Wellspring Church

- Speaker: Pastor Dwayne Bond
- Title: Disagreements and Grace
- Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

 Disagreements and Grace [34:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Our staff just finished meeting over lunch at the Flying Biscuit Cafe.  It was insanely delicious and full of sweet laughter and community.  If you’ve never been there before, you must taste the scrambled tofu… Yes, tofu!  Full of protein and calcium, it’s the perfect food for any aspiring church planter.  We engaged in each others lives, families, hobbies, obsessions and addictions (particularly gardening).  Yes, I’m talking about tofu and gardening. 

Besides the food bananza, we really enjoyed building team community.  The rigors of ministry would dry me up if it weren’t for opportunities like these to avail myself to giving love and being loved. I thank God for our team - they all are gloriously beasty (in a good sense).

- Speaker: Pastor Dwayne Bond
- Title: Sharing the Truth about the Gospel of Grace
- Scripture: Acts 15:22-35

 Sharing the Truth about the Gospel of Grace [33:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

- Speaker: Pastor Dwayne Bond
- Title: The Power of a Father’s Voice - Pouring out wisdom
- Scripture: Prov 4:10-19

 The Power of a Father’s Voice - Pouring out wisdom: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We jumped right into our study this past Sunday dealing with the four characteristics of the word of God.  We chose not to delve into canonization in order not to become too detailed in our study.  It was fun!  Alot of great questions and incredible insights.

 Authority of Scripture (pg.13, 14): 

• “thus says the Lord” demonstrates the authority of a king. 
• 2 Tim. 3:16 shows us that all Scripture is breathed out by God.
• 2 Pet.3:16 - the OT/NT are the Scriptures 
• Our highest authority is the Scriptures, God’s words
• The Scriptures are truth (John 17:17)

Clarity of Scripture (pg.16, 17)

• Scripture makes us wise (Ps.19:7)
• The unbeliever can’t understand Scripture because it is spiritually discerned through the Holy Spirit which he or she doesn’t possess (1 Cor.2:14).
• Understanding the author’s original intent in writing a particular passage is critical.

Necessity of Scripture (pg.17):

• Preaching Scripture isn’t outdated and ineffective if what is being preached is Scripture (Rom.10:14).
• We need God’s word in order to grow (Matt.4:4).
• God’s will is known through his Word.

Sufficiency of Scripture (pg.18, 19)

• The word of God is sufficient to become a Christian, live and grow.
• We don’t need to add anything to Scripture; it’s sufficient all by itself.
• God revealed what he wanted us to know about himself in Scripture.

Give us your thoughts about what you think about these four characteristics.  June 15th we’ll be studying about the doctrine of God.

The first truth for us to get a handle on is the Word of God.  It’s our lense by which we interpret life.  All 66 books are essential for life and godliness.  What about the words in the Bible?  Every word in the Bible is God’s words.  In other words, everything within the Scriptures came out of the mouth of God. 

So, why is it essential for Christ followers to study the Bible?   It’s essential that we study the Scriptures to know and understand God.  If we want to know God, we study the book that reveals him the most.  If we don’t want to know God, then we ignore the Bible.

Why do we say that Jesus is in the Old Testament concealed and in the New Testament revealed?  Jesus is the word of God.  To know the Word is to know Jesus (John 1:1, 1:14; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 19:13).  Jesus communicates the character of God and the will of God for us through the Scriptures.  If we obey the Word, we are obeying Jesus; if we disobey the Word we are disobeying Jesus.

How has God’s words been revealed to men?  (1)  In the form of decrees.  Decrees are God’s words that cause something to happen or cause things to come into being.  Does God currently decree things?  Yes, through the Word of God (Gen.1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 28, 29; Psa.33:6; Hebr.1:3). (2) By speaking directly to people.  The Scriptures show us that God has spoken directly to people in an audible voice (Gen.2:16-17; Gen.3:16-19; Ex.20:1-3; Matt.3:17).  Does God speak directly to people today audibly?  No!  Can you imagine living in an age where everyone has a different spoken revelation from God?  How could we test the validity of what they heard and whether they really heard from God? The Scriptures provide a consistent revelation from God.  (3)  Through human lips.  God raised up prophets through whom he spoke (Deut.18:18-20; Jer.1:9; Ezek.13:1-7).  These men were God’s messengers heralding his message to the masses.  The authority was in God’s words, even though it came out of human lips.  Is there such a need for prophets today especially with all the hype about ”godly” men being prophets of God?  No!  God’s revelation of himself through the Scriptures has done away with the need for modern-day prophets (men who speak for God).  However, preachers do function as a “prophet” in the sense that they herald or proclaim God’s Word based on the authority of His Word.  Also, understand that their is a gift of prophecy but is more related to telling something that God has spontaneously brought to someones mind.  (4) In written form.  These words were still God’s words even though written down by men (Ex.31:18, 32:16; 34:1, 28; Josh.24:26; Isa.30:8; Jer.30:2; John 14:26; 1 Cor.14:37).  What are some benefits of having the written word?  It can be preserved for future generations.  It allows for repeated review in order to gain an understanding.  And it becomes easily available for all to enjoy.

Scripture commands us to study it (Ps.1:1-2; Josh.1:8; 2 Tim.3:16).  As you can see the Bible you possess is more than a “best-seller”, it is our revelation of God.  Let’s create a dialogue and conversation about your views of the Scriptures.  Also, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.  This Sunday we’ll discuss canonization.

- Speaker: Pastor Dwayne Bond
- Title: Creating a Gospel Stir in the City - Part III
- Scripture: Acts 14:19-23

 Creating a Gospel Stir in the City - Part III [32:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

- Speaker: Pastor Dwayne Bond
- Title: Creating a Gospel Stir in the City - Part II
- Scripture: Acts 14:8-18

 Creating a Gospel Stir in the City - Part II: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Is this a new drug?  No!  Then what is L+E+S+D?  It’s our strategic vision for 2008.  God wants the leaders and partners of Wellspring to become better lovers, engagers, sharers and disciplers in 2008.  Today, as I was thinking about our church I asked myself, “How am I loving, engaging, sharing and discipling in 2008?”  To be frank, this is the first time I’ve asked myself this questions but nevertheless, have been informally doing it.  I’ve been trying to become a better lover of my wife… not the romantic side but as a sacrificial servant.  God has been thumpin’ my heart challenging me to intentionally serve her even when I don’t feel like it.  I can’t love others if I’m not loving her first.  The Holy Spirit helped me to see that loving her always benefits others.  In my opinion, a man who loves well is a man that gives his all in loving his wife.  When a man loves his wife sacrificially, he then knows how to love others… 

I’ve also been challenged by the Holy Spirit to engage with more unbelievers than ever before in my life.  I want to be around them in order for the fragrance of Christ to be smelled.  It’s fun, exciting, real, intriguing and an opportunity for Christ to be seen.  I recognize that when I was an unbeliever, I wasn’t thinking of coming to anyone’s church but wow, wouldn’t it have been nice for the church to come to me?  I have a long way to go as I seek to engage for Jesus but I’m fully in the game. 

In regards to sharing, I am fully committed to share my life and strength with my family as my first priority.  As I share my life with them, it overflows into how I share myself in leading and shepherding God’s church.  Growing up I was so selfish but right now I really see God sanctifying me in this area. 

Discipling is the last piece to our strategy for 2008.  First, I am fired up about discipling my wife.  I haven’t always had this in balance with the rest of what I do but God’s grace has me laser focused.  My discipling routine is praying with her and for her throughout the day, reading and dialoguing over a short story in our couple’s devotional, discussing my sermons with her and encouraging her to stay intimate with Jesus.  We are currently reading a book that we are both familiar with and have been longing to read for a long time.  It’s so sweet how wives are always ready but us MEN are so distracted…  I am also excited about reading a powerful book together with oldest son as I seek to make lasting impressions in his heart. 

If you are flowing with us in this missional movement called Wellspring, how are you loving, engaging, sharing and discipling or being discipled?  I’d love to hear your story.  If you aren’t a part of Wellspring, please feel the freedom to engage with us and if you are in Charlotte, I’d love to see you at the Well.