can have on the heart. Today's is going to be ab...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 6/9/19
Community Group Questions "Wavering Between Faith and Fear" 6/9/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons To watch the video stream clickhere Scripture: Read- Genesis 32-33 Series: Genesis 13-50- God's Dysfunctional Family Tree 1).What led Jacob to call the place where he was at in the beginning for ...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 6/16/19
Community Group Questions "Remaining in the Spirit" 6/16/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so atwww.redeemernj.com/sermons To watch the video stream click here Scripture: Read- Galatians 3:1-6 Series: Stand Alone 1).Describe how your heart responded to Jesus back when Jesus was brand new to you? How have things changes (for b...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 6/2/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "Love on the Alter" 6/2/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Genesis 22 Series: Genesis 13-50- God's Dysfunctional Family Tree 1).Genesis 22:2 makes a big deal about Isaac being Abraham's "only son whom you love" a. Before we skip to the New Testament,...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions of 5/26/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "What Happens When We Take Matters Into Our Own Hands" 5/26/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons To watch the YouTube stream of the service click here Scripture: Read- Genesis 16 Series: Genesis 13-50- God's Dysfunctional Family Tree 1).How far into this passage does it ...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 5/12/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "Chosen in Love" 5/12/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons To watch the video stream of the service click here Scripture: Read- Ephesians 1:1-14 Series: Stand Alone Message 1).Why is it important to say that he is writing these things according to the will of God and n...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group for 5/5/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "The Anti-Kingdom" 5/5/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons To Watch the Video Stream Click Here Scripture: Read- Genesis 11 Series: Beginnings 1).What is meant by "near fulfillment" and "far fulfillment" of passages like Genesis 9:1 "Be fruitful and multiply" a. What...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Question for 4/28/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "The New Hope Part 3: The Re-Commission" 4/28/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Genesis 9 Series: Beginnings 1).Genesis 9 opens up with a commandment for Noah and his offspring to be fruitful and multiply. Where else do we see similar commandments in t...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Question for 4/14/19 Sermon and Text
Community Group Questions "The New Hope Part 2: Darkness Before the Dawn" 4/14/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons To watch the video stream of the service click here Scripture: Read- Genesis 7 and 8 Series: Beginnings 1).In 7:1 we see that Noah's household was protected through Noah's righteou...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 4/7/19
Community Group Questions "The New Hope Part 1: Judgment and the Redeemer" 4/7/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons You can watch the live stream from Sunday Here Scripture: Read- Genesis 6 Series: Beginnings 1).In what ways do the events of Genesis 6-9 mirror the events (or become a "type" of th...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 3/24/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "The New Hope" 3/24/19 Scripture: Read- Genesis 4 Series: Beginnings- Part 8 1).What are some of the "firsts" that we see happen in Chapter 4 in Genesis? 2). If you did not have the rest of the bible and were reading it from the beginning and saw the promise in Genesis 3:15, what would you likely think about Cain? 3). Although Cain was the ...
Keep ReadingSermon Questions for 3/17/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "The Fall: Part 3- The Curse" 3/17/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Genesis 3:14-24 Series: Beginnings 1).Why did God have to bring a curse after the disobedience in order to be a just God? 2). Who were the 3 living parties being cursed in this pass...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 3/10/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "The Fall- Part 2" 3/10/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons To watch the video of the service click here Scripture: Read- Genesis 3:6-15 Series: Beginnings 1).What reasons does verse 6 give for why the woman ate of the fruit? 2). We typically think of wisdom as a good...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 2/24/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "The God Who is There in Good Times and Bad" 2/24/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Psalm 116 1). Why does the Psalmist declare that he loves the Lord in verses 1-2? 2). Why is it important in times when our faith is challenged to start off with a fou...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 2/17/19 Sermon
Community Group Questions "Seeing God in the Creation Narrative" 2/17/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Genesis 2 Series: Beginnings: Genesis 1-12 1). Why did God write this text to the original audience? What was He looking to communicate about Himself? 2). What is the big di...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 2/3/19 Sermon and Text
Community Group Questions "Seeing God in the Creation Narrative" 2/3/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Genesis 1:1-26, Romans 1:19-22, Job 38:1-5 Series: Beginnings: Genesis 1-12 Text Theme and big idea:to comfort God's fearful people with the knowledge that our God is the s...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions and for 1/27/19 Text and Sermon
Community Group Questions "A Guide to Walking in Assurance" 1/27/19 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Genesis 1:1-2, John 1:1-5, Job 38:1-5 Series: Beginnings: Genesis 1-12 1). What is God teaching us about Himself in the creation narrative in Genesis? 2). Ravi Zaccharias has b...
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Community Group Questions for 1/13/19 Sermon and Text
Community Group Questions "A Guide to Walking in Complete Assurance" 1/13/19- Eric Loyer If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so atwww.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- 1 John 5:12-21 Series: A Guide to the Christian Life: A Study Through the Book of 1 John 1). General question- what really stuck out to you in the passage or the...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions from the 12/16/18 Sermon
Community Group Questions "Christ is the Secret to Contentment" 12/16/18 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Philippians 4:11-23 Series: Advent Conspiracy: Recovering Christmas- Part 3 Connecting the teaching and the worship: How does singing praises to our God help us to grow in ou...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 12/9 Sermon
Community Group Questions "Spend Less/Give More" 12/9/18 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Mathew 2:1-12, Luke 12:13-21 Series: Recovering Christmas- Part 2 Connecting the teaching and the worship: One of the songs that we sang this week was "Joy to the World". How does spending w...
Keep ReadingSermon Questions for 12/2/18 Advent Week 1 Sermon
Community Group Questions "Worship Fully" 12/2/18 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- Luke 2:22-38 and Hebrews 11:39-12:4 Series: Advent Conspiracy: Recovering Christmas- Part 1 Connecting the teaching and the worship: Such a big part of our worship during the Christmas season comes...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 11/25/18 Sermon
Community Group Questions "A Guide to Testing the Spirits" 11/25/18 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Scripture: Read- 1 John 3:19-4:6 Series: 1 John: A Guide to the Christian Life- Part 8 Connecting the teaching and the worship: Since our teaching is on "testing the Spirits", how do we know that...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 11/18/18 Sermon
Community Group Questions "A Guide to Loving One Another" 11/18/18 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so atwww.redeemernj.com/sermons Or you can watch the stream of the whole service by clickinghere Scripture: Read- 1 John 3:11-24 Series: 1 John: A Guide to the Christian Life Part 7 Connecting the teaching and the worship: We san...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions from the 10/28/18 Sermon
Community Group Questions "A Guide to Walking in Christian Maturity" 10/28/18 Unfortunately the message did not record this week :( Or you can watch the stream of the whole service by clickinghere Scripture: Read- 1 John 2:3-14 Series: 1 John: A Guide to the Christian Life Part 4 Connecting the teaching and the worship: We sang the song "Be Thou My Vision" this Sunda...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions from 10/21 Sermon
Community Group Questions "A Guide to Walking in Total Forgiveness" 10/21/18 If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons Or you can watch the stream of the whole service by clicking here Scripture: Read- 1 John 2:1-2, Zechariah 3:1-5, Romans 7:24-25 Series: 1 John: A Guide to the Christian Life Part 3 Scri...
Keep ReadingCommunity Group Questions for 10/7 Sermon
Community Group Questions "A Guide to Knowing Jesus 10/7/18" If you have not listened to the message yet, there are many ways to do so at www.redeemernj.com/sermons To watch the Video of the Service Click Here(Sermon starts at 40 minute mark) Scripture: Read- 1 John 1:1-4 Series: 1 John: A Guide to the Christian Life Connecting the teaching and the worship: One o...
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Community Group Questions from 9/30
Community Group Questions for the Sermon:"Multiplying Community 9/30/18"
So Why Plant a Church?
We are a month away from launching our 2nd church plant and here's a little description about how and why we do it...
Keep ReadingPrioritize Corporate Worship During Passion Week
The Passion Week, aka the week leading up to Easter, usually presents the church with extra opportunities to gather for corporate worship. I am merely suggesting that we should take advantage of those opportunities. ...
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Why Reproducing is Mission Critical
A few words on why "reproducing" can't be an optional part of the mission. It should go without saying, but here are a few words to why it should not be left "unsaid" ...
Keep ReadingHaving conversations with people who are not "Right, like ME"
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated b...
Keep ReadingHow do we as a church wisely address the racial tension and injustice in our nation?
If you watch the news or engage any areas of social media or just look around, it is clear that there are areas of racial tension and injustice in this nation and many of these issues have been polarizing in the church rather than bringing unity. It is nearly impossible to engage the topic without offending someone who sees things differently. It is further complicated b...
Keep Reading
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Why no, we're not a "home-schooling church"...
We take a look at our church's role in Christian education. It is an area that often has more questions than answers, so rather than looking at the macro, I will leave that to the "experts" while I try to share a non-experts thoughts on an important matter. ...
Keep Reading
1
Brick Church Plant (Q#1): Why plant churches in our own back yard?
As we get closer each day to our new church plant, we want to use every means possible to help people be as informed and as prayerful as possible as we embark on this new mission. For many, the idea of planting churches is a new concept. Others have perhaps heard about it but never participated and have questions. Others may question the model, things like: "what do you...
Keep ReadingCelebration of New Life
This is a time of year where we celebrate new life. Trees are growing new leaves, flowers are in bloom, people are emerging after a long winter. This is also a time where we celebrate the greatest of all New Life, our new life in Christ. ...
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Meditations on Suffering Through Chronic Pain
I have done my best to take a look at the issue of "chronic pain" through first and third person lenses. I am my no means an expert on the topic. Nor do I claim to always be victorious in the struggle. These thoughts are my own. That being said, I believe they are in line with what I read in God's Inspired and Holy Word. ...
Keep Reading
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Foundations:#4- Breaking Down Our Mission: Love God
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to cla...
Keep ReadingFoundations: Foundational Piece #3- Know Your Mission
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to cla...
Keep ReadingFoundations: Foundational Piece #2- Intentionality
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to cla...
Keep Reading
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Foundations
As we begin a new year at Redeemer Fellowship, the beginning of our first full year as a church, we are going to use this time to restate the foundational truths that join us together as a church. We strongly encourage each member of the body to read these posts, as they give us opportunity to reinforce what is shared from the pulpit and to take added time and care to cla...
Keep ReadingKicking off our Community Groups
As we prepare to kick off our Community Groups, people have had a variety of questions. This is a copy of what we have sent to each of the community group leaders, and we wanted to put it out to the church so we are all on the same page and to do our best to answer any questions. ...
Keep ReadingThe Changing Church: The Need for Pastors to Manage Their Weekly Schedules
As I enter year 12 of being in pastoral ministry, I am noticing a sad reality. Many who began when I did are no longer along for the ride. It is sad and it is sobering. This series is aimed at rethinking how we view the pastoral ministry, calling and vocation. There has been much written about how a pastor is to relate to their congregation, but tragically little aimed...
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The MIRACULOUS way that God used VBS
We just finished our 2016 VBS, but I couldn't help but think how God used the 2015 VBS to set in motion a unique work of God on the Jersey Shore. ...
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A Pastor's Wife is not a Free Unpaid Staff Member
As I enter year 12 of being in pastoral ministry, I am noticing a sad reality. Many who began when I did are no longer along for the ride. It is sad and it is sobering. This series is aimed at rethinking how we view the pastoral ministry, calling and vocation. There has been much written about how a pastor is to relate to their congregation, but tragically little aimed...
Keep ReadingThe Pastor is Usually NOT the Most Sanctified Person in the Body
As I enter year 12 of being in pastoral ministry, I am noticing a sad reality. Many who began when I did are no longer along for the ride. It is sad and it is sobering. This series is aimed at rethinking how we view the pastoral ministry, calling and vocation. There has been much written about how a pastor is to relate to their congregation, but tragically little aimed...
Keep ReadingThings that God showed me during a little break
I just returned from a needed and fruitful vacation. Sometimes, its when we "stop doing" that God shows us things about Himself, and ourselves that we could be in danger of missing ...
Keep ReadingBecoming a family NOT acquiring a building
As we prepare to move into our new home I'd love to share some thoughts on what humility and the heart of God look so we can join Him in His work here on the Shore. ...
Keep ReadingMarriage not Merger
In coming together as two separate churches from two different backgrounds, and becoming one family, language matters. When we take greater care to have our language and imagery be grounded in Scripture, it is easier to make a direct connection to God's Wisdom (what James refers to as "Wisdom from above (James 3:17)" rather than leaning on the wisdom of man and "hoping" G...
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