CenterPoint Church

Steve & Stephanie Langer have faithfully served this past year to help CenterPoint get on it's feet.  Steve has led worship, and Stephanie has helped anywhere that help was needed.  They are now returning home to our sister church in New Richmond.  We have all grown to love and appreciate Steve & Stephanie more than we can express!  Steph was unable to attend this last service, but we know she'll be back soon to say goodbye!  We'll miss you Steve & Stephanie!!Pastor Dick and Steve on the Langer's last SundaySteve & Stephanie have cheerfully served anywhere help was needed!

More and more of the CenterPoint family are helping with the set up and take down each Sunday morning.  If you want to help by serving on a team, just come on along.  It's a lot of fun to work and serve together!Good thing the sound equpiment is on wheels, right Charlie?Renee & Sandy...Kids Korner on wheels!

Dick is in the process of sharing CenterPoint's core convictions each Sunday.  The third conviction is Applied Discipleship, which is essentially applying to our lives that which we are learning; actually growing to maturity in Christ. 

As we consider resolutions to make this fall, here are a few resolutions that Dick mentioned in his message this past Sunday. 

These resolutions are not original to Dick, but were taken from the 70 resolutions that Jonathan Edwards made in his personal effort to follow the Lord with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Dick mentioned three of the 70.  If you would like to read all 70 resolutions, click on the Jonathan Edwards link.

"Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake."

Resolved:  to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

Resolved:  to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of them.

Resolved:  never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, regardless of the discouragements or setback I may face.

Resolved to live for Him!!

Julie

      It has almost been a year since we began meeting weekly as a church plant.  This has been a year of deepening our relationship with God and with one another.  As we move into autumn, let's consider making some autumn resolutions.

John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, recently wrote an article on making autumn resolutions.  Here is a little of what he said:

"God approves of New Year’s resolutions. And mid-year, and three-quarters-year, and monthly, and weekly, and daily resolutions. Any and all resolutions for good have God’s approval—if we resolve by faith in Jesus.

I would like to encourage you to make some autumn resolutions. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Well, the examined life is not worth living either if the examination produces no resolutions. What examination and experience teach us is that the unplanned life settles into fruitless routine. The drifting life—the coasting, que-sera-sera, unreflective life—tends to be a wasted life.

The opposite of this is self-examination—life-examination, routine-examination, schedule-examination, heart-examination—followed by “resolves for good.” That’s what I encourage you to do. Here’s why I think God will be pleased when you do this by faith in Jesus."

Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12

"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ"

Piper challenges everyone with the following:

"So pause sometime soon. Pause and examine your life this autumn. Examine what is missing that should be there. What is there that should be removed? What new dreams for ministry might you venture? What new habits do you want to build into your Fall schedule?

Remember: God will be pleased with new resolves for good if you resolve by faith in Jesus. I am praying for you “that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power.”

(By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org)