Netcast turns 1 this weekend. I want to personally thank you for your partnership with us this year. Whether you partnered financially, prayerfully or just visited one of our events; it was amazing to have you be a part of our first year.
In 2012, we are expecting ever greater things. We are moving to a new building with a ton of seats and parking. Also, we have greatly enhanced our Kids Church so that our children get to sing and learn in a more strategic and fun way. Also, we are expanding our community groups with the addition of a group in Marblehead and a few more additions in 2012.
We'd love for you to join us as we celebrate our next endeavor on February 5th. Watch this 2 minute video to learn more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xdRare0OiI
Lastly, on February 4th we will have a pre Re:Launch gathering in the new building. We would love for you to join us if you are in town. We are making it mandatory for all Netcast Volunteers but we are encouraging everyone to join us. Details are at http://chewningjourney.blogspot.com/2012/01/huge-announcement-for-our-move-feb-4th.html
Thanks again for your love and support in 2011.
Matt
matt@netcastchurch.org
HUGE Announcement for our MOVE. (Feb 4th)
Netcast...
This weekend we celebrate being exactly 1 year old. Happy Birthday. I am still in awe of all that Christ has done in only 12 months.
Saturday February 4th, the day before our Re:Launch in Briscoe Middle School, we are inviting everyone out to visit the new space. Obviously, we cannot make this a mandatory gathering since we can't force anyone to do anything. However, we want to strongly urge everyone to join us. If you are serving at Netcast in any capacity, it is vital that you are here for this.
This will be a time for us to see the new space, learn our new responsibilities, dream and pray together. There will be some minor work for all of us to contribute to as we do our best to get the space ready for our launch on the 5th.
Below are the specific times for you to arrive if you are on a Ministry Team.
Set-up and Tear-down:
Arrive at 10:00am. At this time you will be trained on all the different setup components at the new location. All setup should be done within 1 – 1 ½ hours.
Children's Ministry:
Arrive at 11:30am. This will be your time to look at the new childrens space (which is going to be awesome.) You will also get acclimated to the new processes and our new Netcast Kids Service.
Worship an AV Team:
Arrive at 11:30am. At this time we will do a basic sound check, pray together and get a feel for the new acoustics and sound. Wrehave huge plans for this ministry in 2012.
Welcome Team:
Arrive at 11:30am. You will need to see where the new lobby area is, the process for first time guests, the new gifts we have for visitors, refreshments, etc. This ministry is probably the most vital team as we move. People make a decision about coming back before they ever hear the music or sermon. You are our first impression and vital to the growth and retention to the church.
Everyone else:
We would encourage everyone else to come out and join us at 12:30pm for lunch and a quick devotional. After lunch we may spend an hour together just wiping down chairs with some cleaner, organizing the storage space and some other minor cleanup.
Childcare will be provided. Please email me and let me know that you will be bring your children so that we have enough childcare workers.
Watch and Join the Movement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xdRare0OiI
Address: 7 Sohier Rd. Beverly, MA 01915
Pastor Matt
matt@netcastchurch.org
This weekend we celebrate being exactly 1 year old. Happy Birthday. I am still in awe of all that Christ has done in only 12 months.
Saturday February 4th, the day before our Re:Launch in Briscoe Middle School, we are inviting everyone out to visit the new space. Obviously, we cannot make this a mandatory gathering since we can't force anyone to do anything. However, we want to strongly urge everyone to join us. If you are serving at Netcast in any capacity, it is vital that you are here for this.
This will be a time for us to see the new space, learn our new responsibilities, dream and pray together. There will be some minor work for all of us to contribute to as we do our best to get the space ready for our launch on the 5th.
Below are the specific times for you to arrive if you are on a Ministry Team.
Set-up and Tear-down:
Arrive at 10:00am. At this time you will be trained on all the different setup components at the new location. All setup should be done within 1 – 1 ½ hours.
Children's Ministry:
Arrive at 11:30am. This will be your time to look at the new childrens space (which is going to be awesome.) You will also get acclimated to the new processes and our new Netcast Kids Service.
Worship an AV Team:
Arrive at 11:30am. At this time we will do a basic sound check, pray together and get a feel for the new acoustics and sound. Wrehave huge plans for this ministry in 2012.
Welcome Team:
Arrive at 11:30am. You will need to see where the new lobby area is, the process for first time guests, the new gifts we have for visitors, refreshments, etc. This ministry is probably the most vital team as we move. People make a decision about coming back before they ever hear the music or sermon. You are our first impression and vital to the growth and retention to the church.
Everyone else:
We would encourage everyone else to come out and join us at 12:30pm for lunch and a quick devotional. After lunch we may spend an hour together just wiping down chairs with some cleaner, organizing the storage space and some other minor cleanup.
Childcare will be provided. Please email me and let me know that you will be bring your children so that we have enough childcare workers.
Watch and Join the Movement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xdRare0OiI
Address: 7 Sohier Rd. Beverly, MA 01915
Pastor Matt
matt@netcastchurch.org
Taking the Kingdom by storm.
There is no question about it that the Kingdom of God has been under attack from the day it began. Nations have tried to outlaw it, churches have misrepresented it, science has tried to disprove it and persecution has tried to scare it. Yet, the Kingdom of God continues to this day. In Matthew 11, Jesus says that the violent men and women are the ones who take the Kingdom and advance it. He doesn't say that the gentle in Spirit take it, he doesn't say the the smart people take it, he doesn't say the great debaters of our day will take it. He specifically says the "violent" take it by force. Then in a previous chapter, Jesus tells us that as we take the kingdom, to be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove. That is confusing because those are two opposite characteristics.
Nonetheless, we are called to be wise, innocent, violent and forceful as we live our lives as ferocious men who God has entrusted with the responsibility of advancing his Kingdom.
It's not the size that matters; its how you use it.
Matthew 4:23-25
23 (AK)And he went throughout all Galilee, (AL)teaching in their synagogues and (AM)proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and (AN)healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all (AO)Syria, and (AP)they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and (AQ)pains, (AR)those oppressed by demons,(AS)epileptics, and (AT)paralytics, and he healed them. 25 (AU)And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the (AV)Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.Everywhere I turn there is a blogger, pastor or critic who feels the need to bash churches that are large or growing faster than usual. Typically pride is somewhere at the root of the matter, but more than that it seems there is a movement arguing that fast growing churches or large churches are somehow a sell-out, shallow or so seeker sensitive that the gospel is not central. To be honest, there was a point in time where I began to consider if these accusations were true.
Something that is very interesting is the size and speed of which Jesus' ministry took off. From the scriptures, it seems that almost within days, Jesus was probably ministering to thousands of people. Everywhere he went, great crowds followed him. It seems that he was a man who was highly liked, wildly gifted, deeply respected and incredibly controversial. This caused a huge stir among the people in the community; both ordinary people as well as the political and religious leaders of that day.
So, is that bad? Is it wrong to have a large following? Is it wrong to be likes, gifted, respected or maybe controversial? To take it ever further; Is it wrong to "desire" a large following? I don't think so. In my humble opinion; it doesn't seem that Jesus was too concerned with how large or small his following was, as much as he was concerned with what he did with his followers. Jesus had a great following, yet that following never moved him away from viciously calling people to repentance, obedience and mission.
The same is true today. There is nothing wrong with wanting to maximize your influence or grow a large church or have a great following. As long as we commit to keeping the gospel central, the mission clear, and bringing glory to the Son of the Living God; having a large influence is a beautiful gift from the Father. If He grants you great influence, find joy in that; and if He doesn't, praise His beautiful name. At the end of the day, it's not the size of our influence that matters; its how we use it.
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