Life Groups- Recipe Time!

Life Groups are now entering their second month, and it seems each group has their own wonderful stories of food, fun, and fellowship. It has been exciting to see our body truly come together and become a place where everyone is known and comfort zones are expanded. Most importantly, Life Groups have been an incredible way to see the fulfillment of God's promise that He is wherever two or more are gathered together in His name.

As we continue through this rotation of Life Groups we want to make sure that no one hits a culinary "wall," so we have set up an online "recipe book" in order to help with menu selection. To view it, simply go to tinyurl.com/bpclifegroups and scroll to the bottom. And if you would like to share a favorite recipe with others, just e-mail it to plkelly27@gmail.com.

Children's Message for August : /

This is a building where a steeple may perch
Open the door and see the real Church
Close the door as we love one another
Then may we live and SHARE the Truths we discover

Blythewood Pres Tailgate and Swim - August 26

Saturday, August 26 was a GREAT time around the pool and incredible food at the Hunter's house.

It was a wonderful day of relationship, memories and calories. I sure am enjoying getting to know the families that are partnering with us in this adventure of planting a new church.

We are continuing to seek God's leading for what He wants His church to become.

There are more pictures on our fb group page.

Sermon Prep Team - August 16

One of the things we are committed to at Blythewood Presbyterian is strong teaching in our Sunday sermons. To help accomplish this goal we are wanting to put together a Sermon Prep Team. The idea is to get a variety of folks in prayer, in the Word, and in conversation leading into our sermon series.

The plan is to get the team the biblical texts (with possible sermon titles) two months out. Each of us are to go before the Father, through Christ with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and study the text (writing down insights, thoughts, promptings, etc...). Then a month before the series begins the team will get together for interaction and discussion. This process will be supplemented with emails and consistent communication.

If you are interested in being a part of this team, email me at rhett@blythewoodpres.com.

Soft Launching - August 16

We are off and running. Blythewood Presbyterian Church Plant is currently meeting at St. Marks church on Sunday afternoons.

We are planning our public launch on October 3 in the Blythewood High School auditorium.

If you are interested in getting connected, feel free to contact us at info@blythewoodpres.com - we would love to have you join us.

This is a church and this is a steeple, open the door and see... The Church.

First Month - a soft launch - 8/5/2010

How exciting!! August is here and we are launching... softly.

A soft launch means that we will be discovering, living and SHARING the transforming love of Jesus Christ as a core group of believers. We will continue to become trained and unified in our mission and mode of operation.

Our corporate worship will be on Sundays from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (with childcare provided) at St. Marks Lutheran Church (105 Main Street or Wilson Blvd, Blythewood, SC - just north of Blythewood High School). Our worship experience will be followed by Life Groups.

If you are interested in more information, please feel free to contact us at: info@blythewoodpres.com.

Calendar Events for August

7 Youth Swim @ The Smiths

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Middle and High School pizza and swim gathering

8 Worship @ St. Marks and Life Groups

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Vision and Evangelism

6:00 p.m. Life Groups – supper and relationship

15 Worship @ St. Marks and Life Groups

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Vision and Evangelism

6:00 p.m. Life Groups – supper and relationship

20 Pre-School Fun Night @ The Sanders

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

22 Worship @ St. Marks and Life Groups

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Vision and Evangelism

6:00 p.m. Life Groups – supper and relationship

27 Elementary Fun Night @ The Sanders

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

28 Tail Gate and Swim @ The Hunters

3:00 p.m. Swim and Pot Luck tailgate favorites

29 Worship @ St. Marks and Life Groups

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Vision and Evangelism

6:00 p.m. Life Groups – supper and relationship

rhett

Evangelism

To recap what we've learned and discussed thus far. In week 1, we learned that coming to Christ is a process or a series of mini-decisions that a person must make as they move towards asking Jesus to come into their life.

In week 2, we discussed how difficult and intimidating it can be to find common ground with unbelievers.

Last week, we discussed how to be a good testimony, and in essence "raise the flag" by making it known that we are a believer in Christ.

Finally, yesterday, we discussed the fact that we can't please everyone, and that at times our decisions to spend time with unbelievers can cause both internal and external strife as we figure out how to cope with their offensive habits or with other believers that take issue with our efforts to associate with unbelievers with offensive habits.

We were left with four (4) principles to consider: 1) let the Holy Spirit clean up the unbeliever's act; 2) be God pleasers, not man-pleasers; 3) get God's point of view on ethical issues from the Bible; and 4) learn to apply your own convictions gracefully, without alienating others.

I would encourage each of you to simply strive to be open to whatever God lays on your heart in the area of evangelism.

Rob