Take 5: The Pastor as Counselor, Part 5
When we find confidence in anything but the gospel, we’ll rely on that thing. This is at the root of most counseling situations. Lead your people back to the foundation of the gospel.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Take 5: The Pastor as Counselor, Part 4
Here are some basic counseling tips meant to help you guide people to the ultimate solution – the gospel.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Take 5: The Pastor as Counselor, Part 3
Hope is the road that leads to reconciliation and restoration.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
TRAIL GUIDE: The Purpose of Strengths
The “Trail Guide” devotional is used by our adult leaders of grade school groups in Quest as a way to prepare their hearts and minds for the topics we will be covering with the children on the weekend. We have made them available here to help our parents of grade-schoolers engage with their children around the topics we are discussing and also for anyone else that might be blessed by following along.
EXTREME MAKEOVER, Section 4, Lesson 3: The Purpose of Strengths
Remembering back to our first lesson on strength we said that, “First, He is the fountainhead of our strength. Second, He stands ready to renew our strength if we will seek Him, trust Him, and wait on Him. Third, God gives us strength not for our own selfish interests or nonsense but to glorify Him and do the good works of the Kingdom that He has prepared in advance for us to walk in.”
Let’s talk this week about that last point. The Bible teaches that as followers of Christ we have been given the right to be called “children” of God. It goes on to teach us to imitate God, “as dearly loved children.” In what ways can we imitate God? The Living God is in His essence a savior and defender. Psalm 68 says He is a “Father to the fatherless and defender of widows.”
Psalm 34 tells us that He is “close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 82 extends these duties to us. “Stand up for those who are weak and for those whose fathers have died. See to it that those who are poor and those who are beaten down are treated fairly. Save the weak and those who are in need.”
Do not make the mistake of thinking that this only applies to physical oppression either. Jesus says of himself (and by extension his followers), “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
The Spirit of the Lord is upon all of His children now and in His strength we are to be imitators of our Heavenly Father. The fact that Jesus immediately moved from loving God to loving our neighbor isn’t coincidence. This makeover isn’t to be kept to ourselves. God saved us, but left us in the world for a reason. We are being made over for a purpose! Let’s get to it!
“The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” -Psalm 28:7a
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Heb 13:16 | Phil 2:4 | Lk 6:38 | 1 Jn 3:17
Gal 6:2 | Rom 15:1 | Eph. 2:10
Take 5: The Pastor as Counselor, Part 2
Practical assignments outside of a counseling session helps move hurting people to a path of hope.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Take 5: The Pastor as Counselor, Part 1
It’s often the things that aren’t said that are the real issues you need to go after in counseling situations. Good questions help unearth hidden issues.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Take 5: Pulpit Demeanor, Part 3
Your people need to know that you have their best interests in mind, even when you say hard things.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Annual Report 2014
Our 2014 annual report is now available here online or in print at the RBC welcome desk.
Our Annual Report is designed to provide you with a big-picture overview of what God has been doing in and through Reston Bible Church over the course of 2014.
Scripture tells us in Ephesians 3:20 that Jesus is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, and we continue to see the truth of this in the life of our church. As we pursue our mission, vision and passion of knowing Christ and making Him known, God has been faithful to provide growth and momentum in many areas of church life here at RBC.
As with each year, this report is not a compilation of our accomplishments, but those of our great and glorious God.
In Psalm 77, the author, Asaph, is struggling with discouragement and feels disconnected from the Lord. A turning point comes in the middle of the Psalm, where he says, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD… I will ponder all Your work and meditate on your mighty deeds.” The result is worship as he then acknowledges the holiness and greatness of “the God who works wonders.”
It is a joy to look back and remember the great things God has done, and the Annual Report allows us an opportunity to do that in the context of our church.
May this year-in-review booklet be an encouragement to deeper worship and more profound trust as we look back and are reminded of the many wonders God has done among us for the glory of His name.
Take 5: Pulpit Demeanor, Part 2
Good leaders are approachable. Invite your people in by being vulnerable and engage them by being safe.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Sunday Rewind | 12.14.2014
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Open Up The Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews
O Come All Ye Faithful (John 1:14) – Christ Is Come by Big Daddy Weave
Angels We Have Heard On High (Luke 2:13-14) – Christmas Offerings by Third Day
I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: Celebrating Generosity
It’s never natural to give away what you’ve worked for, but God doesn’t ask us to do what comes naturally. Don’t let greed and fear hold generosity hostage.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this sermon?
- Who can you think of that is an example of a truly generous person? What makes them generous?
- Would you consider yourself a generous person? Why or why not?
- Read and discuss Luke 21:1-4. How does this verse celebrate generosity? Where else in scripture do you find generosity celebrated?
- In what ways is generosity a discipline?
- How does greed hold generosity hostage? What are some signs that greed is holding back your generosity?
- “The more you make, the less you want to give.” Have you found this to be true in your life? How can you grow in this?
- How does fear hold generosity hostage? What are some signs that fear is holding back your generosity?
- What is the difference between being an owner and a steward? If you are a steward – and not the owner – of what God has entrusted you with, how should this spur you to generosity?
- How is it a privilege to give sacrificially?
- How does the gospel deal with fear and greed? How does the gospel encourage and empower sacrificial generosity?
- Spend some time in prayer thanking God for His great generosity toward us in Christ. Pray that He would help us uncover whatever holds us back from being generous.