Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Care Group Location Change

Our caregroup will be meeting at the “House of Payne” (AKA the abode of Dan & Kimberly) this coming Friday night, instead of our house like we normally do.

Please try to be on time (7:00pm), because you never know, the meeting may actually start without you and you wouldn’t want to miss out.

Need directions? Contact the church office at, 864.346.2361 or jessica[at]sgcsc.org.

Your bro,

-Matt R

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Next Worship LIVE

The Next Worship Album is available for download. You can download it HERE. The cost is $5! Here is the song line-up:

God Over All (Devon Kauflin)
His Name is Jesus (All Hail the Power) (Judah Groveman)
He Is Jesus (Stephen Altrogge)
Praise the Lord (Doug Plank)
By This We Know Love (Judah Groveman)
All I Have (Jordan Kauflin)
Jesus Thank You (Pat Sczebel)
I Need You (Kristian Stanfill/Eddie Kirkland)
The Name above All Names (Judah Groveman)
What a Savior (Devon Kauflin)
I Will Glory in My Redeemer (Steve & Vikki Cook)
Blessed Is the One (Doug Plank)
Oh the Deep, Deep Love (Bob Kauflin)



Friday, June 26, 2009

What Was The Name...


It's been a month...Next memories are fading. You really wished you would have purchased that book, but you can't remember the title. A specific worship song blessed your soul, what was the title? A quote stood out in a message, but you couldn't jot the whole thing down.
Wouldn't it be nice if that information was online?

The Next team has come to the rescue. All of this information (and much more) has been posted on the Next website. To make things easier for you, we have included some links below. Enjoy!

Mp3's of conference messages

Bookstore List

Worship Line-up

Application Questions

Message Notes

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Friday, May 29, 2009

NEXT MP3s

P5260152

NEXT 2009 messages are available for download. We recommend that you download and listen to them. They are excellent!

Download HERE.

 

You can also view hundreds of pics from the conference. Don’t forget to look for your friends. SGC folks are in quite a few! NEXT 09 Pics

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

No Care Group/NEXT Travel Info

There will be NO CARE GROUP this Friday. This will give those attending the NEXT conference an opportunity to pack and go to bed early.

For those of you attending NEXT, a couple of reminders:

• Bus is leaving the Marriott (back parking lot) at 5:30am. That means that you’ll need to get there a little before, so we can pray and load up theCheck Spelling luggage.
• Don’t forget to bring quarters! We will have a bunch of chilled sodas on the bus. (Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Mountain Dew, and Juice Boxes)
• Please have someone BRING YOU! If you have a friend or parent that can drive you to the Marriott, please do so!!! We can only park a couple cars in the Marriott parking lot. So, the more people that can carpool and be brought by someone else, the better! Thanks for serving the Marriott in this way.
• If you have not given Jessica $$$, please put it in the mail…(need the address? jessica[at]sgcsc.org). Just address it to the church and to Jessica's attention.
• Don’t forget, everyone will be checking themselves into the Hilton. Just give your name at the front desk.


Conference Details:

Registration Check-in is from 3pm – 8pm.
Bookstore will be open early this year! It will be open on Saturday from 3pm – 8pm.
First session begins at 7:45pm, doors open at 7:15pm. Get to doors early if you want a good seat!

What should I bring? Clothes are helpful. A toothbrush... But, seriously, bring shoes for walking (you’ll be doing a lot of standing/walking), Bible, Notebook, Pen. Just the usual things for a weekend conference. Oh and bring cash for coffee…you’ll need it. ;)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Next $$$

We need you!

Yes, you. This Sunday (May 17th) is the deadline for the NEXT hotel & bus payments. If you haven't paid the church, please bring your payment on Sunday . (Please give NEXT payments to Jessica.) If you are paying by check, please make the check out to Sovereign Grace Church and write NEXT in the memo. If you're paying cash, please put it in an envelope and mark the envelope with, yep you guessed it, NEXT. Thank you!!!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

NEXT Registration, Closes May 10th

banner4

Everyone knows one. Everyone has a friend that does “it”. But, no one wants to admit that they procrastinate too. Who me?

Since we know that you don’t procrastinate, this is a reminder for your friend, please make sure you remind them…

Or maybe your finances have been tight and you’re waiting for your tax return…

Whatever the case may be, DON’T FORGET!!! Registration for the NEXT conference closes on May 10th. That’s right, your last chance to register is fast approaching. So, don’t delay, register today…

NEXT Registration

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Verses to make you hungry...

Below are some verses from the Bible to encourage your thirst for His Word. I pray that you will be motivated by a desire to taste of His good grace and enjoy Him as you read His Word.

Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.

Psalm 119:18-20 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. 19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

Psalm 119:64-65
The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! 65 You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.

Psalm 119:92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. 94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. 97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:103-107 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. 107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:111-114 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. 113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. 114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Psalm 119:123-125 123 My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. 124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. 125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!

Psalm 119:127-131 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. 129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.

All of the verses quoted above are taken from the ESV Bible. You can find the ESV Study Bible online here

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Getting started on a Bible Reading Plan

As you are probably aware, we have just started a church-wide Bible-Reading plan this week (we're using one from the Discipleship Journal). If you’d like to download and print it, you can do so directly here: http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf

As we embark on reading the Bible together this year, although our goal is to read the Bible each day, we want to do so in dependence on the grace of God knowing that we may not actually read His Word as consistently as we would like, even when we try.

Please do not become discouraged and give up though – what matters to the Lord is not checking off the daily reading box, but that we come to Him in humble dependence, looking to be fed, nourished and refreshed by Him.

Be aware, as with any Bible reading or devotional plan, there can be a temptation to legalism or pride, as if our doing the plan faithfully impresses God or in some way means that we’re being “good Christians”. God is impressed with those who come to Him contrite and in humble dependence on Him.

On the other hand, do not feel like you have to go back and re-read the days you miss as if you cannot keep pressing forward without doing so. If you miss days, I would encourage you to either press on, skip that day and just read the next day so you can keep current with your family or caregroup (preferable – so that you can experience fellowship/discussion about the Bible with others more easily) or just read the plan acting as if you didn’t miss a thing and read whatever verses are next, no matter how long it has been.

There is a great temptation to feel overwhelmed when embarking on such a plan - especially if we miss a lot of days and we feel like we are so far behind that we cannot continue. Please do not fall into this trap. If you miss days – approach each day as a fresh start and remember that what matters is whether you are reading God’s Word – not whether you perfectly follow a plan or read every verse sequentially. No matter how many verses or books you skip, you can be sure that God will be faithful to use His Word in your life whenever you read it and whatever passage you happen to be reading.

Remember that God is not angry with His children when we don’t read the Bible and He isn’t thinking less of us if we miss checking the boxes – no, He just longs for us to come to Him and He meets us, leads us, guides us and refreshes us when we do so humbly.

So, if you haven’t started reading – let me encourage you to start on day 3 tomorrow…

God’s Word is sweeter than honey, more valuable than the greatest treasure, it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path and it can make even the most simple wise – let this encourage and motivate us to read His Word and feast on His goodness found therein.

-Matt

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Free in Christ

Do you ever despair at the sin in your life? If you've been born again in Jesus Christ take courage, because you've been made new and are no longer enslaved by sin.

We no longer need to fear God's wrath since Jesus has completely fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law. Now the Holy Spirit who knows our hearts, as well as all of our mixed motives and competing desires, perfectly intercedes for us in the midst of our weaknesses. He is constantly in the process of working everything in our lives according to His good purposes.

Even though we may feel unlovely, God loves us because of His Son and nothing will separate us from His love - no circumstance, no person and not even our own feeble failings. It is precisely because of the freedom that we now have in Christ and the great love that He has poured out on us that we can take courage knowing that He is for us and we are more than conquerors through Him. (read all of Romans 8 to get the full story)

Free in Christ

So often in my life
I’m tempted to despair
I see the sin in my heart
And the wickedness in there

I can feel like I’m unworthy
Unfit to bear His name
Like I am not His child
Weighed down by all my shame

But then I remember
That the source of my faith
Does not lie within me
But in His amazing grace

Jesus saved me from myself
And all my wickedness
He rescued me from God’s wrath
And gave me His righteousness

Now I am forgiven
I No longer stand condemned
I’ve been cleansed in His blood
Washed clean and free from my sin

So now I am worthy
Because I bear His name
I am His chosen child
He has taken all my blame

Now I’m free in Christ
My hope in Him secure
I’m free to live for Him
My inheritance is sure

Copyright Matthew Rawlings, March 27, 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Registration INCREASES

P2140010

Have you been planning on registering for Next 09, but more important things have occupied your time (like school, care group, sorting your sock drawer…). Take 5 minutes and do it TODAY!!! Registration increases tomorrow (12am, April 1st). Don’t delay, register today.

http://www.thisisnext.org/2009-conference#register 

Not sure if you’re going? Want to go, but cannot afford it? Contact Matt R. or e-mail us at: jessica[at]sgcsc.org.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

BBQ

A great big thank-you goes out to Stephen Frank for fixing us a sublime BBQ feast. Even though it ended up raining heavily, the weather didn't spoil our fun as we huddled under our redneck-inspired tent&tarp. Check out these pics from our time...











Wednesday, March 25, 2009

BBQ Before Group

Join us this Friday night for catered BBQ. That's right, we'll be having dinner together before care group. What do you need to do?

RSVP: jessica[at]sgcsc.org

After that, arrive at the Rawlings at 5:30pm with $5.50. We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Embassy Suites TOMORROW











Click HERE for maps & directions.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Hilton This Sunday


Click HERE for maps and directions.

Friday, February 20, 2009

THIS IS NEXT

Friday, February 13, 2009

Fundraising 101

P2110028

Let’s face it, singles just do not have money stashed away in a sock drawer. It can be tough to make ends meet. And when it comes to a conference, is your first thought, “And where do you expect me to get money for this?”

Well the creative genius’ on the Next Blog have read your mind. They are posting a series on fundraising ideas and ways to make your hard earned cash stretch. So, don’t waste time. Stop whatever you are doing and check out these creative ideas!

Fundraising Ideas – Round 1

Fundraising From Your Living Room

Still short cash? Talk to Matt R.  

Friday, February 6, 2009

30 hours

P2010004Are you looking for some theologically rich sermons to download? Well, look no further! thisisnext.org has just released a Resources page. On it you’ll find no less than 36 messages from the New Attitude conferences. That’s somewhere over 30 hours of sermons from men like John Piper, Al Mohler, Mark Dever, Mike Bullmore, Bruce Ware, Bob Kauflin, C.J. Mahaney, Wayne Grudem, and Joshua Harris.

What are you waiting for? Start downloading!!!

http://www.thisisnext.org/resources

Thursday, February 5, 2009

No Care Group This Week

Don’t forget, there is no care group this week (Friday, February 6th).

next

Stop by the Next Promo Table this Sunday…pick-up a poster, sticker, and “bookmark”.