The Power Sunday School Class

The link is in the list of links to the right. Mark Robnett’s study notes are posted as a part of his Bike Fellowship website. Check it out!

Class,

It was again a joy to be with you as we continue to study the book of James. Thanks to so many of you who are already adjusting in advance to the new 8 a.m. start time! Remember, on August 16th we move to a new classroom LL (Lower Level) B.

As I said, I definitely saw practical application of last week’s lesson: Joy in trials and asking for WISDOM. I’ll bet this week’s challenge to be Quick to Listen; Slow to Speak; and Slow to Anger; while being DOERS and not just HEARERS will show up too. I hope you think of James’ illustration of looking into a mirror every day this week when you are getting ready to go out and face the world.

The lesson notes are attached and are posted here on the class blog. We continue to experiment with the video streaming though I’m still not satisfied with the quality. It is posted on this site and you can check out the archived recording, however, adjust your expectations for the video quality and we will continue to work to perfect this. A reminder, we could use some volunteer help in updating the website and with manning the computer for streaming on Sunday morning. If you have an interest in either, let me know.

We had a TERRIFIC Leadership Meeting today after the 9:30 service. I’m so proud of your ministry leaders and how they are working together as a team.

One of the action items from that meeting is a realignment of Care Groups. We do this periodically to allow the class to get to know each other better and in a more intimate way through “bearing each others burdens.” Cristi and Steve Rice along with your Care Group leaders have done a marvelous job with this plan and we’ll discuss it with you Sunday. Before anyone panics…they have taken into consideration requests from some who have asked to remain in your current group.

We also really need to “birth” a new Care Group so that we can keep them small enough to accommodate growth in members. Would you pray with us and ask God if He might be leading you into this ministry role? We’ll talk more about this on Sunday as well.

We have an idea to gather the prayer requests from each Care Group and email those (or post on the blog) each week. We could use a volunteer and a back up to do the typing up of this information each week. Do you think you might feel called to do this? If so, please let Cristi and Steve know. We feel this will keep the whole class even more connected to pray for each other…an important thing!

We are discussing plans for a Family Christmas Celebration (Social) and are looking for a couple of volunteers who might be interested in helping to plan this. We’ll discuss more about this Sunday as well.

Mark your calendar for some future socials:

August 1st, Ladies breakfast, Woodstock IHOP, 9:00 am

August 15th, Game night, James and Elizabeth Garvin’s home, 6:00 pm

August 20th, Ladies lunch, Panera Bread, Chastain, 12:00

Susan and I love and appreciate you ALL!

Allen

P.S. – Steve and Traci Brock asked that we communicate their new email address: steveandtracibrock@gmail.com we are keeping them in the loop on these email updates.

Class,

What a great weekend we had with all of you.  First, the great time at the pool party (one estimate was 57 people including kids)!  Susan and I were honored and blessed by the turnout and the spirit of fun and fellowship this group has.  The “came the farthest award” goes to Mark Weems who came straight off a plane from Europe to be at the social.  I have posted photos on this site under “Photos from Socials”.
Then I was really blessed this morning to lead us as we began our study of the book of James.  Remember, God gives wisdom (what He wants you to do in the midst of your trials and temptations) JUST ASK!  We may not be happy but we CAN COUNT IT ALL JOY!  The lesson notes are attached.

I have put together this class blog website to facilitate sharing information and as a vehicle for the new streaming video with which we are experimenting.  It is VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS and has room for improvement and expansion so feel free to make suggestions.  A word about the video streaming: we recorded the lesson this morning and I’m still not satisfied with the quality.  It is posted on the site and you can check out the archived recording, however, adjust your expectations for the video quality and we will continue to work to perfect this.

By the way, we could use some volunteer help in updating the website and with manning the computer for streaming on Sunday morning.  If you have an interest in either, let me know.

Several reminders:

August 16^th with the start of the new 8 a.m. worship service WE WILL START AT 8 a.m. instead of 8:10 a.m.  Please be adjusting to this new time.  We will also be moving to a new room on that date: LL (Lower Level) B.  I have not scoped this out yet (just learned of it tonight) but it is in the basement.

Leadership Team Meeting next Sunday at 11 a.m. after the 9:30 service in our current Sunday School room.  We’ll meet quickly and efficiently (we’re NOT going to do food) and get out in plenty of time for folks to get to lunch.

Men’s Bible Study THIS THURSDAY July 23^rd from 7 to 9 at Mark Robnett’s

We will be exploring the dynamic tension between planning our lives versus being open and flexible to God’s leading.

Directions to Mark’s house:

From I-575, take exit 11 (Sixes Road)

Head west on Sixes Rd (toward Bridgemill) for 2.3 miles

Turn left onto Blankets Creek Drive (Highland Point subdivision)

Travel 0.5 miles, then turn left on Sixes Drive

We are at the end of the cul-de-sac

Mark your calendar for some future socials:

August 1st, Ladies breakfast, Woodstock IHOP, 9:00 am

August 15th, Game night, James and Elizabeth Garvin’s home, 6:00 pm

August 20th, Ladies lunch, Panera Bread, Chastain, 12:00

Know that Susan and I love and appreciate you ALL!

Allen

Class,

What a wonderful attendance this morning for the middle of summer, and seven visitors as well!  We will be getting the visitors contact info out by email and I hope they will get a note from a number of us in the next few days.  I’ve challenged the Care Group Leaders to each make it a priority to contact the visitor who was in their group (I think we had visitors in all of them) and I will do the same.  Still, it would be wonderful if God moves the hearts of some others to drop them a note.

Thanks to Steven Kaplan for sharing with us about his ministry to the Jews both here and in Israel.  God’s blessings Steve as you continue this courageous work.

The notes from today’s lesson are posted on the LESSON NOTES page.  I enjoyed studying Galatians 5:1-15 (and 5:1 and 5:13 in particular) with you.  Hope I didn’t ruffle too many feathers as I tried to accurately portray FREEDOM as believers.  Here me well: FREEDOM is FREEDOM, but that isn’t a license to unplug and miss the blessings God has for us.  While rules and regulations don’t change our status in Christ, disobedience to His UNIQUE plan for each of us is another matter.  Remember that Jesus said if we LOVE HIM we will OBEY HIM.

But how to we keep from abusing that FREEDOM and using it as a LICENSE to sin?  That’s what we’ll talk about NEXT WEEK as we continue in chapter 5 of Galatians as we learn to FOLLOW THE SPIRIT!  Being July 4^th weekend I know many of you will be off and we pray for safety and enjoyment with your families.

One final note, we had a TERRIFIC Ministry Leadership Team meeting after the 9:30 service today with your Care Group, Outreach, and other leaders.  We are BLESSED with a team of talented and dedicated servants in these roles and we are challenging ourselves as a TEAM to strive for EXCELLENCE in how we minister to each of you.

Don’t forget the social at our house coming up on July 18^th.  More to come on that.

Susan and I love you all and thank God for you!

Allen