April 5, 2009
Beyond Me Apr 5 resources UPDATED
I finished the message-based study guide late so the online draft is available here, and the MCC website version posted some time next week. Message notes here.
I don’t know the small group discipleship use for this, but here’s an extended length version of the video from today’s message 🙂
Vodpod videos no longer available.
April 3, 2009
exploring Beyond w/ new technology
My teammate Matt Silver twittered about this MSNBC article on Mars Hill Church (Seattle) and their use of Twitter (mass text messaging), and MCC member Dana Hana is working behind the scenes on new software applications while nudging me to explore Beyond the ways MCC has used tech in the past.
Whether it’s combining Facebook + blog to add interactivity to online Bible study OR the creative arts captured online like “Scripturatopia” (warning this video download is a big file) from Willow Creek’s 2008 Leadership Summit simulcast, God’s kingdom is exploring beyond…
March 28, 2009
MCC Message Boards go Beyond the Walls
MCC is introducing a new tool in our mission to be like the church of Acts 4:34-37 and Acts 6:1-7, experimenting with ways “beyond the norm” to care and reach. As congregations like McLean Bible Church have blazed the trail, MCC is starting online message boards to provide space things like: networking for job applicants & openings, business listings, housing, etc. It’s an online site to post, “I need this, can anyone help me out?” AND “Here’s something I can give” – whether it’s free, for sale, or a way you can serve someone else.
This is NOT meant to compete w/ Craigslist, freecycle, local newspaper classifieds, Facebook, etc. but MCC does want to connect BEYOND what we’re able to do in our small groups and, ultimately, reaching BEYOND the walls of our church building.
ANYONE w/ internet access can browse the message boards, but you must register to be able to post messages. Both Mountain members and non-Mountain attenders will be able to register on the site. (This is a DIFFERENT registration than signing up for events elsewhere on the MCC website, but you can choose to register w/ the same username and password if that’s easier to remember). Use the care and wisdom you would use with any site on the internet.
This could also become a way for small groups & ministry teams at MCC to connect w/ others about events, needs, opportunities – especially as MCC continues to grow numerically & geographically. This is a tool we can use to care for own and also a resource to “walk across the room” and take Jesus’ mission “beyond the walls.”
March 27, 2009
Beyond the Walls Mar 29 Resources UPDATED
Study guide download here or archive of all study guides for this series (and many previous ones) here. Here are the notes I take during the Sunday morning message.
The Beyond series has an entire webpage of resources at the MCC website, including VIDEO of the messages (I think this is a new feature!). Audio (mp3 or iTunes subscription) available here.
The poem read by an MCC member from last Sunday’s theme “Beyond Racial Zones” is here. Here’s a link to guest speaker Daryl Reed’s congregation, D.C. Regional Christian Church.
March 26, 2009
Walk Across the Room goes Beyond the Walls
MCC’s two most recent message series overlap in the results of this post from Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research team. He writes about a recent 15k person survey whose key findings included:
- “ways most willing to receive information about a local congregation”
- 63% personal conversation w/ a family member
- 56% personal conversation w/ a friend or neighbor from the church
- “times you have been more open to consider matters of faith
- 47% Christmas holiday season
- 38% Easter holiday season
- 38% after major national crisis such as 9/11
If people-Jesus-misses are most open to a Christian family/friend/neighbor during holiday season or national crisis, I better “walk across the room” before Apr 12.
March 25, 2009
Follow-up to Beyond series
My teammate Kristal Dove recommended Francis Chan’s recent message series called Living a Life that Matters. ” It has been hugely challenging/convicting for me and has just really been tying in to the stuff that ‘Beyond’ has been stirring up in my life.” Francis Chan is teaching pastor at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA.
These are articles that specifically address last Sunday’s topic, “Beyond Racial Zones”:
Leadership Journal’s “Diverse by Design” on Mosaic, an intentionally multi-ethnic church in Little Rock, Ar.
CNN on “Why many Americans prefer their Sundays segregated”
This Beliefnet-Sojourner’s “A Bias Against Sunday Segregation brings up some different points, while coming to the same conclusion.
March 20, 2009
“Beyond Racial Zones” Mar 22 resources UPDATED
The small group study guide is available on-line now, message notes here.
The book my teammate Kristal recommended Same Kind of Different As Me also touches on reaching outside your racial comfort zone.
The study guide mentions Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, YouTube as several versions, the one below is the full speech.
March 15, 2009
“Beyond Words” resources March 15
Study guide from MCC’s website here; also back-up version here. My hasty message notes here.
This is an extended length version of the video clip from conclusion of Sunday’s message. MCC’s elders and staff first watched it at a simulcast of the Willow Creek 2008 Leadership Summit.
March 6, 2009
Beyond the Great Omission Mar 8 – study guide UPDATED
I finished this week’s study guide on time 🙂 so it’s already on the MCC website or you can download it directly. Here are my notes from Ethan’s message.
March 1, 2009
“Beyond the Old Life” Mar 1 – study guide, message notes, video clip
Ben spoke this morning about “Beyond the Old Life.” Here are the small group study guide and message notes. You can download audio of recent messages from MCC’s audio archives (or subscribe to MCC’s iTunes feed).
Ben used this video clip during the message.
More Better Tools for the Journey 