re:Generātion Summer BBQ at the Park

• re:Generātion is having a BBQ!  Come and enjoy some awesome BBQ, hang out with friends, play outdoor games, and enjoy a taste of the summer. 

• Bring yourself, some friends, a lawn chair, and any outdoor games stuff you might have: frisbee, volleyball, bocce set, football, croquet set, etc…

                                      When?      Sunday, June 27th @ 5:30pm
                                      Where?     Hammerle Park
                                                       (Two minutes north of Riverfalls on Hwy 43)
                                                       1505 Lewis Street
                                                       Linn, OR 97068

1 Peter 4:1-11

Last night we talked about following the example of Christ's suffering and living life with an eternal perspective.  We will all go through suffering at some point in our lives.  Peter has definitely communicated that to us multiple time in his first letter.  When we go through and experience times of suffering we are as Christians to follow the example of Christ.  He suffered doing the will of God.  It was not because he sinned our messed up or because he deserved it.  He was doing the will of the Father.  In 1 Peter 3:17 it says, "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil."  We are to follow the example of Christ by living a life in obedience to God.  Trusting God in all situations regardless of our day to day circumstances.

We also talked about living life with an eternal perspective.  This requires to see life through the lens of redemptive history.  Understanding that Christ has come in the flesh, lived a perfect life and died on the cross for your sins, in your place taking the punishment that you deserve so that if you place you faith in the sacrifice that he made for you... you will be saved!  Christ rose from the dead three days later and was exalted to the right hand of the Father where he now sits awaiting the time when he will return to judge the living and the dead.  When we see life through this lens we can look past all of the little things in our life that seem so difficult.  When we live with an eternal perspective we are less likely to fall in the temptation of sin as living for God, and sharing the gospel are far greater in the scope of eternity then seeking to satisfy our earthly fleshly  desires.

This week re-commit yourself to God.  Remember that your time is not your own... it is God's.  We don't know when, where or how God is going to act so give of your time and energy freely.  Be praying that God would point someone to Christ through you this week.  We are all called to share the good news of Jesus Christ, so do it!

Next Sunday night we will continue our series through the book of 1 Peter.  Aeric Estep will be bringing the word from 1 Peter 4:12-19 as he talks about sharing in Christ's sufferings.  I would encourage you to be reading this passage once a day so that God would begin to prepare your hearts to hear from Aeric next Sunday night.  Also, be praying for Aeric.  Pray that the Spirit of God would reveal the truth of his word to Aeric.  That the Spirit would speak through him next Sunday night.  It is our job as participants on Sunday nights to be praying for the speaker.  We are to come expecting to hear from God and so we are obligated to pray for that to happen.

I love you guys and can't wait to see next week.

John

Bring Your Own Mug!

Just a quick reminder to dust off your favorite mug and bring it to reGen. this Sunday.  Also I will come through with my promise from last week... everyone who brings their own mug this Sunday, and every Sunday will receive free coffee.  I know... way to generous.

Not a coffee drinker.  Bring your own mug to enjoy other delicious beverages provided at reGen. from punch, soda, juice, OJ, milk, tea and many other yummy drinks all of which taste much much better from your own mug.

So... BYOM this Sunday and I'll see you there, mug in hand.

The Righteous For The Unrighteous

Last week we looked at 1 Peter 3:1-7 and we talked about how to have a Godly marriage... well I guess we talk about how to have a Godly marriage once you get married recalling the fact that I was the only married person in the room last week.

Coming up this Sunday night Grant "that's just the way it is" Blomdahl is going to be bringing us the word from 1 Peter 3:8-22. I want to encourage you to be reading this text over and over again for the next few days in order to familiarize yourself with the text. Also, be praying for Grant as he prepares to share with us. Pray that God would speak through him, and empower him with the Holy Spirit to proclaim God's word faithfully and boldly.

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday night,

John

Also, invite someone new.

Sharing the Gospel - Four “Points” in a Story

Here is a great, very simple approach to sharing the gospel with people you know or are just getting to know by Tim Chester (author of Total Church and You Can Change):

Four points of intersection

Everyone has their own version of the ‘gospel’ story:

1. creation – who I am or who I should be
2. fall – what’s wrong with me and the world
3. redemption – what’s the solution
4. consummation – what I hope for

When we hear people expressing their version of creation, fall, redemption or consummation, we can talk about the gospel story. Talking about Jesus begins with listening to other people’s stories and sharing our own story of Jesus.

Four liberating truths

Everyone’s behaviour is shaped by what they believe. We can listen out for the beliefs that shape people’s behaviour and shape their hurts and hopes. This then allows us to speak of the liberating truth of God which counters the lies upon which people build their lives and which eventually fail them in some way:

1. God is great – so we don’t have to be in control
2. God is glorious – so we don’t have to fear others
3. God is good – so we don’t have to look elsewhere
4. God is gracious – so we don’t have to prove ourselves

It is usually less confrontational to present the truth in the form of a personal story. For example, ‘When I was ill last year I found it a great comfort to know that God was in control.’

The Holy Life of a Chosen Exile

Last night we looked the holy life of a chosen exile in 1 Peter 1:13-2:3. It is important to remember of course that this section of 1 Peter is directly linked to and based upon the beginning of the letter, namely verses 1-12. It is in the first twelve verses where Peter establishes the truth and factual information about the gospel that informs the rest of his letter. We are not called to live a holy life so that God will accept us, but rather we live a holy live because God has accepted us through his son. Despite our sin, rebellion and rejection of God he still loves us. He made us and he knows everything about us. He graciously provided a way for us to have a restored relationship with him and that is through the death, burial and resurrection of his one and only son Jesus Christ.

In 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 we find 5 commands for life. These of course are to be obeyed in response to the saving power of the gospel not out of a desire to be accepted by God. Through the gospel we have been brought into God's family and our response should be to live a holy life as a chosen exile. This means living our life firmly set upon the hope that Jesus is coming back to make all things right. This truly is good news!

This week read through 1 Peter again, or maybe for the first time and realize that the commands for living that Christians receive are always based upon the gospel.

After the message, I spoke with Leslie (one of the regulars at re:Gen) and she told me that she'd been reading and meditating on 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 all week. She had read it over and over again thinking about it and pondering it so that when she came on Sunday night to hear the text preached she would really be ready for it. I think this is an amazing idea. I would like to encourage all of you to be reading the text ahead of time leading up to each Sunday night gathering. This next week the text is 1 Peter 2:4-12. Try and read it once a day this week. Pray over the text, meditate on the text and also pray for pastor Scott as he prepares this week to preach this text. Pray that God would speak to us through him. Come next Sunday night longing to hear a word from the Lord. Come next Sunday night expecting to hear from God. Preaching is not a solo event, but rather it requires the prayers of those who hear as well. If we all want to hear a word from God each Sunday night then we must all beg God to speak.

Have a great week, remind yourself of the gospel everyday, and live the holy life of a chosen exile.

God Bless!

A Gospel Primer

Here's a snapshot of the book that is available for $5 at New Life. I have been reading this book and have enjoyed every page I've read; it is challenging and deep.

The book is broken into a billion little parts, generally half a page to a page long, to make for quick, easy reading. I highly recommend you invest in this book, and let it help remind you of the gospel everyday.