September 2, 2010

Summit Connect Groups ONLINE!

Posted by Kristy-Lee

Getting into a Summit Connect group is about to become a whole lot more accessible!

In just a few short weeks, it will be possible for individuals seeking to take their next steps in community to instantly find a Connect group. This is going to be HUGE!

A new online group search function—through summitconnect.org—will allow those looking to join a group to search for “open” Connect groups. Groups will be listed under category, the day of the week the group meets, and by the city the group meets in, making it easier to find a group that fits your life. We will still be holding Group Nights throughout the year to provide additional ways to jump into group life.

This new era of Summit Connect is an exciting time and one that has huge repercussions on people living out the vision of connecting in Christ-centered relationships.

If you are a group leader and haven’t done so already, we ask that you register your group with us. It will help us get ready for our mid-September launch!

Please take a few minutes to register at http://tinyurl.com/registeryourgroup. Providing this information will allow us to create and configure your group so that it will show up properly in search results and so that you can begin using it to manage and communicate with your group.

Thanks!

September 1, 2010

This Sunday's Worship!

Posted by Allie

Summit Church is honored to have Dr. Richard Pratt as our guest speaker this weekend at Herndon and The Plaza. Not only is Dr. Pratt a brilliant scholar, but a gifted communicator as well. You won’t want to miss his message this weekend on “The Kingdom of God” taken from Matthew 6.

Dr. Pratt chaired the Old Testament Department and taught at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson MS and Orlando FL for 21 years. He received a BA from Roanoke College, an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary and the Th.D. from Harvard University. Dr. Pratt has traveled extensively throughout the world to evangelize and lecture, including Australia, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Indonesia, Mexico, Mongolia, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Dr. Richard Pratt is the President of Third Millennium Ministries. The goal of Third Mill. is to provide Christian education to hundreds of thousands of pastors around the world who lack sufficient training for ministry by publishing and globally distributing a free multilingual, multimedia, digital seminary curriculum.

August 31, 2010

BCL! Is Back!

Posted by Kristy-Lee

BCL IS BACK!! Starting September 12th and 19th, this 30-minute family production—that our K-5th kids bring their parents to—will start off with a bang! BCL launches at the Herndon campus September 12th and at Waterford September 19th.

Kids and parents will hear about the character of Christ in relevant and exciting ways…told through games, stories, skits, and fun. A slew of zany characters will bring the stories of the Bible to life in a way that families can talk about throughout the week!

What can be better than that?! Base Camp Live! is here to provide families with helpful tools to talk about Jesus on the car ride home from church, at the dinner table, and anytime in between.

And this season, Summit Waterford is getting their very own BCL cast—characters like Daisy, Cammie, and Grandpa Henry will be sharing the stage with the BCL host team, learning about virtues such as respect, service, and joy!

Here are some logistics on how BCL works on Sunday mornings:

Parents…

If you attend the Herndon campus, you would meet your kiddos in the Base Camp Live! Theatre after service. (BCL is after the first two morning services @ 10:28 & 11:58 a.m.)
If you attend the Waterford campus, your child will meet you in the sanctuary for the show. (BCL is between the first and second service @ 10:25 a.m.)

Please feel free to ask one of the Base Camp crew on Sunday if you have questions about the production!

But first, want to see some of the cast? Check out the fun promo photos we took last week!

August 30, 2010

SIGHT UNSEEN: WEEK 2

Posted by Michael

Learn:
Mark 8:22-27
27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29"But what about you?" he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

References:
Matthew 5:13-16

Main Idea:
The most important question you can ever ask yourself is, “Who do I believe Jesus is?” The way you answer that question changes everything. Saying that Jesus was a super nice guy who had some good ideas is not a viable option. He was a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. In Mark 8, Peter makes the claim that Jesus is the Christ. He was absolutely correct. The problem was that he had a wrong view of what that meant. He expected that Jesus would raise up an army and restore power to Israel. So when Jesus began to talk about suffering, Peter did not understand. He wanted Jesus to have the crown without the cross. Jesus, however, willingly carried His cross, and commands us to do the same. We don’t get to choose our burdens, but we do get to choose our crosses. A cross is something that we choose to do, just as Jesus chose to go to Calvary. To pick up your cross is to choose to serve the needs of others and thereby to serve God. If we are to truly follow Jesus it means that we must surrender our selfishness to God.

Know What: To acknowledge the truth that “Jesus is King” is not enough; we must also understand the way He has decided to usher in His Kingdom.

So What: Although Jesus was King, he chose to pick up His cross instead of a crown and wants us to do the same.

Now What: Pick up your cross by dying to yourself everyday and surrendering yourself to Jesus.

Discuss…
1. Have you ever tried to fit Jesus into what your idea of a Messiah should be? How does this view differ from the things Jesus says and does in Scripture? Are there any false expectations about Jesus that you are still holding on to?

2. Why are people so quick to accept Jesus as “good teacher”, but not as the Christ? Do you believe Jesus can fit into any other category besides “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord?” If so, what are they?

3. Peter wanted Jesus to attain His crown (rewards) without picking up His cross (suffering). Jesus could have easily done this, but chose not to. Why do you think Jesus decided to pick up His cross before attaining His crown?

4. What is the difference between a burden, a thorn, and a cross? What are some burdens and thorns in your life? Are there any crosses?

5. Is there any situation you are currently dealing with where you are trying to attain a crown before picking up a cross? How can you pick up your cross in this situation?

Next Steps…
This week, look for opportunities to pick up your cross. Remember that picking up a cross is a deliberate choice of something that could be evaded. It is the act of denying yourself to serve the needs of others when you are not required to, as Jesus did. As you pick up your cross this week, pray that you would get a clearer image of who Jesus is.

August 25, 2010

A Disney-kind of Day

Posted by Kristy-Lee

At Summit, the Communications department shapes what you read, hear,
touch, or click throughout the week. We come alongside each ministry and
help them disperse information whether through print, web, multi-media, or
creative space.

To keep my team refreshed, we headed outside the Herndon building and went
on a little field trip. The Comm team needs to constantly be in the know
of what the best way is to communicate to the masses. We need to
creatively think through how to use print material, video, directional
signage, and environments, and sometimes you just can’t do that behind
four walls. So, I thought we should visit a magical little place that does
it best – Walt Disney World! (Well, actually, Downtown Disney, because
it’s FREE!)

As we walked through the Marketplace and the stores I equipped my team
with a few questions which started some great conversations:

What is the first thing that caught your eye when walking into this store?
What made you feel welcome?
What did they use to engage you?
Do you see any directional signage? Do they use it effectively? Where is
it located?
What does Disney do to transport you into their Marketplace?

These questions led to brainstorm sessions from Summit parking to the
bathroom sinks (literally), and everything in between.

I think it was a successful day. I can’t wait to implement some of our new
plans for you in the next coming months!