Pastor Mike's Blog

Sunday Service Preview - June 20, 2010

On Sunday, June 20, we are taking a one week break from the CHARACTER LESSONS sermon series to allow our youth choir to share a special presentation with us.  This will be the kick-off of their week-long tour entitled "Ignite: love, passion, community."The service will include music, drama, video, testimonies and stomps all put together in a creative way by students from Otterbein. They leave Sunday evening and will be traveling to Baltimore, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia to present the program in various venues. 

The youth choir has shared in our worship services the past two years and it has been engaging and meaningful.  I hope you will be able to join us for what I believe will be a blessing to you and will also be a great encouragement to our students as they head out for a week of ministry. It will be a great week to invite guests to join you -- especially those with elementary, middle school, and high school age kids.

Please pray for our students as they have their final rehearsal on Saturday and then share with us on Sunday.  Pray God would use their presentation to encourage and challenge all of us who will attend on Sunday.  Pray for God to work in the hearts of everyone who attends on Sunday from the youngest to oldest in all of the ministry programs that will take place Sunday morning.

Sunday Service Preview - June 13, 2010

On Sunday, June 13, we will continue the CHARACTER LESSONS series with the message KEYS TO A GREAT FRIENDSHIP.  The message will focus on the story of Ruth and her friendship and relationship with her mother-in-law Naomi.  If you have a chance to read the story of Ruth in the Old Testament before Sunday's service I encourage you to do so.

During the message we will look at four qualities that characterized their relationship with one another and look at how we can have those qualities in our relationships.  The message will be practical, encouraging, and helpful regardless of where you find yourself on your spiritual journey.  Sunday's service will also include a meaningful time of worship led by Dave Besecker and our music ministry team.  It will be a great week to invite a guest to join you and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Please pray for Sunday's service.  Pray God would work in a powerful way in the hearts of all who attend.  Pray lives would be changed.  Pray for our ministry staff as they make final preparations for Sunday. And pray God would help you and others to have an open heart and mind to whatever it is that God wants to do in your life on Sunday.

Sunday Service Preview - June 6, 2010

On Sunday, June 6, I am going to share the message SECOND CHANCES.  Together, we are going to look at the story of Jonah and learn some important lessons about God and about His desire to have a relationship with people - even those who are far from Him.  There is also an important lesson in Jonah about running away from God and doing our own thing when we think God's plan is a bad idea. I hope you will be able to join us for what I believe will be a relevant, helpful, and encouraging message from God's Word.

We will share the Lord's Supper in all three worship services on Sunday.  The Adult and Youth Choirs will also be sharing in all three services.  It will be a great day to invite a guest to join you. 

I know I ask you to pray each week as I share a preview of the upcoming service.  I do that because I believe attending a church service is about so much more than simply "doing the church thing" on Sunday morning.  God wants to do something very special in each of our lives as we worship Him and learn from Him and that only happens as we seek His power and His work in our lives.  Please pray for God to pour out His Spirit on everything that happens at Otterbein on Sunday.  Pray God would help you and everyone else who attends to have an open heart and mind to hear the specific things He wants to say to you and others.  Pray for God's strength and anointing on those who will help teach and serve on Sunday.  And pray that lives will be changed as a result of what we do on Sunday at Otterbein.

Sunday Service Preview - May 30, 2010

On Sunday, I am going to begin a new sermon series called CHARACTER LESSONS.  During the series, we are going to look at five different people in the Bible and learn some important lessons from their lives that can help us. 

On Sunday, we are going to focus on Esther.  If you haven't read the story of Esther, I encourage you to do so before you join us Sunday morning.  We learn a lot from Esther's life, but one of the big lessons we learn is that God can and will use the circumstances in our lives for good if we will respond to them the right way and allow ourselves to be used by God. Both Esther and Mordecai (her cousin) faced some incredible circumstances and yet God used them in incredible ways because of how they responded to what was going on.  Sunday's message will be practical, encouraging, and helpful as we try to make sense of the things that happen in our lives.

We will take a few moments during our services this memorial day weekend to remember those who have given their lives for our freedoms.  The adult choir will be sharing in all three services on Sunday.  Dave and our music ministry team will lead us in worship and I believe it is going to be a great worship experience.  I hope you will join us.  It will also be a great week to invite a guest to join you.

Please pray for God to do something very special in worship services this weekend.  Pray those who come will sense God's presence and will respond to God's leading in response to the message.  Pray God will help those who are serving this weekend.  And pray that everything we do would bring honor and glory to God.

Sunday Service Preview - May 23, 2010

On Sunday, I will be sharing the message "Invest + Influence = Make A Difference."  During the message, we are going to look at some statistical information about what is happening in the spiritual lives of children and middle/high school students and who has the greatest influence on their spiritual journey.  We will also explore what God has to say about the importance of impacting the next generation spiritually and I will offer some practical suggestions for making a difference in the lives of our kids.  I believe the things we are going to talk about on Sunday are important for all of us whether we have kids or not and I hope you will be able to join us.

During the service, the Friendship Company (children's choir) will be sharing a special musical piece with us and we will take a few minutes to express our thanks to the many volunteers at Otterbein who serve in our children and youth ministries.  Our music ministry will also lead us in a meaningful time of worship.  It will be a good week to invite a guest to join you and I look foward to worshipping with you on Sunday.

Please pray for God to work in a powerful way in our services on Sunday.  Pray for the lives of those who attend to be changed and encouraged. Pray those who serve will sense God's help and leading on Sunday.  And pray God would help you and everyone else who attends to have an open heart and mind to whatever He wants to say to us on Sunday.

Sunday Service Preview - May 16, 2010

On Sunday, I am going to conclude the RED LETTER WORDS series with the message MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.  We are going to look at Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30 where he said "come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

As I reflect on my own life and think about my interactions with others, many are struggling with this whole issue of feeling overwhelmed and weary.  On Sunday, we are going to explore what it means to "come to Jesus" and "take my yoke upon you" and also look at some of the things that often "weigh us down" in our lives.  I believe the message will be helpful, thought-provoking, and encouraging and I hope you will be able to join us. 

Our children's dance ministry will have a part in our worship service on Sunday and Dave and our music ministry will lead us in a meaningful time of worship. It will be a great day for you to invite a friend.

Please pray for the services on Sunday. Pray God would do something special in the hearts of everyone who attends.  Pray those who are feeling overwhelmed and burdened with life might leave encouraged and helped.  Pray that anyone who has never chosen to follow Jesus will take that step in their spiritual journey on Sunday.  Pray for God's anointing and blessing to be on everyone who will serve on Sunday in our ministries at Otterbein.

Until then, have a great weekend.  I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Voter's Guide for Next Tuesday's PA Primary

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 is Pennsylvania's primary election.  I want to encourage those who live in Pennsylvania to vote in the primary and use their influence at the ballot box to make a difference for Jesus. One of the observations I have made for years is that many Christians are quick to complain about what is happening in our state and country and wish it were different, but they don't vote.  Voting is one of the primary ways we can influence the political process and it is my personal conviction that it is one of the ways that followers of Jesus can be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). To be very blunt - if you don't vote you have no right to complain about who gets elected and how they govern.

If you are like me, it is sometimes hard to track where the candidates stand on issues.  For a number of years, the Pennsylvania Family Institue has published a Voter's Guide for elections in Pennsylvania.  They have published one again for this election and I would encourage you to check it out.  Here is the link: http://www.focusvoter.com/PA/candidates

PLEASE NOTE:  My recommendation of the voter's guide is not an endorsement of any candidate or even of the PA Family Institute and their views.  I do however believe the voter's guide they produce asks questions that our relevant to our concerns as followers of Jesus and there is value in you taking the time to review it in preparation for voting on Tuesday.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR JESUS BY VOTING ON TUESDAY and using your inflence to choose leaders who will govern and follow Biblical principles as they lead.

Sunday Service Preview - May 9, 2010

On Sunday, May 9, 2010, I will continue the RED LETTER WORDS sermon series with the message "Seventy Times Seven."  Sunday's message will focus on Jesus' words in Matthew 18:21-35 where He taught on the issue of forgiveness.  I believe forgiveness is one of things that many people struggle with and when we fail to forgive as Jesus teaches it has a huge impact on us spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.  During the message, we will look at what Biblical forgiveness really is and talk about how we can do better with this important issue in our lives.  We will also look at what Jesus said was the consequence for not choosing to forgive.  The message will be practical, relevant, and challenging and I hope you will be able to join us.

As you know, Sunday is Mother's Day.  Our Men's Chorus will sing in all three services on Sunday (a tradition for us on Mother's Day) and we will also have some special video greetings/thoughts about moms from people in our church.  During the third service we will also have infant dedications (everyone dedicating their children this week attends the third service).  Dave Besecker and our music ministry team will lead us in a meaningful time of worship.  I believe it is going to be a great time of worship and learning and I encourage you to invite a guest to join you.

Please pray for God to do something special in our services on Sunday.  Pray lives will be changed.  Pray that our ministry staff will sense God's leading as they make final preparations for Sunday. And pray that God would do something special in your life as you worship and study His Word.

Sunday Service Preview - May 2, 2010

On Sunday, May 2, 2010, I will continue the RED LETTER WORDS series with the message WHEN YOU PRAY...  During the message, we are going to look at Jesus' words in Matthew 6:5-15 where He taught several important truths about prayer and then taught a "model" prayer that we could use to guide our prayers. 

Throughout my life, I have both experienced and observed in others that this whole subject of prayer can at times be challenging for us.  Evidently, it was challenging during Jesus' day as well and the disciples felt a need to ask Jesus about it.  He also felt the need to teach them how to pray so they would be able to do it better.  Sunday's message will be practical, encouraging, and challenging for us as we consider how we can take a step forward in our prayer life with God.

We will also introduce a special prayer empahsis in our church for the month of May on Sunday.  We will be doing some extra things during May to help us pray more effectively and I look forward to what God is going to do in us and through us during our special prayer focus.

We will celebrate the Lord's Supper in all of our worship services on Sunday.  Dave Besecker and our music ministry will lead us in a meaningful time of worship and the choir will also be participating in all of our worship services this week. It will be a good week to invite a guest to join you.

Please pray for Sunday's services.  Pray for everyone that has a role on Sunday as they prepare. Pray God would pour out His Spirit in a powerful way and that lives would be changed.  Pray that everyone who attends would come with an open heart and mind to worship God and hear whatever He wants to say to them. 

April 25, 2010 Sunday Service Preview

On Sunday, I am continuing the RED LETTER WORDS sermon series with the message YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.  Jesus spoke those words (You Must Be Born Again) to a guy named Nicodemus and we read them in John 3:3.  They are part of a larger discussion (John 3:1-21) Jesus had with Nicodemus about how to enter the Kingdom of God and His words are still relevant and applicable to our lives today. 

On Sunday, we are going to look at what Jesus taught about how a person gets to heaven, God's role and our role in getting to heaven, and what happens in our lives if we delay or choose to not follow Jesus.  We will also talk about why this whole discussion is important for those of us who have already made a choice to follow Jesus.  I hope you will be able to join us for what I believe will be a practical, challenging, and helpful message.

Sunday's service will also include a meaningful time of worship led by Dave Besecker and our music ministry team.  It will be a great week to invite a guest to join you.

Please pray for our services on Sunday.  Pray God would work in a powerful way and that those who have not yet made a decision to follow Jesus might make that choice on Sunday.  Pray for God to speak to every person's heart who attends on Sunday in some practical and impactful way.  Pray for our ministry staff as they serve on Sunday.  And pray God would help you to have an open heart and mind to whatever He wants to accomplish in your life as you worship Him.