The Real Reality Series

The Real Reality

Acts 17:16-34

Rev. Brian Bill

September 16-17, 2023

Special thanks to Abi Kongkousonh for using her gifts to depict the story of Creation along with the fall of Adam and Eve. Keep that image in mind as we go through the message.

Are you aware we ran out of parking spaces during our 9:00 a.m. service last weekend? Marie Guyton, our Office Manager, told me she barely found a spot in the south lot. When she was walking in someone asked her, “Is there something special going on today?” Actually, there was something special going on in all three services! BTW, I’m grateful that Pastor Dan has put together a parking team for our early service and for those serving on the team.

At the end of our services, a total of several hundred people stood to indicate they wanted to be saved or were ready to fully surrender to Christ. We encouraged people to come forward and pick up a block of wood with “Romans 12:1-2” on it. We have more blocks available in both lobbies if you didn’t get one. It’s been encouraging to see pictures of where people have put these blocks. I have mine on the dashboard of my car.

920 adults and children gathered for Week 1 of our series called, “Unshaken and Unashamed” as we considered Why Worldview Matters. This was our highest attendance since before Covid. Our main idea was this: What you believe about God’s Word will determine how you view the world around you. If your worldview does not come from God’s Word, it will come from the world.

We give God glory for the growth in all our ministries.

• Second Winders, our ministry to seniors which meets twice a month, had 171 people in attendance on Thursday. The SecondWinders Sunday Growth Group hit a high of 55 recently.

• During the 9:00 hour last weekend, our first through sixth graders used every chair we had. Sheila has requested more chairs to be set up.

• Over the last several weeks, our Nursery has been averaging 22 babies during the 9:00 service. Up to this point, our highest attendance was 20 on Mother’s Day.

• This past weekend, there were 46 children in preschool. The three-year-old room is almost maxed out. BTW, because of this growth, we need additional teachers and helpers. With so many standing as surrendered servants at the end of our services last weekend, we should be able to meet this need. Church family, I’ve mentioned this before, but we really need help in this area. If we had 8 new people step up and serve just once a month, we could meet this need. Please indicate your interest on a card in front of you.

• This past Wednesday, Awana had 170 kids along with 54 servants as we kicked off our 44th year.

• We’ve had to purchase additional tables and chairs for our growing student ministry. The students just kicked of a study in the Book of Romans.

• Mainspring, our ministry to young adults, had 35 at their fall kickoff. They recently did some teaching on theology.

• Approximately 100 people have been involved in Intentional Discipleship the last couple years.

• There are several Bible studies for women taking place and registration is now open for the fall retreat on October 6-7.

• Around 100 men attended the Men’s BBQ, 70 were involved in the golf outing, and our men’s ministry now has four Bible studies.

• 71 people attended Celebrate Recovery this past Friday. One men’s 12-step group is getting ready to graduate and two 12-step groups for women are meeting weekly. We could use more people to help serve food.

• In our worship/tech area, Pastor Chad and Dave Bennett have designed and built a recording studio. Within the first month, they’ve already completed six media projects, including a brand new 4G podcast.

• Our care ministries are reaching more and more people - Divorce Care had eight people, Grief Share had 18, and Alzheimer’s Support had 11.

I posted some thoughts on Facebook this week and began with this verse from John 3:8: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Many people shared how the Spirit blew through their lives during the services this past weekend. I don’t have time to share all of them, but here are some that stood out.

• “God is doing new things in me.”

• “I had to leave early so I stood and surrendered when I got home.”

• “The sermon on Sunday really moved me. I did not stand up; however, the Holy Spirit was moving within me.”