Greg Peters Live

• Loved so much about the weekend!
• God was at work and His Spirit was moving!
• Great to see some returning guest families!
• The video was great – honoring my dad and challenging all dads to be the hands of Christ.
• Darren Peterson read the piece that was written by his dad and Derek did a great job producing the video.
• It is sad to me how on Mother’s Day, all that moms want is their family to go to church with them and on Father’s Day, many dads think of things to do so they don’t have to go to church.
• We had our lowest attendance of the year on Father’s Day weekend and about 125 less people than we had just the weekend prior.
• That grieves me!
• I am extremely grateful for the 80% of men in our church that were in church with their wives and children.
• It is one thing to talk it and it is another thing to model it!
• It reminds me as go the men so goes the church.
• It reminds me to speak more directly to the men of our church.
• Although it was hard, I really enjoyed preaching Romans 1:18-32.
• One of the reasons I love preaching at Parkview is because our church family loves truth.
• In almost 13 years, that was the first time I ever taught on the passive wrath of God – Romans 1:24,26.
• I had another first this weekend – it was the first time I ever pulled a muscle while preaching. Pulled the muscle from my neck to my shoulder in the 9:30 service. If you were present, you can probably guess when I pulled it. This would be very funny if it wasn’t killing me. Wasn’t bad yesterday, but a night of sleep made it alot worse!!
• Felt it was helpful as we talked about our envy toward the pleasurable sin of others or our “white-knuckling” our faith until rewarded in glory.
• I am so grateful for the privilege of pastoring Parkview
• I loved my own personal experiences on Father’s Day!
• Seth decorated the house with streamers and wall signs and a balloon.
• Denise bought me some very nice pants that didn’t fit in the waist – I refuse to go to the next size, so I am officially on a weight loss regimine.
• God is a Father who is beyond words!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes in ministry we get overly focused on bigger. Nothing is wrong with bigger, in fact, I think bigger honors God. Not that small churches don’t honor God, but if you can grow and God has put you in a place to grow, then when you do grow that obviously honors Him. In other words, the more people we reach, the better. The bigger we are the more life change we are able to actualize. I do see value in numbers because ultimately numbers equals souls.  Empty seats never get saved!  With all my heart I want to reach as many people for Christ as possible. While I am all for bigger, I do think better is better. Let me explain – If we keep getting better, better at first impressions, better at campus beautification, better at loving babies, better childrens ministry, better at empowering students, better at preaching the Word, better at the excellence in our tech team, better at the quality of worship, better at the way we fellowship, better at the way we build stronger believers, better at our outreach events, etc, etc, etc. If we keep getting better – bigger will take care of itself!!!  If we determine to be better then the community will dictate bigger. By the way, better is normally not working harder it is just working smarter. If somebody is not interested in better then there is a bigger problem – pun intended.

If you are leading or serving in ministry, ask yourself, “what one thing could I do just a little bit better?”.

A favorite quote of mine is – excellence honors God and God honors excellence.

May we get better for His glory!!!

• We had a tremendous weekend at Parkview!
• We had 10 people trust Christ as their personal Lord and Savior – that is beyond words!!
• Love guiding people to life change in Christ!
• Great attendance – great guests!
• Wherever you serve in ministry, you had a part in changing lives this weekend!
• After the weekend services, Jason and Gracie Powers, and Denise and I, went to this conference Sunday night and Monday.
• Alot of great preaching – I personally was particularly blessed by Andy Stanley and Matt Chandler.
• In between attending Greater Things, I spoke at this conference.
• Really was great how the Lord worked it out for me to do both and both were in Orlando!
• We got home last night around midnight – a long couple of days, but spiritually refreshing!
• The Lord gave our family a very unexpected blessing today!

Just a few observations and lessons from the BP blunder

• When you screw up you better figure out a way to communicate clearly and quickly
• When you blow your communication you better apologize quickly
• If the President of the US says you should be fired it is probably a bad day
• Big rewards are accompanied with big risks
• If you are taking big risks don’t act like you are not
• Better surround yourself with the right people and the best people because there will be a day when you really need them
• No matter how you try to make your wrong right some people will not let you live it down
• When your company has a major problem it will affect the companies that are closest to you
• There will be a day when you are no longer the top story but it sure doesn’t feel like it now
• Anybody can lead when the profit is flowing
• It takes a real leader to lead when the oil is spilling
• You better spend whatever it takes to make a wrong right

A rather common statement made by Christians is that they “want more depth”. While that statement can mean different things to different people, I think we need to be careful when we make that statement. I am all for growing deeper and expanding knowledge as long as it is not for knowledge sake alone. “Knowledge puffs up” if we are not careful.

Recently I made the statement in a sermon that “we are educated way beyond our obedience”. I was commenting to someone today about how I will discover a “new or deeper” truth, teach that truth, be totally excited from several different angles about the deeper truth and in a few weeks I can’t even remember what I sudied, discovered, prepared and taught. Perhaps that is a statement about my preaching but I think it is more about my memory. It also serves as just another reminder that I need to be concerned about doing what I know and not worry about the deeper truth that I have forgotten. If I never learned another biblical truth, I would still  not be able to obey all that I already know.

Pastor Steven Furtick had a recent post where he touched on a similar topic. He said, “The greatest problem of American Christians when it comes to the Bible is not that we are not deep in God’s Word. The problem is that we are not active in God’s Word. We have a lot more revelation than our current level of active application. And revelation without application leads to stagnation”. You can read his entire post by clicking here.

• Missed my weekend wrap up - now it is Monday night at 7pm.
• It was a bell to bell weekend both Saturday and Sunday.
• Love leaving it all on the feild.
• Got to lunch with Denise today and am getting ready to work outside with Seth tonight.
• Had a good membership brunch this weekend.
• Our new Bible Fellowship class went very well from all the reports I heard.
• Our 5 summer womens Bible studies are off to a good start – ladies are still signing up.
• Great to see so many people connecting in group life.
• Our LIFE groups (which are groups that stay together and just continue to choose studies for the benefit of the spiritual growth of group members) and CLASSES (which are one time groups that gather for a specific study, ie. parenting, finances, book study, etc.) follow a Fall and Spring schedule. It is great to see some special summer studies and our new Bible Fellowship group doing so well.
• Growth takes place best in the context of community!
• Had several other meetings this weekend and they went well.
• There are a number of things that are happening that will remove some growth barriers for us.
• Right now the most important lid to be removed is our space constraints.
• I am thankful for the leaders that are keeping our building project moving forward.
• Things are happening every day to make construction happen.
• Be praying as we near applying for our building permit.
• Really excited to be in our summer series, Magnum Opus
• Romans is Paul’s magnum opus, his greatest work.
• Romans is the greatest epistle by the greatest apostle.
• Looking forward to preachiing through the first 4 chapters verse by verse this Summer.
• At the very beginning of Summer and our guest numbers are very strong. It is exciting to see people visiting who are actually moving to town.
• This is the time of year that young families move to town.
• Parkview family – let’s be sure that we go out of our way to be friendly and connect with people!!!
• Let me encourage you to come to church next weekend, having spent quality time with the Lord this week and ready to worship out of your personal overflow.
• Be Blessed!

I don’t have a tough decision to make today but the next time I do I would like to remember a recent post by Perry Noble:

I would almost be willing to bet my last Bible that Nehemiah wasn’t the first person to identify the problem…and I would dare say he wasn’t the first person to try to do something about it.  BUT…the ONE THING that set him apart as the guy who did the “impossible” was that he was completely willing to make a decision that was unpopular with some for the good of so many others!

You can read Perry’s entire post click here

May the Lord give you courage to face the next tough decision in your life!!

• It is Memorial Day and we are just chillin’. We slept in, Denise made a great breakfast and we played a few games of twister. We have some plans for later in the day.
• So thankful for all our active military, veterans and especially for those who made the ultimate sacrifice!
• “It is foolish and even wrong to mourn that such men died, rather we ought to thank God that such men lived.” General George Patton
• It was a great weekend to honor our men and women who served!!
• I saw one vet wipe the tears from his eyes as he was standing.
• We had a tremendous Memorial Day weekend.
• Love remembering the sacrifice of so many.
• Love remembering the One who made the greatest sacrifice ever, Jesus Christ, through the celebration of communion.
• Met some great new families!!!
• We gave out our 5,000 door hangers for our Epic Outreach!! Thanks so much to all who participated! I spoke to one family yesterday who had already given out 200!!!
• Can’t wait to launch Magnum Opus!! I am praying this will be our best series ever!!
• Really believe we can grow this summer!!
• Our ladies ministry is offering 5 different Bible studies this summer. They are offering saw awesome studies! For more info email denise@parkviewlife.com.
• Beginning Sunday June 6th, at 9:30am we are offering a Bible Fellowship class. The class will be led by Bob McGill and will be a great time of learning and fellowship. Email john@parkviewlife.com for more info.
• I really enjoyed preaching through II John the last 2 weeks.
• Our Christian lives ought to be a beautiful balance of truth and love.
• When our relationships are only characterized by love we become doormats and we end up with resentment and anger stuffed down inside.
• When our relationships are only characterized by truth we become lonely. We alienate others because we are more about “laying down the law” than we are about “laying down our lives”
• Truth and love should be balanced.
• When truth and love are in conflict and push comes to shove – truth must prevail.
• Truth cannot exist outside the context of love.
• Where there are lies, deceipt and compromise, love cannot survive much less thrive!
• Boundaries are truth that is layed out because we love.
• I absolutely love preaching to the people of Parkview!!
• God has given our church such a great opportunity in our county!
• I am so excited about the expansion of our auditorium!
• The steel structure has been ordered and now it will be desinged and fabricated. That takes approx. 6 weeks.
• Got to run, Seth wants to build an indoor fort.

In Romans 1:15, Paul said, “So much as is in me, I am now ready to preach the gospel to you…”.

One obvious responsibility that I have is to preach God’s Word to our church family.  Not only is it one of my main responsibilities but it is also one that I enjoy the most. Paul statement was a real challenge though – I need to be ready to preach. So I began to think about what is required in order for me to be really ready to preach. I came up with the following:

• I must have invested in my own inner world, by spending time with God in prayer and His Word
• I must do all I can to go into the pulpit refreshed and not weary
• I must have qantity and quality study time
• I must seek to live a Holy life
• I must have the prayers of God’s people
• I must seek to improve my communication skills
• I must have the annointing of God’s Spirit

I love preaching His Word and particularly, I love preaching at Parkview! One main way that you can help me to be ready to preach is for you to pray for me. If you are not already doing so, would you please begin petitioning God on my behalf. I do not ask you to pray for my own personal benefit but for the furtherance of the Gospel and for people to come to Christ as their Savior. I will try to do my part, would you be willing to do yours?

Romans 1:15 challenges me and then Romans 1:16 fires me up!!!

On many occasions you have heard me brag on our Elders. I have never felt so supported and helped in all my days of ministry.  Our Elders are not perfect but they have such a heart for the Lord and His people.  Our Elder team recently invited two new men to be a part of our team.  The two guys are Rick Kidder and Steve Biederman.  Rick, Steve and their wives are an active part of this ministry and have demonstrated many characteristics that are fitting to their new role. Already, both men have made a tremendous impact!

The New Testament defines eldership as follows: elders lead the church, teach and/or preach the Word, protect the church from false teaching, exhort and encourage believers, see that the sick and needy are cared for and prayed for, and  they provide oversight and accountability.  In biblical terminology, elders shepherd, oversee, lead and care for the local church.

Just this morning I spent 2 hours with our elders and once again walked away so encouraged. What really thrills me is how the Lord has sent us men with unique gifts and talents that are matched so perfectly with our current opportunities, needs and challenges. Currently some of the areas that we are focusing on are systems, organization and administration – each of these things is being viewed through the lense of our mission. It is the responsibility of our elder team for us to see that the mission stays in its prioritized position and is supported by the best structure – structure that increases our mission and does not impede our mission.

As the lead pastor at Parkview, I have the privilege of being out front and as a result I also get much of the credit for what good takes place. Allow me to take a moment and just further reinforce the fact that the overwhelming majority of good that happens is the result of the great leaders and staff God has placed around me.

I know that the Lord has some phenomenal things in store for Parkview. By God’s grace and as a result of His power, we are about to see incredible growth take place in our church. 2010 and 2011 are going to be unlike any other years we have ever seen. The expansion of our facility is going to give us the space we need to bring life change to countless more people in our community. In advance of all that is about to happen, to God be the Glory!