from the Pastor's heart ...

RE12

In this note I want to share some information about a spiritual growth tool for 2012, and how we as a church can benefit. It’s called the “Radical Experiment” and first came to my attention in Haiti two years ago. It’s from the book, “Radical” by David Platt (highly recommended), and is a year-long commitment to five specific challenges:

• To pray for the entire world

• To read through the entire Word

• To commit our lives to multiplying community

• To sacrifice our money for a specific purpose

• To give our time in another context
  
  

  Pray - for the entire world  Using the resources provided by Operation World, pray together for the entire world over the course of a year.  http://www.operationworld.org/
  

  Read - through the entire Word

  Using a chronological Bible Reading plan, read through the entire Bible. The “Radical Experiment” site: http://www.radicalexperiment.org/overview.html will provide a Bible Reading Plan and scripture memory for each week. (Additional Bible Reading Plans are listed on the Resource page of this site).
  
  Serve - Commit your life to multiplying community
  Commit yourself wholeheartedly to the local church. But even deeper than that, commit yourself to a small group that is intentionally sharing, showing, and teaching the Word while serving the world together.
  
  

  Give - Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose

  For the next year, look at all of our expenses as a church, as individuals and as families through the lens of specific need in the world. Work to set a cap on your lifestyle so that you can free up as much of your resources as possible for the sake of the glory of Christ in His church, among the lost, and among the poor.
  
  

  Go - Spend your time in another context

  As you are making disciples in your community, commit, as individuals and families, to give 2% (one week) of your time in Gospel ministry outside of your community for the sake of God’s glory in all the world.
  
  This is a very general overview, but if you’ve never seen it before, it gives you an idea of what I’m talking about.
  
  Over the last few months, as I and the Leadership team at Bee Tree have looked at and prayed about the Radical Experiment, we’ve felt a greater sense of urgency about what God is calling us to do as a church. 
  
  Remember, it’s called an “Experiment.” The first two challenges – to Pray and to Read – will change you, if you’ve never done anything like this before. The resources available are phenomenal (go ahead – check them out, and let us know what you find.)
  
  The last three challenges, to Serve, to Give, to Go, will take some thought and planning, but we ask you to pray about them. As Leadership we will communicate more specifically about how these affect us as a Body, and how we can best participate together.
  
  If you’ve been a part of our “Faith Moves” series from the Book of James, heard the challenge of God’s Word and listened to some of the facts about the urgent physical and spiritual needs around the globe, then you know why I want to place this growth tool before you.
  
  This isn’t a heavy burden or legalistic task to be accomplished, but an adventure and challenge to be a part of. If you’d like a copy of “Radical” to read, or an audio book to listen to, or just have questions, please give me a call.
  
  Radically yours for 2012,
  
  
  Pastor Mike and Bee Tree Leadership Team
  
  
  

SUNDAY

9:30 AM - Discipleship Class & Hospitality
10:30 AM - Worship Service (Nursery available)

WEDNESDAY EVENING

6:30 - Prayer, Youth and Bible Studies
8:00 - Praise Team (open practice)

828.298.6286

www.BeeTreeChristian.com
beetreec@yahoo.com