1. Counting Team

2. Cleaning Team

3. KidVille

4. Sound/Tech Team

5. Guest Services

6. Maintenance (involves upkeep of building-lights, landscape, etc)

7. Fellowship Connection

8. Arise Student Ministry

9. Missions

Easter Sunday April 8, 11AM Fellowship Church, invest, invite and invest!

Jesus was called a king and a prince but never lead a royal life. He never had a large staff with a bunch of personal assistants, live in a great palace, and the only crown he ever wore was the awful crown of thorns that were placed on his head at his death.
He befriended all the outcasts, the ones that didnt fit in with the way society says they should. He wanted relationships with people who weren’t like him. He got on his hands and knees to wash his disciples feet. He served his fellow men no matter what.
Jesus’ life was the best example of being a servant. His life shows that even the greatest of leaders are called to be servants to all people. Jesus even told his disciples that whoever wanted to be great should be a servant for all. Serving people is what God wants his people to do. I’m not saying that its always the easiest but it is what he commands us to do. Some people wont like or appreciate your efforts to serve them. You may never get a thank you and some just think they are entitled to it. No matter the reason, you are doing what God has called his people to do. If you find that you feel your efforts are not appreciated just keep focused on the reason you are serving them. You are serving the God who loves you unconditionally and does see your efforts.
When your goal is serving others you can be assured that however you efforts turn out that you have a father who is proud of the way you honor him. Think Different about the way you treat others in you life. Do we always want to serve others as God has commanded?

One of the things God has been doing is growing me through Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. Elevation has been hosting a nightly revival called Code Orange, you can watch it here for free: Elevation Network. Each night Elevation has hosted pastors from around the world who serve at growing churches, churches that reach 10K plus each week. Pastors like Perry Noble, Ed Young, TD Jakes, James McDonald, and Matt Chandler to name a few. Their goal for this revival is to spark Elevation to reach Charlotte for Jesus. (Side note: They had over 10,000 at their Easter service last year).

So what have I heard? One things has stuck out over and over. Don’t let criticism slow you down. All the men who have been sharing and Elevation Church are of a like mind with Fellowship Church, we do anything to reach people for Jesus and that means doing some things people don’t understand. With this comes criticism, “Have you heard about Fellowship Church?” as if we are a cult or something. “Did you see their ad?” as if we were offering kool aid to children. While our style, approach, and passion may be different, we are not different from any Bible believing church in Northeast GA. So let me be clear:
1. We believe the Bible and teach the Bible as God’s Word.
2. We believe that Jesus is the only way to God.
3. We believe that the Church is the only hope for the world.
4. We believe in serving our community for Jesus.

On Wednesday my daughter sent me a link to a blog by Matthew Barnett, the founder of the Dream Center in Los Angeles, CA. Take a moment to read it, so true.
Church Gangsters

So on we go at Fellowship Church, seeking to change Habersham County by being a unique voice for Jesus in Northeast GA.

God is Ferociously About My Joy

Last week, we discussed what it truly means to worship. How it is not just music or a service you attend or a feeling you attain, but the lifestyle of worship, the action (verb) of worship, and the surrender of worship. How have you worshipped this week? We know that God is the only thing of real value worth worshipping and anything else that takes God’s place in your life is an idol and robs God of worship! Craig read out of Romans 12:1 which says we should take our everyday, ordinary life and place it before God as an offering. We should praise God while we are sleeping, eating, working, driving, everything we do should be of praise to God.

When you surrender your entire life (from all our possessions to the food on our table) we can truly express worship in that everything we own isn’t even ours but God’s. As Craig said Sunday, Paul encouraged believers to place themselves as living offerings. Like the woman at the well, we all need to learn a few things about worship: It’s not about your background, it’s not about the where, It’s who you are, it’s the way you live in Christ, It is spirit, it is truth, Being yourself before God.

Craig also outlined what worship for Fellowship is…a time to let go and honor God, a time to allow God to change your life through the Spirit’s prompting, a time of reflection on God’s blessing in your life. It should be like a party: LOUD, Proud, Fun, Can’t wait to get to it, Inviting others to enjoy it. Read Revelation 7:9-12.

THINK DIFFERENT about worship:
1. It’s not music, it’s your life
2. Think Different about Church
3. Think Different about Fellowship
4. Think Different about what you can do to be a part of it.
a. Serve
b. Give
c. Show Up
d. Pray
e. Read the Bible
f. Get in a Connection Group
g. Mentor Someone

Don’t miss this Sunday as we discuss Connection Groups…a little hint. We have totally revamped Connection Groups…’cause if we are asking you to THINK DIFFERENT, then we have to THINK DIFFERENT too!

Sign ups will also continue to help launch Fellowship Church of Clayton. Matt will have more details on what is needed on Sunday. Be in prayer for Matt and Fellowship Church as he continues to build his team for Clayton.

One thing has become clear to me while living here, I am cut from a different clothe. The way I do things is different, the way I lead is different, I am just different. While I come to realize this, I have also come to realize that it is hard for people to accept difference. We like things to be normal and predictable. I am anything but normal and predictable. This has led to me having times when I have been mis-understood and questioned, this is healthy and needed, but sometimes destructive.

While studying the Word and meditating this week God blessed me with a verse that helps me say something that I have been trying to say for some time. Please allow me to share it with you.

God has blessed me to serve in some very blessed ministries, and I have seen the power of allowing God complete control and what it means for Godly leadership to lead. As I have worked this out in my ministry, I have often been challenged about my motive. I can only tell you my motive is pure, I want to see God change lives and Habersham County and the surrounding areas transformed. I I John 1 the writer begins by explaining much of what he had experienced and seen while walking with Jesus in His earthly ministry. John had seen the power of God, the blessing of God, the Son of God. He was completely convinced in the work God had called HIm too. Some didn’t get him, understand him or even accept him, but one thing was sure, his motive was pure.

Now the verse I want to share, 1 John 1:4 (MSG)
4 Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy! So there you have it. My motive for leading Fellowship Church is that you too will share in the joy of knowing Christ and in so doing it will double my joy.

I love Fellowship Church, I love the staff at Fellowship Church, I love the people of Fellowship Church, join me as we do everything possible to see our community learn of the joy we have in Christ, in doing so our joy will be doubled.

I can’t wait to see you on Sunday

Pastor

I, for one, love Fellowship Church and believe we are doing what God has called us to do in our community and world. This past Sunday, I shared with you the importance of vision and the vision God has given me for Fellowship Church.

I also shared on Sunday, that we don’t call those who join Fellowship Church members, but we consider them owners and partners. We want everyone who feels God has lead them to FC to take ownership and to partner with us to reach our world for Jesus.

I was reminded of this last week, as my daughter Whitney and her husband Daniel became home owners for the first time. She asked us to come over to help them get the house ready, so on Thursday we went to Columbia, SC and spent Thurs night, Friday and all morning Saturday working at their new home. We cleaned, painted, plumbed and wired til our hands were in pain and we couldn’t hardly stay awake. Daniel and Whitney took ownership a new place to live and wanted to make it home! Because of this they work incredible hard to get it ready.

The second event that has affected me for years was when I went to work for Chick-fil-A in the late 80′s. I started on a busy Saturday and my first task was to clean the restrooms. I went about my task with the normal enthusiasm of a 15 year old just hoping to meet a new girl. After about 10 minutes I reported to the owner of the restaurant and owner of the entire Chick-fil-A company, Don Cathy. He proceeded to walk with me to the restrooms following an enquiry about how fast I had cleaned them. We arrived to find that I had really only scanned the rooms and hadn’t really cleaned them. For the next hour or so Don (Bubba) taught me how to clean a restroom and take ownership and pride in my work. I will never forget that day and I have never worked for anyone without remembering that day.

I want to take a minute to encourage all FC owners and partners. I want you to consider how you respond to things at Fellowship Church. When you see a piece of paper laying on the ground, do you pick it up or do you just pass it by? When you consider joining a ministry to serve, do you look for the possibility to serve or look at for only the bad in that area? Do you find what is wrong with something and complain before thinking about how to make it better?

We are inviting every FC partner to give feedback and vision. Share with us holes we cannot see. My wife spoke to me about something that we as a staff need to consider when it comes to small groups, we will be talking about it this Thursday at staff meeting and looking for solutions. Her comments were helpful and appreciated and yours will be too!

Take ownership and become partners in the ministry God has given us and let’s watch as God blesses our efforts. It all begins with you and I Thinking Different!

See you on Sunday!