Did you know there are 382 verse references in the Bible for "together"? God never intended for us to do this life alone, but together. Imagine with me , if you will. You have some exciting news to share...do you have someone you call? What about when you get a day to go play...do have someone to take off with? What about when you have a bad day...do you have someone for support?
As we open another service time, we have the potential of many visitors coming to Bay Life. It is hard to walk into a church or any situation without someone alongside you for support. We encourage you to get connected with the people around you-whether new or Lifers.
You have a God-given passion and God-given gifts and abilities. Our Connections Team is here to help you identify and work toward fulfilling your purpose in life. Talk to someone today about your spiritual gifts, passions, talents, and purpose - call Cindy Perkins, 813.661.3696, ext. 246, or email cperkins@baylife.org to make an appointment.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Welcome Lunch September 18
If you haven't connected at Bay Life, either in membership or for the next steps in your spiritual journey, plan to join us on Sunday, September 18th at 1:00 pm for our Welcome Lunch. This is a great time to meet some wonderful people and find out more about Bay Life Church. Let us know if you'd like to attend by registering at baylife.org. For more information about our Welcome Event, call 813.661.3696 or email us at INFOdesk@baylife.org.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
God has created us to live in community with one another. Act 2 gives us a great look at how healthy community directly affects the growth of the Kingdom of God. Verses 42 – 47 allow us a glimpse into the fellowship of believers in a first century church, and we can learn much form this picture.
Verse 42 tells us, “they devoted themselves.” Who is “they”? They are the early believers, believers who put their lives on the line simply by acknowledging that they were Christians. So what does it mean to be devoted? The dictionary definition of the word “devoted” is loving and committed and dedicated. So what were these early believers lovingly committed to? “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The early believers went to church daily to be encouraged. They heard scriptural teaching, they fellowshipped and received encouragement from other believers, they shared the Lord’s Supper to remember what Christ had done, they shared meals together, and they spent time in prayer.
All of these activities were important, but a significant fact was that they were “devoted” to all these things. We will look another day at the results of this devotion, but today, we need to ask ourselves some questions. What are we devoted to? What are we lovingly committed to? What are our lives dedicated to? Does our dedication and commitment point others to Christ? Does our dedication encourage others along in their faith walk?
We need each other. God designed us that way. Get connected with other believers so that we can walk out our vision to Be One Make One.
Verse 42 tells us, “they devoted themselves.” Who is “they”? They are the early believers, believers who put their lives on the line simply by acknowledging that they were Christians. So what does it mean to be devoted? The dictionary definition of the word “devoted” is loving and committed and dedicated. So what were these early believers lovingly committed to? “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The early believers went to church daily to be encouraged. They heard scriptural teaching, they fellowshipped and received encouragement from other believers, they shared the Lord’s Supper to remember what Christ had done, they shared meals together, and they spent time in prayer.
All of these activities were important, but a significant fact was that they were “devoted” to all these things. We will look another day at the results of this devotion, but today, we need to ask ourselves some questions. What are we devoted to? What are we lovingly committed to? What are our lives dedicated to? Does our dedication and commitment point others to Christ? Does our dedication encourage others along in their faith walk?
We need each other. God designed us that way. Get connected with other believers so that we can walk out our vision to Be One Make One.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Welcome Lunch Mar 20
If you haven't connected at Bay Life, either in membership or for the next steps in your spiritual journey, plan to join us on Sunday, Mar 20 at 12:30 pm for our Welcome Lunch. This is a great time to meet some wonderful people and find out more about Bay Life Church. Let us know if you'd like to attend by registering at baylife.org. For more information about our Welcome Events call 813.661.3696 or email INFOdesk@baylife.org. Thursday, February 17, 2011
Prayer Blog - Title: The Disciples’ Prayer
The words of Jesus, in Matthew 6:9-13, say,
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver from the evil one,
for yours is the Kingdom and the
power and the glory forever.
Amen.”
Commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer”, this prayer was really an instructional model for those to whom He was speaking in the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke 11:2-4, Jesus spoke a similar prayer when His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.
Many of us have learned this prayer as children and can say these verses without really ever thinking. But that is not the purpose of this prayer. This is more than a string of words or a formula to follow. Stay tuned over these next weeks as we dig deep into the principles behind the prayer given by our Lord to His disciples.
This weeks action steps: If you don’t know this prayer from memory, work to put this word into your heart and mind.
*Join us on Tuesday, February 22nd, 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Children/Student Center for Prayer Night.
The words of Jesus, in Matthew 6:9-13, say,
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver from the evil one,
for yours is the Kingdom and the
power and the glory forever.
Amen.”
Commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer”, this prayer was really an instructional model for those to whom He was speaking in the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke 11:2-4, Jesus spoke a similar prayer when His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.
Many of us have learned this prayer as children and can say these verses without really ever thinking. But that is not the purpose of this prayer. This is more than a string of words or a formula to follow. Stay tuned over these next weeks as we dig deep into the principles behind the prayer given by our Lord to His disciples.
This weeks action steps: If you don’t know this prayer from memory, work to put this word into your heart and mind.
*Join us on Tuesday, February 22nd, 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Children/Student Center for Prayer Night.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Connect - to join, link, or fasten together; unite or bind - to cause to be associated as in a personal or business relationship - to associate mentally or emotionally - to relate to or be in harmony with another person.
Interesting how one small word can have so many nuances in meaning, isn't it? I really like the second meaning - unite or bond. When we connect with others, especially in a community of believers, we become united with one another.
God created man to be in community with Him. And at the moment of creation, when God had deemed all other aspects of creation good,
God said in Genesis 2:18, "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"
We were not created to live in isolation. Connection, community, and companionship help us to be healthy, both emotionally and spiritually. We help each other grow, care for one another when life threatens to get the best of us. So do something good for yourself and get connected at Bay Life.
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