Emmaus Church » gary

New Fall Kick-Off Series: Get in the Game!

gary — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:01:14 +0000

Ever been the last person picked on the playground to play a team sport? We’ve all been there! This September Emmaus is kicking-off a new series called, “Get In the Game”. Even if you’re not into sports, you’ll be able to relate to this series because we all know that whatever we are doing in life, it takes practice, committment, and hard work. This series is about being intentional about your spiritual life!

Message 1: Get in the Game
Message 2: Ya Gotta Have the Right Gameplan
Message 3: Overcoming Challenges
Message 4: The Heart of a Champion

BTW: This is your chance to wear your favorite sports outfit or jersey to church on Sunday morning! We’ll also be giving away a free Seattle sports jersey on one of the Sundays in a drawing!

Hope to see ya there!

Community Groups at Emmaus

gary — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:35:26 +0000

Community Groups are always one of those things people want to do, intend to do, but end up not committing to do because of the cost of involvement. I can understand. I’m as busy as ever with football practices, chaplaincy, starting a church, being a husband, being a dad, looking after a house, etc. (this is where your tears of pity start). But, I was never meant to do the Christian life without love, encouragement, learning, and support. Being part of a community group is just a regular part of my life and it’s a non-negotiable….like getting up in the morning.

So, if you’re on the fence and not sure, jump off the fence and:

…jump into making some great friends who will support and pray for you

…learn the Bible more

…learn to give your life away as you become a blessing to others!

Visit our ”community groups” page under the “connect” tab to see what groups we have going this fall!

Growing in the Summer!

gary — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:25:40 +0000

It’s been an odd summer. I’ve been in ministry for almost 20 years and never have I been part of a church that grew numerically in the summer! Well, Emmaus is breaking that trend! Although we’re not ready to buy Key Arena just yet because of our attendance growth, we are seeing people come! No, there’s no slick advertising campaign or commercial on TV. It’s all about us being willing to invite our friends and God moving in the hearts of people to attend! It’s been a great summer so far.

So, if you haven’t found a place to attend church regularly, or, you’ve just moved into the area, we’d love for you to visit Emmaus. There are lots of great churches in the area (trust me, there are…they can offer a lot more than we can), but maybe Emmaus might be what you’re looking for!

Just a heads-up–we have a newcomer’s dinner once a month at my home….it’s a chance to get to know me and my family, plus, it’s a sweet opportunity to hear about how we started, where we are, and where we’re going as a church! Also, it’s a great environment to ask a few questions!

Volunteer

gary — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:43:30 +0000

As I do my Saturday night ritual (praying, studying, begging) on the eve of Moses 5: A Staff and a Skip, I can’t help but to be distracted by the recent wave of new people who want to serve at Emmaus and the joy I feel because of it! Why is that a big deal? For two reasons: first, it’s an answer to both public and private prayer! Molly (my beautiful wife) has been fervently praying for God to both send and raise up workers! Our staff has been praying! And God is faithful!

The second reason it’s a bug deal is because I am learning to fail well and God knows it! Unleashing people into their areas of passion is so much more fun than trying to control people and micromanage. And the more we try to control, the less effective we become!

I could talk like I’ve turned the corner, but I’d confess I’m human. But I’m learning, as a pastor, to fail well.

The Present Future

gary — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:23:06 +0000

As Adrian and I learn at The Present Future conference in Calgary, Alberta, we have been impacted by speaker Jeff Jarvis who revealed that we are Christians by what we do more than what we think. Unless our actions make a difference, what is the quality of our faith in God?

As I think about our new church, I am convinced that it is more about the kingdom of God than it is growing big. It’s easy to idolize the church rather than participate in the kingdom that God is building. God is so much more concerned about what happens outside the 4 walls of our church than what is going on inside. It’s so much more than coming to church and getting fed.

Jeff told a story about a poor mother in Russia who said to a group of Christians delivering Bibles to her village, “my daughter cannot eat Bibles.”

Let Emmaus be about people, not concepts. Let Emmaus be about serving, not being served. Let us be more about the kingdom–let Jesus build his church. It’s about bringing life out from the church, and into culture.
Besides, how many miracles took place IN the temple?

A Woman

gary — Sat, 08 May 2010 15:40:18 +0000

“A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” -Proverbs 31:30. I think women get a bad wrap. On the one hand, they are expected to personify all that is good and be clothed with love, tenderness, and selflessness. On the other hand, they have the expectation to exhibit strength, courage, and mother-bear instinct. How can a woman win?

I think women win by fearing God and by being themselves. When a woman fears God, they embrace and trust God for all that they have need of. Their security comes from knowing their identity in Christ. This makes them strong, inspirational, and attractive on many levels.

This kind of woman is to be praised! Take time to compliment a woman today and praise her for who she is!

New People @ Emmaus

gary — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:37:11 +0000

I must say that one if my favorite aspects of church planting is meeting new people! The last 3 or 4 weeks has been exceedingly rewarding because of the many new people and momentum that is here at Emmaus!

What I find facinating, as I sit here at a Starbucks, is that our target audience is people just like me. But, what does “just like me” mean? My height? Weight? Age? Marital status? My religious beliefs? Interests? Or can they be more than that? Can they be life experiences, struggles, passions, questions, and pursuits? I think they can be.

So, for all the people who aren’t sure they belong, who are broken, who never feel like you fit in….you belong here. Why? Because Jesus didn’t come for the healthy, but the tweaked. And if we’re honest, we’re all a little tweaked.

WOW…

gary — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:07:16 +0000

That was my first thought when I finally arrived home and settled myself after our first Sunday at the Woodinville Movie Theaters! The “wow” didn’t come from how great everything looked or how great the band sounded, but it came from the stories and comments I heard about what God was doing in people’s lives.

The risk I take in sharing a couple of these stories is that people will think how great we are (or worse, how great I think we are). But, make no mistake about it…it’s about Jesus. I got a chance to reconnect with a friend who hasn’t gone to church in years. She said she, “I’m ready to begin anew.” Another said, “We’ll be back…this is exactly what we’ve been looking for.” Another said, “our kids loved AdventureLand! They memorized a Bible verse!” Yet another said, “Next week we’re gonna bring our family with us.”

Let’s not beat around the bush here…the REAL reason why people are excited about Emmaus is because of God. He is there. He is there drawing people to himself. That’s it. We can’t manufacture, produce, or manipulate God’s presence there.

This is what I want Emmaus to be known for…that we are place where people can find God. People can belong at Emmaus no matter where they’re at in their spiritual journey.

This Sunday is “Rubber Hits the Road” Sunday. Hope to see ya there!

New Church in Woodinville

gary — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:58:19 +0000

It’s not about the show. It’s not about being polished. It’s not about impressing people with our pyrotechnics (we really don’t have any planned in our services….no, really) enough to manipulate them into coming back. But if what people do sense, and this is my prayer, is a spirit of joy, acceptance, and hope…then we’ll have succeeded in portraying what we’re all about!

So, since Emmaus is about you, and not about us, then you should come check us out this Sunday!

You’re Influential (…whether you know it or not)

gary — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:46:46 +0000

As we are preparing our church plant, Emmaus Church, to move to the Woodinville Movie Theaters, I can’t help but to keep thinking how important TEAM is. Too often the average person doesn’t think about how influential they are. They don’t think intentionally about how they influence and how much of an impact they have on the people around them. We tend to think those who lead publically are the only leaders….that’s so wrong.

Jesus was an influential person. Paul was an influential person. But when we think about Timothy, Paul’s on-the-job intern, we see an unsure, timid, and apprehensive leader. Sure, he was only about 18, but, being 18 about 2000 years ago when the life expectancey was about 35-40 was middle aged back then!

Whether you are timid or bold, talkative or reserved, shy or borderline obnoxious (like me), you are influential! As Christians, letting our light shine in our culture has less to do with me as a pastor than it does you who live out your day to day lives where the rubber hits the road.

The ultimate question is are you intentional about your influence? Do you know how people experience you? Do you comprehend what’s at stake? How you live is imp0rtant.

I have come to understand this: most of the people around you would rather watch a great sermon than hear one. The one you preach is the only one they may hear today, this week, this month, or this year….or ever.