March S.A.L.T. Meeting

I'd like to read a few verses and make a comment about where we are right now. It says, Acts 4 31, After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God boldly. And all the believers were one in heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. That's when you know it's really God. It got right down to the stuff. With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. The word much, any other translations you got there? Great grace, that's my favorite. The word is mega. Recognize that word? It's mega grace was upon them all. Which, when I come in here, we live in the outpouring of the grace of God in this entire age. This is the age of grace from the day that Jesus gave his life for us. We live in grace, we were saved by grace, but there are movements of grace, and times when grace seems to be more available and accessible than others, it's just sort of when God determines he's going to. Sometimes it's in response to hunger, sometimes it's just sovereign, I don't know why. But I can tell you right now, we're in a season of grace. I don't have any handouts, so you're going to have to be creative and put this someplace and you can write it down. There's five evidences of the grace in which we're walking right now. So much grace, I didn't have time to do a handout. Sorry. Those of you who are tree sensitive, I want you to thank me for one less tree died for this gathering today. Here's five evidences that I see right now of grace, and some of them are right there in that passage. There is right now, I believe, an openness in prayer. The prayer times that I am part of seem to be energized right now and not laborious, and we are increasing those. Again, I want to underscore that Dave is giving a portion of his time in a pastoral way to developing various prayer expressions. This is going to grow as the months proceed. Love Through Prayer is meeting consistently Thursday mornings. Is that right, Audrey? At 10 o'clock is it? If you're available Thursday at 10, the morning prayer meetings. A lot of you have never been to one because you're new to Northwood. It's Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at 6 o'clock up in the prayer chapel, prayer opportunities. There's going to be other kinds of things that are a little more user-friendly in terms of time. But there's an openness there, and I sense the Lord hearing prayer. I see that by things happening that weren't happening before. That's kind of encouraging to me. A second thing I see is responsiveness to the Word. When we call for something in response to the preaching or teaching of the Word, I see people saying yes. Last week there were 30 or more people who came forward to rededicate or for the first time to commit their life to Christ. These are encouraging things, and not just at that level. I see it even when I preach, and maybe preach to you who are already convinced about an area of your life, and I see a response, a hunger to want to, for example, deal with an area that maybe has been a wrestling match in your life, of submission or obedience. I see that. Number three, a hunger for growth. People are hungry for growth. They want to grow in the Spirit. They want to grow in the things of God. They want to grow in effectiveness, and there's a hunger for that. The evidence of this to me is in the number of things in which you are making time in your schedule to be available. How many of you were at the Home Group Leaders training session last week? I mean, was that beneficial? Yeah, I mean, it was a powerful time because you were hungry. You got up again on another Saturday and made the time to do it, and your life was stretched because of that, and there's a hunger for that. As I'm going to share in a moment, what's coming is really going to be a real feast for the soul, what's coming over the next few weeks. Number four, a willingness to share. And I mean by that share your resources, share your gifts, share your time. Here in Acts chapter 4, they gave everything. I see an increased willingness. One of the evidences of that was our recent victory in the financial need that we had. But more than that, I see people just available to do the extra things, and that's encouraging to me because we can't possibly do what's ahead of us without that. And number five, an availability for commitment. A couple weeks ago I gave that message on commitment, and I got a lot of response from people saying, for too long I've justified and rationalized my peripheral view of things, and now I am committing myself. I'm going to be part of what's happening in a specific way. And that's an evidence of grace at work in our lives. We don't just muster it up. The Holy Spirit kind of enables us to take those steps. So I see those five things happening, and all kinds of just interesting little things. It's just been encouraging, and I want you to know that. And it's a blessing. And pray that it keeps going, would you? Pray that that grace just keeps being poured out. Now I want to take a minute before we just kind of move. We're going to move into a little group dynamic here in a moment. But I want to say the couple that we want to present our Salter Award to this week to me exemplifies a spirit of grace, of graciousness. I don't know anybody here at Northwood that I encountered that has brought more people to visit with us, to encounter the Lord here than this couple. But their primary heart is to serve in the various behind-the-scenes ministries that are out there. They're not up front very much on occasion, but they have such an incredible diligence in their serving heart. And they were up for a couple of awards here, right, John? So we had to land on one. I hope this is okay, but I want you just to honor with me, and this is again, it's a blessing for us to share with people like this, long-term members of Northwood. And that's Russ and Addie Patch. Come on up, Russ. Bless you. Well, as you know, the Salter Award is symbolic of the essence of what we want this church to be producing, and that's people with servants' hearts. One of the things that has so blessed me is the number of times that Russ will— I run into him down at the mall on Mondays now and then when Carol and I go down on my day off, and almost invariably he'll say, you know, if you have just a minute, I've got something else to tell you. And it's always an interesting story. Take a minute, Russ, and show the one you told me about, the guy who was on a mission to find something critical. I talked to you, and you've been here 11 years, and you said, Yeah, no, I didn't make it up. You were talking to a guy. Well, this happened really a month or so ago when we were at a Sunday service, and Jay or Scott, whoever it was, asked us to turn to each other and talk to somebody we didn't know yet, and if possible, share, which we did. There was a family seat in front of us that I didn't know, and as questions went back and forth, she had asked me how long we'd been coming here, and I said it was over 11 years for myself, and it was about, I think, two months for them. And then the service was over, and we went to our spot there in the information desk, and the man, this conversation was basically with the wife, but the man who was standing next to her and didn't enter into that conversation came up to me and he said, I hear you correctly, you've been coming here over 11 years, and I said yes. He said, We've just been coming a few months. He said, I'm a very critical person. I like to analyze a lot, and I've been trying to find out something that I didn't like about North Way. He said, You've been coming here 11 years. What have you found out that you didn't like about North Way here? Since the answer was nothing, I let him go on speaking, and it was quite a moment in my time here that particular day, and something that I have remembered. It was good to hear him say that in the several months that he'd been coming here, he could find nothing, and I could supply nothing more in this. For those of you who want to take your opinion, let me give you a few things. I don't, you know, there's always someone who thinks, well, they sure don't really know. I do want to say, too, along with your hospital visitation ministry and the deacons, what right now is most exciting to you, too, about what's happening here? As you watch what the Lord's doing, what's got your heart pumping right now, Russ? This has been going on for quite some time, and that is, as we continually hear from new members or relatively new members, maybe it's only their first time here, and they're walking out. Maybe it's the second time, and they're walking in and want to say that they have never seen such love as they've seen here. This is something for all of you to appreciate and take part in, and I know you do, or we wouldn't hear those statements, because they weren't made to add in height about ourselves. They were made about the community of believers here in general, and that just continues. It continues to happen, and it continues to be such a thrilling experience. There couldn't be a better thing said than that. Well, we know that all the years that you've been here, it's not always been smooth sailing. We've gone through a few storms now and then, and that's kind of been a blessing to see the staying power. So we love and appreciate you guys a whole lot. Thank you. There you go. Be careful on that. Thank you. Well, there's going to be abundant opportunities to stretch us in the next six weeks, and before Scott comes and leads us in a little exercise to respondents, I'd like, if I could have some, maybe two or three people on each side, pass out these little calendars. These were in the notes last week, but they got up in the back there. Take one up to Jeff so he doesn't disappear. I probably did. All right. I'd like you to look with me at what's coming because there will be something for everyone, and I can say that quite literally, both for you to be nourished and encouraged, but also for you as a tool to touch others. And it's important that we're on the same page. I discovered yesterday that a lot of our, even some of our elders, didn't realize how much is about to happen. Now, look where we are. Everyone point to the 11th, okay? And right on there, March 11th, say, You are here, all right? You are here. And the next week kind of is a pretty normal one until next Saturday. We're expecting between approximately 500 people to be in the auditorium for a Pittsburgh Prayer Evangelism Conference. What is that? Dave, come on, tell them. What is a Pittsburgh Prayer Evangelism Conference? Dave has been working with me and getting this established. Go ahead. This is a group of people who have been sort of networking for a few months now, pastors in the area, because they really feel as though God is moving and making connections in the area of prayer to pray for our city, to pray for our region. And the specific prayer is that it would have a climate or an atmosphere of openness to the gospel. And that's what the idea of reaching your city for Christ, in this context, it is. That maybe not everyone will make an outward decision, you know, the moment you speak to them, but that there's a climate for people to be open to the gospel. You know, how many times you share with someone and there's no climate. That's right. You know, there's nothing. So what we're really praying for is an atmosphere of openness for people to be willing to hear about Jesus. Anyway, this has sort of turned into a group of pastors and people in the area, intercessors, who are concerned that right now God is beginning to make a connection among them and among others beyond this group. I mean, God is doing something significant in the whole city. And along the way, a gentleman named Ed Silvoso has, I think really by God's appointment, come into this area and willing to help this group of people and intercessors and pastors think about this idea of praying for your city. And so next week will be, he's been here before, about six months ago, but he will be here and he will be with a group of pastors as well as intercessors to spend a day talking about this idea of interceding for your city, for your church. How can we as a body intercede beyond our walls for this atmosphere in our neighborhoods, as well as then what is our responsibility as believers to really, in a way that Christ is the head, do warfare against some of the spirits that really are territorializing our city and keeping strongholds up in people's hearts. And I can just say this. This is what has really impressed me about being involved in this group is that what I am feeling is that the strongholds right now in this area really are against this atmosphere of openness, that people really could care less. As I talk to my neighbors and people, there's just an apathy. There's not even a really blatant opposition to the gospel. It's just an apathy to the gospel. And so we're praying that through this time, not to create a program, but to pray and to learn from each other that God will create an openness to reach out to our city. So next week, and if you're interested in coming, it's not too late. You just need to call the office and let us know you're coming and we can sign you up. I believe there's a $20 registration fee. I think that's what it is. But just let us know, and then perhaps we're going to have a debriefing time after this as a group of intercessors here, just to see what God might be doing to call us into this. Great. Okay, well said. I don't have anything to give you in hand. We might have a few of those flyers available. Maybe I can get some done. This is happening. We've watched this very carefully. We did not jump on this bandwagon. Did you want to make them miss about this team? Right. Well, what they had then was really... It's 9 to 5 on Saturday. It's a day-long conference. Let me just say, we examined this thing. I did not want to do another thing. In fact, I stood up as one of the pastors and said, I don't know if we need another thing here. But there's been a good spirit about this, and it's not a big program. This isn't going to end in a rally at Free River Stadium. Anyhow, just for you, it's an option. We're not responsible for it. Folks, these are the kinds of things that are coming right here to be with us in our place. It couldn't be more convenient for us in that sense. Again, if you're an intercessor, if you have any heart or burden to see spiritual warfare waged at North Way, you need to be here next week. Let me just say it like that. If you can't stay the whole day, come for as much as you can, of course. Next thing in your calendar, it's going to happen pretty quickly, is on Wednesday night you see Grand Slam Sunday on the 19th, and you want to be encouraging people to take that step. Those seminars are critical if we're to see disciples being fashioned. So I want to maybe circle the 19th there. Just because you see it every week, folks, it's kind of like a regular meal, but you take it for granted. It's important. The 22nd through the 25th, the Preparing for Revival Leadership Conference. Now, if you watch CTV, you know all about this. If you don't watch CTV, you say, well, what's that about? There will be a little explanation in your notes tomorrow that I wrote up about it, but we've got about half a dozen prominent national caliber-type speakers that CTV is bringing right here at North Way for those three days. This is a day-long conference, not just evenings. So it starts Wednesday night at 7 and goes all day Thursday, all day Friday, including evenings, and ends and goes from 9 to 5 on Saturday the 25th. Here's the scary part. We're expecting, they're expecting about 1,000 people for the day session and about 2,000 for the night session. How many of you, any men here from Promise Keepers on January? Mike, remember how it was like to have 15, almost 2,000? It is tight. So, a little word of the wise. If you're going to be part of it, get here early and just put a big sign, don't touch my seat, whatever. Be gracious. Now, some people ask me, is this all about the laughing revival stuff? Are we all going to start baying like dogs? This is not about that specifically. It is about availability of the Holy Spirit to be whatever God wants you to be. And I've got to tell you, my attitude is what I never want to say, no, I'm not interested in that. I want to be here and I want to be taught and I want to be fed and challenged. On the other hand, we come with discernment. There are going to be some people speaking during that thing that are probably from a little different perspective than you're used to. Not necessarily most of you because you've been believers, but a lot of our people will come in and hear someone like a Miles Monroe and they're going to go, whoa, where did that guy come from? So, it's going to be challenging stretching, but I think it will be very good. And it's going to be big. Now, that's to say, if you can help us in some way, if you'd like to be part of it, I think we can get your registration fee waived if you're willing to serve during the day and that kind of thing. And let us know, use your communicator and we'll work on that with you. There's no fee for the night. There is a fee for the day. I mean, I think it's only $20. It's really inexpensive. Actually, it's too inexpensive. We're donating a lot of what we're giving here. So, expecting it to be a seed of blessing. It says 7.30 to 9.00. Right, I don't think. I think it's 7.00 to 10.00 each night. I mean, this is... How many of you remember Eastern Charismatic Time from the old Charismatic Conferences? I mean, you show up at 7.00 and you go home whenever it shuts down. That's what this is going to be like. How many need inner healing already? Just before it even starts. Okay, it is big. And I just want to underscore that because there's going to be a lot of need. Next, quickly. We move... Homegroup Mixer on the 29th. If you know or know of someone who needs to be in a homegroup, Bill is trying to get people connected. We had our first kind of attempt at that a month ago. These are great ways to... There's also a Praise Night there. Skip on over quickly. I'm using up time. Then we move into Renaissance and Renewal Week. Now, what is that all about? Well, that's a week of dedication. We decided to call it a week of Renaissance and Renewal and community, family, and faith because we wanted our neighbors to come. We didn't want it just to sound like a big religious revival pen meeting thing. We wanted our neighbors to feel like, well, that sounds interesting. I think you're going to have in your hand... Arlene went to see... No, huh? Okay, well, we've got some materials coming today to distribute tomorrow, very nicely done, so you can use them as invitations. Here's what's going to happen. Look at the second. There's only one service. How many of you come to the 11 o'clock service usually? Okay, you'll be late. One service, 10 a.m. If you come to 9, you'll be probably close on time. All right, 10 a.m. service. Then we're going to have one at 3 p.m., a building dedication service, different than the grand opening. Not going to have all the contractors and all the thank yous. It really purely will be a dedication service and having Pittsburgh area pastors come and share, local friends, ministries, our elders. We're going to really dedicate ourselves to the vision of God that this building stands for. It'll be a great time. Then we're having a lunch on the 3rd with political government leaders, I should say, and educators and representatives from the community trying to develop a sense that the church cares about what's going on in the community and not just its own agenda. And Commissioner Larry Dunn is going to speak at that and I have Bob Pitkin from the NAACP is going to speak a little bit about it. It's just a very strategic kind of time. Then the Women's Girl Luncheon you see there with Kevin Lehman. I guess it's a brunch, 9.30? Okay, anyhow. And then the Men's Breakfast, 6.30. And then on Wednesday night, the 5th, Kevin Lehman is going to... We're going to go way out on a limb here. How many of you have teenage kids? The topic for that night, listen to this, is sex, colon, mom and dad, can we talk? And what we're going to try to do, Kevin is really good at sort of taking sexuality and putting it in a context where you can laugh a little bit about it. And he's going to help parents and kids just get some things sort of out there to talk about. I'm nervous about that. It'll be a riot. But it'll also be very, very good for people to come and bring their teenage kids. When do kids start talking about that now? Five? Yeah, six. Then Steve Camp is coming. Steve Camp, if you're not familiar with contemporary Christian music as much, is a very gifted and maybe I'll use... I've known Steve, he's done concerts. I think my first concert with Steve was 20 years ago when he was driving around in a little micro-van with a guitar. And now he's number two album in the nation. He's going to do a live rendition of his Mercy in the Wilderness. It's going to be a worship night. It's going to be great. We're going to have lots of folks here that night. And then Palm Sunday, special music that day. And the Donut Man is a family event. The Donut Man, you all know, is great with young kids. Then the 12th, we're having a special dramatic musical called Eyewitnesses. We're going to kind of transform this into a first century pilgrimage right to the tomb. It's going to be really powerful that night. Circle that, it's going to be a time to invite friends. Then we're going to have our fast from Wednesday night to Friday morning, the Good Friday morning service at seven, not six. Everyone say hallelujah. Seven o'clock, extra hour. But that's always a great time, a very holy time before the Lord. And then three Easter services, seven, nine, and 1115. Then many of us will need resurrected, so we'll have Malcolm Smith the following Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Malcolm will come to minister in the morning and in the evening. And that will be also, as you know, Malcolm's gift in teaching is wonderful. So, there you go. Now, I know I left out the women's retreat that is on there, and that's going to be a time when our ladies will get away a little bit for refreshing and deepening of their walk. And the youth retreat on the 21st to the 23rd. Questions about the calendar or about what's happening? Yes, Mac. Seven-third. It's correct on the calendar. Steve Camp is just a donation, suggested donation. We're not going to charge, really. We're taking an offering, but we're going to suggest a $5 offering. No. We couldn't provide child care for all those people. We just can't do it. And we've put that in our... I know we're going to get burned by that because people will show up with their kids, and we're not going to... We're putting in there no child care, but we just can't do it. We don't have the resources on hand to do it, people-wise. Unless you all like to volunteer. Not even smiling. Not even moving the mouth. Okay, any other questions? Well, good. Here is your first look at what we're doing. Sure, pass them out. These still smell. These are so fresh from being made. This is for the week of Renaissance. This is what we're using as your little handout to invite folks. All right? This just gives you exact detail of what I just told you, but it's nice because now you've got something you can hand to somebody. We're also getting cards made that are a little heavier that will be mailed. Okay, Scott, you want to come up and talk about what we're going to end with here? Turn the microphone on. Go ahead and move into small groups, please, of three or four. It can't be more than four, quickly. Turn your chairs. It's a sit-down exercise. John, can you get those forms out to the small group? Three or four in each group. We've got a small group exercise for you. Make sure your group has at least one pen. If you don't have a pen, you can put your hand up and we'll get you one. Now, each group is going to be given a green sheet. Each group of three or four should have one green sheet that looks like this. Put your hand up if you don't have a green sheet in your group. Okay, does everybody have a green sheet? No. Down here, John. Okay, now, stop looking at your green sheet. Stop looking at each other. And listen to me. I'm going to give you about one minute of instructions. Now, there's a group of five over there. Somebody go and exercise church discipline. No, that's okay. You can stay together. Now, listen. You've got a movement going here, I know. Okay, now, just give me your attention for one minute. I'd like you to read through this together in just a moment, and what you're going to see is a repeat of our vision this year, which is to be a community of believers who relate authentically in small groups as we discover and engage our gifts to reach and transform our culture. Around this vision and hope that our church will be transforming over the next year, I'd like you to work through these three exercises as a team. Start by putting your names at the top of your team, because you're going to hand these in to us. Assign a person to journal your answer in the three blocks that's on the sheet, but we would like your collective idea as a group to answer each of these three questions. You have to use your brains for this, but this is an exercise. We need your help. Go ahead and walk through it together. We're going to give you about ten minutes to do this, so go right at it. Mystery one, mystery two, and mystery three, and then we'll come back together in about ten minutes. So go at it. Write your answer in each block as you draw each conclusion.