February 20th, 2012
Ash Wednesday is the start of the Season of Lent. A season you may or may not know the meaning behind.
Lent is a forty-day period before Easter, and begins on Ash Wednesday. (We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection.) This year, Lent begins on February 22 and ends on April 7, the day before Easter.
We all come with various thoughts and experiences when it comes to Lent. Some do not have much experience with it at all. For others, there is a deep sense of meaning and tradition. And for still others, there might be a sense of forced tradition without much meaning at all.
It is our hope that no matter what your experience has been, you will join us this season of Lent with an open and expectant heart, ready for a discovery, rediscovery, or the continuation of a deep and meaningful tradition bringing you closer to God.
The season of Lent is a season of worship for both personal and corporate spiritual renewal in preparation for celebration of the central event in Christianity, the death and resurrection of Christ. It is a time for intense study of God’s word, for meditation, for prayer, and for self-examination. It begins quietly with ashes and builds in intensity as the observance of Christ’s death and resurrection grow closer. Ultimately, the purpose of Lent is a pilgrimage to put the Gospel in motion in a convicting, empowering, and personal way.
In the Old Testament, God used feasts and festivals to bring a rhythm and balance to Israelite worship. This was accomplished by providing structure to the recounting of God’s great works, providing seasons of confession and celebration, and looking forward to God’s promises. The Christian Church year gives us some of the same balance and rhythm in walking through the life of Christ in a way that essentially walks us through the Gospel.

So as we enter the season of Lent you might notice the worship taking on a more subdued and reflective character of the season. This will then contrast with the excitement and praise of Easter and the season of Pentecost.
May we all experience the joy that comes with living in Christ, as we individually and corporately seek throughout the season of Lent.
Grace and Peace,
Brian Miller, Creative Director
Posted in Blog
February 12th, 2012
How? By loosening your grip on things and tightening your grip on the Lord. Pastor Jon concludes the Igniting a Life of Generosity series with the acknowledgement that everything you have is a gift from God, and only He can give you the gifts you really want. Scripture references: 1 Timothy 6:17-19; James 1:17.
Download the mp3
The disciplines do not dispense grace.
Dallas Willard
The Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it.
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Posted in Podcast
February 5th, 2012
Though we’re hard pressed to completely understand the greatness and vastness of God, each step in that direction naturally leads us into lives of greater generosity. Pastor Jon Adams explores what our generosity might look like in light of God’s greatness and generosity. Scripture references: 1 Timothy 6:15-19; Psalm 121:2; John 3:16; 1 Samuel 24:24.
Download the mp3
Communion meditation for 02/05/2012:
The more you know him the more you will want to know him. The better you know him the more you will want to serve him.
The deepest thought a person can ever have is his conception of God’s character.
Dan DeHann
There are pseudo-atheists who think that they believe in God, but who in reality deny His existence by each one of their deeds.
Jacques Maritain
I believe that the real difference in the American church is not between conservatives and liberals, fundamentalists and charismatics, nor between Republicans and Democrats. The real difference is between the aware and the unaware.
When somebody is aware of that love—the same love that the Father has for Jesus—that person is just spontaneously grateful. Cries of thankfulness become the dominant characteristic of the interior life, and the byproduct of gratitude is joy. We’re not joyful and then become grateful—we’re grateful, and that makes us joyful.
Brennan Manning.
In our generation, the arts, in music, in philosophy, in drama, everywhere you turn, man is coming to see that man is less than he knows he should be. Our generation sees this, but the problem is not new in our time. Ever since the fall rebellious man has been this way.
Francis Schaeffer, True Spirituality, p. 166
Posted in Podcast
January 31st, 2012
Dear Vine Community,
I wanted to take a moment to report on our church finances and celebrate with you our year end giving.
As many of you may know, December is the most critical calendar month for the church’s budget. For this past December, we projected giving to be approximately $126,000 and I’m excited to report that it actually came in at about $156,000 which is our largest giving month ever. This puts us back on target for reaching our expected giving budget this fiscal year and is a 7.5% lift over last year’s annual budget.
Additionally, the staff has done a great job managing expenses and so we are about $20,000 above our projected cash level.
In the coming days, please take a moment to thank God for his constant faithfulness and blessings that he provides our church.
Thank you again for your generosity. It is because of your generosity that we are able to work as a church family to advance the Kingdom and minister to people not only in Forsyth county, but all over the world.
Mark Pugh,
Director, Loving Our Community and Operations
p.s. You should have received your Year End Contribution Statement by now. If you have not, please contact the church office.
Posted in Blog
January 29th, 2012
The love of money can be destructive, causing one to wander far from the love, relationship and purpose God has for them. Pastor Jon Adams describes a path back our first love, expressed in the three-four time of a waltz: Flee, Follow and Fight. Scripture references: 1 Timothy 6:10-12a; 1 Corinthians 10:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
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Posted in Podcast
January 22nd, 2012
Contrary to popular opinion, money is not the root of all evil: it’s neutral. The problem lies in the heart. Our response to money is what leads either to bondage or freedom to truly live. Pastor Jon Adams delves into how a distorted desire for money destroys relationships, and a powerful way to displace the love of money with a greater love for God and the freedom He gives. Scripture references: 1 Timothy 6:9-10; Matthew 6:21,6:33,22:37; Mark 10:17-22.
Download the mp3
Money will either be like a trap to bind you or tool to free you to truly live.
Communion meditation for 01/22/2012:
When we surrender every area of our lives– including our finances–to God, then we are free to trust Him to meet our needs. But if we would rather hold tightly to those things that we possess, then we find ourselves in bondage to those very things.
Larry Burkett, Money Matters
There can be no doubt that this possessive clinging to things is one of the most harmful habits in the [christian] life. Because it is so natural, it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is. But its outworkings are tragic.
A. W. Tozer, The Works Of A. W. Tozer
There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind, and the purse.
Martin Luther, Biography and Information
Economy is half the battle of life; it is not so hard to earn money as to spend it well.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Archive
Posted in Podcast
January 15th, 2012
You won’t be content, satisfied on the inside until you’ve received the wealth only Jesus can give you. Pastor Jon Adams teaches on the true life and true wealth comes with a growing knowledge of God. Scripture references: 1 Timothy 6:6-8,17; Philippians 4:12b-13; Luke 16:13; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12a; James 1:17; Romans 8:31-32.
Download the mp3
Communion meditation for 01/15/2012:
All joy emphasizes our pilgrim status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best havings are wantings.
C.S. Lewis
Unsatisfied desire is in itself more desirable than any other satisfaction.
C.S. Lewis
True contentment is a real, even an active, virtue – not only affirmative but creative. It is the power of getting out of any situation all there is in it.
G.K. Chesterton
Being “contented” ought to mean in English, as it does in French, being pleased. Being content with an attic ought not to mean being unable to move from it and resigned to living in it; it ought to mean appreciating all there is in such a position.
G.K. Chesterton
To be content with even the best people, we must be contented with little and bear a great deal. Those who are most perfect have many imperfections, and we have great faults; between the two, mutual toleration becomes very difficult.
Francois Fenelon
Posted in Podcast
January 10th, 2012
If you’ve been to The Vine more than once, you know about our mission statement – the 3 Loves. They are:
Loving God through continuous Worship
Loving Each other through Small Groups
Loving Our Community through Service
Last year we introduced part of our philosophy for Loving Our Community under the theme of “STEMS,” (aka Short Term Mission Trips). STEMS seemed an appropriate acronym considering its relationship to our church name, The Vine. In reality, stems serve to keep a vine’s leaves, flowers and fruits in the light! And so too, do our short term missions trips help to keep the members and attenders of The Vine walking in the light as an example of Jesus as we serve the poor, oppressed and marginalized in our regional, national and international communities. A simple 4-7 day trip for one of us, offered as a sacrifice of time and effort, not only refocuses our own spirits on the mind of Christ but also reminds us of the importance of bringing the light and hope of Jesus to others around the globe.
The STEMS team took three trips in 2011. In June we had teams in Haiti and Kenya, Africa. In July, another team traveled to West Virginia. A number of testimonials were shared as a result of the phenomenal work done in and through each team member by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This year, The Vine missions team is seeking God’s blessing to send out 5 teams:
- Haiti – In mid to late June, our high school kids will be working with Young Life at a school, delivering the Gospel message, and providing food to those in need.
- New Orleans (inner city) – In mid to late June, our middle school kids are planning a trip to an urban environment to share the love of Christ.
- Fairmount, West Virginia – From July 21 - 28, we will be attending the Day Spring Camp sponsored by Missions to the World (MTW). While there, the team will be repairing a home and providing one-on-one evangelism to those in need.
- Haiti – From July 14 – 21, we will again be working with MTW (more details to come).
- Peru – From December 9 – 15, we will be working with Face to Face Missions to bring Christmas to 3 orphanages. We also have room for a medical team and a construction team to work on different projects at the orphanages (more details to come).
STEMS is not a program of The Vine, it is part of who we are. Maybe you’ve thought about going on a trip but have been afraid that you wouldn’t have anything to contribute. Perhaps you have been a faithful prayer warrior for those that go on missions trips, but haven’t prayed about going on a trip yourself. Perhaps you have traveled somewhere before and offered others the same hope that Christ has offered you, but didn’t consider that mission’s work. The question today is not, “Should I go this time?” The question today is, “How can I not go this time?”
May the Lord guard and guide you in your own life of ministry this year. As you seek His plan and purpose regarding missions, please contact missions@thevinecommunitychurch.com to let us know if you are interested in leading or going on a trip.
Be blessed, encouraged and hopeful in Him,
Alex and Holly Compton
Alex and Holly Compton are members of The Vine. Alex serves as the Director of STEMS, and Holly recently served as the Director of The Vine Fall Festival. In addition, Alex and Holly lived as missionaries in Peru for more than a year before returning to Atlanta and joining The Vine.
Posted in Blog
January 8th, 2012
Jeff & Andrea Hancock – listening to God
Mark & Rhonda Pugh – Trusting God in the big and the little
Andy Goddard – at the Edge
God had to take Andy to the brink of losing everything before Andy was truly willing to give his entire life to God and trust Him with everything, including his career and companies, which is where many men try to find their identity.
Chuck Beckman – All In
When the economy took a back slide a few years ago, Chuck Beckman lost most of his “earthly” wealth. But it was through that loss that he came to realize God was calling him to a higher wealth that could only come from letting go of everything here on Earth and fully living for and trusting in God.
Feel free to jump into to one of the new groups reading through the Generosity study guide by Gordon MacDonald.
The new Small Groups are:
Sunday Mornings, 9-10:30 am, Auditorium A at The Vine
(childcare will be available)
Led by Martin & Nancy Click, click.martin@gmail.com
Sunday Evenings, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, at The Vine
led by Mike & Debbie Smith, michael.smith@gridgistics.net
Posted in Blog
January 8th, 2012
Pastor Jon Adams begins a series of messages on what it means to ignite a life of generosity. Scripture references: 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Romans 8:32.
Download the mp3
Resolved: To endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
Jonathan Edwards
Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, 1703-1791.
Tags: generosity | Posted in Podcast
