mikesantistevan.com

If your game for some sweet football action meet us at the church (424 Duss Ave. Ambridge) this Saturday, Nov. 22 at 12:30. We’ll play from 1-3.

(All credit to MJohnson Media for the video!)

Place your answer over on the new sidebar poll on this blog.

A good portion of the message this week focused on the importance of worship when facing battles in life. Just before facing the stronghold city of Jericho, Joshua encounters a divine messenger who reveals himself as the “commander of the army of the Lord.” Here are a few thoughts about worship from the story:

1. When you are facing a fierce battle in life the best thing you can do is worship God- Josh. 5:14b. This is true whether it is a spiritual battle, depression, financial chaos, or addiction. In fact, the times we least feel like worshipping God are the times we need to the most.

2. Worship is not about getting God on our side, it is about getting on God’s side- Josh. 5:13-14a,c. When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” We tend to pursue God more ardently when we’re in some kind of jam or to get God to do things for us. Joshua said, “What does my lord say to his servant.” Instead of asking God to serve him, he asks how he can be of service to God. This is the attitude of a true worshipper.

3. Worship is responding appropriately to God’s presence- Josh. 5:14b,15 And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped… And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
It is dangerous to face battles in life without first worshipping God, declaring our dependence upon him, and making sure our hearts are fully surrendered to his will.

Click here to listen to this week’s vision casting and information message for the Momentum Campaign.

You can also subscribe to our weekly audio podcast on itunes by clicking here.

If there’s one thing I hate about being a pastor, its having to talk about money. There is such a bad stigma attached to preachers and churches talking about money… and for good reason! I know exactly what its like to sit through a 45 minute schpeel from a creepy preacher who seems to only care about draining my pockets.

Well, this Sunday I confronted one of my greatest fears as we introduced the Momentum Capital Campaign. So I decided to minimize my remarks about money and maximize my remarks about vision. From Acts 26:16-19 we looked at several realities:

• Satan is not taking a break from destroying lives all around us.
• God has saved us for a purpose, to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, to deliver them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the kingdom of God.
• The hope of the world is not Oprah, Dr. Phil, Obama, or Bush, the hope of the world is the church of Jesus Christ.
• People all around us are heading for eternal torment in hell unless we step us and do what we are called to do as the church.
• God hasn’t called us to play church, he’s called us to proclaim his love to a lost world.
• We are all passionate about what we want to be passionate about, but at the end of the day, if we’re not passionate about Jesus and the people he died for than we are missing everything.

I think that when we begin to gain an eternal perspective, realize who God is and what he’s called us to do, and that people’s souls are at stake, sacrificial giving becomes a great joy and a privilege.

When all is said and done, I’m not giving to this campaign like its some kind of charity. I am investing my resources to make an eternal difference in the lives of people Jesus Christ died to save. I am becoming an active partner with God in his mission to redeem humanity from sin, destruction, addiction, death, and hell. I believe that the powers of darkness fear nothing more than the church of Jesus Christ fully unified, working together, giving sacrificially together, and reaching out under the authority and power of the risen Son of God.

Looking forward to teaching a breakout session called “How To Study the Bible” at the APC Leader’s Summit in the morning. I’ll be sharing some basic principles to fruitful and applicable study of the Scriptures.

No other book is more worthy of our intense devotion and careful study. And no other study is more rewarding than the study of God’s Word. Indeed, it is the calling, responsibility, and privilege of every Christian leader.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” - 2 Tim. 2:15

Looking forward to the summit!

Let this verse serve as a guide in your post-election prayers:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. —1 Timothy 2:1-4

As we prepare to transition to our new location in December, we are joining our hearts together in prayer each week with a specific focus. Use the following points to guide your prayers this week.

Pray for all who serve:

• Give us humble and willing hearts (Gal. 5:13)
• Equip us in volunteer service (2 Cor. 9:8)
• Use us where we work (1 Thess. 1:3)
• Preserve integrity in government and courts (1 Tim. 2:1-4)

Check out this powerful video on the importance of Christians voting their conscience in this election.