Last weekend we started a new series called “God is…” We’re exploring the nature of God; what He is like, what he is all about. This we know from scripture – God is FOR people. He is for all people. Not just “our” people, but for the entire human race. The news gets even better – God not only loves people, he likes people! We expect God to have to love us unconditionally, but from Jesus we learn that God actually likes us. He wants to befriend us.
Now, if God is for people, how can we his church be FOR people? From listening and observing our church, do people know that we are FOR them…do they know that God is for them? More personally – from watching my life, do people know that God is for them?
If you missed Sunday’s message, you can view it here:
Great job Sapulpa campus on your Serve Sapulpa Sunday this past weekend! Dozens of our Cedar Ridge family visited nursing homes, picked up trash in parks, mowed lawns, washed cars and more. There are people in Sapulpa who know just a little more that God is FOR them because of what you did.
I love reading about the Acts 2 church. I love the growth and excitement of that early faith community. I love the way the Holy Spirit was working within ordinary people. I love the way it empowered those followers to be bold and courageous. I love it that some 2000 years later, we are a part of that same movement; The Christian Church – The Jesus Movement. We are the church! We are the program. We are God’s plan. We are the Jesus Movement!
If you missed Sunday’s wrap-up of the Jesus Movement series, you can view it here:
This weekend we start a new series called, “God is…” What is He like? what is His character? What is He about? Maybe this will clear up some question you have about the nature of God. We’ll also give you a simple method for sharing it with others.
This is video we showed last week updating our church on our Coweta Campus Launch. Thanks Clay Allen for the great pics and Kelly Naumann for the great video.
Thanks Scott Ulrich for posting this great video. We had a team of 87 from Cedar Ridge travel to Puerto Penasco over spring break and build homes. While some students were skiing and enjoying the beach, these were serving. Most of our adults had to take vacation time from work. I love it when people “live like that”
Did you see the new billboard announcing our Cedar Ridge Coweta Campus? It’s located on highway 51 just east of Oneta Rd., viewable as you are headed toward Coweta. Pray that it will resonate with someone as they drive past and move them to connect with us.
It’s hard to believe Easter is already behind us. I love the excitement of lots of people worshiping together. I love the mystery and awe of the resurrection. I love the visible reminders of new life and celebration with family (I love the ham and mashed potatoes for Easter lunch too).
It was a great weekend at Cedar Ridge. Our second annual Good Friday Communion service was well attended. It was a learning experience of how Jesus celebrated and ultimately fulfilled the Passover Feast with his disciples at the Last Supper.
Easter Sunday made for record breaking attendance at Cedar Ridge with over 1,500 worshiping at a total of five services at our three campuses. Thank you for being considerate of our guests. Thank you for sitting on the front rows (I noticed), for parking on the back rows, and for welcoming new people and helping them find their way around. I love being a part of a church like that.
Let me congratulate again our Coweta campus staff and launch team for a second week of over 300 in worship. We held two services on Easter requiring a lot of flexibility and sacrifice for these volunteers. Thanks for stepping up Coweta team. Great job!
Remember, “Resurrection isn’t something that happened. It’s something that happens!” The resurrection is not isolated to an event that happened 2,000 years ago. It is a global force that brings us out of death and into life. The message of the resurrection is that in the chaos and confusion and fear of this world, Jesus offers you life and joy. Whatever it is in life that is keeping you from living. Whatever it that is making you afraid, Jesus says, “because I can defeat death, I can defeat anything.” And he wants to take whatever it is that is keeping you from living, whatever it is you’re fighting in life, and he wants to rescue you from it. He wants to take the fear from your life and replace it with hope and joy. That my friends, is good news! Let’s celebrate it again this Sunday, by doing what Christians have done now for 2,000 years – gathering on the Lord’s Day and worshiping him as the risen Savior.
If you missed Sunday, you can view the message here:
This weekend we will continue The Jesus Movement series with The Revolution. Not long after Jesus resurrection, a revolution began that continues to grow to this day. Sunday we talk about another defining moment of the Jesus movement, the inception of the church. See you then.
I love the card that went out this week announcing Easter services at our Coweta Campus. It is the core message of Christianity – that if Jesus can conquer the grave, then he can conquer anything that is going on in your life. The message of Easter is one of hope. Jesus bring hope! I’m praying that our Coweta Campus brings hope to the community.
Don’t forget about our Good Friday Communion service tomorrow night, April 6th, 6:30 pm at our Broken Arrow campus. This reflective service will last about 45 minutes. It will include some singing, an explanation of the last supper of Jesus in the upper room, followed by taking communion together.
This past Sunday we focused on the crucifixion of Jesus. It was a pivotal moment in this Jesus Movement of which we are a part. Without the cross, there is no forgiveness of sin. Without the cross, there is no salvation. Without the cross there is no hope in the resurrection. It was the greatest expression of love the world has ever seen. Jesus left the glory and splendor of heaven. He came and lived on this earth with us so that he could ultimately die on the cross for us. Jesus loves you so much that he gave everything just to be with you. Don’t miss the heart message of the Jesus Movement in all the religious noise and church clamor that tends to confuse. It’s simple: For God so loved the world.
If you missed Sunday, you can always stay up with our series by watching the message here. If you’re interested in some follow up reminders throughout the week of Sunday’s message, follow me on twitter @gregapittman. This weekend we will continue The Jesus Movement series with The Resurrection. This Sunday is Easter Sunday. Did you know 8 out of 10 friends would join you at church for Easter if you asked? Don’t let the two scare you from world change.
Let me share Coweta Campus Minister, Ryan Fankhauser’s report of last Sunday at Coweta:
What an exciting launch service at the Coweta Campus! All of you helped make Sunday special to hundreds of people. Thank you so much for your willingness to serve these past few weeks and your commitment to the future. I’ve had a number of conversations with people who have said they’ll be back next week. Overall, we had 309 in attendance. 73 kids and adults in KidsZone and 236 crammed in like sardines in the worship center!
It was an exciting Opening Day! Because of such a great response, we will be having two services on Easter at Coweta at 9:00 and 10:30am. Thank you Ryan and all of our Coweta Launch Team for representing the entire Cedar Ridge family so well.
Look forward to seeing you Easter Sunday at one of our campuses.
I had a great time at our Launch Party last night and at our staff meeting this morning hearing stories from our opening service at our Coweta campus. We were thrilled to have over 300 people in attendance. Our volunteers cared for over 60 children. We ran out of seating and had to put in additional chairs in the worship center. We ran out of communion supplies and I’m not positive but some may have received small bits of snickerdoodle cookie instead of unleavened bread. Because of such a great response, we will be holding two services on Easter Sunday, April 8th at 9:00am and 10:30am. Thank you Ryan, David and Vicky for your leadership. It was a great day!
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