Central,

This Sunday we will be fed by the story from Luke 7:36-50.  Something unusual and unique happened in the house of Simon.  It is the story of GENEROSITY!  It is the story of moving beyond ourselves and giving our very best to the Lord Jesus!  But before we can even consider increasing our generosity we must know God's generosity.

God is the first and most generous giver. As Gordon MacDonald writes, "God made the first move of generosity. And the second. And the third. We see in scripture that just as God is love, God is generous. In fact, His extravagant generosity flows out of His extravagant love. God the Father is the first generous giver, God the Son is the chief of generous givers, and God the Holy Spirit is the ongoing expression of God's generosity in us."

So before we move forward in "increasing in generosity with time and tithing," we must first move forward in opening up ourselves to the phenomenal, mind boggling, and indescribable generosity of Jesus Christ.  In telling us the story of the woman who intrudes into Simon's dinner party, Luke says 3 times that she is a sinner, and 3 times that Jesus forgives sins.  The formal religion of Simon and the Pharisees had no real answer to the problem of sin and could only respond with disapproval and condemnation.  BUT in and through the generosity of Jesus our sins are taken away!

Read more: Generosity - moving toward life that is truly life

Central,

Tomorrow, Sunday, June 2, we will be living in John 15:1-12. Jesus speaks of himself as the Vine and we are the branches. "I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. You can't do anything without me." (John 15:5)

Did you hear what you just read?  YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT ME!  In the world of gardening we know that a branch that is disconnected from the vine will be fruitless and soon dry up and die. This is also true in the Kingdom of God.  If, for whatever reason, we are not connected to Jesus (the vine) we are like branches that dry up and are thrown away.  The first aspect of our emerging DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY is BE CONNECTED TO JESUS.  The last two Sundays we have considered;

    Surrendering each day to Jesus as Lord,
    Be baptized into the body of Christ.

Tomorrow we will consider two primary gifts of God that keep us connected to Jesus as Lord. God has given us SCRIPTURE and PRAYER as ways in which we remain joined to Jesus.  The emphasis tomorrow is "Engaging in scripture and prayer." One way to consider these gifts is like a funnel.  The Holy Spirit pours the life of Jesus into our lives through the funnel of Scripture.  The Holy Spirit pours the life of Jesus into our lives through the funnel of Prayer.  Too often we limit prayer to our conversation and forget that God wants to speak to us in and through prayer.

Read more: Engaging in Scripture and Prayer

Central,

When you hear the word disciple, do you think of yourself? Do you consider yourself to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Do you know what it means to be one? It is time to stop thinking of disciples as just 12 men of ancient times who followed Jesus. Jesus says to you and me, 'COME, FOLLOW ME!'

I am so grateful that this Sunday is Pentecost, the day when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.  As we embark upon the Discipleship Pathway we know that it is only through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit that we can be people of faith. As we move from knowing THE STORY to LIVING the story we know that is only through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit that we can live our lives for Jesus Christ.

This Sunday, May 19, we will consider the first aspect of the DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY: BE CONNECTED TO JESUS. Our emphasis will be on 'surrendering each day to Jesus as Lord'.  Take some time and read Acts 2 to prepare your hearts and minds for worship.

In addition I hope that you will give a GENEROUS and SACRIFICIAL LOVE OFFERING or ADOPT A BILL this Sunday.  Many of you received a white response card in the mail. Fill it out and place it in the globes during the reception of tithes and offerings.  Or you may use one of the cards that will be provided at worship.  As of Wednesday 34 households have given or promised the equivalent of $37,769.50.  $22,000.00 was designated to repay our dedicated funds from which money had been borrowed to pay operating expenses. Thank you to those who responded last Sunday and I hope many of you will offer your 'love offering' or 'adopt-a-bill' on Sunday.  Remember from 2 Corinthians 9 we learn that "God loves a cheerful giver! And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work."

Read more: Be Connected To Jesus

Central,

Today we finished THE STORY! Starting last September we have made our way through 31 timeless and true stories of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  Before we leave THE STORY I hope that you will take some time this week to identify;

• A favorite character
• A Story that teaches you
• A verse that feeds you
• An insight
• A question

Come to worship next Sunday and place your answers in the globes as the tithes and offerings are being received.  We will share the answers with one another as a way to encourage us in our faith journey!  While we might have finished the 31 chapters of THE STORY we know that THE STORY is unfinished.  God has much more to do in each of our lives.  Consider two foci of growth; 'How to live the Story' and 'How to tell the Story'.

Read more: The Story - Finished or Unfinished?