Sapulpa Campus Blog

I had fun on Sunday sharing about “The Story of Sin”. The best thing I can say about “The Story of Sin” is that it’s not the end of the story. “The Story of Jesus” comes next. This week I ran across a great quote from C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity. He writes,

Christ says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there. I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked – the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.

I love it that God never gives up on us. Never. Even though we broke our relationship with Him, He continues to seek to restore that relationship. He also continues to change us and mold us. I’m looking forward to “The Story of Jesus” this week.

We started our new series on Sunday called “The Story of Everything”.  It is a series about what we believe as a church.  Sunday, Greg began the series talking about “The Story of God”.  We looked at who God is and the incredible story of creation found in Genesis 1.  We saw that God is eternal.  He is creator.  He speaks.  God is personal.  He is relational (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).  God is love.  He created us out of the love that is found in Himself.  He created us to love Him and to love others.  This week we turn the page of “The Story of Everything” to look at something tragic that happened.  It is called “The Story of Sin”.  I am really excited to be preaching this week in Sapulpa on this subject.  I can’t wait to be together with everyone as we continue looking at “The Story of Everything”.

I’m also excited for Sunday because some very dear friends of mine will be in our 10:30 service in Sapulpa sharing about the work they are doing in Africa.  We, as a church, support the work they are doing both financially and through prayer.  Their courage and passion to share the name of Jesus with a dark world will inspire and encourage you.  We will also have a short meeting right after church to look for ways to impact the neighborhoods around the church on a regular basis.  There is a lot going on Sunday.  Don’t miss being together with other believers to be encouraged and grow closer to God.

We wrapped up our Rich Toward God series on Sunday with “Enjoying Contentment”.  On Sunday, Greg said, “Contentment has nothing to do with your circumstances.”  Really?  Can that really be true?  I ask that because so much of the time it seems my contentment or my attitude does indeed depend on my circumstances.  When the bills come in and the bank account gets low, it sure is easy for me to stress.  When the heater in the house breaks down, I grit my teeth.  When I see the neighbor’s new car or the bigger house down the road, I can’t help but think I would be happier if I had those.  Paul says in Philippians 4, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  Paul said he had learned the secret of contentment.  What was his secret?  His secret was to not take his eyes off Jesus.  In verse 19, he says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  Indeed, Paul learned that contentment had nothing to do with his circumstances.

So here’s the deal.  Yes, sometimes it seems like my contentment depends on my circumstances.  But all my “stuff” is temporary.  It is fleeting.  One day it will all be gone. The thing that lasts is our relationship with God.  James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  My house will not last forever.  My car for sure will not last forever.  All the “stuff” in my life will one day be dust.  The only thing that does not change is “the Father of the heavenly lights”.  Because of Him and because of my relationship with him, I can “Enjoy Contentment”.  You can too.

We begin our new series this week.  It is called The Story of Everything.  I promise you don’t want to miss it.

“My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing. Money is counter-productive – it prevents happiness,” said Karl Rabeder in the London Telegraph this week. He recently made the decision to give away every penny of his $5.3 million dollar fortune. He is selling his country home with lake and sauna in the Alps. He is also selling his second home and all the furnishings of both houses. He will be moving into a small hut in the mountains and live on just over $1,200. The proceeds from his fortune will go to a charity he set up that will offer micro loans and advice to self-employed people in El Salvador, Honduras, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile.

Talk about radical giving! Karl Rabeder had everything and realized it would not fulfill him. So, he is giving it away and making a difference with his fortune. The article makes no mention of whether or not this man is a Christ-follower. Nonetheless, we can learn a lot from his example. Our happiness is not found in the things we possess. Our happiness is found in Jesus and in using what He has blessed us with to bless others. When we give to the Kingdom of God, we help Advance His Kingdom. Those far from God come to know Him. The hungry are fed. The naked are clothed. The homeless are given shelter.

We wrap up our series “Rich Toward God” with “Enjoying Contentment” on Sunday! Don’t miss it.

I was shocked on Sunday when Greg told us that the average church-going family in the United States gives only 2% of their income as a “tithe” to the church.  Greg also asked us this question, “Can you imagine what would happen if every Christian in our church gave at least 10%?”   So, have you thought about it?  What might God be able to do through our church if we all committed to give faithfully in this way?  We could literally change the world.  We could help feed the poor.  We could send more missionaries to places where Jesus’ name is not known.  We could start new campuses in other parts of the Tulsa area where those who do not know Jesus could experience Him.  Can you imagine?

God says in Malachi, “Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit.  Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land.”  So you have now thought about it.  It’s time to step out in faith and try it.  God says, “Test me in this.”  Test him.  Give and
watch what He does!  Start being rich toward God now.

“The secret of Christian quietness is not indifference, but the knowledge that God is my Father, He loves me, I shall never think of anything He will forget, and worry becomes an impossibility.” - Oswald Chambers

Let’s just say it. Sometimes it’s just hard to trust God. When we look at the bills and then look at what’s in the bank, it can be hard to trust. When the orange light blinks on the dash of the car, we think, “Oh no.” We try our best but sometimes it’s just hard to trust God. We’re not the first people to struggle with this. In fact, the very first couple, Adam and Eve, had a hard time trusting God too. Just three chapters into the Bible, Satan comes to them and says, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” You know the rest of the story. They eat the fruit, sin comes into the world, and they are banished from the garden. The Devil’s basic tactic was to question God’s goodness and God’s care for His children.

The same goes with us.  If we have trouble trusting God, it is likely because we somehow believe that God is not looking out for our very best nor that He loves us and will provide for us.  Luke 12:24 says, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”  If we really believed this, we would trust God and give our money and our possessions freely.  God is good.  He loves you.  He will take care of you.  Trust him.  Be a giver.