An International Connection Thanksgiving
The RBC Club House room was packed with international faces and languages – children, adults, seniors – all chattering and eating. The annual Thanksgiving Dinner for International Connection (our ESL, or English as a Second Language program) was a chaotic but lively and warm gathering! We welcomed 168 guests, which made it shoulder-to-shoulder in that space.
The buffet area was set up with two rows of international cuisine – tamales, rice pilaf, spring rolls– mixed in with traditional dishes of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing. The International Connection volunteers (plus extra helpers) provided the traditional Thanksgiving fare to give our students a taste of North America. The students proudly contributed the bounty from their home countries. What a feast!
After dinner, the children were dismissed to take part in their own supervised activities while the adults remained to enjoy the program. Pastor Ed Nalle led us in singing “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart” and then performed “Be Ye Glad” to a rapt audience. We watched a short video that presented the history of the holiday. Then there were class presentations and individual student speeches – the highlight of the evening. From the choral readings to the personalized expressions of why they are thankful, it was a time to count our blessings and then focus on the greatest gift of all – Jesus. Mike Meyers, Children’s Ministry Director, reminded us to stop and recognize the good things right in front of us that are easily taken for granted.
Our students come from about 25 different countries and 14 language groups. They are sometimes mystified by the new culture in which they find themselves but when they come to English classes here at RBC each week, they find an oasis where they can practice their language skills in a safe and caring environment and where they can learn about how to adapt to life in this country. Many come for the English but come back for the friendship and more. May God give us grateful hearts this holiday time as we think of those who are struggling to survive in the midst of so much upheaval
Sunday Rewind | 11.24.2013
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Be Lifted High (John 3:30) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Open Up Our Eyes (Ephesians 1:18-19a) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Closer (Psalm 89:14-15) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong
God, You Lifted Me Out (Psalm 30:1-2) – For The Honor by Elevation Worship
The Lord Our God (James 1:17) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong
TEACHING: Philippians: A Journey Toward Humble Joy, Part 5
Vanity is the enemy of unity, and unity is the fruit of humility.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What is one thing from this teaching that you hope to talk about as a group?
- What is the difference between unity and uniformity in Christian community? Which do you tend toward?
- Read and discuss Philippians 2:1-11. What does this tell you about the person and nature of Jesus? What do you see about the nature of man?
- What do you note in these verses about humility? What role should humility play in the individual life of a Christ-follower? How should this affect the community of the church?
- Consider Pastor Mike’s diagnostic self-evaluation questions: Do you like to argue? Are you defensive when someone corrects you? Do you immediately form a defense while someone is speaking into your life? Do you find it hard to admit that you are wrong? Is is difficult for you to ask for forgiveness? Does your life leave a wake of conflict? Do you enjoy gossiping about others? Do you tend to draw attention to your body more than your countenance? Which do you tend to struggle with the least? The most?
- How does the gospel address and remedy our struggle with pride? How does the gospel set the context for and empower true humility?
- Is there an area of your life you feel God is calling you to stop acting out of selfish ambition or vain conceit? Is there an area of your life where you feel God is calling to to begin valuing others above yourself in humility? Spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal these areas to you and for the grace to be obedient in them.
Remembering God, Part 2: In His Word
In our introduction I began by laying out four things we risk when we do not remember who God is and all that He has done. These were:
- Falling into idolatry/trusting ourselves or our possessions (Deut. 8:13-14)
- Never growing in trust of/faith in God (Isa. 40:20-21)
- Stumbling into sin and suffering the Father’s discipline (Deut. 8:19)
- Forfeiting a generation to the enemy (Judges 2:10-11)
In our exploration of remembering God, we’ll begin with his written revelation. God’s Word is our primary means of remembering who He is and all that He has done throughout history. As parents our most important duty in the kingdom is to take the words of God and, “Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19).
God’s Word is our primary means of remembering who He is and all that He has done throughout history.
When Josiah, the child-king who reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years, was twenty-six years old, an amazing discovery was made during repairs to the temple. You can find the account in 2 Kings 22-23. Hilkiah, the high priest, found the Book of the Law in the Temple. There are a couple of interesting things to note here. First, the Book was “found” which means it had come into disuse, it was “lost,” it was not being read and proclaimed to the people. When the Book is given to Josiah he had apparently been unaware of its existence or what was written in it. At this time in Jerusalem the very Temple was filled with statues dedicated to other gods. On every high hill in the country there were altars to foreign gods where the people of Israel would sacrifice even their own children. This was a culture that had forgotten God’s Word, forgotten his covenant promises, forgotten who He was and what He had done to make them his people, and as a result, had fallen into the deepest, darkest pits of demonic idolatry. The second point of interest is Josiah’s reaction upon being exposed to the Holy Scriptures for the first time.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, … “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”
Josiah’s response is one of repentance and a newfound zeal for the Lord. His heart was turned from idolatry and he was spared the discipline that the Lord would eventually bring on Judah.
There is a lesson to be learned here. God’s Word must hold an active and prominent place in our family life and in our homes. We cannot let it lapse into disuse because, if we do, inevitably something else will come in to fill that vacuum as it did in Jerusalem. It must be ever before us as a reminder. We are the spiritual descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of Peter, Paul, and John. Children need to know where they came from if they are to understand where they fit into the bigger picture and where they are going. They need to have a sense of history and their place in it. They must understand where they fit in to God’s redemptive plan.
So how can we be a family of the Book? Every family is different but here are two ways straight out of the good Book itself that any of us can employ right away and to great affect (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
- Place the written word of God in strategic places throughout your home. These can be anything from a plaque over the door to the artwork on the wall to a white board by the breakfast table with a verse of the day. Select a verse that speaks to you about each of your children and place that prominently in their bedroom. Use notecards or sticky notes on the bathroom mirror or in their lunchbox. Whatever form it takes, fill your home with His Word.
- Make reading of the Word aloud part of your family routine. This could be as simple as having a new verse or passage to read at the dinner table each evening. If you have readers, allow them a chance to do the reading. Then give the family some time as you break bread together to discuss it. Even with pre-readers this can be a precious time and generate some great questions.
The most important thing we can do is lead by example. Show them how to approach God’s Word with respect, in prayer, and with the expectation that God will speak to you through it. Even if you think you are weak in this area you’d be surprised what your children are picking up on and how far a little faithfulness on your part will go.
Tune in next time when we talk about “Remembering God in Song.”
The Green Room Sessions: Closer
We’re introducing the song Closer in our worship services this weekend. In the latest edition of the Green Room Sessions, Erik Palmer, Jesse Trask and Paul Goodnight discuss why Jesse was banned from GRS, their recent trip to Brazil with Open Arms, and how this song ties directly into our church’s mission statement, knowing Christ and making Him known.
The Green Room Sessions are a sneak peak into the heart of the worship ministry at Reston Bible Church. We have a huge desire to communicate God’s Word through song and respond to the Spirit, freely worshiping when we’re together. Our hope is that these short videos will provide an extension of the community at RBC and supply your home, car, and office with great songs about the greatness and love of our incredibly able God.
See more Green Room Sessions here: rstbl.ch/PrUkYS
Sunday Rewind | 11.17.2013
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
As It Is In Heaven (Psalm 96:1-3) – Overflow by Matt Maher
Blessed Be Your Name (Job 1:21) – Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman
In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us (Galatians 6:14) – Original Arrangement
In Christ Alone (Galatians 2:20) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
TEACHING: Entitlement
Ever feel like God is holding back from you something you deserve? Fact is, God is not fair – but He is generous. We cannot enjoy what we feel entitled to.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What is one thing from this teaching that you found particularly interesting, helpful, insightful, or difficult to grasp?
- Where or how do you see a sense of entitlement in our culture and society? What is something you feel entitled to?
- Read and discuss Matthew 19:16 – 20:16. What does this tell you about the person and nature of God? What do you see about the nature of man?
- “God is not fair.” What is your response to that statement? Are there areas in your life where you feel God is not being fair? Are there ways you are glad God is not fair?
- Where in your life is your eye tempted to be envious because God has been generous to someone else?
- How does the gospel address and remedy our sense of entitlement?
- Where can you identify the generosity of God in your life? Spend some time in prayer thanking God for His is gracious generosity toward us.
Remembering God, Part 1: Introduction
Why is it that God spends so much time in the Bible telling His children to “remember” Him?
I’d like to venture four reasons I believe are grounded in scripture and then, over the next several weeks, give you five practical and biblical ways to remember the Lord as a family. When we fail to remember God we risk…
- …Falling into idolatry/trusting ourselves or our possessions (Deut. 8:13-14)
- …Never growing in trust of/faith in God (Isa. 40:20-21)
- …Stumbling into sin and suffering the Father’s discipline (Deut. 8:19)
- …Forfeiting a generation to the enemy (Judges 2:10-11)
So how can we be a family that is all about remembering God? As we head toward Thanksgiving and Christmas, two big “reminders” built into our culture, I want to take some time to discuss each of the five ways, listed below, that God has ordained for us to remember Him, who He is, and all that He has done. I’ll also include some practical ways for us to incorporate these into family life.
- In His Word – God’s Word is our primary means of remembering who He is and all that He has done throughout history. As parents our most important duty in the kingdom is to take the words of God and, “Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19).
- In song – Remembering God in song is a theme we see in scripture over and over again. How wonderful it is that our Creator gave us music, knowing the power it has to help us remember as well as to connect our heads to our hearts and emotions.
- In prayer – Prayer should not only be about asking for help but about remembering to God all that He has done. When we thank God in our prayers we are “remembering” that God alone is responsible for providing our every need. (Nehemiah 9)
- In true Christian fellowship – Fellowship is much more than potluck dinners or bowling night. It is about gathering together to remember God to one another. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
- In traditions and memorials – Traditions and memorials are things that we, in the bible church movement have largely banished from the life of the church. While a healthy dose of caution about tradition becoming idolatry is warranted, the Bible is also clear that God has given us tradition and memorial to help us “remember” who He is and all that He has done. (Joshua 4:4-7, Luke 22:19)
I hope that these “reminders” will serve you well in making your home, for this holiday season and throughout the year, a place where you are remembering God for who He is and what He’s done. Tune in next time when we’ll look at what it means to remember God in his Word.
Moms Connection Newsletter | Oct 2013
Welcome to the first installment of The Connection, a monthly newsletter for RBC moms! We’ve selected a couple articles for you to read below, and you can download the entire edition of The Connection – October 2013 here.
This Is My Job | Maggie Kolb
I think I post at least once a year on Facebook that I wish there was a way to “magic” laundry away. I can’t be the only person who struggles with this, because a bunch of my friends like and comment on it. I don’t know why it surprises me that laundry will need to be done, but I know if I ignore it for a few days, mayhem breaks out. This leads to a Grumpy Maggie. God has been speaking to me about how I treat my role at home. Through conversations, blogs, friends, Pinterest, Facebook, and mentors a message pops up over and over: This is my job, and I should do it with a joyful heart. It is my choice to go to God and ask the Holy Spirit to fill me with joy there. It is my choice to reframe my thoughts about the tasks I have to do on a daily basis. I am BLESSED to do this on a daily basis. I also needed to let the kids do a bit more.
Attitude is everything. If I take the lead on a chore with a cheerful disposition, and make things a game, the kids follow suit. Because a joyful heart is like medicine. How can the kids be grumpy when Mom is making Lego-cleaning a race? Throwing dirty socks at your head while sorting laundry? Playing praise music while cleaning the kitchen? I began to use the techniques I used with the kids on myself, and soon enough, I was approaching my day with a happy heart.
I also began to let go of some of the tasks I had taken control of because I did them the best. My 15-year old daughter does most of her laundry now, and I don’t care how it is folded, or shoved in her drawers. I let my son vacuum, and don’t nitpick about how he missed a spot. Delegation will always be a work in progress for me, but the happiness I feel when my kids can do something for themselves is motivation, indeed.
It’s okay to have bad days, but God is teaching me to find joy in the ordinary and everyday, because that is what my life is made of. I wash laundry, and clean toilets, and I am thrilled when that recipe idea I finally tried from Pinterest worked out. When Julia and Joseph look back at their childhood, I want them to remember me as a woman who loved the position the Lord gave her.
Maggie Kolb is wife to Kim, mom to Julia (15) and Joseph (10), is a green smoothie fanatic and collector of peacocks, owls, and nail polish.
Like Gideon | Kristyn Cole
I sat on my hardwood floor, legs awkwardly propped on the wall, pinning my two-year-old son into the small alcove of our hallway. We were on another marathon of timeouts and I crumpled into a pathetic ball of pity for myself. My three-month old twins howled in the living room because I had to stop nursing them to put my son in timeout. “This is too hard,” I whimpered, milk leaking on my spit-up stained shirt. With tears of desperation, I prayed out loud for guidance. “God, how am I supposed to do this because it obviously isn’t working? I am outnumbered and I feel defeated.”
“God, how am I supposed to do this? Give me the strength and wisdom to raise these boys to honor you.” It is a prayer I pray often. I whisper that prayer as I stand in my sleeping babies’ rooms while the scent of lavender baths lingers on chubby bodies and washes the day’s frustrations away. I also pray this prayer when I am broken and battered, waving the white flag of surrender. When sticker charts, Bible verses read aloud from index cards, positive affirmation, reverse psychology and timeouts have not yielded desired results. When every trick in my mommy bag has been used, I pray this prayer. It is a prayer I pray continuously because the magnitude of what God has called me to do is so overwhelming at times I question and doubt the task He has laid before me. I have been called to raise these young boys to be men of God. I am living among the pages of the ultimate underdog story. I am on a quest to raise children that will go against the grain of everything our culture values, and walk with Christ. Does God really trust me with this task when I can’t even keep my toddler from pushing other children at the park? I often feel like Gideon, scared and doubtful, marching off to defeat the Midianites with a whittled army of 300.
But on this particular day, I felt God speaking through my tired body. I was to teach my son through patience and love. This simple concept, taught in the early years of Sunday school, ignited a flame inside me. God wasn’t just calling me to help teach my son patience when taking turns or when waiting for his soup to cool off. He is disciplining me to learn to discipline with patience, through love, one timeout at a time. In the difficult times of disciplining little ones, I was to be patient and loving, as God is with me. We rarely talk about the patient God. Yet, time and time again, God shows us through His word His patience for us. When Gideon, marked by his weakness, questioned God about how to execute the Lord’s plan to save Israel, God responded to him by saying “I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). When Gideon questioned if God was truly speaking to him, God responded by saying, “I will wait until you return” (Judges 6:19).
My toddler doesn’t understand why he shouldn’t push others. He doesn’t understand why dragging his baby brother across the floor isn’t a loving action. He doesn’t understand a lot, yet; much like his mother. What I do understand is that the bible instructs me to teach my child, to discipline my child and to be patient and loving while doing so. We are both learning. When God blessed me with surprise twins born 20 months apart from their older brother, like Gideon, I felt weak, outnumbered and defeated. Yes, there are numerous blessings on this journey but the days are long, the tasks physically exhausting and the challenges mentally draining. In fact, God told Gideon that his army must be small and the task must seem near impossible or Israel would boast of their own strength saving them. (Judges 7:2). No matter how many children you may have, chances are you have felt like Gideon at times, weak and defeated. God’s love and patience for us is infinite, no matter how impossible the situation may appear. He is willing to love us, no matter how many timeouts it takes.
Kristyn Cole is a Northern Virginia native who lives in Chantilly with her husband and Patriots fan, Ryan. Together they are blessed with 3 boys: Tyson, 2 and six-month-old identical twins, Gavin and Jackson.
Click here to download the entire edition of The Connection – October 2013.
Sunday Rewind | 11.10.2013
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Hope of the World (Ephesians 2:4-5) – Hillsong
Let Your Kingdom Come (Psalm 59:16) – Sovereign Grace Praise
God is Able (Ephesians 3:20-21) – Hillsong
Forever Reign (Lamentations 5:19) – Hillsong
Hosanna (Mark 11:9-10) – Hillsong
TEACHING: 2013 Missions Conference – Hope of the World
Our keynote speaker for the 2013 Missions Conference, Dr. Chris Gnanakan, shares on how the gospel is the hope of the world as it goes forth across the nations.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- Did you attend any part of the 2013 Missions Conference? If so, what did God teach you or what impacted you?
- What is your understanding of missions? What scriptures can you think of that pertain to missions?
- Do you have any personal experience with missions? Please share.
- Read and discuss Colossians 1:21-29. What does this tell you about the person of God? What do you see about the nature of man? What do these verses tell you about missions?
- What is the relationship between missions and the gospel?
- Is missions a specific call to a select few, or a general call to all Christians? What is your current role in missions? What would it look like to grow in this area?
- Would your small group be willing to adopt an RBC missionary? You can get information here.
- Spend some time praying for our missionaries. Here are some helpful guidelines on how to pray for them.
VIDEO: Our God is Love
On the heels of our 2013 Missions Conference, we’ve sent some of the RBC worship team to Brazil this week in partnership with Open Arms. They will be headlining a concert there and will have many opportunities to share – and show – the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The team will use a version of the video above (featuring Hillsong’s Our God is Love) to promote the concert, which takes place this Thursday (November 14) in Assis. We thought you would enjoy it, too. Please pray for our team and their time in Brazil. You can learn more about their project and specific ways to pray here.
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:9-10
– – –
Recorded live at The Cocoon.
SONG: Our God is Love by Hillsong
CAMERAS: HVX-200, Canon 7D, GoPro Hero 3
RBC Worship in Brazil
This Sunday evening, members of the RBC worship band will leave for Brazil to headline the third annual Voz e Vida (Voice & Life) Concert to raise awareness and support for Open Arms Brazil (www.openarmsworldwide.org). This will be our second time there and we’re so excited to have the opportunity and to have the incredible support of our church. Many of you have given financially to our trip and we are so thankful for your generosity. I don’t know who gave what or how much – but I know that we’ve reached 88% of our goal – which is GREAT! So thank you. Many of you have asked how you can pray for us as we spend our week there… and as we experience South American SUPERSTARDOM.
1. Travel: We’ll fly all night through to Sao Paolo and then take a six hour bus ride to Assis (Note: it’s the nicest bus I’ve ever been on. Not joking. WiFi, A/C, fully-reclining seats, the WORKS). And our flight is direct, so there’s not a huge fear of losing anything. But we have six guitars and a couple cases of gear to bring along. Please pray for that.
2. Our promotional time: We’ll spend the first few days promoting the concert on TV and radio. We’ll play some acoustic shows at some of the area high schools and colleges, encouraging people to join us for the big concert on Thursday night. We will have opportunities to share our faith in Christ and minister to the people we meet. Please pray for that.
3. The concert: We headline the concert – covering about 70 minutes of music. We’ll be playing some of our favorite and best worship songs throughout the night – displaying lyrics in Portuguese for the people to follow along with what we’re singing about. There will be many, many believers there worshiping with us… totally free in their worship. It’s an incredible environment. And there will be many, many unbelievers there as well. Watching. Listening. And hearing the Gospel. Please pray for that.
4. The follow-up: The work that Open Arms does in Brazil is amazing. Based on last year’s event, there will be an influx of people wanting to give money, volunteer, or do anything to help. And Lord willing, there will be many who will trust Christ as their Savior. Please pray for that.
We are so thankful that God has provided a chance for us to use music to reach people for Christ, make Him known throughout the world, and partner with an awesome organization like Open Arms. God is working in amazing ways. We can’t wait to see it firsthand.
Thank you for your prayers and support. God bless.