by Bret Capranica | Aug 3, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Video
Pray for our Prague team – particularly today around 1:00 p.m.
by Bret Capranica | Jul 28, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think The biblical book of Numbers has several of the most memorable scenes from Israel”™s early days after the Exodus. Read through the following sections and see if you can summarize the main idea and list any principles that you think would apply to God”™s people in general: Numbers 11 Numbers 12 Numbers 13-14 Numbers 16 Numbers 20 Numbers 21-25 Prayerfully Meditate The New Testament mentions a number of sections found in the book of Numbers. Read each passage and see if you can find where in Numbers the New Testament author is referring to and what the corresponding lesson for Christians is. John 3:1-15 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Hebrews 3:7-4:16 Intentionally Act From what you have read in the passages above, what sin needs to be acknowledged before God? What elements of praise should you express to Him? For what can you be specifically grateful in light of what you have been meditating upon from Numbers? Pray for those who will attend this Sunday and do not personally know the saving work of Christ. Pray their hearts will be opened to His mercy and changed through the Spirit”™s conviction. Pray that God”™s people will be appropriately challenged and encouraged, equipped to serve Christ well. Pray for those leading the service on Sunday (Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, prayer and Scripture reading, Bret Capranica, teaching). Pray that they will assist the congregation in acceptable praise to Christ. Pray for the others who will also be assisting to ensure our worship honors Christ (instrumentalists, visual and audio techs, ushers, etc.). Meditate on the lyrics of the songs for Sunday and...
by Bret Capranica | Jul 27, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Video
Make Leviticus practical. In Leviticus last week we said it covered 5 ways we live with God – or that He lives with us: sacrifice, mediation, purity, atonement, and holiness. Jesus fulfills all of those. The sacrificial system made atonement very practical, vivid, and constant for the Jewish people. How can it be for us. CJ Mahaney’s book, The Cross-Centered Life, suggests a few ways to preach the gospel to yourself regularly: Memorize the gospel Pray the gospel Sing the gospel Review the effects of the gospel Study the Gospel Books recommended in the video: The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges The Cross-Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney The Cross of Christ, John R. W....
by Bret Capranica | Jul 21, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think Read through Leviticus 1-5 and make a list of the various offerings Israel was to give. What was the role of the priest? What did the one making the offering have to do? What was the overarching reason for all of the offerings? Read Leviticus 10. What was Nadab and Abihu”™s failure? What does this suggest about God? What does it suggest about people and their approach to God”™s commands? Read Leviticus 16. What is the main theme of this chapter? Who”™s sin was covered? How? What do you learn about how sin is atoned for in this chapter? Read Leviticus 18-20. What is the overarching motive mentioned over and over that should move the Israelites to obedience? Prayerfully Meditate According to Leviticus, how much of life was treated as worship? What does this suggest about how God”™s people should think about life? According to Leviticus how do you know that God took public worship so seriously? What does it suggest to us about our approach to worshiping God? Read Hebrews 8-10. In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of what you read in Leviticus? Read Matthew 5-6. In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of what you read in Leviticus? What should the most significant effect of Leviticus be on your approach to worship this Sunday? Intentionally Act What areas of sin have been brought to your mind in contemplating Leviticus and its affect on worship and life? Confess those specifically to God in prayer. Respond in prayer to God for what you have learned from Leviticus and Hebrews (mentioned above) and the role Jesus plays...
by Bret Capranica | Jul 20, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Video, Worship
Be sure to see our web-site bookstore to find links to the music we sing each week. To order one of our hymnals clicker HERE. Download Songs for the Cross Centered Life Download Awaken the Dawn, Keith and Kristyn Getty Download Enfield’s O For That Day Don’t forget about our Dessert Fellowship with the Bowmans this Sunday Evening at 5:30 p.m. Bring your favorite dessert to...
by Bret Capranica | Jul 19, 2011 | Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry, Time/Life Management
This week I will spend the better part of a morning reviewing major personal and ministry goals from the past three months and evaluating what I should focus on over the upcoming three months. I make these plans in theological pencil, recognizing that God riules over every detail in both the short and long term ““ I am desperate to avoid presumption (James 13-17). At the same time, I want to be wise and intentional about the life and ministry God has entrusted to me as a stewardship. So what will I do this Thursday morning in evaluation and planning. Pray. This is more than an obligatory beginning step; it is a cry to an almighty God from a desperate heart that is deeply affected by His merciful grace, seeking wisdom and leadership from the one who is all-knowing. I dare not plan without a spirit of dependency, and dependency is deepened when I humble my heart in prayer. Review my long-range goals. I base these on the providential roles I have (husband, father, pastor, etc), as well as key verses that describe God’s desires for me inch of these roles. Some of my roles have been broken down into additional categories (i.e., pastor: teacher, shepherd, staff supervisor, etc.). I often find myself revising these long-term goals, seeking greater clarity insight of providential circumstances, better understanding gained through the study of Scripture, the passing of time and gaining specific experience. My aim is to to be practical in how I apply God’s word in each of the roles God has blessed me. Review my annual goals. Each year I...
