Blog 8/29/14

As leaders there are two big things that are required of us going into this weekend: 

1) Believe BIG!

Time and time again Jesus said in the Gospels, “According to your faith, it will be done for you...”

Notice that God’s miracles took place in people’s lives based on what they believed could be done for them. God can’t force us to believe but He is limited on what He can do based on our belief. The Bible says concerned the Israelites that they “limited the Holy One of Israel” because of their stubborn unbelief.

Let’s set our faith high! Not only for what God can do corporately in the church, but also in your personal life. There are an innumerable amount of situations taking place, but God is bigger than all of them and why not this weekend be the one that He breaks through!

2) INVITE!

Let’s take a second and look at this passage as it pertains to our second point today. Proverbs 24:11-12 says this: 

Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die. Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God, who knows all hearts, knows yours, and he knows you knew! And he will reward everyone according to his deeds.

Wow! If that doesn’t get right to the heart of the matter I don’t know what does! We have an obligation, as those that have received life it is our duty to give life to others. Not that we are the ones to give life but we are the ones that God will work through.

Don’t let the business of life, or job obligations steal your purpose in life! This is the greatest joy on earth, to see others impacted by Jesus! Clovis leaders, let’s fill up that building this weekend; with God’s help we can do it! 

Here are some ways that we DON’T want you to invite :)

Men's and Word works sign ups start this weekend!

Pastor believes that word works and men's is what keep us healthy as a church. So jump in and be a part. Our fall session starts sept. 25th and sign ups will be out at the tables this weekend. 

Volunteer of the week! 

The Sandoval Family!!

Jose, Amanda, and Stephen all serve faithfully in the Parkin lot. Every week you can see their smiling faces as they park out guests and bring a positive atmosphere to their team! Thanks guys

“If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart, which, say what you will, is the great high-road to his reason, and which, when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause.”

-Abraham Lincoln-

Invite others to serve with you!

We talk to volunteers all the time about why we serve, the best way to complete their task and even how to greet a first timer on to campus. But what are we doing to reach the people who have been at Celebration for a while now? Do we just let them walk in and out and never even ask their name? Is it that we are too embarrassed to ask again the name of someone we see every week? The truth is we all have reasons why we stay in our comfort Zones, but are we being effective as a Body of believers? We have the privilege to serve here at Celebration; every one of us is a part to this Body of Christ. If we did not share this Honor with others then the body would never grow properly. Have you ever seen a child with a limb that was deformed, that just didn’t GROW right? This is what the body of Christ looks like when we don’t do our part in sharing the load with others. God designed people to be involved in the body, to serve and help us grow, but most of the people with the greatest gifts will not volunteer on their own they must be asked! Jesus modeled this principle for us. Jesus himself went out and asked the disciples to follow him. The Disciples were not people who had, “nothing better to do,” they were hard working people who had their lives radically changed by a God who loved them. They did not see following Jesus as an inconvenience, rather they saw it as an opportunity of a lifetime! Let’s go invite those who are here this weekend to come and join us in changing this valley forever.

                                 

Back to school prayer

Volunteers its back to school already and we have a great opportunity for you. If you didn't know we do a back to school prayer here at Celebration. This is a night where we gather everyone involved in the school process that calls Celebration their home. If you are a teacher, a student, a parent of a student, a janitor, or the lunch lady this night is for you. It is happening Wednesday September 4^th, at 7 pm on our Clovis Campus. This will truly impact your fall semester and the rest of this school year. Let God bring Favor as you go back to school!

Last weekend of Dave Ramsey

The practical teaching we have been getting on these weekends is so valuable that you just can’t afford to miss it. Whether you are a working mom struggling to make ends meet or a wealthy Business owner who has a 6 figure income this is for you, so don’t miss out. This is also a great opportunity to bring someone who has never been to celebration before. It is an opportunity for them to experience a service that shows them just how much we care. It also gives the newcomer the ability to come and check it out without them feeling like the preacher is going to be staring at them the whole time…because it is a video! All that to say, bring someone with you this weekend and let God change their life.

God Encounter weekend

Damon Thompson is going to be back with us Aug 30^th and Sep 1^st! He is going to be in Clovis amped up and ready to go so don’t pick and choose that weekend, but get in and let God wreck you. The message he had in Salinas was so powerful and truly life changing for all who were there, and that was two and a half hours away! So don’t come to just one service and kick back like it’s no big deal. God is going to change you in these services! Also Pastor Randy will be back with Fire in his eyes on those Sunday morning services. Hey it just so happens that you get that Monday off! So come on in and get all you can, and sleep it off Monday!

Our Volunteer of the week is Josh Alemon!

Josh is a guitar player in the band but what you probably don’t know is he is also here during the week at our on the wall prayer sessions! Josh travels on weekends and plays both in Clovis and Fresno campuses this means he is in more services than most and yet he continues to give and help the music department on his time during the week. He is such a hard worker and always has such a great attitude about it! Thanks Josh 

8-15-13

Thursday, August 15, 2013

We LOVE Fresno Leaders!

This weekend continues with another great message from Dave Ramsey. Last week people left feeling helped and equipped, and we want to make sure you don’t miss it! Here’s a quick clip to wet your appetite:

Is our money really a big deal? Well, not only does the Bible have much to say about the subject, but check out these startling statistics as you consider that question.

·   One quarter (25%) of people surveyed say they disagree with their partner about money monthly or more.

·   Nearly one-third (29%) of respondents also report that they have argued with their partner about money in the last year.

·   Almost 2 million people over 60 are still paying off student debt.

·   “Couples with debt tend to fight more. They are more stressed about their money and some recent research that I have done even shows that debt is associated with divorce.”

·   1 out of 10 Americans carry student debt.

Not only is this series important for us to be a part of but we need to get the word out to others as well! Everyone knows somebody else that is struggling in his or her finances or is eager to learn about how to make more.

Fresno Leaders this is an opportunity for us to throw out the net! What a great opportunity to get them to church!

This is a great introduction to Celebration for someone who’s never been here, and besides, you know that we’re going to be ending right on time! Who do you know personally that you can invite to church THIS WEEKEND???

PRACTICAL HELP:

Check out DAVERAMSEY.COM for more tools and information. There are a ton of free resources for you to use to take your money to another level!

There is also a free web program called MINT.COM that will help you manage your finances. There are a couple staff members who love this tool!

BACKPACK RECAP: THANK YOU!

Thank you Fresno leaders for stepping up and doing an amazing job at the Backpack Outreach. WOW! So many lives were touched and we couldn’t of done it without your hard work and generous contributions. The level of excellence you exhibited last Saturday was off the charts- Celebration truly does have the best volunteers ever! 

To express our gratitude to you, not only for helping at the Backpack Outreach but also for your dedication every week, we will have a special little treat for you in our vibe this weekend! I is going to be a united vibe in big kic, so don't miss it.

Now don’t get your hopes too high- this isn’t Oprah’s Christmas giveaway, but one day we’ll get there!

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK!

Kevin and Christine Guida!

The Guidas have both serve with such a great smile and warmth in everything they do. They have had such a willingness to do whatever is asked. Kevin serves on our greeting team, and Christine serves on our guest services team.

Blog 8-8-13

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

What a great weekend that we just came out of! Thank you Fresno leaders for stepping up to the plate and putting your best foot forward; your efforts are greatly appreciated! Every service had so much impact and added so much value to people’s lives, and we have God and you to thank for that! :)

JESUS CAME TO...

Last week in our daily Bible reading, we see that Jesus had to make a correction to how the disciples were thinking about themselves and each other. In Luke 22 it says that a dispute broke out among them concerning "who was better than who." But this kind of mindset didn't appeal to Jesus, so He taught his 12 about a better way. He said in verse 26-

“...the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is grater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”

Jesus made a connection. He connected greatness to serving others.

Have you thought about serving in that way before? Or maybe you’ve allowed this truth to slip by you, as you’ve served week after week. Whatever stage you may be in, let’s allow Jesus' words to transform our thinking in this area!

Let’s look at serving others with fresh eyes; as a golden opportunity to become more like Jesus. We need to look at our responsibilities with value and high regard, not lightly esteeming something precious that God has given to us. If for some reason we aren’t able to make it to serve, we need to call another team member to replace us, so they can step in and shoulder the weight and help the rest of the team in our place. We need to treat our piece of the pie with excellence, just like we would our job, you wouldn't just not show up to work. If you did you would no longer have a job. But our position is not about a paycheck, what we do has Eternal consequences in other people's life.

We truly do consider ourselves blessed to have such a great team to work with every week to reach people for God- your commitment is off the charts! Understand that the world God created works by seed, time, and harvest and we can promise that you are planting amazing seed in the ground! Don’t give up on your harvest if you haven’t seen it yet! You are positioned for blessings to come your way, which some of you have already seen.

If Jesus came to serve then let it be said of Celebration that we are here to serve too!

PRAYER TARGET: BACKPACK OUTREACH

Your prayers are needed for our big event this Saturday! We’ve been presented with a great opportunity to reach our community and see lives impacted. Thank you for all your generous contributions to see this outreach take place, now it’s time to pray!

Here is a snap shot of some fun things going on at Celebration:

KIC

Talent Show

- On Friday, August 16th, our 1st-6th graders will be having a talent show on the Clovis Campus. It will start at 7:00pm. The admission cost for adults is $3.

2SM (7th-12th grade)

2sm Services

- Tuesdays in Clovis at 7:00pm

Back to School Bash

- September 10th @ 7:00pm

C20 (YOUNG ADULTS: 18-29)

Life Discussions:

- Thursday nights in Clovis at 7:00pm.

Grizzly Baseball Bash

- August 1st

Life Discussions

-August 8^th

Baggage Buddies @ FSU

- August 17th (9:30am-11:30am)

Back to School Lake Event

- August 23^rd (5:00pm-10:00pm)

Palazzo Apartments

- September 6^th (7:00pm-9:00pm)

Fresno State Football Game 
- September 20^th (Cost $27)

VOLUNTEERS OF THE WEEK

Everette and Renee DeVan!

This couple has taken there service to another level! They have gone beyond the call of duty and help make our campus an amazing place to be! They are faithful members of our Visitor Lounge Team, always serving with a great heart and attitude. They genuinely care about making our campus shine, and seeing that our first time visitors are well taken care of. Coming early is their usual routine and serving others is of secondary nature to them. Thank you Everette and Renee for your hard work and service. We value and treasure you at the Fresno Campus! 

Blog 8-1-13

Volunteers, 

We always say we want to equip you to do what you do, and we are striving to make that happen in every way. Here is a website that we as staff constantly go on to get Spiritually charged and developed our selves: www.moorelifeministries.org

The speaker's name is Keith Moore and he is one of the people who pastor listens to most often to develop himself....as staff he has told us to be listening to at least one of his podcasts every week. He was an instructor at Rhema Bible training center in Tulsa Oklahoma, when pastor was in school there. He is a true son of Kenneth Hagan and therefor kinda like an uncle to us. He truly will teach you the meat of the word (more mature teaching) not just the milk (the spiritual child's teaching/daily food). His featured series is a marriage enrichment teaching but he has so much more on the website so go check it out, Bon apatite! 

This is our God Encounter weekend and you don't want to miss it! Pastor is asking us to double and even triple up on services this weekend. He got a text From Glenn Berteau saying this is going to be a new message that no one should miss! So let's fill every seat in Clovis on Saturday night and get ready for God to totally transform your life. Sunday morning pastor is going to be releasing some amazing teaching, and Sunday night we are going to meet our assignment as Dr. Dave Martin teaches. Dr. Martin is a phenomenal communicator that has a Word from heaven for YOU, so don't miss what God has made available this weekend. See you there!

The backpack outreach is only a week away and we have done so well in getting support in the community. We have been able to bring in close to 800 backpacks so far and we are so greatful to everyone who has contributed so far. Our goal is 1500 backpacks this year, so if just 1 out of every 4 people who attend celebration will bring in a backpack this weekend we would hit our goal! So if you haven't had the chance to get yours let us know, and ask you friends and family too. This is not just about celebration church this is about reaching our community to share the love of Christ! Thanks for being a part.

Our volunteers of the week are..........

Jeremiah & Andrew Rey!! 

These guys have been so helpful in making the tear down of our campus successful. These guys also help out with our weekend attractions and are quick to lend a hand wherever needed. So thanks guys!