Weekend Feedback Nov. 27-18

Feel free to include comments about Saturday's Celebration of Life for Tommy Drake.

Sunday everything (it seems) that could go wrong went wrong at 9:00, but just to show it's not by might or by power but by God's Spirit, He blessed our blunders.

Who's in on the Advent Conspiracy? Share your thoughts and ideas.

Next Sunday: Celebrating 40 Days of Love!

Absent from the body; present with the Lord - updated

Tommy Drake went to take his place around the throne of God Sunday morning.

Funeral arrangements are pending, but will be held at Nags Head Church.

Claire, Cathy, Chris and Leslie are in need of your prayers.

Updates will be posted on this blog as they are known.

Update: see the comments about giving financially to help Claire with expenses.

Update: The service celebrating Tommy's life and faith will be at NHC on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 2PM. A viewing is planned from 1:00 until just prior to the service, but that is pending. Burial will be in the Manteo Cemetery after the service.

Update: following the burial we will return to the church for a reception. Please bring a dish of finger foods if you are able to the service and leave it in the kitchen.

Update: Although the service begins at 2PM, there will be a viewing from 1:00-1:45.

Day 40! Share your story.

If you began the 40 Days on that Sunday so loooong ago, today is day 40.

Take a moment to share with the rest of us what God taught you about Himself, yourself and others when it comes to love.

Keeping up a Daily Devotion after 40 Days

So you're just about to finish your devotional book "The Relationship Principles of Jesus". You've been consistent with it, reading a chapter every day, and you know that it has been a good growth experience for you. You wish it didn't end.

But tomorrow is Day 40. What do I do next?

Here are some suggestions to continue a daily devotional reading.

Our Daily Bread. If you like holding a devotional in your hand (like the book), try Our Daily Bread. It is published quarterly and we have free copies at the Welcome Center at NHC. You can also subscribe to it and they'll send to your house. It's free.

Get another devotional book. There are lots of them out there, so be careful that the one you choose is from a Christ-centered source. Most of the well-known evangelical Bible teachers have written them, so if you have a favorite teacher, do a bit of research (@Amazon.com for example) and see if he/she has written a devotional. There are also classics like "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

The Purpose Driven Life. Another 40 day devotional book. It's written by Rick Warren. We have copies for sale at the Welcome Center. Or, if you've been through 40 Days of Purpose, maybe it's time to re-read it.

On-line devotionals. If you regularly spend time in front of your computer this might be a good option for you, and if you have a laptop or smart phone, it's even better. There are a number of good devotionals available. Some you can subscribe to, so they come in your email every day. Others you just put on your list of "favorites" and each day a new one is there at their site for you. On the right side of this blog's page is a list of onliners we can recommend. Just click the links and get started.

Of course, as good as any devotional is, it shouldn't replace your own time reading Scripture. And a lot of people find it encouraging and worthwhile to keep a journal of your thoughts as you read.

The church's purpose: Not either/or but both/and

Last night while on the road one of my long-time favorite Bible teachers was on the radio. I have multiple copies of his books, in fact his latest, an autographed copy, is right beside my recliner at home. I've been to his church and heard him preach; listened to him share insights at conferences. I've used his Bible studies in small groups. For me, he is one of the best and has my respect.

But on this particular program He made a statement that I believe is wrong. Here's what he said. "The church is not for assembling 'seekers' but for making disciples".

Why, I wonder, does it have to be one or the other? Shouldn't it be both?

I suspect that had this brother been a missionary or a church planter he would have a different perspective. None of us who is now on the path of discipleship (a disciple is a learner) started as a disciple. None of us are Christians from birth, but from re-birth. And before that re-birth took place, like Nicodemus in John 3, the Ethiopian in Acts 8 and Cornelius in Acts 10 we were all "seekers". That's where we all began.

Our church's vision statement says we are to be about the purpose of "evangelism" - which is sharing the Gospel with seekers - and "edification" - which is building up believers, or discipleship. A church that is one-sided will be out of balance. A church all about "seekers" will fail to see them grow into fully-devoted followers of Christ once they become disciples. A church that is all about making disciples will turn inward and will miss out on evangelizing the lost community around them.

Our goal is to accomplish both, along with the purposes of fellowship, worship and ministry. And by being balanced in them - which is a never-ending pursuit - we'll continue to be a healthy, growing congregation. In our view, NHC should be both an assembly of "seekers"- where those who don't yet know Christ can discover Him - and a disciple-making body - where believers can learn and become like Christ.

So, if that's who what we're to be about as a church, here are the questions each of us should be regularly asking ourselves.

1. Am I concerned about non-believers in my life? Do I take opportunities through my words and my actions to point them to my Savior? Do I regularly invite the unchurched to come with me to church?

2. Do I see consistent growth in my relationship with Christ and with His family? How do I measure that growth?

3. If I am a maturing believer, what younger, newer believer am I investing my life in to help him/her grow as well? That is making disciples.

Sunday Feedback November 21

God's love is never-ending for us, and his desire is for our love to copy His for others. Lots of us were challenged to love others who may not be so lovable.

Chris Jolly encased in plexiglass. Where's the love in that?

Just so you know, NHC have at least 124 shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child.

Remember to pray for Tommy Drake.

Share with the rest of us how today's worship was used by God in your life.

Week 6 of 40 Days of Love

Sunday begins the final days of our 40 day journey studying together Jesus' principles of relating to one another in love and the Bible's great love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. What a fantastic study it has been! Thanks to Tom Holladay and Rick Warren for writing the materials for us.

This week our youth, who have also been focused on practicing godly love, are distributing Thanksgiving turkeys to a limited number of families. They already have all the recipients lined up.

Sunday night is our annual church conference. Important, because it casts the vision for 2011, we hope our partners will come out and hear what we believe God is leading us to do in the next year.

Wednesday night is our annual Thanksgiving Worship Gathering at 7PM. Lots of worship, music, Scripture and a report from Larry and Sheila Benson, our missionaries in Honduras.

Sunday, November 28 we'll begin a series on how to make Christmas more about giving and less about spending through the Advent Conspiracy. (It's not a theory!)

Have a great Thanksgiving! Give thanks to the Lord...His love endures forever!

Why do you use different Bible translations when you teach?

One of our questions was, “Why do you use different translations (versions) of the Bible when you teach?” Good question. I use different Bible translations for several reasons.

First, because I can! Computer programs have made it so copy and paste is simple. My Bible program allows me to look at numerous translations at the same time.

Second, because sometimes one translation says the verse in a clearer way than others. That doesn’t mean the meaning or interpretation is changed, but the words are easier to understand. One of the great things about a church that is reaching out is that there are always very young believers. Good communication means the communicator is reaching every level if possible. That doesn’t “water down” the Scripture. It simply makes it easier to grasp for some.

Third, with the plethora of translations available (most of which are well done and faithful to the original languages) and knowing that any number of them might be in the laps of the congregation, sticking to one isn’t an issue.

When I teach from a particular passage, as I did recently in Romans, I’ll primarily use one version as my base. Currently my two favorites to use are the New Living Translation and the Holman Christian Study Bible. There are versions I will not use (the Good News Bible and the Revised Standard Version, for example) because their scholarship and/or choices are not close enough to the original manuscripts meaning.

I also steer clear of using paraphrases, such as the Living Bible and The Message. But on the rare occasion I do refer to one I point out that it is a paraphrase. A paraphrase, by the way, isn’t a bad thing. But neither is it a translation from the original languages. Instead, a paraphrase asks, “How would I say that in my own words?”. So a paraphrase is subjective. But then, really, what is a sermon? It’s an explanation of a text in the preacher’s own words.

In the notes we give out on Sundays we always include the references for each Scripture verse used and I encourage everyone to go home and look them up as a follow up to the sermons. God’s Word needs to dwell within us, and that takes study.

Be like the Bereans. Luke noted in Acts 11:17 that they were “more noble than the Thessalonicans because they searched the scriptures daily to see if the things [Paul had taught them] were so.” Check that verse out, by the way.

Rick

Buy a ham and support missions!

Again this year, Brad and Rebecca Meyers will be taking orders for both Thanksgiving and Christmas Boars Head brand hams.

With every ham purchased $10 will be given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions. The cost per ham is $35. Last year $750 was raised just through the hams. Let's shoot for $1000 this year!

Think your gift to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® won't make a difference? Every penny given to Lottie Moon is used to help support more than 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries (including one of our own NHC families) serving overseas. Last year, those missionaries reported 506,019 baptisms and 24,650 new churches. The lost are believing because you give!

Orders will be taken on Sundays in the church lobby Nov. 21 for Thanksgiving, and December 5 and 12 for Christmas. You can also order by emailing brad@obxdeli.com or calling 449-2627. Hams will be ready for pick up at NHC at our Thanksgiving Eve gathering and on Sunday, December 19.

Project Turkey in a Box

Coming into this week we had one family to deliver a meal to. As of today we are looking at 13!! Thanks to those who have helped find families who can benefit from a Thanksgiving dinner kit delivered to their home.

We now need 13 boxes to package the meals up in. If you have access to boxes please let me know.

This will be a great event for the youth group as we have been learning about loving others. We will be sharing Christ's love in a practical way on Sunday.

andy

Sunday Feedback November 14

Marathon Sunday.

One gathering.

Shoebox Sunday.

Love is not easily angered.

You were there. What did you see God doing?

Don't forget that if you were serving in children's ministries and missed the worship gathering the message is up on our pod cast at nagsheadchurch.org.

Marathon/Shoebox Sunday!

"The facts, just the facts, Ma'am."

• Nags Head Church will meet together for worship at 11AM only this Sunday. It's our once a year time to do this, so don't miss it. You'll see folks that you may have been missing.
• The Marathon starts at 7AM and with the exception of a few stragglers, all are beyond NHC by 10AM. So traffic is not an issue in getting there for the 11AM start.
  
• If you want to come out early and cheer on the runners, you can get into the parking lot. Our Hospitality Team will be set up with coffee at 7AM.
• If you are serving this Sunday and will by default have to miss the worship gathering the message "Love is Not Easily Angered" will be available online via our podcast by Sunday afternoon. You don't want to miss this one!
• Don't forget to memorize this Sunday's verse! "Love doesn't keep a record of wrongs." - 1 Corinthians 13:5
• Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes are being collected Sunday, too. Bring them into the auditorium. Click here for more info.
  

Communion at Nags Head Church (Pt. 2)

Because of these Biblical principles (in the previous post) that guide our observance of Communion, which includes liberty, Nags Head Church's approach to Communion allows us to both form our own traditions and stay true to the Scriptures.

For example, we observe Communion on Wednesdays, on Sundays, on at least one Friday and then on Christmas Eve, whenever that falls each year. Starting in 1991 when Rick came as our pastor, we went from a church that celebrated communion once/quarter (4 times a year) to a monthly celebration on Sunday evenings. That change kept in mind that Communion is the most intimate gathering of the church. On Sunday nights we were able to have more of that "family reunion" time that Sunday mornings couldn't provide with so many guests.

We also for many years included a covered dish meal that typically followed the Lord's Supper. Logistically, however, even after moving into the new building we found ourselves out of space for everyone to sit together. That dictated we do something differently. God uses things like crowding to move us forward. Our belief that as we grow larger we should be growing smaller at the same time through Connection Groups gave us the natural transition to allow "meal fellowships" to become part of our small group strategy. And think about it, even in a room with 150 people at tables, your real fellowship is limited to those at your table.

Because our Sunday worship gatherings take into account that the church is inviting and bringing their non-believing friends moved us to establish a second worship gathering designed especially for believers. That led us to begin First Wednesdays, and we then began to observe Communion at those gatherings.

Back in the summer of 2010, realizing some folks' schedules just made it difficult to be at church midweek the elders decided to add some additional Sunday mornings throughout the year as Communion gatherings as well. In July and August of 2009 and 2010 Communion was held on Sundays, and our plan now is to offer it at least once per quarter on Sunday mornings.

One of the great characteristics of NHC is that change is part of our make-up. We're not afraid to change if and when we see it is needed or beneficial and when that change is in keeping with our vision and purpose.

So,in addition to the 9 or 10 First Wednesdays, we'll be having Communion 4-5 times on Sundays plus Good Friday and Christmas Eve. That means at NHC you’ll have at least 15 opportunities to come to the Lord’s Table.

The key to Communion is not when it is observed or even how often, but that whenever we come together around the Lord's Table it is with a clean heart of gratitude for what Jesus did for us on the cross. And it is our conviction that every partner do all he/she can to participate as often as possible.

Project Turkey in a Box

On Sunday, November 21st, Contagious Youth of NHC will be delivering Thanksgiving meals to families in need. Students will gather at NHC and pack boxes with everything a family would need to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner. They will load into vehicles with their adult leaders and deliver the meals. Students will then gather back together to talk about the experience of this local mission/ministry project.

You can get involved in two ways:

1. We need families to deliver meals to. If you know of a family in need that could benefit from this project please contact Andy. You would then become the contact person between the youth group and the family to let them know we are coming and when we will be coming to deliver the groceries.

2. Turkeys, the number of turkeys donated will depend on the number of families we have to deliver meals to. Currently we have 5 turkeys donated and are hoping to have 5 more. If you can bring a turkey to church on Sunday, November 21, please let Andy know.

For more details, info or to get involved e-mail andy@nagsheadchurch.org

Communion at Nags Head Church (Pt. 1)

When the Lord Jesus began the first Communion gathering with His remaining 11 disciples (Judas had left the Supper to betray Him) He gave them this command: "As often as you do this do it in remembrance of me". As a Christian church we view that command seriously and as a baptist church view it as one of the two ordinances Jesus gave the church, the other being baptism.

There is quite a bit of Scripture to draw from that teaches us about the meaning and purpose of Communion or the Lord's Supper/Table, beginning the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper. We can also learn from the first church in Jerusalem the importance of observing Communion and from Paul's corrective letter to the Corinthian church we learn even more about it.

Some try to argue that Communion should be observed each Sunday. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with a weekly observance, it seems clear that becoming legalistic about when to have Communion misses the point. Jesus didn't dictate how often or even when. His first Communion was in the middle of the week, either on a Wednesday or Thursday night. So that tells us it doesn't have to be on a Sunday.

The Jerusalem believers, we're told in Acts 2, observed Communion daily. But then in 1 Corinthians 11:17 Paul speaks of Communion being observed when the church gathers together. Yet nothing is said of if it was every time they met or if it was only when the whole church met together or if it was in home groups. Nothing is said that it must be on a Sunday or any other particular day. And since nothing definitive is said we have to surmise that in this area of "how often/when" God gives us liberty. In other words, there is no hard and fast rule. We are free as a church to make those decisions.

It's also vital that we understand the purposes of Communion as set forth in the Scriptures. First, Communion is a time for believers to gather together to remember the suffering and crucifixion of Christ as our Savior. Because it is an ordinance of the church it is also open only to those who know Christ as Savior. That Jesus did not begin the first Communion until after Judas had left reinforces this.

Second, it is a time for fellowship in the church. Fellowship is much deeper in meaning than what we tend to first think. Fellowship may include food, but food isn't a necessity for fellowship. In fact, the word for fellowship and communion in the Greek language are the same and means "partnership". Gathering around the bread and the cup is a spiritual time of recognizing we belong together because we belong to Christ.

Third, Communion is a time for introspection - each believer looking within his/her own heart and evaluating his/her own relationship both with God and with one another. So, it is a time for reconciliation both with God and with others who may need my forgiveness or I may need theirs.

Fourth, Communion is a time to be reminded that Christ is returning. He told us to continue observing Communion until the day we observe it with Him. It gives us hope.

Fifth, the elements of Communion - the bread and the cup of wine (or in our case juice) are simply symbols of Jesus body and blood. They do not in some way physically or mystically become His body and blood. But they are real reminders as we eat and drink them together.

These principles from the Bible guide our approach to Communion.

Next: Why do we observe Communion when we do at Nags Head Church?

Ministry with Love

We have a fantastic ministry opportunity for a Connection group or a couple of groups to work together.

The youth group is having an Agape Feast on Sunday, December 5^th from 6 to 7pm. This dinner is a part of our 40 Days of Love. The purpose behind the dinner is for students to get to know students, who they wouldn’t normally talk with, hang out with, to help them build relationships.

The details are simple for a Connection group to get involved. The group will gather at NHC on that Sunday afternoon and prepare a meal for the youth group, a dinner for 50. This dinner won’t be potluck or buffet but a menu created by the serving Connection group. The food costs will come out of the youth budget. The meal will be served to the students.

What’s in it for your group? You get to work together as a group to minister to the church. Your group will strengthen your relationships. Most importantly your group will model to the youth what ministry done in love looks like. I bet you would have a whole lot of fun in the process.

If your group is interested in preparing and serving this meal please contact me, andy@nagsheadchurch.org.

Sunday Feedback November 7

Love lets it go. I heard from several about how God used the Word this morning in lives. If you feel comfortable sharing, please do.

Great music selection to go with the message.

Did you meet someone for the first time today?

What really bugs you?

Our nursery opened up a new room today for infants!! Three nurseries going on now!

Did you consider becoming an organ donor?

Next week is Shoebox Sunday. Let's set a new NHC record so children can hear of Christ and so we can plant seeds.

And next Sunday is Marathon Sunday. 11:00 Worship gathering only. It's our one time of the year to pull us all together at once.

Fall Back Tonight!

It's the good change - the one we like because it gives back the hour we lost in the Spring!

Two Gatherings tomorrow at 9 and 11. "Love Lets It Go".

Memory Verse: "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." (1 Cor. 13:6)

Also Sunday at NHC you'll be able to sign up to be an organ donor. A table will be set up in the lobby with forms and information.

If you're not already a donor, please prayerfully consider becoming one. Your unselfish final act could save lives.

Some Christmas Giving Ideas from Advent Conspiracy

Just click on the graphic a time or two to enlarge it.

Tonight at 6:30

Vote tomorrow! It's our watch.

David Barton of Wall Builders explains scripturally and historically why we need to vote prayerfully and righteously. It's not just about the economy, and he explains why.

Take the time to watch.

(For our men who have been to the Maximum Man conferences, David Barton is no stranger.)