Dear Redemption Family,
The Christmas season is s special one to remember how our Savior, Jesus, was born and came to display His love toward us. We are blessed to spend some of this special season with you. We have planned a few events of worship and fellowship to help steer our hearts towards Jesus during this busy holiday. May God bless you with a great sense of joy and peace throughout Christmas and the New Year.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Daniel
Saturday, Dec 10th - 11am-1pm | Ladies Christmas Tea Party
Sunday, Dec 11th - 11am-12:30pm | Service at Carver: The King Is Born (pt1)
Sunday, Dec 18th - 11am-12:30pm | Service at Carver: The King Is Born (pt2)
Wednesday, Dec 21st - 7pm-9pm | Volunteer Christmas Party
Saturday, Dec 24th - 6:30pm - 8:30pm | Christmas Eve at Old School Square Amphitheater
Sunday, Dec 25th | Merry Christmas! (SERVICE CANCELLED)
Sunday, Jan 1st - 11am-12:30pm | 4 Year Celebration of Redemption Church at Carver
*Community groups will continue to meet throughout the month of December
This last Sunday, I spoke on The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (you can listen to the sermon at THIS link). This is such an important topic that we can't ignore as Jesus has told us that we cannot complete the will of God for our lives as individuals or as Christians as a whole, without the power of the Holy Spirit - including the gifts He gives.
The list below is not exhaustive, but is meant to encourage and explain many of the gifts/talents of God given to people to build up His church and share the Gospel with the world.
We encourage you to take the Spiritual Gifts Test offered by the Rock Church to get some external views on where you are most gifted. Of course, this is a great subject to talk about with your ministry team leader or community group to get insight from people who know you best.
What is most important to remember is that God has gifted all of us in different ways and we have been given these gifts to be a blessing to others.
You can listen to the sermon on The Gifts of the Holy Spirit at THIS link.
You can also download the PDF with the following spiritual gift descriptions at THIS link.
"The following contains definitions of the Spiritual gifts. While not meant to be complete or final, these definitions correspond to the gifts as expressed in the Spiritual Gifts Assessment."
A. ADMINISTRATION: The gift of administration is the divine strength or ability to organize multiple tasks and groups of people to accomplish these tasks. Luke 14:28‐30; Acts 6:1‐7; 1 Corinthians 12:28
B. APOSTLESHIP: The gift of apostleship is the divine strength or ability to pioneer new churches and ministries through planting, overseeing, and training. Acts 15:22‐35; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Galatians 2:7‐10; Ephesians 4:11‐14
C. CRAFTSMANSHIP: The gift of craftsmanship is the divine strength or ability to plan, build, and work with your hands in construction environments to accomplish multiple ministry applications. Exodus 30:22, 31:3‐11; 2 Chronicles 34:9‐13; Acts 18:2‐3
D. DISCERNMENT: The gift of discernment is the divine strength or ability to spiritually identify falsehood, to distinguish between right and wrong motives and the spiritual forces at work in situations. Matthew 16:21‐23; Acts 5:1‐11, 16:16‐18; 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 John 4:1‐6
E. EVANGELISM: The gift of evangelism is the divine strength or ability to help non‐Christians take the necessary steps to becoming a born‐again Christian. Acts 8:5‐6, 8:26‐40, 14:21, 21:8; Ephesians 4:11‐14
F. EXHORTATION: The gift of exhortation is the divine strength or ability to strengthen, comfort or urge others to action through the written or spoken word and Biblical truth. Acts 14:22; Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 10:24‐25
G. FAITH: The gift of faith is the divine strength or ability to believe in God for unseen supernatural results in every arena of life. Acts 11:22‐24; Romans 4:18‐21; 1 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 11
H. GIVING: The gift of giving is the divine strength or ability to produce wealth and to give by tithes and offerings for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God on earth. Mark 12:41‐44; Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 8:1‐7, 9:2‐7 65
I. HEALING: The gift of healing is the divine strength or ability to act as an intermediary in faith, prayer, and by the laying‐on of hands for the healing of physical, mental and spiritual sickness. Acts 3:1‐10, 9:32‐35, 28:7‐10; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28
J. HELPS: The gift of helps is the divine strength or ability to work in a supportive role for the accomplishment of tasks in Christian ministry with the ability to often see the need before others do. Mark 15:40‐41; Acts 9:36; Romans 16:1‐2; 1 Corinthians 12:28
K. HOSPITALITY: The gift of hospitality is the divine strength or ability to create warm, welcoming environments for others in places such as your home, office, or church. Acts 16:14‐ 15; Romans 12:13, 16:23; Hebrews 13:1‐2; 1 Peter 4:9
L. INTERCESSION: The gift of intercession is the divine strength or ability to stand in the gap in prayer for someone, something, or someplace, believing for profound results. Hebrews 7:25; Colossians 1:9‐12, 4:12‐13; James 5:14‐16
M. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE: The gift of knowledge is the divine strength or ability to bring truth to a situation by supernatural revelation. This is often accompanied by a word from God. Acts 5:1‐11; 1 Corinthians 12:8; Colossians 2:2‐3
N. LEADERSHIP: The gift of leadership is the divine strength or ability to influence people at their level while directing and focusing them on the big picture, vision, or idea. Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 3:1‐13, 5:17; Hebrews 13:17
O. MERCY: The gift of mercy is the divine strength or ability to feel empathy and to care for those who are hurting in any way. Matthew 9:35‐36; Mark 9:41; Romans 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:14
P. MIRACLES: The gift of miracles is the divine strength or ability to alter the natural outcomes of life in a supernatural way through prayer, faith, and divine direction. Acts 9:36‐42, 19:11‐12, 20:7‐12; Romans 15:18‐19; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28
Q. PASTOR/SHEPHERD: The gift of pastor/shepherd is the divine strength or ability to care for the personal needs of others by nurturing and mending life issues. John 10:1‐18; Ephesians 4:11‐14; 1 Timothy 3:1‐7; 1 Peter 5:1‐3
R. PROPHECY: The gift of prophecy is the divine strength or ability to communicate God’s truth and heart in a way that calls people to a right relationship with God. Acts 2:37‐40, 7:51‐53, 26:24‐29; 1 Corinthians 14:1‐4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5
S. SERVICE: The gift of serving is the divine strength or ability to do small or great tasks in working for the overall good of the body of Christ. Acts 6:1‐7; Romans 12:7; Galatians 6:10; 1 Timothy 1:16‐18; Titus 3:14
T. TEACHING: The gift of teaching is the divine strength or ability to study and learn from the Scriptures primarily to bring understanding and depth to other Christians. Acts 18:24‐28, 20:20‐ 21; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11‐14
U. TONGUES (and Interpretation): The gift of tongues is the divine strength or ability to pray in a heavenly language to encourage your spirit and to commune with God. The gift of tongues is often accompanied by interpretation and should be used appropriately. Acts 2:1‐13; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 14:1‐14
V. WORD OF WISDOM: The gift of wisdom is the divine strength or ability to understand and to bring clarity to situations and circumstances often through applying the truths of Scripture in a practical way. Acts 6:3,10; 1 Corinthians 2:6‐13, 12:8
Download the PDF at THIS link.
There is a simple command in the Bible that I overlook so often.
"Love your neighbor as yourself."
Mark 12:31
And when I do take the time to notice it, I often get boggged down in the how and why. I over-complicate it. Recently, I saw this verse practically lived out for me in the most ordinary and yet most powerful of ways.
On an ordinary and slightly overwhelming Tuesday morning several weeks ago, I was preparing for the possibility of hurricane Matthew and toting around a baby-almost-turned-toddler who didn't want to sit in the shopping cart one second longer. As I hurried through the parking lot pushing a cart full of giant diaper boxes with one hand and holding my little one with the other, I heard a someone shout at me.
"Wait!"
I turned to see a women I had never met before sprinting across the parking lot toward me. She pushed my cart to the car and lifted those giant boxes into the back seat of my car with a smile. I didn't ask her to. She just saw a need and helped.
I was stunned.
I was overwhelmed by her kindness.
I don't know that woman. I never found out her name. But I watched her load my groceries and smile at my toddler and love me with her actions. I still tear up thinking about it.
It's so easy for me to get caught in the lie that love must be grandious to make a difference. We think that we have to do something difficult or expensive or time-consuming or "original" in order to love our neighbors.
It looks like needs spotted and met.
It looks like a willing listening ear.
It looks like opening the door.
It looks like a text to say, "I'm praying."
It looks like five dollar flowers on a doorstep.
It looks like a hug and a smile.
It looks like unloading a strangers groceries.
It looks like noticing and responding to simple needs that God places in our path.
I remember my college years pastor talking about this verse...
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10
He shared a story about helping someone pick up something they had dropped. It was just a few steps and a few moments of his time, but he said, "I believe this was a good work God had prepared for me."
What weight of glory does this lay on our everyday moments when we realize that God has prepared in advance good works for us!
As the woman I never really met graciously loaded diapers into my car, I realized again the power that one simple act of kindness can have. Often our acts of love and service toward people who very literally cross our paths each day won't turn into opportunities to share why we are doing this. But I believe that whether an opportunity for deeper conversation arises or not, God is glorified when we walk in the good works He has prepared for us.
If you are a parent, chances are you have heard or even used the term STRANGER DANGER. And whether you are an over-protective type with hand sanitizer in both hands at any given moment, or more "carefree," letting your kiddos explore and climb ant-ridden trees and eat the sand at the beach… Every loving parent has to address to subject of “stranger danger” with their child at some point.
And for good reason! We want to protect our children against the unknown, from any person who might intend harm. We carefully guard them from what could potentially hurt or frighten them. I believe this is built into us--parent or not, the desire to protect and preserve the safety and innocence of children is innate in us as human beings. God made us this way because HE is this way.
A popular song right now is "Good, Good Father" which comes from a passage in Matthew chapter 5. Jesus spoke about God as a loving father when He said, "If indeed you, (human parents) who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, HOW MUCH MORE will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
There are countless places where God compares our relationship with us to a Father and a dearly loved child. Our instincts as parents are certainly a reflection of OUR Father's heart for us! And God is not only a Father, He is a GOOD Father, desiring and ordaining what is best for His children.
Not only does our Father NOT teach us to fear strangers in the world around us, He commands the opposite. He SENDS us to every stranger! He sends us, the children He loves, delights in, sings over. Jesus told his disciples after the days following His resurrection and before He went back to His Father in Heaven, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15)
We are sent to those we do not know because God, our Father, already does know them. He not only knows them, He created them. He loves them. He sent His only Son to die for them because He longs to restore them back to Himself! There are no strangers to God--and His Spirit is living inside of us, and He tells us to proclaim and declare His goodness, His gospel just as Jesus did.
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8
I find it comforting when I think that the unknown person in line behind me at the store, the barista at my local coffee shop, even my neighbor across the street--all these people may be strangers to me, but they are precious and intimately known by my Father. He has a plan for their lives and has sent me to declare His love to them. I am less afraid when I see the people around me less as "strangers" and more and more as valued and loved and known by name.
And let me remind you (and remind myself too) that if God is for us, who can be against us?!
Paul wrote in Romans 10:14-15, "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?"
I hope that as we all continue to grow in our love for Jesus, that this will develop into a love for the lost around us. I pray daily for a heart that sees people as Jesus sees them. As my Father sees them. I want to live in a world of confidence in knowing that there are no strangers to our God, only precious, loved people.
And don't forget that YOU are precious. YOU are His dearly loved child. And your Father knows and loves YOU too. He is YOUR good, good Father. And He will be with you every step of the way.
I think we’ve all been there. Feeling empty, dry, and spiritually in need. We seek God, but He seems so far away.
David expresses a very similar situation in Psalm 42
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
If we look too quickly it seems that David has gone astray. That he is a deer that has left the brook and needs to return to it. But that’s not the case. Deer aren’t like some animals that might loose their way, or choose to stray from the riverbed. No, the issue isn’t that the deer has left the stream, but that it has dried up. The same is true for us, sometimes we may be seeking God, serving Him, and the stream can still seem to come up empty.
As we keep reading, David describes his intent to go before God in fasting, and in prayer, while others mock him saying “Where is your God?” He remembers times of great spiritual highs when he would lead people into the house of God singing and dancing. But that’s not where he is now.
Rather than staying in memory lane, yearning for “the good 'ole days” and wishing for different circumstances, David speaks to himself and reminds Himself that God is actually with him. Although he doesn’t feel God, he reminds himself that God commands His love on him during the day, and sings songs over him at night (Psalm 42:8).
"Even when God feels distant, we can trust that He still loves us."
The same is true for us. When we go through trials, or worse: through spiritually dry seasons, we need to speak the truth of God’s character and plan over our lives. Not that God guarantees us a life of ease. Or what we would consider physical success or breakthrough in any given area of life. But better than either of those, He promises that He will use everything for our good and for His glory.
So whether you’re going through extreme difficulty or spiritually dry season, know that God is using it so that you may grow to be more like Him, and so that His plans may be fulfilled - and we are guaranteed that ALL of His plans are for the best.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing… Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:2-4, 12
May we remind ourselves, and others, of these truths and move forward in life knowing that whether times are easy or hard, our God is always good.
