Church Requel Blog - Writings of Mark Pierce

Hatfields & McCoys: 5 Beliefs That Make Me One Too

The History Channel attracted almost 14 million people  to "Hatfields & McCoys" on Memorial Day.  This realistic retelling of the greatest family feud in history set an all-time record for basic cable. 

What is about this story that attracted so many viewers?  The historic accuracy of the story? The exceptional writing? Kevin Costner?  

Nancy Dubac, president of The History Channel as well as executive producer of Hatfields & McCoys believes the attraction goes even deeper.  “One of the things that was overwhelming when I first read the script was that there wasn’t a good guy and a bad guy,” she says. “The nuances are fascinating.”

I agree with Ms. Dubac.  The show is not about black and white, good guys or bad guys.  At the end of the 6-hour miniseries I was left with the haunting conclusion that they're all bad guys... and maybe there's something in the DNA of Hatfields and McCoys that's in my own DNA as well.

Here are 5 ways to know if I could belong to the Hatfields & McCoys, no matter how I pronounce my last name.

1. Believe that principles are more important than people. Judge Valentine 'Wall' Hatfield makes the observation that he can't believe this whole feud started over a pig.  The stolen swine was the reason given, but the trust between the two families had already deteriorated by the time the hog thief was brought to court.  Am I more concerned about my rights than I am about my relationships? On a hillside 2,000 years ago Jesus taught us that  we should "settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court." (Matthew 5:25)

Sermon Notes: Holding On To The Eternal Ticket

Every week I publish my sermon notes so that you may read them for yourselves.  For my parishioners, this could be a good review from the weekend before.  And it gives you a chance to see what I intended to say!  For other pastors and ministers, feel free to borrow and use any of this material.  I'd love for God to be glorified by you incorporating these notes into your own worship.

The God Life Part 7: "Holding On To The Eternal Ticket" 05.27.12

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:10-11 NIV 

Follow the YouVersion LIVE Event Notes

Listen to this week's CR Sermon & Podcast (fast forward to 59:35 to listen to sermon):

Video: “Charlie Gets The Golden Ticket” [3:00] from Willy Wonka

Fundamental Question: Been debated for 2,000 years - is our salvation assured or do we work to receive our salvation?  Many today - including many Christians believe that they must do more good things than bad things so that they earn their way into Heaven.  Our teaching today from 2 Peter tells us that this is not so!  Many others believe that it doesn’t matter what I do because God does all the work in my salvation. I can go ahead and live any way I want.  Our teaching today from 2 Peter tells us that this ALSO is not so!  How do we balance (1) that my salvation comes entirely from God and His grace and mercy and yet OTOH (2) that what I do - how I live my life matters?  Today we find out that to live the good life, which is to live the God life, I will BOTH know that I can do nothing on my own to enter into Heaven AND do everything I can to enter into Heaven!  Like Charlie in the Willy Wonka movie, as a Christ-follower with a golden ticket to Heaven, I want to hold on to my ticket! 

To fully understand this balance we’ll examine 4 “becauses” ...

Yale Grad Keegan Legacy: "The Opposite of Loneliness"

I read this morning of the tragic death this weekend of recent Yale graduate, Mariana Keegan, who will be remembered as an aspiring writer, actress and activist.  I would not have known her or felt the incredible loss were it not for this touching and impacting essay written only a week ago for her graduation.  Here is a brief excerpt from "The Opposite of Loneliness:"

We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that’s what I want in life. What I’m grateful and thankful to have found at Yale, and what I’m scared of losing when we wake up tomorrow and leave this place.

It’s not quite love and it’s not quite community; it’s just this feeling that there are people, an abundance of people, who are in this together. Who are on your team. When the check is paid and you stay at the table. When it’s four a.m. and no one goes to bed. That night with the guitar. That night we can’t remember. That time we did, we went, we saw, we laughed, we felt.

I recommend you take five minutes out of your day and read the entire essay.  You'll be glad you did. You'll appreciate your life - and Mariana Keegan's life - so much more.

Later in the essay she writes: "We’re so young. We’re so young. We’re twenty-two years old. We have so much time."  No one could have realized that she had only days to live when she wrote this.  

This may be her greatest legacy: to not take life for granted. To not take the connection to one another's lives for granted.  To make the most of every moment.  Not just to get the most out of life, but to give the most back to life.  She wrote about the opposite of loneliness.  This is what her life was all about, being connected in loving webs of relationships and friendships.

I belive this story impacts me today so much because on Sunday afternoon I came very close to losing my own 22-year old daughter, Jillian.  While riding home with 3 other girlfriends from a wedding in Wyoming, a car sideswiped them in Iowa, driving them into a concrete wall in a construction zone. At 55 miles an hour their car bounced off the wall turning 360 degrees, almost flipping over in the process.  It was a miracle no other vehicle hit them and that no one was seriously hurt.

Why did Mary Kay and I receive this miracle of protection while Mariana Keegan's parents, Kevin and Tracy, did not?  I don't begin to know the answer.  I can't know how Kevin must be feeling, but I can barely begin to feel the empathy of one dad to another as I write this blog through my own tears.  

What I do know is this.  None of us know about our tomorrows. I plan on loving in my todays as if there were no tomorrows.  And the next time I see Jillian?  I plan on giving her an extra long hug.

Holding On To The Eternal Ticket [Video Sermon]

Is our salvation assured or do we work to receive our salvation? Many today - including many Christians - believe that they must do more good things than bad things so that they earn their way into Heaven. Our teaching from 2 Peter tells us that this is not so! Many others believe that it doesn’t matter what I do because God does all the work in my salvation. I can go ahead and live any way I want. Our teaching today from 2 Peter tells us that this ALSO is not so! How do we balance (1) that my salvation comes entirely from God and His grace and mercy and yet (2) that what I do - how I live my life matters? In this video we find out that to live the good life, which is to live the God life, I will BOTH know that I can do nothing on my own to enter into Heaven AND do everything I can to enter into Heaven! 

 

Here are the resources to support this week's sermon.  You may want to download the weekend program and follow along.  Or perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Follow along with the You Version LIVE sermon notes.
• Download 120527INSIDE
• Download 120527OUTSIDE
• Download 120527 Eternal Ticket TEACHING NOTES
• Download 120527 Eternal Ticket NOTES SLIDES
• Download 120527 Planning Sheet

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.

Audio Podcast: Eternal Ticket

Happy Memorial Day!  Monday podcasts are always special here at Church Requel.  Here's what's included on this holiday edition of the Church Requel Podcast:

• [8:45] Zach Lystedt is headstrong, according to The Daily.  Listen to the story of this brave young man who suffered a dibilitating concussion while playing football.  He has turned his personal tragedy into a benefit for thousands of others.
• [13:36] Why Facebook'sIPO fizzled.  If you can get your hands on a hot new stock, you probably don't want it.  
• [18:12] Excerpt Interview of Mark by Len Edgerly from The Kindle Chronicles 198.
• [22:04] The YouVersion Blog released big news about The Bible App!
• [27:06] Check out the Instacast app - only if you love podcasts AND have an IOS device.
• [31:06] 1 Star Ratings - Marco Arment and Dan Benjamin talk about 1 Star Ratings in their Build and Analyze Podcast 77.  Mark talks about his Christian lesson learned from Amazon when he thinks about giving a 1 star rating.
• [48:00] The Right To Be Here - Pastor Mike Erre and Ken Coleman have a conversation on the Catalyst Podcast Episode 179 about Mike's son, Seth, who has Down Syndrome.  Mark follows up with his own story about Austen.
• [59:38] Listen to the final sermon in The God Life series - "Holding On To The Eternal Ticket."

Listen to this week's Church Requel Podcast:

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

Music for this week's podcast is from Chicago: "I'm A Man," available on the Chicago Transit Authority Album (Remastered) - original from 1969.

This Weekend at CR: Eternal Ticket!

Hey everyone!  How are you doing on this Memorial Day weekend TGIF?  There's just something special about the Friday before a long weekend!  I hope that among your other special plans you include Church Requel this Sunday evening at 6pm.

We have some special plans too!  Do you remember that scene in the Willy Wonka movie (the first one with Gene Wilder) when Charlie finds the last golden ticket? We who are authentic Christ-followers also have a golden ticket, even an eternal ticket, into Heaven! In our final sermon from The God Life series we will discover if it is possible to know for sure that we are Heaven bound.  Is there such a thing as confirmation of our eternal travel plans?  Come Sunday night to CR to find out!

Those are just the pastor's sermon plans.  There is so much else going on too at CR these days!  Jack and Sheri's wedding is only eight days away!  Lissa and Randy just found out they are expecting a baby girl! And Sean and Kyle are only days away from graduating from high school.  How could you possibly stay away from all this excitement?

And if you have a pre-schooler you won't want to keep them away from CR Sunday night.  I have it on very good authority that Shannon has made some special plans of her own for the nursery kids Sunday evening.  It seems like whenever Shannon shows up, so do all the kids!  The more the merrier!

We also have included some special videos remembering our armed servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much that we might have the freedom to worship.  In our countdown we'll see excerpts from a speech from President Reagan. And the Skit Guys have come up with another exceptional way to remember.  We plan to honor our families with loved ones who are currently serving in the military as well as our veterans.

So don't stay out in the heat Sunday.  Come in with your CR friends to the air-conditioned chapel for an hour of praise, prayer, communion and celebration.  You'll be glad you did!

From This Past Week. If you missed it there are a couple things you might want to check out.  First, last Saturday the Mansfield News Journal published a Viewpoint article written by yours truly.  If you would like to read it, I've put a copy of it up on the CR blog.  It's called "Mad Men, Gravity, and God." Also, more and more folks are listening to the weekly podcast distributed every Monday. This past week - in addition to the sermon - we talked about Facebook's IPO and the man who bought out the K-Mart store and gave it to charity.  You can listen to the podcast on our church website here.

Prayers This Week. Keep praying for Dick Jourdan.  He visited his surgeon this week and is scheduled for bypass surgery on June 25th. Also keep your prayers going up for Lincoln Bohnke. He now weighs 4 lbs 9 1/2 ounces and remains in stable condition at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dan and Katie heard the disappointing news this past week that because he is still so dependent on the ventilator, they will not be able to bring Lincoln home until later in the summer at the earliest.  In addition to praying for the Bohnkes, you could also leave an encouraging note on their CaringBridge website.

That does it for the "What's Happening" post this week.  I hope to see you all Sunday night at Church Requel!

With great affection!  Pastor Mark

Mad Men TV: Falling, Gravity and God

This past weekend I wrote the Viewpoint article for the Mansfield News Journal.  I've reproduced it here for my Church Requel blog readers.  Enjoy!

The opening title sequence to the wildly popular Mad Men television drama shows a silhouetted businessman falling from the heights of the 1960s New York City skyscrapers.  The man free falls for twenty seconds while the iconic, half-century old advertisements and slogans display behind him. The viewer never sees the man crash onto the sidewalk. Rather one senses a fall that never ends.  In the midst of success and wealth all around him, the man has nothing to keep him from sinking lower and still lower.

The Mad Men fan would know the silhouetted businessman as the show’s protagonist, Donald Draper. He is the creative director responsible for many of the ad campaigns that define 1960s America.  The newcomer to this drama would be excused for believing this television show to be about the highs and lows of Madison Avenue.  The advertising world of New York’s past, however, is only the canvas upon which Producer Matthew Weiner tells his stories of the ever-falling Draper.

The opening sequence of the falling man, according to TV Guide, is ranked 9th ALL TIME for television show openers. What is it about this Vertigo-like falling man that so captures the imaginations of millions of viewers?  Perhaps this theme of uncertainty and moral failure in the midst of success and accomplishment speaks to each one of us at the deeper level of the soul.

The Effective and Productive Christ Follower [Video Sermon]

This is the first of the 2 part conclusion to The God Life sermon series. To live the God life means to live the good life. God designed us. When we live according to his design we live the best life possible. Peter nears end of his life and gives us 8 qualities to work on to live the good life: (1) faith, (2) goodness, (3) knowledge, (4) self-control, (5) perseverance, (6) godliness, (7) mutual affection and (8) love. We learned early on that this is not an automatic thing for Christians - we must work at it. God does not “zap” these qualities into us. That’s why Peter writes in v.5 to “make every effort.”

In this video sermon - as we begin the wrap up to this God Life series, we discover the WHAT - what happened? - the WHY - what’s the motivation? - as well as the HOW? - how does happen?

 

Here are the resources to support this week's sermon.  You may want to download the weekend program and follow along.  Or perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Download 120520OUTSIDE
• Download 120520INSIDE
• Follow the sermon notes at YouVersion LIVE.
• Download 120520 Fruitful TEACHING NOTES
• Download 120520 Fruitful NOTES SLIDES
• Download 120520 Planning Sheet

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.

Sermon Notes: "The Effective and Productive Christ Follower"

Every week I publish my sermon notes so that you may read them for yourselves.  For my parishioners, this could be a good review from the weekend before.  And it gives you a chance to see what I intended to say!  For other pastors and ministers, feel free to borrow and use any of this material.  I'd love for God to be glorified by you incorporating these notes into your own worship.

The God Life Part 3: "Learning To Be My Own Boss" 04.22.12

Scripture:  Luke 13:6-9 / 2 Peter 1:8-9 NIV 

Follow the YouVersion LIVE Event Notes

Listen to this week's CR Sermon & Podcast (fast forward to 53:30 to listen to the sermon):

Intro & Review: 2 part conclusion to The God Life. Review - to live the God life means to live the good life.  God designed us. When we live according to his design we live the best life possible.  Peter nears end of his life and gives us 8 qualities to work on to live the good life (1) faith, (2) goodness, (3) knowledge, (4) self-control, (5) perseverance, (6) godliness, (7) mutual affection and (8) love.  We learned early on that this is not an automatic thing for Christians - we must work at it.  God does not “zap” these qualities into us.  That’s why Peter writes in v.5 to “make every effort.”  

Today - as we begin the wrap up to this God Life series, we want to put on our detective hats.  Whenever a detective is trying to figure out a homicide, he needs to know the WHAT - what happened? - the WHY - what’s the motivation? - as well as the HOW? - how did the crime happen? Today we learn the WHAT, 2 WHYs and the HOW to be an effective and fruitful Christian. 

Audio Podcast: Productive Christ Follower

This week's Church Requel podcast is loaded with great listening content for you. 

• K-Mart Christmas in May - Rankin Paynter demonstrates Christ-like behavior when he buys out $200,000 of a local K-Mart store (3:16)
• Facebook Accountability - The initial public offering took place last Friday.  Two weeks ago I made my predictions public on this podcast.  Let's check in and see how well those prognastications turned out. (9:09)
• Last Tuesday my friend Len Edgerly, the voice behind the popular The Kindle Chronicles podcast stopped in Mansfield for a visit with me.  We both came armed with microphones.  I talked to Len about the labor of love involved each week in producing TKC. (15:37)
• Mad Men and Christianity - what does the wildly popular AMC television show have to do with Christianity, you ask?  This past Saturday the Mansfield News Journal published my Viewpoint article in which I answer this question.  My daughter Jillian reads this piece for you. (35:51)
• Rotten Banana Christianity - listen to the funny responses of the kids at Church Requel last night when they were offered rotten bananas during the Children's sermon. (44:35)
• Church Requel Sunday night sermon: "The Effective and Productive Christ Follower." (53:30) We learn the what, 2 whys and the how of becoming a fruitful servant for Christ.

Listen to this week's Church Requel Podcast:

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

Here are the links for the things we talked about on this week's podcast:

• Len Edgerly's The Kindle Chronicles Show Notes - click here.
• Len's Facebook page, The Reading Edge - click here.
• Donate a Kindle to the Troops - click here.

This Weekend at CR: Rotten Banana Christians!

Good Friday morning to you!  What a beautiful day here on the Pierce patio.  As my dad has so many times reminded me: "The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the bees are making honey."  I'm told by the weather app on my phone that this whole weekend promises to be sunny and warm - sure signs that summer is on its way to Mansfield.  Whatever other plans you have for this weekend, I hope you'll spend your Sunday evening with us at Church Requel.

I have some special plans for our worship Sunday evening!  We will talk about what it means to be a productive Christ-follower.  That's the way we talk as adults.  For the kids (and for most of us kid-thinking adults) I thought another title might be more appropriate: "Rotten Banana Christians!"  For our kids' sermon I have a pretty disgusting object lesson in mind (pictured on the right.)  I'm guessing that no one will leave Church Requel without a changed perspective of "being fruitful!"

I'm also excited for our praise music Sunday night.  As your pastor I know just how many of you are struggling.  No one other than God Himself knows about all your trials.  I take my role as your pastor seriously, praying for all of you often.  I thought that Sunday night we could all use some encouraging music. So I have worked hard to come up with a worship set that will praise God and at the same time will encourage you. Plan to come early so you won't miss a minute!

Here are some other CR events or opportunities you might want to know about:

• Sneak peak at Sunday evening's sermon notes on YouVersion!
• Wednesday night, May 23rd, women's Bible study on the book of James.  At Mary Kay's house 6:30pm.  Only two more sessions, ladies!
• The CR Podcast from this past Monday.  Listen as we talk about the Ivy League janitor, same-sex marriage and politics in the pulpit, house church, and the Mom's Day sermon from last weekend.
• The video sermon from 2 weekends ago - "Love Is More Than A Feeling."  Do you remember the 6 lessons we learned from the parable of The Good Samaritan? Let's all thank Dave Johnson for his video editing work!

I love you all much!  Praying for each of you!  Hope to see you all Sunday at 6pm!

Pastor Mark

Video Sermon: Influential M.O.M.s

In this Church Requel Mother's Day sermon from May 13, 2012 we honor our moms who Model, who Observe and who Motivate.  Thanks to Dave Johnson for his video editing work!

 

Here are the resources to support this week's sermon.  You may want to download the weekend program and follow along.  Or perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Follow along with the YouVersion Sermon Notes. 
• Download 120513OUTSIDEanswers - the outside of our printed program.
• Download 120513INSIDEanswers - the inside of our printed program.
  
• Download 120513 M.O.M. TEACHING NOTES - my sermon manuscript for Mothers Day.
  
• Download 120513 M.O.M. NOTES SLIDES - same manuscript with graphics in margins.
  
• Download 120513 Planning Sheet - our order of service with ideas to support MOM theme.
  

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.

Sermon Notes: "Influential M.O.M.s"

Every week I publish my sermon notes so that you may read them for yourselves.  For my parishioners, this could be a good review from the weekend before.  And it gives you a chance to see what I intended to say!  For other pastors and ministers, feel free to borrow and use any of this material.  I'd love for God to be glorified by you incorporating these notes into your own worship.

"Influential M.O.M.s" - 05.13.12

Follow the YouVersion LIVE Event Notes

Listen to this week's CR Sermon & Podcast (fast forward to minute 53 to listen to sermon):

Intro: “Where Is God?” joke: http://www.freetimejokes.com/mothers-day-jokes/where-is-god  “We’re in BIG trouble this time.  God is missing and they think WE did it!” Moms have so much more influence than pastors!    If you’re a mom here at Church Requel tonight, I want to honor you, appreciate you, and thank you.  None of us would be here tonight if it wasn’t for you!  Perhaps one of the best gifts I can give you would be a simple, easy-to-remember Mother’s Day sermon.  (If you’re not a mom, you can still benefit.. as a Dad... as a mentor...)  So here it is, a simple, 3-point acrostic: M.O.M. When we think of mom, we think of someone who Models, Observes, and Motivates. 

Audio Podcast: Influential MOMs

In this week's Church Requel podcast, I talk about

1. The Ivy League Janitor
2. Same Sex Marriage and the Pulpit
3. House Church
4. Re-Using a Used Sermon
5. Influential Moms

Listen to this week's Church Requel Podcast:

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

Here are the show notes and links:

The Ivy League Janitor story on The Daily http://bit.ly/IQ5dAL.

Black Churches Conflicted in USA Today http://usat.ly/KhFxj1.

Approach about Faith Questioned Romney http://usat.ly/KeM9fu.

This Weekend at CR: MOM's Day!

Good Friday morning everyone! TGIF! It's an amazing, beautiful day here in sunny Mansfield, Ohio.  I hope you have fantastic plans for this weekend.  Personally, I'm running in the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) 5k Run/Walk tomorrow morning.  Getting some exercise, donating to a great cause, and earning a new t-shirt... how does it get any better than that?  If you don't already have Saturday morning plans (9am), come out to the fairgrounds and cheer on this slow body.  Or cheer on our own Jana Edwards as she will probably lap me!  

Our children will all be in town at one time or another this weekend to support their mom!  Not only is Mary Kay the catalyst behind the NAMI 5k, but Sunday being Mother's Day, she will be the most honored person of our family's weekend plans. At one time - back when I was a naive and inexperienced husband - I tried to explain to her that the title to the day was "Mother's" Day and not "Wife's" Day, thinking that our kids were solely in charge of the honoring responsibilities.  I'm happy to report that our relationship has survived that hapless era of our marriage.  Guys, if your wife is also the mother to your children, don't miss this opportunity to say how awesome she really is!

One of the best ways to do this is to BRING ALL MOMS to Church Requel on Sunday evening!  We have gone all out to honor all of our moms.  We have a very special worship service planned this weekend. We have praise music - led by Tim and Jillian Vincent - specially selected by our CR moms as their favorites! We'll enjoy a funny and poignant visit from the Skit Guys.  Every mom walking in the door will receive a flower.  We also have some special gifts set aside for some of our most special moms.  And I've written a Mother's Day sermon that will remind our M.O.M.s to Model, Obseve and Motivate their children.  Sunday night's 6pm worship service will be one of our most special ever!

Before I wrap up this Friday morning message I want to pass along a "thank you" encouragement to Patty, who is my Friday morning waitress at Paul Revere's Family Restaurant.  She watches me write many of these messages while keeping my coffee cup filled AND she's on our email list.  Recently she enjoyed a vacation to Florida (she also obviously took all our warm weather with her!)  She told me that she looks forward to her weekly, Friday-morning email from Church Requel.  Last week I was late in getting the email out.  Patty told me she checked her email down in Florida several times throughout the day wondering when the email would arrive.  Thanks Patty for letting me know that there are folks who look forward to this weekly message from Church Requel!

Or maybe you are more of a Church Requel Podcast fan.  Jana Edwards (yes - the aforementioned runner who will most likely finish the run well ahead of me tomorrow morning) texted me that she loved last weekend's podcast and found another great use for it.  She was at a conference in Kentucky this week with her brother.  He was keeping her awake with his snoring so she took out the headphones and listened to the CR podcast to drown him out!  If nothing else we are good for white noise!!!

How about you? Do you like knowing what's happening at Church Requel?  I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for reading.  Thanks for supporting Church Requel.  Hope to see you Sunday night at CR!

With great affection, Pastor Mark

Sermon Notes: "Love Is More Than A Feeling"

Every week I publish my sermon notes so that you may read them for yourselves.  For my parishioners, this could be a good review from the weekend before.  And it gives you a chance to see what I intended to say!  For other pastors and ministers, feel free to borrow and use any of this material.  I'd love for God to be glorified by you incorporating these notes into your own worship.

The God Life Part 5: "Love Is More Than A Feeling" 05.06.12

Scripture:  Luke 10:25-37 / 2 Peter 1:5-6 NIV 

Follow the YouVersion LIVE Event Notes

Listen to this week's CR Sermon & Podcast (fast forward to minute 45 to listen to sermon):

Intro: Today I want to talk to you about love.  Not the kind of mushy, feeling romantic kind of love.  I want to talk about the “love in action” kind of love.  The kind of love that Peter talks about at the end of his life.  

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith ... mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” 2 Peter 1:5a;7b NIV

Isn’t it interesting that Peter includes both “mutual affection” and “love” together... as if they are two differing things.  Mutual affection is the love we have for those who are like us, for those who share our values.  In the world of Christ-followers - Peter’s world of 2,000 years ago - mutual affection would refer to those who share our faith: affection we have for those who worship with us, who are in our church.

But then there is “love,” a whole another thing beyond “mutual affection.”  Love - in the Christian sense - would be more than a feeling.  More than a mushy, romantic attraction to someone else.  There certainly is - and should be - a love between those in our family, our spouses and our children.  Jesus, OTOH, talked about love in action for “neighbors,” who he defined for us in his story of the Good Samaritan.  Tonight I’d like to consider six lessons we learn from Luke 10:25-37.

Six Lessons from The Good Samaritan

Video Sermon: Love Is More Than A Feeling

We learn six lessons from Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan: (1) The gold standard of Christianity; (2) Loving people required to live the good life; (3) There are no loopholes; (4) Loving people doesn't come from obligation but from compassion; (5) Compassion trumps our schedule and plans; (6) Our kindness to others is God's plan to confront evil.  Join me in this 5th sermon from The God Life series. This CR talk was recorded on May 6th.  Thanks so much to Dave Johnson for his video editing work.

 

Here are the resources to support this week's sermon.  You may want to download the weekend program and follow along.  Or perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Download 120506OUTSIDE - the outside of our printed program
• Download 120506INSIDE - the inside of our printed program
  
• Download 120506 Love More TEACHING NOTES - sermon manuscript
  
• Download 120506 Love More NOTES SLIDES - manuscript plus graphics, used by tech team
  
• Download 120506 Planning Sheet - our worship order of service with good theme ideas
  

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.

Audio Podcast: Love Is More Than A Feeling

In this week's Church Requel podcast Mark talks about:

1. churches being sensitive to single people.  Less than half of the U.S. Population is married now.  How should that change the way we lead our churches? 
2. The Wildcat roller coaster is closing at Cedar Point. It started running in 1970, the same year Mark and his brother, Todd, went to Cedar Point for the first time. 
3. What's really the difference between leadership and fellowship?  Mark considers that maybe the two are not as different as some people think. 
4. Facebook's Initial Public Offering is less than two weeks away.  Will it be a good investment?  Mark puts his investment cap back on and looks at the numbers.  
5. Cutting Room Floor segment - what do you do when you have a topic that could contain so much material... say, "The Good Samaritan" parable?
6. Church Requel's Sermon from May 6th: "Love Is More Than A Feeling." We consider six lessons we learn about loving other people from The Good Samaritan story. 
7. Mark's wrap-up after church Sunday evening.

Listen to this week's Church Requel Podcast:

Subscribe to this audio podcast!  It's available every week on iTunes or for any other mp3 player.

This Weekend at CR: Love Is More Than A Feeling

Hi everyone!  Pastor Mark here with your "What's Happening" blog post for this weekend at Church Requel.  Hope this Friday finds you in an upbeat TGIF mood!  Do you have big plans for this weekend? Mary Kay and I are planning to get an early start on Cinco de Mayo with a Mexican dinner celebration with my Dad up in Wadsworth.

Whatever your plans for the weekend, I hope they will include Sunday night at Church Requel.  I have a good talk lined up for you: "Love Is More Than A Feeling."  We will study Jesus' parable of The Good Samaritan and learn 6 lessons for how we can put our love for other people into action.  If you can't wait until Sunday night - or you'd like a sneak peek - click here for the YouVersion Bible App LIVE event.

Our Sunday evening worship will be greatly enhanced under the leadership of Brandi Walker.  She will be leading us in singing Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing) and Above All.  She will also be singing a special called "Sticking With You" by Addison Road.  Very cool - Requel-like - song! 

I also have a fun sermon planned for the kiddos in our church, which I'm calling "Race of Your Life."  We'll have some fun with toy race cars and - along the way - learn something about treating other people with love and kindness.

Jessica Pierce will be reading our Scripture from Luke 10.  Steve Thoman will be leading our communion and prayer time.  Jennifer Carrick has some exciting plans - including snacks and crafts - for our preschool children. Sounds like the entire evening will be great for kids of all ages!

Women's Bible Study Wednesday at 6:30pm. This study from the epistle of James includes a great video teaching from Beth Moore.  Topics in this study include: joy, hardship, faith, reversal of fortunes for rich and poor, wisdom, gifts from above, single-mindedness, the dangers of the tongue, humility, and prayer. If you are a woman at Church Requel, you won't want to miss this chance to meet and know new friends and learn important, faith-building lessons.  The group meets every other Wednesday at 6:30pm at Mary Kay's home. (It happens to be the same place where I hang out!)

New Members Class June 9th.  Several of you have mentioned that you would like to join the church.  We are letting you know about this June 9th class so that you can make sure you keep this Saturday free.  We'll start at 8:30am and will finish by 2:30pm.  A continental breakfast and lunch will be included.  If you come to the class you are not obligated to become a member.  This is the best way to learn everything you ever wanted to know about Church Requel!  There is no cost to attend.  So far we have Mike and Lisa, Diana, and Marilyn signed up.  Email me if you would like to reserve your seat.

Church Requel Podcast Every Monday!  Do you know about this?  Every Monday morning I put together the Church Requel podcast.  What's a podcast?  It's an audio program that you can download from the Internet.  It's like a radio show. This past week I included an excerpt from a NAMI talk given by Mary Kay, some of my thoughts on Apple and Facebook, and then a discussion on creativity and relevance when giving a talk.  I also included the audio sermon from last Sunday night. Here's a link to the podcast feed.  Listen to the podcast here.  

This is a great way to become a Church Requel insider. It's like sitting down and having a conversation with me every week. I love podcasts! I listen in the car when I'm driving and when I exercise.  There's never any hurry or time constraints because I'm usually doing something else at the same time.  

I have put together an email list of people who want to know when the podcast is actually up and ready to go every week.  If you would like to also receive this Monday message, send me an email.  You also will have the chance to comment and share your comments with others who are on the podcast mailing list!

Keep Praying for Dick, Lincoln and Diana.  Dick Jourdan was admitted to the hospital this past Monday evening.  He experienced a heart attack.  The doctors inserted a stint that alleived the current danger.  He was released today (Friday) but will have to go back in 4 weeks for triple bypass surgery.   Also keep your prayers going for Lincoln Bohnke.  He is still growing, surpassing the 4 pound mark on Thursday.  He also was moved out of the incubator and into the crib.  You can leave a message of encouragement for Dan and Katie on their Caring Bridge site.  Finally, let's keep praying for Diana. This was her first week without her dad.  

Love you all much!  Pastor Mark

Video Sermon: Keeping My Eyes On The Ball

In this Church Requel video sermon from April 29th, we learn perseverance lessons from the parable of the Sower and the Seeds... and from baseball!  Much appreciation to Dave Johnson for his editing labors!

Keeping My Eyes On The Ball from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.

Here are the resources to support this week's sermon.  You may want to download the weekend program and follow along.  Or perhaps you'd like to have a copy of my notes.  If you are a pastor or ministry leader of another church, you are most welcome to use these resources in any way that could build the kingdom of Christ.  We're on the same team!  Download any of the following:

• Download 120429OUTSIDE - the outside of our weekly printed program
• Download 120429INSIDE - the inside or our weekly printed program
  
• YouVersion Sermon Notes - the notes published for the Bible app
• Download 120429 Eyes on Ball TEACHING NOTES - my sermon manuscript I used in pulpit.
  
• Download 120429 Eyes on Ball NOTES SLIDES - the same manuscript, but with graphics in the margins.  This is the document used by our tech team.
  
• Download 120429 Planning Sheet - our order of service for April 29th.  Pastors and worship planners may find good ideas to support the theme of perseverance.
  

All of the Church Requel sermons are available either in the CR Video Library or the CR Audio Library or you can listen on the Church Requel Audio Blog.  Would you like to subscribe to the weekly audio podcast and receive the sermon each week?  Subscribe here for iTunes or here for all other mp3 devices.  You can also subscribe to the weekly video podcast.