Church guide

Our students are gearing up for their mission trip to Camp Barnabas this week. Our friend Mikaiah Okasili is already there serving. If you would like to send her encouragement you can do so through physical mail at: Camp Barnabas Mikaiah Okasili 901 Teas Trail Purdy, MO 65734 Or through email at: [email protected] with her name in the Subject line. This will be the same method of contact for our students who are leaving this weekend, you can just put their names on the communication instead of Mikaiah. We will email out a list of names for the rest of the group.

Join us this week as we use the Bible app to consider together the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This week our reading plan is from Francis Chan's book Forgotten God where Chan talks about the least known person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. Here Francis expands upon exactly who the Holy Spirit is and His attributes. http://bit.ly/CBCstudy16

We are loving having the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series presented by PNC Bank in the neighborhood! These Thursday nights are a lot of fun.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Undie Sunday a success! We are grateful to be able to come along side the great work that The James Project is doing.

Join us in our Bible reading plan for this week, "The Ragamuffin Gospel," and take a journey toward the grace-filled life with these five daily devotionals. http://bit.ly/CBCstudy15

This crew had a great time enjoying the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series presented by PNC Bank kickoff and grilling hot dogs last night! It was a beautiful night in the neighborhood, don’t miss Thursday nights Downtown this summer!

Come join us Downtown tomorrow night for the first Levitt AMP concert! We will be grilling hotdogs to pass out and enjoying the festivities.

Join us in our Bible reading plan for this week: "The Burden is Light" The world tells us to find our identity in our bank accounts, our job title, and what others think of us. This merit-based living creates a heavy burden. But God never intended you to live with such pressure. Instead, he calls you to receive grace, love, and your individual calling. If you are trying to find your voice in a crazy world, here is an invitation to rest in a God whose burden is light. http://bit.ly/CBCstudy14

Join us in our reading plan for the week: The Call. As Christians, we can often wonder what our calling is and how to find it. But our calling in Christ isn’t as complicated as we make it. In this 7-day Bible Plan from Amy Groeschel, we’ll learn what our calling is, and how we can live lives worthy of the incredible calling we have received. http://bit.ly/CBCstudy13

Lots going on Downtown this weekend! Feel free to park in our lot.

Sunday Recap: Scripture Reference Acts 13-14 The good news is that God is close to those who closely follow the Holy Spirit's lead. Tim Keller defines the Holy Spirit as the personal divine resident of the Christian's heart. Essentially, God takes up his dwelling in you. Which means the Holy Spirit is always present and always active in our lives. The bad news is that it's possible for us to push God away and follow other leads instead. Following the spirits lead is a source of Joy. Following the spirits lead is more important than success. What does success look like for a Christian...the church? Is it filling pews, great attendance at programs, many random acts of kindness or reading your bible every day? Success is FAITHFULNESS to God's way and will for our lives. Following the spirits lead isn't always safe but it is good. We can make our lives really comfortable but if we're not following the spirit's lead what are we really doing? Faithfulness is a call to step out of our comfort zones. It is not always safe but it IS good to be led by the Spirit. Following the Spirit is a communal task. But it's hard to follow as a community if we're not following as individuals. "We're only human!" How often do we leave our decisions open to God; the Holy Spirit to lead us? God is present in our lives and actively trying to lead. If this is true why have so many of us found ourselves asking the question, "How did I get to this place?" The answer, you got what you wanted...control over your life; for you to take the lead. Practicing intentional stops throughout the day to reflect on where and how God has been at work in our lives is a good place to start letting the Holy Spirit lead. We should not feel surprised if we feel like God is distant. We took control and made no room for God to lead us. But the good news is that God comes close to those who follow the Holy Spirit's lead. Are we willing to do the work to reflect and let God come in and guide us; to truly be the leader? http://bit.ly/CBC051219

We are excited about what is happening in Downtown Springfield, Inc. with the Levitt AMP Springfield concerts this summer! Get these dates on your calendar and come enjoy some Thursday nights in our Downtown neighborhood.

This Sunday is Undie Sunday! Help us support The James Project and hit our goal of 500 items of clothing by bring some new kids undergarments and socks this Sunday.

Sunday Recap Many people experience barriers, walls that keep us from God. The reality is we've also been the ones that have created the barriers, built walls and shut doors. The Good News is that God is ruthlessly tearing down every dividing wall; every locked door. God is inviting us to be doorholders; to open the door to the divine. God IS working...inviting those who love and follow Jesus to see the world the the way Jesus sees it. As Christians shouldn't we want to see the world the way Jesus sees it; more than the way we see it? We must believe that God is out in the world working ahead of us, with his arms outstretched to all. That truth should change the way we see the world and thus engage with it. When we live in posture of openness to God the spirit leads us to be open to others. All too often we find comfort with those that look like us, agree with us and so on. Yet, God is calling us to get out of our bubbled and love not just "our people" but "others" as well. The best thing we can do today is commit to be a door holder; commit to give people a glimpse into the goodness of God. But how can we be door holders, how do we live this practice out...through relationships. Move up close; it changes things. Where is a relationship that you need to invest in? Think of a person in your life that you have a wall built between you. Trust that God is already working there. What next step you can you take towards them this week? http://bit.ly/CBC050519

Join us as we dig into scripture together using the YouVersion Bible App. This week our plan is called Faith for this Moment. How can we be faithful to Jesus when the culture around us has no place for our faith? How can we foster love, humility, and service when our country and our churches are divided? In this weeklong devotional, Rick McKinley helps us embrace the loss and the hope of being in exile as Christians as we see the possibilities God has for us during this time in history. http://bit.ly/CBCstudy11

The May CBN is here! http://bit.ly/May2109CBN

Sunday Recap! Our gathering yesterday was a beautiful illustration of the Great Commission. Starting with the Baptism of Jack Buerkett and ending with a time to honor Robert Reynolds and the time he served as Worship Director/Leader. Our text for the day was Matthew 28:16-20. Did you know that each of us are called to not just be disciples but disciples who are discipling. The truth is we are discipling people whether we are intentional about it or not. Ask yourself; what am I helping other lives to be shaped into...more of myself or more of Jesus? Jesus is not interested in a spectacle...a moment; he is interested in a movement. That's what discipleship is. It's a movement of God's light going out into the world. Redemption flows through us when we invest in others. Who are you loving with God's love? Redemption flows through us when we allow the work of redemption to be ongoing within us. We can't give what we don't have...drink deeply of Him. Redemption flows through us when we do the work of discernment. Can you discern where God needs to work in you today? How is God working? How am I responding? We want to learn how to be like Jesus not just for a moment...Sunday; but intentionally in every aspect of our lives everyday. If we are actually going to follow the Great Commission, we must recognize that our spiritual life/health matters. It's good news that we get to be apart of God's redemptive purpose. Where is God calling you to invest this week?

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Graham Christmas Gift Mart possible! You created space for loved ones to shop for 204 children today!

We are excited for Q Commons Springfield on October 25th! Join us for a night of learning and discussion around the idea that we are better together. As we sit together in the tension of difference, hospitality is born. We will gather to navigate loving our neighbors, rebuilding broken things, and solving problems together. Our community is looking for leadership, insight, and new solutions to big problems. The Power of We paves the way toward unity and healing. Come and be a part of the conversation. https://www.facebook.com/events/274219696782012/

Our children did an awesome job sharing the Christmas story with us today!

In case you missed last Sunday, here is our 50th Anniversary video.

Be safe driving in.

Feast of Plenty activities have begun!

A mid-week checkin from our students at Camp Barnabas! Keep them in your prayers as they continue serving this week.

The annual Souperbowl Of Caring trip to the grocery store. Bonus points if you can name the song.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Feast of Plenty happen on Thanksgiving Day last week! Because of your giving of time, passion, energy, financial gifts, and love we were able to share 969 meals with our neighbors! The day was a beautiful expression of God's love. Mason Wickham did a wonderful job capturing the day with this video!

Our youth are starting Day 2 at Big Stuf with a time of worship!