| asa Hello ! May 2021 our website Giving to LIHN We are grateful for every gift and giver! Pentecost: The Christian Life is a Supernatural Life The Christian life is a supernatural life! The risen Christ declared to His disciples, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” ( Luke 24:49 ). Jesus knew their need. Without the filling of the Holy Spirit, how is a holy life of faithfulness to Christ possible? During my 10 years serving as the Chaplain at Virginia Wesleyan University I met dozens of students who loved God, but privately told me they were struggling to follow Christ. Some said they thought they were doing it wrong or that something was missing. I listened, and asked a lot of questions that all led to this final question, “Have you ever asked God to fill you with His Spirit?” At first, I was surprised that they would say, “No.” After numerous encounters, I realized that so many young Christians haven’t been taught well about the Holy Spirit. I would then show them this passage, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” ( Luke 11:11-13 )! I would then ask if they wanted to ask God for the Holy Spirit, as Jesus invites us to do. It was a joy to pray with them and over them for the Holy Spirit to fill them. Read More Upcoming Events May 8: Small Group Training at First UMC Fox Hill May 9: Preaching at Nimmo UMC 9:00am:Ourdoor Worship 11:00am: Indoor worship and online May 16: Preaching at Thalia UMC 8:30am:Traditional Worship Live Stream 9:45am:Contemporary Worship Live Stream May 30: Preaching at Lynnhaven UMC 11:00am:In person or online June 20 & 27: Preaching at Virginia Beach Christian Church 10:00am:Worship outside in person or online Update: The Master Plan of Evangelism We completed two online evangelism classes in April. I used Robert Coleman‘s classic book, The Master Plan of Evangelism to guide us. We had 17 people participating, three of whom were pastors! Here’s a couple comments from the evaluations of the course: “I have gained affirmation and a renewed drive to win souls and make strong disciples through His word. You used this older book in such a time as we find ourselves in, a perfect choice, for we need to multiply, and conquer the evils of our nation through God‘s redeeming plan and the blood of Jesus.” “Going through the Scriptures and looking at what Jesus did with the light of evangelism was a great help. It allowed me to put evangelism in a very different context.” Did You Know About This Spirit-Filled Artist? Then Moses told the people of Israel, 'The Lord has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. The Lord has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. EXODUS 35:30-33 (NLT) |
Pentecost: The Christian Life is a Supernatural Life | |
The Christian life is a supernatural life! The risen Christ declared to His disciples, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Jesus knew their need. Without the filling of the Holy Spirit, how is a holy life of faithfulness to Christ possible?
During my 10 years serving as the Chaplain at Virginia Wesleyan University I met dozens of students who loved God, but privately told me they were struggling to follow Christ. Some said they thought they were doing it wrong or that something was missing. I listened, and asked a lot of questions that all led to this final question, “Have you ever asked God to fill you with His Spirit?” At first, I was surprised that
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they would say, “No.”
After numerous encounters, I realized that so many young Christians haven’t been taught well about the Holy Spirit. I would then show them this passage,
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:11-13)!
I would then ask if they wanted to ask God for the Holy Spirit, as Jesus invites us to do. It was a joy to pray with them and over them for the Holy Spirit to fill them.
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May 8: Small Group Training at First UMC Fox Hill
May 9: Preaching at Nimmo UMC
9:00am:Ourdoor Worship
11:00am: Indoor worship and online
May 16: Preaching at Thalia UMC
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Update: The Master Plan of Evangelism | |
We completed two online evangelism classes in April. I used Robert Coleman‘s classic book, The Master Plan of Evangelism to guide us. We had 17 people participating, three of whom were pastors!
Here’s a couple comments from the evaluations of the course:
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“I have gained affirmation and a renewed drive to win souls and make strong disciples through His word. You used this older book in such a time as we find ourselves in, a perfect choice, for we need to multiply, and conquer the evils of our nation through God‘s redeeming plan and the blood of Jesus.” | |
“Going through the Scriptures and looking at what Jesus did with the light of evangelism was a great help. It allowed me to put evangelism in a very different context.” | |
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Did You Know About This Spirit-Filled Artist? | |
Then Moses told the people of Israel, 'The Lord has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. The Lord has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. | |
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