Hey friends and family! 

We continue to add more features to this new website, and want to make sure you can use it as easily as possible. 

One of our newest features is a "search" bar at the top of the website. It might be obvious, but here, you can search 

for something you read in another news article, specific sermons, events and so on. As an example, I typed in the 

word, "disciple" in the search bar, and here (click) is the result! 

More features are coming soon, including a discussion board where you will be able to discuss implications of recent 

sermons, submit prayer requests, post event ideas, if you own a business you can put up your services for all of us 

to utilize and more! 

We are also going to be launching a "Members" log-in page that will co-incide with our new photo directory 

(see announcement). Here, you'll be able to create a username and password and find an online version of the new

directory, and even more features! 

We are also revamping the sermon media files so you can sync them via Itunes and put them on your Ipod's (or other

mp3 players). If you ever have questions or concerns, please contact our website director, Chad Farrand. 

We are beginning the process of updating our photo directory. The times and dates will appear on the front page of 

our website. Based on availability of our photographers, we will have times for you to get your pictures taken before

and after worship services. If you'd like to sign up for a time slot, please click the link below. 

Blessings to you! 

Please click here to sign up.

Join the Fun!
Habitat for Humanity has created small renovation projects that will be completed in a week or less.  Volunteers will perform exterior repairs, painting or landscaping.  If swinging a hammer or digging in the dirt doesn’t appeal to you, there will be volunteer opportunities to provide snacks, sending out communication notices and other less messy tasks.  Come to an exploratory meeting on Sunday, April 22 after the service and learn more about this community service opportunity.   
The meeting will be held in the East Community Room (the room behind the kitchen).  Contact John Leegwater 452-2754 or Lori Kane 949-9700 with questions.

Marks of a Disciple:  Sacrificing

Disciples of Jesus follow Jesus in giving away their lives. (sermon audio)

Of all the marks of a disciple, this is the capstone – a willingness to sacrifice of oneself to follow Jesus.  By definition, a disciple is follower of Jesus, not just someone who is intrigued by Jesus or thinks highly of him.  Disciples of Jesus are followers of Jesus, so when we talk about Growing disciples who make disciples, we are talking about growing people who:  1) follow Jesus faithfully no matter the cost and 2) help others do the same.

The dictionary defines sacrifice as the “surrender of something for the sake of something else.”  And that is exactly what God has done for us in Jesus.  Jesus willingly gave his life for us, not simply as a model of selfless living for us to follow (though his example certainly is that) but as a sacrifice for our sin.

Think about that truth.  Pick up the Bible and read Hebrews 10:1-14.  Let your heart ponder this sweet center of the Gospel – “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  Theologians call it substitutionary atonement.  Simply put – Jesus died in our place, and that death reopened the possibility of a relationship with God.

Throughout the series, we have been looking at the stages of spiritual growth as defined by the REVEAL study:

The idea is that all of us are on a spiritual journey and called to keep moving spiritually, to be growing people.  The ultimate goal of following Jesus is to become more and more like Jesus, not simply to use Christianity to improve our lives.  A distinguishing characteristic of a Christ-Centered person is a mindset of surrender.  “Rather than expecting Jesus to be there for the sole purpose of helping them with their lives, they respond to his call to sacrifice and lay down their lives to serve Jesus and advance his mission in the world” (Move, Greg Hawkins & Cally Parkinson, p.93).  This is what it means to be a sacrificing person.

In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul tells us to follow the example Jesus when he offered up his life for us (Eph. 5:1-2).  In Romans, Paul writes this:  “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.”  Basically, this means “live as if you’ve died to yourself.”  It is exactly what Rob Ellis was getting at in the March 16 devotional he contributed to our Lenten Devotional Guide.  Rob wrote this:  “This is the true meaning of discipleship—the suffering through the loss of our natural self by denying its sinful lusts.”

This death to self becomes visible to others through a willingness to sacrifice of self to follow Jesus.  A willingness to sacrifice for the sake of others is love.  And as the old song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”

Disciples of Jesus follow Jesus in giving away their lives.

Marks of a Disciple: Serving 

Disciples of Jesus follow Jesus by serving others.

(sermon audio) 

As tough as it may be to be a joyful giver, in some ways serving is even more difficult than giving.  Giving is about giving money and serving is about giving of our time. 

In Mark 10: 35-45, James and John request places of honor from Jesus. First of all, that decision isn’t Jesus’ to make. Also of importance is the reaction of the other disciples—they were upset! Upset that James and John requested something that should be freely given, and upset that they hadn’t thought of asking Jesus the same thing first.

“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you” (Mark 10:42-43).

Jesus reminds the disciples that true power lies in caring and advocating for the powerless. Much like today, in the 

disciples’ time powerful people were hoarding resources because they could. Jesus tells them that some people in

 positions of power misuse their authority, but that is not to be the case for followers of Jesus.

“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave

 of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” 

(Mark 10:43-45).

God measures greatness in service and servant-heartedness. Jesus is our example in this. He didn’t come to be served;

 the passage above clearly states the action Jesus came to do: serve and give. If Jesus came to do these very things and

 Christians are called to be like Jesus, then clearly Christians should be marked by their giving and serving.

Giving and serving speak to releasing things of great value to us – our money and our time. Both are essential marks of a

disciple, and important because of why God instructs us to do them. His purpose is to work out full redemption in us:

to grow us, stretch us, make us more like Jesus. As we talked about last week, giving has the potential to lead our hearts closer 

to Christ. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The same is true of serving.

A study of over 1000 congregations in North America assessed how people experience spiritual growth. They found five

catalysts that moved people in subsequent growth areas:

1. Salvation by Grace: I believe nothing I do or have done can earn my salvation

2. The Trinity: I believe the only true God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

3. Serve the Church: I serve in a ministry once a month or more

4. Prayer to Seek Guidance: I pray to seek guidance for my life

5. Reflection on Scripture: I reflect on Scripture for meaning in my life

This shows the significance of serving. The survey found that serving is THE most catalytic experience offered by the

church. (The other catalysts rely more on personal growth and belief.) Here at Fifth, this responsibility rests with the

Pastoral Deacons, who lead the congregation in ministries of mercy, service and outreach. They don’t do all the serving

 themselves.  They lead us in serving.  

So we serve not just because we are commanded to in the Bible, but because we understand why the Bible commands

 us to serve:

• It’s the right thing to do as a gracious response to all God has done for us.

• When we serve, God works in us to make us more like Jesus.

Disciples of Jesus follow Jesus by serving others.