Tag: community

Cities of Refuge by Abidan Shah, PhD

In Joshua’s day, God commanded the Israelites to establish places where people could go who were in trouble or needed help. These cities served as beacons to those who would run into them and find refuge and solace. Church, small groups, and Christian connection should function the same way. This is especially true for small groups. They have a unique ability to uplift and edify believers while connecting them to the church. The title of this weekend’s message is “Cities of Refuge.”

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Rejoice by Dr. Abidan Shah

This weekend, we continue in our series through the book of Philippians titled “COMMUNITY.” Toward the end of his letter, Paul encourages his readers to find joy in knowing that God is in control. Faith in God overrides the fear and anxiety that can creep into our hearts. The title of this weekend’s message is “REJOICE.”

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Press On by Dr. Abidan Shah

This weekend, we are continuing through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul is holding himself up as an example of what it means to continue moving forward and growing in the Christian life. He reminds his readers that developing a Christlike mindset is a journey. God continues to refine us as we pursue His will. The title of this weekend’s message is “PRESS ON.”

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Gospel-Centric by Dr. Abidan Shah

Last weekend, I began a series through the book of Philippians titled “COMMUNITY.” Now more than ever, we need to be reminded of the importance of meeting in a physical location and worshipping together physically. This weekend, we are continuing in our series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul wanted his readers to understand that above all else, the message of the gospel must be the focal point in the lives of believers. It should be our true north, guiding us through the storms and trials of life. This weekend’s message is titled “GOSPEL-CENTRIC.”

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Community by Dr. Abidan Shah

This weekend, we are going back to the book of Philippians. Paul's letter to the Philippian believers addresses the importance of their partnership in sharing the gospel and expanding the ministry of the church. I cannot think of a better time for us to talk about community! Join us as we begin a new series through the book of Philippians titled "COMMUNITY."

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Discipleship 3: Together by Pastor Abidan Shah

This weekend, we come to the third letter of the acronym WATER, which stands for “Together.” In the book of Acts, the believers were united by a common purpose and desire to see the gospel spread to the nations. Their unity made them stand out from those around them and drew people to the truth of who Jesus is and what He accomplished. The title of this week’s message is “DISCIPLESHIP 3: TOGETHER.”

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Steadfast by Pastor Abidan Shah

This weekend, our message is titled “STEADFAST.” Paul encouraged the Philippians to stand up under persecution and maintain an eternal perspective on the sufferings of life. He tells them to remain steadfast, but it’s not an individualistic command. Paul tells the Philippians to stand firm together, being unified for the sake of the gospel.

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When the Body Grows by Pastor Abidan Shah

Many times in Scripture, the church is compared to a body. It is composed of many members with different functions that work together for the good of the whole. The same should be true of the church, especially where men are concerned. Becoming spiritually mature isn’t just learning more about God; it’s about stepping up to lead by serving.

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Why We Need Community – Part Two

Some people fear that community means someone is going to control my life. Nothing could be further from the truth! Community is the joy of walking with other pilgrims on the road of life.

As we learned last weekend, community is vital. It keeps us grounded. It helps us to make wise decisions. The reason many people make foolish decisions is because they live in isolation and get easily blown about by their feelings and emotions.

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Why We Need Community – Part 1

In our world of hyper-connectivity with Facebook,Twitter, and other social media, most people are still isolated. They mistakenly think that observing each other's lives from smart phones and computer screens is living in community. Nothing can be further from the truth. Neither can any amount of bible study and prayer take the place of the human touch.

Bottom line: God never intended for us to live detached from each other. Christian life was always meant to be lived in community. The reason even Christians seem to be making bad and random decisions is because there is no accountability.

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CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE – Article by Abidan Shah

After my last article – “Why we love our community?” – many of the readers thanked me for refuting a report floating on Facebook that we are one of the worst places to live in North Carolina. I explained that such town rankings do not factor “population dynamics, high crime areas, and latest annual crime reports” in their raw data analyses. Some of the readers asked me to clarify further, so here goes--

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WHY WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY? Newspaper Article by Abidan Paul Shah

“Embarrassed of my hometown...” “Not what it used to be…” “Not surprised…” “Wish I could move…” These were some of the reactions to a recent crime report analysis circulating on Facebook. Actually, these were some of the nicer comments. Others were too crude to be mentioned here. Why are some people so quick to trash their community? It seems that they get some strange pleasure in mocking it and talking down about it. Instead of coming to her aid, they join the assailants. They’re like that person who sees an arsonist dousing his home with kerosene and offers him a match! Such people live somewhere at the intersection of Nostalgia Avenue and Bad Experience.

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