greater things campaign workbook
DESCRIPTION
Bear Creek Baptist ChurchTRANSCRIPT
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GREATER THINGS
B E A R C R E E K B A P T I S T C H U R C H
Anyone who has faith in me...will do even greater things
John 14:12
John 14:12 I tell you the truth,
anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been
doing. He will do even greater
things than these, because I am going to the
Father.
WEWILL DOGREATERTHINGSIt is an audacious thought that we would
do GREATER THINGS than Jesus. If you
or I suggested it, we would be laughed at
or called arrogant. However, we aren’t the
ones that proposed this amazing idea. He
did.
Jesus has told us that, if we have faith in
Him, we will do even greater things than
what He did while He was walking with
people on this earth. What does this mean?
How can we do even greater things than
Jesus? Jesus has a mission to accomplish
on this earth, a mission for the Kingdom
of God. The work of the Kingdom didn’t
stop when Jesus ascended into Heaven.
It wasn’t put on pause. It was handed to
us, the church, and we were given great
resource with it.
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Think of the resources Jesus gave us to work with that were not present during His earthly
ministry...
1. The Gospel and His own completed work of salvation through His death and resurrection
2. Himself as an advocate for us before the Father night and day (Romans 8:34, I John 2:1)
3. The Holy Spirit as ever-present counselor in every believer (John 14:16-17)
The greater things we are called to do are the greater things of the Kingdom: reconciling the
world to God by reaching people with the Gospel and bringing them up in discipleship. These
things are at the core of our mission to make disciples. We are a church committed to greater
things.
God has been doing these greater things since the beginning of Bear Creek. He is doing them
now, and if we keep our faith sure in Him, greater things are yet to come.
OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES
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1977In 1977, seven couples began a home Bible study in the
Bear Creek area of West Houston. They had a vision for a
new church that would serve this community. Not just the
community that was already there, but the community
that would be there in the future. At that time, the area
had only a few neighborhoods and fewer businesses
clustered along the Highway 6 corridor. However, they saw
the potential as Houston continued to grow westward for
new neighborhoods, homes, and most importantly, new
people who needed Christ. They had a vision for greater
things.
The founding families Church in the Kindercare Our first baptism in a pool
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2001
In 1978, this small Bible study became
a mission worshipping in a KinderCare
on Clay Road across the street from
an empty field that would one day be
their church. They sacrificed, loading
and unloading an old school bus with
everything they needed for church
each Sunday because they had a
vision for greater things.
By 1981 they would buy that empty
field, build a building, and begin
life together as a church with over
275 members. Over the next twenty
years, they would continue to see
the greater things of the Kingdom
become reality. They would continue
to build, reach, and make disciples.
As they celebrated twenty years of
church life in 2001, they looked back
and saw the amazing work of God
because of the faith of seven couples
in greater things.
averageSundayattendace
897
2,141churchmembership
ministryspace
57,000 square feet
A SNAPSHOT AT 20 YEARS
land
11 acresbaptisms (1981-2001)
1,216
land
• 1977 - Seven couples began a Thursday evening Bible study in
the Highway 6/Clay Road area of West Houston.
• 1978 - Sunday morning worship and Bible study found a
temporary home in the KinderCare across from our future first
home on Clay Road.
• 1980 - The mission church completed construction of the first
9,000 square foot worship/education building project on 7
acres for a total cost of $550,000 including land.
• 1981 - Bear Creek Baptist Church was officially constituted as a
Southern Baptist Church with more than 275 charter members
and budget gifts of approximately $233,204 for the church year.
• 1984 - The church opened a 15,000 square foot education
building to expand our discipleship reach at a cost of $450,000.
• 1991 - The Bear Creek family voted to build an 800 seat worship/
office building for $1,600,000 providing great spiritual impact
in the Bear Creek community.
• 1998 - We completed the final phase of our 7 acre property
with a $1,250,000 gymnasium, making possible even greater
ministry to the community through recreation and sports.
2001MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
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After twenty years of incredible ministry,
Bear Creek was landlocked and reaching
capacity in our ministry space. This faith
family could have chosen to believe that
greater things were behind them, but they
refused. The same vision that sparked seven
couples to start a church in West Houston
caused Bear Creek to look again for a
solution that expected greater things.
GOD PROVIDED35 ACRES
The only solution would be relocation.
It was a solution that looked for
greater things: greater land for
expanded space and a greater reach
into the crossroads area of West
Houston, Katy, and Cypress. These
greater things would require, not one
but several, miracles to happen.
Real estate experts said our land
needs were impossible. The region
was set to explode with growth and
all of the land was taken or far too
expensive. Yet, God provided 35 acres
at Fry Road and West Little York.
Construction prices were sky
rocketing and the cost estimate for
the total project rose to over $15.8
million. The numbers were becoming
impossible. The only thing that would
allow us to move would be the sale of
our Clay Road campus for full market
price, and church buildings NEVER
sell for full market value. Yet, God
provided another church fully willing
and resourced to pay full market
price.
These are just some of the countless
miracles that allowed us to move into
a first phase facility that was 50%
larger than our previous buildings.
In the first 18 months, Bear Creek
doubled in average attendance and
saw over 1,000 professions of faith.
When we chose to believe in greater
things, God gave us the miracles to
make greater things a reality.
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GOD IS FAITHFUL200% growth in people reached each week.
843 baptisms
2,410new members
3,706total new additions(including children)
nearly 40% of new members joining by baptism
2,600 average Sunday morning attendance
over 600 volunteers involved in ministry
In the last seven years since relocation...
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GOD IS FAITHFUL
over $26 Milliongiven to Kingdom work
In the last seven years since relocation...
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Greater Things is a perfect way to describe our church’s
relationship with God. Since that first little gathering
of seven founding families in a living room over 30
years ago, we’ve been in a continual upward spiral of
God doing greater and greater and greater things in and
through us.
When our church was new and meeting every Sunday
in a daycare on Clay Road, they dared to dream that
they could purchase a bit of land across the street. But
God did even greater things. He provided 11 acres and
building after building for a faith family that believed
Him for greater things.
And then seven years ago, God prompted a vision for
even greater things: A strategic relocation expanded our
borders and expanded our influence from west Houston
to Katy and to Cypress. I’m astounded by what He has
done. Since relocation, our fellowship has nearly tripled
in size, we’ve seen over 850 baptisms, and hundreds
more professions of faith. In the past three years, nearly
40% of the individuals who joined our church did so
by baptism. Many of the people we reach are being
reached for Christ for the first time! In a time when every
denomination, including our own, is in steep decline, it
is amazing to see and feel and experience the greater
things God is doing through us!
This explosive growth has brought its own challenges.
When we constructed our present facility, it was
approximately 50% larger than our previous one – and
still we had to open with two worship services and Bible
study hours. Within three years, we had to add a third
hour of worship and Bible study and then add a modular
building to try to keep up with our growth.
FROMPASTORDAVID
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But now we are facing multiple capacities again, especially
in our preschool, children, and adult areas, as well as in our
parking. We must add significant ministry space for all
these areas in order to continue to reach our community
for Christ and connect people to discipleship.
A recent in-depth study of our ministries suggests that our
need is 27,000 sq. ft. of additional ministry space, as well
as up to 200 additional parking spaces. It is equally
important that we accelerate the pay down of
our present mortgage. We could do all
of this if our faith family were able to
give $5 million, over and above our
present giving, over the next three
years. All new construction
would be debt-free by the end
of the emphasis; our present
mortgage would be reduced
by $2 million; and all of
our age-group ministries
would have the ability
to grow by another 50
percent!
This is an attainable goal!
Here’s how – if we place
our faith in God to do it
through us, and if all of
us offer God something
greater than we’re giving
right now. The best way to
think of it is like a ladder. If
each of us takes a step up to
the next rung, we will be able to
accomplish greater things. Will you
pray about that? Will you have the faith
to ask God to take you to the next level of
generously giving back to His purposes?
This is a generosity initiative for everyone in our church,
not just a select few. It is for you if you have never given
before, and it is for you if you have given to God for
decades. This is an incredible opportunity for you to be
a significant part of reaching a generation for Christ. He
wants to use you! Will you join me in believing in, praying
for, and giving to Greater Things?
“Anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do
even greater things than these, because
I am going to the Father.”
(Jesus in John 14:12)
FROMPASTORDAVID
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WORSHIPGOd PASSIONATELY
GROWTOGETHER AUTHENTICALLY
SERVEOTHERS SACRIFICIALLY
Our mission is to make fully devoted, fully developing disciples of Jesus Christ.
Our vision is to be a relevant environment of life-change where every person is moved to...
SHARECHRIST EVERYWHERE
OUR VISION
Our mission and vision drive everything we do at Bear Creek and that includes the objectives
of Greater Things. Our ability to reach the people of our community for Christ and connect
them to discipleship is tied greatly to our ability to provide life-change environments. The
projects for Greater Things are about expanding our ability to connect people to these
powerful life-change environments for discipleship.
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GROWTOGETHER AUTHENTICALLY
SHARECHRIST EVERYWHERE
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BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH GOD HAS BLESSED BEAR CREEK WITH, WE ARE REACHING CAPACITIES IN SEVERAL AREASmost critically, in preschool, children, and parking.
We also have an urgent need to greatly expand
adult grow groups in order to connect and disciple
the many adults who have come over the past 6
years. As we continue to grow, these capacities
will limit our ability to reach people for Christ and
connect them to discipleship. Over the past year,
we have sought wisdom from God and the counsel
of others in how to understand and address this
challenge including...
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• an in-depth space and growth study with a
highly experienced church discipleship expert
• advice and counsel from the Finance Committee
feedback from ministry staff and volunteer
ministry leaders
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UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDThis process of study and prayer has identified clear needs and exciting opportunities.
We are at or near capacities in these three discipleship areas. Of our four age
groups, only students have the room to significantly grow in their current
format. Children and Preschool Grow Groups are at crucial stages at our key
hours. The large number of unchurched people reached over the past seven
years has created a huge need for expanded adult ministry. Even with the
addition of the modular building last year, many more rooms are needed to
connect these adults to Grow Groups.
ExPANDED DISCIPLESHIP SPACE FOR CHILDREN, PRESCHOOLERS, AND ADULTS
ADDITIONAL PARKINGParking quickly becomes the unnoticed obstacle for many churches.
difficulty finding a parking space or long waits getting on and off of the
parking lot can ruin a person’s first impression. Consider that most new
guests decide in the first seven minutes whether they will come back to our
church or not. Much of that first impression is found before they ever get
into a seat in the worship center or in a Grow Group.
P
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ExPANDED DISCIPLESHIP SPACE FOR CHILDREN, PRESCHOOLERS, AND ADULTS
ADDITIONAL PARKING
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF OUR CURRENT INDEBTEDNESS
The finance committee and leadership of Bear Creek are committed to
accelerating the elimination of our current mortgage as aggressively as
possible. Eliminating our debt will eventually free up more resources for
ministry or needed expansion in the future. The economic crisis of 2008 and
slow recovery delayed much needed progress in that area. Now is the time
to make a strategic effort toward this goal.
$
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ExTERIOR VIEW
THE GREATER THINGSVISION
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FIRST FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
We believe God is ready to do even greater things through us than He has done in the
past. This promise from Jesus in John 14:12 is the foundation of the Greater Things
Vision. If we give faithfully toward Greater Things:
• We will significantly reduce our present mortgage.
• We will add 27,000 sq.ft. of critical ministry space, which will be debt-free by the
conclusion of the three-year project.
• Our age-group ministries will have the capacity to grow by an additional 50 percent.
• Most importantly, we will continue to see God use Bear Creek to significantly
impact our community with the Gospel of Christ.
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New Drive
New
Park
ing
New Parking
Plantation Grove Tr.
Ran
ch C
anyo
n D
r.
N. Fry R
d.
NewAddition
ExistingChurch
BAYRCHITECTSA
IBI GROUP-
3/8/2013 10:09:37 AM
SITE PLANBEAR CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH ADDITION
0' 80' 160'320'NORTH
Scale 1" = 160'-0"
ACCELERATED REDUCTION OF MORTGAGE PRINCIPAL $1,000,000
The 2006 relocation project, including the purchase of 35 acres of land
and the 95,000 sq.ft. first phase building, cost $15.8 million. Our current
indebtedness is approximately $6.7 million, which is roughly twice our yearly
budget. This accelerated principal reduction, along with our regular monthly
payments, will reduce our mortgage by $2 million over the next 3 years.
PRESCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S CLASSROOM WING (16,000 S.F.) $2,275,000
The first wing will give our crowded preschool and children’s areas each
eight new classrooms. These 16 total rooms effectively become 32 addition-
al classrooms over two ministry hours. Each of these ministry areas would
be able to grow by an amazing 50 percent with this expanded space. If we
are unable to add this wing, these areas will be completely out of space to
grow in the next 18 months.
CHILDREN’S WORSHIP AND ADULT CLASSROOM WING (11,600 S.F.) $1,725,000
The second wing brings our children’s worship area into proximity with our
children’s Bible study area. This will greatly enhance security by putting all
of our children on the second floor in one single area. If we are able to add
this wing, then the present Blast building becomes available for additional
ministry. Expanded student ministry or additional worship venues are both
possibilities for this available space.
This wing also expands our Adult Grow Group ministry by seven additional
rooms (14, if utilized in two ministry hours). For the first time since relocation,
we will have the space to aggressively reach adults for discipleship/Bible
study groups.
ADDITIONAL PARKING TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH $320,000
We already feel the parking “squeeze!” If we commit even more than $5
million, then adding additional parking becomes a possibility. Plans currently
include up to 200 additional parking spaces in the front of our facility and a
third drive to Fry Road that exits into the southbound lanes.
TOTAL FOR GREATER THINGS
$5,320,000
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New Drive
New
Park
ing
New Parking
Plantation Grove Tr.
Ran
ch C
anyo
n D
r.
N. Fry R
d.
NewAddition
ExistingChurch
BAYRCHITECTSA
IBI GROUP-
3/8/2013 10:09:37 AM
SITE PLANBEAR CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH ADDITION
0' 80' 160'320'NORTH
Scale 1" = 160'-0"
ACCELERATED REDUCTION OF MORTGAGE PRINCIPAL $1,000,000
PRESCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S CLASSROOM WING (16,000 S.F.) $2,275,000
CHILDREN’S WORSHIP AND ADULT CLASSROOM WING (11,600 S.F.) $1,725,000
ADDITIONAL PARKING TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH $320,000
TOTAL FOR GREATER THINGS
$5,320,000
What if we do not raise the full amount needed?
We will call on our Finance Committee to recommend to our church a responsible course of action for the use of the committed
funds. Mortgage debt reduction will be the first priority. A combination of building needs and additional parking will be considered
next. We will ask our church to vote to approve the final building/financial plan before construction.
A Note About Construction Estimates
The estimates above are based on our architect’s best estimates in consultation with commercial construction experts a few months
ago. Cost estimates are often inexact because they are fixed in time, and thus cannot account for the ever-changing market
pressures. As cost estimates fluctuate, our Finance Committee will continue to adjust the scope of this project to keep us in a
financially healthy place.
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Greater Things is a discipleship process more than a
fundraising campaign. It is about shaping our hearts to be the
generous, faith-filled people God desires us to be. Go through
the daily prayer guide. Allow God to speak to your heart and
challenge you. Ask Him what He is calling you to do in this
area of your life during this season. Seek His direction, and
ask Him for the faith to follow that direction.
With God’s leadership, make a commitment. don’t just commit
to an amount, but to a change. Look at the generosity ladder.
Can you step one rung up on the ladder? What does that
mean for your life? What sacrifices does that require? How
does God have to provide in your life for that to be real? Make
a commitment to take that step in faith.
Giving is what takes our commitment and our faith and makes
it real. Generosity is one of the fundamental keys to a Christ-
centered life. It requires faith, sacrifice, and vision. View each
gift you have pledged as a step on that faith journey. Begin
by making the first step. Maybe God is leading you to make
that first step a leap by giving something abundant. Let God
direct that step and give the way He leads you.
COMMIT
GIVE
FIRST TIME
PRAY
OCCASIONAL
INTENTIONAL
TITHING
ABUNDANT
WHAT SHOULDYOU DO?
GENEROSITY LADDERGreater things in our faith family won’t be accomplished because
the wealthiest gave or because the ones who always give gave
more. Greater things will come if every one of us takes a sacrificial,
generous step of faith. Where are you on the generosity ladder?
Can you commit to move up one rung on that ladder?
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SUNDAY MAY 5THOn Sunday, May 5, we will have a special worship celebration to culminate Greater Things. We are asking
every person at Bear Creek to go through this process and allow God to shape their commitment and
their gifts. On May 5 we will make these commitments together to the Lord using a card like the one
you see here on this page. This commitment has three parts.
Resolve to move up on the generosity ladder. Where is your current level of generosity and giving back
to God? How is God leading you to move forward with that commitment?
A COMMITMENT TO STEP FORWARD IN FAITH
A THREE-YEAR GIVING COMMITMENTYou will receive a worksheet with your commitment card. Use the worksheet to figure out how advancing
your giving to the next level for three years can have a multiplied effect. You may be amazed at what you
can do by simply giving to God in a greater way over time. Will you commit to this level of generosity
for three years? Ask God to help you make a commitment that stretches your faith.
A ONE-TIME GIFTWhether you are a tithing giver wanting to give a generous and sacrificial gift or a first time giver who
wants to get started giving back to God, you can make a one-time gift outside of your regular giving.
This could be a gift of some stock or property, the proceeds of a garage sale, or the fruit of some single
sacrifice in your life. Imagine the power of giving if over 1,000 families made some sort of sacrificial gift.
A NOTE ABOUT THESE COMMITMENTSThe Greater Things pledges are faith commitments we make together as a church toward the purpose
of God. They are not legally binding and can be changed or canceled if needed based on your life
circumstances. Your individual commitment is confidential and will not be published or shared in anyway.
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FAQHow do I participate in Greater Things?
First and foremost, pray. Ask God for direction about what He would have you do. Allow God to speak to you
through the Bible studies in Grow Groups, the Sunday morning messages, and the prayer guide. Be open to how
He directs your faith, and respond to His leadership about making a three-year commitment to give.
How soon would construction begin?
While we cannot give an exact time frame, construction could begin as early as this fall. The timing depends on
many factors including the amount committed, a subsequent vote by our faith family to approve construction,
the design process, and other construction factors.
When would we move into the new building?
We would expect to be able to move into a building approximately 9-12 months after construction begins. This
timeline is dependent primarily on construction processes that are beyond our direct control.
How does this affect my regular giving?
Any commitment to Greater Things should be in addition to your regular giving to the ongoing ministry of Bear
Creek. Our hope is that every person, whether they have never given to church before or are committed tithers,
can find a way to participate by moving their giving at least one step forward to greater generosity.
What should I give?
No other person can tell you what to give. Start by acknowledging your current level of giving faithfulness to
God and asking Him to show you ways to go beyond that. Look for creative ways to increase your ability to give
or sacrifices that you can make in order to invest in the Kingdom of God. Every person has a different capacity
to give, and each of our gifts should be generous, sacrificial, and faith-inspired in comparison to our capacity.
What kind of commitment am I being asked to make?
We are asking you to make a three-year commitment to give at a level greater than what you already give. No
one person or small group of people can accomplish these faith goals by themselves, but there is great power if
every person makes a commitment to give to Greater Things.
Can I change my commitment later?
These commitments are not legally binding, but they should be real commitments. Pray and seek direction to
make a real faith-led commitment. If life circumstances change, you can increase or decrease your commitment
to match your circumstances. Simply seek to be faithful to God’s leadership and provision in your life.
How can I give?
While most gifts will be weekly or monthly gift commitments, you can also give single gifts of stock, cash, or
property. This type of gift isn’t reserved for those with large assets. Some families choose to have garage sale,
skip a vacation, or make some other sacrifice in order to give a greater gift.
How does this project affect our church’s overall financial health?
Bear Creek is in a healthy financial situation, and this project will actually make it significantly better by making
a substantial reduction in our current mortgage and allowing us to continue to grow as a faith family. decisions
about what to build will be made by the finance committee based on what has been committed. We will not
build more than we can afford.
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Now To HIm wHo IS AblETo Do ImmEASURAbly moRE THAN All wE ASk oR ImAGINE
EPHESIANS 3:20
FAQ
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PRAyERGUIDE
SPIRITUAl
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PRAyERGUIDEWEEK ONE
A P R I L 8 – 1 2
SPIRITUAl
PREPARATIoN
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M O N DAY
Are Greater Things Possible?
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
What are you expecting God to do? do you really expect him to do greater things in your life, at work, at school, in your family or at church? Are you expecting God to do greater things? Jesus said, “anyone who has faith” will do what He did and do even greater things. Be honest. What are your thoughts when you hear this? “How can I raise the dead, heal, and teach like Jesus ANd do it better than He did?” Yet Jesus is the one who said greater things will happen through those who have faith [expect] that God will do GREATER things. Maybe we are not expecting greater things to happen because we do not know what “things” Jesus was talking about.
What might be some of the greater things Jesus was referring to?
Pray: Ask God to help you to expect greater things in your life, your church, your neighborhood, at school and at work.
My Response:
A P R I L 8
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T U E S DAY
The First Step
Genesis 12:1-4 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him.
How do we discover what Jesus meant by greater things? We can do what Abram [Abraham] did: respond even without knowing the details. Abram was told to leave his homeland [read as: walk away from everything you have ever known] and the Scripture says, he “left, as the LORd had told him.” The Bible teaches in Romans 4:20 that Abram did not “waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” The first step to understanding greater things is to respond to what God has said.
Many times when God calls us He asks us to take a step without seeing the end result. All we have is faith in His promise. Are you willing to respond to God’s Word even when you do not understand all of the details of the greater things He has planned for your life?
When God calls you to go is your first response where? …why? …how long? …with what? Or is your response simply, “Yes.”
Pray: Ask God to help you be willing to obey even when you don’t understand all the details He has planned.
My Response:
A P R I L 9
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W E D N E S DAY
It Is All for the Mission
Matthew 28:19-20 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus helped us understand the greater things He has promised by giving us this assignment shortly before His departure. These words are known as the Great Commission. This is the mission of every follower of Jesus Christ: help each person become a disciple of Christ. We are here for a purpose—to make fully devoted, fully developing disciples of Jesus Christ. Our steps ahead have to be measured by that mission. When Jesus returned to Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside every Christ-follower (John 16:5-11). Thus, Jesus is present in us through His Spirit, and He can promise, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” So what is greater, Jesus physically present in one part of the world or Jesus spiritually present in millions of believers throughout the entire world? Greater things happen when we carry the mission of Jesus into the world.
In what ways are you fulfilling the mission of Jesus in your life? Who is being led to follow Christ because of your words and actions?
Pray: Ask God to help you see your world as your mission field and to empower our faith family to be fully committed to the mission to make disciples of all people.
My Response:
A P R I L 1 0
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T H U R S DAY
Coming to No Will of My Own
Luke 22:42 “…yet not my will, but yours be done.”
John the Baptist was a great leader. His desire was that Jesus would increase and he would decrease (John 3:30). For all of us, this is a difficult thing to desire. Are you willing to allow God’s purpose to increase in your life so that greater things can happen through you? What this means is that we say the same thing Jesus did when He said, “Yet not my will, but Yours be done.” Are you willing to analyze your own motivations? For great things to happen in your life, this is a must. Our own agenda can be driven by so many deceptive motivations. We have to come to a place of allowing God’s agenda to super-cede our own.
If you are completely honest, what are some of the things you want that may get in the way of what God wants for you?
Pray: Ask God to replace what you want with what He wants.
My Response:
A P R I L 1 1
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F R I DAY
Beware of the Enemy
Ephesians 6:11-13 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Many times Christians forget that the devil is not in hell with a long tail in a pitchfork. He is alive and well on planet Earth. Attempting anything great for God draws Satan’s attention. You have to prepare yourself for spiritual warfare. When the Scripture says take your stand against the devil’s schemes, it means prepare yourself because the devil has a plan, trick, method, or crafty scheme. These schemes can come in multiple ways, from simple doubts that you may have, to conflict with others, or that subtle temptation at the right place and the right time to bring you down. As you walk through the Greater Things emphasis, be on the lookout for the work of the enemy, especially in your relationships and your personal weaknesses. Make it a point to be spiritually ready for the attack.
In what areas do you find the enemy is seeking to gain ground in your life (fear, temptation, doubt, conflict, busyness, etc.)? Find a verse that answers this particular area and write it down to keep with you always. Use it as a weapon anytime you begin to be attacked in that area.
Pray: Ask God to protect you, your family, and our church from the schemes of Satan especially as we go through the Greater Things emphasis together.
My Response:
A P R I L 1 2
33
WEEK TWOA P R I L 1 5 – 1 9
CElEbRATING
GREAT THINGS
34
M O N DAY A P R I L 1 5
Looking Back Isn’t Always Bad
Psalm 78:2-4 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-- 3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. 4
We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
Sometimes we are encouraged to forget the past and move on. However, when we look at the past and see what God has done in our lives it reminds us how faithful He is and the great things He has done. When we look to the past, longing for what has been, we can become trapped in an illusion that kills our vision. However, when we look to the past as a reminder of what God has done and how greatly He has provided, then it can give us strength to step forward into the next challenge. The Israelites had a practice of passing along the stories of God’s promise and deliverance. Over and over they would retell the promises God gave Abraham and Jacob. They would recount the many miracles of the Exodus. They did this not to stay stuck in the past, but so that when the next challenge came they would remember that they served a God who had always been faithful to provide and strong to deliver. God has done many miracles in the life of Bear Creek. It is important that we remember them as an assurance for our future.
How have you seen God provide and work in your life?
When difficult times come, do you focus more on the circumstances or the God who always delivers?
Pray: Ask God to refresh our faith in Him and remember that we serve the same God who parted seas, provided bread in the desert, and still works in our lives today.
My Response:
35
T U E S DAYA P R I L 1 6
When All You Can See Is What You Don’t Have, Remember
Mark 8:16-21 16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Jesus had to have great patience with his disciples. Time after time they missed the point or just couldn’t quite get it. When Jesus used a word picture by describing the negative influence of the Pharisees as the “yeast of the Pharisees,” the disciples couldn’t understand His message because they were only focused on what they didn’t have: bread. They missed the big picture because they were only focused on temporary situations. Jesus directed them to remember what He had done. Bread wasn’t an issue. He had shown them how easily He could feed thousands with next to nothing. If we are going to accomplish greater things, we are going to have to see past the temporary limitations of now. We cannot look at what we don’t have. We have to look at the one who can do all things.
What limits do you see that keep you from stepping forward with God? How has God already overcome these limits in the past?
Pray: Ask God to help us see past what we don’t have and our temporary limitations to see what He can do through us if we believe.
My Response:
36
W E D N E S DAY A P R I L 1 7
Seeing What Isn’t There…Yet
Hebrews 11:8-10 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Abraham had vision shaped by faith. He could see things that were not yet real. For Abraham, many of these things would not even become fully real in his lifetime. But, they were real because God promised them. It takes faith to look into an empty field and see something more. That faith was demonstrated by the seven families who started Bear Creek. They could see fields becoming homes and businesses. They could also see one particular field becoming a church. We saw the same faith during relocation: seeing the opportunity to make a greater impact on our community. This same faith is called for today. We need the faith to look at what God has put before us and not see what it is, but what it will be through Him.
When you look around, do you see houses, fields, and businesses, or do you see opportunities, people to reach, and promises to be fulfilled?
Pray: Ask God to give you the eyes of faith to see what He is doing.
My Response:
37
T H U R S DAYA P R I L 1 8
There Will Always Be Naysayers
Numbers 13:27-33 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large…30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report…
When we began the process of relocating seven years ago, we should have given up. Experts told us that there was no land we could purchase. They told us that our facility wouldn’t sell for what we needed. Like the spies that Moses sent into the promised land, some people will see with the eyes of faith like Caleb and Joshua, and others will see only what could go wrong. When God calls you to do something there will be those who say that it can’t be done. There will be those whose response is fear. For the Israelites, it cost them forty years in the desert. It cost them a generation. What will you do with the criticism and obstacles?
What kind of voice are you fear or faith? What about the voices around you? How can you prepare yourself to answer the voices of fear with a voice of faith?
Pray: Ask God to strengthen your faith to withstand criticism and obstacles to His plan. Ask Him to raise up voices like Caleb that will give His answer.
My Response:
38
F R I DAY A P R I L 1 9
Greater Things to Greater Things
Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The three thousand who chose to become believers on the day of Pentecost represented two things: the fulfillment of Jesus’s promise of greater things and the beginning of a movement of even greater things. Jesus left behind about 120 believers. He promised that through Him these believers would accomplish even greater things. In one day, the believers didn’t just double, their number grew 30 times larger. However, the disciples did not stop there. They didn’t assume that this was the end of the greater things Jesus promised. It became the birth of a movement. In a generation, the Gospel would spread across the Roman Empire. We have truly experienced greater things as a faith family, but they aren’t the end of what God is doing at Bear Creek. They are the beginning. We have the opportunity to be a part of a movement of God that changes our community and our world for Christ if we believe.
Think about the “greater things” God has done in the past seven years. What would stretch your imagination for Him to do in the next seven years?
Pray: Ask God to do exceedingly more than you can even imagine through our church, and to give you the faith to be a part of the greater things that He is doing.
My Response:
39
WEEK THREEA P R I L 2 2 – 2 6
GREATER
THINGS
40
M O N DAY A P R I L 2 2
A Greater Legacy
Matthew 18:5, 14 5 “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me…14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”
There is no way around it; kids matter to Jesus. Children model for us the faith required to enter the Kingdom. Ultimately our children become our legacy. Whether we have impacted this world in a lasting way or not will be determined by how we impacted the littlest ones among us. With nine elementary schools within just two miles of our church (over 9,000 kids), our ministry to children is exploding with growth, and our spiritual responsibility to them is clear. We have to invest in them during these most crucial years of their lives. What we do with these little ones will be our legacy to our community. Will we raise them up to love God and know His Word? A big part of the Greater Things project is expanding our discipleship capacity to reach children and grow them in faith.
How does a child’s faith challenge your own faith?
Pray: Ask God to give us a heart for our children and the children of our community and to give us fruit in reaching and discipling these children to follow him.
My Response:
41
T U E S DAYA P R I L 2 3
A Greater Opportunity to Disciple
Ephesians 4:11-13 11 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The work of the church isn’t just to draw a crowd and it isn’t complete when someone accepts Christ. We are called to help people become disciples. This means we need to connect them to the body of Christ where they can grow into maturity, becoming more and more like Christ. At Bear Creek the foundation for connecting adults to discipleship is our Adult Grow Groups. We have reached hundreds for Christ, but that is just the starting point. We still need to connect hundreds more to discipleship in Grow Groups. It is a crucial step in our mission to make fully devoted, fully developing disciples of Jesus Christ. To do this will require many more groups and many more rooms. It is one of the greater things we are asking God for.
Are you in a Grow Group? If not, take the step to get connected to other believers for discipleship and community. If you are, take the time to invite someone else to be a part of your group.
Pray: Ask God to give us a new wave of excitement for discipleship to reach the hundreds of adults who need to be connected to Grow Groups.
My Response:
42
W E D N E S DAY A P R I L 2 4
A Greater Witness
Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
A light is lit for a reason: to shine. The light we radiate, together as a church and individually as believers, is the Gospel. Our responsibility to our community is to be a continual witness for Jesus Christ. We have been given a bright light and a very large place in which to shine. It is vital to our life as Christ followers that we continue to seek every possible way to shine that light into our community. A maxed-out building or parking lot can be some of the bowls put over our light as a church. More importantly, our mindset can become a bowl. When we are content with what we have done, and settle into comfort, then we have chosen to stop shining. An interesting thing happens when you place a candle under a bowl. Eventually, it goes out. What will we be, a city on a hill or a lamp under a bowl?
How is your light shining into the community around you? Are there “bowls” in your life that are covering your light?
Pray: Ask God to help you shine in your community and remove anything that dims your brightness. Ask Him to give us the faith and resource as a church to shine as brightly as possible for the lost in our community.
My Response:
43
T H U R S DAYA P R I L 2 5
A Greater Work
Matthew 9:36-38 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
If you could fly over our community what would you see? Homes. Lots of them. Now think about these homes. Each of them represents a family. There are still many that are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. The greater things we have experienced over the past seven years have only scratched the surface of the spiritual need in our community. We need to have the same heart for the lost and spiritually needy people of our community that Jesus had. The harvest is far from over. We are the workers that God has put in this field. Let’s keep planting, watering, and harvesting, and keep praying that God would send more workers into the field.
Stop to think about the people you see on a regular basis. How do you see them? do you see them as nameless faces? Friends and neighbors? do you see them as Jesus saw them as people in desperate need of Him.
Pray: Ask God to let you see the people all around you as He sees them, and ask Him for strength to do the work in the field you have been given.
My Response:
44
F R I DAY A P R I L 2 6
A Greater Fruit
Matthew 13:23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
A farmer can’t control the outcome of his work. He can tend to the work faithfully. He can plow and prepare the soil. He can plant the seed as carefully and strategically as possible. He can water and feed those seeds, and when the time is right, if God has blessed his faithfulness, he can harvest the crop. The same is true for our ministry as a church. We can’t control the outcome of our ministry. We can be faithful in tending the soil, planting, watering, feeding, and harvesting. We have seen over the past seven years the fruit of faithful labor and faith-filled risk. The harvest has been a hundredfold. Yet a greater fruit still lies ahead if we are faithful to the work.
How have you seen God use you to plant a seed for the Gospel, nurture a seed someone else has planted, or harvest a seed in leading someone to salvation?
Pray: Ask God to give us strength for the work and a multiplied harvest of people whose lives are changed by the ministry of Bear Creek.
My Response:
45
WEEK FOURA P R I L 2 9 – M AY 3
UNloCkING
THE FUTURE
46
M O N DAY A P R I L 2 9
Greater CommitmentMatthew 10:37-38 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Greater things requires following Christ, and following Him requires greater commitment. Jesus gave us a standard for our commitment to following Him. It must exceed even that of the commitment to our own father, mother, son, or daughter. Who would willingly betray their father or mother? Who would freely sacrifice their own son or daughter? Yet, our commitment to Jesus has to exceed even the strongest of family relationships. The path to greater things comes with greater commitment.
Think about your closest family relationships. What level of commitment is required for these relationships? How can your loyalty to Christ exceed these relationships?
Pray: Ask God to deepen your level of commitment to follow Him fully.
My Response:
47
T U E S DAYA P R I L 3 0
Greater Risk
Matthew 25:14-15; 19-21; 24-28 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “’Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
Which servant received commendation from the master, the one who took risks or the one who took the safe route? Greater things are rarely achieved without greater risk. As a faith family, we have been invested with great potential and great responsibility. This responsibility calls on us to take greater risk for the Kingdom and trust in God’s provision. We are called to leave what is comfortable and safe and invest what has been given to us to return a greater reward for Christ. Faith or fear? That is the choice every servant must make with the Master’s talents.
How have you seen risk bring rewards in your life? How have you seen taking the “safer” route hold you back?
Pray: Ask God to give you the faith and wisdom to risk what is necessary.
48
W E D N E S DAY M AY 1
Greater Sacrifice
2 Samuel 24:24-25 24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offer-ings. So the LORD responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.
When david needed to make an offering to the Lord, he refused the opportunity for his offering to come cheaply. His statement here is a reminder of what the offering is about. The offering is not about money. The offering uses money to make an impact on our life for the Lord. Greater things often require a price from us. does God need our money to make greater things happen? No. According to the Psalmist the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Yet, God often requires a sacrifice from us for the process because of what the sacrifice does in our heart. Sacrifice causes us to align our heart and our life with God’s plan and purpose. It tests whether our faith is real. Giving a gift that costs us nothing does nothing, even if the gift is large. Yet a gift that is costly, no matter how large small, brings change to our heart and glory to God.
do you give to God out of your leftovers or do you make a decision to give to Him in a way that requires your life to change?
Pray: Ask God to show you how you can sacrifice to bring greater glory to Him? Then, ask Him to align your heart with His purpose through giving that gift.
My Response:
49
T H U R S DAYM AY 2
Greater Generosity
Mark 12:41-44 41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
We often equate generosity with large amounts given. We praise the wealthy who can give massive gifts to charity and have their name put on the side of a building as generous philanthropists. Yet as Jesus watched the gifts given in the temple, it was the gift of a poor widow he found generous: two copper coins. Why was this gift generous? Because, it was all she had. Generosity is defined by our willingness to give with a right heart and spirit. The widow gave a gift that was abundant for her. She was truly generous. The wealthy, whose real goal was public praise, gave gifts that echoed loudly in the treasury box yet made no impact on their heart. Whether you have much or little, accomplishing greater things requires giving something generous and sacrificial.
Are people more impressed by the size of a gift or the impact of the gift on the heart and life of the giver? Which does God look at?
Pray: Ask God to give you the generous heart of the widow to give back to him a gift that is truly generous by His standards not the worlds.
My Response:
50
F R I DAY M a y 3
Greater Faith
Romans 4:18-22 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead-- since he was about a hundred years old-- and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Faith requires filling the gap between God’s promise and the present reality with our action. Abraham lived a life based on a promise that had not yet been fully realized because he was full of faith that God could and would do what He said. He did not wait to see the reward before stepping out. He stepped out and let his faith fill the gap between the present reality and the promise of God. “He did not waver through unbelief” and God called this “righteousness.” Are you waiting on God to show you the end of the road, the reward, or the resource needed for the task? What faith is required to see what you need? To accomplish greater things, we need a vision that requires faith, not a faith that requires vision.
What is God calling you to do? What circumstance are you waiting on before you act on that faith?
Pray: Ask God to give you the faith to act without seeing, to rely on His promise not what you perceive.
My Response:
2mESSAGENOTES
A 5 w E E k T E A C H I N G S E R I E S
52
Priority
April 7, 2013
The Generous Life, part 1
Proverbs 3:9 (NASB) Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the
first of all your produce.
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Priority
April 14, 2013 The Generous Life, part 2
Matthew 6:20–21 (NLT) Store your treasures in heaven, where
moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
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Investment
54
Blessing
April 21, 2013
The Generous Life, part 3
Luke 6:38 (NASB) “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into
your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running
over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
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Priority
April 28, 2013 The Generous Life, part 4
1 Chronicles 29:16 (NASB) “O Lord our God, all this abundance that
we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from
Your hand, and all is Yours.”
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Mission
56
Love
May 5, 2013
The Generous Life, part 5
Matthew 26:7–8 (NLT) While [Jesus] was eating, a woman came in with
a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over His
head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!”
they said.
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GREATER THINGS
BEAR CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
5901 North Fry Road
Katy, Texas 77449
bearcreekchurch.tv
greaterthings.tv