Category Archives: MERGE Rewind

***Today’s Reflection quiet time video aid is available one post below this one.***

Current Series: FarmTown

Message Title: “Eventually”

Speaker: Cody Hale

Sermon in a Sentence: What you plant will EVENTUALLY grow.

Scale of Depth: 4 out of 10

Understandable Message: This was the second week in our FarmTown series.  There are certain laws and principles in life and on Earth that are undeniable, such as gravity.  There is no debate, no arguing; 100 times of 100 trys gravity will happen.  It is an absolute.  We said that a similar absolute is the Principle of Planting: what you plant will eventually grow.  This is really easy for us to understand in the context of farming (an apple seed always produces an apple tree and eventually apples, never peanuts), but it can be very difficult for us to understand in the context of our lives and our faiths even though it is just as absolute and concrete.  Often, people think that they are the exception to the rule; however, the thing about absolutes is that there are no exceptions. 

We said that growth doesn’t take place immediately.  We don’t plant an acorn, count to ten Mississippi and expect to see an oak tree.  It is the same for us relationally, emotionally, and spiritually.  The good news of this is that if you are planting faith now; God’s faithfulness will come.  However, the flipside is that if you are planting sin now; that will eventually grow as well.  Often, we believe we have gotten away with something, but in reality, sin always grows into something we never intended for it to be.

Scripture Reference: Galatians 6:7-10

Music Playlist: Wait for the Lord, Running, and Rescue

Favorite Moment: Another student surrendered her life to Christ, and many other students and adults told me about how God had challenged or convicted them.  God is good!

Needs Improvement: Follow-up

***Today’s Reflection quiet time video aid is available one post below this one.***

Current Series: FarmTown

Message Title: Where Do Seeds Come From?

Speaker: Kenny Nix

Sermon in a sentence: Seeds come from fruit; you can’t plant seeds, if you don’t have fruit.

Scale of Depth: 6 out of 10

Understandable Message: We began a new series called FarmTown.  Throughout this series, we are examining the basic, Biblical truth of: “Whatever you plant will grow.”  Last night, Kenny kicked off our series by asking the question of “Where do seeds come from?”  He explained that if you were to rip open an orange, you would find seeds.  Seeds are found in fruit.  Before we can plant seeds, we must have the fruit which contains seeds.  We were challenged to examine our relationships with Christ and to evaluate the fruit of that relationship with Christ.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 7:13-23

Music Playlist: Salvation is Here, From the Inside Out, and Worth It All.

Favorite Moment: The influence of the Holy Spirit on our service.  Last night was an amazing display of His work.  Third week out of four in which a student or adult has surrendered their life to Christ.

Needs Improvement: Welcoming Visitors.

***Today’s Reflection quiet time video aid is available one post below this one.***

Current Series: Moment of Truth

Message Title: MERGE Unplugged (a night of simple, intimate worship)

Speaker: Andrew Nunnelley

Sermon in a sentence: “IT” is not about MERGE; “IT” is about Jesus, the cross, and the resurrection.

Scale of Depth: 3 out of 10

Understandable Message: Last night was MERGE Unplugged.  It is a time where we as a ministry take away the fancy lights, the band, and all of the other cutting edge technology and focus on worship…….IT WAS INCREDIBLE.  Andrew  explained each song as we reflected on the words and what they meant.  The whole night allowed us to refocus as a family and to reevaluate what “IT” is all about.  It was a simple time together, as many poured their hearts at the altar and others poured their hearts in praise.

Scripture Reference: John 3:16

Music Playlist: Oh, Praise Him, Grace Like Rain, Heart of Worship, More of You Jesus, Mighty is the Power of the Cross, Sweetly Broken, and Cry Out to Jesus.

Favorite Moment: I loved the simplicity of the service and the way the Holy Spirit was stirring hearts.  Two students and one adult surrendered their lives to Christ.

Needs Improvement: Welcoming Visitors

Current Series: Moment of Truth

Message Title: “The Crash”

Speaker: Cody Hale

Sermon in a sentence: In times that are the loudest, we need to be the quietest.

Scale of Depth: 8 out of 10

Understandable Message: We finished up the Moment of Truth series in which we walked through the life of Elijah.  The moment of truth that we discussed was the “crash” experience.  The “crash” happens during those times when we feel like we have never been closer to God and have experienced Him in a powerful, supernatural way; then, it’s like the rug is yanked out from under us as we “crash” to rock bottom.  We learned from Elijah’s crash experience.  There are a variety of ways the crash happens, sometimes its because of sin, but sometimes it isn’t.  However, the common theme is that we rarely ever see the “crash” coming.  Though it is somewhat churchy and cliche-ish, there is no three step formula for recovering from a crash; God, and only God, can restore and heal us.  Like Elijah, we are often running so hard, so fast, and so far that we don’t stop long enough to hear God, who often speaks to us as a gentle whisper.  In those loud moments, we must be the quietest so God can bring us rest.  Matthew 11:28: Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” 

Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 19

Music Playlist: Marvelous Light, From the Inside Out, Rescue, and Worth It All.

Favorite Moment: Absorbing the words of “Worth It All” during the invitation.  Seeing God bring rest to students that were desperate.

Needs Improvement: Involving students in our services.

Incredible night last night.  Next week is MERGE Unplugged, which has been highly requested.  It will be a service of intimate worship, and Andrew will share with us from his heart and will explain many of the songs that we sing to God.  It will be awesome.  See you there!

 

Current Series: Moment of Truth

Message Title: Which God Can Hear You?

Speaker: Cody Hale

Sermon in a sentence: There is only one God; choose Him.

Scale of Depth: 4 out of 10

Understandable Message: There is nothing more devastating than selling out to a god that can’t love, hear, or answer you.  Most people sacrifice everything for a god that will completely abandon them when they need he, she, or it.  Often, we will try to satisfy multiple gods in our lives, but we have no capacity to serve them all completely.  There is a moment of truth in which we must choose the god whom we will serve.  There is only one God who can love, hear, and answer you; choose Him.

Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 18:16-39

Music Playlist: Take It All, The Stand, and Amazed

Favorite Moment: Students responding to the Gospel.  9 students surrendered their lives to Christ.  The new stage.

Needs Improvement: Involving students in our services.

Sorry for the brief hiatus.  With last week being MERGE 286, our ministry team was maxed out.  But, I would love to brag on our student ministry for a second.  We had 19 first time attenders to MERGE this week and 17 the week before.  They didn’t come for any grand event or gimmick (ie, dodgeball, bikini team, etc.) because there weren’t any.  You brought them because you love them and are passionate about Jesus and his Good News.  Thank you for being a stinking awesome youth family.

To my team: Kenny, Andrew, Joey, and Joe knocked it out of the park.  I have been overwhelmed by your dedication, humility, and passion in serving our Lord and investing in the lives of students.  I know you guys are maxed out, overworked, and strung thin, but I notice and, more importantly, God notices.  I love you guys.

Hopefully, next week, I will begin posting a daily video quiet time helper.  After talking with many of you, I believe this is something that could be an asset to our ministry.  Please notice the comment button above, and feel free to converse.

You Rock,

Cody

Each Thursday, I am going to try to post a recap of the previous night’s MERGE service.  I will give you the nuts and bolts of what happend and hit the high points for those of you who were unable to make it.

Current Series: Moment of Truth

Message Title: The Desert Experience

Speaker: Kenny Nix

Sermon in a sentence: God often uses desert experiences to draw us closer to him and to prepare us for a great work.

Scale of Depth: 7 out of 10

Understandable Message: We began a new series called “Moment of Truth.”  In this series, we are discussing common moments that all Christ-followers experience which God uses to teach us a vital truth.  One of these moments is the desert experience.  Though it may begin during a storm, the desert experience is different than a storm.  It is a time which God gets you all alone with Him.  It’s a time where you feel lonely, confused, and incapable of even supporting your own weight.  You have to lean on God, because you are too weak to support yourself.  Then, you are ready to learn something new; then, He can prepare you for the great work that lies ahead for you.  Desert experiences aren’t you being punished for something; they are you being prepared for something.

Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 17

Music Playlist:  One I can’t remember, Give Us Clean Hands, God of this City, and Let It Rain.

Favorite Moment: During the worship time, students were singing so loud I could hear them over our band (and the band was loud.)  The room was full of electricity and energy.

Needs Improvement: Adults sitting amongst students instead of behind them.  Being strategically relational. 

Be in prayer for MERGE.  We are praying that God will use this minsitry to multiply the Gospel in Calhoun County.  I love you all!