RECAP: ACTION PLAN based on 2 Chronicles 34:23-33
Nike in the early 1980s was a rather small shoe company that could not compete with the likes of Converse. At the trajectory it was going at the time, it was heading toward financial ruin and bankruptcy. But today, roughly forty years later, not only is Nike the most profitable shoe company in history (over 2.6 billion in total sales), but they also bailed Converse out of bankruptcy in 2001! What led to Nike’s turnaround? They were willing to take steps to be successful, created an action plan, and then put that plan into action. That plan started from one individual’s willingness to put his faith in a college student before he had even been drafted into the NBA to market their shoe. They made a wise choice, as Michael Jordan revolutionized the game of basketball, and changed Nike forever. Coupled with their new slogan, Just Do It, Nike became a household marketable name. The goal was to earn 3.2 million dollars in the first three years of the Air Jordans; they made 126 million in year one alone! Nike emerged from the ashes and rose to success because Nike made an action plan, and stuck with it.
King Josiah in our scripture realized the nation needed to be reborn. When he discovered the Book of the Covenant and read it, he learned how far the nation had strayed from God. Even when he asked God in prayer if there was a way to avoid the curse, God answered that the curse was still coming. But Josiah then took steps to change the trajectory of the nation. Even though initially it only had short-term success, for Israel quickly went back to the old ways once Josiah departed, it served as a model later in the nation’s history that would eventually lead to the arrival of Jesus! What was the action plan? How can we move from confession, simply saying I’m sorry, to walking in the fullness of repentance and moving forward?
- Humble yourself before the Lord. Humility is difficult for a human being, for it requires an admission of guilt. Our heart has to become responsive to God’s leading. Our ears need to be listening to the Word and not what we want to hear. We need to be able to weep for the brokenness that our sin has caused. Each of these things is difficult to do. But when we can humble ourselves before God, we begin to position ourselves in a place where we can see that we need to change and identify where we can make changes.
- Elevate the Word. Once Josiah humbled himself, he called all of Israel together and had the Word of the Lord read. The Word of God is our GPS, our map to show the way to God and out of sin. But just like a GPS is worthless unless you are using it, so too our faith will not grow unless we use the Word of God! We need to listen to God’s Word above everything else, for there are many false prophets and teachers in the world who minimize the power of the Word of God. We need to hear and obey!
- Allegiance to the Covenant. After having the Word read, Josiah led the nation in renewing the commitment to the covenant. Josiah desired for Israel to follow the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. You cannot have a dual allegiance!
- Remove any competition. The last step was the most drastic. Josiah then led a national house cleaning. He found any idol, from any place that existed, and removed them. If anything stood in competition with God, it was removed. He got the nation back to a place where they believed they should worship the Lord their God and serve him only.
Humble yourself. Elevate the Word. Allegiance to the covenant. Remove any competition. The best action plan we can implement is to H.E.A.R. When we hear the Word and put it into practice, living the very truths, we will then show God we are more than sorry, but we have truly repented. Can we lead the way today for our nation that has fallen, just like Josiah did for his people?
Questions for Reflection
1) In what ways can you humble yourself?
2) How can you elevate the Word of God in your life more than it already is?
3) Is your true allegiance to God? If there is anything else you show allegiance to, can you replace it? If not, why?
4) What are three practical ways you can live your faith this week?
Upcoming Service
This Sunday, Pastor Ryan will start the study in the discipline of celebration with the Palm Sunday sermon titled, “Noisy Stones”, based on Luke 19:28-44. Why is it important to celebrate God? And what does celebration have to do with stones? Come or tune in Sunday to find out!
Daily Bible Readings for March 28 – April 3
March 28: Joshua 24:14-27 What was Joshua’s confession? What was the people’s confession? How did they act upon it?
March 29: Ruth 1:11-18 What was Ruth’s confession? How did she live it?
March 30: 1 Samuel 15:1-21 For what sin was Saul confronted? Why did he not confess?
March 31: 1 Samuel 15:22-35 What was the consequence of Saul’s lack of confession? Why did the Lord not accept his confession after the fact?
April 1: 2 Samuel 12:7-23 How was David’s confession after being confronted for his sin different than Saul or Achan? How do we show true confession & repentance after confrontation?
April 2: Matthew 21:12-17 Jesus challenged the people of God to have what priority?
April 3: Matthew 21:18-22 Jesus challenges us to have what priority?
This Week’s Events:
Wednesday, March 27–Membership Sub-committee meeting @ 7 pm
Sunday, April 2–First Sunday Offering for God’s Pit Crew
Sunday, April 2–Love Feast @ 6 pm
Monday, April 3–Timothy Bible Study @ 7 pm
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, April 8–Easter Egg Hunt @ 10 am
Sunday, April 9–Sunrise Service @ 7 am
Sunday, April 9–Easter Breakfast @ 7:45 am
Sunday, April 9–Easter Service @ 11 am
Saturday, April 15–Men’s Fellowship Chicken Barbecue (we need volunteers to especially turn chicken!)
Saturday, April 22–Crestmen Benefit Concert @ 4 pm
Sunday, April 30–Meeting for Children’s Church @ 12 pm
Announcements:
Confession– Spiritual Discipline Challenge
There are several different things we can confess, but confession only goes as far as your action plan to change your path. As we see above with Josiah and his action plan, there need to be concrete actions we take in order to lay aside our old ways or sinful behaviors and patterns. So your challenge this week is to create a personal action plan. There are four main categories in that we can take action. Below are the categories and questions you can ask or utilize in creating your action plan.
- Remove. What sin needs to be removed? How can you keep yourself accountable in removing that temptation? What influences cause you to stumble? How can you minimize their influence? Are there any idols or priorities that are greater than God? How can you reorder your priorities? Is there past bondage or family curses that plague you and your family?
- Build up. Jesus talks about when you do house cleaning spiritually, you have to fill up the clean house with the things of God; otherwise, it is only a matter of time before you regress to old practices. How can you intentionally grow your relationship with God? How will you intentionally grow in your knowledge of the Bible? How will you intentionally grow in prayer? How will you intentionally grow in times of worship? How will you grow in service and practice? How do we spend our time?
- Fellowship. The church is not meant to be a place full of perfect people; rather, it should be a place where we can encourage one another to grow in our faith, but also be real with each other when we fall and struggle. How can we grow in the body of Christ? Where can we participate that we have not before? Who can we ask to mentor us, to help keep us accountable? Who can we pray for? Who can we seek out and mentor? The connection will really help us move forward in God!
- Action. How can we stretch our faith? Who can we minister to? Where can we help our community? How can we live out our faith and bring others to Christ? How can we invest more in the church and community? Can we grow in our giving to the Lord? How does our finances match our faith?
BIRTHDAYS NEEDED!
If you are a newer attendee at Beaver Creek, please call the office or leave in the offering plate your birth date so we do not miss anyone!
Call for Worship Leaders and Children’s Story
We are in need of both worship leaders and children’s storytellers. If you would like to serve, contact Alice Over (worship leading) or Phyllis Simmons (children’s story).
Extraordinary Women’s Conference
This is an opportunity for the ladies of the church. The Extraordinary Women’s Conference returns to Lynchburg this year on October 13-14! Some of the speakers include Tim Tebow, Mandisa, Julie Clinton, Hannah Keeley, and others, with a concert from Big Daddy Weave and worship led by Michael O’Brien. The cost is $64 for basic and $84 for gold as long as you register by March 31. The Fidelis class really would like to see if we can get a group of women together to go. If you are interested, please contact the church office. If there is a large enough group, there can potentially be a discounted group rate.
Emma Trip Update
Emma is very close to having all the money raised for her trip.
You can donate through the offering plate. Make the check out to the church and notate “Emma Eckard fundraiser” on the memo line. Likewise, if you want to give cash, put it in an envelope and also mark “Emma Eckard fundraiser” on the envelope.
If you would like to give only, go to http://crossworld.org/give.
Click on support a disciple-maker.
Enter Emma Eckard for name and 40612 for account number
All money needs to be accounted for by the end of April.
Benefit Concert
We will host a benefit concert for Emma’s trip and for Savannah Miller’s treatment on Saturday, April 22 at 4 pm. The Crestmen will inspire us through wonderful songs, and Reba’s family will open the evening. There will be an offering taken toward the end of the service for these two wonderful causes. Food will be provided afterward. Please grab a flyer and spread the word!
Peanut Butter Easter Eggs
The youth will once again be making Easter Eggs on Good Friday. They will come in two sizes, small for $4 and large for $6. The sign-up sheet will be in the church lobby on Sunday. If you would like to order, you can also call the church office and leave your name, number, and quantity of each size. Also, new this year, the youth are willing to deliver to your house! If you would like them home delivered on Saturday, April 8 so you can place them in Easter baskets, please let us know on the form as well or when you call.
Call to Prayer
Let us continue to pray for our nation in the following ways:
1) National return to God
2) Repentance of personal sin
3) Repentance of corporate sin
4) Healing for the brokenness of relationships
5) Our leaders
6) Revival
7) Guidance for our congregation in the days ahead
Idea Box!
What do you want to see at Beaver Creek? What are some ideas you have for the long-term growth of our congregation? Any outrageous outreach ideas? Please either email Pastor Ryan or write them down and place them in the brown suggestion box in the narthex. Dream big!
Nursery
The Christian Education Team is looking for six to eight volunteers for the nursery during the Sunday School hour and church hour. There will be a signup sheet in the back. If you would be willing to volunteer to allow our families to be able to participate in worship, please let one of the members of Christian Education know (Theresa Eckard, Scott McAvoy, Becky Whitmore), or sign up on the signup sheet!
Children’s Church
The Christian Education team would like to relaunch children’s church for our kids, as well as for the kids in our community without a church home. To be successful, we need six to eight volunteers who would be willing to give up one Sunday either a month or every other month to minister to our children. If you are interested, please let one of Christian Education know, email the church office, or sign up on the sign-up sheet on Sunday.
The hope is that as we build our children’s ministry, more young families will want to participate in the church.
Four Ways to Give!
1) Mail your tithe into the church office
2) Drop it by the church office on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, 9 am – 1 pm
3) Our online giving platform: https://beavercreekchurchva.churchcenter.com/giving
4) Drop off in the offering plate on Sunday!
Prayer Needs
Continue to Keep in Prayer our members in Skilled Care Facilities: Mary G Miller, Shirley Miller, Stanley Suter & Carolyn Wine
Eddie Baker (health)
Deanne Dastoli (health)
Patsy Dastoli (health)
Elijah Tucker Dean (health)
Natalie Dodge (health)
John Fix (addiction)
Cindy Heatwole (health)
Bob Hess (health)
Tori Jackson (peace)
Darlene LaPrade (health)
Lynne Lent (health)
Mark Martin (health)
Barbara Meadows (health)
Betty Miller (health)
Norlen Miller (health)
Mary G Miller (health)
Savannah Miller (health)
Tami Plaugher (health)
Ann Simmons (health)
Crystal Smith (health)
Stanley Suter (health)
Whitmore family (house)
Mary Whitmore (health)
Jeff? Wilbur (health)
Cindy Wittig (recovery)
Shelvy Wittig (health)
Pastor Ryan Cooper
Beaver Creek Church