Category Archives: Discovery Church
Meta Part 2
Metamorphosis
Pastor Steve Lummer
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).
“metamorphosis” derives from Greek μεταμόρφωσις, “transformation, transforming”, from μετα- (meta-), “change” + μορφή (morphe), “form”.
DO YOU NEED A CHANGE?
It takes change to produce growth!
Uncontrolled change = CHAOS. Managed change = LEADERSHIP
HOW TO COOPERATE WITH GOD’S PROCESS OF CHANGE
Phase 1: Be Alert TO GOD’S VOICE
Job 33:13 19 (NIV) says, “For God does speak now one way, now another though man may not perceive it. In a dream . . . as they slumber . . . (or) he may speak in their ears . . . with warnings . . . Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress . . . .”
Phase 2: Accept GOD’S COMFORT.
When the crisis comes. Don’t run from Him, but run to Him. Isa. 42:3, “God will encourage the fainthearted, those tempted to despair.”
Ps. 31:7 (LB), “You (God) have listened to my troubles and have seen the crisis in my soul.”
Jonah 2:7 (LB), “When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord.”
Phase 3: Ask God FOR COURAGE.
Isa. 43:2, “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I (God) will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up . . . .”
Phase 4: Anticipate GOD’S HELP.Ps. 37:5 (LB), “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will.” change is not a matter of will power, it’s a matter of God’s power. He’ll help you.
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52 (niv)
IneedCommUNITY
Just quoting 2AMAZING thinkers
“More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people,
enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as
someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice
this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems.
My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some
impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings,
conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the
streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent
cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I
wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to
eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them
know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but
truly love them.”
– Henri Nouwen
The Church is God’s Plan
In an essay he wrote fourteen years after his conversion, C.S. Lewis communicates the realization many of us go through:
I thought that I could do it on my own, by retiring to my rooms and reading theology, and I wouldn’t go to the churches. . . But as I went on I saw the great merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.
Those dirty booted individuals often help remind us of how far we have to go. And maybe we can help them as well.
The church wasn’t an optional idea for a portion of Christians—it’s part of God’s plan for all believers.
I/we/Don need this community called church, even when we don’t know it.
ineedcommUNITY.
Steve
Discovery’s First Trip Around The Sun
Thanks to all who have supported and celebrated with us over the past year.
Many amazing people who had given up on “church” have joined in to become the church we have been looking for.
Thank you Jesse Quiroz for making our special day very special.
Pastor Steve and Brenda
Three ways to contribute to Discovery Church
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been encouraging people to give online or visit our giving kiosk at our welcome center and I wanted to THANK YOU for taking this important step. I hope you’ll see that online giving is safe and easy, and a great way to be intentional about being generous.
I encourage you to visit http://www.discoveryprescott.com to continue to give online as well as set up an automated giving process.
We’re so grateful that you’ve chosen to partner with us. If you ever have any questions, just let me know.
Blessings!
Steve
Here is a quick video explaining how our giving kiosk works.
A Stress LESS Church
STRESS – LESS PART 3
How To Have A Stress LESS Church
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. -Proverbs 14:4
Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
PRAY – THINK – LIVE
#1. RIGHT PRAYING
Vs 6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything but in everything, by prayer
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
#2 . RIGHT THINKING.
-vs. 8 whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
# 3 RIGHT LIVING.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
2 Timothy 4:5 Do the work of an evangelist,
Phil. 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
John 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me
John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
A new cloth klôTH/ – “There were no blacksmiths in the land.”
Shaping a culture takes someone who is ready, willing and able to shape a new cloth.
“There were no blacksmiths in the land.” 1 Samuel 13:19 NLT
There is needed today some bold spiritual blacksmiths!
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from iron or steel by forging the metal; i.e., by using tools to hammer, bend, cut, and otherwise shape it in its non-liquid form. Usually the metal is heated until it glows red or orange as part of the forging process. Blacksmiths produce things like wrought iron gates, grills, railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculpture, tools, agricultural implements, decorative and religious items, cooking utensils, and weapons.
The Bible says, “There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews…none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan” (1Sa 13:19-22 NLT).
To keep the Israelites in slavery, the Philistines removed all the blacksmiths. It was a devastating blow. Blacksmiths made swords to be used in battle and sickles to be used in the harvest field. Can you imagine the effect that would have on a nation? Satan’s tactics haven’t changed.
His goal is still to silence the molders and shapers of a new culture – a kingdom culture.
Why do we need spiritual blacksmiths? Because they understand how to shape raw material into something God can use. They not only shape it, they sharpen it. All great leaders have emerged from raw material. And tomorrow’s leaders are walking around today in raw form just waiting for a spiritual blacksmith to come along. Unfortunately many ministry leaders are so busy “running the show,” they don’t take the time to work with raw material. Spiritual blacksmiths aren’t only needed in the local church, they’re also needed in the nation to reshape our culture.
We need “influencers” who can reform the ranks of business, education, government and media. Any volunteers?
It’s time for the spiritual blacksmiths in the land to break free from the constraints of the Philistines and return to the ancient craft of shaping men and women for God’s service. The battle is too big for Saul and Jonathan to handle alone!
If you want to see your world change be willing to create it.
If you want a new kind of church, craft one
If you want a new family, nurture one.
If you want a new organization, build one.
Use the raw material around you and shape what you see in the future.
Even though what you see right now seems insignificant go for it anyway …. “It’s often the small things that no one sees NOW that result in the big things that everyone wants LATER.”
Shape the future.
Steve
9 Things You Need To Know About Your Pastor
http://forwardleadership.org/article/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-your-pastor
Guest Blogger Jason Isaacs
1. He’s trying his best
You may not believe it. You may think he’s just throwing things together, but he isn’t. The results may not be what want, but I’ve never met a pastor yet who didn’t want to succeed. He’s preaching the best sermons he can come up with, empowering the best volunteers he can find, and doing whatever he can to try and get you excited about your church. Whatever is bothering you about your church, trust me, he’s more frustrated than you are.
2. He works harder than you think he does
You may work more hours than he does, but you’re not working harder. His mind never shuts off. He’s planning sermons, making phone calls, and doing visits. He’s always on call, he’s counseling, providing care, and being a husband and a dad. And every time he gets ready to finally take a break his phone rings with a call from somebody in the church. The emotional strain of pastoring wears him out.
3. He’s rarely 100% confident
He works really hard to come across as confident, but most of the time when he is pitching a new idea or casting vision, he’s only kind of sure. He hopes it works, he hopes it was God speaking and not his head, but he’s learned that waiting to be 100% confident will never come when you are working for God.
4. He has an ego
I’ve never met a great pastor yet, who doesn’t have a little bit of an ego. He has to. When he walks into a church that hasn’t grown under the last 5 pastors, there has to be a part of him that believes he can do something the others couldn’t. After enough people tell him “They aren’t getting fed anymore” he has to have something inside that believes he is a great speaker. Some pastors can be egotistical maniacs, but every great pastor has to have a little ego in them.
5. He’s worried you’re going to leave
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been at the church for 20 years, pastors feel like you are just one conflict away from trying another church. He probably shouldn’t be so defensive, but he has seen too many people walk out the door over small, silly things. The feeling of disappointment when someone leaves his church is impossible to explain to someone who has never experienced it, especially someone who is leaving.
6. He takes things personally
Even when you preface your statement with “Don’t take this personally, but…” I know in your mind it’s just a church, or it’s just a service, or it’s just a sermon, etc. But to him it’s his life, calling, and identity. When you say you don’t like the music, or that you’re leaving because no one has befriended you, he takes it personally because you’re talking about his family. It would be like if someone said to you, “I really love you and want to still hang out with you, but I don’t want to hang out at your house anymore because your kids are crazy. Don’t take that personally because it’s your kids not you, but we’ll have to hang out somewhere other than your house.” That’s what it feels like.
7. You get on his nerves sometimes
Don’t take this personally, but you can be annoying sometimes. You probably don’t realize how fickle, or temperamental you are, but when you want to meet to talk about something “really important” and you tell him that you’re frustrated because your daughter didn’t get a solo in the Christmas play, it’s annoying. Sometimes it can feel like the loudest people are the least involved, and that’s even worse. Which leads us to the next thing you need to know…
8. Your encouragement matters (especially Monday-Saturday)
You will never know how much your encouragement lifts his spirits, especially during the week. While your encouragement of his sermon on Sunday is nice, sometimes it can seem less genuine, but when he get’s encouragement during the week he feels like you really care, and during your busy day you were thinking good things about him.
9. He would take a bullet for you
He would take a bullet for you, even if you wouldn’t take one for him. He has a burden for you because God gave it to him. He prays for you, he cares about you, and he would do anything he could to make sure that you know God. There are times when you feel like maybe your pastor doesn’t care about you, but it’s not true; he does. He may not get to speak to you or he may miss a visit sometimes, but if he didn’t care about you he wouldn’t be your pastor.
STRESSLESS Part 2 – How to negotiate stress out of your relationships
STRESS – LESS – Part 2
How to negotiate stress out of your relationships
Steve and Brenda Lummer
The greatest single source of stress in our lives is when we try to live our lives apart from the one who made us. This Sunday morning we begin looking at how to stressLESS.
Here is Stress -Less part two “How to Negotiate Stress Out Of Your Relationships.
1. WHAT GOES WRONG?
Stages of Love:
1. ATTRACTION
2. INFATUATION
3. ATTACHMENT
Be careful what you get attached to.
“Conflict Resolution Reduces Stress in Relationships” – Brenda Lummer
The six interpretations of spoken communication are:
1. What the speaker intended to say.
2. What the speaker actually said.
3. What the speaker thought he or she said.
4. What the hearer needed to hear.
5. What the hearer actually heard.
6. What the hearer thought he or she heard.
1. Conflict Resolution Requires Listening:
*Empathic listening seeks to understand what the other person is thinking and feeling. It is trying to see the world from their perspective.
(Too many couples only listen to reload their verbal guns)
How To Be An Empathic Listener:
1. Affirm the importance of your relationship. Love conquers all.
*Choosing to lovingly affirm your relationship forces you to listen. Not listening than you are arguing.
* When you feel loved you feel heard
*Average person listens only 17 seconds before interrupting
* Agree on a time limit for each one to speak
2. Clarify What You Heard.
*Classic technique-repeat back what you think you heard with no judgements on the info
3. Give Your Partner Undivided Attention HUGE.
*Giving undivided attention communicates the relationship is important to you.
*Body language must communicate undivided attention.
*Listening while doing something else says “ You are one of my many interests”.
4. Share Your Ideas Only After Your Partner FEELS Heard.
*Listen for as long as your partner has something to say.
*Only share your perspective after the other feels heard and understood-when you respond too quickly you usually responds to the wrong issue.
2. Conflict Resolution Requires Understanding.
*Know what your partner is really saying.
*”Hear” your partner’s feelings.
*Discover what is truly important to your partner and why.
*Determine how strongly they feel about their perspective.
Face your FAULTS COLLECTIVELY remember you are on the same TEAM.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me…” Psalm 139.23-24a
“Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James, 5.16
Fulfill your PARTNERS NEEDS .
“The man should fulfill his duty as a husband and the woman should fulfill her duty as a wife. and each should satisfy the other’s needs.” 1 Corinthians 7.3
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
Be UNDERSTANDING , not demanding.
“You husbands should try to understand the wife you live with…” 1 Peter 3.7
Enlist SUPPORT from others.
“Get all the advice and instruction you can.” Proverbs 19.20 (New Living Translation)
Get plugged into a GOD POWERED RELATIONSHIP.
http://www.discoveryprescott.com
stevelummer.com 