the Logos

They say Santa is checking his list to see who is naughty or nice. The sad fact is that we're all on the naughty list.  But I'm so glad that Jesus has ripped up that list by His death on the Cross and resurrection from the dead! "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." Colossians 2:13-15 (NLT) Jesus Ripped Up Santa's List Jen Smidt »   For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - Ephesians 2:8 As a family, we are in the midst of celebrating the Christmas season which includes viewing all the holiday classics ( Heat Mis...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1-6 (We have read 96% of the Bible so far. Almost done!)  Today's Country: Vietnam (52% Buddhist)  Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation). We have a team going to Haiti in a few weeks  on January 1. We prayed for our Haiti Mission Trip Team. Please continue to pray for their safety and that their trip will be fruitful. Haiti Mission Trip Team: Deacon Rufus Credle  Deacon George Brown  Sis. Nicole Sawyer  Sis. Stephanie Baker There's still time to join Project: Know Thy Neighbor. The Christmas holiday is a great time to get to know at least 1 neighbor (one that you don't know at all or know very well). Go to radical.mtzioncary.org/neighbors for ideas on how to get to know your neighbors. Christ First Christian Fellowship Center is having their 4th Annual Christ...

We live in a sin-cursed, fallen world.  Because of sin, our bodies are fragile and decaying.  Disease afflicts many of us and our loved ones.  Cancer is once again hitting our church family at Mt. Zion .  Deaconess Cythnia who had already fought this disease earlier is now facing a new fight, one that we will fight along with her. But I'm so encouraged by her email below that she gave me permission to share.  It is full of the Gospel hope of Jesus Christ.  I hope that it encourages you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus no matter what circumstances life brings your way.  Jesus is our only hope! “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.  I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”  Philippians 3: 10-11 NLT  Dear family and friends, it is with mixed emotions that I share news of the “war” to which I a...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Phil. 1-4  Today's Country: USA  Spend time in another context. Thanks to all who went out yesterday caroling in the neighborhood by the church and the area nursing homes.  The Christmas holiday is a great time for Project: Know Thy Neighbor. Get to know at least 1 neighbor (one that you don't know at all or know very well).  Get more details at radical.mtzioncary.org/neighbors . We conclude our study of the doctrine of "Election" on Wednesday.  Also, bring any remaining questions you may still have. Join us for service on Christmas Sunday at 8am for 90 minutes. Our New Year's Eve service starts at 10pm. We'll have Communion after Midnight and there will be no service on New Year's Day. We are asking all members to sacrifice to give more at least 5% more until the end of the year to help with our budget deficient. If you are able to give more, please do so. You can give online as ...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 1-4   Today's Country: UK (of Great Britain & Northern Ireland)   It's not too late to join the initiative Project: Know Thy Neighbor. 15 families have signed up so far. We want to more to be involved. Holidays are a great time to reach out neighbors.  Go to radical.mtzioncary.org/neighbors and sign-up and get ideas on how to get to know your neighbors. We continue this Wednesday with our study of the doctrine of "Election" . Join us and bring a friend. Right after today's service, we had a meeting in the MPR for those interested in volunteering with the College and Youth Ministries! Thanks to all the volunteers and parents who attended. We look forward to having a great year of making young disciples in 2012. We are canceling the Town Hall on Saturday.  Feel free to submit any questions you might have.  Instead, we need your participation that afternoon. We are going caroli...

Today is the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent means "coming". This is the season where we get ready to celebrate the first coming of Christ, His virgin birth.  We also look forward to the second advent when Christ returns for His bride, the church. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Romans 11-13   Today's Country: Turkmenistan (Asia) (96% Muslim) Join the initiative Project: Know Thy Neighbor . 15 families have signed up so far. We want to have more families at Mt. Zion to be involved. The holidays are a great time to reach out to neighbors to get to know them. Join us this Wednesday as we start a new series on the Doctrine of Election (or Predestination) where we tackle the questions, "Does God choose some to be saved but not all?" "Does God show favoritism?" "Is God unfair?" The College and Youth Ministries are looking for volunteers! There will be an interest meeting briefly after service on next Su...

We praise God for the young man (age 18) that came forward last Sunday to place his trust in Christ.  He will be getting baptized on Sunday. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Acts 18-20   Today's Country: Timor Leste (Asia) We have 14 families have signed up for Project: Know They Neighbor. We want to see more of you involved.  The holidays are an excellent time to get to know at least 1 neighbor (one that you don't know at all or know very well).  Go to radical.mtzioncary.org/neighbors to sign-up and get ideas on how to get to know your neighbors. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no Bible Study this Wednesday.  On 11/30, we start a new series where we tackle the questions, "Does God choose some to be saved but not all?" "Does God show favoritism?" We'll be studying the doctrine of "Election". The College and Youth Ministries are looking for volunteers! There will be an interest meeting b...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Acts 1-3   Today's Country: Switzerland   Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation).  Thank everyone who went with us to C.A. Dillon. Your presence was greatly appreciated. We ended up only have about 30 minutes for the service but the Gospel was proclaimed and we did get a chance to pray with many of the boys. Sis. Samantha Hanebeck will deliver her Initial Sermon on next Sunday at 4:00pm. Everyone is invited to join us for this special occasion. In recognition of Veterans Day on last Friday, we want to thank all who have served our country. Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Please watch this video and then pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the faith. We are asking all members to sacrifice to give at least 5% more until the end of the y...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: John 5-6   Today's Country: St Barthelemy , St Helena , St Kitts and Nevis , St Lucia   We recognize the artists from the Dominican Republic who painted the mural at the entrance of our children's wing. They did a wonderful job for us and they did it for free. Pray for us as go to spread the Gospel to the young men at the C.A. Dillon Youth Development Center on this Wednesday. You have to be 18 or older. If you are interested in going, sign up online or fill out connection card. An important doctrine for us to understand is the doctrine of propitiation. Propitiation is Christ's payment for our sins and the removal of God's wrath. It works to provide our justification (being declared not guilty). Here's the video that we played during the announcement. Happy Birthday & Anniversary to all celebrating in November. Part of the Radical Experiment is to give sacrificially for a specific p...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Luke 14-16   Today's Country: South Africa We have the opportunity to spread the Gospel to the young men at the C.A. Dillon Youth Development Center on Wednesday, 11/9. The Male Choir is going and we want to take as many men as we can. Ladies are welcome to come as well. You have to be 18 or older. If you are interested in going, we will have short meeting after church to discuss. The Church Family Meeting is tomorrow at 7pm. All members are asked to be present. Since tomorrow is Halloween, I'd like to share a few thoughts on it.  Because there are so many different opinions on this topic, we must think biblically. First, we must guard our hearts so that we are not judgmental.  We should not judge harshly other Christians who may differ from us. Colossians 2:16 says, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath....

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Luke 1   Today's Country: Kosovo , Serbia   Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation).  Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose: Our hearts follow our money. One way is to give in a way that is church focused. The church is God’s primary agent to make disciples of all nations.  Don't forget to join us during the week for Prayer & Testimony service on Tuesday at 7pm, Bible Study on Wednesday at 7pm (current series: "The Gospel Defined"), Bible Study on Thursday at 9am. We have the opportunity to spread the Gospel to the young men at the C.A. Dillon Youth Development Center on Wednesday, 11/9. The Male Choir is going and we want to take as many men as we can. Ladies are welcome to come as well. You have to be 18 or older. If you are interested in going, please sign up online or use...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Mark 4-5  Today's Country: Russia   Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation). Today, Mt. Zion will minister at Cary Health & Rehab Center on at 2:00pm.  Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose: Our hearts follow our money. One way is to give in a way that is church focused. The church is God’s primary agent to make disciples of all nations.  Join the initiative Project: Know Thy Neighbor . 13 families have signed up so far.We want to take the Gospel to our neighborhoods but it begins with us reaching out and getting to know our neighbors. Check out the website for practical ideas on how to reach out to neighbors.

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today’s Scripture Reading: Matthew 18-19 Today’s Country: Reunion (Africa) Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation). Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose: Our hearts follow our money . One way is to give in a way that is church focused. The church is God's primary agent to make disciples of all nations. We have invitation cards available at the Welcome Center that you can use to invite people to Mt. Zion . To make sure we have enough to go around, we ask that you initially only take up to 5. Make sure that you use them. We had a great kick-off to our new Wednesday series, "The Gospel Defined". We continue this Wednesday to look at the problem with these counterfeit gospels: moralistic gospel, therapeutic gospel, and prosperity gospel.  Join us and bring a friend.

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Matthew 1-4 Today's Country: Peru (Latin America) Commit your life to a multiplying community: commit your life to a local church that needs you and whom you need. Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation). Thanks to all who attended our Fall Renewal Services. Pastor Wright preached "God is a Keeper", Pastor Wilson preached "Watch Your Friends", and Pastor Charles Rainey preached "It's Not Over". I hope that the Word of God has refreshed and renewed your spiritual walk with Christ. Today at 4pm, I spoke at Scott's Grove Church on Highway 55. I preached "How to Be Made Right with God" from Romans 3:21-31. The major points from the text are: People are made right with God apart from the Law.   People are made right with God through faith in Christ.   B...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Micah 1-7   Today's Country: Pakistan (Asia) (96% Muslim)  Commit your life to a multiplying community: commit your life to a local church that needs you and whom you need.  Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation). Ladies: We will be serving dinner to the ladies at the Helen Wright Center on Thursday, September 29th.  Fall Renewal Services concludes on this Wednesday at 7:00pm. Pastor Wright preached "God is a Keeper" and Pastor Wilson preached "Watch your Friends". Pastor Charles Rainey of Cary First Christian Church will be our speaker. On next Sunday, I will be speaking at Scott's Grove Church on Highway 55 at 4:00pm. Everyone is invited to attend. We are canceling the next Town Hall in October. But feel free to submit any questions or feedback you may have.

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Daniel 10-12   Today's Country: Niger (Africa) (97% Muslim)  Commit your life to a multiplying community: commit your life to a local church that needs you and whom you need.  Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation). Mt. Zion will minister at Phoenix Assisted Care today at 2:00pm.  Fall Renewal Services continue on this Wednesday at 7:00pm. We want all of our youth there (parents bring them out). Pastor Patricio Wilson of Christ Family Church will be our speaker. We have started a new initiative under the theme Radical Love called Project: Know Thy Neighbor. As Christians, we are to love and serve Christ and our neighbors. You cannot love and serve your neighbor if you do not know that neighbor. Join me and others in getting to know at least 1 neighbor between September and December. S...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37-39   Today's Country: Namibia (Africa)  Commit your life to a multiplying community: Commit your life to a local church that needs you and whom you need.  Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation).  Today and tomorrow, First Baptist Church in Cary is hosting an Answers in Genesis Conference. Similar to the Truth Project, this conference should give you knowledge to refute the dangerous theory of evolution. So I would recommend this evening sessions at 5:30 (Millions of Years: Where Did that Idea Come From?) and 7pm (Noah’s Flood: Washing Away Millions of Years) and the Monday evening sessions at 6 (Origin of Species: Was Darwin Right?) and 7:15pm (Ape-men: The Grand Illusion). Check out this entry on my blog or the flyer on the church bulletin board for more information. Fall R...

First Baptist Church in Cary is hosting an Answers in Genesis Conference on September 11-12 .  I love what the Answers in Genesis group is doing in the area of apologetics (defending the Christian faith) so I believe this conference will be worth attending. So I would recommend the Sunday evening sessions at 5:30 and 7pm and the Monday evening sessions at 6 and 7:15pm.

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 18-20   Today's Country: Montenegro (Europe)  Commit your life to a multiplying community: David Platt writes in Radical : "The global purpose of Christ was never intended to be accomplished by individuals...to be done with church hopping & shopping and commit your life to a people who need you and whom you need." Our Fall Renewal Services will be held on Wednesdays, September 14th, 21st, & 28th at 7:00pm.   We look forward to this time of being renewed and revived. This month, we are having health awareness. Starting next Sunday, we'll feature some health-related videos. Our bodies matter because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We should care for our bodies so that we may serve and glorify our Creator for as long as possible. Next Sunday, we are kicking off a new initiative called Project: Know Thy Neighbor.  This is just a teaser so join us next Sunday for the details! ...

Hurricane Irene has been the most talked about thing in the news recently. I don't minimize the serious of a hurricane and the need to be prepared but it seemed like many people were fearing the wrong thing. In Mark 4 , a storm came upon the disciples while they and Jesus were on a boat. These experienced fishermen were fearful of this storm. They awoke Jesus who was sleeping in the boat. Jesus calmly spoke to the storm and it ceased! These same men who feared the storm, now feared Jesus! Let us not fear hurricanes and earthquakes but fear the One who controls them. Let us never forget that God is in control! Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Lamentations 1-2 Today's Country: Mauritius (Africa) (49% Hindu) Spend time in another context: Thanks to the Zone 1 Members who volunteered at Urban Ministries of Durham on yesterday.