Southeast Christian NEXT Magazine | December 2018 by Southeast Christian Church

DECEMBER 2018

SOU T HE A S T CHRIS T IAN.ORG

HOME

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

AT SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Marvel with us at the Son of God who came to Earth so that we may live with Heaven’s hope. At each service, Teaching Pastor Kyle Idleman will give a message from our Christmas sermon series, Hope Is Born.

SERVICE TIMES BLANKENBAKER CAMPUS

SOUTHWEST CAMPUS

Saturday, December 22: 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 23: 8:45 a.m., 10:10 a.m., 11:45 a.m.

Sunday, December 23: 9:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m. Monday, December 24: 2:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m.

, 4:00 p.m.,

Monday, December 24: 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

LA GRANGE CAMPUS INDIANA CAMPUS

Sunday, December 23: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m.

Saturday, December 22: 5:30 p.m.

Monday, December 24: 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 23: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m. Monday, December 24: 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

ELIZABETHTOWN CAMPUS Sunday, December 23: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m.

CRESTWOOD CAMPUS

Monday, December 24: 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 22: 5:15 p.m. Sunday, December 23: 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. Monday, December 24: 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Children’s programming will be available for Birth-5th Grade at each campus, except for the 11:00 p.m. service at the Blankenbaker Campus.

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CONTENTS HOME

DECEMBER 2018

ISSUE 26

OUR CAMPUSES

FIRST THINGS FIRST

LIFE @ SOUTHE AST

» Q U I C K

» CEL EBR AT E

QUESTION

Bet h Stone ref lec t s on w hy she loves to show hospital ity, and how t ha t has changed over t he year s.

SERVE WITH US

W hen we ser ve, we f ind community, connec t ion, and a place to feel a t home.

TOGE THER

CHRISTMAS

Sou t heas t is t hrow ing a Chris t mas p ar ty, and everyone’s inv ited!

1 4

2 2

» FA R

PAG E

Few er Fe nces , Bigger Tables

F E W ER F ENCE S , BIGGER TA BL E S

O nce we feel safe enough to share real l ife w it h ot her people, we f inal l y begin to under s tand Bibl ical community.

A N YA’ S JOURNE Y HOME W hen A nya was adopted from Ukraine a t age 7, she gained a home, a famil y, and a fu ture. FROM HOME: CHRISTMAS IN A J A I L C E L L W ha t is it l ike to celebra te t he hol idays from behind b ar s?

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W E A L L H AV E A N E X T S T E P T O TA K E I N O U R WA L K W I T H J E S U S . W H AT ’ S Y O U R S ? In this magazine, hear the hear tbeat of Southeas t Chris tian Church and discover where you belong in our mission of connec ting people to Jesus and one another.

AT HOME

These tool s from our Children’s and Nex t G en Minis t ries w il l hel p you bring home w ha t your kids are learning a t church.

MISSIONS IN MIND I n t he year since CU Church launched, G od has exceeded t he team’s ex pec ta t ions for grow t h and grace! 3 0 » O N M Y H E A R T W ouldn’t it be grea t if t he Church was know n as a place w here people could come and f ind ans wer s to t heir hones t ques t ions?

GE T EQUIPPED

A ll S cr ip tur e quo t a t ions in t his public a t ion , unle s s o t her w ise indic a t ed , ar e f r om t he HOLY B IB L E , NE W IN T E R N AT ION A L V E R SION ® NI V® Copyright © 197 3, 1978, 198 4 , 201 1 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission. A ll rights reser ved worldwide.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

OUR CAMPUSES

THE WHOLE WAY HOME

BL A NK ENB A K ER C A MPUS

920 Blankenbaker Parkway Louisville, KY 40243 • 502.253.8000

INDI A N A C A MPUS

1309 Charlestown New Albany Road Jeffersonville, IN 47 130 • 812.704.1951

CRE S T WOOD C A MPUS

6201 Crestwood Station Crestwood, KY 40014 • 502.873.1100

SOUTHWE S T C A MPUS

rowing up, did you ever try to run away from home? It’s the ultimate show of childlike defiance. Think back to that melodramatic scene as you collected whatever you could sling over your shoulder, slipped on your sneakers, and stomped out the door. I’m free! you imagined. That will teach them! But before you made it halfway down the sidewalk, reality set in. Where would you go? What would you do? The wide-open world lay before you with all of its fear and uncertainty. Before long, you shuffled quickly back into the house, welcomed into the arms of your parents who were watching from the window. Home is a sacred place. At least, it should be. Sometimes the location we call home is the place we dread the most, a place of anger, anxiety, and hurt. But we know this isn’t right. Home should be a place where all are welcome and everyone is safe, a place where all our fears are disarmed because we are fully known and fully loved. This is what home should be.

8301 Saint Andrews Church Road Louisville, KY 40258 • 502.614.1500

L A GR A NGE C A MPUS

410 South 1st Street La Grange, KY 40031 • 502.614.1200

W H AT I S T H E G O S P E L ?

EL IZ A BE THT OWN C A MPUS

600 North Dixie Avenue Elizabethtown, KY 42701 • 270.506.4630

GOD God is the only sovereign, wise, and good Creator of all things, who reigns as King over all creation for His own glory. ROMANS 11:33-36

Visit southeastchristian.org for more information. 2

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God has much to say in His Word about our responsibility to make a home for others, whether we have a house of our own or not. Jesus led by example, welcoming people of every sort to join Him in His travels. One of Christ’s most famous parables is that of the Good Samaritan, who went out of his way to help a downtrodden Jew—his natural enemy—and saved the stranger’s life at his own expense (Luke 10:25-37). In the same way, God exhorts us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers…” (Hebrews 13:2). Again, He reminds us to “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9), holding onto our homes loosely lest we turn them into our own personal castles or places of isolation. But God doesn’t tell us to open our homes because it’s polite, or because we have to, or because it’s the right thing to do. He calls us to thoughtful hospitality because of who we are.

Not all of us ran away from home when we were children, but each of us has run away from God. Like the Prodigal Son, we’ve turned aside to spend God’s gifts on vain and deceitful pleasures (Luke 15:11-13). With Jonah we have fled over all creation to keep the Lord out of our lives (Jonah 1:3). The wide-open world isn’t the thing that scares us anymore. It’s God who makes us shudder. He is holy; His “eyes are too pure to look on evil” and He “cannot tolerate wrongdoing” (Habakkuk 1:13)—yet we have sinned against Him every day. If it’s up to us to make ourselves welcome in God’s presence, then no hope remains. When we packed our bags and slammed the door, God did not idly watch through the window, waiting for us to find our way back. He sent His Son running after us to overtake us with mercy, bear us up in His arms, and carry us the whole way home. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the

MAN Human beings were made in God’s image to love and worship Him forever. But ever since Adam first rebelled against God, we have all been lost in sin, under God’s judgment, and unable to save ourselves.

CHRIS T

unrighteous, to bring you to God...” (1 Peter 3:18) This Gospel, the good news of salvation, is the reason we welcome neighbors, coworkers, and strangers into our homes at Christmas to celebrate the birth of our King. But the Gospel reaches so much further than a holiday meal. The cross of Christ shapes every aspect of who we are and how we are to live. By faith in Jesus we become the children of God (Galatians 3:26), welcomed out of sin’s bitter winter into the warmth of our Father’s forgiving embrace. As the members of God’s household, we’ve inherited the family business: welcoming people in with the same grace we have received from the Savior. Our homes, our church, and our very lives should be a testimony to the truth that all are welcome and everyone is safe in the presence of Jesus Christ. Here, people are fully known and fully loved. Here, we’re finally home, home as it should be.

RE SPONSE

Out of undeserved love and grace, God sent His only Son to save us from sin and reconcile us to Himself through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

God offers us His gift of salvation by grace, which we receive through faith in Jesus. He makes us new, calls us to leave sin behind, and invites us to join His work in the world.

JOHN 3:16

EPHESIANS 2:8-10

ROMANS 3:23

SOUTHEASTCHRISTIAN.ORG

LIFE AT SOUTHEAST

Blankenbaker Campus’ MSM Fall Fest provided great fun for middle school stu

“God’s will for your life has more to do with who you are on the path than what path you take.”

Mission Partners and guests gathered f

@KyleIdleman

Southeast members provided thousands of supplies for hurricane relief. 4

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udents.

/southeastchrist @southeastchrist @southeastchrist southeastchristian.org

Southeast was honored to worship with Chris Tomlin the weekend of November 3/4.

High school students experienced a convicting and life-changing week Missions at Bible &Health Beach Conference. in Daytona, FL. from around the world to participate in the Global

Senior Pastor Dave Stone joined others in covering the floor of the new Chapel in the Woods with Scripture and prayers.

“We prove our repentance is genuine by our reliance on the Holy Spirit.” @DaveStone920

Women came together at the Crestwood Campus to study God’s Word and grow in community. SOUTHEASTCHRISTIAN.ORG

QUICK QUESTION B rief c o n ve r s ati o n s w i th our lea der s

A Conversation with Beth Stone on Hospitality

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Q: Have you always loved showing hospitality to others? A: As a little girl, I’d go into people’s homes and immediately know how I felt there. I’d notice whether I felt welcomed or uncomfortable. So, I think I was probably wired that way, but when I gave my life to Christ and told Him I wanted to be used by Him, I feel like that’s when the Holy Spirit gave me that gift of hospitality and I began to be aware of it with other people. When Dave and I got married, I experienced how his mom loved hospitality. It was an intentional part of their family life and an overflow of her faith. I loved that. And when we started ministry here, people would welcome us in to their homes. Then God started putting that passion in me to have people in our home. God’s called me out of myself and to focus on other people. I realized I really like it. I love seeing what God does through it.

Years ago, someone gave me a book called The Silent Witness. It’s all about how in setting up your home, you should think about those people who will come there. When guests come, will they know God is present there? It’s about conveying the message, “You’re loved. You’re special here. And if I don’t get a chance to tell you about Christ, I still want you to sense that the Holy Spirit is here.” Q: Did hospitality look different for you when you had small children? A: When my kids were little, I had to determine what I could do. We didn’t have a lot of people over for dinner then, because it takes a whole day to prepare and I just didn’t have time for that! So, it had to be little things. We still had people over, but in other ways.

And trust me, it doesn’t have to be pretty. One time, I told Sam he could do whatever he wanted to do for the centerpiece. He said, “What about my Noah’s Ark set?” We set that thing up on the table! That created conversation and we got to talk about God and His faithfulness. Sometimes young mamas will say, “My house is never clean!” Well, just straighten it up a little bit. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you want people to know you put some effort into preparing for them. Don’t beat yourself up for that, but at the same time, don’t use your kids or messy house as an excuse because those things can always be an excuse.

“Hospitality is about saying, ‘You’re loved. You’re special here. And if I don’t get a chance to tell you about Christ, I still want you to sense that the Holy Spirit is here.’”

Q: Are you looking forward to a new season of hospitality? A: We’ve had so many groups, so many people in our home. It’s been a sweet journey of getting to do that. But with Dave’s leadership transition in 2019, God’s taking us to a new season. It’s going to look different for us. And I know He’ll still give us opportunities in our home. God brought us here. I sometimes pray, “How’s it going to look with Dave’s new job, whatever it’s going to be? How are You going to use me?” I’m excited to see how He wants to use me next. I’m thankful that when God brought us together, He gave me something I love that matches well with what Dave has been called to do. I think it’s made it easier for us to do ministry together. I have a husband who likes to invite people over; I think it’s good that I love that too. We know that’s not going to stop any time soon.

Read the full conversation with Beth at southeastchristian.org/stories

When we came here, Dave was working with the college-age students. So immediately, we were in with all those kids and I loved having them in our home. I think God started me with that, showing me the importance of inviting people into your home, and then it led to women’s Bible studies and from there it just moved forward. And we had a tiny little house. Tiny. But we just packed it out.

As my kids got older, I was able to let them help me. The reason why we’re called to be hospitable is to have people in, to share Christ with them. It’s the principle of honoring others above yourself. The more I knew I wanted to teach my kids that, the more I could say, “Guys, we’re having these people come. Can you be ready to ask questions?” It’s all about the guest.

SOUTHEASTCHRISTIAN.ORG

SERVE WITH US Use y o u r g i ft s t o b l e s s o t h ers

“Contribution and connection go hand in hand. We all need a strong sense of involvement in order to feel attached to a community.”

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Serving at Home THE MORE YOU PUT IN, THE MORE YOU GET OUT OF COMMUNITY By Stephen Puricelli

parents of two girls entering adolescence, my wife and I have started handing them more and more responsibilities around the home. Our children now do much of the mopping, cleaning, dusting, and laundry folding around our house. While it sounds great to have our children contributing at home, it’s actually more work for us. Sometimes it feels like it would be much easier for my wife and me to do everything ourselves!

Giving away responsibilities, coaching our daughters to do the work well, and holding them accountable isn’t easy. It’s tempting to just lower the expectations we place upon them. But would that really help our home? Temporarily, it might make life simpler. But, long term, it doesn’t help our children become adults who can assume real responsibility. As our children partner in the work of the home, they feel more connected, more important, and find greater purpose in their life. The same is true in our work life. When coworkers feel like they’re contributing to a business or organization, they experience a greater connection and sense of belonging. Contribution and connection go hand in hand. We all need a strong sense of involvement in order to feel attached to a community.

MAKE THIS YOUR HOME In many ways, this is also true in church life. God has given us the opportunity to partner with Him to do the work of His Church. He chooses to use our hands, our feet, our money, and our voices to accomplish His

good work in the world. In the family of God, we need everyone to contribute—and it’s not just what you accomplish that matters, it’s what happens to you when you serve. I think it’s when we have a posture of serving that God uses us the most effectively for His Kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 20:16, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” When we take the posture of the last, we are most ready to connect with God. Everyone needs a place to belong and to connect. While it may seem counterintuitive, one of the best ways to find your place of belonging at Southeast is by serving others. When you find the place where you can contribute to the mission of Southeast, you’ll find you’re more connected and more engaged with our church family. Home is more than a place. Home is a community where you get to contribute, connect, belong, and grow. We hope that Southeast is the place you call home through serving. “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone— especially to those in the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:10 NLT)

CAMPUS PASTOR THOUGHTS: “When I talk to folks who feel disconnected at the Southwest Campus, I always ask them if they’re serving. I rarely find someone who feels disconnected who has also found a place where they can serve. We never look more like Jesus than when we serve.” James Hauser, Southwest Campus Pastor

VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT: Vern and Donna Eswine Indiana Campus

“Serving is part of following Christ. It’s what draws you closer to Him and to your church family. When we came to Southeast eight years ago, we thought we’d sit back and take a year off from serving. When we did this, we never truly felt at home here. But once we started serving, we became connected. Now we tell every new person we meet to take that leap of faith and find a place to serve. That’s where you’ll grow, where you’ll connect, and where you’ll find community.”

STEPHEN PURICELLI Volunteer Engagement Leader

SOUTHEASTCHRISTIAN.ORG

MEMORIES FROM LAST YEAR’S EVENT

Our December outreach event is back and better than ever! believe the Church should be the most welcoming home in all the world. That’s why Southeast is throwing a Christmas party, and everyone’s invited! Celebrate Christmas Together was so well received last year that we’re bringing it back for 2018. For seven days this month, we’re transforming our Blankenbaker Campus into a Winter wonderland of fun, games, and treats for the whole family and folks of all ages. Each night is filled with elements designed to turn our eyes toward the reason for the Christmas season—the birth of our Savior and Lord. Celebrate Christmas Together is one way we want to share the hope of Jesus’ arrival with our neighbors and offer them an opportunity to experience the heart of our church family firsthand. We pray they will witness the love of God in our genuine love for them. The holiday season can be hard for so many people, and some families are struggling to make ends meet this time of year. This event is our gift to them. Guests are more than welcome to come back and experience the joy every night! Christmas is also a time of year when people without any church connection are most willing to accept an invitation. How many of our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends are interested in joining us at church but are too afraid to ask? Even if they’re not quite ready to come to a weekend service, God has placed people in all of our lives who would be happy to spend an evening with us at this special event where they’ll encounter the loving people who call Southeast home. And who knows? Maybe they will come to call Southeast their church home, too!

EVENT TIMES December 7 & 14 (Fridays) 5:00-10:00 p.m.

December 9-13 (Sunday-Thursday) 5:00-9:00 p.m.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM IN THE SANCTUARY AT 6:00 & 8:00 P.M. EACH NIGHT.

“I loved seeing the joy on the little kids’ faces last year when I volunteered at the ice-skating rink. So many people were excited to be at Celebrate Christmas Together, and it brought so many smiles!” – Karen

“Hundreds and even thousands of great people experienced the love found at our church for the first time at this event!” – Rick

“We loved the interactive storytelling in the Chapel. Our kids got to be a sheep and a shepherd. So much fun!” – Bethany

“We enjoyed being able to support Pioneer Bible Translators and watching my kids add a light to the ministry’s Christmas tree. Everyone loved the baked treats from Scarlet’s Bakery!” – Suzannah

“It was such a blessing to be able to celebrate with the families who came to Celebrate Christmas Together from Refuge Louisville. Many of them have seen persecution in their own countries and others come from a number of faith backgrounds. It was powerful to be able to share the love of Christ with them through an event that’s so full of joy.” – Melanie

Christmas lights Theatrical performances Outdoor ice skating Train rides Snowball frenzy Storytime theater Crafts Children’s corner Live nativity scene Inflatables Christmas village Photo booths Motorized animal riders Children’s choir Games Snacks And more! Continued on page 12

SOUTHEASTCHRISTIAN.ORG

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS TOGETHER // Continued from page 11

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“At Celebrate Christmas Together, the joy was contagious, seeds were planted, and relationships were formed. That’s the way we let our light shine as a church!” – Dave

“We loved it all. Celebrate Christmas Together was a terrific outreach event! Thanks to everyone for all the hard work and hours spent to make it happen.” – Wendy

“Jesus came to earth to pay for all of our sins, all the way back to Adam and Eve. Helping children and their families make that connection at Celebrate Christmas Together was very rewarding.” – Jill

“We got to love people, show them Jesus’ love, and see families come together to celebrate at last year’s event. We couldn’t do it without our volunteers!” – Misty

WHAT’S NEXT Celebrate Christmas Together is a great way to invite others to experience the joy and excitement of Jesus’ arrival. We hope you attend together, have a fabulous night of fun, experience some authentic conversations, and share a truly memorable experience. But one of the best things about Celebrate Christmas Together is the door it opens for you to continue the relationship long after this event comes to a close!

OPEN YOUR HOME Now that you’ve had an amazing Christmas experience together, a natural next step is to bring the conversation home. Whether it’s hot chocolate and cookies one winter afternoon or enjoying a full Christmas dinner, nothing breaks down barriers like the comfort of being in a home. In your house, you’re more able to have sincere, unguarded conversations. You can talk naturally about your life, your struggles, and your ultimate hope in Christ. Invite your guests to experience your relationship with God organically and tangibly in your home.

INVITE GUESTS INTO A GROUP One of the best next steps for guests at Celebrate Christmas Together is to join one of Southeast’s many groups. We have neighborhood groups, recovery and grief communities, marriage and parenting classes, fitness groups, singles gatherings, book clubs, and Bible studies for every level of experience. Groups help to make our big church feel much less intimidating and create an authentic space for community, growth, and faith. If you’re already in a group, invite your guests to join you! Or you can learn what will be most helpful for them and offer to attend a group specific to their situation with them. The Connections Pastors at your campus know the scope of options available, and many new groups will be launching in January!

COME TO CHURCH! “Last year, the people in our neighborhoods and communities got to see our church’s love for them as we opened our doors wide, and they got to hear the message of God’s love in sending His Son to be the Savior of the world. We’re praying God will help us make this year even better!” – Simon

Celebrate Christmas Together provides an opportunity to see Southeast all dressed up for the holidays. There are beautiful costumes, elaborate scenery, and even live animals! It’s a truly impressive experience. But it’s nothing compared to the genuine worship of a sanctuary full of redeemed sinners, standing together in awe of God’s grace on an otherwise ordinary weekend. We love a good outreach event, but the true work of the church happens in worship, in service to one another, and in dedicated teaching from the Bible. This happens every weekend at each of our campuses. To really give your Celebrate Christmas Together guests an opportunity to experience the best of Southeast, invite them to join you at a worship service on a weekend.

SOUTHEASTCHRISTIAN.ORG

Fewer Fences, Bigger Tables Breaking down barriers to building authentic, Biblical community By Jon Weiner

number of years ago I encountered the term, refrigerator rights. The term was coined by Dr. Will Miller in his book by the same name. In this book, Miller wrote about inviting people into our lives to form a community where folks know and trust us enough to enter our homes freely and, if hungry or thirsty, open our refrigerators without hesitation to take what they need. Now that’s the real mark of a trusting community! This idea of refrigerator rights was a gamechanger in my home. You see, I think most people these days have no-fly zones in our homes—places people can’t go. When company comes over, we close the doors to the bedrooms so nobody sees our mess.

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And we certainly won’t let someone into our refrigerators! Dr. Miller challenged our cultural bias and reminded us that when we feel safe enough to share real life with other people, then we finally begin to understand Biblical community.

Open Hands and Homes I remember when my family began living out refrigerator rights in our own home. We started by connecting with a group of neighbors. Often, we would come together around the kitchen table for coffee or a meal, and it was never anything special—it was just life. We told friends that our house was open; if they wanted something to eat or drink, they didn’t need to ask permission. Although,

that offer always came with a warning: “If it’s green and it’s not supposed to be, don’t eat it!” We wanted to be real and enjoy the full experience of this community, telling folks they could come on over without calling. This way of life has been the heartbeat of our home ever since. Recently, my family had a wall removed in our house so we could have more room for community around the table! I know what you’re thinking: “I could never do that!” But let me tell you, this lifestyle is healthy and fulfilling. Most importantly, it’s Biblical. In Acts 4, Luke writes about the community of faith that marked the early church. Verse 32 is what I consider a life verse: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” The earliest followers of Jesus were openhanded with the gifts God gave them. They knew everything they had, from their salvation to their daily bread, came to them by the grace of God. Even though many of them had little to their name, they kept every part of their lives free from the fence of a no-fly zone, extending the same grace and love to others that they received from Christ.

3. Know that people may resist your efforts to share your life and your table. You might hear, “Oh no, we would never think of just stopping by without calling first!” Nonetheless, your neighbors will know they’re welcome. I remember the first time I came home to find people in my house resting around the table, with kids running down the halls with at least two dogs that weren’t mine. Everyone was laughing, and someone said, “We were taking the dogs for a walk and decided to ‘test’ you about always being open!” It took about four months for that to finally happen. It takes time to build community. 4. Simplicity is the key. You need a less complicated life, one that makes room for actual life to happen! Remember, you might have to stop doing something good to make room for something better. An open home and open life are worth it! 5. Finally, remember that we were made to live in Christ-centered community. Caring, loving, and supporting others are the marks of a healthy faith. You are not alone in this endeavor! As your Community Pastors, we’re here to help you pull down fences and make room for more at the table.

Make Room at the Table

“For real community to happen, you have to keep it at the forefront as a family value.”

Why is it so difficult for us to give refrigerator rights to our neighbors? Why do we build fences that restrict community? There are many reasons. Our 21st-century American society has morphed our homes into isolation zones and entertainment havens. Selfishness is rewarded in our modern life, and we’re worse off for it. But it doesn’t need to stay this way. So, what can we do to create change? How can we build community? Here are a few things my family learned along the way: 1. You must be intentional! For real community to happen, you have to keep it at the forefront as a family value. 2. It all starts with getting to know your neighbors. Start praying and ask God to help you meet your neighbors. Take a prayer walk! Then respond in boldness to His answers.

JON WEINER Community Pastor

WHAT’S NEXT? To connect with your Community Pastor and learn how you can intentionally build Christ-centered community in your life, visit lovewhereuare.org/lwya/ community-pastors.

SOUTHEASTCHRISTIAN.ORG

â&#x20AC;&#x153; For I was HUNGRY and you

I was THIRSTY and you

I was a STRANGER and y

I NEEDED CLOTH

I was SICK and you look

I was IN PRISON and yo

u gave me something to eat,

u gave me something to drink,

you invited me in,

HES and you clothed me,

ked after me,

ou came to visit me. â&#x20AC;? Matthew 25:35-36

A N Y Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S J O U R N E Y

HOME

BY CARLA WILLIAMS 18

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nya was seven years old when she was adopted. She’d spent most of her life in two different orphanages in southern Ukraine, and one cold day in December, she met her new parents. A few days later, she was flying across the country with them to jump into a whole new existence.

“WE BRING OUR

Before that day, Anya didn’t even know she could be adopted. She had no idea she could have parents or siblings or a new future. She only knew about fear, and loss, and that adults had the power to hurt her.

MESSY HEARTS,

But then two blonde Americans invited her to come live with them, and she thought she might as well give it a try. Tim and Cindy Meiners did not set out to adopt internationally. They wanted a big family, but it wasn’t working biologically. After 10 years of marriage, they had their first son, and six years later, their second son was born. At that time, the list for private local adoption was so long that anyone with biological children was excluded from applying. So, they thought their plans for a big family were finished. One day, a friend asked them if they had ever considered international adoption. They never had. They weren’t sure they wanted to. But as they were praying about it, Tim stumbled across James 1:27—“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

BAGGAGE, OUR BROKENNESS, OUR

AND OUR SINFUL SOULS INTO HIS HOME, AND HE L O V E S U S F I E R C E LY A N D P R O T E C T I V E LY AS WE LEARN HOW TO TRUST HIM AND L I V E I N H I S F A M I LY. ”

As new believers with simple trust and excitement about following God’s way, the Meiners immediately believed they needed to pursue this call. They began the process, which eventually led them to Ukraine. And even then, they were expecting a baby or toddler. Just a couple weeks before they flew out, they were told no children under four were available for adoption in Ukraine. Would they be willing to take an older child? They prayed and knew God was still asking them to take this leap of faith. When they arrived at the orphanage, Tim and Cindy were planning to bring home one child. They left two weeks later with Anya, who was 7, and another little boy who was 6. Fourteen months later, they returned for two more kids. And several years later, another Ukrainian teenager was added into the family. They had the big family they’d always dreamed of, and more in their care than they could have ever imagined. Continued on page 20

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Anya’s Journey Home // Continued from page 19

Anya soon found herself at home in Louisville, figuring out a whole new life. She began learning English, America, and how to be in a family—none of which were easy. She had lived in an environment of fear and control, so her hardest adjustment was learning how to trust anyone, especially her new mom and dad. But their patience and gentleness eventually broke down some of the walls she’d built around herself for protection. She also learned about Jesus. Her first true encounter was at Southeast’s Easter Pageant soon after she joined her new family. Anya didn’t understand the English, but she could follow along with the story pretty well anyway. When Jesus was crucified, she was crushed. How could her parents show her such a terrible story? She wanted to leave. She wanted to run away from all that suffering. Her mom gently encouraged her to keep watching. Reluctantly convinced, she witnessed the reenactment of the resurrection, and her heart filled with joy and hope. Who was this Man? She had to know more! She had to follow Him! Jesus would continue to surprise and delight her in the following years. Tim and Cindy had no way of knowing what they were agreeing to when they created their blended, messy, beautiful family. They didn’t know about the lasting effects of early trauma or the challenges created by alcohol exposure in utero. They hadn’t considered the emotional ramifications for their biological sons, and had no way of predicting how generational sins would pull at their adopted children. Their blended family was made up of 12 different gene pools! They had no idea how hard it would be. They only knew that God was asking them to trust Him and obey His call on their lives. It certainly was not easy, but He was faithful

What’s Next? Learn more about Southeast’s ministries for Foster Care and Adoption at southeastchristian.org/connect/family. TELL YOUR STORY about finding home at yourstory@secc.org.

NEXT // DECEMBER 2018

and good, and they were thankful for the full house He gave them. We often hear how God adopted us into His family. We think of our adoption as this idyllic, peaceful picture of rosy-cheeked orphans joyfully jumping into the welcoming arms of our Savior. But Tim and Cindy have a clearer picture. God, in His gracious mercy, welcomed us in while we were His enemies. We bring our baggage, our brokenness, our messy hearts, and our sinful souls into His home, and He loves us fiercely and protectively as we learn how to trust Him and live in His family. It’s not pretty, but it’s beautiful. Anya has grown into a wise, funny, faithful woman. She learned how to live in the U.S., be in a family, and embrace her identity as a daughter of God. While trust still isn’t a natural response for her, she has learned that there are people who will consistently love and care for her. She thanks God every day that He sent her parents to Ukraine to find her and bring her into their home. Because her mom and dad trusted that God’s way was perfect, and that He had the strength they would need, Anya now has a home, a family, and a future. When she arrived, she only knew that people could hurt and disappoint her. Now she knows the security of unending love, and the hope of the God who chose her and welcomed her into His family. There’s no other place she’d rather be.

CARLA WILLIAMS Story Curator/Writer

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far from home Christmas in a Jail Cell By Kathryn Brooke Sauer-Jones

NEXT // DECEMBER 2018

his will be the tenth Christmas I’ve spent in prison. It’s hard to recall how I felt each year at this time. Time is really weird in here. You want it to pass by super fast so you’re closer to going home, but then as the time passes, you are faced with the reality of all the things you’ve missed out on. The last Christmas I spent with my kids, they were 2, 4, 5, and 10. This year they are 13, 15, 16, and 20, with a grandbaby on the way in December. Before I gave my life to Christ, I was selfish this time of year. Christmas was all about presents, money, and food. These days I make a point to constantly remind myself that it is about remembering that God sent His Son here to this earth for me—that Christ was born here to ultimately die as a sacrifice for my sins. It is not about money, food, and presents. It is about God’s amazing love. After speaking with some ladies here in the prison and thinking deeply about how this time of year truly makes me feel, I guess the best way to sum it up is this: Christmastime makes many of us think of old Christmases with family and friends— the smells, the decorations, and the food. It also brings up emotions of guilt and anger with ourselves for the choices we’ve made that got us here and for missing out on yet another memory we could be making with our children and loved ones. We all agree that the faster this time of year passes, the better. The other side to this season of waiting is that we have the time to hope and daydream of future Christmases, of new traditions we want to make, and how wonderful it will be to be home again. I look forward to seeing all the Christmas lights and filling my house with fun decorations and good smelling candles. My kids and grandkids can decorate any way they want, and at night I’ll turn out all the lights in the house except the tree and just sit in the glow snuggled next to my husband with a mug of hot chocolate. I will buy gifts and food for families who are struggling. I will go out and personally

bring the homeless blankets, warm food, and drinks. I want to make a conscious effort to never take another moment for granted that I have with my family and friends or pass up an opportunity to help someone feel God’s love through me. This Christmas and all year, I am so blessed to have a wonderful support system. My husband, mother, children, aunt, siblings, and friends all visit the prison regularly and send cards, emails, and money. On Christmas I won’t feel the same as many women here do: that they are forgotten in this place. Of course, we establish friendships and even care for each other in here like family at times. We eat Christmas dinners and desserts together, give each other small gifts of candy or soap we’ve bought from the canteen, and try to be cheerful in saying “Merry Christmas” to one another. But in the end, that doesn’t make up for the fact that some women have no contact with anyone outside of here. They can’t call anyone and don’t receive mail, money, or visits. They don’t know how their kids are or if their family is struggling and missing them too. They feel unloved and lonely. There are also people here who will never be released and have no hope of another Christmas at any home but this one. We may not truly be forgotten and unloved here, but it can be easy to listen to the enemy’s whisper in your ear when you’re spending Christmas with no possible way to be home with the people you miss and love. As a Christian, I know we are never alone or forgotten by God; however, there are many women here who don’t know Christ. This year I will make a conscious effort to be praying daily for them, and I ask that you please remember those women and men who are incarcerated as well. KATHRYN BROOKE SAUER-JONES Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women

“I want to make a conscious effort to never take another moment for granted that I have with my family and friends or pass up an opportunity to help someone feel God’s love through me.”

What’s Next? Get Involved!

Many people involved with Southeast are leading and helping with prison ministries across the Kentuckiana area. Talk to your Connections Pastor to learn more about how you can join those efforts.

Provide Christmas Gifts! Help provide some joy this Christmas for the families of prisoners by giving gifts through Angel Tree at prisonfellowship.org/ about/angel-tree.

Read More!

Read about prison ministry from the perspective of Susan Wilder, our Crestwood Campus Women’s Ministry Leader, at southeastchristian.org/stories.

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AT HOME

Equipping Parents for Spiritual Leadership outheast Christian Church takes great care to provide our children with valuable, engaging Bible stories and lessons each week through our children’s ministries and youth programming. But we firmly believe that your child’s spiritual journey begins at home. We want to equip you to engage your child in discussion, application, and growth of their faith.

Early Childhood (Birth-Preschool)

Our AT HOME feature includes practical insight about what your preschool and elementary children are learning at church, plus suggestions for ways to engage your kids in deeper discussions at home. There’s also a devotion specifically written for your middle and high school students. Working together, we will raise up the next generation of Christ’s followers!

“Birthday Bash”

December’s Challenge Happy Birthday, Jesus! We get to share with our kids that Christmas is all about Jesus’ birthday. We celebrate Jesus’ birthday because Jesus is God’s Son. We are sharing the true story that God gave us His only Son, Jesus, and HE is worth celebrating!

DECEMBER 1/2: The Angel and Mary Luke 1:26-33 The angel told Mary she would have a special baby. DECEMBER 8/9: Jesus Is Born in a Stable Luke 2:1-7 Not everyone knew Jesus is God’s Son. DECEMBER 15/16: Shepherds Luke 2:6-18 The angels tell about Jesus. DECEMBER 22/23: Happy Birthday, Jesus! Luke 1-2 Happy Birthday, Jesus! DECEMBER 29/30: Wise Men Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 The wise men come to see God’s Son.

NEXT // DECEMBER 2018

Memory Verse

“God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son...” John 3:16 GNT

Engage Your Child BABY: While you go through regular daily activities with your baby this month, talk about Jesus, Who came to our world as a baby and needed to be fed, snuggled, clothed, etc. Find opportunities to tell your baby, “Jesus was a baby just like you! And God sent Him to us because He loves us SO much!”

TODDLER: As you are praying with your toddler at bedtime, say, “Dear God, thank You that Jesus was born so long ago. Thank You that He grew up to show us how to love others. Please help me to teach my child about Your great love and that Jesus, Your Son, wants to be our friend forever. We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

PRESCHOOL: Read your child the story of Jesus’ birth and then pull out a nativity set that he/she can use to reenact the story throughout the month. Think about what it would be like to have your first birthday party with animals, angels, and shepherds! © 2018 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Elementary (K-5)

“Undercover Christmas: Make Others Your Mission” Memory Verse

December’s Challenge God’s compassion for the people He created led to the greatest act of love the world has ever seen. God sent His only Son to make us right with Him. We reflect that compassion when we care about others and show them how much God loves them.

Life Application Compassion: Caring enough to do something about someone else’s need.

DECEMBER 1/2: God Loves the World John 3:16 God did something about our greatest need.

Engage Your Child

DECEMBER 8/9: Gabriel Appears to Mary Luke 1:26-56 God can use anyone to meet others’ needs.

One day, do something out of the ordinary to serve your child, like one of his/her chores or a special breakfast. Leave a note saying you love caring for him/her, and challenge him/her to find ways to serve others this week.

DECEMBER 15/16: Jesus Is Born Luke 2:1-7 God gave us the greatest gift. DECEMBER 22/23: Shepherds Visit Jesus Luke 2:8-20 Share the good news about Jesus. DECEMBER 29/30: God Showed His Love 1 John 4:9-12 Love others because God loved you first.

For Crestwood Campus Parents of Crestwood Campus elementary kids, your child will continue our journey through God’s Big Story in December. Engage your student in discussions around these Scriptures BEFORE CHURCH throughout the month.

Did you know?

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIrV®

IN THE MORNING:

MEAL TIME: KIDS: What is the greatest gift you ever received? How did it make you feel? PARENTS: Share about a time you had a big need met by someone when you didn’t even ask for help.

AT BEDTIME: Pray that God will show you when and how to share the good news about Jesus with your words and through compassionate actions. Because of Jesus, we’re free to love God and love others. God’s love is for everyone! © 2018 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

DECEMBER 1/2: God Prepares the Way • Luke 1:1-23 Ask your children what they think it was like for God’s people not to hear from Him for so long. DECEMBER 8/9: The Lord Will Provide • Luke 1:26-38 Discuss why you think God keeps His promises to His people. DECEMBER 15/16: Jesus Is the Promise • Luke 2:8-20 Read the story outside at night or in a room with a big window, so you can imagine being one of the shepherds while you read.

You can text ATHOMECW to 40650 to get a short “At Home Weekly” texted to you!

DECEMBER 22/23: God Is the Rescuer • Matthew 2:13-23 What are some ways that God rescues and watches over us?

DECEMBER 29/30: God Is the Redeemer • Ruth 1-4 How do you think Boaz, as Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, is a symbol for how Jesus is our Redeemer? Continued on page 26

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AT HOME // Continued from page 25

NextGen

LOOKING BEYOND THE PRETTY PACKAGING By Brad McMahan, HSM Pastor, Blankenbaker Campus

NEXT // DECEMBER 2018

holidays tend to be the time of year when the cracks and flaws within our families and homes can’t be ignored. For 10 or 11 months out of the year we can sweep the conflict, unmet expectations, frustration, and the disappointment that comes with playing the comparison game under the rug. Around this time of year, everywhere we turn we get a picture of the perfect family, which only magnifies all of our own imperfections. Whether it’s a commercial with a shiny new car in the driveway or an advertisement with a family sitting down for a meal together in peace, there’s little in these moments that reflects our everyday reality. Packaging is meant to catch our eye. It’s meant to give us the feeling that what’s underneath will live up to the promise of what’s on the outside.

The same can be said at times of the way we imagine or portray people in Scripture. They often can seem like “righteous robots”—accepting commands from God in the face of impossible situations or circumstances. It’s important that we realize that we often see people in Scripture through a lens that may not be totally accurate or complete. There’s often a lot more than the pretty package we’ve put around them.

DISCUSS When you think of Mary and Joseph, how would you describe them? How old do you think they were? What do you think their lives were like?

READ TOGETHER

Luke 1:26-34 and Matthew 1:18-19

Luke 1:35-38 and Matthew 1:20-25

Although we don’t know exactly how old Mary and Joseph

After wrestling with God, doubting the outcome, and even

were, based on the tradition of the time, it’s likely that Mary would have been between 14-16 years old. Joseph might have been much older, because it was normal then for older men to marry younger women.

trying to get out of the whole thing, Mary and Joseph chose to trust the words of the angel and believed in the plan that God had for them.

Joseph was a carpenter. He would have been a blue-collar worker. A builder, someone who had rough hands and worked in the elements. Joseph and Mary probably weren’t very wealthy. They lived in a small town called Nazareth, which wasn’t highly thought of at the time. So, they were from a small town, and Joseph worked for a living making just enough to get by while Mary was preparing for their wedding. And then something happened.

DISCUSS What was Mary’s reaction to hearing the news that she would give birth to God’s Son? TEENAGERS: Knowing Mary was about your age, how would you react to something like this?

This time of year, we can’t hide the cracks and flaws in our families. Just like Mary and Joseph, we have to navigate our doubts, questions, and desires to bail in the face of the brokenness around us. We see from this story that God still chooses to work through broken people.

DISCUSS What is God wanting to do through you and your family this season, despite your messiness? Have you ever “disqualified” yourself or people around you because you assumed that God can’t use you or work through you? Why? Based on what you read and learned, do you still believe that to be true? Why?

PARENTS: What would you do if your daughter or son came to you and said they were going to be the parent of God’s kid? What was Joseph’s plan in dealing with this whole situation? Have you ever looked for a way out of something difficult? Talk about that together.

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MISSIONS IN MIND M e e t So ut he a s t ’ s Mi s s i o n Part n ers

CU Church Church Plant • Champaign-Urbana, Illinois By Meghan Houk

eptember 17, 2017. That was the day that I had circled in red marker and flagged in multicolored sticky notes in my day planner. It was the first day that CU Church met in a building, and the first day that people were going to be dropping off their children into my care for 90 minutes at a time. If you were to take a peek into my personal belongings, you’d probably find handwritten prayers on note cards

NEXT // DECEMBER 2018

and the backs of receipts that begged God to bring no more than 20 kids on that first Sunday—while other staff members were praying for at least 20 people to show up. I had been praying this way because I had no idea what I was doing. After spending a year and a half teaching third grade in Northwest Alaska and having no prior work experience in a church, I didn’t know if I could do this. When more people showed up on our first Sunday

“ God is calling every person who walks in our doors to partner with Him.” than the population of my Inupiat village, I was terrified. “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” That’s a text message I got from a friend the week before CU officially opened its doors. That text was an encouragement to me. It reminded me of all the people in the Bible who God chose to partner with, even though He could have done His work all on His own if He had wanted. But how could God really have intended for me to be His best bet to tell kids about Jesus in ChampaignUrbana? Over the last year of ministry, it’s clear that I wasn’t His best bet—I’m just a small piece of His work here. I am one of the 1,500 people who attend CU Church. I’m one of the millions of people who call themselves members of the global body of Christ. Jesus Christ—He is His Father’s best bet. God has called and equipped some incredible people through CU Church, like Tim and Richie. Tim is a retired police officer who has served on our security team. Tim met Richie, one of our friends without an address, through Thursday night outreach, and the two have become great friends. Now they serve together on the parking lot team. Tim and Richie are taking part in God’s transforming work in the community, and God is transforming their lives in the process. They’re not the only ones. From that very first Sunday in September when

500 more people showed up than I had anticipated, I knew God’s vision for CU was much bigger than mine. He didn’t want just a few people to be called, a few people to be equipped, or a few people to take part in His transforming work. God is calling every person who walks in our doors to partner with Him. One way that we help people do this each week is through a ministry called One for One. Every week, we tell the story of someone outside of our church family who is in crisis. This person in crisis might be someone who recently lost a family member or who had an accident and can’t pay the medical bills. We ask every person in our church family to give one dollar to help, and a week later we bring a check to their door. In this way and so many others, the good news of Jesus influences our lives today and gives us hope for the life to come. At CU Church, we see the Gospel holistically impacting hearts in our midst and transforming our own hearts as we partner with Jesus, God’s best bet for His mission in this world.

WHAT’S NEXT? Thanks to generous and ongoing support from Southeast Christian Church, we at CU Church are able to serve Champaign-Urbana as God has called us to do. Here’s how God is calling you to partner with Him in what He is doing here: pray with us. ·P lease pray for CU’s leadership, including staff members and every person who serves in one of our ministries. ·P ray that the Lord helps us to follow Jesus closely, put Him first, and love those around us well. ·P ray for the local ministries we have partnered with in our outreach to the homeless, to single parents, to college students, and to international residents. ·P ray for our international partners who put themselves at risk every day to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

MEGHAN HOUK CU Church Children's Ministry

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ON MY HEART R e f l e ct i o n s fr o m o u r Mi n ist ry L eaders

Answers to Your Questions Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be a church where all feel welcome to ask honest questions about God By Michael Kast

NEXT // DECEMBER 2018

“ Questions about God are not motivated by a lack of faith. They come from a genuine desire to know more about Him.” everal years ago, I was leading a group of students on a short-term mission trip to inner-city Chicago. We came across a man who was sitting on a chair at a busy intersection and holding up a sign. I was caught off-guard by what he had written on the sign. Instead of asking for a handout, his sign simply read, “Answers to your questions.” I approached and saw that there were a couple of people who had stopped and were asking him their questions and listening to his response. Since then, I’ve often thought about the fact that there were people in that city with real questions on their hearts who were so desperate to find answers that they’d stop to listen to a random man holding a sign on a busy street corner. This caused me to wonder: Is the Church a place where people feel free to ask their questions about God, about the Bible, or about life? Unfortunately, there are times in the Church when people’s questions are viewed as a lack of faith or a sign of weakness. In reality, many people are simply searching for the truth. But sometimes the Church’s response might come across as harsh, condescending, and patronizing, with the not-so-subtle implication that “If you had more faith, you wouldn’t have these questions!” And that tragic spirit can prove fatal to a person’s search for faith. In reality, the Bible encourages us to “Be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude 1:22) and to “…be patient with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) Maybe one of the reasons we’re tempted to shoot down questions is because we’re afraid that we don’t know the answer ourselves, or we’re afraid we might offer the wrong answers to someone’s questions.

Your questions are welcome here. Throughout the year, we hold groups and classes at each of our campuses where you can discuss questions about God, the Bible, and the Christian life. One of these recurring opportunities is our Membership Class, where we walk through what we believe as a church and why we believe it. Check out the What’s Happening insert in this month’s

Most times the questions people ask today are the very same questions people have been asking for hundreds and even thousands of years. Why does God let bad things happen? Doesn’t it seem arrogant to think that Jesus is the only way to Heaven? How can God claim to be loving and still send people to Hell? How can miracles be real? So, questions about God are not motivated by a lack of faith. They come from a genuine desire to know more about Him. Wouldn’t it be great if the Church was known as a place where people could come and find answers to their honest questions? I pray that’s true for our church. My hope is that Southeast is a safe place where everyone can feel encouraged to ask the hard questions that are burning inside of them. I hope Southeast is known as a place that doesn’t avoid tough topics or shy away from tackling life’s issues, but rather a place where people feel welcome to be open and honest and real. A friend of mine once said, “The greatest threat to faith isn’t doubt, it’s silence.” Let’s be a church where honest, seeking questions are answered in a straightforward, Bible-based, and people-honoring manner. Maybe we as a church need to put up a sign that says, “Answers to your questions.”

MICHAEL KAST Campus Pastor Elizabethtown Campus

magazine or visit southeastchristian.org/EVENTS to learn more about upcoming groups and classes at your campus. Another great way to build open, honest community is through home groups. New groups are launching in January, so make sure you find a place to get plugged in!

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GET EQUIPPED Resources to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus

STREAM on RightNow Media

Visit southeastchristian.org/EVENTS to get free access to the biggest video Bible study library in the world!

The Gospel Comes with a House Key 13-Part Series by Rosaria Butterfield

READ

Now available at The Living Word

Better Together By Rusty George The Bible has a lot to say about “me,” but it has much more to say about “we!” God created us for community, and that’s what He has called us to pursue. Together we connect with Jesus better, heal better, and bless the world around us better.

Just Open the Door By Jen Schmidt Every time we choose open-door living—whether in our homes or by taking hospitality on the road like Jesus—those we invite in get to experience the lived-out Gospel, our kids grow up in a life-lab of generosity, and we trade insecurity for connection.

God’s Very Good Idea By Trillia Newbell and Catalina Echeverri This beautifully illustrated book helps children to see how people from all ethnic and social backgrounds are valuable to God. Jesus came to rescue all kinds of people, welcoming everyone into His church.

NEXT // DECEMBER 2018

Rosaria Butterfield invites us into her home to show us how God can use “radical, ordinary hospitality” to bring the Gospel to our lost friends and neighbors. Such hospitality views our homes not as our own, but as God’s tools for the furtherance of His Kingdom as we welcome people who are different from us into our everyday, sometimes messy lives—helping them see what true Christian faith really looks like.

The Book of 1 Peter 7-Part Series by Kyle Idleman

This world looks nothing like the promised, perfect Kingdom of God. Yet, we as God’s people must live in it every day. In The Book of 1 Peter, Kyle Idleman walks through this short letter to unpack the importance of our witness in this world. Until the day when God rights all wrongs, we have a job to do. Let’s be about the business of the Kingdom.

COMING UP

Church-wide Happenings at Southeast

Resources to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus

SPRING SEMESTER

Groups Booklet Available December 29/30 All Campus Atriums The new year is just around the corner, and that means our ministries are about to launch into another semester of groups at our campuses and out in the community. Keep an eye out for our Spring Groups Booklets, which list the groups launching near your campus in 2019!

All Southeast Campuses If you are new to Southeast, Starting Point is your first step to finding out more about who we are and how to get connected around here. Registration and additional information are available online.

Find out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening at each of our campuses and register for events at southeastchristian.org/EVENTS.

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ADVENT 2 01 8 DA I LY D E VO T I O N A L

Spend the Christmas season in the Psalms, praising God in this in-between season as we look back at Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; birth and look forward to His return.

Free copies are available at all of Southeastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campuses. A digital devotional is available at southeastchristian.org/christmas.