5 Things I Want Movement Church to Know Before This Sunday

 Hey Movement Church!  I have 5 things to share with you real quick!

1. What a great worship experience we had last Sunday! 

• We talked about how trust is the single most important element in any relationship.  No trust = No relationship.  
• We confessed that sometimes life is hard, and its okay to admit it.  Too often, church is a place where people come to be fake.
• God is still God, even when life is hard.  Our circumstances don't determine God's character.  He is good all the time.
• I challenged you not to give up.  Many times we're on the verge of breakthrough, and we quit too soon.
• Jesus was dead and the disciples had no hope.  When our world seems out of control, God is still in control.
• If God can turn a bloody Cross into an empty tomb, then he can take your crucifixion and turn it into a resurrection - if you trust Him and DON'T GIVE UP!

2. THREE people surrendered their lives to Jesus last Sunday, AND THAT NEVER GETS OLD! One of our core values is Found People Find People.  Have you ever lost something important to you, like your cell phone or wallet?  What did you do?  You stopped at nothing until you found it.  Well, the same is true for Jesus. He will stop at nothing to find those that are lost (Luke 19:10).  We should do the same!  Out of love for our friends and family, INVITE them to church!  It's Christmas Sunday, so leverage that and GET THEM THERE! 

3. This Sunday is Christmas Sunday, and we have tons of things planned for you!

• The KidZone will be performing a MINI CONCERT for us.  So, if your child is singing, invite Grandma and Grandpa to come out and cheer the kids on!
• We're BAPTIZING on CHRISTMAS!  I'm SO PROUD of those willing to take the next step in their faith journey! Make sure you bring a change of clothes with you.  Again, this is the perfect opportunity to invite those you love to church with you to celebrate new life!
• Christmas Cash/ iPad Mini Giveaway!  IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER!  All first-time guest in the month of December have an opportunity to WIN.  You must be at least 18 years old, and you must be present this Sunday to win.  Please email Pastor Jeff with any further questions regarding the giveaway: jeff@movementchurch.com.

4. Hey, if I haven't mentioned it yet, we want you to bring your friends and family to church with you this Sunday!  I promise you that every one of us will spend eternity somewhere.  I firmly believe that you cannot be connected to Jesus Christ, and not care about lost people.  Get them there this Sunday, and pray that Jesus invades  their souls with His goodness and mercy!

5. I love my church!  I love what God is doing in my church!  If you are connected to Movement Church, you are connected to something very unique and special.  For that, I rejoice!

See you Sunday to celeberate CHRISTMAS!

Pastor Jeremy

Near & Far

I'm praying for resources to organize a small team to go HERE in 2013.  Please join me in praying for this.

But before that...join us HERE this Saturday @ 1PM (254 6th St. NW.  Barberton, OH 44203).  We will be passing out tickets for our Christmas Services and Community Dinner.

Why?

1. BECAUSE EVERYONE will spend ETERNITY somewhere (Hebrews 9:27).
2. BECAUSE it's IMPOSSIBLE to be connected to Christ, but NOT care about the people HE cares about (Luke 19:10).
3. BECAUSE found people find people (John 1:40-42 & John 1:43-45).

I am praying for 100 volunteers to join us in loving our community like Christ loves us.  Is it sexy? No.  Is it easy? No. Is it hard. No.  It simply takes commitment to make a BIG difference!

ARE YOU ALL IN, or ARE YOU ALL OUT?

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5 Must-Knows for Every Person at Movement Church

1. I love our church! I'm so grateful that Jesus has called me to serve His church and love His people.  God is doing something very special in our midst, and lest you think it's normal, it isn't.  I just heard Perry Noble quote a statistic that is saddening.  He stated that 85% of churches are in decline; 15% are growing; 2% are growing by conversion.  Translation: By God's grace alone, we are among 2% of churches in America that are growing by Life-Change!  Can I get an AMEN?
2. Connect Groups are coming!  Connect Groups are coming!  That was supposed to be a play on Paul Revere's "The British are coming."  Okay, never mind.  But Connect Groups are coming, and I highly recommend that you sign yourself up for one this Sunday.  Why? So you can take your relationship with Jesus to a HNL (Hole Nutha Level)!  Connect Groups are also vital in connecting you with other people who might share the same struggles as you do.  Remember, one of us isn't as strong as all of us! **Reminder: These groups are closed, meaning you cannot get in one after the December 30th deadline, and they run for only 12 weeks at a time.  Try one.  I dare you!
3.  If you love your church like I do, and you love lost people like Jesus does, prove it!  There's no greater time to invite your friends and family to church than RIGHT NOW!  If they'd ever come, it would be on Christmas (December 23rd)!  Remember, every first time guest who comes to church in the month of December has a good chance at being blessed with a brand new iPad Mini (impossible to find in stores right now), or $250.00 in Christmas Cash!  lt seriously could not be easier for you to invite people to church with you.  
4. Oh, and yes, I'm going to get tazed on stage THIS SUNDAY to help illustrate my last message in our series called THE END!  I've been told that it's only 45,000 volts, so I should live!?!?  You don't want to miss it.  Trust me.
5. This Saturday (December 15th) you have an opportunity to step up and be the church!  If God blessed our efforts in passing out 200 flyers to our community, I wonder what He would do if we passed out 3,000 tickets to our church?!?  Well, to make that happen, we need to get past whatever would keep us from making a difference for 2 HOURS this Saturday!  If the bible is true, then HELL is HOT, eternity is a LONG TIME, and we've been called to do something about it!  Do not let this moment pass you by!  Join us this Saturday @ 1 PM at our church, READY TO CHARGE HELL WITH A SQUIRT GUN!  **Childcare will be provided.  **It shouldn't take more than 2 hours of your time for a lifetime of Life-Change!  

Have a fantastic week, and remember to SURRENDER!

Pastor Jeremy

"Your Sex Takes Me to Paradise," Uhh, Probably Not!

Pop Culture seeks to bend and shape us into a line of thinking that replaces Jesus, the God of the Cosmos, for a far less superior object to give ourselves to.  For example,  people make billions of dollars offering various diets, sex, get-rich-quick schemes, plastic surgery, food, and drugs to provide "escape" from  the "hell" we find ourselves in.

Why am I writing this?

1. So you can understand people in order to better reach them with Christ
2. So you don't bend toward culture, but you bend culture toward Christ

With that said, I'll give you a perfect example of what I mean.  On my way home, Bruno Mars' song called Locked Out of Heaven, came on the radio.  It blew my mind.  Here's the lyrics:

Lyrics :

Verse 1
Never had much faith in love or miracles
Never wanna put my heart on the line
But swimming in your water is something spiritual
I'm born again every time you spend the night

Verse 2
You bring me to my knees
You make me testify
You can make a sinner change his ways
Open up your gates cause I can't wait to see the light
And right there is where I wanna stay


Chorus
'Cause your sex takes me to paradise
Yeah, your sex takes me to paradise
And it shows, yeah, yeah, yeah
'Cause you make me feel like, I've been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Yeah, you make me feel like, I've been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long

The Problem:
This is a worship song about a naked woman who offers to satisfy a man's sexual lusts with her "open...gates."  For him, this sexual exchange is the key to heaven/paradise, and now Bruno has become a worship leader, singing praises to his goddess.

The Truth:
What happens if this woman ever closes her "heavenly gates," or this man simply grows tired of the view?  He will look to another woman to rescue him from his "erotic hell," and the nasty cycle will never end.

Jesus makes a much better God than sex.  Unlike culture, He doesn't use you and then discard you like a used Tampon in a trash can. He doesn't walk out on you in your time of greatest need.  He doesn't enter this relationship based on what you can give Him, but based on what He can give to you (Romans 5:6-8).

My heart breaks for the lost.  My hope is that God would somehow use you and me to reach them with the TRUTH that will set them free (John 8:32).

Please bring someone who needs to be set free to church with you this Sunday.

I love you!

Pastor Jeremy

How Far Are You Willing To Go?

I firmly believe there's ZERO hope outside of a fully surrendered life to Jesus Christ.  There's NO OTHER WAY to engage the God of the Cosmos than through faith in His Son...Period.                     

Why?   

Simply, because nobody, and I mean NOBODY has shown more love to you than Him. Nobody else could. Jesus Christ is 100% perfect, sinless, holy, and pure-hearted.  He then exchanged his perfection for YOU by facing brutal beatings, whippings, mockings, and ultimately a horrendous execution style murder to satisfy God's anger for your sin (AND MINE). I know ZERO people who could pay my sin debt to God with their perfect life. Furthermore, I know ZERO who WOULD if they COULD, other than Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  He alone offered me an exchange I could not refuse!  He offered to die so I could live!

That is precisely WHY Movement Church is so serious about reaching people with the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.  That's our reason, purpose, and motivation for all we do EVERY week!  And that should be your motivation to bring those you love to church on Sundays!  They need Jesus! Period.

As if that weren't enough to motivate you to be a BRINGER, we've gone an extra 5 miles by giving you EXCITING things to look forward to EVERY WEEK.  We want you to be excited about what God's doing at your church!  We want you to WANT TO bring your friends and family...

So, here are 5 things you can get excited about:

1. This week we continue our series called THE END? Have you ever heard some well meaning person say, "God NEVER puts MORE on you than you can handle"?  Well, that's a lie!  We all have problems. Join us this week for SOLUTIONS in difficult times!
2. In 2 weeks (16th), I'm getting TAZED on stage! SERIOUSLY! Why?  At this point....I'm not sure.  But one thing is for sure...I want you to be there to see it!  It will be AWESOME!
3. In 2 weeks the KIDZONE is throwing a HUGE CHRISTMAS PARTY for all the kids!  There's going to be FUN and GAMES....and YOUR KIDS WILL HAVE A BLAST! So, get excited!
4. In 3 weeks (Dec. 23rd) we are celebrating CHRISTMAS with baptisms, so SIGN UP at Connect Central this Sunday if you're ready to take the NEXT STEP in your faith journey!  **Your baptism is a PERFECT reason to invite your unsaved loved ones to church on Christmas!
5. HUGE GIVEAWAY! During our Christmas Service (Dec. 23rd), we're giving away a BRAND SPAKIN NEW iPad Mini OR $250.00 in CHRISTMAS CASH to a first-time guest that YOU INVITE (*Must be at least 18 years of age)!  They'll get to choose either or!  Plus, if someone YOU INVITE wins, you'll go home with $50.00 in CHRISTMAS CASH TOO!  SO INVITE! INVITE! INVITE!  You have no excuse NOT to be fired up about your church!

**Every FIRST-TIME GUEST you bring to church the ENTIRE month of December is eligible to win the iPad Mini or Christmas Cash, but they must be PRESENT on Dec. 23rd to claim their prize.  TRANSLATION: The more people you invite starting NOW, the bigger the impact you'll make on their lives, and the more opportunity you have to walk home with $50 in Christmas Cash yourself!

Don't wait!  Call some people now and invite them to church this and EVERY SUNDAY in December!  I am begging God for MORE and MORE changed lives!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CHURCH!

PJ

4 Things Every Person at Movement Church MUST KNOW TODAY!

1. I wanted to personally thank you for giving our guest speaker, Samuel Lorenz, such a warm Movement Church welcome last week!  I believe God used him to bring His Word in a powerful way.  If you missed it, you can watch it HERE!
2. We're beginning a BRAND NEW LIFE SERIES this Sunday called THE END?  With all the hype surrounding the end of the world on 12.21.12, we felt it necessary to give you some biblical tools to put an end to anxiety, worry, and fear in your life.  Don't miss it.
3. God has been doing some remarkable things in our midst as a church this past year, for which, I'm completely humbled!  Jesus is changing lives, and all I can say is WOW!  In light of this fact, we want to finished 2012 stronger than EVER as a church!  In order to do this, you need to get involved!  How?  I want to challenge you to jot down the names of 5 people you hope to bring to church before the end of 2012.  I'm also challenging you to beg God everyday to get them there!  In my quiet time, the Lord led me to Proverbs 24:11-12.  Please read it and allow Jesus to motivate you to be a rescuer of those you love!
4. Because we want you to be excited about inviting those you love to Movement Church, we put TONS of time and effort into this process.  

So, here are a few things you can get excited about:

1. This week, we begin a series called THE END? It will help those that you know who are plagued by anxiety, worry, and fear (especially during the Holidays!). So get them to church.
2. In 3 weeks, I'm getting TAZED on stage! SERIOUSLY!  Don't worry, I'm freaked out about wetting myself in front of you all ;)  This should be fun, so don't miss it!  
3. Also, that day we'll be throwing a HUGE Christmas Party for all the kids in the KIDZONE, so bring families with young kids!
4. In 4 weeks (Dec. 23rd) we are celebrating Christ's birth (Christmas Service) with baptisms, so SIGN UP at Connect Central this Sunday if you're ready to take the NEXT STEP in your faith journey!  **Your baptism is a PERFECT reason to invite your unsaved loved ones to church on Christmas!
5. Lastly, on that day (Dec. 23rd) we're giving away a brand new iPad Mini OR $250.00 in CHRISTMAS CASH to a first-time guest that YOU INVITE (*Must be at least 18 years of age)!  They'll get to choose which they want!  Plus, if someone YOU INVITE wins, you'll go home with $50.00 in CHRISTMAS CASH TOO!  SO INVITE! INVITE! INVITE!  You have no excuse NOT to be fired up about your church!

Please be in prayer for your pastors and staff, as we seek God's blessing and direction over the coming year, 2013!  We're just getting started as a church, and I believe that the best is yet to come!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CHURCH!

Pastor Jeremy

5 Reasons Why You Should Invite Your Friends to Church this Sunday

1. Because our KidZone is EXCELLENT from beginning to end!  It's a place where kids ACTUALLY want to be!  You'll pass up SEVERAL McDonald's to take your kiddos to a Golden Arches with a PLAYPLACE!  Why?  Because its FUN!  Jesus + church don't have to = boring!  In fact, our KidZone's tag line is: It's better than recess!  We work hard to ensure our KidZone is safe, clean, age-appropriate, God-focused and most of all - A PLACE KIDS WANT TO BE ON SUNDAYS!
2. Because our HOSPITIALITY is EXCELLENT from beginning to end!  We live to serve our guests on Sundays!  Jesus Himself did not come to be served, but to serve (Mk. 10:45); therefore, we make it our personal mission to provide better service than you can get at Chick-fil-A!  Why? Because we're serving something more than chicken -- we're serving the Bread of Life!
3. Because Movement Band rocks the house!  These guys are passionate about Jesus, music, and people -- AND they specialize in CRASHING those worlds together in a way that just works!
4. Because the preaching is transparent, authentic, practical, biblical, and most of all -- HELPFUL!  People want to know how dishes, laundry, bills, stress, marriage, kids, work + Jesus collide!
5. Because life-change is a reality at our church!  Every week God continues to truly make people BRAND NEW, and it's EXCITING to see!  We REALLY believe 2 Cor. 5:17-18 is TRUE!
6. Because found people find people (Jn.1:40-50)!  It's biblical to go and tell people we love to COME AND SEE!  The local church is God's plan to tell the world about Jesus Christ!  We don't "have to," we "get to!"

Who are you going to INVITE to church with you this Sunday?  We're providing a FREE Thanksgiving dinner to all who attend the worship experience!  This is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to connect your guests to JESUS!  Seize the moment and INVITE!

Love ya!

PJ