THIS SUNDAY – Hebrews 11 & 12
Challenging EVERYONE Middle School and up to DIVE IN TO and read Hebrews 11 & 12 before Sunday and ask yourself these three questions -
· What is it that I need God’s Power to help me HOLD ON to?
· What is it that God is asking me to LET GO of that I know is weighing me down and tripping me up from experiencing God’s Best for my life (marriage, relationships, business, health, career…)?
· What work has God STARTED in me that I want to see FINISHED by His Great Power?
The next three weeks of TENACIOUS will be go down as the BEST EVER to Invite your family and friends – DON’T STOP NOW!!!!!
If you have a smart phone, but don’t already have YOU VERSION of the Bible - GET IT HERE!!!!
EASTER SUNDAY – BOO YAH!!
What can I say but you were INVITING MACHINES and it was the B.E.E. – BEST EASTER EVER!!!! 4 quick thoughts coming out of Easter weekend -
#1 – THANK YOU Compass for your BOLDNESS to invite, HEART to pray for God to do something BIG, WILLINGNESS to do whatever it takes to connect people to JESUS (even if it meant serving for THREE services – WOW!!!), and your PASSION for people far from God – You Loved People TENACIOUSLY and it all SHOWED!!!
#2 – THANK YOU Compass VOLUNTEERS for going ALL OUT, being TENACIOUS, and SERVING this city – you LIFTED HIGH the name of JESUS…words fall short!!
#3 – Battles were WON, Lives were CHANGED, Heaven got BIGGER, the enemy was/is DEFEATED, MANY gave their lives to Christ. Even better – WE GET TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN THIS WEEKEND!!!
#4 – Don’t Stop INVITING, Don’t Stop PRAYING, Don’t Stop BEGGING GOD to CHANGE LIVES and Rock this city for Jesus one life at a time. It is truly an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with each of you to change a city and impact a generation for Christ!!!
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I have NEVER been MORE PUMPED about EASTER WEEKEND than this year – the MUSIC, the MESSAGE, the OPPORTUNITY in the HEART of our CITY @ TCC – EVERYTHING about this weekend has me FIRED UP like never before!!!!!
- Our team has/is continuing to work their butts off…some to the breaking point, to prepare for what will be the MOST POWERFUL PRESENTATION of the GOSPEL we’ve EVER PRESENTED @ Compass – GET THERE EARLY…I PROMISE you DO NOT want to miss the 1st 5 minutes of this service!!!!!!!!!
- Satan has unleashed some CRAZY STUFF at our staff and church this week..
- I have prayed with 3 close friends/family whose families have begun their dance on streets of gold – there’s NOTHING like the HOPE of EASTER and the POWER of the RESURRECTION!!
- My mom has been unexpectedly been in the hospital all week long with crazy unknown symptoms…the docs early prognosis was possibly her cancer was back – just found out late yesterday it was NOT – Boo Yah!!
- The LUNCH PRAYER TIMES have been POWERFUL…thanks to all who came and those who couldn’t, but prayed where you were – DON’T QUIT NOW!!!!
THREE THINGS –
EASTER is a week where all hell broke loose, BUT just for a “MOMENT” and JESUS changed EVERYTHING. We’re praying that the SHADOW of the CROSS would sweep over our city this weekend!! Here’s THREE Things I wanted to say to Compass as you prepare for the BEST EASTER EVER -
#1 – THANK YOU – you have always gone all out to invest, invite, and bring your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates who are far from God. Let’s FINISH STRONG and do WHATEVER it takes to get them there this SATURDAY night (6pm) or SUNDAY am (9 or 11).
#2 – GO ALL OUT – I’m asking EVERYONE in our church to help IMPACT this city and beyond like never before by doing three things -
- PRAY – without the POWER and PRESENCE of God in our services it’s all for nothing. BEG God to OPEN HEARTS and EARS to HEAR the Gospel, CHANGE lives, and give people the COURAGE to respond!!
- INVITE – do WHATEVER it takes to BRING people to church this weekend. Don’t just invite them – but BRING THEM with you. Most people don’t want to come alone but will come with you!! I’m tellin ya – the POWER of God will Rock their world and Change their lives. ALL of us have friends and family in our lives who are far away from God – God did NOT give up on you, don’t you dare give up on them!!!! Here’s a link to our Compass Website and a Video about Easter I posted earlier this week.
- FACEBOOK – Go to our FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE (right here) and -
- Join our group!
- Find the posted video on our group page, and hit “like” or comment or share video (this way you will share about Easter @ TCC with all your friends).
- Some of our students might not read my blog, so PLEASE get them to share this with their friends on their Facebook pages.
- And, follow us on Twitter! Then tag us @CompassAthens and use hash-tag#AClassicEaster or #tenacious when you tweet about Easter @ TCC!
#3 – READ ISAIAH 53 – I will be preaching out of this powerful Scripture this weekend. It has ROCKED my world and messed me up this week BIG!!!!! As you prepare your hearts and pray for God’s power and presence in our services, ask yourself – WHO AM I in this story?
CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!
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Just a reminder the Compass Office will be open MON – THURS of this week from 12 noon – 1 pm for everyone who can to come by and PRAY for this weekend’s Easter Services. Just drop by anytime during that hour whether it’s for 5 or 10 or 15 minutes or the entire hour. We have also called Compass-ers to Fasting at least ONE LUNCH HOUR this week together to pray. If you can’t make it by the office, let’s pray together for our city wherever you are.
Our Easter Prayer Initiative will be focused on 2 areas -
- #1 – Praying for Family, Friends, Co-Workers, Neighbors, and Classmates we will be INVITING to come and meet Jesus this Easter Weekend. We are begging God to OPEN DOORS and soften hearts, for COURAGE to make the invite, and for them to RESPOND with a yes. (John 1:41)
- #2 – Praying for JESUS’s PRESENCE and POWER this weekend in our services. We can have great Easter services but without the presence and power of Jesus it amounts to nothing!!
Compass Office Address - 232 Old Epps Bridge Road. Office is behind Applebees & McDonalds off of Atlanta Hwy in the back lot of Quality Glass.
“FOODIE vs CHRIST-EE” –
For all you “CHRISTIES” who wrote a name or names of a friend or family member on the dessert plates yesterday – I was BLOWN AWAY by how God moved in that moment!!! Please CLICK HERE and SUBMIT THOSE NAMES (first name is all we need) and we will be praying for each of your friends and family members by name during our 12-1pm office prayer times this week.
Oh, if you are wondering what a “CHRIST-EE” is, you will have to check out yesterday’s podcast when it’s posted tomorrow….
PLEEEEEEEEEEASE DON’T FORGET TO –
Go to our FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE (right here) and -
- Find the posted video on our group page, and hit “like” or comment or share video (this way you will share about Easter @ TCC with all your friends).
- Some of our students might not read my blog so PLEASE get them to share this with their friends on their Facebook pages.
- And, follow us on Twitter! Then tag us @CompassAthens and use hash-tag#AClassicEaster or #tenacious when you tweet about Easter @ TCC!
We are PRAYING and BELIEVING EASTER 2012 @ TCC will be the B.E.E. – BEST EASTER EVER!!
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Posted by: jcarpenter in General, tags: Easter
The video invites all your peeps and highlights what we’ll be talking about on Easter Sunday – how culture tends to demonstrate love through “Stuff” – candy, chocolate, gifts, pampering – all fun and good…BUT, there’s something within each of us that wants a TENACIOUS LOVE that will NOT LET GO no matter what. Easter is the story of a love that was GRIPPED BY YOU so much that it was willing to literally be RIPPED APART FOR YOU….and on Easter weekend we are praying for HUNDREDS of lives to be impacted!!
Here’s what you can do to help –
#1 – PRAY like crazy between now and Easter for the Presence of God to Show Up and Show Off – we can have great services, but without Jesus showing up it’s nothing!!
#2 – INVITE EVERYONE you can….we have TENACIOUS Easter Invite Cards you can pick up at the office during the week (232 Old Epps Bridge Road – office is behind Applebees & McDonalds off of Atlanta Hwy in the back lot of Quality Glass) or this Sunday. Do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get them there!!
- Find the posted video on our group page, and hit “like” or comment or share video (this way you will share about Easter @ TCC with all your friends).
- Some of our students might not read my blog so PLEASE get them to share this with their friends on their Facebook pages.
- And, follow us on Twitter! Then tag us @CompassAthens and use hash-tag #AClassicEaster or #tenacious when you tweet about Easter @ TCC!
We are PRAYING and BELIEVING EASTER 2012 @ TCC will be the B.C.E. – BEST CELEBRATION EVER Compass has had on Easter!!
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TONIGHT we are hosting our FIRST PARTNERSHIP CLASS at our brand new office facilities – I’m PUMPED!! CAN’T WAIT to meet and hang out with many of you!!
#1 – WHAT is Partnership Class…WHY should you come?
- If church membership is what you are looking for, this is your deal – well, SORT OF….
- Every Christ Follower is called to BELONG TO and PARTNER WITH the local church. In PARTNERSHIP CLASS Pastor Jim teaches what it means for you to PARTNER with Compass Church, become part of a move of God to change our city, and move from being a “Spectator in the stands” to a “Player on the field.”
- This 90 minute class includes an overview of the vision and values of Compass Church, provides an opportunity for you to explore what a relationship with God and the local church looks like, and gives an introduction to serving, giving, and biblical community.
- At the end of the class, you will have the opportunity to become a PARTNER with Compass Church to rock this city for Jesus. It is designed for 6th graders/12 years old and older.
#2 – WHEN is Partnership?
- 6:30 – 8:00 TONIGHT (Food and Childcare 0-5th grade provided)
#3 – WHERE is Partnership?
SUNDAY POST GAME
What’s up Compass!! FOUR Things I wanted to share with you today –
#1 – Sunday was AMAZING!! Huge Thanks to Miles Welch from 12 Stone Church for his powerful message. WOW – he PREACHED HOT!! I SO NEEDED to hear what God had to say through him. Here’s several things that hit me between the eyes -
- A FAN just doesn’t SHOW UP at the game, they DIVE IN.
- When it comes to personally defining what a FAN really is we like a FUZZY definition because we can HIDE.
- What if Jesus never intended for me to be called a “CHRISTIAN” but rather a “FAN-ATIC”?
- You can have something and never know it. BUT the DIFFICULT DIAGNOSIS can save your life because now you can take action!!
- It’s Easy to follow Jesus in the GENERAL DIRECTION but the proof is in the SPECIFIC DETAILS (Luke 9:57-62)
- The places Jesus calls me to COSTS me.
- If following Jesus isn’t costing me something – I’m just fooling myself.
- You never know what God is doing when he calls you, but it’s ALWAYS BETTER!!
- God never sends me somewhere without purposes way beyond my limited comprehension!!
- Saying “Not Right Now” to Jesus’ Big Asks gives me an “Illusion of obedience” thus making me feel better when reality is I am really disobeying Him.
- Saying “Not Right NOW” to Jesus’ Big Asks usually becomes NEVER and NEVER HAPPENS!
- Delayed Obedience is CURRENT DISOBEDIENCE.
- With Obedience, TIMING MATTERS…I often won’t know until TOMORROW why God is asking me to do something TODAY!!
- Most of us have been Christ Followers long enough that we’ve given up the sins we want to and the only sins left are the ones we like – OUCH!!!!!
- The ONE THING I typically HOLD BACK is exactly the ONE THING Jesus wants to talk about (Luke 18:18-30)
- Am I willing to let go of what’s in my hand so He can give me something better?
#2 – GREAT to be BACK!! Can’t Wait to preach and wrap our series NOT A FAN this Sunday!! Promise you –
- Gotta be there!!
- Have to bring someone!!
- Your world will be ROCKED!!!
#3 – EASTER is going to be the MOST LIFE CHANGING DAY we’ve ever had at Compass and in our new meeting place, THE CLASSIC CENTER. THREE service times to choose from – SAT @ 6 pm & SUN @ 9 or 11 am.
- Check out tomorrow’s blog for a video from me about Easter and a Facebook link to invite EVERYONE you now.
- This weekend our Easter Mailer is going out all over our city and surrounding communities – PRAY for God to open HEARTS and open DOORS as you and I make the BOLDEST INVITATIONS to our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and classmates EVER!!
- Let’s Go ALL IN and ALL OUT and do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get people there EASTER WEEKEND!!!
- As a PARENT who has sent all 3 of our kids to camp multiple times – CHANGE your plans, CHANGE your Calendar, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to get your Middle and/or High School Students there – LIFE CHANGING WEEK!!
- As a PASTOR who has a heart for every student to go to camp, typically over 40% of our students who go require scholarship money to be able to go. Once again, our goal is to NOT SAY NO to any student who wants to go, but finances would prohibit them.
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CAN’T WAIT to kick off “NOT A FAN” this Sunday – GREAT SERIES to INVITE GUESTS to, especially if you know someone who doesn’t like CHURCH or CHRISTIANS who act like they’re all in love with Jesus on Sundays but live as if He doesn’t exist the rest of the week…let’s get ready to RUMBLE…this one’s going to be good!!!
“Greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny him with their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Brennan Manning
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ” (Boo Yah!!!!) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
“They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” “They say they know God, but their actions speak louder than their words.” Jesus - Isaiah 29:13; Titus 1:16
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It’s NOT TOO LATE to sign up for the FINANCIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE TONIGHT, March 5, 6:30 – 8:30 pm taught LIVE by JOE SANGL. It costs only $5 to attend, but a ticket is required. Registration is required!!
On site childcare will be available for kids through 5th grade. However we need you also to register your children in advance. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER !
The event will not only be fun and engaging, but also helpful in terms of helping you begin to move from SURVIVING to THRIVING in your personal finances. By the end of this time, you will have a working budget, a plan to get out of debt, and a way to save for the future.
If you are married, planning to ever get married, engaged, thinking about getting engaged, get a paycheck of any amount, college student wanting to eventually rule the world, single who absolutely wants God’s Best for their life, basically a human breathing – THIS IS FOR YOU!! (here’s a link to a recent blog post with more info)
Seriously – could be the BEST DECISION you ever made on a Monday Night!!!!!!
SUNDAY POST GAME – WOW!!!!!
AMAZING services yesterday! BEST SERIES we’ve ever done!! CAN’T WAIT to kick off “NOT A FAN” this Sunday – as I said yesterday, if you know someone who doesn’t like CHURCH or CHRISTIANS who act like they’re all in love with Jesus on Sundays but live as if He doesn’t exist the rest of the week – THERE will never be a better SERIES to invite them to than NOT A FAN – seriously can’t wait.
“Greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny him with their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Brennan Manning
Hope your Monday’s Rockin and FLE TONIGHT is part of your Monday Game Plan!!
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As one of my friends recently texted me (note: they have been through bankrutpcy, crazy debt, attended FLE last year and have seen God Show Up and Show Off in BIG WAYS already just because they finally made a FINANCIAL PLAN instead of just winging it) – “Joe Sangl teaching FLE LIVE – Heck Yeah – Count Us In!! EVERYONE should go to that thing if they’re smart.”
I’m not saying you are NOT SMART, but I am saying don’t be DUMB by missing this incredible opportunity, ESPECIALLY if you’ve NEVER BEEN to the FINANCIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE taught by Joe Sangl!!
Our current mobile set up will not allow us to host this event live, but we’ve been given an incredible opportunity along with several churches from my Monthly Pastor’s Prayer Gathering to attend the Financial Learning Experience being held at Athens Church THIS Monday, March 5th, at 6:30-8:30 pm. Believe me, you won’t regret it. FLE is a high energy, inspirational, and highly practical class taught by Joseph Sangl. He’ll actually be teaching this seminar “live and in person” vs. a dvd or webinar style. People who attend the class will leave knowing:
- Joe’s little known, Secret Formula!
- How to develop a spending plan that works
- Strategies for eliminating debt
- The date they will become debt free
- Amount of money needed for retirement
- The power of compound interest
AND, all the tools demonstrated during the event are free online! There is $5 charge at the door to cover your FLE workbook. Please remember to bring your $5 to pay at the door. Childcare is included. What a blessing…all that knowledge for so little cost! Smart financial decision.
YOU MUST REGISTER HERE to reserve your spot AND childcare if you are bringing children 0-5th grade.
WHAT are you waiting for? CLICK HERE, SIGN UP, and take a BIG STEP to THRIVE FINANCIALLY instead of settling for Surviving!!
After the event on March 5th, we’ll follow up and give you more information about a more indepth 4 week small group study. There will be several groups doing the study at different times/dates and for different people groups (ie. men’s group, mixed group, etc.). Hopefully you can get plugged in to one of those and learn even more about how to “thrive” in your finances.
CAN’T WAIT to Wrap our THRIVE Series this Sunday – Heck Yeah, we’ve saved the BEST for LAST and will be FINISHING STRONG!!!!!
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MARRIED COUPLES – while Sunday focused on having “The Talk” with next generation students and singles, time did not allow me to say to many of us – ”REALLY!! Didn’t you know??!!” (1 Corinthians 6:12-20).
Here’s 7 WEIRD Practices I have committed to in our marriage since day one (in other words, “BP” – even BEFORE I was a PREACHER) and, yes, while I was in business and missed being a million mile flyer by 60,000 miles – had to add that because we hear a lot that pastors don’t live in the real world – ha. Once again – “you own the phone”…you got to ask God as a married couple “How do WE, living in a culture where many just don’t get this, Best HONOR GOD with our Body, Sex-life, and Marriage?”
- #1 – WE will not Meet or Eat (breakfast, lunch, dinner, cup of coffee) with member of the opposite sex alone.
- #2 – WE will not Ride in a car alone with a member of the opposite sex.
- #3 – WE will not allow members of the opposite sex to confide in us about personal problems.
- #4 – WE will not chat online with members of the opposite sex or expose ourselves to questionable/explicit websites.
- #5 – My wife will be involved in the choosing of any Female Assistant who will be working closely with me.
- #6 – Whenever there is a Debatable or potentially Compromising relationship (like – I could be attracted to her), we will always talk about it.
- #7 – I will have no other human relationships before Lisa, including the kids, and will pursue an intimate relationship with God just as much as I desire and intimate relationship with my wife.
WEIRD to many – yes. NORMAL – mmmhhh, overrated and definitely NOT what I want for my marriage. Fighting for and Praying BIG for marriages through the Power of God to stop surviving and START THRIVING with His Help and our commitment to HONOR HIM with everything we’ve got and pursue His Very BEST for our lives and families!!!
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Sunday was POWERFUL as we tackled the #1 Lie Satan is telling this Generation – “”Sex is ONLY PHYSICAL.” 4 things I wanted to share in follow up (3 today, 1 for married couples tomorrow) -
#1 – My FAVORITE COMMENT was from a 20 Something Couple who said as they were walking out – “Awesome!! Can you preach that again in 10 years for our 2 year old.” God was in the house BIG…if you have a Student or Single or for some crazy reason missed it – you can share and/or Listen to “The Moral Margin” message here.
#2 – WE ALL struggle with the Intimacy/Sexuality area of our lives at one time or another. The TOUGHEST and BEST thing Lisa and I have EVER done for our marriage, family, and kids is GETTING GODLY & PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING.
#3 – We are DREAMING of HUNDREDS of Families who THRIVE, living with MARGIN so they can live life on a MISSION. And, the mission of the church THRIVING with HUNDREDS more families changed by Jesus because of our decision to Thrive. Here’s the Contemplative Scriptures we used Sunday as you Turn Down the Noise this week by spending personal time with God Resting and Refueling and choose to create SPACE to THRIVE -
Psalm 46:10 (NLT) “Be STILL and Know that I am God.”
Psalm 51:10 (Message) “God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.”
Romans 14-7-8 (NLT) “For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Romans 3:10 (NIV) “There is no one righteous, not even one.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NIV/Message) “…We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure… As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to TRUST GOD TOTALLY – not a bad idea since He’s the God who raises the dead!”
Isaiah 61:3 “To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.”
Ps 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.”
Isaiah 54:7-8 “…With deep compassion I will bring you back. …I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
Psalm 25:6 “Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.”
“I don’t have time to MAINTAIN THESE REGRETS WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WAY HE LOVES US” (lyric)
Ephesians 3:18-19 “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
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