Reach One More Initiative Series Booklet by Christ Community Church

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Mark Ashton

ART DIRECTION

Eric Wendt, Jed Logue, Marie Dufour, and Rachel Bebee

CONTENT

Craig Walter, Julie Bullock, Mark Ashton, and Rachel Bebee

EDITING

Ariana Dykhouse, Julie Bullock, Leslie Feeney, Mark Ashton, Rachel Bebee, Rachel Vaughn, and Tim Anstead

GRAPHIC DESIGN Amanda King

COVER IMAGE

Wirestock on iStock

MARK & KELLE PORTRAIT Dawn McClannan Photography

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY

Ariana Dykhouse, Craig Walter, Chuck Warner, Grace Sadler, and Marie Dufour; Andres WD, Drazen Zigic, FGTrade, Frank Ramspott, Simon Skafar, Tichr, and WildArt on iStock; Pearl on Lightstock; Katt Yukawa on Unsplash Published by Christ Community Church, Copyright 2023 404 S. 108th Ave, Omaha, NE 68154 402.330.3360 | cccomaha.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS MORE 20 ONE EVERYWHERE

FROM 05 LETTER MINISTER MARK

06 FAITH-FILLED RISKS 08 PRIMARY GOAL 10 ONE FUND 11 SECONDARY GOAL MORE 12 ONE HERE

14 Who’s Your One? 16 The BLESS Paradigm

MORE 18 ONE THERE

GIVING 24 YOUR JOURNEY

26 COMMITMENT CARD SAMPLE 28 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 30 MESSAGE NOTES

38 Timeline of the Book of Acts 40 Paul’s Missionary Journeys

42 DEVOTIONALS 48 COMMUNITY GROUP GUIDES & 50 EXERCISE REFLECTION

As the COVID-19 pandemic drew to a close, the Christ Community Church elders began a season of prayer. We asked God, “In our postBeyond Belief chapter, what is your vision for us as a church?”

A LETTER FROM MINISTER MARK

Not only did we have a season of prayer, but we hosted over thirty focus groups with CCC members to ask what they were hearing from God. We sent the Management Team on two off-site retreats to sort through brainstorming lists. We asked the question, “What is CCC’s fingerprint?” In other words, most churches have similar visions of honoring Jesus and making disciples, but what are we uniquely positioned to accomplish? After prayer, focus groups, and staff consultations, we determined CCC’s fingerprint to be the following: •

We are located in the Omaha Metro.

•

We care deeply about people who have never heard of Jesus.

•

We are outrageously generous.

•

We frequently take faith-filled risks.

•

We are never satisfied with the status quo.

•

We have amazing ministries of care, counseling, and healing.

•

We are passionate to reach one more.

After 102 years of ministry, with a great campus and no debt, we could just coast into eternity content with the current state of affairs. We could sing nice songs, raise great kids, and make a few ripples. But the elders said, “No way!” We must press forward for the gospel, give our best, send our brightest, give sacrificially, and Reach One More. The Spirit is compelling us and we cannot resist. We are launching a new era. This is not just a campaign for property or buildings, roofs or parking lots, but rather, it is an evangelistic initiative focused on reaching one more—one more here, one more there, and one more everywhere. You are invited to join the Spirit and this upcoming journey at CCC.

Lead Minister  Photo by Dawn McClannan

REACH ONE MORE

FAITHFILLED RISKS In 1921 In 1923

the original congregation began gathering weekly. R. R. Brown started preaching via radio. At its peak, his program reached 500,000 people across the Midwest.

In 1933

the congregation began giving sacrificially to international workers to start work in West Africa.

In 1935

R. R. Brown started the summer Bible & Missionary Conference at Lake Okoboji in Iowa.

In 1978

CCC purchased land at the western edge of Omaha, relocating from downtown to our current location in 1981.

Since 2000

a small group of believers, who were gathering at an abandoned church at 24th & Binney, requested the services of R. R. Brown, the founder of the Omaha Gospel Tabernacle (CCC’s name until 1986).

CCC has invested $21 million in the C&MA Great Commission Fund.

In 2004

CCC initiated Step Out and Serve (now City Serve), an annual citywide event during which we partner with many local churches and organizations to make a difference in the Omaha Metro.

From 2004 to 2010

CCC invested over $2 million in a West African hospital for women and children, where fifty thousand babies have safely been born.

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

In 2004

CCC purchased and renovated the Student Center, where thousands of students have heard the gospel and experienced life-changing moments.

In 2008

CCC started posting videos to YouTube, which have generated over one million views to date.

In 2012

CCC began streaming Sunday services live online.

In 2014

CCC purchased The Porch to create ministry space. Today, CityCare Counseling, Crown College Omaha, and others use this space. CityCare Counseling launched, with the goal of bringing healing and wholeness to hurting people. Today, it has grown to 46 counselors and eight locations.

In 2016

CCC started the Church Residency program, through which students receive a master’s degree from Crown College and practical church ministry experience. The program has had sixty participants to date.

By 2016

CCC had helped plant 25 churches in the Omaha/ Midwest region over the past century.

In 2023

CCC launched an evangelistic initiative to reach one more here, there, and everywhere, with a focus on a new partnership in the country code-named Green City.

PRIMARY GOAL: 100% Engagement

We challenge every person who calls CCC home to re-surrender to Jesus and his leadership for our next chapter of Kingdom impact.

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

THE NEXT LEVEL OF PERSONAL WITNESS

Who in your sphere of influence is God inviting you to reach with the love and hope of Jesus?

THE NEXT LEVEL OF FAITH

What steps do we need to take to move away from our comfort zone and into a whole new experience of dependence on him?

THE NEXT LEVEL OF GENEROSITY

How can we grow to a new level of generosity as an expression of our gratitude for what God has done for us?

ONE FUND Reach One More is a “one fund” approach. That means all giving to Christ Community Church—for citywide impact and all of our missions initiatives, including the Great Commission Fund—will go into a single bucket. This enables us to staff and operate the church at full capacity, establish new ministries, send missionaries worldwide, accomplish building improvements, and grow the Kingdom here, there, and everywhere. When you give to Reach One More, you impact every critical ministry that CCC empowers. During this initiative (from December 2023 to December 2024), normal CCC giving would be $8.8 million. We believe through this generosity initiative, God will provide an additional $3.4 million to reach one more here at CCC, in the Omaha area, and around the world. We are excited to see God work through the Reach One More initiative!

SECONDARY GOAL:

12.2 MILLION $

Over the next year, our goal is to raise a total of $12.2 million to increase our support of local and global missions, improve CCC venues to disciple people, and equip current and future generations to advance God’s Kingdom.

CORE MINISTRY | $8.8 MILLION REACH ONE MORE | $3.4 MILLION HERE

THERE

( $8 9 0 , 0 0 0 )

( $9 0 0 , 0 0 0 )

• Multiply the CCC Deaf Ministry

• Invest in reaching overlooked children through local schools and Camp Rivercrest

• Refresh the CCC Student Center • Expand the CCC Sports Ministry for kids

• Create scholarships for future counselors • Partner with organizations that care for hurting people

E V E RY W H E R E ( $1 , 5 9 0 , 0 0 0 )

• Participate in the Green City Capital Initiative • Serve least-reached nations through the Great Commission Fund • Provide resources to plant 27 churches among leastreached people groups

REACH ONE MORE

The Omaha Metro is our home. One thing we share is relational connections with lost people in our geographical mission field. Whether a senior center in Elkhorn, a soccer team in Bellevue, or a bridge club in Council Bluffs, God has called us to the million-person metro to reach one more. Our most important initiative is to equip every person at CCC to share their faith in their context. Allison Dykhouse, CCC’s Director of Spiritual Discovery, is the staff champion for training people to share their faith, launch seeker groups, and defend the faith through apologetics. We challenge everyone to reach one more by identifying someone in your sphere of influence who does not yet know Jesus and committing to pray for them, love them, and share your faith with them. Go to pages 14–15 for an exercise to help you identify that person and live a lifestyle to bless them.

IN ADDITION TO EVERY ONE OF CCC’S 3,000–5,000 CONGREGANTS REACHING ONE PERSON, WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER TO REACH STRATEGIC GROUPS.

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

THE DEAF COMMUNITY Less than two percent of Deaf Americans follow Jesus, making them, by definition, an unreached people group. They are often isolated and marginalized. Yet, CCC has a vibrant Deaf Ministry, and Omaha is a destination city where Deaf people love to live. God has strategically positioned us to reach this least-reached group in our backyard, and we would love to grow our Deaf Ministry. Hiring a part-time director and interpreter is a big next step.

THE STUDENT CENTER Since the 1990s, children and youth ministry have been hallmarks of CCC. Our Student Center has held thousands of events and is in need of a facelift—carpets, lights, and restrooms. This will prepare us to host thousands of gatherings in the coming decades to reach middle school, high school, and college students—plus men’s events, church conferences, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), and so much more!

SPORTS MINISTRY FOR KIDS Sports ministry for kids has been a faithfilled risk that has paid off in huge ways over the last two years! We’d love to continue upgrading our fields so that we can reach 1,000 kids annually through our sports ministry and invite them to follow Jesus and connect at CCC.

REACH ONE MORE

WHO’S YOUR ONE? God has designed you to be precisely who you are. He has given you a particular personality and a unique set of gifts. He has placed you in a certain location and within certain groups of people. You might love quilting or baseball, biking or genealogies, reading or building. God has beautifully and amazingly designed every part of you! Have you ever realized how your unique characteristics make you perfect to reach one more? People who would not be reached by a seminary professor, pastor, or evangelist could be reached by you! God uses introverts and extroverts, students and athletes, gamers and knitters. Have you considered the ways in which God has blessed you to reach certain people?

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

Take a moment to write down these things: Your address

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Your interests

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Your family background ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Your areas of expertise ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Your spiritual gifts

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

God made you to reach people near your address or with your interests or in your family or with the gifts you employ! You are truly a special design. Write down the names of people God has uniquely positioned you to reach. These may be individual names or groups of people. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Finally, go to God in prayer. Of all of these people and/or groups, who is the most open to spiritual things? Who do you enjoy the most? To whom do you feel drawn by the Holy Spirit? Who is your one? _______________________________________________________________

REACH ONE MORE

THE BLESS PARADIGM The BLESS paradigm is a model adapted from Michael Frost to help Christians share the good news organically and graciously. If you employ these five habits, each represented by a letter from the acronym BLESS, you will dramatically improve your ability to reach one more.

BLESS OTHERS:

Christians are encouraged to bless others by showing kindness, love, and care.

LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT:

Christians should be attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

EAT TOGETHER:

Sharing meals with others fosters community and provides opportunities for deeper connections.

SHARE YOUR STORY:

Christians are encouraged to share their personal experiences and faith journey with others.

SERVE OTHERS:

Serving others selflessly is an essential aspect of living out one’s faith. By God’s power and strength, you can be used by him to bring others to faith in Jesus and positively impact those around you. For more detailed information on this topic, you can refer to Michael Frost’s book, Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People. REACH ONE MORE

God invites us to reach people in our relational networks who may need special attention. We will expand our partnerships with key ministries and organizations in the Omaha Metro to reach overlooked and underserved children and people who are hurting.

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

LOCAL MINISTRIES & ORGANIZATIONS

OVERLOOKED & UNDERSERVED CHILDREN

We dream of a new partnership with a school near CCC where there is great need. We imagine serving, donating school supplies, and creating transformational moments during City Serve to help this school flourish. We want to impact families in this school, especially kids from low-income or fatherless homes. Within Reach, our citywide network, is strategizing to help fifty churches sponsor one school each to make a citywide impact on children through education.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FUTURE COUNSELORS

Mental health issues are an epidemic in the United States. Anxiety, depression, and suicide rates are unprecedented, marriages are falling apart, and people are grieving deep losses. To meet the needs of our city and introduce people to Jesus, we dream of expanding CityCare Counseling from 46 counselors to 100 in 25 locations. To increase the number of counselors and make education more accessible, CCC will offer scholarships to adults pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling—helping them reach one more in need.

We will partner with many local ministries and organizations doing important work in the city, including but not limited to the following: • Restored Wings, a nonprofit organization committed to providing hope and restoration to women and girls trafficked for sex in Nebraska and throughout the country. • RISE, the largest nonprofit organization in Nebraska focused solely on habilitative programming in prisons and reentry support. At RISE, transformation starts prerelease and continues postrelease. Their inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. • Camp Rivercrest, a Christian and Missionary Alliance camp that operates year-round, offering summer camps and youth retreats and renting to guest groups. Most people struggle to focus on what matters most. Camp Rivercrest creates the space to focus on God and each other. • Assure Women's Center, a pregnancy resource center that offers free services to women who are unexpectedly pregnant.

ONE MORE EVERYWHERE CAPITAL INITIATIVE

We are pleased to announce a brand-new mission initiative in our Reach One More chapter. Just north of Australia lies a country composed of 17,000 islands that we have code-named “Green City.” The most populous Muslim nation in the world, this country has a broad diversity of language groups and the second greatest number of unreached people groups worldwide. Green City desperately needs people who will take the good news of Jesus to those who have never heard his name. Eric and Krisy have served as C&MA international workers in Green City for three decades. They are ready to move their ministry to another area. Why? Green City’s capital is sinking at a rate of ten centimeters per year. Because of this, the country has chosen to relocate their capital to another island. Eric and Krisy are moving there proactively, buying property for a mission center, and working with the nationals to plant churches all over the island. Their dreams include planting forty churches, launching a ministry center, starting a soccer ministry, reforesting a stripmined region, and, most of all, reaching people who have never heard the good news of Jesus. Eric and Krisy already know the language and national Alliance leaders. They are ready to give the next decade of their ministry to build a team that will reach people for 100 years. The bonus? The new capital is located in the middle of five unreached people groups! It’s exciting to be at the forefront of a brand new missions initiative, partnering with Eric and Krisy to build a new ministry and begin planting the seeds of reaching one, two, or perhaps five unreached people groups. We will partner with these friends for at least five years. We will pray for them, provide finances to buy property and launch the mission, help plant churches, and send short-term teams based on their needs.

We may never know the full impact. One hundred years from now, 1,000 or even 1,000,000 people may follow Jesus due to this key partnership!

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

REACH ONE MORE

CHURCH PLANTS AMONG UNREACHED PEOPLE It’s not hard to find a church in Omaha. People who want to know Jesus can turn on the radio, head to the church down the street, or ask a neighbor with a fish sticker on their vehicle. Yet in some parts of the world, you would have to ask a thousand people before even one could tell you about Jesus. These places lack even a single church in the city. These are the places God has called CCC to make an impact. For many years, CCC has partnered with our international workers serving in hardto-reach locations such as China and Gold Kingdom. We have sent teams that trained pastors, provided medical and veterinarian care, and shared the good news. Now, we have reached a time when our access to directly train pastors in China has closed. Due to regional unrest, we have taken an auxiliary role in Gold Kingdom. We have sought the Lord for the places he might be calling us next, such as Green City, our biggest global missions focus in the next five years. Green City is not the only place we will plant churches among the unreached. We will partner with national leaders in many countries to scholarship church planters through Bible schools. We will give seed money for starting churches. We will help pay for initial buildings. We will pray and send teams to support sharing the gospel and serving the needs of the people. We have partnerships in Japan, El Dorado, Gold Kingdom, Senegal, Highlands, China, and Green City. Our short-term dream is to plant churches in areas that have no churches, but our hundred-year dream is to launch a movement that reaches millions of people!

GREAT COMMISSION FUND The Christian and Missionary Alliance is committed to taking the best news ever to the least-reached people. We want to go to the hardest to reach places where all the odds are stacked against us. The Great Commission Fund (GCF) finances missionaries who go in secret to dangerous places to introduce people to Christ. Billions of people in the world have never heard about Jesus, and yet the vast majority of global missions funding goes to people groups that have already been reached with the gospel. The GCF is different. It targets people and places who have never heard so that they might have the opportunity to believe and receive eternal life through Jesus!

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

REACH ONE MORE

YOUR GIVING JOURNEY GROWING IN GENEROSITY

INITIAL GIVER

2 Corinthians 8:7–15 An Initial Giver decides to give for the first time out of a response to God’s Word about giving. This person decides to give something and trust God and the leaders of the Church with this gift.

CONSISTENT GIVER 2 Corinthians 9:6–8

A Consistent Giver decides to give something regularly to exercise the discipline of giving. Often, someone who decides to make their gift an online recurring gift is learning the behavior of consistency. Non-online givers can be consistent givers as well; it just requires more discipline.

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

PRIORITY GIVER Matthew 6:19–24, Colossians 1:15–20

A Priority Giver understands the preeminence of Christ and that he is before all things—that all things were created by him, for him, through him, and to him. This giver places such a significant priority on their giving that it drives their spending and saving, as opposed to their spending and saving driving giving. They experience the freedom of serving “one master” and declaring Jesus is first.

SURRENDERED GIVER Colossians 1:15–18, 22–23

A Surrendered Giver recognizes the cost Christ paid on the cross for us and is surrendered to honoring God with 100% of their resources. A Surrendered Giver gives in a way that changes them. Their giving governs their spending/saving, rather than their spending/saving governing their giving. A Surrendered Giver isn’t concerned with what they are giving but with what they’re not giving and why. They seek to honor God with 100% of what he has given them, whether direct monetary giving or a God-honoring use of an existing resource like a home or a vehicle.

ETERNAL GIVER 1 Timothy 6:19

An Eternal Giver sees the eternal impact of their giving—on them and others—not just the immediate programs and ministries it helps accomplish. This giver has been captivated by the knowledge that the more they are led to “do good, to be generous and ready to share,” the more they “take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19). This encourages them to keep growing! They make all decisions (big purchases, savings, giving, relationships, areas of service) in light of how it will affect their eternal impact.

REACH ONE MORE

COMMITMENT CARD SAMPLE As you consider your engagement in Reach One More, pray and ask God who your “one more” is (go back to pages 14–15 if you havenʼt done that exercise already). Then, pray about what God would have you give during this season. This includes all you normally give to CCC from December 2023 through December 2024, plus your increased generosity during the Reach One More initiative. You may also fill out this form online at ReachOneMore.cccomaha.org/commit.

How to fill out the printed commitment card: 1. In Box 1, write the name of

your “one more”—the person for whom you will pray daily and who you will love and reach out to.

2. In Box 2, write what you/your family would normally give to Christ Community Church in this time frame (December 2023–December 2024).

3. In Box 3, write what God

would have you give in expanded generosity during Reach One More.

Commitment Card I will intentionally pray daily for, love, and reach out to this person to introduce them to Jesus:

BOX 1

What I/we would normally give to CCC in thirteen months (December 2023–December 2024):

BOX 2 My/our expanded generosity as part of the Reach One More initiative:

BOX 3 Gifts from my/our stored resources:

BOX 4 MY/OUR TOTAL REACH ONE MORE COMMITMENT:

BOX 5 December 2023–December 2024

4. Consider any stored

resources you/your family have that God might be asking you to surrender. Write that in Box 4.

5. Write the sum of Box 2, Box 3, and Box 4 in Box 5.

6. Fill out your contact information at the bottom.

Name: _________________________________ Email: _________________________________ Address: _______________________________ City: ___________________________________ St: ______________ Zip: ___________________

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

O N E -Y E A R G I F T C H A R T As you pray and discern how God would ask you to give during this time, use this gift chart as a discipleship tool—let it be something that inspires and challenges you towards greater generosity for Christ’s Kingdom as we seek to reach one more here, there, and everywhere. GIFTS NEEDED

COMMITMENT LEVEL

MONTHLY GIFT

GIFT LEVEL TOTAL

$1,000,000

$76,923

$1,000,000

$500,000

$38,462

$1,000,000

$250,000

$19,231

$750,000

$150,000

$11,538

$600,000

$100,000

$7,692

$700,000

$85,000

$6,538

$680,000

$75,000

$5,769

$750,000

$65,000

$5,000

$975,000

$50,000

$3,846

$1,000,000

$35,000

$2,692

$1,050,000

$25,000

$1,923

$1,050,000

$15,000

$1,154

$750,000

$10,000

$769

$600,000

$7,500

$577

$562,500

$5,000

$385

$400,000

$2,500

$192

$225,000

Many

$1,500

$115

$207,500

TOTAL GIFT GOAL

$12 , 300,000 REACH ONE MORE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What are you asking me to do?  First, we ask you pray and seek God’s leading. Prepare your heart to listen and do what he says. Have great conversations with your spouse, family, or others on the journey. We ask you make a sacrificial commitment to reach one person in your sphere of influence and to engage in gospel-centered generosity—whatever God leads you to do. Second, we ask that you prepare to be amazed. We serve an awesome God. He is moving in huge ways, and we anticipate an unprecedented impact from our collective Reach One More commitment—something only God can do. Join us on November 19 for Commitment Sunday, where we’ll experience a life-changing morning that will forever be remembered as a defining moment for our church and for our own faith.

What if I don’t know any non-Christians?  Pray that God will bring someone into your life who is open to friendship and with whom you could build a relationship. Pray that he would make you a “fisher of people.”

What if I don’t know how to share my faith?  We are offering several great seminars led by Allison Dykhouse and her team that will help you learn how to share your faith. To sign up, go to cccomaha.info and click on “Classes & Events.” Look for the Reach One More evangelism classes or Seeker Small Group Training!

How long is my commitment to reach one more person with the gospel?  As followers of Jesus, reaching one more person with the gospel is a life-long commitment. We hope that a renewed focus during Reach One More leads to a lifestyle where each of us prays for and intentionally builds a relationship that becomes strong enough to bear the weight of the gospel.

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

How does committing to Reach One More generosity change my regular giving?  We ask everyone at CCC to engage in generosity over and above your regular giving, so that we can fund our core ministry and the new Reach One More initiatives. All regular giving and over and above giving goes into a single funding engine. During Reach One More, every contribution expands God’s mission here, there, and everywhere. This initiative funds the Core Ministry Fund, local biblical justice, global missions work, and campus upgrades. Every dollar given through the end of 2024 fuels this life-changing mission!

Besides cash/check, are there additional ways that I can give?  Explore ways you and your family can contribute towards Reach One More. You may have stock, appreciated property, or stored resources that God has blessed you with and might be calling you to give. If you need assistance facilitating these types of gifts or would like to make a gift, contact Doni Gregory at DoniG@cccomaha.org.

How long is my financial commitment?  We ask that everyone make a thirteenth-month financial commitment, from December 2023 through December 2024. The fulfillment period begins with the First Big Give on Sunday, December 3, 2023, and culminates in December 2024.

Am I supposed to give if I am severely in debt?  If you are currently paying off overwhelming debt, we commend you for progressing and encourage you to continue. CCC offers on-site Financial Peace University classes. If you want to learn more about FPU or speak with a financial counselor, contact the church at info@cccomaha.org. As to whether or not you should give to Reach One More, giving is an act of worship no matter the amount, and you will be blessed to participate.

What if I have never given financially to CCC?  Reach One More was crafted with you in mind. This is a “one fund” initiative, meaning there isn’t a special designated fund separate from your regular giving. All contributions go to our primary fund; additional generosity funds the initiative’s goals. It is a call to sacrificial, gospel-centered generosity for everyone. If you have never given before, this is your chance to be a contributor with a committed sacrifice.

What if I am new to CCC?  Reach One More is about the vision for our church and our goal to reach people here, there, and everywhere with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This includes our discipleship in giving as followers of Jesus. We believe the local church is the most compelling mission to give towards. We invite you to put a stake in the ground, make CCC your church home, and join in the adventure of living God’s mission for us through Reach One More.

What if I am not a member of CCC?  We invite both members and attendees to joyfully participate in Reach One More. If you are not a member, we encourage you to take your best next step towards membership by engaging in CCC 101. Sign up at cccomaha.info.

What if I have more questions?  Learn more at ReachOneMore.cccomaha.org. You may also contact our staff or Governing Board by visiting cccomaha.org/staff or cccomaha.org/leadership. Our doors and hearts are open!

REACH ONE MORE

MESSAGE NOTES

DATE: Sunday, October 22 SPEAKER: Mark Ashton SERMON TITLE: Daily

PASSAGE: Acts 2:42–47

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 32

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

DATE: Sunday, October 29

SPEAKER: Mark Ashton & Krisy Maxey SERMON TITLE: Everywhere PASSAGE: Acts 13:1–3

MESSAGE NOTES

DATE: Sunday, November 5 SPEAKER: John Stumbo

SERMON TITLE: Unhindered PASSAGE: Acts 28:30–31

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

DATE: Friday, November 10 (Prayer & Commitment Night) SPEAKER: Mark Ashton & Jed Logue SERMON TITLE: Prayer

PASSAGE: Acts 4:23–31

MESSAGE NOTES

DATE: Sunday, November 12 SPEAKER: Mark Ashton SERMON TITLE: Obey PASSAGE: Acts 4

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

DATE: Sunday, November 19 SPEAKER: Mark Ashton

SERMON TITLE: Commitment PASSAGE: Acts 20:17–31

TIMELINE OF

THE BOOK OF ACTS

• Acts 1—Recovering From Resurrection—Jerusalem • Acts 2—The Holy Spirit Falls/The First Church—Jerusalem • Acts 3—Power in the Apostles—Jerusalem • Acts 4—We Can’t Help Talk About Jesus!—Jerusalem • Acts 5—Arrested (Again); Freed (Again)—Jerusalem • Acts 6—Organized Generosity—Jerusalem • Acts 7—Stephen’s Speech and Martyrdom—Jerusalem • Acts 8—The Church Grows to Samaria and Africa—Samaria/Desert • Acts 9—Paul’s Encounter with Jesus—Syria • Acts 10—The Gospel Hits a Gentile Family—Caesarea • Acts 11—A Gentile Church Explodes—Antioch (Syria) • Acts 12—Peter’s Prison Break—Samaria • Acts 13—Planting Mediterranean Churches—Antioch/Cyprus/ Asia Minor • Acts 14—Miracles and Churches in Turkey—Asia Minor/Antioch • Acts 15—Jerusalem Council—Jerusalem • Acts 16—Stories in Philippi—Greece • Acts 17—Intellectuals from Athens—Greece

30 A.D.

31 A.D.

34 A.D.

37 A.D.

42 A.D.

48 A.D.

49 A.D.

• Acts 18—From Corinth to Antioch—Greece • Acts 19—Demons and Riots—Ephesus • Acts 20—A Passionate Farewell—Greece/Ephesus • Acts 21—Into Jerusalem, Into Trouble—Jerusalem • Acts 22—Paul’s Story and Protection—Jerusalem • Acts 23—Two Tough Trials—Jerusalem/Caesarea • Acts 24—Paul Before Felix—Caesarea • Acts 25—Paul Appeals to Caesar—Caesarea • Acts 26—Paul and Agrippa—Caesarea • Acts 27—Storms and Shipwreck—Mediterranean Sea • Acts 28—Waiting on Caesar—Rome

50 A.D.

54 A.D.

57 A.D.

59 A.D.

60 A.D.

62 A.D.

PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS

DEVOTIONALS We hope this devotional challenges you and helps you reflect on various aspects of your influence, lifestyle, generosity, and legacy as a disciple of Jesus. Spend time working through this guide by studying one devotional per week of the series. Consider the questions and what God’s Word says about who he is and who we should seek to be in response to the gospel. We hope that this simple set of questions and the truth of the Scriptures will become catalysts to help you deepen your relationship with God during this season at CCC.

Regardless of where you are in your journey, we know God has more for you! Your most life-changing, influential, and engaging days are ahead. It is our privilege to walk beside you as you continue to deepen your relationship with Jesus and to reach one more.

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PHILIP & THE EUNUCH Read Acts 8:4–8, 26–40 and respond to the questions below. This was a setup. From the beginning, God had planned this meeting between Philip and the Eunuch. From the heavens, he orchestrated events and itineraries to accomplish his agenda. 1.

What do we know about this Ethiopian that would lead us to believe that God was already at work in his life? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

2. How did God lead Philip’s journey to intersect with the Eunuch’s journey? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 3.

Imagine the conversation between the Eunuch and Candace upon his return from his travels. How do you think the conversation went? How do you think his presence may have opened the door for the gospel in Africa? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

In the first years after Jesus, the gospel spread quickly through North and West Africa. Africans point to the Eunuch as the first to bring the gospel to Ethiopia. God’s plans were bigger than Phillip could have dreamed! How might God set you up to share your faith with people who just may change the world? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ REACH ONE MORE

BARNABAS

Read Acts 4:32–37 and respond to the questions below. Stop the presses, hold your horses, put on the brakes! This is one of those Bible passages that makes you ask, “Did they really do that?” Though this might sound crazy, the early church sold land and houses for the sake of the gospel. 1.

Imagine how Barnabas acquired his field. Perhaps he had received it as a gift or bought it. What emotions might he had when he considered selling the field? What would it have been like to part with this field? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

2. The passage uses “laid it at the apostles’ feet” twice. What do you think that means literally? What did it mean for the sake of the ministry? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 3.

Sometimes we only think about giving in terms of our income. While giving from one’s income is a great way to give, God might invite you to give from your “stored resources.” These are things you have purchased. Perhaps it is land, like Barnabas. It could be a motorcycle, a collectible item, stock, or a Donor Advised Fund. Might God be inviting you to sell something for the sake of the gospel and “lay it at the apostles’ feet”? Reflect on this idea. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

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THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER Read Acts 16:25–34 and respond to the questions below. 1.

What would you do if you were imprisoned for sharing your faith? Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God! In the midst of horrible circumstances, they exhibited the joy of the Lord. Perhaps they even sang in harmony! In response, God sent an earthquake and broke their chains. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

2. Picture yourself as the jailer. What do you think he thought of Paul and Silas at this point? Highlight any emotional responses to the pair. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 3.

Notice verses 31–32. What was Paul and Silas’ simple message? What was the impact of their hymn-singing faithfulness? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

How might you intentionally place yourself in situations where you are near non-believers so you can be there when they have a need? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ REACH ONE MORE

CORNELIUS

Read Acts 10:1–47 and respond to the questions below. Cornelius was the first recorded “enemy” of the Jewish people who came to know Jesus. He was not just a Roman, but a centurion! God used Peter, a Jewish apostle who was extremely different from Cornelius, to take him good news. God used two dreams to make this encounter happen. 1.

List the characteristics of Cornelius. How did his finances and his character align? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

2. What were the barriers in this relationship for Peter? For Cornelius? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 3.

What point do you think God was trying to make to Peter and the brand-new church? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

Who is someone “not like you” whom God might be inviting you to invest in? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

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BLESSED TO GIVE Read Acts 20:35 and respond to the questions below. Interestingly, we don’t have these words of Jesus recorded anywhere in the gospels. They appear only once, written by Luke in Acts 20. Perhaps this phrase, “It is more blessed to give than receive,” was common knowledge among the followers of Jesus—a phrase they had memorized, internalized, and repeated regularly. Regardless, this phrase reflects the heart of God. If he is anything, he is generous. Generous with creation, generous with our lives, generous with Jesus, generous with salvation. God would know… it is more blessed to give than receive. 1.

List a few reasons why it truly is more blessed to give than receive. What was Jesus talking about? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

2. Think of a time that you had the opportunity to give a great gift. What was the gift that you gave? How did you feel when you gave it to the recipient? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 3.

As you consider your commitment to Reach One More, what phrases or principles from God’s Word resonate with your soul? What do you think God wants you to do? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

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COMMUNITY GROUP GUIDES

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No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, we believe every person has a “best next step” on the discipleship pathway. One key aspect of this pathway is joining into community with other believers, which helps us follow and become more like Jesus. At CCC, Community Groups do life together. Groups meet regularly for fellowship, study, and prayer. They serve one another and often worship together as well. Groups may meet in a home or at the church.

If you haven’t yet found a group, we encourage you to join a group during this series! Learn more and find a group at cccomaha.info. Each week, the Adult Discipleship team posts a discussion guide that accompanies the week’s sermon. These guides help Community Group members take a deeper look at Scripture and encourage discussion related to the sermon. To follow along with the Reach One More discussion guides, visit cccomaha.org/discussion.

EXERCISE & REFLECTION

TO DO AT HOME PRIOR TO COMMITMENT SUNDAY List out the financial commitments you currently have—those that go beyond a onetime payment but that do have a time duration to them. Examples would be a home mortgage, a lease agreement, a car loan, a cell phone contract, your child’s tuition for school, your own tuition for school, etc. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Write out the commitment you plan to make for the Reach One More initiative. Where does it fall in the priority of these other commitments? Do you need to change or modify one or more of these other commitments in order to be able to fulfill your Reach One More commitment? What if you wanted to raise your Reach One More commitment? What would that require? Is there a financial commitment you currently have that appears to be prioritized above your ability to make a truly surrendered giving commitment to help move God’s mission forward and reach one more? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ If someone who didn’t know you looked at your financial commitments, what would they say you value? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 50

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Would that statement be true about you? Or is there something that needs to be modified? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ If you keep this commitment over the next year, what type of spiritual growth can you see happening in you? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ How will you leverage this change to influence your children, your co-workers, your friends, your family, and others in your circles of influence to live their lives more closely with Jesus and express more love? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Pray over your commitment as you prepare to surrender your card on Commitment Sunday. Prayer is the most important thing in this whole process, and prayer is what gives us the heart of Jesus within us.