Church Planter Update: Stephen Wagoner - 1.21 Greensboro

Brothers and Sisters,

First, thank you for your constant love and support for my family and this church plant.  I thank God every time I think of you.  You are being used by God to make disciples and see the kingdom of God expand in the Triad.  I will keep this update short.  I just wanted to give you an update on what you are helping make possible.

Personally, I am having a blast with church planting.  After the first plant, I swore that I would never do this again. Now I am finding that this is a very life giving calling that God has graciously placed on my life.  As God builds his church, I am enjoying finding my role that he has for me in this huge restoration project.

Every church plant works through a planting season and our body is experiencing the same thing.  We are coming out of the first season of establishing the core/charter community and are working into multiplying that missional community.  A couple weeks ago most of our church was able to go on a mini retreat where we planned and prayed for the upcoming year.  It was there that we decided to move from one unified core team into three local missional communities. We are in a sowing and watering season and making the preparations for growth.  From now until September, we will continue to develop and equip these groups for enjoying God and making disciples in these three neighborhoods.

We would appreciate your churches prayers around these topics for the coming months:

1.  Favor in three neighborhoods: Hartwood Village,  Laurel Park,  Guilford Hills.
2.  For my house to sell.  We are hoping to move closer to where our church lives so that we can be on mission with them on a daily rhythm.
3.  For the unemployed on our core team to become employed.
4.  Pray that God would open the eyes of the not-yet-believers in these neighborhoods and they would begin to follow Jesus.

Fighting Sin & Fighting Accusation

As we strive to fight our sin, we may often deal with accusations from our enemy (Rev. 12:10), especially after failure.  He may say things like, “Look at yourself, look at your heart. How can God love you, how can he have forgiven you?”  In those moments, we must remember the cross of Christ.  Martin Luther often referred to visits from the Devil, whispering all kinds of accusations in his ear.  Here is his response.

“Martin, you are a liar, greedy, lustful, a blasphemer, a hypocrite.  You cannot stand before God.”   To which Luther would respond: “Well, yes, I am.  And, indeed, Satan, you do not know the half of it.  I have done much worse than that and if you care to give me your full list, I can no doubt add to it and help make it more complete.  But you know what?  My Saviour has died for all my sins - those you mention, those I could add and, indeed, those I have committed but am so wicked that I am unaware of having done so.  It does not change the fact that Christ has died for all of them; his blood is sufficient; and on the Day of Judgment I shall be exonerated because he has taken all my sins on himself and clothed me in his own perfect righteousness.”

Let this be your understanding of the free gift of the grace of God, and let it sink deeply into your heart so that when you fall, you don’t run from him, but you run to him quickly in repentance because you realize you are already accepted and forgiven in Christ.  

Slaying Porn Through Christ: A Testimony of Hope

Sunday at Missio Dei Church, Jesus confronted us from Mark 9:38-50 about taking our sin seriously.  You can listen to the sermon here.  The following article is a testimony of one man’s journey to put sin to death through the power of the gospel.  It originally appeared on the Gospel Coalition website.  

When a dear friend asked me to write an article about my journey to sustained victory over pornography, I must admit I didn’t want to do it. Excuses filled my head. What will people think about me? What would I say about such a complicated issue? But at the forefront of my mind was simply this thought: Am I even victorious enough to write such an article? My so-called victory, after all, has been sloppy. Desires didn’t magically disappear. The temptation to succumb has, at times, felt inordinate. But I can honestly look back and bear witness that God’s grace is training me to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:11-12).

When I think about my journey, the path has been marked by months of prayer, meditation, conversations with God and others, and some despair along the way. If you’re currently struggling between the desire to please God or to please self, take it from someone who has been in your shoes: God is faithful to forgive and to give grace to help you. As I look back, here are two threads of thinking that run through the entire process.

Remember the Gospel

The first thread comes at the risk of sounding cliché, but I couldn’t be more serious: remember the breadth and magnitude of the gospel.For years my struggle with pornography was merely an annoying habit I wanted to fix, like biting my nails or saying “um” when speaking. But it kept me from being an effective leader in the church, and it kept me from being normal. I needed a fresh vision of what I was actually doing: I was grieving the Holy Spirit and participating in the very things that stored up wrath against me before I was in Christ (Eph. 4:30; Rom. 2:5). When the Lord brought a season of gospel renewal to my life, I came to understand that my sin was far more serious than I knew.

Thankfully, when the Lord brings gospel renewal he doesn’t just show us how bad we are—he shows us how incredible he is. His mercies, his attributes, and his gospel became to me far sweeter than I’d ever imagined. Hour by hour I reminded myself that just as Christ’s death called me to die, his resurrection called me to new life. I often stumbled and clawed my way back to these deep pools of water. When I sat down to pray, I felt like a child just learning to utter his first words. But I didn’t give up. If you’re struggling with pornography, fight to remember the life-changing truth of the gospel. Let that truth drive you moment by moment to confession and repentance. Practice it often. Don’t be like the rich young ruler who wanted an easy formula for eternal life. Be instead like the woman who wept at Jesus’ feet because she knew her sin was great but knew her Savior was better.

Remember Common Grace

The second thread of thinking flows from the first: remember the common grace gifts God has given us to fight pornography. Without the first thread, the second would be legalism; without the second, however, the first would be impractical. In order for gospel fruit to grow, I had to put myself in an environment where the fruit wouldn’t be scorched before it could blossom. That meant I had to flee temptation by cutting off access to it. I had to use computer software, accountability partners, and daily reminders that I’d disqualify myself from ministry if I persisted in this sin. Even more, I had to visualize my wife’s face each time I confessed it wasn’t going well.

Because of our necessary and helpful focus on heart idolatry, we can be afraid of putting “eye-gouging” measures into our lives to fight sin. Computer software can’t change my heart, we think. And that’s true. But we should recognize these practical safeguards as common grace gifts from God to help us in our fight against our heart’s idols. The path to sustained victory in my life is filled with earthly motivations. I didn’t want to hurt anyone by derailing my life with pornography. I urge you to think about the same things. If the look of brokenness on your wife’s face or an uncomfortable conversation with an accountability partner motivates you to resist porn, rejoice. Then, remember the gospel.

There are many helpful materials available on the subject of lust and pornography. You can read about the effects pornography has on the brain, or you can read about the “sin behind the sin” of control or ungodly pleasure. All of this information is vital to digest and understand. But let’s never forget the most important thing to consult when thinking about these issues—God’s own words:

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Rom. 6:12-14)

May the grace of God remind us of who we are and who he is in our fight against sin—and may that grace also empower to obey in moments of intense temptation. He is faithful.

Dane Hays is a biblical counseling student at Southern Seminary.  He and his wife serve in various ministries of Crossing Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

EASTER CELEBRATIONS - 9am & 11am Easter is the most important day of the year for Christians. In fact, the entirety of the Christian faith hinges on it. Easter is the day when we formally celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. We celebrate the fact that Jesus really did die for our sin, and really did rise for our salvation. We celebrate the fact that sin, death & hopelessness do not have the last word… Jesus does. This year we invite you to join Missio Dei Church on Easter Sunday, March 31st as we celebrate Jesus’ triumph over death.  We’ll have two identical worship gatherings at 9am and 11am, featuring Scripture reading, gospel preaching, and great live music.  LOCATION Our gatherings will take place at Westwood Church, located at 150 Westwood Place in West Asheville.  View Larger Map CHILDREN We are delighted to provide well-staffed, safe, secure child care for ages birth-3 years old. When you arrive, simply make your way to the registration desk & fill out a short form. When you register your child you will receive a number we can use to notify you (on the screen in the auditorium) if your child has a need. Older kids are invited to participate with you in the gathering. We’ll have kid’s packs available at each entrance to the auditorium with activities, crayons, games, & other cool stuff to help them engage during the gathering. Join us for Easter, and invite your friends!
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EASTER CELEBRATIONS - 9am & 11am

Easter is the most important day of the year for Christians. In fact, the entirety of the Christian faith hinges on it. Easter is the day when we formally celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. We celebrate the fact that Jesus really did die for our sin, and really did rise for our salvation. We celebrate the fact that sin, death & hopelessness do not have the last word… Jesus does.

This year we invite you to join Missio Dei Church on Easter Sunday, March 31st as we celebrate Jesus’ triumph over death.  We’ll have two identical worship gatherings at 9am and 11am, featuring Scripture reading, gospel preaching, and great live music. 

LOCATION

Our gatherings will take place at Westwood Church, located at 150 Westwood Place in West Asheville. 


View Larger Map

CHILDREN

We are delighted to provide well-staffed, safe, secure child care for ages birth-3 years old. When you arrive, simply make your way to the registration desk & fill out a short form. When you register your child you will receive a number we can use to notify you (on the screen in the auditorium) if your child has a need.

Older kids are invited to participate with you in the gathering. We’ll have kid’s packs available at each entrance to the auditorium with activities, crayons, games, & other cool stuff to help them engage during the gathering.

Join us for Easter, and invite your friends!

7 Signs of a Hard Heart

Sunday’s sermon covered Mark 8:1-20, in which Jesus warns his disciples of the ‘leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.’  You can listen here.  Jesus is warning the disciples not to let their hearts become hardened to him.  They have seen his miracles but not seen him.  They have listened to his teaching, but have not heard him.  They should be joyful and content to be with Jesus the Messiah, but yet they are anxious and arguing over where they are going to get their next meal… right after they had witnessed him miraculously feed 4,000+!

We are far more like the disciples than we’d like to admit, more focused on ourselves than on Jesus.  All kinds of things can cause hardness of heart, including hurts and disappointments, our own pride and sin, and most frequently, a lack of cultivation through the Word and in community.  Here are seven signs that your heart is becoming hardened:

Lack of Joy

Our emotions and outlook on life seem to be determined by our circumstances.  But even when things are good, they’re really just okay.  We don’t find much to be truly happy about, and often complain or lament our lot in life.

Seek Material Comforts

Rather than turning to God the Holy Spirit to be our comforter, we seek comfort & satisfaction in material things.  For some it is food or alcohol.  For others, it is buying something new, or escaping into TV, internet, or video games.  However, these goods only provide fleeting pseudo-satisfaction that leaves us wanting.

Often Anxious, Frustrated, or Angry

We have a continual feeling of unsettledness.   For some, that brings a lot of worry and anxiety.  For others, it makes us mad.  We find ourselves unable to sleep, we have a difficult time focusing, or we snap at people even over small, insignificant things.

Can’t Celebrate God’s Blessings to Others

Seeing God working in the lives of other people upsets us.  Why won’t He do that for me?  We cannot rejoice with those who rejoice, so we find ourselves avoiding community and keeping conversations brief and surface-level.

Litte Sense of Conviction Over Sin

We know our thoughts and/or actions are not what Jesus desires, but it doesn’t seem to matter that much to us.  We’re not bothered by our sins like we used to be.  In fact, it’s been quite some time since we were really convicted or spent time confessing our sins to the Lord.  We’ve even found ways to justify our behavior and actions so we can feel okay.

Little or No Time Spent in Scripture or Prayer

We find that we have no desire to spend time with God in His Word, or in communion with Him through prayer.  We find it difficult to be still and settled in His presence.  We may occasionally talk to God, but it’s been a while since we really listened to Him.  Even if we do read the Bible, we have trouble ‘getting anything out of it’.  So we avoid it altogether, and fill our souls with all kinds of other things.

Some of these will describe all of us from time to time.  But Jesus has come so that we might have life and have it abundantly’ (Jn. 10:10).  He invites us turn our focus from ourselves and our circumstances to the cross, where the Bread of Life was broken for us, so that we might be satisfied in Him.  Examine your heart, and pray along with the psalmist,

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” – Psalm 139:23-24

It’s Fat Tuesday Y’all

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matt. 6:17-18)

Today is Fat Tuesday, the traditional name for the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It is more popularly known as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday in French). Fat Tuesday gets its name from the custom throughout the centuries of feasting before the season of fasting begins.  

Lent is often marked by fasting from certain foods, beverages, or activities for the 40 day period. Too often, people simply enter into the Lenten fast without thinking about why. Why are we saying no to these things for the season? What is the point? Simply to deprive ourselves? To ‘pay’ for past indulgences? Some sort of religious weight loss program?

Firstly, fasting reveals our true hearts. Sometimes we find that we become depressed, anxious, embittered, even angry when we fast. This simply reveals the idolatry of our hearts; that we have placed more value on that thing, that activity, that food, than it was ever meant for. Having this revealed so that we have the opportunity to repent and put these things back into their proper place is a mercy of God. John Piper asks, ’What are we slaves to? What are our bottom-line passions? Fasting is God’s testing ground - and healing ground.’

Secondly, fasting is a declaration that Jesus is better. What we are doing when we fast is confessing that Jesus is more important to us than what we are fasting from.  When we’ve had our hearts revealed, when we’ve repented, then we’re able to reconnect with God on a deeper, more intimate level.  Again, John Piper says, “If we are full of what the world offers, then perhaps a fast might express, or even increase, our soul’s appetite for God.”  When we feel the withdrawl or the hunger pang, it is a reminder to pray and seek Him.  When we find we have extra time on our hands, it is a chance to dive into Scripture.  If Jesus truly is better, then fasting allows us to pursue Him with greater attention.  

If we decide to enter into fasting for the season of Lent, we should not simply see it as ‘giving up’ something, but as an opportunity to remove things (even good things) temporarily in order to reprioritize our lives and have our affections for Christ renewed.  Fast from the distractions of this world. Feast on the riches of your relationship with Christ.  This year’s Lent Guide features several suggestions for fasts throughout the Lenten season.  Download you Lent Guide HERE. 

Lent Guide

Lent is about the gospel; a time to narrow the focus of the Church to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to turn from our sin and trust in His atoning work.  The celebration of Lent, which can be traced back to the earliest centuries of the Christian faith, lasts approximately 40 days, excluding Sundays, between Ash Wednesday (Feb. 13th) and Easter Sunday (Mar. 31st).  To assist you in celebrating the season of Lent, we have provided a downloadable Lent guidesHERE. Use on your own, or with family, roommates or your Community Group. We hope you will celebrate this season of preparation for Resurrection Sunday with us.  

Finding Your Identity

Sunday’s sermon (1.20.13) “The Death of John the Baptist” focused heavily on identity.  Herod built his identity on power & authority, which made him fearful of losing them.  John, on the other hand, found his identity in God, making him fearless to proclaim the truth even to the most powerful man around.  If you missed it, you can listen HERE.  

As mentioned in the sermon, finding our true identity in Christ alone begins to eradicate our fears & doubts, allowing us to move forward, confident in Him.  Below is a list of Scriptures reminding us of who we really are in Christ.  You can also download a PDF copy of your own HERE.  I would encourage you to read through the list and make note of texts that hit areas of struggle for you.  Use these passages to remind yourself of the gospel, and in giving thanks to Christ for all we are in Him.

MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST…

I am faithful (Ephesians 1:1)

I am God’s child (John 1:12)

I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)

I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)

I am a member of Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:27)

I am assured all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)

I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Cor. 1:21-22)

I am confident that God will perfect the work He has begun in me (Philippians 1:6)

I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)

I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)

I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)

I am chosen before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4, 11)

I am holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4)

I am adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5)

I am given God’s glorious grace lavishly and without restriction (Ephesians 1:5,8)

I am in Him (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30)

I have redemption (Ephesians 1:8)

I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)

I have purpose (Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11)

I have hope (Ephesians 1:12)

I am included (Ephesians 1:13)

I am sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)

I am a saint (Ephesians 1:18)

I am salt and light of the earth (Matfthew 5:13-14)

I have been chosen and God desires me to bear fruit (John 15:1,5)

I am a personal witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)

I am God’s coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1)

I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)

I am raised up with Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)

I have been shown the incomparable riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:7)

God has expressed His kindness to me (Ephesians 2:7)

I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

I have been brought near to God through Christ’s blood (Ephesians 2:13)

I have peace (Ephesians 2:14)

I have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18)

I am a member of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19)

I am secure (Ephesians 2:20)

I am a holy temple (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19)

I am a dwelling for the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22)

I share in the promise of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6)

God’s power works through me (Ephesians 3:7)

I can approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)

I know there is a purpose for my sufferings (Ephesians 3:13)

I can grasp how wide, long, high and deep Christ’s love is (Ephesians 3:18)

I am completed by God (Ephesians 3:19)

I can bring glory to God (Ephesians 3:21)

I have been called (Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:9)

I can be humble, gentle, patient and lovingly tolerant of others (Ephesians 4:2)

I can mature spiritually (Ephesians 4:15)

I can be certain of God’s truths and the lifestyle which He has called me to (Ephesians 4:17)

I can have a new attitude and a new lifestyle (Ephesians 4:21-32)

I can be kind and compassionate to others (Ephesians 4:32)

I can forgive others (Ephesians 4:32)

I am a light to others, and can exhibit goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:8-9)

I can understand what God’s will is (Ephesians 5:17)

I can give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20)

I don’t have to always have my own agenda (Ephesians 5:21)

I can honor God through marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)

I can parent my children with composure (Ephesians 6:4)

I can be strong (Ephesians 6:10)

I have God’s power (Ephesians 6:10)

I can stand firm in the day of evil (Ephesians 6:13)

I am dead to sin (Romans 1:12)

I am not alone (Hebrews 13:5)

I am growing (Colossians 2:7)

I am His disciple (John 13:15)

I am prayed for by Jesus Christ (John 17:20-23)

I am united with other believers (John 17:20-23)

I am not in want (Philippians 4:19)

I possess the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16)

I am promised eternal life (John 6:47)

I am promised a full life (John 10:10)

I am victorious (I John 5:4)

My heart and mind is protected with God’s peace (Philippians 4:7)

I am chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12)

I am blameless (I Corinthians 1:8)

I am set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32)

I am crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)

I am a light in the world (Matthew 5:14)

I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)

I am the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I am safe (I John 5:18)

I am part of God’s kingdom (Revelation 1:6)

I am healed from sin (I Peter 2:24)

I am no longer condemned (Romans 8:1, 2)

I am not helpless (Philippians 4:13)

I am overcoming (I John 4:4)

I am persevering (Philippians 3:14)

I am protected (John 10:28)

I am born again (I Peter 1:23)

I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am delivered (Colossians 1:13)

I am redeemed from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13)

I am qualified to share in His inheritance (Colossians 1:12)

I am victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57)

THIS IS WHO I REALLY AM IN CHRIST.

Life at Missio Dei: Baptism Sunday 12.02.12

Kat shares her story…

Patrick sharing his story…

Chris sharing his story…

Sarah shares her story…

Jacob sharing his story…

Benediction

Photography courtesy Paul Lane and Olivia Marone.

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We will be holding our Christmas Eve service this year at Westwood Baptist Church in West Asheville on Monday, December 24th from 6:00pm.  This one-hour service, in partnership with the people of Westwood Baptist, will be a night of worship through hymns, spiritual songs, and the Word.  As a culmination of the Advent season we will share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah and celebrate His coming as Immanuel, ‘God with us’.  There will be no childcare provided, but it will be a brief and family-friendly service.  We hope that you and your friends and family will join us in celebrating! 


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