LifeChurch.tv Church Online Blog

Make a Bold Move - Read God's Word

LifeChurch.TV — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 22:36:10 +0000

During the Bold series, we will learn from the bold moves of people of the first church by reading the Acts YouVersion reading plan together, here on the LifeChurch.tv Facebook page. The reading plan is at http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/acts and lasts just 14 days. Commit for just two weeks to read it with us and share what you're learning. We know you'll get a lot out of it. In fact, the Church Online staff will be going through the reading plan at the same time, and will be sharing thoughts and lessons that we can all take. As you read, be intentional about finding examples of bold living that you can follow in your own life and share your thoughts right here on the Facebook page!

When: Starting Monday, August 1st

Where: http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/acts

At the Movies is Here - Who will you Invite?

LifeChurch.TV — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 22:31:09 +0000

Are you looking for an epic adventure? Join us for At the Movies! We’ll be diving into some Hollywood hits and uncovering the story behind the story. You can see it at any of the over 50 Church Online experiences, so don’t miss it. Get ready for something big! http://live.lifechurch.tv

(And there’s a battle raging at Church Online. Whose side are you on? It’s Chicken vs. Ninja in the epic invite showdown. Choose your fighter and start inviting your friends to At the Movies!)

REmain: Fighting the Drift

LifeChurch.TV — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:47:39 +0000

It's usually not sudden, that feeling of being distant from God. We get busy, or we get bitter, or a "season" comes and little by little we've let our relationship with Jesus go unattended. Then, one morning, when we get back to reading in our Bible it feels a little lifeless, more like a have to and we start to lose sight of why it was important in the first place.

As we seek to follow Jesus all of us go through times like this, when we've drifted and our attention on Christ has become less then consistent, more religious then faithful, and we can feel stuck.

Join us this weekend for the last week of RE: where Pastor Craig Groeschel teaches us how to REMAIN in Christ, to remain close to God as we step through life and it's joys, trials, and complacencies.

REmain starts this Saturday and continues with online gatherings all week at http://live.lifechurch.tv

(Also, a reminder, that At the Movies is coming next week! This is the best series each year where so many of our friends connect with church and Jesus for the first time. If you have been waiting for the right time to invite that friend, coworker, or family member to church - At the Movies is the perfect opportunity!)

Church Online on the Roku!

LifeChurch.TV — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:09:50 +0000

There are many innovations happening around the TV Shows, Movies and Experiences we are used to watching through our Television. For any of you who are frequent visitors to Hulu.com or Netflix.com you know that having Web Video streamed to your Television would be fantastic!

Well, Roku is a set-top device that connects to the internet and your television with many of the web video sites like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Video OnDemand - and NOW LifeChurch.tv Church Online!

With this new LifeChurch.tv Channel on the Roku device it is dead simple to go to your weekly Church Online experience, even inviting your friends or small group into your home to worship together. There is also an archive of the last ten Series of messages from LifeChurch.tv!

(It also includes all the Talk it Over videos, so if you are a small group leader this is really a perfect device for your home!)

Here is a link to the Roku website: http://roku.com

And if you already have a Roku then go to this link: https://owner.roku.com/add/lifechurchtv (signed into with your account on the site of course) and you can Add the LifeChurch.tv channel to your Roku!

REpentance: From Sorrow to "times of refreshing"

LifeChurch.TV — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:33:43 +0000

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19)

What does repentance really look like? Is it just saying you are sorry? Do you have to pray? What does it mean?

That is what we are learning this week at Church Online with pastor Chris Beall. Learning to step into repentace, and into a time of refreshment, is so important! Why? Because nobody is perfect, no one has it all to gether, and we all need to know what it means to step into the grace and freedom of Jesus!

Join us this week, and invite your friends to join us, at http://live.lifechurch.tv

Small Infection - Big Pain!

LifeChurch.TV — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:57:35 +0000

Have you ever had a small infection or splinter? Despite the rest of your body being in good health, that one little spot can make you uncomfortable for the day or even week! It's not until you get the infection cleaned up, or the splinter out, that healing can even begin and the focus turn to something else.

Debt is like an infection in our finances. With high interest, long term payments and more; the pain it inflicts just continues to grow until it is completely gone. And even if most areas of live are doing okay, the stress of debt sticking around is like a splinter we can't get out!

It can sound really painful to change our life style enough to do what it takes to get rid of debt. But the freedom of heart and mind that occurs after it's gone is similar to finally getting that splinter out. All the sudden that one point doesn't have a grip on our attention, and we can move on into what God has for us next!

If you have been looking for a good opportunity to jump into chasing a debt free life our Fresh Start challenge starting this Thursday is perfect. Go to the sign up link below to be a part of the tips, updates, and biblical advice on getting out of debt for 2 weeks. It's the jump start to our hearts and minds we need to embrace a debt free life and to move on into what God has for us next!

Getting WEIRD With Our Money with Dave Ramsey (Notes/Info)

LifeChurch.TV — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 21:25:57 +0000

This week we finish the WEIRD series hearing from financial expert and leader Dave Ramsey on how to become WEIRD with our Finances. Yes, God has something to say about our money – and if you are tired of living in debt then this message is going to give you the insight, Biblical values, and practical starting points!

To see the message this week go to: http://live.lifechurch.tv

This is a message that is also good for anyone you know that has been experiencing the effects of the economy. Many people have lost jobs, had cut backs, but haven’t ever learned how to adjust and living Biblically with their money. As you think of these friends invite them to join you at Church Online this week.

You can also share this quick video as a digital invite card!

Ramsey Promo/Invite Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he0ftU7kJCc

Fresh Start 14 Day Debt Free Challenge

Because so many people, after hearing this message, want to get started on being debt free we have created the Fresh Start challenge. Click the link to the event below and join it to receive daily tips, scriptures on God’s view on money, and to be a part of conversations with others looking to get debt free. If you need some support and encouragement to start this new WEIRD way of honoring God with your finances – the Frest Start challenge is for you!

Join the Challenge: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=219036371441845

The Tithe:

The Tithe is a Biblical value that God asks to honor by giving the first 10% of our income back to him. If you are a follower of Jesus and haven’t yet stepped into the Tithe we want to encourage you to get started today.

Tithe at Church Online: https://www.lifechurch.tv/giving/icampus

Three Month Challenge:

In face, we believe in the importance of the Tithe for your spiritual growth and blessing, we’ve created the Three Month Challenge to help you get started. In the book of Malachi in the Bible God asks us to test him in giving the Tithe – and we’d encourage you to do the same.

Three Month Challenge: https://www.lifechurch.tv/giving/challenge

Foster Care Month:

This month is also Foster Care month. Check out this video by Amy Groeschel talking about the month and what we can do.

Video Link: http://youtu.be/1nxPpC5EpMU

What If We Acted Like We Really Cared?

LifeChurch.TV — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:57:11 +0000

Take a moment right now, maybe even pull out a sticky note or piece of paper, and write down the names of five people you see every day who need Jesus.

Seriously, at least take the 10 seconds to write down their names.

With those names in mind, read the next couple of scriptures replacing their names for the words "everyone", "the world", "our", and "we":

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” - Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." Romans 3:22

"And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Romans 10:8-11

In the opportunity that every day brings this is what we leave on the table, what we neglect to bring up with our friends, family and community. Have we really forgotten all that Christ has saved us from? Or have we taken it into such disregard that we don't feel it's worth sharing? I honestly don't think that's the case!!

But despite our best intentions, our actions have shown a serious lack of willingness to be a witness of hope.

Personally, for far too long I've cared about people meeting Jesus in very general ways. Of course I want "the world" and "unbelievers" to come to Christ. But I never let it get to the specific, the personal, because I know the behavior God expects. But avoiding going there isn't any release from what we all know we need to be doing. What we all know is a responsibility we carry. That the message of Jesus has saved us and we are called to be witnesses to that very fact to the people we see everyday.

Today, here is a process I'm going through, and I'd like to invite you to join me.

1. Time in prayer confessing to God about my disobedience in inviting the people on my list to a relationship with Jesus.

2. Time in prayer asking God for an opportunity this week to invite them all to join me at Easter at Church Online.

3. Read through these scriptures again, remembering how my life has been changed by the truths they hold.

4. Boldly living my day, sending Facebook Messages, offering to pray for, and reaching out to the five people on my list. (You can use this video to help them have an idea of what they would be coming to at Church Online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1MnSfR2lrA&feature=youtu.be&hd=1)

I guess the alternative for many of us is to keep living life, hoping someday our intentions finally line up with our behavior. But what if your friends don't have that long? Join me in seeking God, and his heart, for our friends and their new life!

(written by Tony Steward - Online Community Pastor with Church Online

Community Stories: What can Happen at 4/6/2011 at 1:50AM

LifeChurch.TV — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:35:54 +0000

(These are stories of the life change you are a part of as you share, invite, and connect your friends online to Jesus and Church Online Experiences.)

Name: Lauren

Your Story: Hearing the the first weird message changed my life. I had just hit this point in life were I realized normal wasn't working any more and was seeking guidance and tonight / this morning 4/6/2011 at 1:50 am, I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as my savior.

Name: Polsin

Your Story: I got my drivers ID taken away from some bad choices I made. so I was looking for a church online, found a few, and tried this one. I have loved it ever since. the messages where so personal to me. It really felt like god was saying, "ok now she is here...listening, say it now Craig!" I have been hooked since then, just thinking WOW

How did you find Church Online? i googled it!

Name: Uc

How did you find Church Online? I typed erotica

Name: Angela

Your Story: I have gone down many different dark and wrong roads : alcohol,drugs,sex,molestation,attempted suicide, and depression. I have overcome many obstacles to become the woman I am today. Today I am a college student as well as a single mother of 2 boys. I struggle from time to time with depression and just lack of direction. I know I need God in my life! I want a closer relationship with him and trust him fully.

When we experience detours in marriage (Destination Part 1)

LifeChurch.TV — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:59:33 +0000

Picture yourself driving down a highway. Driving in the car next to you is a person of the opposite sex. If you are married, it is your spouse. As you drive along, you might think that it is really nice to be driving next to that person but you want more and hope that they do to. So maybe you take a risk and ask that person if they would like to park their car and ride with you. It will be more economical and a great way to get to know each other better. So they agree.

You begin to talk about hopes and dreams and the possibility of driving together for the rest of your lives. It is exciting to talk about and you both really want to do that. You make that commitment to each other and begin your quest together for an Awesome Marriage.

As you drive along this super highway called marriage, you begin to notice that there are ‘exit signs’. They have different names. Names like work, kids, fights, extended family, church, alcohol, drugs, adultery. Some of them sound good and some do not. You also notice that there are ‘detour signs’. They have the same names as many of the ‘exit signs’. There are detours of kids, work, church, in-laws. These detours may distract us for a while but they are going in the same direction as the marriage highway and eventually actually lead us back to the highway and we stay in the same car. On the other hand the exits are very different. As we take an exit, we see there is a car waiting there for your passenger. They get out of your car and get in theirs. Now you begin driving in a different direction than the marriage highway and after awhile you realize you cannot remember how to get back to it and the relationship you had when your passenger was riding with you is changing dramatically.

What are the detours you have encountered in your marriage? What have you done to get back on the “marriage highway”? What about exits? How do you stay away from them?

(Written by Dr. Kim Kimberling - Leader of the "I Want an Awesome Marriage" community)

http://facebook.com/awesomemarriage