December 2018 Texts

     We are just days away from Thanksgiving and from December.  We are concluding the series of messages and sessions about Disciple-Making at Home.  It is our desire that we have grown both in our understanding and our practice of what it means to be families on mission.

     In December we will be looking at the various accounts of Jesus' birth and/or the incarnation from the gospels.  The messages from the pastor will focus on what these passages teach us about worship.  However, as you facilitate discovery in your group using head, heart and hands do not feel limited by this theme.

     Here are the dates and passages.  (Please note that there will be no Bible Fellowships for adults, students or children on either 12-23-18 nor 12-30-18):

Weekend     Text

11-25-18:     John 1:1-14

12-02-18:    Luke 2:1-10

12-09-18:    Matthew 2:1-12

12-16-18:   Philippians 2:5-11

12-23-18:    No ABFs

12-30-18:   No ABFs

     We pray that as you lead your group through the three-thirds method, that disciple-makers continued to be formed.  We also hope that you and your group continue to pray for those who are close to you but far away from God.  Discuss ways to reach out to them and dream about possibilities of multiplying your group.

October & November 2018 Texts

     We have come to the end of our Kairos series on the Gospel of Mark!  What an incredible time we have had studying this fast moving and fascinating book for the last year!

     During October and November we will be exploring various texts that deal with disciple-making from the perspective of our family and extended family.  Below are the texts that we invite ABFs and other disciple-making groups to explore during this season:

Week of: Text

10-07-18: Acts 1:1-14

10-14-18: Genesis 1:16-28; 2:18-25; 12:1-3

10-21-18: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

10-28-18: Psalm 127

11-04-18: Luke 5:1-11

11-11-18: Acts 2:41-47

11-18-18: John 15:1-12

11-25-18: John 1:1-14

     We will be preaching a series titled "Disciple Making Starts at Home" during our Sunday worship services that will correspond with most of these texts.

     We pray that each of us as leaders and as group participants grows in our disciple making within our biological families and grows as a family on mission within our ABFs and disciple making groups.

Family on Mission and Four Fields

     Beginning this week the blog posts regarding our CBC strategy and implementation of our vision 2020 will be coming from Pastor Chad's blog.

     This week's post introduces the concepts of Family on Mission and Four Fields.

     If you are a disciple-maker, or you want to learn more about what it means, or you simply want to continue to receive this information, I encourage you to subscribe to the blog.  Simply go to the home page, scroll to the bottom and enter your name, email and click "subscribe."  (The blog posts will be available in English and in Spanish).

Reproducible Disciple-Making

Chad, Chris, Maki, Philippines 2018 from Calvary Baptist Church on Vimeo.

          Chad, Chris and Maki share the vision of reproducible disciple-making based on John 15 and on 2 Timothy 2:2.  Their recent experience in the Philippines is an example of how this can be simply implemented in a short-period of time.

          Our ABFs and other disciple-making groups should own this vision of making disciples to the fourth generation and of reproducing themselves as groups to the fourth generation.  What needs to happen in your group for this to be a reality?

Sabbatical by Numbers

          Please click here to read this post on my Pastor Julio's Plug Blog.

Thanks!

Mark Texts for this Summer (2018)

          This summer we will continue with our Kairos series on the Gospel of Mark.  Below are the dates and the texts that ABFs and other disciple-making groups will be exploring this summer.  (Remember that we are preaching these texts the week after the groups explore them in order to give groups the opportunity of discovery).

          We trust that you are continuing to use the three-thirds method as we believe this is an optimal method for making disciples within your group and which helps to train group members to reproduce it as they make disciple-makers beyond your group.  As we move forward toward our 2020 vision it will be critical for all our groups and leaders to be proficient in the use of the three-thirds methodology.

          If you have questions, doubts, need assistance please do not hesitate to contact me or Pastor Paulo or Pastor Chad or Pastor Rolando in regard to adult groups, to Pastor Marcus in regard to students, Pastor Susan in regard to children groups and Pastor Benjamin in regard to Spanish groups.  We are here to encourage you, equip you, and serve you!

Resurrection!

           
           Jesus is risen from the dead!  What a powerful message!  This incredible event sets the gospel apart from other religions.  The resurrection of Jesus is a historical event.  Yet it is a relevant truth for us today.

           This Sunday we will celebrate this earthshaking event as we gather together.  We will worship a living Savior who is at work in our world today.  We will be reminded of his power to change lives and our call to share His message with those who do not know it yet.

           As you gather with your group this Sunday take time to thank God for this.  Remember that you and your group will be exploring Mark 9:1-13 which is the account of the Transfiguration.  The following Sunday (April 8) you and your group will explore Mark 9:14-29 where Jesus delivers a boy who is possessed with an evil spirit.  I hope that you are getting the benefit of using the three thirds method with your group and that it is now second nature to you.

          Should you have any questions about the three thirds method and how to continue to use it, please do not hesitate to contact me, or Pastor Paulo or Pastor Chad.  We are here to encourage you and support you as you make disciplemakers.

2020 Vision

          After seven years of prayer, study, discussion, reflection and training, we feel it is time to have a clearer vision for our church's future.  Last year we celebrated 60 years of legacy.  This year we build on that legacy and we prayerfully join God's future for Calvary.

      This Sunday at our Church in Conference we will briefly share what we understand that vision to be initially.  We hope you will join us in praying for greater clarity and in figuring out the vision path.  We want to make disciple-makers for the glory of God among the nations.  We feel the best way to do this is through multiplying disciple-making groups.  You're already a part of this initial process!  We count on you to join us for the rest of the journey.

     This Sunday your group will have the opportunity to discover what God is saying in Mark 8:27-30 (Peter's Confession).  I hope your group participants will set some meaningful application goals that will result in disciple-making.

         As we continue in our 40 Days of Prayer remember to pray this week for Reconciliation among the peoples and for the Middle East.

        Click here to see the document we will share with the Church in Conference on Sunday.  Click here to see the bibliography of what has fueled our conversations on the pastoral staff level.

Preview of the following week:

     Please notice what we will be studying and praying for the weekend of March 25 (Palm Sunday):

1. Text: Mark 8:31-38 (Life and Death)
2. 40 Days of Prayer emphasis beyond Luke 10:2: The Hope of Christ's Visitation and The Peace of Jerusalem

Halfway through 40 Days of Prayer

          We are halfway through our 40 days of prayer.  I hope you are beginning to sense a greater concern for those who are far away from God and that you are growing in expectation for what God is going to do in the days ahead.

          Remember that this week (March 4-10) we are praying for the Transformation of entire communities.  (Remember that God works in unexpected places!).  We are also praying for the continent of Africa.  Of course, the primary focus of our prayer is Luke 10:2.  May God raise up a multitude of workers for His harvest!

          Also remember that this weekend you are exploring Mark 8:1-21 with your group.  (We are thankful to be back in our usual spaces on Sunday morning).

         I hope last weekend's visit by Ying and Grace Kai was an encouragement to you and your group as we continue to make disciple-makers.

          For those who are able to take off a couple of days from work, please note that we are holding a 4-Fields Intensive training at the end of this month.  Click here to see the Facebook event.

Preview of the following week:

     Please notice what we will be studying and praying for the weekend of March 11:

1. Text: Mark 8:22-25 (The Blind Man at Bethsaida)
2. 40 Days of Prayer emphasis beyond Luke 10:2: Evangelization of Every People (every people group) and Europe and Central Asia

T4T

T4T: A Discipleship ReRevolution link to order from Amazon

          This will be an unusual weekend for our Calvary family for several reasons:

1. Our students are having "One Weekend" which is an intense time of worship, fellowship and discipleship.  We do this in conjunction with a handful of other local churches.  One hundred of our students will join several other hundred students.  Please pray for them to answer God's call to be disciple-makers.
2. Our ABFs and CBFs will not be meeting on campus this Sunday morning due to major repairs to our Children's Building chiller plant.  We will still have SBFs, Worship Services and Preschool care and teaching.  Click here for more information.  Help us communicate it to your respective group.
3. We will have Ying Kai, co-author of the book pictured above: T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution among us this Sunday.  Although he will share a brief word with the congregation on Sunday morning, you, as an ABF leader and disciple-maker have a personal invitation to attend a meet and greet session on Sunday night.  Read about it here.  I hope to see you there!

         As we continue in our 40 days of prayer, we continue to pray at 10:02 AM and 10:02 PM according to Luke 10:2.  This next week we will also be praying for the Lost and the Broken, those who are far away from God and those who are hurting.  We are praying for God's redemptive power to be at work.  We will also be praying for Asia and the Pacific.

        Although ABFs and CBFs are not meeting on campus Sunday morning, you may want to consider meeting with your ABF off-campus at a time other than Sunday morning.  If you do, you may explore together Mark 7:31-37 as look at a "Social Controversy."  Another idea to consider if your ABF does not meet this weekend, is to share the passage with your group members via email, or Facebook or text, and have them do the three-thirds method with their family or with a group of friends or a group in their relational network (oikos).  This is a good opportunity to test the training you have given them.

     See you Sunday!  God is doing great things among us!  Don't miss it!  (See next week's preview below).

Preview of the following week:

     Please notice what we will be studying and praying for the weekend of March 4:

1. Text: Mark 8:1-21 (Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand)
2. 40 Days of Prayer emphasis beyond Luke 10:2: Transformation of our Communities and the continent of Africa

Controversy

     We have started our 40 days of prayer as we ask according to Luke 10:2 "He said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (NIV).

     We are praying at 10:02 AM and 10:02 PM for God to raise an army of workers for his harvest field.  We are expecting God to answer, mobilize his people, and see hundreds of people come to Christ.

     In addition to praying for workers, this week we are also praying for revival among God's people and for the Americas this week.

     As we continue in our Mark series, our current mini-series is called "Controversy."  This week your group can explore and discuss together the "Racial Controversy" in Mark 7:24-30.  Use the Three Thirds method to lead your group in this discussion this weekend.

Preview of the Following Week

     Please notice the following three items as we preview what is coming up on Sunday, February 25th:

1. A special visit with Ying Kai.  Click here for invitation.
2. The study in your group of Mark 7:31-37
3. Praying for the lost and the broken and for the Asia and the Pacific

Back to Kairos!

Food for the Hungry - Overview-HD from Calvary Baptist Church on Vimeo.

      This week we hold our "Making Disciple Makers to the Fourth Generation" Conference.  I encourage you to come to the workshop on Saturday at 9:00 AM.  Come and bring group members to learn more about making disciple-makers.  Sunday will be very special also both morning and evening.  See more info on our website on our Facebook Page or at the bottom of this blog post.

     As we have explored giving for the last several weeks, we have an opportunity to apply it at CBC in a couple of ways (investing in the next generation).

     First, we encourage every member to financially support the CBC budget on an on-going and regular basis in order to support the missions and ministries that God has entrusted us with.

     Secondly, we invite everyone to pray about giving above and beyond the tithe to at least one special cause:

     1.  Student Building Remodeling.  Last week we talked about our upcoming student building remodeling project.  See last week's post about this here.  The opportunity to pledge for this will be given in the next couple of months.

     2.  Sponsor a Child.  This week we offer the opportunity to consider sponsoring a child through Food for the Hungry.  Watch the video above and consider what God may be leading you to do.  There will be 25 cards of children after the Sunday services this month beginning this Sunday.

     Consider in prayer participating financially in at least one of the two opportunities above. 

     Beginning February 18 we will resume the Kairos mega-series on the Gospel of Mark in our worship services.  In preparation for that, your group can explore Mark 7:1-23 this weekend.

     Lastly, we are launching 40 days of Prayer next (Ash) Wednesday, February 14.  As we count down the days to Palm Sunday, we will pray for God to send "workers for the harvest."  We will ask everyone to set the phone alarms for 10:02 AM and 10:02 PM in order to pause and pray based on Luke 10:2.  Encourage your group members to do so.  Our hashtag is #1002.

What if God Showed Up?

Calvary Student Remodel Project from Calvary Baptist Church on Vimeo.

     This week's video features our student ministry and the remodeling project that is under development.

     Fifteen years ago a process was put in place to build a Children's Building.  The construction project was completed in 2006.  With God's help we paid off the note by 2012, only six years later, allowing us to burn the note in less than half of its maturity (15 years)!  To God be the glory!

     When plans for the Children's Building were developed the intention was to build a Student Ministry Building later.  Five years ago our student ministry moved into our Family Life Center as a temporary measure.  It is due time that we provide them a space that facilitates their learning, worship and fellowship as disciple-makers.

     However, we calculate that to follow through with the construction "master plan" which makes the Student Building adjacent to the Children's Building in a horseshoe shape would cost us approximately $5 million.  We feel like, given our current focus on missions, disciple-multiplication and future church planting, that it would be better stewardship to remodel and update their current space at a possible cost of $500,000.  (Perhaps in the future we construct a new building but for now we feel this is the right thing for the students and for the mission of the church).

     At this time we are asking you, group members and the congregation for prayer support in the process and for your possible future financial contribution toward the project investing in the future of our church and the Kingdom.

     This week we are inviting you to explore Matthew 9:35-38 and Luke 10:2 with your group.  What if God showed up?  What if God answered our prayer according to these two texts?  What if we prayed believing that God would show up?

    We are launching 40 days of prayer on (Ash) Wednesday, February 14 through Palm Sunday, March 25.  We want to pray for the harvest (new disciples), for workers (those of us going to share with them, baptize them and disciple them), and for God's provision for our church in all senses.

     We are calling it 10:02 and using the hashtag #1002 to referring to Luke 10:2 and encouraging everyone to set their phone alarms to 10:02 AM and 10:02 PM to pause and pray.  Pray 10:02!

     As you talk about application with your group, keep this in front of them please.  Ask group members:

• Will you commit to praying for 40 days at 10:02 AM and 10:02 PM according to Luke 10:2?
• Will you commit to praying for the Student Ministry Remodeling project and your personal financial contribution?

Investing in the Future

CP Beach Reach 2016 from Texas Baptists on Vimeo.

     Calvary Baptist Church supports missions in primarily two approaches.  One approach is what we call direct CBC missions, which are CBC-specific initiatives in which we lead, support and participate.  The other approach is Cooperative Missions.  Cooperative Missions joins with thousands of other churches to support mission initiatives that are coordinated by our denomination at the RGV, Texas, North America and International levels.  It is doing together with others what we could never do alone.  This week CBC is recognized as one of the top giving churches through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program.  The video above tells about one of the many ministries we support through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program. (If you’d like to watch other stories of what our offerings through the Texas Baptists CP support, you can go here and scroll down to the video thumbnails: http://texasbaptists.org/ministries/other-ministries/office-of-cooperative-program-ministry/resources)

     This week's text for discussion in your group is Luke 12:13-21.  (I hope you have received the session outline cards by now).  We are calling the session and message "Investing in the Future."  As you move toward the application and goals for the session, share with the group that investing in the future through Calvary includes our regular financial support of the CBC budget, as well as additional opportunities.

      As the year 2018 has begun we are thankful for everyone in our congregation who is committed to our regular and generous giving through the CBC budget, which supports local and global ministries.  We pray that those who are not doing so will consider discovering the joy of investing in the future by regular giving through the CBC budget.

      Beyond our regular support of the church budget, which we call the tithe and which is continuous, we will ask individuals and families to consider special above-and-beyond sacrificial giving toward two causes, which are short-term:

1. A capital campaign to remodel the Student Ministry area (more information about this forthcoming); and/or
2. Sponsoring a child through Food for the Hungry in the Philippines (FVR, Bulacán)

     While we believe that systematic, proportionate and continuous support of God's work through the church is expected of every believer (Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23), we understand that above-and-beyond giving is a free-will offering, for a short-term, where each person needs to be led by God as to where and how much to give (Exodus 35:29; Psalm 54:6; 2 Corinthians 9:7).  The former simply requires faithful obedience.  The second requires prayerful discernment.

     It all begins with commitment based on biblical truth.  Obedient faith then results in blessings for God's work and blessing to the giver.  Encourage your group in this.  Yours and their investment will go a long way.  Let us invest in the future for His sake!

Giving as We Have Received

Student Testimonies from Calvary Baptist Church on Vimeo.

     As we explore this week's topic of "Giving as We Have Received," I am sharing with you this video of CBC student testimonies.  We are thankful for adults who are investing in the students' lives to make them disciple-makers.  We are excited about students who are giving of themselves as they have received, being disciple-makers and living on mission.  I hope this encourages you as you lead your group to be disciple-makers.

     This week's Bible texts to explore in your group are the following:

• Matthew 10:8
• Matthew 23:23
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
• 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

The idea is to explore New Testament principles for giving.

     Instead of a blank outline, we are now making available business-card size outlines.  You should receive a hard copy of it tomorrow.  If you don't, please ask Pastors Paulo or Chad for some.  They look like this:

     The "Look Back, Look Up, Look Ahead" side gives you an overview of the session.  The "Head, Heart, and Hands" gives you guidance as to the "Look Up" portion.  You can keep this card in your wallet, purse, pocket or Bible.  You can also give them to those you are training.

Owning the Mission

2414 movement from Calvary Baptist Church on Vimeo.

     As we continue the series "Owning our Moment," we explore God's mission and our role as families along with the investment of our capital.

    This week we are again providing a blank outline with the passage to study for you to fill in.  We want you to build the confidence of leading a three-thirds session and training others how to do so as well.

     Below you can see the blank outline with this week's text in JPEG format or you can download and edit it here in Word format.

Hello 2018!

Children Testimonies from Calvary Baptist Church on Vimeo.

     As we begin the New Year, we are thankful for the progress toward disciple-making.  As you can see in this week's video above, Calvary children also participate in disciple-making.

     During our Sunday messages from the pulpit and our Bible Fellowship discussions we are focusing on "Owning our Moment."  We are grateful for the 60 years of history we celebrated in 2017.  And we are ready to write a new chapter in the history of this great church.  This is a chapter for the next generation.  Whether we are adults, students or children, we get to own this moment and make the best of it.

     The passages we are examining in the next several weeks are as follows (you can refresh your memory about our new series here):

ABF Date    Pulpit Date     Bible Texts

12-17-17       01-07-18         John 10:10; Mark 10:17-26

01-07-18       01-14-18         Matthew 6:33; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42-47

01-14-18       01-21-18         Luke 16:1-13

01-21-18       01-28-18         Matthew 10:8; 23:23; 2 Cor. 9:6-11
                                             2 Corinthians 16:1-2

01-28-18      02-04-18          Luke 12:13-21

02-04-18      02-11-18          Matthew 9:35-38

   
     In December we left blank one of the three thirds for you to write your own.  This week, we are leaving blank the entire outline for you to fill in.  Since there are three different texts this week, you may do one of two possibilities.  You may either do head, heart and hands with each of the three short texts or you may read all three texts and do head, heart and hands with all three texts combined.

    You can view the blank outline below in JPEG format or you can download it in PDF format by clicking here.

Merry Christmas!

    I pray that the joy and peace that Jesus came to bring lives in your heart and home this season.

    Our Bible Fellowships are not meeting on campus for the next two Sundays (12-24 and 12-31).  Continue to pray for your Bible Fellowship during these two weeks.  Attend one of our candlelight services this Sunday.  Visit our webpage to view our holiday schedule for 12-24 and 12-31.

     Please also pray for the next series of messages and studies which I shared with you in last week's post.

     Lastly, I share with you one of the many ministries our church supports through our Cooperative Program giving through Texas Baptists.  See the photo below and click here to read more about it.

Writing the Third Third

     This week we skip the video as we transition to a new series of studies and as we change gears for the holidays.  Please take time to read about the new series here.

     This week's study anticipates the sermon that I will preach on January 7, God willing.  In following up with our previous two blog posts, this week we have left the third portion blank so you can write the "Looking Forward" portion of the outline.

     Since the study deals with what it means to find abundant life as we surrender all we have to Jesus, consider writing the goal portion in a way that invites participants to take inventory of their material possessions.  As they think of a new start in 2018 perhaps they can consider surrendering all their resources to God.

     Remember Bible Fellowships will not meet on 12-24-17 or 12-31-17.

     Below you can view this week's session outline in JPEG format or you can download it in PDF format here.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND

A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR GROUP

"Owning Our Moment" Series

     Starting with the first Sunday of January we will put our Mark series on pause.  From January 7 to February 11 we will be preaching a series called "Owning Our Moment." As a follow up to our 60th anniversary celebration, where we affirmed the generous investment of those who came before us, we want to now own our moment.  We want to receive the baton, running our leg of the race.  We want to own the gospel, own the mission and manage the resources with which God has entrusted us.  Below is the plan for the series.  Notice the dates.  (ABFs begin series on 12-17-17).

    On 2-11-18 our Guest Speaker will preach a message titled "What if God Showed up?" based on Matthew 9:35-38.

     During this series we will explore how as disciple-makers and as extended families on mission we invest our time, energy and money in kingdom ways as part of our fruitfulness.  We will invite every participant in our ABFs, disciple-making groups and worship services to make commitments in regard to the investment of their resources for the kingdom.  We will explore the idea of the "Five Capitals" as presented in the small paperback book Oikonomics: How to Invest In Life's Five Capitals the Way Jesus Did (2014) by Mike Breen and Ben Sternke; although this is not a book study nor is this the only resource that will be referenced.

     As the year 2018 begins we will invite everyone in our congregation to consider their regular and generous giving through the CBC budget which supports local and global ministries.  Beyond our regular support of the church budget, which we call the tithe and which is continuous, we will ask individuals and families to consider special above-and-beyond sacrificial giving toward two causes, which are short-term:

1. A capital campaign to remodel the Student Ministry area; and/or
2. Sponsoring a child through Food for the Hungry in the Philippines (FVR, Bulacán)

While we believe that systematic, proportionate and continuous support of God's work through the church is expected of every believer (Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23), we understand that above-and-beyond giving is a free-will offering, for a short-term, where each person needs to be led by God as to where and how much to give (Exodus 35:29; Psalm 54:6; 2 Corinthians 9:7).  The former simply requires faithful obedience.  The second requires prayerful discernment.

     Please pray for yourself, your family and your group that we may all discover the grace, the joy and the blessing of generous giving and that God's mission advances as we invest of ourselves in it.