Check out what one of our Growth Groups had to say about how GGs are important to them. You can browse GG options here.
If you have any other questions, email Jim at smallgroups@summitcc.org
Join us this Growth Group season, connect with friends and grow in God's Word.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Mexico Mission Trip is revving up.
Charlotte was in church last week to talk about the Mexico Mission Trip coming up on President's Day Weekend 2010. She gave a funny promotion as always, check out the video below:
Fan Sunday was an awesome time
Check out this video from our fan Sunday. Teams were represented, and people came wearing jerseys. But there was one jersey that was absent from the festivities...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Fan Sunday
Phoenix is an interesting town because fans have moved here from all over the country. Especially on the growing edges of town, it’s a melting pot of many different loyalties.
I love it when people are willing to step out and represent their team, no matter what anyone else thinks. We’ve got some misguided Jazz fans at church, but you gotta appreciate their passion. You can easily tell how loyal somebody is by the way they talk about “their team.”
That’s why we decided to have fun with this and declare August 15th FAN SUNDAY at Summit.
Everyone in the community is invited to join us and represent their team. Whether it’s a sports team or another group, we are encouraging people to wear a jersey or some other gear to church this weekend… It’s going to be a fun and creative day to explore what he Bible says about loyalty in our life and faith.
We hope that sports fans, and guys especially, are willing to come and check out worship this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Many new people at Summit share their surprise that many Christian leaders & people they meet are “ordinary” & down-to-earth. I hope that many more discover this weekend that they’ll fit right in as well.
My biggest sports addictions are to the NFL (fantasy football) and the LA Lakers. As my family will tell you. I’ve been a Lakers fan far too long to change, but some Suns fans are determined to give it a shot! They even kidnapped my jersey a couple weeks ago and threatening it on Facebook in some hilarious ways. Check it out here – I hope my jersey comes back by the weekend, but I’m not holding my breath!
Pastor Nate
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Perseverance
“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.” (Winston Churchill, 1941 speech to the Harrow School)
I love that quote from Winston Churchill as he stood strong in the middle of World War II. It is inspiring to see strong leadership in times of great challenge. Perseverance is needed when a country is facing tough times, and that is true across all other areas of life as well.
As a pastor, I see on a weekly basis how people are looking for strength—and finding strength in Christ—to persevere. It’s why this past weekend I shared from Hebrews 10 about holding on to the confidence and promise for the future we have in him.
We’re in the middle of a series on “The Bible According to Disney”. This week we saw a clip from the movie UP and then jumped into what God’s Word says about perseverance. It’s a fun summer series – and one that is opening up spiritual conversations in everyday life. We’re encouraging parents/grandparents to have a family movie night each week and use it as an opportunity to discuss faith questions together.
If you are out of the area and can’t join us for worship, feel free to email office@summitcc.org for the discussion questions tied to the movie of the week. Whenever faith and everyday life come together… it’s something we celebrate at Summit!
Pastor Nate
“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.” (Winston Churchill, 1941 speech to the Harrow School)
I love that quote from Winston Churchill as he stood strong in the middle of World War II. It is inspiring to see strong leadership in times of great challenge. Perseverance is needed when a country is facing tough times, and that is true across all other areas of life as well.
As a pastor, I see on a weekly basis how people are looking for strength—and finding strength in Christ—to persevere. It’s why this past weekend I shared from Hebrews 10 about holding on to the confidence and promise for the future we have in him.
We’re in the middle of a series on “The Bible According to Disney”. This week we saw a clip from the movie UP and then jumped into what God’s Word says about perseverance. It’s a fun summer series – and one that is opening up spiritual conversations in everyday life. We’re encouraging parents/grandparents to have a family movie night each week and use it as an opportunity to discuss faith questions together.
If you are out of the area and can’t join us for worship, feel free to email office@summitcc.org for the discussion questions tied to the movie of the week. Whenever faith and everyday life come together… it’s something we celebrate at Summit!
Pastor Nate
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Vacation Bible School - High Seas Adventure!
Vacation Bible School was a BLAST. Check out the great time had by both kids AND adults:
Secret Prayer Box
A few of our Youth Group girls found something special in the woods at youth retreat this year. Check it out!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Take A Stand
Check out our youth as they talk about how they plan on "taking a stand for Jesus," from their Spring retreat in Prescott, AZ.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
National Day of Prayer.
Today our nation marks what could end up being our last National Day of Prayer, after a ruling last month by a Federal U.S. District Court judge. My hope is that our government continues to celebrate the importance of prayer. But whatever is decided by judges and courts, the truth is that prayer and God’s guidance will be as powerful as ever.
In fact, I hope that rulings like this stir Christians to more prayer, not less. We can be granted the official blessing to celebrate a national day like this or pray in schools – but it doesn’t make a difference if few people pray. If we instead rise up together to humbly and honestly pray for God’s kingdom to come, people and governments will be moved.
So let’s commit ourselves to pray today for rulers and authorities, as God reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. It is an honor to do that privately, but I am excited to still be able to do so publicly in the West Valley. I was given the opportunity to offer the invocation at our Buckeye Town Council meeting on Tuesday, and I will be praying for our Chamber of Commerce award banquet tomorrow night.
God’s wisdom and discernment are needed more than ever in these challenging economic times! That’s why I prayed over our local leaders Proverbs 15:21-23, asking that the Lord unite our leadership together in making wise choices for the good of all in our community.
Regardless of what happens on the national stage, it is still good to be able to pray in Jesus’ name at the local level!
Pastor Nate
In fact, I hope that rulings like this stir Christians to more prayer, not less. We can be granted the official blessing to celebrate a national day like this or pray in schools – but it doesn’t make a difference if few people pray. If we instead rise up together to humbly and honestly pray for God’s kingdom to come, people and governments will be moved.
So let’s commit ourselves to pray today for rulers and authorities, as God reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. It is an honor to do that privately, but I am excited to still be able to do so publicly in the West Valley. I was given the opportunity to offer the invocation at our Buckeye Town Council meeting on Tuesday, and I will be praying for our Chamber of Commerce award banquet tomorrow night.
God’s wisdom and discernment are needed more than ever in these challenging economic times! That’s why I prayed over our local leaders Proverbs 15:21-23, asking that the Lord unite our leadership together in making wise choices for the good of all in our community.
Regardless of what happens on the national stage, it is still good to be able to pray in Jesus’ name at the local level!
Pastor Nate
Monday, April 12, 2010
"I Wasn't Sure If I'd Be Welcome Here."
I’ve had several conversations with people lately who’ve shared the exact same thing about Summit. The words they used were different, but their message came across the same way:
“I love the fact that I can ask questions and be myself at Summit. I didn’t know much about the Bible when I first came, and I had always worried that people would look down on me for it. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one with questions! Thank you for sharing about the Bible in a way that connects with everyday life and finally makes sense to me.”
We’ve striven as staff and leaders here at Summit to create an environment where people can be themselves … ask questions … and discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be a Christian. We all need Jesus and his forgiveness.
But far too often churches give the impression that you have to look a certain way … or know enough stuff … or fit the right mold before you are welcome. That makes me angry. Jesus fought the same battle with religious leaders who thought that the tax collectors and “sinners” weren’t good enough for God.
Honesty about our need for God and his forgiveness is disarming. It puts everyone on a level playing field. And I love that many of the people I quoted above invite their friends to Summit because they know they’ll be welcome here too.
If you are honestly searching and want to learn what it means to follow Christ—you’re always welcome to join us in that journey!
Pastor Nate
“I love the fact that I can ask questions and be myself at Summit. I didn’t know much about the Bible when I first came, and I had always worried that people would look down on me for it. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one with questions! Thank you for sharing about the Bible in a way that connects with everyday life and finally makes sense to me.”
We’ve striven as staff and leaders here at Summit to create an environment where people can be themselves … ask questions … and discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be a Christian. We all need Jesus and his forgiveness.
But far too often churches give the impression that you have to look a certain way … or know enough stuff … or fit the right mold before you are welcome. That makes me angry. Jesus fought the same battle with religious leaders who thought that the tax collectors and “sinners” weren’t good enough for God.
Honesty about our need for God and his forgiveness is disarming. It puts everyone on a level playing field. And I love that many of the people I quoted above invite their friends to Summit because they know they’ll be welcome here too.
If you are honestly searching and want to learn what it means to follow Christ—you’re always welcome to join us in that journey!
Pastor Nate
Homeless Youth Project Update 2
Check out this additional update on Summit's involvement in the Homeless Youth Project.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Serving Homeless Youth in Our Community.
An amazing partnership between Summit and the local Rotary.
My Top 10 Bible Verses about Business and Work.
In the past couple weeks, I met with someone starting a new business. It was fun to pray for that new venture and talk about what the future would hold.
After our time together I decided to build a list of my top 10 Bible passages that relate to work and business. Most people will spend more time doing work-related stuff than anything else in their lifetime. With that in mind, it is exceptionally important to know the wisdom and promises God’s Word has to offer!
These are my top 10, but there is no shortage of great Bible passages that deal with the topic. Feel free to post one of your favorites in the comments below!
- Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
- They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands." Nehemiah 6:9 (NIV)
- It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. Psalm 112:5 (ESV)
- Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4 (NIV)
- Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. Proverbs 13:11 (NIV)
- “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
- No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
- Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10 (NIV)
- I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men… Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Pastor Nate
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
