Life Group: No Excuses - Frank Zummo Jr.

I don’t feel very good. My stomach hurts. My back hurts. I think I’m coming down with something. I should go straight to bed. After a day like today, I need to relax. I’d rather not be around any people tonight. Some “me” time is what I need. There’s a game on tonight. It’s too cold outside. It’s raining. Gas is too expensive. No one will miss me anyway. I’ve got to get up super early tomorrow. The kids have too much homework. I’m just buried at the office. We’re not going anywhere until this house is clean! I can’t find my pants. I have to wash my cat!

“We don’t have a cat Frank” my wife says, “now quit whining and get ready for life group!” Am I the only one who tries to talk my way out of going to life group? Doesn’t their always seem to be a good reason not to meet with your life group week after week? Why does it seem like there’s a weekly obstacle in our way to prevent us from doing life together with our church family? Could you imagine our Heavenly Father telling the angels that He’s too busy to meet tonight? Or Jesus complaining about being too tired to go to someone’s house? Of course not!!! Has God not called us? Has Jesus not died for us? Does the Holy Spirit not dwell in us? Uhhhhm is this a trick question?

I must confess that I have been guilty of trying to get out of going to life group once or twice. Now, granted, there are legitimate reasons for not making it, but more than not, they’re just excuses. And once I am there and singing songs, eating snacks, hugging family members, laughing, crying, praying, listening, learning, loving on others and being loved on by others, I forget all about my excuses and remember why it is so important to be doing life together! We are not in this alone! God’s Grand Design calls for us to come along side of one another and journey together and finish well the marathon that is before us! See you in life group.

Frank P. Zummo

Easter Sunday Life Group Notes - Pastor Paul

THE GOOD NEWS 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11 4/8/2012

WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD

Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy
Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence!
Enjoy this time with God and one another.

Word: On Sunday we had the privilege of hearing the Good News and celebrating the
wonderful experience of Baptism with several believers who are pressing on with their
faith! Today we are going to explore some more into the Apostles proclamation of the
Christian faith!

What thoughts go through your mind when you see people baptized?

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The following questions tie to the verses in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. Share your
thoughts and observations about what the Apostle is teaching us!

What is it that Paul preaches? [1]

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What does Paul mean when he says, “if you continue to believe?” [2]

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C.
Consider the term “passed on.” What does this tell us about the method God uses
to advance the Good News? [3]

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What are the three parts of the Good News that Paul gives us in verses 3 and 4?

D.

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Read verses 5-7. What testimony is Paul giving us about Jesus?

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How does Paul describe himself in 8-11? Read Acts 9:1-18. How do you think
Paul’s past impacted his understanding of God’s grace?

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Is there something in today’s passage that spoke to you, or challenged you?
What was it?

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1 Peter 3:15 (MSG)
thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ,
your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way
you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.

15 Through

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Playing Hookey - Michael White

Playing Hooky!

By Michael White

I loved “playing hooky” from school! In fact, back in my junior year of high school, I
ditched school over 40 days. I thought it was so cool being away to play. Sometimes
I even ditched just to get caught up on legitimate school work.

Ever “played hooky” from church? Yes, me too! There have been days when I just
wanted a break or to play with my family. There are also times when I just need
extra time to get important work done. Who doesn’t…right?

Yet, there’s a part of my high school story that you need to know. Even though I
had great reasons to be away, I ended up with poor grades and even failed English.
You can’t expect to excel when you’re not there to grow. A truth I was painfully
reminded of during summer school and in my senior year as I retook junior English!

Too often we “play hooky” from church and somehow still believe we can excel in
our faith. I’ve heard so many people say, “I don’t need to go to church to worship
God. I can do that anywhere.” Yes that’s true BUT…the Sunday Celebration service
isn’t just about worshipping God. That’s a daily given, not just reserved for Sundays.

Sunday Celebration is one of the primary avenues where we hear the word of God.
It’s delivered through testimonies and the sermon. Since nearly everyone I know
would confess that they don’t read their Bibles nor pray as often as they’d hope to,
ditching church on Sunday, often means abandoning the one time each week we
take in God’s word. And no…going on an Air 1 music binge won’t fill the gap!

Sunday Celebration is more than just a time to worship. It’s also about gathering
with other believers, growing in common belief, overcoming common challenges,
and most importantly, hearing testimonies and God’s word!

Take a few moments to reflect on where/how you commit yourself to hearing God’s
word. Ask yourself if you’re excelling in your faith and if playing “hooky” is having
any impact on that?

Celebration - Pastor Paul

Mom is in the shower, dad is making the coffee, junior and sis are still sleeping in their beds!  The clothes are laid out, the car is clean, and somewhere else people are getting ready.  The neighbors are sleeping in, completely unaware of the importance of the moment.

Mom and dad awaken the kids who slowly emerge from the warm comfort of their beds.  Breakfast is ready, clothes are put on, and it is almost time to go.  Everybody gets their books and climbs into the family car.  Once in the parking lot it is time to greet old friends and make new ones.

Hit the potty, get some coffee, and find a seat because it is time to begin.  The band kicks it up, the preacher mixes it up, and God smiles!  His children have come home for a visit.  As the songs are sung the soul is fed.  When the sermon is preached minds are stretched.  Prayers are prayed, communion is eaten, and souls are saved.  Barriers are broken, fears are conquered, and broken stories are replaced with dreams.

Hugs and smiles encourage those who almost didn't come.  Prayers prayed and hands laid lift spirits and carry friends for another week.  Life Notes are tucked safely into Bibles where they will be ready for that weeks Life Group. Another layer was added to the foundation.  More branches grew on the tree.  The children who participated took another step toward their destiny.

The sleeping neighbors have just finished their cartoons and Sunday paper.  As they look out the window they notice their neighbors coming home from someplace with old books under their arms and hopeful smiles on their faces!  They wonder where they have been, and make a mental note to ask them about it.

Do You Come Ready - Pastor Chris

Hebrews 10: 24, 25

²⁴and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,²⁵not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Two nights ago I did something new, I laid out my running gear before I went to bed.  You see, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings I am scrambling around the house at 5:19am trying to find my running shoe, sweatshirt, or running pants, so I can be outside by 5:20. Yesterday morning was much more peaceful.


I have learned that If I don't plan for distractions or diversions I will end up being late or miss whatever I was planning on doing. How about you. Do things ever get in the way of you getting out of the house prepared? A family argument, clothes are not dry, kids waking up late, or the car is low on gas?


Do you ever think about what you need to prepare yourself for Sunday Celebration. I am not talking about just the physical things, though those are important as well. 


Do you show up ready to minister to someone that may need ministry. Or are you dragging in late after a long night out, showing up empty with the mantra of the Venus flytrap, "feed me Seymour!"


How much of our Sunday Morning stress could be avoided if we did a little preparation the night before. How much more amazing could Sunday Celebration be if we all showed up prepared and ready to minister. 


What do you do to prepare you and your family for Sundays? Where do you fall short? Share with us here to encourage one another. 


God Bless
Pastor Chris

Celebrate:The Most Important Event - Linden Malki

When we are especially happy about something in our lives, or rejoicing in a landmark event, our impulse is to gather family, friends, and community and Celebrate! One of the oldest records we have of a celebration is when the Israelites escaped from Egypt, and we even have a copy of the song they sang (Exodus 15). Moses had told them to remember this experience, celebrate it each year, and use the commemoration to pass the story down to their descendants (Exodus 13).

Fifteen hundred years later, Jesus was sharing this celebration with his followers, and adding to the old story a new meaning: that He would become the Lamb and would save people not from their political oppressors but from slavery to sin and death.

What we celebrate this upcoming Sunday morning is the real proof of God's power to save: that Jesus himself was delivered from Death and arose on a Sunday morning in triumph. This has been the central message of His Church for almost two thousand years.

This is the Sunday that even people who usually don't go to church often come to church. However, this celebration is no longer a big deal in our community at large. I think that it is partly a desire to not face the central message of this day: that if you really take a good look at what is being celebrated--and do believe it really happened, it demands something important of you. The ancient Israelites had 1500 years to follow the laws and commandments given through Moses, and Jesus came to say that they had failed to approach the goodness of God by their own efforts. We have to recognize that we can only become fit for the presence of God through the grace and mercy of God as it came through what happened on those three days we celebrate now.

But we not only celebrate Jesus' death and Resurrection on Easter Sunday, we gather with families and friends in a community of faith each Sunday in commemoration of that unique Sunday morning.  We share our joy, our worship, our prayers and His Presence as we Celebrate how He has changed our lives forever.

Linden Malki 

Lured by money and a pretty girl!

Lured by money and a pretty girl!

A Testimony by Michael White

In July of 1999, I was on the fast track to earn my first million dollars. Yes, you read
that right! I come from a family of six and seven figure entrepreneurs and I was
next in line. I too craved the high pressure, high dollar opportunities that made my
family what it is today. And like those who came before me, I have the drive to do it!

Unbeknownst to me, God had other plans. Again, in July of 1999, while attending
Primerica’s national convention in Atlanta, I heard the words that would rock my
world. In the midst of my relentless pursuit of money, at a convention to learn how
to get it, I heard our CEO say, “unless you’re living your life God first, family second,
and business third, you’ll fail or at least be miserable at everything you do.” Well, I
came home and began asking the Christian men in the office about Jesus. Imagine
that! In my search for money, I met the Lord!

A few weeks later, while out at a local bar…yes a bar (story for another day)…I
happened to be wearing a shiny, new WWJD bracelet that a young lady took interest
in. It happened to be a young lady that I had been crushing on for some time. Wow!
This God thing is working, so I thought! She even invited me to church at Calvary
Baptist (as NorthPoint used to be called). She and I went to church that Sunday (one
week before the sanctuary was set afire). To this day, I have never seen her again.
Unbelievable! In my pursuit of a pretty girl, God introduced me to my church family
of the past 12 years!

While that only scratches the surface of what God’s been doing to, for, and through
me, it’s one of the more amusing chapters of the story!

Who would have believed that God would reveal Himself to me through my pursuit
of money and pretty girls? He knew exactly where to find me. Brilliant!

Take a few moments to reflect on where and how God reveals Himself to you and
praise Him for how clever He is to choose those areas!