This weekend, I’m super excited that we’ll be starting a new sermon series about the Holy Spirit! Some of us come from backgrounds that dismiss the Holy Spirit as an “it”, or nothing more than a feeling of guilt. Some come from backgrounds that see the Holy Spirit as just a resource for cool experiences, or abilities – like a tool for us to use. Honestly, some of us just don’t really think about the Holy Spirit at all. We think about God – the father, creator, protector; and Jesus – the son, savior & redeemer – but the Holy Spirit is kind of on a back-burner & forgotten about. But Jesus told his disciples in John 16.7 that it was better for them for him to leave, and for the Holy Spirit to come. Imagine that! Jesus said that knowing & experiencing the Holy Spirit is better than having Jesus with you in person! Is it possible that we are not experiencing the Holy Spirit as fully as Jesus intended? Is your life radically different because you have the Holy Spirit living in you? Are we missing something?
Let’s find out. Let’s set aside our preconceptions and see what the Bible teaches us about the Holy Spirit. Let’s see if there’s more – a new experience with him, a new empowerment through him.
My understanding and experience with the Holy Spirit has been deeply informed by a great book called Forgotten God, by Francis Chan. So much so in fact that I’ll be preaching “alongside” the chapters in the book. Every week will coincide with a chapter. It’s really exciting stuff to see how we can actually have relationship with God through his spirit, and be empowered by God…through his spirit. In fact, it’s so exciting and so important that we are suggesting some additional resources to couple with our teaching:
1. Get the book – Forgotten God by Francis Chan HERE, and read along with the teaching.
2. Watch 10-minute videos on Right Now Media for free HERE. You can even think, pray, & talk through some discussion questions there. This is a great resource to really “dig deeper” throughout this series!
3. Keep the conversation going by keeping up with us on Facebook HERE. Every week we’ll be posting Holy Spirit questions or thoughts to respond to so we can hear from YOU!
4. We’ll be sharing inspiring quotes and scriptures related to this series on our social media each week. If you find them uplifting or encouraging, please share so you can pass that feeling on to your friends!
5. Want to talk the messages over with other believers? Join Shane & I on Monday nights from 7-8 pm for the Monday Night Debrief, where we’ll talk through the message from the day before on ZOOM. For info, or an invite, click HERE
My favorite line in the book says: “I don’t want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit”. That’s exactly how I feel. I want to live a life that is so full of love, joy, peace, hope, kindness, fun… a life that makes such an impact on the world, and the people around me – that it is impossible without the Holy Spirit. I think that’s what God wants too. For me, and for you. Maybe it begins with learning more about the Forgotten God – the Holy Spirit. Let’s learn together, let’s grow together – let’s experience the Holy Spirit together, starting this Sunday at 10:00 at CBCB.
Please keep in prayer:
PRAY S.A. – 2020 has been a year of great turmoil, but it has also been a year of great promise. Join us at Freeman Coliseum for a city-wide “park and pray” to call upon the Lord to heal our land. The dates are August 9th and August 16th at 7:00pm. THIS IS A FREE EVENT, BUT IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED SO YOU MUST REGISTER at PraySA.org so that you can get a parking pass. Let’s come together in prayer to offer prayers of repentance and humility waiting on Jesus and speaking words of life over our city. We will pray together, wait together, listen together, and respond together. Facilitators will guide us, using Scripture and prayer prompts. This IS NOT a preaching, political event or concert. It not about any one person or group – IT’S SIMPLY ABOUT JESUS! If you are unable to attend in-person, the event will also be streamed so you can attend at home virtually. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.” (Joel 2:15)
Join us Sunday at 10am!
Be sure and save your seat for this Sunday’s service by (clicking here). The service will begin at 10:00am. Please remember that we are continuing to ask everyone (age 10 and above) TO WEAR A MASK AND KEEP IT ON DURING THE ENTIRE TIME YOU’RE INSIDE THE CHURCH, practice social distancing and try to get in and out quickly without too much grouping together.
For those who are unable to attend church “in-person” we will be streaming live at myCBCB.com at that same time.
We are constantly planning, adding and updating information, so make sure you’re following us on
Instagram and Facebook
@mycbcb
Can’t wait for Sunday!
– Larry
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