Union Grove Baptist Church- Huntersville, NC

"Lose Your Religion" Starting July 19th

A Quick Word from the Leadership Team...

July 06

Unity Under Attack

In Ephesians 4:3 the Lord is calling the church to guard the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. The fact we are called to guard the unity in the church is evidence that the unity is under attack. This has been proved true as we look over the history of Union Grove, that every few years the fellowship gets bigger and stronger- then it drops drastically. Even lately there have been several issues rise up within the congregation that have threatened the unity of the church. In this passage of Scripture we see 5 attitudes we must have if we will guard the unity of Union Grove by God's grace: humility, gentleness, patience, love, and diligence. May the Lord be pleased to fill us with these attitudes and guard us against the enemies attacks, even using his attacks to strengthen the unity at Union Grove.

On Guard With and For You,

3:59 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

June 15

"Nine Marks of a Healthy Church"- Bo Riley

Currently the leadership team is reading through the book by Mark Dever: Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. This is a book that sets forth nine essential areas of church life. Our leadership team wants to read through, think through, and discuss these different things and how they relate to Union Grove. To help encourage the church through this study each member of the leadership team is being challenged to post some thoughts on each of the marks on this blog. The first mark of a healthy church is expositional preaching. This is preaching that has for its central point the main point of the biblical passage being preached. This keeps the preaching truly centered upon the word of God. I am very passionate about this because as we continually hold forth God's word He will create, grow, and lead His church. How can we improve the preaching ministry? What can we do to ensure that the pulpit remains centered on God's word? If you would like to join us on this journey you can find the book at Amazon.com and helpful resources at 9marks.org. May the Lord bless the preaching of His word at Union Grove and around the world!

3:39 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

June 07

"Sent with a Mission"- Bo Riley

This morning we looked at John 17:18 where Jesus prayed, "As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them (the church) into the world." At Union Grove we see ourselves as rebels redeemed from an eternal punishment by a holy God through the death of His Son in our place. This great God has redeemed us and now sent us on a mission to go to all the world with the powerful life-giving message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all who will trust Christ alone for it. The book of Acts gives us a picture of what it will look like for our church to be on mission in Huntersville and the world...

1. Preaching the Gospel: Act 2:14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

2. Praying for boldness and the spread of the Gospel:

Act 4:29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

Act 4:30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the

3. Each believer actively sharing their faith in their day to day life:

Act 8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Act 8:1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

4. Believers crossing cultures locally with the gospel:

Acts 10- Peter a Jew shared the gospel with Cornelius a Gentile in Caesarea Philippi

5. Believers going to places that have never heard the gospel

Paul went to Cyprus, Perga, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, Philippi, Thessolonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Galatia, and Ephesus

6. Believers patiently enduring persecution-

Act 5:40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Act 5:41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Act 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

7. Believers were following the Spirit's leading in the work of missions, evangelism, and discipleship

Act 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Act 13:3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

8. Believers strategizing and working towards sharing the gospel: Acts 17- Paul in Athens- the altar to the "unknown god"- Paul uses this to share the Gospel

9. Believers actively and lovingly pursuing the lost and building each other up: all throughout Acts

May the Lord be pleased to prepare us and use us to reach the nations with the gospel for His glory!

1:05 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

May 25

Keeping Each Other Accountable

The leadership team members are desiring to mature as men and women of God. Therefore each member of the leadership team has been paired with another team member to ask the following accountability questions weekly which were adapted from the "Personal and Ministry Accountibility" of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Pray for us that we would be faithful to follow Christ as we seek to lead His church.

1) How are you doing in your personal devotions?

2) What worldly struggle are you dealing with this week?

3) How is God dealing with you this week?

4) How effective do you feel as a leader?

5) Are you getting enough rest this week?

6) Did you work on the memory verse for this week?

7) Have you been with a man or woman in the past week in a way that could be viewed as compromising?

8) Have any of your financial dealings failed to be filled with integrity?

9) Have you viewed sexually explicit material?

10) Have I neglected to give appropriate time to my family?

11) Is there anything that you would like me or the leadership team to pray with you about or hold you accountable for or rejoice over (significant stresses, temptations, or joys)?

12) How is your family life? What have you done to pursue and lead your family?

13) Assess your eating and exercise this past week: 1 - 10

10:02 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

May 20

"Be On Guard"- Bo Riley

Acts 20:25-32
During the last leadership team meeting we looked at and discussed Paul's farewell speech to the leadership team of the Ephesian church. In this passage of Scripture we noticed that Paul defined the task of the leadership team, emphasized the seriousness of being a leader on the leadership team, and explained how to accomplish the task the Lord has given the leadership team.

1) The Task: 20:28 says "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of God..." he goes on to say that the reason we are to be on guard is because people will infiltrate the church and even people within the church will rise up speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples. So the leadership team is called to guard the church from being deceived and swept away in falsehood.

2) The Seriousness of the Task: 20:28 says "... the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." God cares deeply about the church. The church is the most important group of people on the planet. Therefore, the leadership team of the church who will be on guard for the church has the most important duty on the planet.

3) The Way to Accomplish the Task: 20:25-32 Paul emphasizes the Word of God being the shepherds' tool to guard the flock. "I went about preaching... therefore I am innocent of the blood of all men for I did not shrink for declaring to you the whole purpose of God... be on the alert remembering night and day I did not cease to admonish each one... I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

It is an overwhelming pleasure to be a part of this team,

Bo

3:26 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

This week's sermon:

July 5th, 2009

"Unity Under Attack (pt 1)"

Ephesians 4:1-6

Union Grove Baptist Church

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