The Well

Download Message: Finding Our Focus

Special Music: Out Of My Way, sung by CJ Fluharty

Download Message: Faith In Action - Serve

The University of Central Florida’s brand-new $55 million stadium has all of the latest in stadium technology, but has absolutely no water fountains. 

Did I tell you that UCF is in Orlando, Florida?!?

On his blog MondayMorningInsight.com blogger Todd Rhoades sees some interesting similarities between a Football Stadium without fountains and a Church without living water.  In the article he writes:

You see, the new $55 million dollar facility was built with no water fountains.  Not one.  According to a local fire official, “We don’t have water fountains on the property here.  So going to the water stations and making purchases of water or bringing bottled water with you is paramount.”

The obvious question is:  “How do you build such a massive facility (in Orlando, FL of all places) and not allow for hydration of the 40,000+ people who will be utilizing the facility?” When you add the fact that there were no water fountains, the reality that people suffered from heat exhaustion is suddenly much less surprising.  The stadium actually ran out of the $3.00 bottled waters from vendors as well.  The University has openly apologized for ‘underestimating the need for water’.

When it comes right down to it, the church is in the water business as well.  Only we don’t serve up refreshment that comes from water fountains, we offer the Living Water that Jesus talks about in John 4.  They type of water that we offer causes people to, as Jesus puts it, ‘never thirst again’.

So why is it that so many of our churches are dead? 

Check out the rest of the article here:  Does Your Church Have Water Fountains?

Here’s a great quote from fellow blogger Mark Batterson’s blog: Evotional.com :

Jesus didn’t hang out at the synagogue. He hung out at wells. Wells were natural gathering places in ancient culture. 

Don’t forget about our community connection this Sunday after The Well.  See you soon!

Arron

Download Message:  I Am Christ’s Church - Magnifying

I want to post the vision I shared last night.

Here it is . . . I believe that the Well is going to become a dynamic and diverse ministry that will impact the lives of thousands of young adults every week.

For those of you who missed it . . . my message last night was from Matthew 28:16-20 . . . a.k.a. the Great Commission. As we studied this passage I shared what I see as the keys to this vision becoming a reality. I used an acronym to help people to remember what we are expecting of every person involved with this ministry.

Here it is: WATER.

Worship–Matthew writes, “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted” (Mt. 28:17). This worship was not planned, orchestrated, or accompanied by a snazzy media shout presentation. It was pure unadulterated worship . . . and exactly what should happen any time a Christ-follower encounters his/her Savior.

Action–To his disciples Jesus said, “Go” (Mt. 28:19). We can’t follow Jesus and stay where we are. Jesus expects us to leave our comfort zone and go throughout the world–and our home towns–with the message of his saving love. It’s not rocket science. We must find something to do for God and start doing it.

Teamwork–Life was not meant to be lived alone, especially the Christian life. The idea of partnership is throughout the Great Commission. The Disciples are a team. They are commanded to team up with lost people in “all nations” and help them to become disciples and, before they are dismissed with their assignment, Jesus reminds them that he is going to be teamed with them always, “to the very end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). If the vision for The Well is to become a reality we must team up with a fellow Christian and with a small group for accountability and discipleship.

Equipping–Jesus commands his disciples to equip other people by making “disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:19,20). We must seek out opportunities to both be equipped and to equip others for the mission to which God has called us.

Relationships–The last words of Jesus–”And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt. 28:20)–are his promise to be in a relationship with all of his disciples until the end of time. I define evangelism as: “An intentional relationship through which we introduce someone to Jesus Christ.” I challenged the people at The Well last night to seek out relationships with other Christians, but also to seek out relationships with “sinners.” Christians are not permitted to isolate themselves from this world. Isolation from “sinners” in this world is disobedience for a Christian. Evangelism is not a problem of education, but of affection. We don’t need more sermons on sharing our faith; we need more Christians who love lost people.

Sermon: Gotta Go Right Now.

Andrew Peterson is going to be in concert at Christ’s Church on December 16th.   This concert–sponsored by The Well–will be a great way to celebrate together what God has done through The Well in 2007 and what he did for us at Bethlehem 2007 years ago.

Andrew is a master story teller, gifted musician, and a dear friend.

Over the next couple of weeks I’m going to share sections of an interview he recently taped.  These interviews are not just informational and inspirational, they also will give you a chance to get to know Andrew before he visits us.

 Enjoy!

A few journalists interviewed one of our teams on the Katrina Trip.  Here is the link!

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