What is God's will for your life?

I have been reading Henry Blackaby's bible study Experiencing God with my accountability partners for the last month and a half. One of my big takeaways has been the reminder that God is always at work around us and that we simply need to join Him in His work. That has got me asking, "What are you doing God? What are you up to around me?" Good questions to ask. Blackaby gives the example of Moses. God had already decided to set the Israelites free. He invited Moses to be a part of what He was already going to do. It was up to Moses to decide whether or not he was going to join him or not. 

What is God up to around you? What is He inviting you to be a part of? Are you willing to step out and join Him?

Ever thought the bible was hard to read?

Have you ever thought the bible was hard to read? I have talked with quite a few people over the past few weeks who have expressed frustration with reading the bible. Most of them say that they don't know where to start and even if they did they are pretty sure that they wont understand what it says anyway. 

I will be the first to admit I have felt that way myself from time to time. The bible is a big book to tackle. It is a combination of 66 books and letter. It employs almost every literary structure. It is full of prophecies and poetry. It can be very intimidating. However, as christians there is nothing more crucial to us knowing God than reading what He has to say to us. So how do we do it? I have been reading a book by a guy named Howard Hendrick called Living by the Book that does a great job of explaining a method for reading the bible that allows you to get a ton out of it every time you pick it up.  Let me suggest that you pick this book up and read it. It will definitely help you in your journey. 

More to come on this subject in the future!

The New logo...

Here is a little sneak peak for those of you who weren't able to make it to sundays meeting...

Don't forget if you have any ideas to get this "N" everywhere there is a $15 Starbucks card to the person who comes up with the most creative idea! 

Black Ops Team

In the next month NL is going to unveil our new website and logo to the public! FINALLY! I am stoked about this if you couldn't tell! If you are at church this weekend you will get a sneak peak of the logo. Along side of this we are going to be doing a marketing campaign to get the "N" everywhere... In the next month we want thousands of people in NOVA to ask, "What the heck is that "N" I keep seeing everywhere?"

We are looking for people to own this campaign. We need ideas for how to get the "N" everywhere. Post any ideas you have as comments. A panel of the staff will select the best idea and the winner will get a $15 Starbucks card! So be sure to leave your name with your idea...

We also need a team of people to help put these ideas into action! If you would like to be a part of this team that we are calling the black ops team shoot me an email. joshb@newlife4me.com

Get in your comfort zone, in order to get out of it...

The other day I was reading a book on preaching... wait don't quit reading just yet. I will concede that a book on preaching is only interesting to a few people in this world. But I was reading this book and the author made the challenge for preachers to get out from behind the pulpit (something NL has never had) and preach from a different setting. He asked the question, "where are you most comfortable?" and then contended that you should preach from where you are most comfortable. 

As I was reading that I started thinking about telling people about Jesus... what is preaching... it is simply telling people about Jesus. This thought occurred to me: for most people telling someone about Jesus is out of their comfort zone. Most of us feel like we should do this we just don't know how to make it happen practically... it is so hard. Then I started thinking about the environments that I had told people about Jesus in... places like Starbucks, my couch, restaurants, places that I feel really comfortable.  It occurred to me, maybe we should challenge people to get into their comfort zone, in order to get out of them and tell people about Jesus.

Where are you most comfortable? 

What's your next step?

At New Life we are constantly asking people what their next step with God is. We want to create a culture that encourages people to walk closer and closer to God everyday. We believe that you are as close to God as you want to be (someone very wise said this to me the other day... I thought it was a cool statement). 

Can I offer a possible next step for you? We are coming into a season where we are going to really encourage life group participation. Through prayer we feel like God is leading us to ask everyone in the church to be a part of a small group for 6 weeks. Just give it a try! In order to do this we are going to need small group hosts! Maybe your next step is to say, "I will host one of these groups". It is easy, all you have to do is: 

1. have a place where people can meet 

2. be able to serve coffee or some type of beverage

 3. press play on a DVD player 

4. use a discussion guide to facilitate a discussion. 

No writing your own lesson. You don't have to have the old testament memorized. You don't have to have all of the answers to people's questions. You don't even have to know who Balaam was.

if you are interested shoot me an email joshb@newlife4me.com