Back In Black

Well, actually, I didn’t wear black but it was good to be back this Sunday. The #1 question I got was, “Did you get some rest?” Answer – yes and no. Vacationing with a pre-teen is NOT restful! Arianna is more on-the-go than ever and that means Susan and I are on-the-go too. But on the other hand, it was good to get away from the weekly pressure of preaching and leading.

 This Sunday we kicked off a brand new series called, FAQ’s. Here’s the rundown:

 • Felt good to preach again but I have to admit I was a little nervous after being off for 3 weeks.

 • Great music combination from Jon and the band. We got new school and old school. New school: Your Name High. Great new Hillsong worship tune. Old school: It Is Well With My Soul. I love the new stuff, but I have a soft spot in my heart for some of the great old hymns too. (As long as we do them NHC-style!)

 • Sound was great too. Paul Boone, our resident sound and tech guru, is one of the best I’ve ever seen. He had his team in this past week tweaking our sound again and adding some new stuff that just made our sound clearer and more defined. Props to Paul!

• Yesterday we dealt with the question, “Can I Lose My Salvation?” Short answer? No! God’s grace is sufficient to save me and it’s sufficient to keep me saved too. Why is it we think that we’re good enough to stay saved when our salvation NEVER depends on what we do or don’t do? It’s all about Jesus! I’m not saved because I’m good enough and I don’t stay saved because I stay good enough. I’m saved because Jesus is good enough and I stay saved because Jesus continues to be good enough!

• Next week – Is It OK For A Christian To Drink? Wow! Should be fun!

• Heard great reports from our first Block Party. Attendance was the best ever and our volunteers took BP to a whole 'nutha level! Way to go guys! Can't wait for the next one.

 • Had lunch yesterday with some of our NHC police officers and fire fighters. For some reason, we have tapped into the local police departments, fire departments and Sheriff’s office, and I’m really stoked about that. These guys and gals lay their lives on the line everyday for us and it’s an honor to have so many of them in our church.

 • While I’m on the subject, keep praying for the Durham Police officer who was shot over the weekend. He’s making progress but isn’t out of the woods yet.

• Great to be back and I'm looking forward to the rest of our summer together! Love 'ya NHC!!

Comments

[Dave]

So let me take your illustration a step further. What if Steve McNair (if he was a Christ follower) had just gossiped before he got shot to death instead of having an affair? Or what if he had been living a gluttonous lifestyle for the last couple of months? Where do we draw those lines? What sins are “bad enough” to make you lose your salvation?

I think one of our biggest struggles is to understand the gospel of grace. We all know that we are saved by grace, but it seems there’s just something in us as human beings that wants to fall back on what we do instead of what Jesus did. To put my trust totally in the camp of grace means that I have to lay down my control over the situation. That’s a hard thing for most of us to do.

But we have to come to the simple question – Do I believe in salvation by grace or not? If it takes the grace of God to save me, what makes me think I can take it from there and qualify to stay saved by what I do or don’t do?

[Loretta]

1. Welcome back!
2. Next time you talk to our emergency people, please tell them Thank You from us.
3. Further illumination, please, on yessterday's topic, using two recent news stories as illustrations. (In both cases, obviously, all we know is what's been reported publicly--we can't truly know these men's hearts.) Gov. Mark Sanford is a Christian, had an affair, but appears to have repented. I have no trouble believing he is still saved. I don't know whether Steve McNair was a Christian--for the sake of my illustration let's say he was. He too was having an affair, but was killed before he was able to repent. If we take the position that no-matter-what he is still God's child, doesn't that make God out to be a fool?