Handyman Ministry in Shangri-La

Here are some photos of our Handyman Ministry hard at work in Shagri-La today! (If you'd like to get involved in our Handyman Ministry please contact us here!)

Exposing the Dark Work of Abortion

Today is SOHL, but since we were introducing our interim pastor today, Dr. Greg Heisler, we'll be observing SOHL later in February. More info on that coming in the next few weeks.

In the meantime check out this free e-book generously made available by John Piper and Desiring God ministries. It's entitled "Exposing the Dark Work of Abortion" and you definitely want to download and read it!

Racial Reconciliation in Apex: The New Humanity (Part 1)

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

This is the first of a series of posts on the issue of racial reconciliation and how that could take shape in Apex, NC. John Piper recently published a book entitled Bloodlines, which is worth your time to read. In fact, you can download the PDF for absolutely free by clicking here.

I wanted to begin this series by summarizing one of Piper's chapters on race. In his book, he has already established that the mission of Christ was closely tied with the end of ethnocentrism (defined as "feeling that one's own ethnic group should be treated as superior"). He continues by investigating the text of Ephesians 2:11-22 (read the full text here). Piper proposes that Jesus ends ethnocentrism and creates a new people of God who are defined not by race, but by faith in Christ through his death on the cross. A new humanity. He writes, "horizontal reconciliation between alienated peoples happens through vertical reconciliation with God through the blood of Christ."

An amazing idea with astounding implications!

A few thoughts from Bloodlines and Ephesians:

In verses 19-22 we read that the Gentiles are now fellow citizens with the saints and part of the same household of God.

1. In verse 14 Paul tells us that Christ came to die for sinners and by his death on the cross to give Jews and Gentiles one way to God through faith.
2. Then Paul adds in verse 15 that Christ's aim was that he might make one new man. "The church is a single person." Jesus is our common identity. By "our" I mean all believers regardless of ethnicity. We see this thought continued in verse 16.
3. The "mystery of Christ" we read about later in Ephesians 3:4-6 is that Gentiles and Jews are now one person in Christ. 

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:13 that we are "Brought near by the blood of Christ." Piper adds, "Brought near to God and therefore brought near to each other. By the blood. . . . if one design of the cross of Christ is to reconcile alienated ethnic groups to each other by reconciling them to God in Christ, then will we not display and magnify the cross of Christ better by more and deeper and sweeter ethnic diversity and harmony in our corporate and personal lives?"

We'll talk more next week about how these thoughts could be fleshed out practically in our lives. In the meantime, let's examine our hearts in the light of God's Word and strive to bring glory to Jesus in our attitudes and in the habits of our hearts!

Upward Celebration Night

This past Tuesday we had our Upward Celebration night and it was a wonderful time. We wanted to share a few photos with you so you can experience some of the excitement from the night! We'll probably post a few video snippets as well later on. Here you go!

The Privilege of Journeying to the World's End

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

We began Reconcile yesterday afternoon and I wanted to share a quick reflection with you based on a book I'm reading entitled CrossTalk.

I quickly forget in my own life what a privilege it is to be a "minister of reconciliation" and to be part of God's mission. A privilege!

One of my favorite books is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. Read the way King Caspian responds and encourages his weary sailors and friends as they debate the pros and cons of journeying to the World's End.

"Friends," he said, "I think you have not quite understood our purpose. You talk as if we had come to you with our hat in our hand, begging for shipmates. It isn't like that at all. We and our royal brother and sister and their kinsman and Sir Reepicheep, the good knight, and the Lord Drinian have an errand to the world's edge. It is our pleasure to choose from among such of you as are willing, those whom we deem worthy of so high an enterprise. We have not said that any any can come for the asking. That is why we shall now command the Lord Drinian and Master Rhince to consider carefully what men among you are the hardest in battle, the most skilled seamen, the purest in blood, the most loyal to our person, and the cleanest of life and manners; and to give their names to us in a schedule." He paused and went on in a quicker voice: "Aslan's mane!" he exclaimed. "Do you think that the privilege of seeing the last things is to be bought for a song?"

We are co-laborers with Jesus our King, and it is a privilege and honor to come alongside him and plead for the world to be reconciled to God! It shouldn't be a duty only, or something that we check off of our list each week. This is no onerous chore. This is a high and holy calling for children who have been adopted into the family of God through the blood of Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the grave!

This is a glorious task! Let us "press onward and outward, expressing our love for others in sacrificial ways."

(If you'd like to get plugged in to a Reconcile Team please contact Tim Shaw.)

A Few Thoughts for Fathers

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

Recently I had the opportunity to listen to a CD series on Fatherhood by Chip Ingram. It was excellent and I wanted to quickly share with you his four main points. These four points are what Fathers are called to be in their Families:

1. A Leader: Fathers aren't passive. They fight for their families and they make things happen. They invest in their kids.
2. A Priest: Fathers make God known to their children. As Fathers, we have the privilege of revealing God to our kids and taking their needs to God. We are constantly asking ourselves: Do my kids know God? Does our home honor God? Do my kids have an accurate knowledge of God? Fathers also model authentic worship. This means that I am worshiping in front of my children 24/7 in whatever I do, including the way that I treat my wife.
3. A Teacher: As a Dad I'm responsible for imparting wisdom and building character in my children. A Father is not someone who incessantly lectures and wields absolute authority. In other words, don't be harsh, don't be passive, and don't always find fault with your kids. Be careful not to provoke your children to anger.
4. A Lover: A Father gives his children what they need most: provision (both spiritual and relational) and protection. There should be an intimate heart connection between the Father and the children and the children and the Father even during the difficult times.

Dads, I hope those are challenging and encouraging!

Reconcile Begins This Sunday!

Reconcile, our weekly community outreach, begins this Sunday, January 15! We're so excited to have this opportunity to love on our community for Jesus and so far we have around 60+ folks from ABC participating! 

How about you? Would you like to get involved in something special? Here are some FAQs:

When is Reconcile?

Reconcile meets from 4:00-5:00 each Sunday afternoon. We currently have eight teams and your commitment on a team would be for one Sunday each month. That's right: one hour one Sunday a month!

Where does Reconcile meet?

We meet in the Fellowship Hall at 4:00 and then split up from there.

What will I be doing?

When you check in at the Fellowship Hall you'll sign up for various options: emailing, letter writing, note writing, phone calls, visits, prayer, childcare. Whatever you feel like doing that particular afternoon.

Who will we be contacting?

None of these contacts are cold calls. Everyone we will contact has had a touch from ABC or visited ABC previously. We will also be ministering to those in the community who have recently lost loved ones.

Why is this ministry called Reconcile?

Great question! The name comes from Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5. "That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us." Paul goes on to say that we are ambassadors and that God appeals to the lost through us "to be reconciled." What a calling and a charge! Our hope is that through the ministry of Reconcile we can be a part of peoples' stories as they come to know the mercy and grace found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

What happens when there are five Sundays in a month?

During that month we will be involved in some sort of community project. It won't necessarily be on the last weekend or on a Sunday, but we'd love for all the Reconcile teams to be involved and anyone else from our Fellowship to come alongside as well. i.e. April has 5 Sundays so we will be organizing Project Reconcile (formerly known as Operation Inasmuch) on Saturday, April 21.

Do you have other questions or would you like to sign up for a team? Contact us here!

Pastors on Evolution and Creation

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

Recently, Lifeway Research released research on Protestant Pastors and their views on the Creation account in Genesis. Check out the graphic and the below link for more in depth statistics.

Click here for more in depth analysis and trends.

How about you? Any thoughts or responses?

Amplify Photos

A few photos from Amplify last night. Come join us for Bible studies, dinner, ONEeighty and AWANA next week!

Amplify Begins This Week!

Amplify for the winter/spring begins this Wednesday night! Here's the lineup:

Fellowship Dinner starts at 5:00 in the ABC Fellowship Hall (you can call the Church Office at 362-6176 ext. 221 for reservations). Jill and her team fix a great dinner at a very reasonable price, and it's a fantastic opportunity for you to come and spend time with other ABCers!

AWANA (2 year olds through 6th grade) runs from 6:15-7:45. It's a wonderful program that focuses on the importance of God's Word in our children's lives. Email us here to register your child today or to find out more info.

ONEighty for youth (7th-12th grade) also runs from 6:15-7:45. It's a time when our youth meet for Bible study to deepen their relationship with Jesus, grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Bible and begin putting Godly principles in action.

We offer Adult Tracks (6:30-7:30) that deal with several issues including parenting, Bible study, life questions and men's/women's classes. Click here for more details including schedules and adult track locations.

Wednesday nights are a time for your entire family to grow in maturity in faith and in their relationship with Jesus Christ. In these busy days, we hope you'll make it a priority in your family's life to come and join us!