Dear KingsWay
What a joy it was to be together on Sunday as Tiffany and I and the team were sent out to Fredericksburg. 
Joyful. And tearful. We will miss you so much. We’ve made so many wonderful friends, experienced so much care from you, and had such a meaningful time of equipping that leaving really is bittersweet. As Gene reminded us on Sunday, mission has a cost.
But it’s also a privilege! Thanks for your joy in releasing us, equipping us, and sending us to this new area. We go as a part of you. Somehow, through your efforts and care for us, Jesus will reach the lost. The God of history has chosen to use your labors to reach people in Fredericksburg! I trust you feel the sense of awe that he allows us to participate in his plan. What a gracious God we serve!
With gratitude for these past months and anticipation for the future,
Ken & Tiffany
PS We are only an hour up the road! (Yes, that’s a hint!!!)
This week’s message was entitled “Joy in the Recession”. We explored Luke 12:22-34 and discovered how we can experience the joy of the Lord, even in the midst of an economic recession. We learned about the folly of anxiety and the practice of faith. In order to better live in the joy of the Lord, let us consider these truths and questions:
1. “Don’t worry, seek the Kingdom.” What was your initial thought in response to this advice, and what do you now think of it?
2. In light of Luke 12:22-34, why is an economic recession a divine opportunity?
3. Do you typically think of yourself as valuable to God? Why or why not? How does Christ speak of your worth?
4. When do your strengths tempt you toward anxiety? When does your weakness or lack tempt you toward anxiety? How does this passage address both of these temptations?
5. In the moment when you are anxious, do you think, “I need to seek the Kingdom”? Why not? How does this passage make this thought relevant in time of anxiety?
6. In your current circumstances, how is God calling you to “seek the Kingdom”?
As we see and experience the affects of an economic recession, may we not worry, but instead, seek the Kingdom – all by His grace.
This post was written by Aaron Campbell.
Conduct this quick experiment - think of a song that those close by would know and have them guess what it is while you tap it out (no singing, no humming, just tapping it.) Did they guess it? Now try switching roles with them tapping and you guessing…
What you most likely experienced while tapping was the “curse of knowledge”. The frustration of knowing something that is obvious to you (the song you were tapping) while the person you were trying to communicate it to had no idea of the actual tune. Taking the “listener” turn can give new insight into how un-obvious that role really is.
I just finished “Made to Stick” by Chip and Dan Heath, where they seek to help undo the curse of knowledge by giving basic counsel to help get ideas across. Most of their advice is in the range of what could be termed “uncommon-common sense” - it isn’t difficult to understand or see the value of, but that doesn’t mean we regularly put it into practice.
The illustrations skew toward a business and academic audience but the principles can be useful for any setting/relationship. Though not a book I expect to be on everyone’s short list, it’s interesting and engaging enough to make it worthwhile for those that are interested.
In this week’s message, entitled “The Certainty of Resurrection”, we examined 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. We heard how Christians can have hope because of Christ’s resurrection. To better understand the importance of this in our lives, let us consider these questions:
1. What does the resurrection of Christ declare?
2. How have you grieved differently because of the hope of our resurrection?
3. How can we prepare ourselves that we may grieve with hope in the future?
4. How often do you meditate on the truth of the promise in verse 17, “we will always be with the Lord”? How could you and what difference would this make in your life?
5. How should our future hope affect the way that we live today?
With joy and with hope, let us daily live under the reality that because He rose, we will rise!
Deliver Us from the Evil One
by Max Lucado
The next-to-last phrase in the Lord’s prayer is a petition for protection from Satan: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Is such a prayer necessary? Would God ever lead us into temptation? James 1:13 says, “When people are tempted they should not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ Evil cannot tempt God, and God himself does not tempt anyone.” If God does not tempt us, then why pray, “Lead us not into temptation”? These words trouble the most sophisticated theologian.
But they don’t trouble a child. And this is a prayer for the child-like heart. This is a prayer for those who look upon God as their Abba. This is a prayer for those who have already talked to their Father about provision for today (”Give us our daily bread.”) and pardon for yesterday (”Forgive us our debts.”). Now the child needs assurance about protection for tomorrow.
The phrase is best understood with a simple illustration. Imagine a father and son walking down an icy street. The father cautions the boy to be careful, but the boy is too excited to slow down. He hits the first patch of ice. Up go the feet and down plops the bottom. Dad comes along and helps him to his feet. The boy apologizes for disregarding the warning and then, tightly holding his father’s big hand, he asks, “Keep me from the slippery spots. Don’t let me fall again.”
The Father is so willing to comply. “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Ps. 37:23–24 TLB). Such is the heart of this petition. It’s a tender request of a child to a father. The last few slips have taught us–the walk is too treacherous to make alone. So we place our small hand in his large one and say, “Please, Abba, keep me from evil.”
From
The Great House of God
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) Max Lucado
Aliza and I returned late last Wednesday night from the Sovereign Grace Pastor’s Conference in Gaithersburg, MD. Our entire pastoral team enjoyed 2 1/2 days of worship, teaching and fellowship equipping us to more faithfully “shepherd the flock of God that is among you”. (1 Pe 5:2) Jeff Purswell gave a particular outstanding message on Tuesday evening from 2 Tim. 2:15. He asked the question, “Where does your confidence lie?” in reference to pastoral ministry. During a season of change on the pastoral team and office staff, it’s easy for my confidence to be in identifying wise methods, models & procedures. God used Jeff’s message to remind me that my confidence in pastoral ministry must only lie in the power of the Word of God. Through the power of His word, God is building His church. My job is to faithfully proclaim God’s word and trust Him to accomplish the work only He can do! Needless to say, I came home refreshed and full of greater faith for all that lies ahead at Kingsway - faith not in my ability, but in the powerful Word of our Heavenly Father.
REMINDER!!!!
KINGSWAY YARD SALE this Saturday 8 am – 3pm!!! Tell all your friends… and for those not participating, grab your change purse and come prepared to find great deals and fun fellowship!
BENEVOLENCE FUND DONATIONS- For those interested in donating sellable goods to support the Kingsway Benevolence Fund. These items can be dropped off at the church Monday-Friday 9am-5pm or Saturday Morning before 7 am. Please label all these items “BENEVOLENCE” and drop them off thru the double doors nearest the kitchen and leave these items in the hallway at the designated location. All items that are NOT sold will be donated to the Richmond Outreach Center! (the ROC)
We just concluded the Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastors & Wives Conference in Gaithersburg, Maryland last week. Thanks for your prayers as your pastors & wives joined 850 others from 17 nations in studying and reflecting on what the Scriptures teach about pastoral ministry. CJ taught both the opening and closing sessions from 1 Peter 5:1-4, explaining the high call of a shepherd and exhorting us to lay hold of God’s grace for the many opportunities God provides. Jeff Purswell reminded us of our call to preach the Gospel, Dave Harvey directed our attention to the Great Commission in Matthew 28, and Jared Mellinger inspired us to transfer the Gospel to the next generation.
We return home freshly grateful for the opportunity to serve you by reminding you of the finished work of the Savior on our behalf. What a joy to follow the Lord together!
Here are some thoughts on the 20 year anniversary from Ken Delage’s point of view. Ken will be planting a church in Fredericksburg within the next few months.
One of the highlights of my time at KingsWay was celebrating our church’s anniversary a few weeks ago. I experienced the evening wearing several hats: church member, father, husband, etc. Each “hat” gave me a different perspective on God’s faithfulness to Kingsway.
One of the hats that gave me an exciting perspective is that of church planter. For me, “20 years of God’s faithfulness” is still in the future. Yes, I was celebrating the past along with everyone else; but I was also anticipating the future. Seeing Gene and Liz meeting with a small church in their family room gave me real anticipation for those meetings in my own family room, set to begin in just one month.
As I experienced that evening, do you know what had the biggest impact? It was the fact that throughout the night we weren’t celebrating “20 years of Gene’s brilliance” or “20 years of perfect preaching” or “20 years of great leadership”. Nope. We were celebrating 20 years of God’s faithfulness. Twenty years of God meeting this church.
And that gives me hope. Hope that God will meet us in the going. Hope despite my weakness. Hope that God can use our team to impact a community with the gospel.
Hope, because we leave to serve the same God that has been so faithful to KingsWay.
At the 2009 Sovereign Grace Pastor’s Conference, KingsWay’s own Liz Emerson was honored for her faithful work with the Ladies Ministry of the church and for the example of her faithfulness to God through trials. See the video here.
