Last Sunday was a great day in the Theatre for Karis.  Aarik Danielsen stood in for Luke and did a great job.  I preached our third and final week in our mini-series entitled “Wired.”  Below are the order of worship and the sermon points from our Gathering together.  The sermon audio is here (see also - Wired: Gospel; Wired: Community).

Karis Community Church - The Gathering - Sunday, July 26th, 2009 10:00 am
The Call
Psalm 145:1-13

Opening Songs
Raise Up the Crown (All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name) (Edward Perronet, Oliver Holden, Chris Tomlin)
Who Is Like You? (Mac Powell)

The Gospel
Confession of Sin 2.2.48 (The Worship Sourcebook)
Hebrews 2:5-11 - Aarik Danielsen
Before the Throne of God Above (Vikki Cook / Charitie L. Bancroft (1841-1892)
Wholly Yours (David Crowder)

Welcome
Passing the Peace
Welcome - Bobby Schembre

The Word Preached
Wired: Mission - Kevin Larson

The Supper

Jesus, With Thy Church Abide (Thomas Pollock, Christopher Miner)

Community Life
Prayers of the Church - Rob Gaskin

Closing Song
God of This City (Words and Music by: Andrew McCann, Boyd Aaron, Ian Jordan, Peter Comfort, Peter Kernaghan, Richard Bleakley)
Receiving the Offering

The Sending
Sending 9.1.6 (Eph. 4:1-6) - Aarik Danielsen (The Worship Sourcebook)

Wired: Mission - Kevin P. Larson - 07.26.09

1. Big Idea: As our Prophet, Priest, and King, Jesus sends us and leads us as prophets, priests, and kings, on mission.

2. Jesus as Restorer of Loving Mission

• Adam, son of God: mission failed (Babel, Abraham)
• Israel, son of God: mission ignored (Ex. 19:4-6)
• Jesus, Son of God: mission embodied and accomplished
• Church, sons of God: mission restored (Pentecost, Seed)
• New Creation, sons of God: mission consummated (Rev. 5:9-10)

3. Gospel Community on Mission

a) Sent as Prophets, Priests, and Kings (Danger: Community as an Idol)

b) Led by Prophets, Priests, and Kings (Danger: Comfort as an Idol)

4. Kings Described (Wired for Mission): Protect and Provide

5. Mark 10:45 - serve Jesus, serve others

Today we worshipped as a body at the Upper Crust in downtown Columbia.  Here is today’s liturgy, followed by the sermon slides:

Karis Community Church - The Gathering - Sunday, July 19th, 2009 10:00 am
The Call
Psalm 95:6-7

Opening Songs
Come and Sing (Jeremy Quillo)
Psalm 63:1 - Ann Daugherty
Rain Down (David Crowder)

The Gospel
Confession of Sin 2.2.34 (The Worship Sourcebook)
Hebrews 4:14-16 - Luke Daugherty
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder (John Newton, Laura Taylor)
Gloria (Words & Music by Taylor Sorenson)

Welcome
Passing the Peace
Welcome - Ryan Worley
The Word Preached - Wired: Community - Kevin Larson

The Supper
Fellowship So Deep (Words: Aaron Senseman and Kinley Lange; Music: Aaron Senseman)
Serving the Bread and the Cup
The Bread and the Cup

The Prayer
Prayers of the Church - Alison Ballou

Closing Song
All I Have is Yours (Bobby Gilles, Rebbeca Bales)
Receiving the Offering

The Blessing
Colossians 3:12-17 - Luke Daugherty

Wired: Community - Kevin P. Larson - 07.19.09

Big Idea: As our Prophet, Priest, and King, Jesus uses and blesses us as prophets, priests, and kings, as a community.

Jesus as Restorer of Loving Community

1. Adam, Son of God: loving community squandered
2. Israel, Son of God: loving community failed
3. Jesus, Son of God: loving community modeled and purchased
4. Church, Son of God: loving community restored - family, body, temple

Barriers to Loving Community - consumerism, individualism, and isolation = suffocating selfishness

Pathways to Loving Community

1. From self-pity to gratitude (1 Cor. 12:4-7, 11, 14-19, 28)
2. From self-promotion to humility (Rom. 12:3)
3. From self-ownership to stewardship (1 Pet. 4:10-12)
4. From self-sufficiency to dependence (1 Cor. 12:21-22)
5. From self-exaltation to appreciation (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:4-6, 23-25)
6. From self-absorption to service (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Pet. 4:10)
7. From self-centeredness to worship (1 Pet. 4:11)

Promises of Loving Community

1. Jesus uses us - love through serving
2. Jesus blesses us - love through embracing
3. Road to Community: Love
4. Hope of Community: Be Loved

• Need community to be holy - sharpened by others
• Need community to be happy - complemented by others

Priests Described (Wired for Community): representing man to God, and God to man

Karis gathered in the Theatre this past Sunday for her weekly Gathering.  Intern Bobby Schembre led music and did a great job.  Here is the liturgy followed by the sermon points and charts from the first installment (gospel) of our new “Wired” series.

Karis Community Church - The Gathering - Sunday, July 12th, 2009 10:00 am
The Call
Psalm 47:1-2, 5-7

Opening Song
You Are Holy (Christina Byrd and Steve Hindalong)
1 Chronicles 29:11

The Gospel
Lead Us Back (Bobby Gilles, Brooks Ritter)
Psalm 130:3-4
Jesus Whispers (Words - Joseph Hart (1712-1768), 1759; Music - Clint Wells and Brian T. Murphy, 2004)
Take My Life (Frances Havergal, Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio)

Welcome
Passing the Peace
Welcome - Luke Daugherty

The Word Preached
Wired: Gospel - Kevin Larson

The Supper
Lord, Dissolve My Frozen Heart (Words: Thomas Kelly, 1769-1855. Chorus by Brian T. Murphy. Music: Brian T. Murphy, 2006)
Romans 8:34-35
Serving the Bread and the Cup
The Bread and the Cup

Community Life
Introduction of New Member
Prayers of the Church - Aarik Danielsen

Closing Song
In Christ Alone (Stuart Townend and Keith Getty)
Receiving the Offering

The Blessing
Psalm 67:1-2 - Bobby Schembre

Wired: Gospel - Kevin Larson - 07.12.09 - audio

1. Big Idea: As our perfect Prophet, Priest, and King, Jesus declares us and then remakes us prophets, priests, and kings through His gospel.
a) Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King
b) Adam, son of God: failed prophet, priest, king
c) Israel, son of God: failed prophets, priests, kings
d) Jesus, son of God: the perfect Prophet, Priest, King
3. Christians as Prophets, Priests, and Kings
a) Declared
b) Remade
4. The Offices of Prophet, Priest, and King
a) Key: Knowledge of our strength(s)

b) Goal: Maturity through growing in strengths, pursuing a balance
5. Common Problems: Ignorance, Distortion, Deficiency
6. Common Need: Growth in the Gospel
a) Humility
b) Repentance
c) Faith
d) Spirit
7. Prophets Described (Wired for Gospel): forthtelling and foretelling

8. Ephesians 4:11-16

Join us next week, as we look at Wired: Community and consider the role of “priests.”  For this study, I’ve leaned heavily on the writings from the guys of Kaleo in San Diego, David Fairchild and Drew Goodmanson.

Kingdom. Gospel. Jesus. Peace. Love. Bible. Glory. Marriage. Children. Life. Cross. Salvation. Church. Body. Believers. Beauty. Grace. God. Love. Joy. Sovereignty.

As the wife of the hottest pastor in the universe, I could give you some pretty good Biblical definitions of the preceding words. I love all the words in the list! I can share all the words and definitions to anyone, at anytime, by God’s grace. One week ago I was with a group of 125 planters, and their wives, in beautiful Colorado. Some men had great passion and were just beginning their planting journey. Some men were into the plants by a few years and told horror stories. Some were around a long time and had passion and peace and told very funny stories. I have gone through many transitions in my life, before and after God saved my hard heart. After trusting in Christ, passionate, and learning all I could, as fast as I could, about the Bible, I quickly learned the definitions of the list of those words. But, how have I shown those words played out with a Kingdom focus? I can tell you that I pray to be Kingdom-focused. I can tell you that Christ came to die on the cross for God’s children to be in His Kingdom. I can tell you that the road to the Kingdom is narrow. I can tell you Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life. I can pray that I train my children in the way of the Lord.

Again, how do I live it? Do I show my children the rushed, hurried heart to finish my daily tasks, or do I teach them, love them, patiently answers their questions, and ‘worry’ more about them understanding the Kingdom? Do I give a homeless man a granola bar to feel better, to show him I love him, to show him that I am not scared of him, or do I share the gospel with him and pray for him to be Kingdom bound? Do I come home excited to tell Kevin that I shared the gospel with someone to get him excited that more people may come on a Sunday morning, or do I get excited because I just shared the Kingdom? Do I help Kevin to look good, make him feel better, to have him respond with helping me, or because helping him shows a small picture of redemption in relationships when the Kingdom comes?

Kingdom. What a magnificient word. Am I focused on the Kingdom of God? Are my actions coming from a heart that is focused on the Kingdom that is at hand? I pray that I can be more. I was so encouraged and reminded that I do not need to be focused on Karis, on Kevin, on self, but on the Kingdom. Aarik preached an awesome God-centered message about the narrow road last Sunday. Mark Driscoll talked about being worshipers of God bringing as many people to worship God around us. I see Karis members honoring God and living lives together. I see a great vision and passion at Karis. I see transitions that have come and have passed by. I pray that we do not get caught up in a person, a preacher, a lifestyle, a vision, or a local church, BUT I pray, by God’s grace alone, that He helps us be Kingdom-focused before all these other great things. I pray that I am amazed by the Gospel daily, because then I will be focused on what Jesus was focused on.

Kingdom. I pray that I let God use me to share the cross with people.  Then I will be Kingdom focused and not Karis, Kevin, or Amy-focused. I pray that Karis can be Kingdom-focused and totally astonished by the Gospel daily. How hard that is with so many transitions in the life of the church, the lives of its members, the city around us. Praise God for a body of believers to encourage, remind, rebuke, and love the Kingdom enough to be encouraging that the focus be about the Kingdom and not just Karis, Kevin, or whatever your name/job/spouse/identity/house/children/etc. Let us encourage one another to be amazed by the Gospel and to be Kingdom focused.

So, the retreat itself. It was amazing to be in the mountains, to be with other planters that feel the same struggle to be Kingdom focused. The time with Kevin was wonderful. It is hard to have evenings with a 5, 3, and 1 year old all fighting for the same attention at home, but we have wonderful church family members that are serving and honoring God by helping us. To hike with my husband, eat with planters, pray with people fighting for joy in all circumstances, and take time to read at the pool side was a great blessing. Praise God!
Love, Amy Larson
Wife of the cutest, greatest church planter!!

Confused about how God has made you?  Not sure where you’re created to serve?  Beginning this Sunday, July 12th, Karis Lead Pastor Kevin Larson will spend three weeks helping you discern your divine “wiring.”  We’ll look at three angles or perspectives that are rooted in the gospel and are played out in our daily lives in community and on mission.  One of our biggest struggles can be in determining our place in God’s church and His world.  But it doesn’t have to be that complicated.  Join us this Sunday and hear why.

Karis friends, go to this link to see a couple of videos from the Acts 29 Planters’ Retreat that Amy and I recently attended.  Hear what is going on in Africa with two guys Karis supports financially: JD Senkbile and Gerald Mwebe.