This is the eighth and final sermon in the series titled “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God”.

Theme – As we wear the “full armor of God,” we are to pray 1) “in the Spirit,” 2) “on all occasions,” and 3) with all kinds of prayers and requests.

The text for the sermon was taken from Ephesians 6:18-20.

 

 Standard Podcast [27:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (58)

The sermon for this week from the series “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God” is titled “Talking God’s Ear Off“.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• Did you grow up in an openly “religious” home?  Or was religion a private matter, unseen by you until later years?
• Were you taught any rote prayers as a child?  What was one of the earliest prayers you can recall?

STUDY IT – Ephesians 6:18-20, Romans 8:26-27

• Read Ephesians 6:18-20 out loud.  What stands out for you in this verse?  What questions do you have?
• What are the things that Paul asks the Ephesians to pray for in these verses?  How do these things relate to the “full armor of God”?
• Why do you think Paul closes this section on the “full armor of God” by talking about prayer?  What’s the connection between prayer and the “full armor of God”?
• What do you think it means to “pray in the Spirit”?  Read Romans 8:26-27.  How does this help us understand what it means to “pray in the Spirit”?
• Looking again at Ephesians 6:18, what does it mean to pray “on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests”?  Is this difficult to do or easy to do?

LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• What are some obstacles in your life that keep you from praying (or praying more)?
• What could you do to make prayer more of a habit in your life?
• What can you learn from this passage about your prayer for others in your small group? For friends in ministry and/or missionaries?  For others in general?  What can you learn from Paul’s prayers in Ephesians 1:16-18 and 3:14-19.

PRAY IT

• Application:  Pray for “all the saints” in your small group.  Take turns praying for each other, particularly their ongoing spiritual growth over the summer.
• Joys and Challenges:  What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Pray for the middle schoolers and high schoolers who will be going to Young Life camp this summer.  Pray also for the leaders who will be going with them.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for Trinity Life Church a new church plant in San Diego affiliated with San Diego Presbytery.  Pray for their pastor, Marc Peña, that God would guide him and strengthen him for this new ministry.

We hope you recall our December 2008 newsletter that we are returning to the United States this year. Preparing for this complex transition has been a significant factor in consuming our hours and days in the past few months. Our time in the Netherlands is now truly growing short. (And it truly feels real now that we’ve bought our plane tickets–at an amazing price, Praise the Lord!!!) Here’s a quick timeline of our final few weeks in Europe:

1 May – Started advertising our vehicles for sale
29 May -  Last day of homeschool!
10 Jun – Final local Club Beyond event
19 Jun – 4 Jul – Beach Break (meanwhile Shannon and her parents prepare our home for moving)
7-9 Jul – Movers pack up our household goods
9-13 Jul – Clean/repair house and yard – turn in keys on the 13th
16-23 Jul – MCYM Welcome/Goodbye conference
1 Aug – Fly home! (Frankfurt to Dallas)
2-8 Aug – Buy a van
9-14 Aug – Family Reunion in Missouri
17 Aug (TBD) – Move into our student apartment at Princeton Theological Seminary
16 Sep – Orientation begins for three-year Masters in Divinity program

We will be leaving Young Life staff at the end of July. If you are donating monthly to our Young Life account, thank you for continuing to give through July. In addition to our regular monthly expenses, we anticipate our moving costs to be approximately $25,000. Due to the faithful, generous support we’ve received throughout our years in Europe, our account already has nearly enough funds to cover these expenses: THANK YOU!! We are SO grateful to every one of our support team members. Your steadfastness and stewardship has made our ministry in the Netherlands possible, and we could not possibly thank you enough. We hope you will continue to give to the needs and opportunities within the body of Christ as the Lord would lead you.

If you would like to continue to support the Chastain family, please keep in touch! We do not know at this point what the Lord has in store for us beyond seminary. Although we are pretty sure our season with MCYM is at an end, we are confident that our time at Princeton will be preparing us to continue the mission of MCYM Europe (“Build the Church”) in some other capacity. If you are interested in continuing to invest in our small corner of that big mission, whatever and wherever that “building” may be, please let us know (email chastain.family@mac.com).

If you would like to make a tax-deductible gift (one-time or recurring) toward our immediate transition and settling-in expenses, please send checks to: Northminster Presbyterian Church, 4324 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92117 (make checks payable to Northminster and note “Chastains” in the memo line).

We are grateful for our five years of ministry here in the Netherlands, and also excited for the next chapter of our life. There are so many other details over the next two months that we need to turn over to the Lord: pray for us as we schedule our last round of doctors appointments before our insurance transitions, retrieve our medical records from our Dutch doctors, and for that insurance transition to go without a hitch.  Pray for all the details of closing out our house and rental contract to go smoothly and for our relationship with our landlord to end well; it has been somewhat strained at times.  Pray for our vehicles to sell and for us to find just the right vehicle when we return in August; we will be going from 2 cars to 1. Pray for our household goods to get on the right boat that goes just the right speed and arrives in New Jersey AFTER we do so that we don’t incur hefty storage fees.

Steve and Shannon Chastain
chastain.family@mac.com

Northminster, as part of its mission activities, supports Steve Chastain who is on staff with Young Life and serves with Military Community Youth Ministries (MCYM) in Europe. Steve is primarily working with the children of US and NATO personnel assigned to the Allied Joint Forces Command Brunssum (JFC HQ Brunssum). JFC HQ Brussum is located in Brunssum Netherlands.

The Spring 2009 edition of the Chastain’s newsletter may be downloaded from their web page on this site or by clicking — HERE.

This is the seventh sermon in the series titled “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God”.

Theme – The word of God—the sword of the Spirit—helps us to “stand” by giving us clarity about ourselves and by equipping us to live the Christian life

The text for the sermon was taken from Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Worship SERVICE Day video was presented to the congregation with a big thank you for all who participated.

 

 Standard Podcast [32:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (17)

The sermon for this week from the series “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God” is titled “Sharp“.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• Would you rather read the book or see the movie? Why?

STUDY IT – Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

• Read Hebrews 4:12 out loud. What stands out for you in this verse? What questions do you have?
• What do you think it means that “the word of God is living and active”?
• Whose “soul and spirit, joints and marrow” is God’s word intended to penetrate? Whose “thoughts and attitudes” is God’s word intended to judge? Why is this important to recognize?
• Read Psalm 119:105 out loud. What stands out for you in this verse? What questions do you have?
• What does it mean that God’s word is a “lamp to my feet” and a “light for my path”? What function does a lamp/light serve?
• Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 out loud. What stands out for you in these verses? What questions do you have?
• According to v. 16, what is the source of the Scriptures? What does it mean that the scriptures are “God-breathed”?
• According to v. 17, what is the purpose of God’s word?

LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• What evidence do you have that “the word of God is living and active” in our small group study? In your own life?
• In what way do you need God’s word to be a “lamp” and a “light” in your life right now?
• In what part of your life right now could the Scriptures help to equip you for good works?

PRAY IT

• Application: Almost every verse in Psalm 119 has to do with God’s word (using words like law, statutes, commands, teachings, precepts, etc.). Briefly scan Psalm 119 (not necessarily the whole thing) and find one verse that resonates with you. Then, as you begin your prayer time, go around the circle and have each person slowly read the verse they’ve chosen as a kind of prayerful meditation.
• Joys and Challenges: What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Thank God for the wonderful work he did through us at our Worship SERVICE Sunday and for the awesome experience it was.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for our neighbors who were blessed through our Worship SERVICE Sunday. Pray that we might continue to bless them!

We are looking forward to a wonderful romp in the swamp this year with our Bayou themed Crocodile Dock. As always, there are many, many ways you can help, and we need ALL the help we can get! This is a major outreach of Northminster and a MAJOR GROUP EFFORT! Young and not so young are encouraged to get involved!

Here are some ways you can help…and trust me when I say there will be more to come!

First off, we love having all of your wonderful encouraging faces join us during VBS week. Don’t be bashful…if you can spend an hour or the whole week, we would love to have you! You will be amazed at how spending time with this group of children will lift your spirits and renew your faith. Your heart cannot help but be filled to the brim…I PROMISE! Please contact me and I will give you ideas on how you can help.

If you cannot be on site during the week, we will be decorating Congdon Hall, the Sanctuary, Lindig Library, the Fireside Room, and the Sunday School classrooms to provide a Swamp Stomp atmosphere for our week! This will take place the Saturday and Sunday before VBS and we can use everyone…whether you think you are artistic or not! If I can decorate…EVERYONE can!

Elizabeth Zeigler and Bernie Kuchta have generously offered to head up this year’s Decorating Committee. Their minds are already cranking out wonderful ideas! If you have any ideas or would just like to help, please contact them via email at bkuchta1@san.rr.com. There will be much cutting out, gluing, sewing, etc. to do…maybe the Mariners would like to help with this one…hint, hint, hint!

And of course, we need a clean up crew! Something we ALL have LOTS of practice doing after this weekend’s Alley Cleanup…I am so proud of all of us, by the way!

We are mixing things up a little bit this year…seems to go with the theme of the church. Every year we have a lunch and carnival on the last day of VBS. This year we have decided to have the lunch and carnival after church the Sunday after VBS. The church service will start at 10:30 instead of our usual 9:30, and the lunch and carnival will follow directly after. Denise Crow has graciously offered to run the carnival this year, and there are a few things she needs:

• 4 to 6 portable shade canopies.
• Lots of candy for booth prizes…individually wrapped please, probably should stay away from chocolate so we don’t have to worry about them melting.
• Lots of McDonald’s toys any toy prize….
• NEW Face paints – this is the most popular booth and we need a lot. A Michael’s gift certificate would be great!

For lunch items we need people who are willing to take donation letters to local grocery stores asking for hot dogs, watermelon, etc. JoAn Johnson is in charge of lunch and would be happy to fill you in on what is needed.

We have several local businesses that have been kind enough to offer us fundraising opportunities:

• Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7 — Applebee’s on Balboa ALL DAY—Dine in and Carry out—15% of purchases donated back to VBS
• Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17 — Coldstone in Clairemont Square ALL DAY—25% of purchases donated back to VBS
• Tuesday, July 21 — Mountain Mike’s, ALL DAY—Dine in, Delivery and Carry-Out—UP to 30% of purchases donated back to VBS

In order for us to get credit for your purchases, you MUST present a flyer. The flyers are downloadable below or available in the church office. I will, of course, be reminding you all relentlessly. Also, you are encouraged to send fliers to anyone and everyone you know!

• Applebee’s Flyer
• Coldstone Flyer
• Mountain Mike’s Pizza Flyer

We also have ways you can sponsor a child’s VBS experience. Our goal is to have 140 children registered. Here are a few ideas:

• $1 covers the cost of a preschool child’s bible point sticker sheet
• $1 covers the cost of a child’s God Sight Light
• $2 covers the cost of a child’s mission project
• $4 covers the cost of a child’s workbook for the week
• $5 covers the cost of a child’s VBS t-shirt
• $15 (approximately) covers the cost of 1 child’s snacks for the week

Thank you all very much for your support! I can’t wait to get started!

Korin McCoy
VBS Director 2009
northminstervbs@northminstersandiego.com

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s Worship Service Day!  You contributed resources, you contributed energy, you contributed time–and because of that we were able to truly bless our community!

As I mentioned yesterday, a man who was getting into his car behind one of the apartments asked me if we were from “that church over there.”  I said we were, and he responded by saying, “Wow, you’re really putting your money where your mouth is.  You really do care about this community!”

That was the best thing I could have heard from one of our neighbors!

I also heard that some were saying that this was what our church was like 30 years ago.  I’m so excited to hear that because I have heard great things about what Northminster was like 30 years ago.  I’m excited to hear that you feel like we’re beginning to recapture the energy that this church had when it was alive and vibrant!

And if you are new to Northminster or just checking out our website, we’d love for you to join us!  It’s amazing to see God working through regular people like us–and we’d love for you to be a part of what God is doing here!!

Pastor Markus

P.S. Pictures are vailable — HERE !

This Sunday (June 14) will be an out-of-the-box time of worship for Northminster! Instead of gathering inside the sanctuary this weekend, we’re going to explode out into the neighborhood around us!

At 9:30 a.m. we’re going to put our hands and feet to work, worshiping God by blessing our community. What exactly are we gonna be doing? We’ll clean up the alley between Cole St. and Dubois Dr. We’re going to repair fences, clear weeds, trim vegetation, and paint walls. By the time we finish, it will be a brand new alley!

If you’re not sure what to do with your kids, bring ‘em!  We’ve got a bounce-house and all kinds of fun activities for the kids.

At 12:30 p.m. we’ll finish our work and have lunch together in Congdon Hall to celebrate what God did through us that morning!

If you’re a regular at Northminster, I can’t wait to see you this Sunday!

If you’re not, you’re more than welcome to come give us a hand!

Pastor Markus

P.S. – Plan to arrive by about 9:15 so that we can be ready to work by 9:30…

This is the sixth sermon in the series titled “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God”.

Theme – “Salvation” can be a word that carries a lot of negative baggage in our culture.  But what really is “salvation.”  First and foremost, salvation is a person—Jesus Christ.  And how do we experience the salvation of Jesus?  Initially, we experience it as forgiveness.  But the ongoing effect of salvation is the transformation of our lives.

The text for the sermon was taken from Matthew 1:18-21, Luke 2:25-32, and Philippians 2:12-13.

 

 Standard Podcast [25:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11)