Life's Journey

Great Nite at the 20Thirties B&B...See Photo Gallery

Thanks Everyone for coming out to the BBQ and Bonfire at our home. We had such a great time. Can't wait to do it again soon. Enjoy the pix that Daniel Stratton was so awesome to take. See you this weekend. Man I love doing life at JourneyChurch.org!!!!

20 Thirties - 1 Peter now on the way...

Thank you to everyone that was able to make it Wednesday night. What an amazing start in 1 Peter with nearly 50 adults in the cafe'. There were several new couples and individuals trying it out for the first time. We are so glad that came out and participated. Please remember this weekend to recruit those at Journey who are not currently attending! We want everyone to get fired up about God's Word and the life taking place at 20Thirties.

Well, we got through two verses in chapter 1...lol. We will try and make more progress this week. There is so much in the first two verses alone including, the Sovereignty of God, God's Election for both Israel (Det. 7), Christians today, the Church under persecution, and much more. I would encourage you to read through verse 12 for this coming week's talk. There were so many prayer requests toward the end that we prayed for. Be sure to remember those throughout the week if possible.

I would love to hear some feed back or questions from the discussions here on the Comment Wall. I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Don't forget to get daily updates for 20Thirties at http://twitter.com/20Thirties

20 Thirties Final Meeting until Jan 09'

 

This week's meeting is a bitter sweet. Sweet in the fact that we have met some many new friends at Journey and watched God grow relationships in families. Bitter because this will be our last official meeting until January 09'. Remember that there will be many opportunities to stay connected over the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. Check the Journey Calendar for updates. Be sure to bring some food and others with you Wednesday nite as we celebrate what God has done in some many lives this semester! Thank you for making God's Word and 20 Thirties a priority in your life.

20 Thirties Last Wednesday Oct 22nd Update

  What an amazing discussion we had last Wednesday night! I cannot believe the caliber of people the Lord has brought to this fantastic group. Renee' and I leave so pumped up about each of you every week and look forward to the next gathering. This week we almost finished Chapter 2. It's funny how you touch on one thing in the Word and God begins to move us in many directions and many topics.

This week, we will finish Chapter 2 and begin Chapter 3. Take a few moments to look over the first 10 verses. Make sure to post any comments or testimonies this morning so they can be included in the newsletter. This will encourage others in the 20 Thirties to keep up the good work. We look forward to seeing you Wednesday night! God bless.  

Last Nights 20 Thirties!!!!!

   Renee' and I stand in awe of what God is doing in this small (huge) group!!!!! Last nights attendance was outstanding with 47 adults and 23 kids at the 20 Thirties. It is always your hope that a group will get larger as the semester continues and you have made it happen by the power of God at work in your life. I am so thankful that each of you that are attending continue to invite others to come be a part of this amazing time in God's Word. Keep up the good work. We finished last night around verse 10 in chapter 2 and will begin next week in verse 11. Get ready to see God bring in more people this week as I am believing for the word to continue to spread! Thanks for all you do.

20 Thirties - September 24th

The second week of 20 Thirties was amazing as 30 young adults got started in Galatians Chapter 1. If you missed this week....have no fear. Join us this coming Wednesday night and get caught up. Renee and I encourage you to be as consistent as possible due to the semester only being a total of 8 weeks.

Below is the introduction to Galatians 1 and how it is broken into sections.

Introduction:

   1. Paul's main topic is the proving of his apostleship.

        I. A solemn declaration that he was not picked or

           commissioned by man; a general salutation, 1:1-5.

       II. Astonishment that the Galatians had so soon forsaken his

           instructions; curses on the false teachers, 1:6-10.

      III. To show again he was not appointed by men, he had received

           his instruction directly from God. 1:11-24.

   2. SALUTATION TO THE CHURCHES OF 
GALATIA
:

       a. Paul does not commend these churches.

       b. In every other letter he begins with a salutation coupled

          with a commendation, but here Paul plunges into the

          question at hand.

Here was the scriptures for this week. We began in Galatians Chapter 1:1-10

Galatians 1

1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2and all the brothers with me,
      To the churches in Galatia:

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Post your comments and what God is speaking to you in these set of scriptures. Jump ahead to next week's material on Galatians 1:11-24. We can't wait until next week!

Last Wednesday 2-27-08 at 20 Thirties

What an amazing week at our 20 Thirties Group! There were many discussions regarding the Grace of God. Here is what John MacArthur writes about God's Grace. "The only gospel of God is the Gospel of Grace, which is the gospel of divine redemption totally  apart from any work or merit of man. We live in grace from the moment of Salvation, and if grace ever stopped, we would lose our undeserved salvation and perish in sin..."

What a powerful statement he makes regarding the beginning of Chapter 2. I believe if we understand how God's Grace really works, our salvation is even more special than we realize. Most, if not all of the Apostle Paul's writings are about making sure people understand that Grace is only a Gift from God. There is absolutely nothing we can do to receive this Grace or work for it. It is totally apart from man's doing. There is nothing good in our sinful nature that would want anything to do with God prior to Salvation and the Wooing by the Holy Spirit. If we stand as men and women of faith and say we had something to do with God's Saving Grace, then we are taking away from God's glory in Salvation. Many people in the Christian faith today have gotten away from these scriptures and their true context. Most believe that God has a hand out to everyone and we just reach out to God. If that is the case, why do some resist the Holy Spirit and others come to Him. Is one smarter than the other, more educated, gone through harder times, live in a Christian Home? No, that's not the case at all. It's God's Saving grace that made the difference. He chooses to show some Common Grace and to others both command and Saving Grace.

Remember that God's Common Grace is shown to everyone and is evident throughout scripture. Food to Eat, A Place to Live, A Smile, Goodness toward others, family, and friends etc....

God's Saving Grace is toward those whom were predestined to be His prior to the foundations of the Universe ever being laid. It's only by God's Saving Grace we are kept from Hell and Total separation from God. That is all a part if His Sovereign plan for those who will inhertiate that kingdom.

This week we looked at Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 5-10. I would love to hear from you on a scripture or two of what you heard this past week and how it applies to your life. I challenge you to take a moment and comment on what theses scriptures mean to you. We will once again be at Tony and Yvette Davis House in Fleming Island. Please call Renee' if you need directions. Pastor Walter Hill will be with us from Billings, Montana. You will want to bring someone with you this week!!!!! It will be great. Here is a link to Walt's church for sermon downloads. Hear him before Wednesday night. He is an amazing Preacher. www.heightsfamily.com

Here ya go.... Make your comments now my friends!!!!

5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Last Wednesday 2-20-08 Topics

Well, We got through two verses last week beginning in Ephesians Chapter 2:1-2. LOL ! We will need to do a little better with moving forward this week. We had several people express their life prior to conversion or regeneration. Those testimonies were great guys!!!!!! Let's keep them coming. The focus of this chapter is on God's Grace toward us. Here is the text....

Ephesians 2 (New King James Version)

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Underlined were the key phrases we discussed. Verse 1 says ...We were made Alive and we were dead in our trespasses and sins. We decided as a group that dead men can't walk, talk, and /or make decisions for themselves etc. Paul says we were Spiritually dead before regeneration in Christ. If that is the case, I find it difficult to believe that there was anything good in us that made us cry out to God in our humanity. It is only by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit on a dead life that can cause true life. That makes Salvation something only God can receive glory for. Man can take no part in it. That is God's Saving Grace made manifest in our lives.

We have discussed for weeks now that God is a Holy, Jealous, Loving, and Patient God that will receive Glory in what He does. With this type of understanding regarding Salvation, God receives the Glory for it. It is by His Spirit He brings us His Grace. It also makes our Salvation super special knowing He chose us to spend eternity with Him. What a great God we serve!!!!!!!!!

Please post a few comments on the blog. Here is One from Jeremy Waugh from earlier this week regarding last week's topic. I thought it was great and worth taking a few moments to really soak in what he is saying...

Hey everyone! Just wanted to touch on our discussion on the 20th because I feel so strongly in this area of what we are reading and it is in my personal testimony as well (as I am sure with all of you too). Seeing how we only touched on verses 1&2 of Ch.2, I think it so vital that we key on the first 5 words of verse 1; "And you He made alive". I think if we look forward to verse 5 where it says, "(by grace you have been saved)", we could dwell on the question of "How does a person make it to heaven?". If in fact we are so dead spiritually according to verses 1-3, that leaves us with the understanding that not through us nor our works but by grace and through our "conduit" of faith, we are saved. I feel a sufficient answer to the question above would be, by the virtue of another through Jesus Christ by GOD'S SOVEREIGN GRACE!! How glorious to know that He loves us so much that He has supernaturally moved in our hearts in order to reconcile a depraved human race to Him! Not only has He saved us, reconciled us, made us alive, but He has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"! Amen! Doesn't that make you feel great to know just how awesome our Lord is! God Bless all of you guys, I love you all and enjoy every minute we share in the fellowship of our Father together!

Posted by: Jeremy Waugh | February 22, 2008 at 03:33 PM

Wednesday Feb 13th 20 Thirties Group Discussion

Well, It took us a while but we are finally finished with Chapter 1 of Ephesians. We are taking our time obviously because it took three weeks. I say you can't rush God and what He's teaching us. It's been great. This past Wednesday night was centered around Prayer for the Saints of God. The Apostle Paul did an amazing amount of praying. He busts into thanksgiving toward the end of Chapter 1 of Ephesians. After reading and discussing the Word of God, we broke into smaller groups of 4 and each of us shared a prayer request. We then wrote them down and have been praying for them all this week. I am believing God for some miracles to take place. The meeting this Wednesday is at my place February 20th at 6:45PM. Renee' will be sending directions tomorrow. Enough said...here is the scripture and breakdown. See you Wednesday!

We started in Ephesians 1:19-23 

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

V(19) - The Greatness of His Power - The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the Dead lives in you and me if you have been born again.

V(20) Principalities and Power and might and dominion - These are terms used frequently in Jewish writings to designate the various ranks of angelic powers. So Paul describes Jesus as above all other principalities or spiritual beings. This is important for us to remember as believers. Jesus Christ now lives in us and we shall not fear anything in this life.We find that again in 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

On Wednesday we also read from Colossians 1:9-12  9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Pastor Bryan

20 Thirties... Ephesians 1:15-23

I cannot believe Wednesday is here already! I apologize for the delay in this post. It was a very busy weekend with the Family Matters Conference. That was worth every hour planned and worked. I pray some of you really experienced something new in your marriage or soon to be....

Our topic last week started in Ephesians 1:15-19

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding^[c] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power to God for the Saints in this region of Asia.

The Apostle Paul switches gears and busts into thanksgiving (V15). We discussed that it is important to thank God in our prayers for the things He has and will accomplish in our lives. In (V16) Paul expresses with conviction never to cease to give thanks. The song" Let us Pray" by Stephen Curtis Chapman was then discussed. Paul prays that God would give to us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him and that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened(V17 - 18). We discussed how the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation is only possible for a redeemed sactified mind. That is why the person who has yet to be regenerated finds the Word of God difficult to understand. That is only revealed to the non-believer by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Also in verse 18, Paul uses the word enlightened, which means illuminated or given light. The Holy Spirit is the only One who can continually light our life and give us understanding of God's Word in our life. He also enlightens us to the important calling that each of us have in Him. It says in the end of V18...that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. You are a Kindom Kid, born again and sactified for God's perfect plan.

We will continue where we left off and finish Chapter 1 tonight by looking at Prayer for the saints of God. Be prepared to discuss

Eph 1:20-23 NKJV 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

And....Colossians 1:9-12 NKJV

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.