I don’t know a statement more true than the one on the picture above. After 6 years with my wife, 5 of them married, I’d actually say it’s an understatement, but it is definitely true. When something is stagnant it is no longer fresh or life giving. That is what all relationships, but especially marriages,… [Read more…]
If you haven’t laughed yet today…you’re welcome!
Christianity started as a movement of men and women who were so compelled by the words of Jesus that their lives were overtaken by them. They DWELLED on LIVED, SPOKE, and DIRECTED every nuance of their existence by those words, and do you know what happened? Inside of a century Christianity grew from 12, to… [Read more…]
But, with that said, I do want to offer you the only answer to killing sin that has served me in these last several years, and that answer is a question. Do you, moment by moment, in the midst of the sin that you are about to commit, avail yourself of the power you have… [Read more…]
I was asked after the sermon a few weeks ago from Colossians 3:5-10, “How Do I Kill My Sin?” The inquirer said, “You gave me the ‘what’ and the ‘why,’ but how pastor, do I begin to put it to death, rather than simply manage it?” To answer this question, I’ll start with why I… [Read more…]
Courage Is Not Always Measured by the Ability to Win; It Is More Often Measured by the Ability to Sacrifice The gospel writer John says, “They took Jesus and flogged him (19:1)…And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head (v.2)… They…struck him with their hands and plucked the… [Read more…]
Courage Is Not Always Measured by the Ability to Win; It Is More Often Measured by the Ability to Sacrifice I was recently invited to participate in an event as the guest speaker, and I said these words to a group of young men there. The event was called Camp Grace, a camp specifically for… [Read more…]
Gentrification presents a unique dynamic to urban ministry, but what is it exactly. In this short clip Bob Lupton, founder of FCS urban ministries, explains.
Dr. King grew up less than a mile from my home, and Grant Park, the neighborhood where we are planting Renovation. He has had a profound influence on my life, as well as this area, and there is little I can say that hasn’t been said. Every year I watch/listen to this speech to remind… [Read more…]
“When men and women engage in idolatry it is an attempt to either; localise God, or in our minds contain the creator, “we can put God in here”; or to domesticate Him, making the Sustainer of life somehow dependent upon us; or to alienate Him, by blaming Him for His distance and His silence, when… [Read more…]
1. These are people. God’s image bearers, and as such they should be treated with love, kindness, dignity, and respect. Even if they are disrespectful to you or themselves, show them the gospel in the way you respond. 2. But for Grace, there go I. We are not better than them because of our physical,… [Read more…]
I went to Seattle recently to visit my boy’s at Mars Hill and get my retrain on, and me and Mike Anderson had an interesting conversation. We were talking about crime, impoverished neighborhoods, and the gospel. He then told me about the “ghetto” in Seattle, and some of what are considered the “rough” areas. You… [Read more…]
Take for example the shopping center 1.2 miles from my home where we do all of our grocery shopping. There is a Target, Barnes and Noble, Kroger, Carribou Coffee, Best Buy, Lowes, Rue Sans(Sushi), Wachovia (Bank), and a Smoothie King, not to mention several upscale ($200 or more a pair)shoe stores, shops, and boutiques. It… [Read more…]
Jesus said to Peter, and His other disciples, “Who do men say that I AM?” After a few answers that were incorrect, it would be Peter who would say, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Centuries ago, this question was at the center of culture and humanity, and today it has… [Read more…]
Yesterday I posted an article written by the Christian news wire that told of the shocking yet honorable death’s of two young men sharing the gospel in Florida. Though it was shocking to the author, and though he cried out for justice, and media coverage that would be given to any other individuals killed for… [Read more…]
This morning I was listening to one of my favorite radio shows, The Bert Show, based here in Atlanta. They did an interesting segment, that I am still reeling over just a little. The question posed was, “Have you ever committed adultery for the sake of your marriage?” What an odd question, but interesting none… [Read more…]
Charter school in tough neighborhood gets all its seniors into college Urban Prep Academy senior Keith Greer, along with his classmates, celebrates the news they will receive a free prom in Chicago because 100 percent of the graduating class was accepted into 4-year colleges or universities. (Tribune photo by Heather Charles / March 5, 2010)… [Read more…]
With Renovation coming into full membership with the Acts 29 network recently, I felt I needed to write a clarifying blog post about a few things that may answer some questions you have about the church, our time line, partnerships, story, etc. In the fall of 2008 after many conversations, and much prayer my wife… [Read more…]
Our residency is coming to a close on June 1, and we were officially accepted as full members in the Acts 29 network about 2 weeks ago, you can read more about what we are trying to accomplish here. The reason I share all of this is because since we were announced as full members… [Read more…]
On the 22nd of this month I tweeted, there is no neutrality with God. You either actively pursue Him or actively oppose Him.Though this statement would seem to be divisive, it’s true…but when truth is determined in degree’s and not absolutes, then this “all or nothing” statement becomes the source of religious oppression, war, and international… [Read more…]
This is an info./follow up letter that was sent out by the leadership of Renovation following our vision cast. If you are interested in being added to the mailing list send “add me” to info@RenovationChurch.net. Thank you for showing interest in Renovation Church, a new church that is putting its roots down in downtown Atlanta,… [Read more…]
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Atlanta, Church, Church Planting, Community, Gospel, Grant Park, Jesus, Justice, Mercy, Mission, Renovation Church
This is Taken from directly from the street grace website: “A recent undercover study found that 7,200 Georgia men knowingly sought to buy sex with a child in just a one-month period. This alarming statistic along with many others will be released tonight on Channel 2 Action News at 5 with Jovita Moore. She will… [Read more…]
I have had a few people ask where they can find sermons I’ve preached. When you are a journey-man/church planter like me it can be hard to come by. Renovation has a Vimeo channel where two sermons(one from A29 conference), and our promo video can be found. All of this content will be available when… [Read more…]
A few month’s ago this was posted on Atlanta’s 11 Alive news site: ATLANTA (AP) — Civil rights icon Andrew Young says he has little use for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization he once worked in alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Young says that then, the SCLC was a movement and… [Read more…]
A majority of young adults, age 18 to 29, don’t pray, don’t worship and don’t read the Bible according to LifeWay Christian Resources: 65% identify themselves as Christian, while 14% say they are atheist or agnostic, 14% list no religious preference, and 8% claim other religions. 65% rarely or never pray with others, and 38%… [Read more…]
Would you sell your daughter for sex? I am assuming if you are reading this blog, probably not…but, there are many in the city of Atlanta who would and do.Craigslist, Backpage, and others like them are site’s routinely used to buy sex from children… young girls under the age of 18, and it has to stop! Men… [Read more…]
Interestingly when the Roman Empire crucified a criminal or captive, the victim was often forced to carry his cross part of the way to the crucifixion site. Carrying his cross through the heart of the city was supposed to be a tacit admission that the Roman Empire was correct in the sentence of death imposed… [Read more…]
Matthew Henry says it this way, “How foolish is the builder who leaves a building unfinished because his funds run out before he anticipated. How foolish, too, is the army commander who does not reckon upon the strength of his army before engaging a stronger foe in battle. And how foolish it is for the… [Read more…]
But what do the scriptures tell us about disciples? Six things I think are obvious Disciples come to: Count the cost Love Jesus more than anything Bear their Cross Follow Him Renounce all they have Relinquish Everything Showing up on Sunday morning, feeling ‘justified’ by your religious activity has nothing to do with the gospel… [Read more…]
Lately I have been convicted of a reality that I am still unsure of my willingness to address…my life is not one of rich, intentional, and thoughtful prayer…at least not as much or as often as it should be. With the workload of leading and launching Renovation I have lost focus and lost sight of… [Read more…]
Norwich offers these things in simplicity: Jesus is the foundation of all our praying We must want to not want anything that He does not want May we have a true desire in prayer and a longing of our will for Jesus above all things If our eyes are fixed on the cross, all other… [Read more…]
Have you felt a little disconnected lately? Like prayer is more difficult. Relationships in your church require more work and discipline, with very little joy? Faith in general feels like a burden and not a joyful privilege? You may feel that way because you are in fact disconnected in someway. A couple of things to… [Read more…]
116 does it again…good gospel message represented through creativity and the art of Hip Hop. Trip’s new single and music video is in the running to be featured on 106 and Park. Watch the video, and then go vote These cats are getting to the heart of urban mission, through urban culture, in a distinctively… [Read more…]
We live in a fast paced world full with distractions, and every reason not to do as Jesus so often did…”And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.“[Mark 1:35] Most of us have never risen before the sun,… [Read more…]
This is the latest post at the Renovation Church Blog by our exec. dude based on what I taught/we discussed last night as a launch team. Please Read by Matt Burlew on September 20, 2010 Last night at our launch team gathering we discussed Renovation Church’s identity as a city church of Missionaries Like Jesus- a… [Read more…]
This summer Audrey Jones spent several weeks in Haiti, working toward the rebuilding and revitalization of the country….but more importantly, its people. In the camp where Audrey worked there were some 55,000 people, 13,000 of those being children. These families gripped her heart deeply, so deeply in fact that she will return to Haiti soon… [Read more…]
Lecrae’s long-awaited fourth album, REHAB, is now in stores! The album features Tedashii, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka, Sonny Sandoval, Anthony Evans and many more. You can check in by picking up a copy of Rehab now on iTunes or at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Mardels, LifeWay, Berean and Family Christian. For more information on where… [Read more…]
What if there Were a Church That… ….was willing to admit they don’t have all the answers ….believed you can know God ….had the same questions about faith and life that you have ….existed to serve and love our city ….met real needs in our communities ….valued diversity and equality of all people Would you… [Read more…]
I spent the first half of the day on Christmas Eve in the scriptures reading through Paul’s letters. And although they are full with theology, history, doctrine and instruction, there is something common to them that struck me more deeply than anything else: Paul seemed to live in light of what was to come—the return… [Read more…]
When God first called me to Himself and subsequently filled me with His Spirit it was all very experiential, passionate, and life-giving; but I lacked knowledge. Being wired the way I am I began to seek knowledge and came to grasp many of the beautiful truth’s of our faith. I delved into the writing of… [Read more…]
Last weekend at Renovation I preached a message called “spirituality” from Psalm 119, in which we concluded that true spirituality is a delight in God, his will, and His word. But, we determined, this is difficult. The religious among us will get the will and word part. They will obey, and tell everyone how good they are at… [Read more…]
In 1 John chapter 3 verse 1, the apostle John writes, “see what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.“ This phrase, what kind of love, literally translates “unearthly, foreign, other-worldly.” This love the Father gives us is so unparalleled, and… [Read more…]
This is the lynch pin, because He chose us before the foundation of the world, and in love, He predestined us for adoption. So we are predestined, chosen, and adopted. Before time itself existed, before the Evil one turned in pride from God to his own works, before this world was even created, before Adam and… [Read more…]
In the gospel of John, chapter 6, Jesus says “44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 it is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned… [Read more…]
God has created us, all of us, to worship Him, love Him, glorify Him, have Him as our deepest affection and live for His glory. We are meant to glorify God in every conceivable way because it’s what we were made for, and it’s how we express our love and devotion to Him, and the… [Read more…]
January 18, 2012
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