SUMMER SURVIVAL PT. 4

3 07 2008

by Caleb Hancock

Well, it’s that time again! A new message to keep you pondering the gospel over the Summer.

Here’s one of my favorites, C.J. Mahaney from New Attitude 2006 called The Cross: A meditation on Jesus’ Atoning Death. Enjoy!!!

The Cross: A Meditation on Jesus’ Atoning Death

  • So…what did you like? Dislike? Not understand?
  • Have you ever read C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe before?
  • Will you read/watch this tale differently after having heard this message?
  • Will you read Isaiah 53 differently now?
  • Answer C.J.’s question: What does it all mean?
  • Are you lacking in Joy? What is the solution?





CELEBRATE

1 07 2008

THROWING OFF THE YOKE OF BRITISH TYRANNY WITH VFC!

Everyone is headed to Naomi’s grandparents’ to swim, fish, play, eat and set off fireworks!

Ask someone cool for details then call Naomi to let her know you are coming!





JUST SO YOU KNOW

28 06 2008

We love silliness. Its to our disadvantage sometimes, but neverthless. For example:





SUMMER SURVIVAL PT. 3

27 06 2008

by Katie Roach

As we review John MacArthur’s message from the Together for the Gospel conference, I hope that it fills us with absolute amazement and thankfulness for our salvation! He begins by referencing John 5:39-40 and John 6:44 that says that we are unwilling to go to God, and unable to go to God unless He Himself draws us. This most distinctively Christan doctrine of human inability and unwillingness to contribute to our salvation is the most despised and attacked doctrine. This truth doesn’t sit well with us. We are unwilling to see ourselves in our true condition and are convinced that we are good. We are sentimental toward a benign, domesticated god of our own making, not knowing the true God. Ouch. Do we see the evil in our “goodness” or religion? Would you ever describe yourself as evil, selfish, or dead?

Let the truths of this God-glorifying doctrine humble us and propel us to the cross. Let us cast all hope outside of ourselves, our “good” works, even our “good” intentions and praise God that He saved us! All we could ever move God to do, is condemn us eternally to hell, but because of His great mercy we have been brought to God as sons and daughters!

Leave some comments.





COME SING WITH US!

25 06 2008

Have you missed singing together and worshipping the Savior together this summer?

If so, come out to the VFC House this Thursday night, June 26. We will take the evening to magnify the Lord and exalt his name together through singing and praying (Ps 34:3). We will begin at 8:30pm - after the 2:9 Initiative at Sundown - and will conclude around 10:00pm.

If you’re weird and don’t know where the house is, here are some directions.





SUMMER VFC PICNIC @ THE Y

19 06 2008

Hey VFC!

Summer is almost 1/2 over! While that statement usually makes middle-schoolers cry, it means that we are that much closer to VFC kicking back into full gear!

And to keep you guys hype throughout the summer, we are meeting up every couple of weeks for informal fellowship and hanging out.

So if you are free this Sunday, we will be meeting up after church @ CCK to go to the “Y” in the Smoky Mountains to enjoy a picnic and the little river together.

So bring your swimsuit, your lunch, your Frisbee, and yourself to CCK at 12:45 to carpool out there and enjoy God’s creation together!

This message brought to you by the letter:

If you are driving separately and need directions, click here:

DIRECTIONS TO THE Y





SUMMER SURVIVAL PT. 2

19 06 2008

by Caleb Hancock

So…for the second installment of VFC’s Survive the Summer: Free Message Series, we are jumping right in to some steep theology. But don’t be intimidated! This message is about a doctrine that is essential to Christianity and hence to YOU as a Christian. So check out the link to Bruce Ware’s message called Equal in Essence: Distinct in Function from New Attitude 2006. Go ahead and listen to it!!!

Equal in Essence: Distinct in Function

  • So, what did you think about what Mr. Ware had to say about the doctrine of the Trinity?
  • Did you find it understandable?
  • Do you agree?
  • Where there any misconceptions about God that you realize now that you had been believing? (modalism, the Holy Spirit being merely a power or force and not a person, kenotic heresy: believeing that Jesus was no longer fully divine when he was incarnated) If so, what about this message helped you to understand this particular topic differently?
  • Does understanding the way that the God-head relates within their own roles help you view any of the relationships that you are in?

Feel free to comment below on what you thought of the message, as well as to answer any of the above questions!





SUMMER SURVIVAL PT. 1

12 06 2008

By Walt Alexander

Today, we will begin reviewing the messages from the summer survival kit. The first message is entitled “The Suffering Servant” by C.J. Mahaney. I heard C.J. preach this message in the summer of 2004 at Celebration East. It was and has remained one of the greatest messages I have ever heard. I have run back to this message numerous times to remind myself of Christ Jesus’ substitutionary death.

To recap, C.J. elaborated on three points in the message from Isaiah 53. In proclaiming the appearance of the suffering servant in verse 1-2, C.J. highlighted the clearly unimpressive background and work of Jesus to human observation. No one – then or now – would see the truth of the cross apart from God revealing it to them. Then, in proclaiming the reality of the death of the suffering servant in verses 3-6, C.J. refused our pleas of innocence and led us to the cross to see what we have done. It was for us and because of our sins that he died. Finally, in proclaiming the significance of the death of the suffering servant, C.J. expounds on the assurance of pardon through the cross that reveals the Father’s love for guilty sinners.

To seek to apply this message, I wanted to ask two simple questions:

Are you filled with joy unspeakable when you consider the suffering servant’s sacrifice? If not, what other joys are robbing the cross of its central place in creating and sustaining joy in your life?

Are you aware and convinced of God’s love? If not, what does it take for God to prove his love to you?

Consider the love of God for sinners by hearing again this quote from the message:
“So great was the Father’s love that when the Son in the Garden of Gethsemane contemplated the cup, looked into the cup, the cup of His wrath that in a matter of hours He would have to drink as our substitute for our sins. So great was the Father’s love for sinners like you and me that when the Savior in contemplating that cup was staggered in his humanity…he was staggered and in effect pinned to the ground as he contemplated God’s righteous, full, furious wrath against sin that would rest upon his body and soul, and he was so staggered that in his humanity he prayed: “Father, would it be possible to remove this cup? Remove this cup from me.” And, here is what the Son heard in response to this request: Silence! “Father, is there an alternate? Father, is there…Can I avoid this?” Silence. Hours later he would hang suspended between heaven and earth and now he wasn’t simply staring into the cup. Now, he was the object of God’s righteous and furious and just wrath against sin. And hanging suspended between heaven and earth, the object of this righteous wrath as a substitute for sinners like you and me, he cries out: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And, once again, silence.”

Are there any other points that taught you something new from this passage? Any points that were particularly good to hear again?

Have you listened to the message yet? If not, listen here for free:

The Suffering Servant

Listen not to free yourself from condemnation, but to enjoy the grace received from the cross at Calvary.





PICNIC + THE COVE = TIME OF YOUR LIFE

6 06 2008

Come hang out with us at the Cove this Sunday, June 8 at 1.

This is a B.Y.O.L.F. event. (Bring Your Own Lunch and Fun) Do it!





SUMMER READING PT.2

5 06 2008

Don’t let your brains get squishy! (Any more than they already are, that is!)

After New Attitude, we figured you all would love to have a book recommended by Pastor Joshua Harris…so go check out our recently revamped Recommended Resources page to see what book it is! Just click the pic below to browse our page where you can preview and find a link to purchase the books!!!

ps. Keep your eyes peeled for FREE messages that we will be posting here on VFC’s website weekly starting soon…as in Next Week!!!!! Summer Survival with VFC continues!!!!