NorthRidge Church & Christian Academy

November 2012 Volume 4, Issue 10

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Our News Reaching You; Reaching Out to You In This Issue

A Message From Pastor David

Page 2( or click here)

Expressions of Worship
Page 4(or click here)

From The Desk of Pastor Harold

Page 5(or click here)

Youth Happenings
Page 7 (or click here)

Events, Birthdays & Information Page 8 (or click here)

A Message From Pastor David

Last Sunday, our adult Sunday School lesson was based in the text of Acts 17:16-31. You can get a little background of the lesson here. Last week we were confronted with the question: How can we stand firmly on Gods Word in the midst of the ungodliness around us? With that, the question stands: How can we engage our culture with truth? I think I need to give some definitions of these words because when you start using these words, people wonder what youre really talking about. Engage means more than just to occupy it means to involve yourself, to participate Infers an exertion of effort, a focus of attention, intermingled with intentionality. Culture is a very broad word that means the ways and makeup of a community its people, customs, beliefs, possessions, activities, etc. Truth can be easily defined as Jesus did in John 14:6 by saying I am the way, the truth, and the life. Truth is found in the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. So, how do we occupy the attention of people in our community (which requires more than just living among them) with the truth of Jesus Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:20 offers us a little insight - Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Since we are ambassadors, they exist within the confines of an Embassy. Therefore, we are to set up an embassy, not a colony. We are ambassadors for the King of Kings, and the gospel is the message of hope we represent. If we are not communicating the Kings message, then we are not representing Him as a good ambassador should. There are two options Christians have on how to interact with people in their community: be missionaries (embassy) or isolate themselves from them (colony). Since the culture we are living among also has its emissaries, it is not remaining stagnant it is growing and expanding its influence. Every colony that exist as a colony will always be enveloped into it surroundings. On a side note, that is what is happening to the church today, we function more as a colony than as an embassy. It is slowly being enveloped into the culture around it. But how can we engage people with the truth in a Godly manner? Paul gave us some practical examples in our focus text, Acts 17:16-31. 1. We have to get involved (v.16-17). Paul was provoked by the idolatry he saw in Athens. The literal meaning of that word is provoked or stirred up, but it also includes by definition a provoking that stimulates one into action. Paul didnt just see the sinfulness around him and leave it alone (this would be a colony); he took action. His action was to reason with the people. Reason means to converse with people, exchange thought for thought. Paul patiently hears them out, but never loses his convictions or stance on the gospel.

2. We cannot ignore their questions/needs (v.18-21). Paul then took time to acknowledge their question (they asked him to explain what he believed), but he probably wouldnt have come to a place to have been asked this if he didnt take his time in reasoning with them, developing a relationship and building trust with the people. In reasoning with them, he discovered that the two major philosophical groups there were the Epicureans and Stoics. Epicureans held to a belief that God did not create the world. Stoics believed that God created the world, but that fate dictated all actions of people and even God. By knowing the peoples questions, we will be better able to relate the gospel of Christ to them. By taking time to engage we demonstrate care and concern people need to be valued. Jesus loved His disciples before He ever asked them to follow Him. 3. Understand aspects of the culture (v.22-23). Notice in these two verses how Paul perceived and observed. Hes noticing things of the culture as he walks around. Hes probably making mental notes and thinking of how to best share the gospel with them. He noticed the altar inscribed with To the Unknown God. From there, he built his presentation of the gospel. When missionaries are sent to another country to serve through the International Mission Board, they are first sent to training in that countrys language and culture. To engage a culture we have to get to know them, remember a colony resorts to a setting closed off from the world around it. It is easy for the church to drive in our cars to a church building, sing our worship songs, hear a message, go home only to close our doors and remain isolated from everything around us. We depend upon any information that will be pertinent to our benefit to come through the TV or internet. Culture is standing on the street corners, it is in our schools, it is at Wal-Mart; it is everywhere people are. What culture realizes is that if you want to change a world you have to first change the way the people think who live in that world. You have to engage with people be an Embassy. 4. Proclaim Truth, the Gospel of Christ (v.24-31). All the other things Paul did in listening, caring, encountering their questions, etc. were done to set up an opportunity to share Christ! But notice how Pauls approach started with engaging the culture. His effectiveness was not because he was a charismatic spokesman, but because he met people where they were. His process of engagement is as follows: he interacted with them within the context of their culture (the inscribed altar), raised major objection to the major beliefs of the two philosophical groups (that God was creator and established boundaries on how things exist), called for repentance, and presented Christ. Verse 34 records, some men joined him and believed. Not all, but some! That is where a movement begins, a world is changed, a city is won to Christ - with some . . . Engaging culture with truth is done out of a love for Christ and His Word, not a love for culture itself. There is no license to sin in this either. Many people go to an extreme of just blending in with the culture and not making an impact for Christ. In our attempt to reach the lost, if we find ourselves falling into sin, we need to repent for taking our eyes off of Christ and allowing our sinful desires to surface. If we find ourselves in this trap, the ambassadors of the culture have made significant inroads into conforming us into image of this world. May it not be stated among us. Our culture is being shaped. The ambassadors of this culture are engaging the people of Haines City in every venue. It is time for the Church to become less of a Colony and more of an Embassy.

-Pastor David

From the Desk of Pastor Harold

Thanks for all who give their time and resources to this ministry. If you are considering where you might serve, please pray about getting involved with the Home-bound Ministry. This is the current group of Home-bound with addresses that are being ministered to at this time. If you know of others that would benefit from this ministry, please contact Rowena Daley or call the church office @ 863.422.4488 Ms. Irma Swain Spring Haven Retirement LLC 1225 Havendale NW Winter Haven, Florida 33881 (863)-293-0072 Ms. Vera Cook Brandywyne Health Care Center 1801 Lake Mariam Drive Winter Haven, FL 33884 (863) 293-1989 Not home bound, but limited in some way and could use a word or two of encouragement with a visit, call or card. Mr Russ Vincent @ home Ms. Regena Lyle Savannah Court 301 Peninsular Drive #7, Haines City, FL 33844. Phone 863-422-4157. Ms. Lucille Tiner Savannah Court assisted living. 301 Peninsular Drive Haines City, FL 33844-5046 (863) 422-5204 Mr. George Price Spring Haven Retirement LLC 1225 Havendale NW Apt. 154 Winter Haven, Fl. 33881

Here We Go a Caroling !
Once again we will be going caroling this Christmas season. Friday December 14th at 1:00 p.m. at Savannah Court. For more information please call the church office during regular office hours.

All men all invited and encouraged to attend breakfast each Saturday morning at 7:00
Come and enjoy a great time of fellowship and study of Gods Word

2013 Cruise
2013 Cruise on Freedom of the Seas 7 day Royal Caribbean Cruise, leaving September 29, 2013 The newly enhanced Freedom of the Seas is a marvel of maritime engineering, packed with awesome innovations to stir your imagination. Share a high five with Shrek as part of The DreamWorks Experience. Catch a first-run movie in the 3D theater or poolside under the stars on the outdoor movie screen. Infuse color into your cruise with the artworks of the BRITTO Gallery or with the frosted confections of the Cupcake Cupboard. Plus, enjoy all the revolutionary features Freedom of the Seas has always been known for FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall, ice-skating rink, Royal Promenade, cantilevered whirlpools, mini golf course, H2O Zone water park, and much more. Ports of Call: Port Canaveral, Florida; Labadee, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; Port Canaveral, Florida Please see Pastor Harold or Sharon ODonnell We do not need to know for certain if you are going, just if you are interested. The cost is $599.00 for inside cabin and $709.00 for outside. If you have cruised with Royal Caribbean in the past, there are some saving certificates available.

Youth Happenings
Last month we as a church here at NorthRidge performed an amazing task called "Eternity". Most of our church came together and either performed or supported in this awesome show. One thing that could not be denied was the drive, commitment and dedication from the NorthRidge Youth. We as leaders were not just proud of them, we found them to be an example of what it means to be Christian. With their love of The Lord as an inspiration we are helping to lead them forward in the great commission. Acts 1:8 is our doctrine to begin in Haines City, to reach out to Polk County, grow into Florida and to connect to America and to all the Earth. We ask all the NorthRidge community to pray for our youth and to help them on their journey.

-Pastor Derrick and The Youth Group Staff

NorthRidgeYouth

Events and Announcements

December Birthdays
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 Jerry Brooks

3 Aaron Fowler Bradly Fowler Dylan

5 Jordan McGuire

6 Renee McGuire

Michael Chandler Millie Tom Sheek Kimbrel

10 Donald Norton

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12 Samantha Swafford

13 Gloria Wilkinson Kermit Sims

14 Url Utterback

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16 Sherry Carver

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19 Kalee Thompson Linda Brown

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21 Patty Brewer Virginia Johnson Morgan Porter Rhetta Sutton

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23 Chris Fetes Lynwood Wiley 30

24 David Kaser

25 Jennifer Rowell

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27

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29 Deborah

Robert Schutte Jr Bethany Brewer

Delane Wilkinson Ferguson

31

Sunday services Wednesday services

5:45-6:45 -Prayer in Sanctuary 6:45-7:45 -Coffee and Bible study in Fellowship Hall

Sunday Morning Caf -8:45am Sunday School -9:20 Worship Service -10:30am (also Kids' Church K5-3rd)

Church Office
Hours-Monday -Thursday 8:00am-4:00pm. If you need to contact the Pastor On Call you can at any time by calling the Church Office 863-422-4488 and leaving a message in the On Call mailbox (ext. 2104) The Pastor that is on call for the week will return your call ASAP.