Community Groups – Getting Involved
GUEST BLOGGER – TIM FRANCISCO
My name is Tim Francisco and I am the Community Groups Coordinator here at Remedy Church. Community Groups play a key role in how we carry out the mission of Remedy Church. Our Community Groups have been created to put God’s glory on display in all things for the joy and sanctification of the believer and to see salvation spread throughout the city of Rock Hill.
We have always been intentional about calling our groups “Community Groups” for two main reasons. The first reason is because as a believer we are not meant to fight the good fight of faith alone, but instead we are to, as Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together” because of the hope we have in Jesus who is faithful. The second reason is because wherever each of our groups meet, we want them to be intentional about living out the Gospel in their community, by serving the community’s needs and sharing Jesus with the lost around them.
If you are new to Remedy Church or just haven’t joined a Community Group yet, here’s what you can expect week to week. Each of our Community Groups meet once a week in homes around Rock Hill. There is time for fellowship and Bible study as a group and accountability divided into gender groups. At least once a month, each Community Group serves at their local missions project in Rock Hill. Each group has the freedom to choose a project that fits the gifting or interests of their group and the group’s leader coordinates the who, what, when, and where each month. Through these things we also see that the group’s members begin to live in community together as they grow in love for one another and begin doing life together more and more.
If you’re interested in joining, leading, and/or hosting a Community Group or have questions about Community Groups at Remedy Church, please feel free to email me at tim@remedychurch.org.
Grace and Peace,
Tim
Creative? – Getting Involved
GUEST BLOGGER – BEN REINKEN
My name is Ben Reinken, I am the Creative Director at Remedy. I serve the church by helping with graphics, videos, managing the website and scheduling production volunteers. Like every other part of the church, the purpose of these areas is to put the glory of Jesus on display. We do this by striving for excellence in all facets of creativity. God is the ultimate Creator, He is the One who makes all things new and everything He makes is good. We want to honor Him by doing things well and using the gifts He has given us to serve His mission and show His greatness to the world.
I am always looking for new people to get involved in the areas I’m responsible for. If you enjoy using technology, we need video editors, light and sound technicians and people to run the computer on Sunday mornings. Experience is not required. If you enjoy designing and want to help with the website or designing series graphics, I would love to talk with you about serving. The only requirement as that you are a member or are in the process of becoming a member at Remedy. If you are interested in any of these things or have questions please email me at ben@remedychurch.org.
For His glory,
Ben
Remedy Kids – Getting Involved
GUEST BLOGGER – SARA BRYANT, REMEDY KIDS DIRECTOR
At Remedy Church, we believe that children are a blessing and a great gift from God. Remedy Kids plays its role in the vision of Remedy Church by partnering with parents to build a strong spiritual foundation for their children. Our goal is to both encourage and equip parents to teach their children to love the glory of God in Christ. We deeply desire that the truths of God to take root in children’s hearts and continue to grow throughout their lifetime.
In order to accomplish this we strive to teach children the Gospel of Jesus Christ in an age appropriate manner that gives glory to God. Every Sunday we talk about the greatness of God with kids as they play, we sing songs about the glory of Christ, we thank God in prayer for his work in our lives, and we teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In all these things we want to walk beside parents as they bring their children up in the instruction of the Lord.
If you love kids, we would love to have you serve along side us. Use the gifts God has given you to get plugged in and be a part of pouring into the next generation.
Cheerios and Goldfish,
Sara
Volunteering – Getting Involved
GUEST BLOGGER – STEPHEN PAPPAS
Hi!
My name is Stephen Pappas, and I am the volunteer coordinator at Remedy Church. Four and a half weeks ago I got married to my beautiful wife, Nicki! I knew there would be a lot of work to be done, but I had no idea how much. There were so many people who helped us with different things to make our day special. Nicki and I were very humbled by the generosity and joy that motivated people to serve! I’ve often said it, and it is very true, that we could not have had such a beautiful day without everyone’s help! We saw the body of Christ come together and serve; how beautiful!
You are probably asking yourself, “So, what does that have to do with volunteering at Remedy?” Well, let me share with you some ways that you can plug in and serve at Remedy. The purpose of volunteering at Remedy Church is to glorify Jesus and exalt Him as we serve the church with joy. As a church plant that rents and shares its meeting space, there is a lot to do to prepare for the weekly service and then to set the things back up to the way the others need the building. The building is not magically set up, the information table is not already arranged, the children’s area is not suddenly ready to be invaded by children; there are many people who volunteer each week to set up before the service and breakdown afterwards. The volunteers help Pastor Phud and the band focus on how God wants to work in and through them that day, rather than being distracted by the other necessary jobs. So, it is no small, meaningless task, but rather an awesome way to be used by God to serve His people!
We currently have five different volunteer teams that are assigned to a certain week of the month. We could always use more help, and the more people we have, the more flexible we can be with how we coordinate the volunteers. You may feel like you do not have anything to offer because you can’t play guitar or sing, or create really cool art, but if you can set out a chair, put up a curtain, set out a pen, or talk to people, then you can serve! As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” Earlier in the chapter he says we are given gifts “of the Spirit for the common good,” and then that we are empowered by the Spirit to use these gifts (12:7, 11). So, just as our physical bodies are one body with many parts, and each part has its unique and necessary role for the body to function properly, so the Body of Christ is one Body and has many parts, and we need each part for it to function as God designed it to function.
I want to challenge you to think about how God has gifted you, and to use your gifts to serve Christ with joy, by serving His Body! I would very much appreciate the opportunity to talk with you and answer any questions you may have and serve alongside you!
I leave you with these words that Jesus spoke after He washed His disciples’ feet, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15).
Much Love in Christ,
Stephen
Local Missions – Getting involved
GUEST BLOGGER – COREY SMILEY
Jesus. He is the center of anything we do at Remedy. We do not do anything for the sake of morality, we do not do anything just to be good people. This is true for our local missions as well. Jesus is the center of every local mission project. As a church, we do not want to just be okay with doing good things, and patting ourselves on our backs so that we feel better about ourselves. The reason we do local missions, the reason we serve is because we have been served first. The reason we love is because we have been loved first.
As Christians, we are now the salt and light of the world. We are now called to be ministers of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God“. We are the tool that God uses to bring this world back to Him. A huge part of reconciliation is for Remedy, as a body, to be going out into our city and serving. How this works specifically at Remedy is our Community Groups going into the city and serving, loving, and looking to present the Gospel through word and deed.
Our local missions though is not the end. At Remedy Church, something we constantly are trying to think through is how to keep our local missions from being a program. We do not want it to be seen as something we do just once a month. When local missions is not a program, then our lives will be constantly on mission. We should constantly be looking to present the gospel with our words and deeds.
So at Remedy Church we will have local mission projects once a month for community groups, we will also have church-wide local mission projects about every season to serve and love our city, seeking it’s welfare.
But missions at Remedy is more than projects, it happens everyday. Everyday, we are on mission.
OUR MISSION IS TO RECONCILE PEOPLE TO JESUS, BRINGING THEM BACK TO THE ONLY HOPE FOUND IN THE GOSPEL.
May God be glorified with our hands and hearts,
Corey
Man Up Resources
At “Man Up” I said that we would post here on the blog a list of resources and where they can be found easily. So, here’s the list:
Books:
God, Marriage, and Family – Andreas Kostenberger
Pastor Dad – Mark Driscoll (Free eBook)
The Godly Home – Richard Baxter
This Momentary Marriage – John Piper
Total Church – Tim Chester, Steve Timmis
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood – John Piper & Wayne Grudem
Sermons:
Sanctification in Marriage – Matt Chandler
Websites:
Here is Love on Sunday, May 2
The text of Scripture is always about Jesus.
This Sunday we will look at 1 John 2:1-2. It will show us some features of Jesus that are incredible. These verses are a continuation of 1 John 1:5-10. This text emphasizes aspects of Jesus that we sadly may have grown used to, or perhaps have not thought about. The goal this weekend is to re-invigorate a passion and love for Jesus in regard to these things. These verses highlight some glorious truths about Jesus that should stun us, leave us speechless and cause us to worship in admiration and awe.
Your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul, My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. – Isaiah 26:8-9
Isaiah 26:8-9 is the desire of Remedy Church. To see, know, and live for Christ.
This Sunday:
The Broken and the Tired – Elevation Church
Sermon – 1 John 2:1-2
Man of Sorrows – Mars Hill
Before the Throne – Shane and Shane
What Wondrous Love is This? – Mars Hill
The Solid Rock – Hymn
Sending/Offering Song: Here is Love – Mars Hill
See you guys on Sunday. I love you.
—Phud
An Exposition of Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. – Hebrews 13:17
I have been thinking and meditating on this verse over and over since Remedy began. This verse says a lot. It has implications for both the elders and for the church. So, finally, I thought I would put some of these things down for us to consider. I’m going to consider the verse from two different perspectives. First, from the point of view of the elders, then from the view of the church.
First, let me say from the beginning, I believe JESUS is the head of the church. The elders are not the head of the church. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd mentioned in 1 Peter 5:4. We do see in Scripture that the pastors/elders have been given the duty to lead the church, they are not the head though.
Implications for Elders:
This verse has a couple implications for elders that are important for them to consider while they lead the church.
1.) Elders are to keep watch over the people’s souls.
This is a massive task that has been assigned to the elders. To think of all this encompasses is daunting and somewhat overwhelming. Nevertheless, it is the task of the elders of the church to do this. This is the same exhortation given to elders in 1 Peter 5:1-2 where elders are told to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you“.
Why would this be important?
I can think of two reasons. Reason one is right in the text of Hebrews 13:17. Reason two is an obvious reason.
Reason 1 – You will give an account. Hebrews 13:17 tells elders clearly that they will give an account for the oversight they give for the church God has put them over. This sounds very much like the caution given to elders in James 3:1 where we are told that elders will be “judged with greater strictness“.
To know that we will stand before God and give an account for the way we led the church and for the oversight of souls we provided to the church that God put in our charge should be taken seriously. It should cause every elder/pastor to take pause and consider if they are honoring Jesus with the way they are leading. This isn’t some game. Being an elder/pastor is not just some job we take and do. IT IS LEADING THE CHURCH. This must not be taken lightly. We will give an account for the way we lead.
Reason 2 – Their eternity is literally at stake. If pastors/elders do not take seriously their God-given responsibility to watch over the souls of their people, and shepherd them toward Jesus and not away from Jesus with goofy worldly thoughts and practices, then the eternity of the people in the church is literally at stake. Their final state between heaven and hell could fall directly on the shoulders of the pastor and his lack of shepherding them well. This is not to take away from the responsibility that each person has before God because of their sin. But to remind each elder/pastor of the high calling he has been given by God to proclaim the Gospel to this lost and dying world.
Again, the importance of considering that elders “will give an account“. Pastors MUST take seriously their calling and shepherd their people well, so that they will know Christ truly and not hear these dreadful words when they die, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
2.) Elders should expect the church to submit to their leadership.
There is no other way to read the text of Hebrews 13:17 than to draw from it that the church is absolutely expected to submit to the leadership of the elders (see below where I clarify on this following). Because of this, the elders of the church must expect the church to submit to their leadership. Half-hearted expectations of leadership, will produce half-hearted, weak leaders of the church. This will prove to be detrimental because the pastor will inevitably not stand of up for truth because he fears man and not God. The elders must be strong here and absolutely expect the church to submit to their leadership. As I have already said, Jesus is the head of the church, not the elders, but elders have been given the duty to lead. So, elders, lead with boldness, expecting the church to follow. Lead them in depth to know Jesus intimately.
One thing must be said here. If pastors/elders are going to expect the church to submit to their leadership, then they must lead the church into deep places. They must expound the Scriptures weekly to them. They must call them to repentance and faith in Jesus. They must call out their sin, and tell them to trust only in Jesus, not their works for right standing with God.
Further, if elders are to expect submission from the church, then the elders themselves MUST BE PURSUING HOLINESS THEMSELVES. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. If you are calling people to trust Christ and live for Him, then YOU as the elder/pastor must be the leader in this and the pace-setter. You MUST be striving everyday to know Jesus, repent of sin, be in the Word, be memorizing Scripture, leading your family and killing sin in your life. If you are not, you are a hypocrite and have NO PLACE leading a church or being an elder/pastor.
Implications for the Church:
This verse also has implications for the church to consider as they follow their leaders.
1.) The church must obey and submit to their leaders. (elders)
Let me be clear here from the beginning. I am not speaking of blind trust. That would be foolish. I am speaking of following the kind of elder being spoken of in the previous paragraph who is pursuing Jesus deeply. So the church, as best as they can discern, should know if their elders/pastors are these kind of men, then they should obey and submit to their leadership. This is the direct command given by God in this verse.
Absolutely, if there is a time where they think the teaching of the elder is not in line with Scripture or if there is a time where they discern problems in the character of the elders, then submission to their leadership may halt, but following the instructions in 1 Timothy 5 is necessary. But, provided the elders are men of God, that exposit the Scriptures with accuracy, who are pursing Jesus, trying to discern His will for the direction of the church, then the church should obey and submit to their leadership and let them lead well and not hinder their leadership.
2.) The church must follow with joy and not with groaning.
It is very difficult to lead someone who is not joyous, but groaning. It is ALMOST impossible. Groaning can be contagious in a church and contaminate the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” that pastors should strive to maintain. Groaning can include complaining to others without trying to improve things or not going to the elders/pastors first about your concerns. This kind of behavior is so destructive in the church and can bring in an air of negativity that is very difficult to exterminate. As Christians, we should fight having a complaining and critical spirit within us.
So, not only should the church obey and submit (first implication) they should also do it with JOY and not groaning. You should strive to make it easy for the elder/pastor to lead the church and not difficult. You should desire the holiness of the church, but with encouragement not groaning. You should pray for your pastor, and seek to listen to the encouragement and exhortations he challenges you with each Sunday. You should seek to do what he says, in accordance with Scripture, because it’s his desire to see you be sanctified. You should JOYFULLY SUBMIT because he has been entrusted with watching over your soul. This is an enormous task that he has been called to by God. You should be joyful that he desires to do this. God has called the Christian to a life filled with JOY. Again, this is provided the elder/pastor is pursing holiness in his life, of course.
Listen to this exhortation to the church regarding the elders in their church:
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work“.
The Bible asks the church to respect and esteem highly those who labor in the Lord and are over them. Why? Because of their work. If this is done, then the church is living out these implications of Hebrews 13:17.
Hebrews 13:17 has so much in it. There are MAJOR challenges for the elders and the church. May we at Remedy Church both pursue these things in our lives, AS WE PURSUE JESUS AND OUR SANCTIFICATION.
I love you very much Remedy.
—Phud
Sunday, April 18
This Sunday will look like this:
Come O Spirit – Bifrost Arts
Sermon – 1 John 1:5-10
Amazing Grace – Hymn
I Need You – Remedy Worship
Only Your Blood Is Enough – Sojourn
Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed – Sojourn
Consume Us – Remedy Church
Sending Song – Consume Us (Bridge)
This is one of the most challenging texts I’ve ever prepared for. It has been very difficult. I have been having to really examine myself. I have had to ask myself questions like, “If I say I have fellowship with Jesus, then do I walk in darkness?”
Come ready to hear from the Lord.
1 John 1:9 shows us that we are, as Christians, always to be living a life of repentance. There is daily confession and repentance that must happen in our lives. This sermon is for those who know Christ and for those who don’t. We all must remember everything points to Jesus and His Gospel and His righteousness given to us.
Prepare your heart and mind to hear from God in His Word. The Gospel is good news. Come celebrate this good news with us this Sunday.
Man Up
We are really excited to be having our very first event at Remedy for men. This event is going to be awesome.
The purpose of “Man Up” is to teach and challenge men to live for the glory of Jesus. We want men to learn to be real men, love Jesus, their wife and their children. Brian Lowe, pastor of Exodus Church in Belmont, NC will be speaking at the event. Man Up is hosted by Remedy Church and is an official Acts 29 Network event.
The event will be on Friday, May 7 at 7pm. If you live in the Rock Hill area and you are a male, then you should be there!!!
Event details here.
Registration here.
See you there!