APEX in October

October is what we like to call “Invitation Month” at APEX. We want to be people who invite others to Christ and so we are structuring our gatherings throughout this month to be a little different. Here’s what you can expect:

• Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Nick Poole/MCM School Worship Team
• Tuesday, Oct. 12 – Bonfire at APEX
• Friday, Oct. 15 – Hayride/Bonfire at Reilly’s Summerseat Farm
• Tuesday, Oct. 19 – Brian Bolt
• Tuesday, Oct. 26 – David Rosenblum

Think about who you can invite. Looking forward to a great month. Let’s believe for life change.

DS

What Small Group Should I Attend This Fall?

How the Book of James Can Jumpstart Your Relationship With God This Fall

Ever feel like you just can’t keep up spiritually? You know you’re supposed to read this and pray that and fast this and give that, but you just don’t know where to start? I hope you’ll join us at APEX this fall as we study the book of James.

The book of James was written to Jewish Christians who were facing massive trials, daily temptation, and the “pull” of worldliness. The bottom line in this letter is that these Christians needed to grow up in their relationship with Christ. The beauty of Christian community is that we are all at different places in our walk with God, yet we are all seeking the same thing: to grow up in Christ.

With that said, I hope you’ll come. Excited to see what happens as we trek through God’s Word each week this fall. Here’s a quick glance of themes we’ll be discussing:

• Trials
• Temptation
• Hearing & Doing God’s Word
• Working Faith
• Taming the Tongue
• Wisdom
• The Will of God
• Patience

We start this Tuesday, September 7. See you then.

APEX Happenings

Don’t you love to know what is going on? Nobody enjoys meandering aimlessly through life with no direction. And that is why I am here with your current APEX happenings. No need to feel purposeless any longer, folks

Summer is closing and fall is upon us. Here’s what you can expect at APEX over the next month.

• Tuesday, August 31 – Party in the Parking lot. Hot dogs, Smores, other foods, games, hang out.
• Tuesday, September 7 – Fall small group season launch. Come hear more about our new small group approach we’re experimenting with this fall. New study: The Book of James.
• Tuesday, September 14 – Tailgate Party at APEX. More food than a smorgasbord (what a great word) at Thanksgiving.
• Tuesday, September 21 – New small groups begin!

There is way more planned for this fall but that will do for now. You will be challenged to take specific steps of faith. You will grow deeper in God’s Word. You can form great relationship with people who love Jesus and are fulfilling God’s purpose for their life.

I can’t wait to see you there!

David

How to Have Long Lasting Change

Just a few weeks ago Beau Broker, a new small group leader at APEX shared his incredible testimony. God has done powerful things in his life. Here are five qualities he shared on “how to have long lasting change”:

1. Integrity – who are you when no one is looking?
2. Motivation – the fear of God should motivate us to change and seek Him wholeheartedly.
3. Speech – what comes out of our mouth is evidence of what’s in our hearts.
4. Godly wisdom vs Man’s wisdom – realize it’s more important what God thinks than what everyone else thinks.
5. Being born again through Jesus Christ – definitely the most important.

How about you? Are there disciplines, scriptures, words from God, etc. that have helped you change bad habits and live for Christ?

Unofficial Mentors

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “If only someone would mentor me, I would learn what I need to succeed in life.” The answer is yes and no. Yes, you need mentors to succeed. No, you don’t need to wait for one to approach you and sweep you off your feet in a personal mentoring relationship.

Learn to become a student of what you want to know.

Want to become a better musician? Study the records, writings, and live approaches of those whom you admire. Want to start a great business? Read the books and blogs of those who are releasing innovative products in fresh ways. Want to be a great communicator? Watch, observe, and take notes on how the best speakers communicate. The list continues.

I think we have a false notion when it comes to mentoring. We thing the mentor should approach us, talk with us over coffee, and call us every week to make sure we’re doing what we need to be doing. Great, if someone will do that with you. In the meantime, take advantage of what is in front of you. If you want to learn something, go learn it. Work hard. Study. Implement. Seek out knowledge and understanding in your field. Don’t wait for it to come to you because it probably won’t.

Here are some ‘unofficial mentoring’ things I do:

• Read books. Read a lot. In order to be a good reader you need reading momentum. Don’t spend too long on one book. I read books quickly, underlining things that interest me and then I re-read my underlined portions.
• Read blogs. Again, more free information. Only read good blogs, though. Don’t waste your time on negative, pointless information.
• Listen to podcasts & audiobooks. When I run, I listen to podcasts. Free sermons, leadership teaching, and financial help. Great stuff out there for free!
• Listen to music. As a worship leader/musician, I listen and analyze music in order to learn new ideas.
• Write a lot. Capture your ideas. Plan to implement what you are learning.

Go and be mentored.

DS

Responding to Atheism

*This post is by one of our fantastical small group leaders, Dawn Meling. I don’t think Dawn blogs on a regular basis, but after reading this post, I think she should! Enjoy:

Around this time last year, a bright yellow book kept grabbing my attention when I went to Barnes & Noble. I’d turn on the news, there was the author, Christopher Hitchens, touting the book and his opinions. It wasn’t the bold cover jacket or even the author that really attracted the attention – it was the title: God Is Not Great. This book was #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. An anomaly? Nope.

In the past few years, Richard Dawkins’ book The God Delusion reached #4 on best seller list, as did Sam Harris’s book The End of Faith. This outpouring of “new atheism” isn’t limited to niche groups – clearly these sentiments have mass appeal. So how do we Christians react when confronted with the atheists that liken our belief in God to a child’s belief in Santa Claus and unicorns? How can we “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks the reason for the hope that we have,” as God calls us to?

We are called to defend our faith, and God has equipped us to do so! New atheism is a very real part of the culture we live in. When talking with an atheist, the most important thing to do is listen. Do they truly not believe in God? Where are they coming from? What are their beliefs based on?

In many ways, being an atheist requires more faith than being a Christian. Generally, atheists want to shoot down our reasons for God’s existence, but they cannot prove themselves that God doesn’t exist. Atheists can provide what seem to be very convincing arguments against God (and when their arguments fail, condescension is a powerful substitute), but this is all smoke and mirrors when we are standing on the solid foundation of our faith. To defend our God, though, we must be prepared.

A short blog post in no way can cover this topic, but I hope to convey to you these things:

1. Turn to God’s word
2. Ask your pastor some really tough questions
3. Study apologetics

God has equipped us to share His real, tangible, love with those that question His very existence.

A few book recommendations:

• Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis)
• Classical Apologetics (R. C. Sproul, John Gerstner, Arthur Lindsley)
• Answering the New Atheism (Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker)