Alison Epps 8/20/16 Alison Epps 8/20/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 20

Our idols are not made of marble, but we are just as guilty of placing created things on the thrones of our hearts. What idols does your heart hold dearly? We cannot expect restoration in the city, full of folks who do not know Him, until our own hearts yearn for the Father.

You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

"Justice and Restoration"

Reflecting upon a recent trip to India, what strikes me deeply and definitively is how similar Orlando is to Kolkata is in its worship of gods. As believers, what do we hold most dear? Is it living a Spirit-filled life to reflect Christ and begin a grassroots path to actual restoration in our city? Or are we clinging to an ideal of what life ‘should’ look like, expecting a problem-free, comfortable, ‘American dream’ experience? The latter may be the first and greatest obstacle to seeing communities restored.

India was a mind-blowing, eye-popping, heartbreaking assault on the senses. It is a beautiful, delicious, culturally rich place. The infrastructure is rigid, yet lawless; creative, yet frayed. Each person is employed for one specific role in each process. There was a young man who came for the trash and also cleaned the toilets on Saturdays. There was a woman who came every day to sweep, wash the dishes and floors, and wash the clothes—She didn’t touch the toilet. There was another guy who delivered water and a gentleman who picked up and delivered the ironing. With so many daily visitors it’s easy to be worn out by mid morning, despite having done nothing.

Another aspect to the unusual adventure was the in-your-face exposure to over 3000 gods and the rituals, festivals, habits and demands that accompany Hinduism. I visited a temple with two students and with a straight face, one explained to me the significance of a particular god and the dispersing of her body parts all over the country to develop the varying parts of India.

I passed by small shrines daily. In each case, I prayed aloud, and verbalized scripture because it felt like I was front and center, face-to-face with the enemy, reminding him and myself who is really in charge. I felt very alone with the Lord in those circumstances. The number of the ‘lost’ becomes much more profound and pronounced when you’re surrounded by marble idols.

I think of the Orlando community and see that our need for restoration is no different. The sin may look different but it breaks the heart of our Father in precisely the same ways. Our idols are not made of marble, but we are just as guilty of placing created things on the thrones of our hearts. What idols does your heart hold dearly? We cannot expect restoration in the city, full of folks who do not know Him, until our own hearts yearn for the Father.

How to pray...

Today’s Prayer Focus is for partner organizations that are seeking justice and restoration. You can learn more about these organizations HERE.

Pray for Elevate Orlando and their partnership with businesses and local schools to provide character training for urban youth. A separate ministry provides scholarships for urban youth to attend Young Life camp, and LBC helps with funding. Be praying for Jack and Sheri McGill, and their board, as they lead Elevate Orlando.
Pray for 306 Foundation as they serve women in need, many of whom have gained fresh hope through the “Toobox4Life” training. Pray for John and Jane Hursh as they provide leadership.
Pray for Grace Medical Clinic as they offer needed medical care to those who cannot afford it. A number of folks at LBC will be involved in the upcoming “Let’s Say Grace” benefit for this ministry, so pray for God’s blessing on that event.
Pray for our ongoing relationship with Habitat for Humanity and David Runnels as he coordinates this partnership. Ask God to give each of us a heart to serve our city through Habitat work days.
Pray for a possible collaboration with Jobs Partnership of Florida as they seek to provide job training and life skills to those seeking employment.

For the Family

What does it mean to have other "gods" in our life?

Share with each other some of the idols in your own life or in your family.
What are ways that you would like to connect with others in the community that don’t know the grace of our Lord?
Brainstorm ways that as a family you would like to try to engage in sharing the gospel with others around you.

Contributors

"Justice and Restoration" - Jane Hursh

Jane and her family have been attending LBC for nearly ten years. She and John are empty nesting this year, as Caroline heads to FSU. John Falknor and Ben attend UF. She owns jane’s short & sweet LLC and together with John, is working to enhance our community through the work of the 306 Foundation.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Michelle Crouse has served as the director of LBC's children's ministry—SPLASH Kids—since the end of 2011. She and her husband Joshua were married in 2002 and have 2 children. Michelle grew up outside of Boston and graduated from James Madison University in Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She loves being with kids and loves the opportunity to be a part of teaching children how much they are loved by God, and helping them grow in their understanding of what that means.

Scott Crocker 8/19/16 Scott Crocker 8/19/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 19

When we look at the world around us, imagine the difference a generation of Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, and gospel-driven young people could make in our city, nation, and world. God is at work among these future leaders and we have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives through our prayers.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… (Colossians 4:2-3)

“The university is a clear-cut fulcrum with which to move the world. Change the university and you change the world.”

— Charles Malik

"Local Campus Ministries"

I was as a college student when God grabbed ahold of my heart and changed the course of my life. An impressionable nineteen-year-old sophomore, I met Jesus in a life-altering way and committed to serve Him the best I knew how. In His graciousness, God provided a group of other students who loved God and loved me well.

Through a ministry on my campus, I learned how to pray, how to study the Bible, and how to live a life empowered by God’s Spirit. I received training on how to share my faith with others. My experience through a collegiate ministry impacted me so profoundly that upon graduation, I wanted to spend the best hours of my day helping college students who were coming into a relationship with Christ. Now over twenty years later, I’m still committed to this same mission.

The college experience is a critical time for those in their late teens and early twenties. It is during this season of life that so many of the future leaders of our world are wrestling with many potentially transformative questions: What kind of work will I do? Where will I live? Who will I marry? What will I believe? What will I live for?

In the midst of all the learning, searching and questioning, we are grateful that there are a number of campus ministries that reach out to the college students of central Florida and beyond. When we look at the world around us, imagine the difference a generation of Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, and gospel-driven young people could make in our city, nation, and world. God is at work among these future leaders and we have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives through our prayers.

How to pray...

For Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Rollins College, and for Zack Baldwin as he leads the ministry. Pray for “open doors” for the gospel to go forth.
For Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at UCF, and for Lee Wright as he directs the work. Pray for students to be grounded in the Word and in love for God and others.
For Cru at UCF as they engage in evangelism and discipleship, and for Jeremy Reddy as he leads the work. Pray for reliance on the Spirit’s power in their lives.
For all the staff and students from Campus Outreach who were part of LBC this summer. Pray that their experiences and growth from this summer will deepen throughout the fall and that they will be strong witnesses on their campuses and in their families.
For the college students who attend LBC. Thank God for their presence and their participation in the life of our church. Pray that their college years would be a time of spiritual growth and transformation.

For the Family

The season of late teens/early twenties is such a unique time in life full of change and choice. Share with your children some of the impactful things that happened to you during that time of your life. Each of our lives is a journey and we can’t predict what is going to be on that road, but it is amazing to look back at where that road took us. God not only knows our entire journey—he is on each road with us.

Ask your children: what is important to them right now and why? Maybe it is a friendship, an extracurricular activity, or family time. This part of their journey is preparing them for what is ahead. Find ways to be present in their journey and to look for God’s guiding hand in their lives.

Contributors

"Local Campus Ministries" - Scott Crocker

Scott Crocker is the Chief of Staff for Ethnic Field Ministry, a ministry of Cru committed to seeing spiritual movements launched among ethnic minority students and faculty throughout the world. His family attends Lake Baldwin Church, where Scott serves as a deacon and leads the church’s mercy ministry to those in need. In his free time, he is a diehard fan of the Michigan Wolverines & Detroit Tigers and has coached youth basketball and football since high school. An avid reader, he particularly enjoys biographies and books about culture and American history. Scott and his wife, Lori, have four children and live in Orlando, Florida

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/18/16 Alison Epps 8/18/16

Hannah Rader: With the Refugees in Greece

The refugees are in such a place of desperation and vulnerability that the hope and love of Jesus is the only truth that can impact their current situation in a positive way.

Over last Christmas break one of my good friends invited me on a missions trip to Thessaloniki, Greece. I was hesitant at first because of the risks involved with going to work with Syrian refugees, but after a few months of prayer and discussion I felt like God was calling me to go.

The trip was called Engage the Crisis, and thousands of college students participated in this movement by traveling to Europe to share the gospel to Refugees. My team was located in northern Greece and we spent two weeks this summer sharing the gospel, loving the refugees, and distributing food, water, and clothes.

It is amazing that of all the locations Engage the Crisis had to offer, my team was located in the area that contained the most refugees at the time. My team and I spent most of our time in two different refugee camps known as Echo and Diavata. Echo (which no longer exists; the refugees were forced to leave and join another camp in Greece) was an informal camp, which means it was not government-run. We were able to enter the camp very easily and speak freely.

In this camp in particular, our team was blessed with the opportunity to share the gospel daily. Muslim refuges were not only interested in, but also accepting of the gospel; they wanted to know Jesus on a personal level. It was amazing!

The refugees are in such a place of desperation and vulnerability that the hope and love of Jesus is the only truth that can impact their current situation in a positive way.

Many refuges that we had the privilege of speaking with communicated that they had been experiencing recurring dreams of a man in white coming to them in their sleep. My team and I firmly believe that the man in their dreams is Jesus, and we were able to share this truth and saw lives transformed because of it.

I am so amazed at the ways in which God is moving within these camps. He is present and His love for the Muslim people is unreal. I personally found the trip and experience to be very challenging. I had never spoken to strangers on the street, let alone Muslims, about Christianity before, but I quickly learned it was the most rewarding thing I have ever done; I had never felt so alive. Reflecting on my time makes me miss the relationships with the people I met, but it also encourages me to continue to pray for the refugees, and ask God to continue to make Himself known to these people who are so hungry for hope and life.

I am so thankful that Lake Baldwin supported me with their prayers and financial support. Many refugee lives have been transformed and many people have experienced the loving embrace of Jesus for the first time. Thank you for partnering with me!!

— Hannah Rader

Scott Crocker 8/18/16 Scott Crocker 8/18/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 18

In an age where a quick tweet or Facebook post allows us to offer a critique of our leaders, God’s Word instructs us to instead pray for them. The role of the Christian is to lift up our leaders—spiritual, civic, or otherwise—before the God who sees all and knows all.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 2:1-4)

"Praying for our Leaders"

One of the best examples of leadership in the Bible is that of Moses. The circumstances surrounding his birth, the manner in which he was raised, and the remarkable ways in which God chose to use him are an evidence of God’s power and grace. When God called to him from a burning bush it was evident that God had unique plans for Moses. He was to lead his people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

But Moses was a reluctant leader. He initially hesitated to be “God’s man,” though he eventually accepted his call. And even though it is obvious to us that Moses was God’s appointed prophet to deliver the Israelites from slavery, many of the people Moses was attempting to lead did not appreciate his efforts. They constantly complained. They questioned his decisions. Some even wanted to stone him. No one said leadership was easy.

In fact, leadership can often be quite difficult. Though leaders often get attention and recognition, they also carry the burden of responsibility and receive unfair criticism. Like the Israelites, we can be quick to fault our leaders without fully comprehending the weight of decisions and expectations that they carry with them.

In an age where a quick tweet or Facebook post allows us to offer a critique of our leaders, God’s Word instructs us to instead pray for them. The role of the Christian is to lift up our leaders—spiritual, civic, or otherwise—before the God who sees all and knows all. Let’s do that today...

How to Pray...

Pray for local government officials. Pray for wisdom as they lead our city and that God would draw them closer to himself.
Pray for law enforcement, fire fighters, paramedics, and all those who seek to serve and protect us. Pray for their protection and that they would lead with courage and integrity.
Pray specifically for the leaders of LBC who lead us in caring for our congregation and in serving our city, our deacons. Pray for Michael Ballenger, Scott Crocker, Drew Hallberg, Candice Holtz, Adam Mikkelson, and Ernie Traynham. Pray for their personal spiritual lives, their families, and the ministries they lead. Ask God to raise up new deacons and deaconesses for our deacon team.
Pray pastors throughout the city, including those planting new churches. Pray for Mike Aitcheson, former apprentice at LBC now planting Christ United Fellowship as a multi-cultural congregation. Pray for the Florida Church Planting Network, with 40+ churches locking arms to resource new church plants. LBC helps fund this effort.
Finally, pray that God would use all these efforts to open the hearts of people to the gospel, bringing good news to the city!

For the Family

by Michelle Crouse

As a family, make a list of all the community leaders and servants you can think of (president, governor, representatives, policemen, firemen, judges, pastors, church leaders, etc.)

During this election season our kids are likely hearing all kinds of ideas and viewpoints about leaders or potential leaders. Give your kids some time to share what they have heard and what they think about it. Take some time to talk about how we can be respectful of others and their viewpoints even if we don’t agree with them. One of the greatest gifts we can give to these leaders and servants is to pray for them as they seek to lead and care for the people.

Download a "Community Helper" coloring sheet HERE!

For the younger children, print the Community Helper coloring sheet. Encourage them to pray out loud as they color the community helpers!

Contributors

"Praying for Our Leaders" - Scott Crocker

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/17/16 Alison Epps 8/17/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 17

It’s been said that work is the gracious expression of creative energy in the service of others. Your work matters to God! Redefine your boss and then do your work whole heartily, as unto the Lord!

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

"Faith and Work"

What word best describes what you like to spend your time doing? In answer to that question, how many said “work”? On any given day, many of us can relate to the words of the country artist, the late Johnny Paycheck, who sang, “Take this job and shove it, I ain’t workin’ here no more!”

From culture we get a view of work that can vary widely. Ringo Starr observed, “It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve been workin’ like a dog!” In the movie 9 to 5, Dolly Parton commented on the plight of many in the workforce when she sang: “Workin’ 9 to 5 / what a way to make a livin’ / barely gettin’ by / it’s all takin’ and no givin’! ” At one end of the spectrum work is drudgery—you work like a dog just to barely make a living.

On the other end, “Work”, Henry Ford proclaimed, “is the salvation of the human race, morally, physically, socially.” President Coolidge said of work, “the man who builds a factory builds a temple, the man who works there worships there.” Another perspective on work is found in the sign above the Nazi Concentration Camp at Auschwitz, which reads "Arbeit Macht Frei", or “work makes you free”.

In light of these contrary perspectives, Christians must ask: What does the bible have to say to us about work?

Starting on page 1, the bible describes God’s work in creation (Genesis 1:1-30). Scripture tells us that it was for his pleasure that God created all things (Revelation 4:11). It pleased God to work and he was pleased with his creation, pronouncing it “very good.” As creatures made in his image, God gave us work to do (Gen. 2:15). The work God gave to mankind was a blessing—a reflection of his image within us.

However, work became cursed when sin entered the world (Gen. 3:17-19). Ever since, people have struggled to keep work in its proper perspective. Theologian Os Guinness, says we often have upside-down values: “We worship our work, we work at our play and we play at our worship.” When this happens, our sense of value, identity, meaning and worth become tied up in our vocational position, power, or prestige . Our résumé becomes our righteousness.

A biblical understanding of work requires you to redefine your boss: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men… It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). From the Lord you have received vocational aptitudes, gifts and abilities. When you put these to work in the service of others, it is an honorable thing, no matter what you do. As Martin Luther understood, “the works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they be, do not differ one whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks, but that all works are measured before God by faith alone… Indeed, the menial housework of a manservant or maidservant is often more acceptable to God than all the fastings and other works of a monk or priest, because the monk or priest lacks faith.”

It’s been said that work is the gracious expression of creative energy in the service of others. Your work matters to God! Redefine your boss and then do your work whole heartily, as unto the Lord!

Where do we find the motivational power to do this? By remembering the work of Christ—the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep (John 10). As you remember what it cost the Lord Christ to serve you at the cross, you will find the power to redefine your boss and serve Him in your workplace. After all, He is the only one with the power to make you truly free. Amen!

How to pray...

Thank God for your job and pray that He would enable you to see your work as a good thing and an avenue in which to serve Him.
Pray that through your work God would grant you to the opportunity to witness by your life and words to the goodness of God.
Pray for co-workers who need to experience the love and forgiveness that is found in Christ. Pray that God would provide an open door for you to minister to them.
Pray for those from LBC who are currently without work. Pray that God would provide steady employment for them in which they will be able to utilize the gifts and passions.

For the Family

A common question we ask children is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Work, or what we “do”, is a big part of life. In fact, we often push kids in school to help them succeed in their work later on in life.

Our work is a way that we can serve our Lord. The work that the Lord gives us might not fit in a typical 9-5 day. It may be parenting and caring for you family, reaching out to your community, sharing the gospel with others, working in an office or working from home.

Ask your child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But this time do some follow-up questions to get to the heart of their thoughts.

What is it about that job that gets you excited?
Who would you want to help if you did that job?
Is there anything about that job you think you wouldn’t like?
What are some of the qualities that a person doing that job needs to have?
How could someone serve the Lord while doing that job?

Share with your child that they have a job now... even before they grow up! They can serve the Lord each and every day as they are growing; they don’t have to wait until they are grown up! They can serve the Lord in so many ways: friendships, schooling, family, church, decisions and talents! What a great mindset for our children to grasp early in life—that their life can be a life of service and worship to the Lord!

"Faith and Work" - Jim Cunningham

Jim Cunningham is an elder at Lake Baldwin Church. Jim has been a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida since 1977. He holds a Masters in Biblical Studies in addition to his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law. Jim has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Central Florida. Jim and his wife, Joyce, were instrumental in establishing a fund which provides scholarships for needy children to attend FCA camps in North Carolina. Jim and Joyce also served on the Board of Directors of Family First, an organization based in Tampa, Florida and dedicated to strengthening and improving Florida's families.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/16/16 Alison Epps 8/16/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 16

May we be reminded today of His enormous generosity in Christ Jesus. Every way that He has made us rich—community, love, time, resources, finances, giftedness, job, family, ministry—we in turn may be rich in our generosity on every occasion to the glory and thanksgiving of God. May we at LBC be a generous people who have hands opened wide with His good gifts.

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)

"Generosity"

One of the first words each of our four children voiced early on in toddlerhood was the word, “MINE!” It was a familiar expression shouted between them as each tried their best to hang onto what was in their hands at the time. Trying to teach their young hearts that God owned everything and His desire was for us to be generous in sharing those gifts with others, was a most difficult concept for them to grasp.

Recently I was enjoying an afternoon at the beach collecting shells. As I walked along the shoreline I mentioned to God, “I sure would love to find an unbroken sand dollar.” In all the years I had enjoyed New Smyrna Beach, I don’t ever remember finding an intact sand dollar on its eastern shores. Without exaggeration, I took maybe ten steps, and to my astonishment noticed what looked like the top of a beige shell with sand dollar markings. “No way,” I said out loud and excitedly brushed the waters back and forth to remove the thin layer of sand covering it. Sure enough, peering back at me was a most beautiful, completely intact, sand dollar! I was stunned! I gathered it up with childlike joy and practically skipped through the water, thanking God for His goodness and intimate display of love for me.

Passing a young mother and her two children I stopped and opened my hand wide revealing my prize saying, “Look what I found today! I asked God for a sand dollar and sure enough, He led me to it.” The young boy’s eyes widened exclaiming, “I’ve never seen a sand dollar before!” He admired my rare find, and then ran off to find his own sea treasures. As I continued walking I thought, “God, would you lead me to another sand dollar so I can give it to that young boy?” Without warning the question appeared, “Why don’t you give him the one in your hand?” Instantly I felt the fingers of my heart clench snug around the sand dollar I was holding. Facing my resistance I whimpered back, “But you gave this to me! It’s mine!” Like my young children, I was doing my best to hold onto what was in my hand.

As I waded back home that afternoon, the conversation in my heart with God was tender and without condemnation. Like a mother with her child, God gently reminded me that He was lavishly generous with me in offering His Beloved Son. That sacrificial giving would mark my heart the more I cherished and understood His amazing gift of grace. Furthermore, He reminded me that there wasn’t one gift I enjoyed that wasn’t given by Him, created by Him, sustained and held together by His generosity. My heart was refreshed with the truth that each gift He gives, He also empowers me by His Spirit, to offer it in order to enrich the kingdom in a way that ushers in thanksgiving to God, and bring honor to the name of the Lord. Every gift, including the treasure of a found sand dollar, enriches me so that on every occasion I can in turn be generous, resulting in the praise and thanksgiving to God. Jesus is my Prize, and by God’s grace my hands will remain opened wide, generously offering His treasures.

May we be reminded today of His enormous generosity in Christ Jesus. Every way that He has made us rich—community, love, time, resources, finances, giftedness, job, family, ministry—we in turn may be rich in our generosity on every occasion to the glory and thanksgiving of God. May we at LBC be a generous people who have hands opened wide with His good gifts.

How to pray...

As a follower of Christ, ask God to show you today how you might be generous and help reveal God to the world.
Take time to thank God for the specific ways He has been generous to you.
Ask God to show you how he wants you to use your gifts and talents at LBC to reach our community and city.
Pray today that God would enlarge your heart in your understanding of His generosity, as displayed through His Son, Christ Jesus.

For the Family

As a family look up the word "generous" and then put it into your own words.
Share a time when someone has been generous to you and how that made you feel.
Share a time when you have really understood God’s generosity to you.
What are ways that we can be generous beyond how we often view generosity to others around us (money/material versus time/words/actions, etc.)

Contributors

"Generosity" - Kim Anderson

Anchored by God’s Word, Kim Anderson is passionate about awarding worth and cultivating growth in women by helping them understand their identity in Christ. Married for 25 years to her husband Danny, they have four children. A writer and speaker at heart, Kim is grateful for the gift of words!

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Scott Crocker 8/15/16 Scott Crocker 8/15/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 15

We each have the opportunity to serve others in our community. Whether it’s picking up trash in our neighborhood, volunteering at a local school, serving with a local ministry that cares for the under resourced or joining a once/month team at LBC, we can model God’s love for others through the way we serve them. It might cost us a little time and possibly a little sweat, but the eternal difference our service can make is worth it.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”

— John Bunyan

"Serving Others"

There’s a gentlemen who lives in my neighborhood who is a well-known Christian leader. He leads a ministry of thousands and oversees a multi-million dollar budget. His influence on the lives of others is remarkable and the sheer number of people he’s had an impact upon would be difficult to count.

He has faithfully served the Lord for decades and shared the gospel throughout the world and, for this, I have great respect for him. But one of the things that I admire most is that while he goes for his daily morning walk in our neighborhood, he often picks up trash along the road and sidewalks in our community. No one has asked him to do this and he certainly isn’t getting paid to do it. In fact, as a very busy person with important responsibilities, some might argue that it’s not a good stewardship of his time to be picking up discarded fast food wrappers, half-consumed soda cans and forgotten scraps of paper that are the result of the carelessness of others.

But as one who seems to have a good understanding of why “Jesus came to serve and not be served,” I think he offers a good example for each of us. I would imagine there are a number of people in our neighborhood who recognize him as “that guy who picks up trash” and don’t know anything else about him. But I’m also guessing that his willingness to humbly serve our neighbors through this oft-unrecognized service opens doors for him to share about the One who not only served, but “gave his life as a ransom for many.”

We each have the opportunity to serve others in our community. Whether it’s picking up trash in our neighborhood, volunteering at a local school, serving with a local ministry that cares for the under resourced or joining a once/month team at LBC, we can model God’s love for others through the way we serve them. It might cost us a little time and possibly a little sweat, but the eternal difference our service can make is worth it.

How to pray...

Pray for God to develop a humble heart of service within you.
Pray for all of the faithful volunteers who serve LBC each and every week. Pray for their energy, strength and steadfastness.
Pray for gospel-inspired service to be part of the culture of our church, and for volunteer teams to be at full strength as we anticipate the excitement of the fall ministry season.
Pray that the members of LBC would be known by others in our community as people who willingly and joyfully serve others.

For the Family

There is excitement in the air as this is the time that school is starting back! Some children are about to begin their school journey and others are another year along in the process. How special it is that the same week that children are going back to school, we are seeking the Lord about serving others!

Carve out a little time to talk with your kids about ways that they can serve the Lord through serving others at school. Ideas might include opening doors, playing with a new friend at recess, helping your teacher clean up a mess in the room, looking for new students and introducing yourself. Sometimes just talking through ideas helps train our eyes and ears to be sensitive when events happen in our daily life when we can take a moment to extend grace to others!

As the busyness of the year kicks in, you may want to think ahead of creative times you could have these types of meaningful conversations and touchpoints with your kids —driving in the car, during a meal, while you are cleaning up at the end of the day, or while giving them a bath, trimming their nails or brushing their hair! Little moments of connection can be so meaningful and special!

Contributors

"Serving Others" - Scott Crocker

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/14/16 Alison Epps 8/14/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 14

The truth is that when God saves young people, it is not for them to sit around and wait until they’re ‘old enough’ to do something for the Kingdom, but that each young person has the potential to set the example in faith and devotion to those around them.

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

"Set the Example"

Young people have always been a big part of influencing the world. God’s desire is that their influence would be spiritual, that people from all ages would long after the faith of those in a younger generation.

Paul is writing to Timothy in order to encourage him to lead, teach and pastor the church Paul had begun. Perhaps Timothy felt he was out of his depth. Paul says to Timothy ‘you might be young, you may be leading many others that are older than you, but when it comes down to it, your faith in Christ, how you live that out and your capacity to influence others does not have an age requirement.’ God is actually calling all of us to set an example of faith.

‘Age is not the authority or basis for boldness in our lives, but faith and dependence on God’

He doesn’t tell Timothy to impress others with his giftings or abilities, he tells him instead to set the example to the rest of the church in how to live a life of faith. God gives us five ways in which we ought to set the example to others in the church;

the words that we speak (Proverbs 18:21)
how we live (Micah 6:8)
our heart’s capacity to love others (1 John 4:7)
a growing dependence in faith (2 Corinthians 5:7)
the pursuit of purity (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

So I want us to stop and consider whether these ways of setting an example are on display in our lives? Can people see that our lives are saturated in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it has an impact on us?

One young person I’ve known moved to a new church and got stuck into the youth ministry. He was so gripped by a heart for those who turned up to church or the youth programme and didn’t know anyone, so he went out of his way to sit by them, talk to them and spend time with them; soon others were doing the same. He set the example and reflected the love of God by caring and valuing those who were new.

The truth is that when God saves young people, it is not for them to sit around and wait until they’re ‘old enough’ to do something for the Kingdom, but that each young person has the potential to set the example in faith and devotion to those around them.

‘The measure of maturity in young people is devotion to Jesus’

There was a King of Judah who began his reign at the age of 8! He probably had jelly and ice-cream every night. But this young man had an extraordinary heart; ‘He did was right in the eyes of the Lord… and did not turn aside to the right or left’ (2 Kings 22:1-2). Honouring God has never been about age, but it has everything to do with obedience and surrender to the One who gave everything for us. This King’s influence and heart turned a nation back to faith in God. And it makes me wonder what our young people at LBC are capable of when they give themselves fully in faith to God.

‘Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap and be faithful, even unto death? Where are those who will lose their lives for Christ’s sake, flinging them away for love of Him? Where are those who will live dangerously and be reckless in His service?’

How to pray...

Pray for Mark and Aimee McKinney as they prepare to transition from life and ministry in Liverpool to life and ministry with the LBC youth group.
Pray for the process of obtaining an R-1 visa for Mark. Pray that God would show us favor by granting Mark’s visa and granting it quickly!
Pray for our youth as they continue to meet every Sunday night. Pray that their hearts would continue to be shaped by the Gospel.
Thank God for Scott and Lindsay Buono, who are ministering to our youth in the interim. Pray that they would speak truth and love to the hearts of our youth.

For the Family

Do you have special people in your life that are in college or high school? Maybe a babysitter, a helper in SPLASH, a friend or neighbor? Write them a note or draw them a picture to encourage them and let them know how much they mean to you! Spend time praying for them.

Contributors

"Set the Example" - Mark McKinney

Mark McKinney has recently accepted the youth director position for Lake Baldwin Church, after the unanimous recommendation of the search committee. He and his wife, Aimee, currently live in Liverpool, England, and hope to make the transition to Orlando by the end of 2016, pending the granting of an R-1 (religious) visa by the U.S. government. Mark is originally from Northern Ireland and has extensive experience in youth ministry. LBC is looking forward to adding Mark and Aimee to our community!

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/13/16 Alison Epps 8/13/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 13

The Kingdom is not just for grown-ups, for those who have their lives and acts together. Christianity is the most inclusive movement the world has ever seen. CEOs and custodians, lawmakers and criminals, doctors and invalids, PhD’s and people with special needs, singles and married couples, locals and internationals… and yes, little children.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Let the Little Children Come

In this passage from Matthew, Jesus teaches us all a very important lesson about the kinds of people that make up the Kingdom. In the ancient world (and in many places in our modern world) children are seen as having very little value. They cannot work, they need constant attention, and they can generally seem like a nuisance. In many cases, societies try to push children into a corner where they cannot disrupt the neat and tidy universe that adults have created for themselves.

Hmmm. This sounds familiar. We do the same thing for many other types of people. The poor, the sick, those with disabilities, and minorities are often pushed into the corners of society so that they don’t disrupt the neatness and tidiness of what we consider ideal.

Like he does so often, Jesus turns our paradigms upside down. He rebukes his disciples and tells them that the Kingdom belongs to these types of people. In fact, he finds great delight in the children because they are so full of life. NT Wright says “that’s what God’s Kingdom is like - full of new and unpredictable life. Little children, trusting and adventurous, eager, ready to be drawn into stories and dramas, are just the sort of people the kingdom is for.”

This is such good news. The Kingdom is not just for grown-ups, for those who have their lives and acts together. Christianity is the most inclusive movement the world has ever seen. CEOs and custodians, lawmakers and criminals, doctors and invalids, PhD’s and people with special needs, singles and married couples, locals and internationals… and yes, little children. There is no criteria for citizenship in the Kingdom except for that we recognize our need for Jesus and trust him.

How to pray...

Pray for Michelle Crouse as she leads our children’s ministry, SPLASH Kids. Thank God for her abiding commitment not only to provide a safe and fun environment for our children on Sundays, but to constantly look for creative ways to communicate the gospel of Jesus to kids.
Thank God for our children who are coming to faith in Christ. Rejoice with Colton, who was baptized last Sunday, and his family.
Pray for the teachers who invest in our children every week. Pray that God would use them in mighty ways to lead our children to faith in Christ.
Pray for Scott Crocker and the other volunteers who set-up and tear down to create the environment for Splash.
Ask God for a humble heart that joyfully welcomes little children (and other marginalized people) and values their contributions and presence in our church community.

For the Family

Sometimes children are the best teachers. When we see the gospel through the lens of a child, we often see things in a new and refreshing way.

Sometimes a child’s view of God is exactly what we need. Sometimes a child’s understanding of sin, grace, forgiveness or heaven will bring you into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

There are inevitably times when a teacher in SPLASH Kids goes into SPLASH prepared to share a lesson about God, and they walk out with a deeper understanding of Him because of being with children. Children are a gift to us in so many ways.

Parents, share with your child something they have taught you or you have learned from them. Let them know ways that they have shaped your spiritual journey.

"Let the Little Children Come" - Joel Pollard

Joel Pollard is the Director of Worship at LBC. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary and intends to pursue pastoral ordination in the PCA after graduation. Joel and his wife, Katie, have been married since 2011 and have two children, Sam and Evie.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/12/16 Alison Epps 8/12/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 12

In the short-term, sanctification can easily be a discouraging process. Sin’s influence in our lives is deeply ingrained and won’t easily be defeated. However, this is where the great hope of the gospel comes into play. Paul tells us in Philippians that God will be faithful to finish the good work he began in us.

THEREFORE, MY DEAR FRIENDS, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED—NOT ONLY IN MY PRESENCE, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE—CONTINUE TO WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING, FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT IN ORDER TO FULFILL HIS GOOD PURPOSE. (PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13)

"Pursuing Holiness"

In the past few centuries humans have made advances in technology that have made work easier, extended life expectancy, and increased our capacity for enjoying life. Yet one of the many detriments of this kind of progress is that it has made us more impatient, prone to expecting “instant gratification” at all times. It only takes 2 minutes to make popcorn in the microwave! It used to take months to get from Europe to America… but we can do that in 8 hours now!

So it is with sanctification. Many Christians fall into the trap of expecting a sort of “instant gratification” conversion—immediate freedom from sin once we put our trust in Jesus. This is not entirely true. We ARE free from sin’s dominion, in that it is no longer our master and we are free from the eternal consequences of our guilt. However, we are still under sin’s influence and will be so as long as we inhabit our fallen bodies.

In the short-term, sanctification can easily be a discouraging process. Sin’s influence in our lives is deeply ingrained and won’t easily be defeated. However, this is where the great hope of the gospel comes into play. Paul tells us in Philippians that God will be faithful to finish the good work he began in us. (Philippians 1:6)

What does this mean for us practically?

Sanctification is something we have to work at. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes our hearts, but we have to be active participants in the process. 1 Peter 1:16 says, “Be holy, as I am holy,” not “You are already holy…” There’s an implicit command to actively pursue holiness.

An illustration might be helpful. Imagine a blacksmith working with a piece of iron. The Holy Spirit is the fire that heats the metal (the sinful heart) and makes it pliable. The part of the Christian is to faithfully swing the hammer and do the hard work to reshape that stubborn piece of iron. By employing the power given to us by the Spirit, we are able to say no to sin and slowly, gradually kill the sin over time.

If you sometimes feel discouraged or overwhelmed in your struggle against sin, this is good news! Our Father cares for us so much that he will not leave us in this broken state. He has not only provided a way for our sins to be forgiven but a way to overcome our sinful nature altogether, to be restored to the fullness of our status as glorious bearers of his own image. One day, in the fullness of time, heaven and earth will join and we will be given new, incorruptible bodies that are no longer under the influence of sin. Hallelujah! What a great hope we have in the Gospel.

How to pray...

Pray that we all as a church would actively engage the sanctification process, as we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.”
Pray that God would show you sin that you have been unaware of and then give you the grace to defeat that sin.
Pray that God would make us all lovers of his law, delighting to obey rather than feeling like slaves to it.
Pray specifically for the next generation of leaders in our church; for elders, deacons, deaconesses, and small group leaders. Pray that God would be preparing them now through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

For the Family

Watch the video about what a blacksmith does, then talk about these questions as a family:

What is sanctification?
What parts of the blacksmith’s process can we remember to remind us of how God works in our life?

Contributors

"Pursuing Holiness" - Joel Pollard

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/11/16 Alison Epps 8/11/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 11

A disciple is simply a follower of Jesus. The word does not refer to an elite group of Christians who have achieved a special status, and it’s not about being perfect. Otherwise, there would be no need for spiritual growth toward maturity.

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31)

"The Truth Will Set You Free"

Perhaps you remember when you first heard the good news of God’s grace and accepted it. That’s when you began the journey of following Jesus. Since that time you have grown in grace. It may have been through a Bible study or church or a friend, but you learned more about the Scriptures and felt the tug of the Spirit on your heart to keep following Jesus. It may have been big steps or baby steps or stumbling, but you’ve been a disciple—a follower of Jesus—and you’ve had some friends or mentors to help you along the way.

The words of Jesus in John 8:31 nudge us to stay on the path of learning his word, in order to follow him. That’s the way we know the truth. That’s the way we’re set free. Let the grace of Christ, revealed in Scripture, continue to set you free. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

All of this is “good news for the found.” The church exists to help people follow Jesus. This is how we fulfill the the mission that Jesus gave, to “go and make disciples… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

How to pray...

Ask God to give us all a love for the Scriptures, and an appetite for spiritual growth.
Our community groups will begin new studies this fall. Pray that God would use these studies to help people mature in Christ and follow him in practical ways.
From time to time the church offers “learning cohorts” that provide opportunities for groups of people to focus on a topic such as marriage, finances, theology, or leadership. Pray for the expansion of these cohorts and for solid learning to result.
Be praying for the Sunday morning class, coming in October, which will be studying the Sermon on the Mount.
Pray that our growth in knowledge would always translate into love for God and for one another.

For the Family

As a family we live together and do life together, but sometime we don’t take the time or remember to share important milestones in our lives from years past. Kids love stories and sometimes my kids will ask me to tell them a story “from the old days” when I was a child! As a family, take some time to look back and share about your journey with your children.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

What did you understand about God as a child?
If you are a believer, share when God softened your heart to him.
Share someone or something that has helped you grow in your faith over the years.
Share some of your favorite bible verses and why they are so meaningful to you. Perhaps you can even choose a verse to memorize together as a family.

CONTRIBUTORS

"The Truth Will Set You Free" - Mike Tilley

Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Mike Tilley 8/10/16 Mike Tilley 8/10/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 10

The real reason we can’t achieve the “greater” righteousness alone is that it must be pursued in a community, with others. It is impossible to obey the Sermon on the Mount by ourselves!

“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

"The Necessity of Community"

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) This would have seemed impossible to Jesus’ hearers. The scribes and Pharisees were the most devout people anyone knew.

In saying this, is Jesus simply setting the bar so high that we will realize there is no way we achieve this righteousness on our own? Yes and no. It is true that we cannot merit God’s favor apart from God’s grace, but that’s not Jesus’s point. If Jesus was only “teasing” us (as Homer Simpson would say) with an unachievably high standard, we would have to look at all the instructions in the Sermon on the Mount and dismiss them all as unachievable.

Read through Matthew 5-7. The Sermon on the Mount is packed with incredibly practical teaching that resonates with ancient and modern readers alike. Do you think Jesus’s instructions are really only for a few super-spiritual people? No, that can’t be the answer.

The real reason we can’t achieve the “greater” righteousness alone is that it must be pursued in a community, with others. It is impossible to obey the Sermon on the Mount by ourselves!

The Pharisees didn’t get this, so they tithed scrupulously while not supporting their own destitute parents (Mark 7:9-13; see also Matthew 23:23-24). They didn’t understand that the greater purpose of the Law was to love God and neighbor.

What might this pitfall look like in a modern context? One of the greatest plagues on Western culture over the past several centuries is hyper-individualism. Perhaps you are tempted think that way to some degree – that the church is there for you when your tank needs topping off, but your Christian life is principally a private and individual thing. If that’s the case, then you may have rewritten the Lord’s Prayer – “give me this day my daily bread, and forgive me my debts as I have forgiven my debts to myself…”

God created us for community and through Jesus Christ redeems us into a community – the bride of Christ which Jesus loved and gave himself up for. (Ephesians 5:25-27) To love the Bridegroom (Jesus) is to love the Bride (The Church). To love the church, to participate fully in its life as God’s gift of a community to you, is to be the wise builder who builds upon the rock by listening to the words of Jesus. (Matthew 7:24)

How to pray...

Pray for our Assistant Pastor, Joe White, as he provides leadership and vision for our small groups and their leaders.
Pray for our small groups, that they would be a hospitable environment for community and spiritual growth.
Pray for the small group leaders' huddle on September 10, and pray for all of our small group leaders.
Pray that our church would be counter-cultural in our pursuit of loving community—that we would resist the temptation to fall into individualism.
Pray for the many new families and individuals who are and will be attending LBC this fall. Pray that they might find LBC to be a community full of grace and truth. Pray for our next membership class, that we would see our church continue to grow.

For the Family

What does it mean that the church is the bride of Christ?
A church is more than a building. Talk about what it means to be part of a church as a Christian.
Next time you go to the beach, build two castles: one made with sand and one with rocks. Pour a bucket of water over both castles. What happens? What does it mean to be a wise builder who builds on the rock?

Activity: Click HERE to print a church maze.

Contributors

"The Necessity of Community" - Mike Glodo

Rev. Michael J. Glodo teaches Old and New Testament courses as well as courses in practical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Oviedo, FL. The diversity of the courses Professor Glodo teaches reflects his diverse research and ministry interests. He is passionate about Old and New Testament studies and ministry philosophy, particularly regarding worship and liturgy. In addition to serving six years as the Stated Clerk for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, he also served in pastoral roles at churches in the St. Louis region. He and his wife, Vicki, have a daughter, Rachel, and son, Samuel.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/9/16 Alison Epps 8/9/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 9

We live in the light of that gospel day, after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! How do we worship in spirit and truth?

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:21-24)

“Worship is our response to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father.”

— Richard Foster

"Worship in Spirit and Truth"

The Samaritan woman in John 4 was curious about a dispute between Jews and Samaritans about where God was to be worshiped. The Samaritans thought Mt. Gerizim, the Jews thought Jerusalem, where the temple was. But that dispute no longer mattered. Jesus told her that a new day was dawning, when worship would not be about the location or building, but about spirit and truth. As Paul said later in Athens, “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man.” (Acts 17:24)

We live in the light of that gospel day, after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! How do we worship in spirit and truth?

As promised in Joel 2:28-29, the Holy Spirit has been poured out. All who have been born of the Spirit (John 3:6) have new life in Christ, and can worship God who is spirit. When we gather for worship, we rely on the Spirit to sing with sincere hearts, to be shaped by the word of Christ preached, and to commune with Christ in the Lord’s Supper.

To worship in truth means to worship God as he has revealed himself to be. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “You worship what you do not know.” This is because, as Don Carson says, the Samaritans were “outside the stream of God’s revelation.” So the more we know of God through Jesus and through His Word, the more we will delight in God. C.S. Lewis seemed to experience this when he said, “The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance.”

Let us savor our worship gatherings, knowing that Christ dwells by his Spirit in the new temple of God, the people of God gathered in worship.

How to pray...

Pray for our worship gatherings this coming year, that the Holy Spirit would reveal Christ in all his beauty through songs, readings, confession, the preached Word, and the sacraments.
Pray for the human participants in our worship gatherings: Joel Pollard as he plans and directs our worship; the worship band and A/V team; the vocal ensemble, and those entrusted with the stewardship of preaching God’s Word.
Pray for the LBC congregation, that we would come with prepared hearts, to worship God in spirit and truth. Pray that as we sing and engage our hearts, that we would be a part of that great worship ensemble, with the angels in heaven.

For the Family

Some things to discuss together:

What does it mean to worship?
Brainstorm ways to worship God.
Share your favorite worship song (maybe from church, High Tide, radio or a CD) and why it is meaningful.

Family Band Activity:

Go on a scavenger hunt around your house to find unique items that you can use to make sounds (e.g. a cereal box and a spatula to make a drum or a paper towel roll, tape and beans to make a shaker).
Put on a favorite worship song and then have each person use their homemade instrument to play along in the band!

CONTRIBUTORS

"Worship in Spirit and Truth" - Mike Tilley

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/8/16 Alison Epps 8/8/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 8

We want the church to be beautiful, but it’s actually broken. We want the church to be full of saints, but it’s full of sinners. We want the church to be the image of a radiant bride, but really we’re just a band of misfits.

But Jesus loves the church like a good husband loves his wife, both at her best and her worst. That is good news.

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household... (Ephesians 2:19-21)

"The Church"

Family reunions are events that we hope will be memorable for all the good reasons, but quite often they end up being memorable for reasons that were less than ideal. Very likely, each of us has a story from a family gathering that will either make you laugh, cry, or cringe.

In Ephesians, Paul likens the body of Christ to that of a big, extended family. We are all members of his household, even though we are all very different, coming from different backgrounds. Imagine what the family reunions must look like with so many different people represented!

The body of Christ, the church, is at times like a big, extended family that’s full of messy, dysfunctional people. We are incomplete works-in-progress living together in the reality of a broken world, longing for the ideal. We have the assurance that someday Jesus will return and make all things new.

Many of us are guilty of being dissatisfied with the church because it isn’t ideal. We want the church to be beautiful, but it’s actually broken. We want the church to be full of saints, but it’s full of sinners. We want the church to be the image of a radiant bride, but really we’re just a band of misfits.

But Jesus loves the church like a good husband loves his wife, both at her best and her worst. That is good news. And there’s even more good news.

Jesus invites us into a story that is bigger than ourselves and into an infectious community of prayer, truth, love, justice, and mission, as outlined in Acts 2:42-47. The core values of Lake Baldwin Church reflect the type of community described in Acts 2, where we seek to cultivate a loving community, embracing a gospel culture that promotes spiritual growth. As we grow, we begin to live out our faith in creative ways, turning outward to share the good news with those around us.

How to pray…

Pray for the unity of the body of Lake Baldwin Church.
Pray for the elders of Lake Baldwin Church, as they know the flock, feed the flock, lead the flock, and guard the flock. Pray for the Shepherding Group Dinners on September 17th.
Pray for the elders and their families, and for wisdom as they give oversight to the church.
Pray for the work of the staff of Lake Baldwin Church, as they work to bring the vision of the church to reality on a weekly basis.
Pray for our volunteer teams and their leaders. Thank God for the faithful service of so many LBC members.

For the Family

Today we read and learn about the value and blessing of being part of a family. Families are not perfect but they are unique, special and valuable. Our church is like an extended family… it is a group of people who care for each other and desire to worship and serve the Lord together.

The core values of our church are:

Gospel Culture
Outward Face
Loving Community
Creative Faith
Spiritual Growth

To read and understand more about our core values, click HERE.

Talk as a family about ways you are already involved, or new ways you could become involved in the LBC family.
Brainstorm together about your family’s core values.

"The Church" - Joel Pollard

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/7/16 Alison Epps 8/7/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 7

We see in this passage that when we are rooted and grounded in a lifestyle of steadfast prayer, it is God who provides opportunities for evangelism and grants us wisdom as we interact with our friends and neighbors.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ... Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Col 4:2-5)

"... that God May Open a Door"

Today we wrap up the first week of the August Prayer Initiative, focusing on how the gospel of Jesus is “good news for the lost.” Perhaps this week you have gained fresh perspective and a renewed enthusiasm to share the gospel with those who don’t know Jesus.

According to this passage, a prayerful believer (vs 2) can be described by three words: steadfast, watchful, and thankful.

What prevents you from being steadfast in prayer? Perhaps you’re hesitant to come to God when you feel guilty, burdened by sin. Or maybe you sometimes forget to pray until times are hard and you feel more deeply your need for God’s provision. In the same way that a gentle father is delighted to listen to his little child, our loving heavenly Father rejoices when his children come before him in prayer regularly and confidently.

The word “watchful” may be a little harder to unpack at first glance. First, “watchfulness” means being aware of the times, paying attention to current events and then bringing everything to God. It also implies a posture of readiness to respond with grace and truth when challenges arise. Prayer tunes our hearts to the heart of God and helps us rest in the Creator’s sovereignty over the world and all that is in it.

Thirdly, the prayerful believer is filled with thanksgiving. It is sometimes easy to focus our entire prayer life in confessing our sins or asking God to provide for us. Those are appropriate things to pray about, but let us never for a moment forget what a privilege it is to speak directly to the almighty God, a costly privilege that Jesus secured for us with his own life. Our prayers should be infused with gratitude and awe from beginning to end.

May we always be people who are steadfast, watchful, and thankful in prayer. Then we can rest in the assurance that it is God who “opens the doors” to relationships, evangelism, and ultimately to the hearts of the lost

How to pray…

Pray that the people of LBC would be devoted and steadfast in their commitment to prayer.
Pray that this month of daily prayer would help each of us strengthen good prayer habits.
Pray that we would see God at work in our own hearts; granting us wisdom, making us gracious, and filling us with thanksgiving as we align our hearts to his.
Pray that God would “open the doors” to opportunities for proclaiming the good news to the lost.

For the Family

Today we read in Colossians 4:2-5 that Paul asked for prayer that God would open the door for His word to enter. Only God can open people’s hearts and situations to be softened to Christ.

As a reminder of this, print off The Lord’s Prayer Door Hanger Template. (Download it HERE.) Your child can cut it out and decorate it to make it unique. On the back of the door hanger, write prayer requests for people or situations where you desire for God to open a door.

"... that God May Open a Door" - Katie Pollard

Katie is the administrator and communications director for LBC. Katie and her husband, Joel, moved to Orlando from Nashville, TN in 2014, when Joel became the Director of Worship at LBC. They both grew up in Carrollton, GA and have been leading worship together since their youth group days. They were married in 2011 and have two children, Sam and Evie.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/6/16 Alison Epps 8/6/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 6

This is the nature of the Christian life: Trust, obey, follow Jesus.

THEN JESUS SAID TO SIMON, “DON’T BE AFRAID; FROM NOW ON YOU WILL FISH FOR PEOPLE.” SO THEY PULLED THEIR BOATS UP ON SHORE, LEFT EVERYTHING AND FOLLOWED HIM. (LUKE 5:10-11)

Read the full account in the Gospel of Luke HERE

Trust and Obey

When this story begins, Jesus is teaching on the shore of a lake. The large crowd is threatening to overwhelm him, so he asks some nearby fishermen to put one of their boats a little out from shore, and he sits and teaches from the boat.

When he finishes teaching, he tells Simon (also called Peter) and the others to let down their nets for a catch. It seems like a foolish suggestion to the experienced fishermen—they had been fishing all night with no success, and it was not an ideal time of day. But in an act of simple obedience, they do as he says and catch so many fish they have to call a second boat for help!

Peter falls to his knees in awe and fear—an appropriate response when God plainly reveals his power—but Christ responds with a statement full of grace and hope: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

The comment may sound a little strange to modern readers, but the command was clear enough to Peter and the other men. In another remarkable act of faith and obedience, they immediately pull their boats onto shore and leave everything behind to follow Jesus.

This is the nature of the Christian life: Trust, obey, follow Jesus.

Now, not everyone is called to leave their vocations and enter into full-time ministry like the Apostles. Whether you’re a missionary, a banker, a student, or a stay-at-home parent, each of us has the opportunity to shine as a light in the world (Matthew 5:14). As we pray “Your kingdom come,” we also resolve to be outposts of that holy kingdom until Christ returns.

What is Jesus calling you to leave behind? Maybe a part of your lifestyle has become the source of your security. Or perhaps you’re still clinging to your good works and self-righteousness. Maybe you need to leave your comfort-zone in order to share the gospel or simply invite a neighbor to church.

Obedience often comes at a cost, but the reward is greater than the sacrifice. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

How to pray…

Pray that we will be obedient as God calls us to follow him, and that he would give each of us boldness to share the good news with those who don’t know Jesus.
Pray for those in the LBC community who work in full-time ministry, particularly our pastors, Mike Tilley and Joe White.
Pray for those in the LBC community who serve God in non-ministry roles; that we would be “outposts of God’s kingdom” in our various vocations.
Play for church planters in Central Florida and beyond. Pray for Christ United Fellowship (planted out of LBC) and the Florida Church Planting Network (a resource for PCA church plants)

For the Family

Today we learn about sharing Jesus with others. We learn in Luke about becoming fishers of men. As a reminder to pray for others and reach out to them, make your own fishing pole for prayer:

Download the printable template HERE.

Go for a walk as a family and find a stick; as you are walking share together the names of people that you would like to pray for who don’t know Jesus.
Tie string or yarn to one end of the stick.
Print out the fish images and cut them out. Then write the names of the people that you want to pray for on each fish.
Hole punch the mouth area of the fish and tie the other end of the string to it
Enjoy your fishing pole as a prayer reminder!

CONTRIBUTORS

"Trust and Obey" - Katie Pollard

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/5/16 Alison Epps 8/5/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 5

If you are struggling with doubt, plagued by fear that you aren’t strong enough to really trust God, take courage. You need only pray, “I believe; help my unbelief!” We can confess the weakness of our faith, comforted by our confidence that “God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Read the full account in the Gospel of Mark HERE

“The sole bridge between frail humanity and the all-sufficiency of God is faith.”
—J.R. Edwards

"Help My Unbelief"

In Mark 9:14-29 we read the story of a father who brings his son to Jesus for healing. The boy is possessed by an evil spirit that causes terrible episodes—akin to grand mal seizures. The disciples have tried to heal him without success, so they bring him before Christ.

We can hear the desperation in the father’s voice as he appeals to the mercy of Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus responds in surprise,

“‘If you can!’ All things are possible for one who believes.”

“I believe; help my unbelief!”

Suddenly it is clear that the father is aware of his own weakness. There is nothing he can do to heal his son, and he can barely even muster the faith that Jesus requires. And this is precisely when Christ chooses to reveal His power.

Jesus was not waiting for the father’s faith to fulfil certain criteria; He was waiting for him to surrender his frailty to God’s ultimate steadfastness. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13). Even our best efforts to believe in Jesus must be stirred and sustained by the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

How to pray...

Pray about areas where you tend to doubt, or that God will reveal your weaknesses so that he might heal them.
Pray that LBC would be a safe, supportive place for people to wrestle with doubt and tough questions about faith; that unbelievers in our church can belong before they believe.
Pray for our small groups, many of which include not-yet-believers. Pray for wisdom for the leaders, grace for group members, and for faith in the hearts of those who do not know Christ.

For the Family

Share together as a family any questions that you have about your faith. Are there things that you have heard that you don’t understand? Is there something about God or something in the Bible that doesn’t make sense? Is there something that you have a hard time believing?

It is ok to have questions and doubts. If there is something that you can’t answer as a family and you would like further insight in, reach out to a friend, pastor, elder, small group leader or staff member to come alongside you, pray for you and give you guidance.

As you pray today, thank the Lord for a church family that cares about learning about Jesus together. Pray for Pastor Mike, Pastor Joe and your SPLASH teachers as they teach and lead.

Contributors

"Help My Unbelief" - Katie Pollard

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Mike Tilley 8/4/16 Mike Tilley 8/4/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 4

Her physical thirst was obvious, but Jesus saw her spiritual thirst. At just the right time, he offered her the water of eternal life, the water that would satisfy her thirst soul. He had to pass through Samaria.

And he had to pass through Samaria. (John 4:4)

Read the full story in the Gospel of John HERE.

"Samaria"

John 4 tells the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. She was a Samaritan, a group with whom the religious Jews had hatred and enmity. Jesus broke the mold. He had to pass through Samaria.

Her shame was evidenced by her going to the well at midday, when it was too hot for others. Jesus began the conversation, but he knew her story. She had had five husbands, and the man she was living with was not her husband. He had to pass through Samaria.

Don’t believe the lie that people in Orlando are not thirsty for God. Pray for them. Get to know them. Learn their story. Break the mold and meet people who are not like us. He had to pass through Samaria.

How to pray…

For faith to go out of our way to meet people who are not part of our sub-culture. It might be the Muslim family in your neighborhood; someone from the LGBT community; a person with a different ethnic background; that family that does not put up Christmas lights; or someone voting differently than you in the upcoming election.
For love for our neighbors, to get to know them as people made in the image of God; for a heart to hear their stories.
For spiritual thirst in the hearts of those who might be far from God, who might feel outcast, who might be living in shame.

For the family:

What is your favorite drink when you are super thirsty? Coke, Gatorade, juice, or just ice cold water? When we are parched, we often crave one thing to satisfy that thirst. When our tongue and body are dehydrated, nothing else fixes it… food, candy, gum… they might help, but they don’t quench our thirst like a refreshing drink.

In John 4, we read how the woman at the well was thirsty with more than just physical thirst, but spiritual thirst. She needed a Savior. We learned yesterday about sin (the dirty water in our life!) and we all crave an answer to this problem. The only answer is Jesus and his death on the cross. Like the woman at the well, we all need a Savior.

Can you think of neighbors, friends or people in your life who need Jesus?
Pray today that they would be thirsty for Jesus and for opportunities to share Jesus with them.

Activity: Take a family trip to the store and pick up your favorite thirst-quenching drink! Carry it with you through the day as a reminder that Jesus is the only one who quenches our thirst and to think of others who need Jesus too!

Contributors

"The First Three Petitions" - Mike Tilley

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/3/16 Alison Epps 8/3/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 3

Jesus' compassion made him a “friend of sinners.” Let’s remember that we are the unworthy “tax collectors and sinners” in this account. The miracle of grace is that Jesus is the Great Physician who heals all who come to him in faith and repentance.

“... It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)

Read the full account in the gospel of Luke HERE.

The Great Physician

In Luke 5 we see a famous encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees. Christ and his disciples attend a dinner party hosted by Levi (also called Matthew) who has just left everything he owns to follow Christ.

The tax collectors at the dinner party were despised members of society because of their dishonest practices, and the other “sinners” mentioned were likely involved in all sorts of improper and immoral practices. This was certainly a rough crowd, and the Pharisees were predictably offended by Christ’s association with such people. But Jesus, full of grace and truth, responds to their grumbling by reminding them that “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”

The Pharisees believed that their commitment to the ceremonial law made them righteous and that they had no need of a Savior. The gospel teaches us that “there is no one righteous, no not one” (Psalm 14, Romans 3) and that “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8).

The Pharisees were stunned that Jesus would even associate with “sinners” because they believed this would make him unclean. But his compassion made Jesus a “friend of sinners.” Let’s remember that we are the unworthy “tax collectors and sinners” in this account. The miracle of grace is that Jesus is the Great Physician who heals all who come to him in faith and repentance.

How to Pray

That we, like Jesus, would look for opportunities to be friends with those who are far from God.
That we would remember our own need for a Savior and heed Christ’s call to repentance.
That we would come to the Lord’s Supper this Sunday with reverent, repentant hearts, meditating on the great miracle of God’s grace to us.
Pray for the launching of one or more Christianity Explored groups. This class, designed to help those exploring the faith, is a place where hospitality and good food provide a bridge for the gospel.
Pray that God would open the hearts of non-churched people living in Baldwin Park. Pray especially for all the new residents moving in to Baldwin Harbor apartments.

For the Family

As we think about sin we sometimes find ourselves comparing ourselves to others and their sin or shortcomings just as the Pharisees looked down on others for their lack of righteousness.

As we grow to understand the gospel, we find that there is not a distinction between "big" or "small" sins. There are different consequences for our actions, but sin is sin. Christ died for all sins. We are not better if we only commit "small" sins or if we sin less often in a day. Here is an activity to help us grasp this.

Contributors

"The Great Physician" - Katie Pollard

Katie is the administrator and communications director for LBC. Katie and her husband, Joel, moved to Orlando from Nashville, TN in 2014, when Joel became the Director of Worship at LBC. They both grew up in Carrollton, GA and have been leading worship together since their youth group days. They were married in 2011 and have two children, Sam and Evie.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/2/16 Alison Epps 8/2/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 2

This is the good news; that the gospel comes first to the poor in spirit, the mourners, and the meek. If you’ve been living in shame, afraid that you aren’t worthy to receive God’s love, this good news is for you.

There were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and . . . said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11)

Read the full account from the Gospel of Luke HERE.

"For All the People"

I don’t know about you, but I love reading about Great Britain’s royal family. Do you remember the hullabaloo when Prince George was born? Even in the U.S. every media outlet was divulging details about the delivery, chattering about the Duchess’s dress at the first photo op, or boasting “exclusive” first photos of the royal baby.

The good news of the gospel also starts with the birth of a royal baby, but this story begins, not with press releases and worldwide attention, but in the quiet of a dirty stable in rural Bethlehem.

Of course, the event did not go entirely unannounced; God sent an entire heavenly host to proclaim the incredible news. To whom did he send the glorious, angelic chorus? Perhaps to the religious leaders or to especially devout Jews? Perhaps to great kings or prestigious socialites? No. The good news came first to sleepy shepherds on a dark hillside.

Shepherds were social outcasts, barely more dignified than the dirty, dumb animals they cared for. This is the good news; that the gospel comes first to the poor in spirit, the mourners, and the meek (see Matthew 5). If you’ve been living in shame, afraid that you aren’t worthy to receive God’s love, this good news is for you.

This story is also a reminder that as we follow Christ we are called to offer dignity and respect to outcasts, extending God’s love to others. The Savior came into this world because apart from him we are all unclean, desperate, and lost. The love of God, embodied in his son, radically redeems broken people. As you pray today, ask God to remind you of your own need for the Savior, Jesus Christ, and to give you compassion for the lost.

How to pray...

Pray that we would believe the good news that Jesus came to save sinners.
Pray for disenfranchised and victimized people in our community, our country, and the world: the poor, the oppressed, refugees, victims of abuse and trafficking, and those who have been affected by violence and terrorism.
Pray for upcoming LBC outreach events: the Food Truck event, Kidtoberfest and the Winter Spark Christmas Parade in Baldwin Park.
Pray for all of our Advent services, including Christmas Eve. Many people who usually do not attend church are receptive to the gospel during the Christmas season.

For the Family

Today we read and learn about God announcing the birth of his son to the shepherds. The shepherds were not the popular crowd but God is not impressed by a person’s position. In fact, God often uses “shepherds” to do great things for him.

Can you think of anyone that may be like the shepherds… maybe a homeless person you pass on the street or maybe a schoolmate who is not popular and has been treated unkindly by others?

As you pray today, pray for those you know who need to know that Jesus loves them even when others might be telling them they aren’t good enough, smart enough, athletic enough or cool enough to be loved. Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough? We need to be reminded every day that God loves us and created us uniquely.

Pray that the events that our church does in the community will be a way for people who need to hear about God’s love to get connected with the unconditional love of God. Pray also that we would be willing to reach out to people around us that need God’s love just like we do!

CLICK HERE for a printable craft page!

CRAFT: As a reminder of God’s love for all people, print out the sheep coloring page. Give your child glue, cotton balls and crayons to decorate the sheep. Just as God cared about the lowly shepherds, and shepherds care for each and every one of their sheep, God cares for his people!

CONTRIBUTORS

"For All the People" - Katie Pollard

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

"Justice and Restoration"

How to pray...

For the Family

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… (Colossians 4:2-3)

"Local Campus Ministries"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

The refugees are in such a place of desperation and vulnerability that the hope and love of Jesus is the only truth that can impact their current situation in a positive way.

— Hannah Rader

"Praying for our Leaders"

How to Pray...

For the Family

Contributors

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

"Faith and Work"

How to pray...

For the Family

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)

"Generosity"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

"Serving Others"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

"Set the Example"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Let the Little Children Come

How to pray...

For the Family

THEREFORE, MY DEAR FRIENDS, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED—NOT ONLY IN MY PRESENCE, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE—CONTINUE TO WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING, FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT IN ORDER TO FULFILL HIS GOOD PURPOSE. (PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13)

"Pursuing Holiness"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31)

"The Truth Will Set You Free"

How to pray...

For the Family

CONTRIBUTORS

“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

"The Necessity of Community"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

"Worship in Spirit and Truth"

How to pray...

For the Family

CONTRIBUTORS

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household... (Ephesians 2:19-21)

"The Church"

How to pray…

For the Family

Gospel CultureOutward FaceLoving CommunityCreative FaithSpiritual Growth

"... that God May Open a Door"

How to pray…

For the Family

THEN JESUS SAID TO SIMON, “DON’T BE AFRAID; FROM NOW ON YOU WILL FISH FOR PEOPLE.” SO THEY PULLED THEIR BOATS UP ON SHORE, LEFT EVERYTHING AND FOLLOWED HIM. (LUKE 5:10-11)

Trust and Obey

How to pray…

For the Family

CONTRIBUTORS

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

"Help My Unbelief"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

And he had to pass through Samaria. (John 4:4)

"Samaria"

How to pray…

For the family:

Gospel Culture
Outward Face
Loving Community
Creative Faith
Spiritual Growth