kenmurphy.org

Let Light Shine Out of Dark Places

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)

What Does Jesus Have to Do With Easter?

The Barna Group recently released these statistics on how the culture interprets the meaning of Easter.

Join us at Stonecreek Church for one of two identical Easter services on April 4, 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Nursery, preschool and children's programming is available both hours. Middle & High School Students will gather in the Student Theater for Student Easter Services at 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. To help us with seating capacity, get your Easter tickets online. Tickets are free, but required.

Love God, Love People

1402 adults were surveyed (margin of error +/-2.5 percentage points), and 53% strongly agreed with this statement:

"I think Christianity today is more about organized religion that about loving God and loving people." Read the entire article here.

This one statistic implies that over half of the people you see anywhere would strongly agree with that statement. It is imperative that the Church -- the people of God -- demonstrate in practical ways their love of God and their love of people, in their individual contexts (neighborhoods, work, social) outside the four walls of the church's Sunday gathering place.

Our staff team has entered a 90-day strategy we've internally termed, "Doing What Matters." "Doing What Matters" reflects our internal motivation to why we do what we do at Stonecreek. It's keeping "the end" in mind, and beginning with Jesus' instructions for us as Christ followers.

Our mission: To connect with people and lead them into an authentic and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Keeping the end in mind: an authentic and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Our lifestyle imperatives:

1. Increasing in intimacy with God.
2. Oriented towards serving others.
3. Missional living within my contexts.

The Greatest Commandments | Mark 28:29-31 (NIV)
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

C.S. Lewis said this ...
“...there exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came into existence. So we must strive very hard, by the grace of God to keep the church focused on the mission that Christ originally gave to it.”

The Church's Mission | Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Two Practical Steps to Loving God, Loving People
Stonecreek Group Launch | one way to orient your life with others to grow to love God more each day. learn more here

You Can! Poverty Advocacy | one way you can practically demonstrate a life oriented towards serving others. learn more here

The Power of Friendship

Check out this video post from The New York Times. It is amazing how children can so easily build friendships; even with children who are different from them. (Click the link below to view the video.)

New York Times Video, "An Unusual Friendship"

Proverbs 17:17 (New Living Translation)
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

White, Southern Church Embraces Change

Check out this New York Times video on how one white, mainline denominational church in Clarkston, Georgia, embraced its international neighbors and now is a multicultural congregation. Can you imagine what heaven will be like, when God gathers all of the nations together? Imagine...

Psalm 86:8-10 (The Message)
There's no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord, and nothing to compare with your works. All the nations you made are on their way, ready to give honor to you, O Lord, Ready to put your beauty on display, parading your greatness, And the great things you do— God, you're the one, there's no one but you!

Anything But "Typical"

Check out this excerpt from the Jimmy Kimmel show, where the New Orleans' band Mute Math perform...in reverse! Don't know much about the band, but this video captured the lyrics in a very creative way. Enjoy!