2022

Advent 2022 | The Songs of Christmas

SERMONS | ADVENT GUIDE | ADVENT PROJECTS

Since the early church, God’s people have celebrated the Christmas season every year through celebrating, giving, and singing about the birth of Jesus. This year for Advent, we’re looking at the four “songs” about Jesus’ birth found in Luke 1-2, and how they point to the good news Jesus offers.

To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.

Week 1: The Song of Mary

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 2: The Song of Zechariah

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 3: The Song of Angels

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 4: The Song of Simeon

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

To help us prepare our hearts for the Christmas season, we wrote a brand new five-week-long Advent devotional guide for you and your LifeGroup to work through during this season. The suggested donation is $5 per copy.

One of our goals as a church family is to be a generous people. So every year around the holidays, we press into generosity; to think about God’s generosity to us and to talk about how we can grow in walking in the kind of generous love He’s shown to us. 

This year we are focusing on three practical ways to grow in generosity:

#1. START TITHING

We consider tithing a spiritual practice that helps develop a lifestyle of sacrificial generosity. We are encouraging members of our church to set up a recurring tithe because the gospel transforms us not just to be generous around the holidays but throughout the entire year. It’s also specifically how we fund and fuel all we do as a church in our city.

#2. Personal Finance Seminar

We want to equip our church family to be spiritually healthy by stewarding the financial resources that God has entrusted us. On January 28 from 9 am-12 pm at our Downtown church, we’re hosting a class that consists of practical training to manage your finances, pay off debt, invest well, and practice biblical generosity.

#3. Give to Serve the City 

Serve the City is our initiative as a church family to partner with local organizations serving the most vulnerable people in our city. This year we want to fund the various Serve the City events we do throughout the year to ongoingly serve these organizations and the people they work with. These funds will also go towards our Serve the City Weekend on March 3-5, 2023. We partner with the following local organizations:

Children’s Hospital

  • Transitions

  • Home Works for America

  • The Ezekiel Center

  • DSS

  • Epworth Children's Home

  • Daybreak

#4. Give to AGAPE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Last year, we had the privilege of hosting leaders from Agape Children's Ministry in Kenya (watch the interview below if you missed it). Agape is a gospel-centered ministry in Kenya that seeks to rescue street kids, rehabilitate them and if possible reunite them with a member of their biological family. Their model has been incredibly successful in caring for vulnerable children and families, as well as seeing kids come to know Christ through the process.

Agape is a ministry we believe in and want to partner with long-term and there is potential for our church to take a small team there in late 2023. If you'd like to make a year-end gift to Agape, you can do so below.

Acts | Part 2

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.”

These were some of Jesus’ very last words on Earth. And yet, a little over a week later, something happened. Jesus released His Spirit on the disciples who went out proclaiming everything Jesus did. Their proclamation was the day The Church began.

You cannot tell the story of the early church without also telling the story of the person, work, and power of the Spirit of God. He’s everywhere on almost every page of Acts.

We hope that during this series, we experience afresh not only who the Spirit is but experience all the potential He can unleash in and through us when it comes to walking more closely with Jesus, including prayer, worship, and being on mission.

To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.

Week 1: The Movement of God

(Sermon) (Mission Guide)

Week 2: A Defining Moment

(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 3: Three Expectations from the Life of Paul

(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 4: Who’s In and Who’s Out

(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 5: The Church in Antioch

(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 6: The Power of Persistent Prayer

(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 7: Mountains, Molehills, and Which Ones to Die On

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 8: The Church in Philippi

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 9: The Church in Athens

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 10: The Church in Ephesus

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 11: Living in the Dash

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 12: The Storm and the Shipwreck

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 13: The Story Continues

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

We want to focus on particular tools to help us learn to follow Jesus more closely. Since Acts concentrates so much on spreading the name of Jesus, our corporate practice is mission.

To help us grow in this practice, we've created a six-week-long guide to work within your group. Each lesson comes with discussion questions, a teaching video, and worksheets to print out for everyone in your group.

To accompany our book and further expand on the topics covered in this series, we’d recommend the following books and videos to you.

 
 

Following Jesus Together | Abide | 2022

We have a few catchphrases to narrate who we are, what we do, and what we’re about as a church. One of those is that we’re a people who are “Following Jesus Together.”

One of the primary tools we use to help us follow Jesus is our Covenant Practices - seven practices we believe are crucial for your spiritual health - one of which is abiding with Jesus.

So for this sermon we’ll be answering questions like, “What is the Bible?” “Why does it matter?” And, “Who are we becoming when we commit to this practice?"

Fruit of the Spirit

Do you ever feel like there are two competing forces waging war within you as you try to follow Jesus? Do you ever feel a gap between what you want your discipleship to look like and the actual lived reality of your day-to-day life? 

Galatians 5 gives weight to this battle within us, telling us about these two competing forces with competing desires - the Spirit and the flesh. And the invitation for all of us as followers of Jesus is to crucify the flesh and cultivate the fruit.

This series will take nine weeks to walk through the Fruit of the Spirit we are called to cultivate, as we examine the life and teachings of Jesus and how the Fruit of the Spirit was evident in His life.

To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.

Week 1: Love in a Time of Self-Interest

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 2: Peace in a Time of Anxiety

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 3: Kindness in a Time of Polarization

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 4: Patience in a Time of Irritability

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 5: Goodness in a Time of Brokenness

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 6: Gentleness in a Time of Harshness

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 7: Faithfulness in a Time of Compromise

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 8: Joy in a Time of Cynicism

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 9: Self-Control in a time of Self-Fulfillment

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

In Christ

The terms “In Christ,” “in Him,” and “in the Lord”  are used in the New Testament over 150 times to describe what it means to be a Christian. For the biblical authors and the early church, this concept was foundational in understanding who we are with God and with others. So, what does it actually mean to be “in Christ”? 

For seven weeks, we will unpack this theological concept and its practical implications for our lives. As a church family, it’s our hope that as we do, we can further meditate on what Jesus has done for us and enjoy Him more.

To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.

Week 1: Enjoying Our Union with Him

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 2: From In Adam to In Christ

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 3: Adoption

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 4: Imputed Righteousness

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 5: Sanctification

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 6: New Creation

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 7: Restored Honor

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

For this series, we want to focus on a particular tool to help us learn to follow Jesus more closely. Given that this series is helping us further meditate on what it means to be in Christ, our corporate practice is Gospel Fluency.

For those looking for additional reading to go along with our series we recommend checking out the following:

Stand-Alone | Easter 2022

Sermon by Brandon Clements on April 17, 2022.

Our Easter sermon will focus on reasons why we can be confident Jesus is alive, and why that should make us incredibly happy. Join us on this Resurrection Sunday to celebrate world-changing news!

The Suffering Servant

Jesus comes to Earth as a king, unlike any other. He ushers in the rule and reign of God not by political power or might but servant-hearted love. Culminating on the cross, the servant-heart of Jesus is one of the defining features of His ministry. In the same way, those he calls to follow Him are to embody the same servant-minded way of living - full of compassion and self-sacrificial love - that signals God's coming kingdom far and wide.

To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.

Week 1: An Unexpected King

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 2: Unexpected Compassion

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Week 3: An Unexpected Table

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide)

Acts

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.”

These were some of Jesus' very last words on Earth. And yet, a little over a week later, something happened. Jesus released His Spirit on the disciples who went out proclaiming everything Jesus did. This was the day The Church began.

You cannot tell the story of the early church without also telling the story of the person, work, and power of the Spirit of God. He's everywhere and on almost every page of Acts.

So as we start a new year, when many of us are slowly regathering and relearning exactly how and what it means to be and do church together, let's begin it the same way as it started with the early church. Together, let's embrace and get to know the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit that dwells with us to be with Jesus and do what Jesus did.

We hope that during this series, we experience afresh who the Spirit is and experience all the potential He can unleash in and through us when it comes to walking more closely with Jesus, including prayer, worship, and being on mission.

To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.

Week 1: The Mission of Acts

(Sermon) (Transcript) (Scripture Guide)

Week 2: The Spirit of Acts

(Sermon) (Scripture Guide)

Week 3: How to Start a Fire

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 4: The First Fruit of the Spirit

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 5: The Meaning of the Miracles

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 6: Spirit-Filled Witnesses

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 7: The Spirit and the Flesh

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 8: The Danger Within

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 9: Condemned on Earth, Applauded in Heaven

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

Week 10: Following the Work of the Spirit

(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)

During the month of January, instead of LifeGroups meeting in homes, they will participate in a weekly Night of Prayer and Worship from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Our hope is to spend time praying and singing to the Lord, while asking Him to let us see His Kingdom come, here in Columbia. Our prayer is that during this time together, God changes our hearts and the hearts of those in our city.

  • Tuesday LifeGroups will meet weekly on Jan 11, 18 and 25 at 6:30pm at Midtown Downtown (1800 Blanding Street, Columbia)

  • Wednesday LifeGroups will meet weekly on 12, 19 and 26 at 6:30pm at our Lexington Church (924 East Main Street, Lexington)

  • Thursday LifeGroups will meet weekly on 13, 20 and 27 at 6:30pm at Midtown Downtown (1800 Blanding Street, Columbia)

Please note that masks are required for all in attendance at Tuesday's and Thursday's Nights of Prayer and Worship taking place at our Downtown church and requested at Wednesday's Night of Prayer and Worship taking place at our Lexington church.

Childcare is available each night at 6:15pm for children in 3rd Grade and under. Please note that spaces are limited. Please RSVP beforehand for childcare. We want as many folks as possible to participate, so if you already have an easy childcare option, please consider it first to free up spots for any families who don’t.

To help us grow in our understanding of God’s goodness, we decided to write a book for this series. You can download the digital version here.

To accompany our book and further expand on the topics covered in this series we’d recommend the following books and videos to you.

 
 

924 East Main Street

lexington, SC