Eric Camp

I read a similar blog by Steven Furtick from Elevation Church and thought I would borrow some of his thoughts on this subject as I believe this is something we all deal with, especially if you are a pastor of church leader.

Meat, Milk and Malnourishment

One of the greatest critiques of the American Church today is that it’s malnourished. Some would even say it’s our most pressing problem.

When most people voice this complaint, the focus is on the worship experience. From people who leave these churches, you hear, “I wasn’t getting fed.” Or, “I just want some deeper teaching.” From people outside these churches you hear, “too much milk, not enough meat.”

In some cases, I’m sure this is true. But I really don’t think that’s the real problem. Yes, American Christians are malnourished. But I don’t believe it has anything to do with milk or meat.

Most American Christians aren’t malnourished because of what they’re getting fed on Sunday. They’re malnourished because they don’t feed themselves Monday through Saturday.

So you had filet mignon on Sunday and learned about the mystical union of Christ and the church as it relates to the rapture and the design of the tabernacle in relation to Levitical dietary laws as understood by the Council of Trent. Good for you. Have fun starving yourself the rest of the week and letting your pastor read the Bible so you don’t have to.

So you had some milk on Sunday and learned 37 ways to ________. Have fun having 37 new ways to not obey God during the coming week.

The crisis facing the church today isn’t what people are getting fed on Sundays. It’s what they’re not feeding themselves the rest of the days. Who really cares whether you consume meat or milk on Sunday if it’s the only meal you have all week?

I’m not saying this to get pastors and churches off the hook. It is the shepherd’s job to feed the sheep (John 21). And feed them well based on their needs and faith development. But it’s also the sheep’s job to eat:
13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:13-14

Here’s the point. Churches: we have a responsibility. We should serve up the Word, hot and fresh every single Sunday. As church leaders, it is our job to create and sustain processes and systems that responsibly enable people to grow in their faith after receiving Christ. Tomorrow I’ll be sharing our philosophy and approach of how we do that at Oasis.

People in our churches: you also have a responsibility. If you refuse to study the Word, apply it, pray some during the week, join a small group and dig deeper with others, there’s not much we can do to help you. Your malnourishment won’t be cured by anything we give you on Sunday.

So are you an infant and need milk? Drink it for now, but the only way you’re getting more mature and will be ready for meat is by training yourself. Constantly. Do you want meat? From these verses, it seems like meat is doing the milk. On your own. Constantly.

Not getting it served to you once a week.

This is the first season of the men’s softball team at Oasis and just in the past week or so I have been asked to take over the coaching responsibilities. I love coaching. It’s what I do for a living! It’s my calling! Being a Sr. Pastor,  I am a life coach everyday! Coaching is more than putting together a line-up and deciding who to play and where and when to substitute.

Before I go any further with that thought, the fan base that has come out to the games from Oasis… WOW! You guys rock! The crowds have been great and by far more of our people have come out than any other church we have played! The crowd has been large and loud! I love it! The Crowd in itself is motivation for the team. Without the support of the crowd, it would be difficult to stay motivated when we play in a slump or make an error or strike out or whatever.

The Crowd can also be challenging when you do make that error, because more people are watching and more people get disappointed when you do mess up. Case in point, I am a pretty aggressive base coach. If I think the runner can beat the throw, I am more likely to send them home than play it safe and remain on base. Twice this season I have made a bad judgement call and got the runner thrown out at home. It happens. The Crowd was disappointed. I was disappointed. The runner was disappointed.

With that foundation being made, Life is alot like softball. There will be the up days and the down days. Sometimes we make some bad calls, sometimes we make some right calls, sometimes we get a hit and sometimes we fly out. Sometimes we will be disappointed and sometimes we will be extremely joyous! Being a life coach and the coach of the softball team go hand and hand too. You have to place people in the right positions, which is where their strength and ability is, it is wise to place them in the right part of the lineup for better effectiveness of running through your batting order. (fast guys as lead off men and strength toward the middle of the lineup to bring them home). In life, people need to serve and do where they are gifted and talented in order to complete the picture of the puzzle of God’s Church.

We also however have to learn some valuable lessons…

You wont win every challenge. You wont always come out on top. The crowd will not always be cheering. You will make some mistakes. But  at the end of the day, even though the competition is tough and you want to win, we always have to remember that when it is all said and done, our character and class will be remembered far longer than whether we won or lost. I would rather lose every game and have loads of fun than go out there and play with tension and stress and lack of class any day!I’ll pull someone off the field for an attitude quicker than I will for making a fielding error.

Even with the crowd cheering and the roar of success when we achieve it, the most important voice is the voice of God. We are representing Jesus in every area of our lives. Listening to the One Voice that guides us and directs us is far more important than listening the voices of the crowd. Dont let the crowd drown out The One in your life.

In the midst of a crowd, I can pick out my wife’s or my son’s voice above all and I could hear them individually even in a crowd. The reason is because I am more familiar with their voice and they are my ultimate priority.

Make the Voice of The Holy Spirit your ultimate priority and whether you win or lose or the crowd is loud or silent, you know and understand in everything you do, you are really still playing for an audience of ONE.

I’ve been reading some good leadership books lately and I wanted to share one insight that I shared with my staff this morning.

Deuteronomy 28:1, 15

¹ If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.  ¹⁵ However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:

Now we all know that through relationship with Jesus, we are not cursed. But there can and will be consequences to actions whether they are obedient or disobedient actions.

The Vision Moses cast to the new generation of Israelites looked quite different from anything most leaders have communicated since then:

He cast vision for what life would look like if the people obeyed God fully. But he also cast vision for how life would turn out if they failed to obey God.

Not many leaders do this today! If any!

From then on, the people could see clearly the blessing of obedience and the curse of disobedience.

That’s the power of vision, from 2 angles. Such a vision helps people sort out what they will do, because they can think with the end in mind.

The Lord wants us to be prosperous and do great things. But so many of us put all the blessing and the curses or consequences on God when it is our actions or lack thereof that gets us there! It is our obedience that is rewarded and our disobedience that hinders!

In Daniel 6:3 the Scriptures state:

³ Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

One translation says he had an EXCELLENT Spirit… Daniel set himself apart. Daniel made the decision to excel and he was rewarded.

Daniel would have never received favor from the leaders of the day had he not set his mind on going above and beyond…

Make a decision today to follow in the way of The Lord and present yourself in all you do with the mind of excellence!

Let’s keep the end in mind and vision in focus!

How can you portray different angles of your vision?

(some content taken from “A Leader’s Heart” by John Maxwell)

In Church Growth, there are lids at various numbers and levels. The 200 lid, the 500 lid, the 800 lid,  the 1000 lid, etc… I have often wondered about these lids and why they occur. Being that Oasis Church is around the 700-800 mark now I think I can see somewhat of a lid forming. So what causes these lids? That I have given great thought about and think I have come up with some of the lids that we create.

1. Worship Facilities. The facilities can be a lid if we dont start running multiple services when we get 70-80% full. This includes your children’s area, your parking area, and your auditorium space. People want room and room is needed. So many pastors are scared to go to multiple services, but I promise you it will allow for at least a 20% growth. I was that pastor. When we started multiple services a year ago, we great another 20-30% within 6 months. MAKE ROOM! By the way, I love having multiple services. We dont do Sunday nights because we focus everything on the Sunday morning experiences!

2. Staff. Yes, I said staff. As the pastor, you have the primary responsibility of preaching and empowering. You must constantly preach vision to your staff and church and empower the staff to execute. Too many pastors dont release staff and want to take total thumb print control and will never grow. On the other hand, sometimes staff arent wired and geared to go where your vision may be leading you. Not that they are bad people, but sometimes they just cant take you to the next level and thus a lid gets created. You can tell this if the Pastor is constantly having to follow up with leaders. If you are a leader and your pastor has to follow up with you and constantly stay on you about doing whatever, you are the lid. You are not completing your arm of the vision and the pastor cant stay focused on leading to the next level because he is constantly having to pry the lid off and thus wasting time doing the job himself that he is paying you to do… just sayin…

This is a touch subject for many pastors and it is difficult because we love our people, we love our staff, but albeit, there comes a time when the best thing you can do pastor is let someone go. Full-time and compensated staff have to be led, but also have to managed like a business. We are in the people business. We are in the sin business. A youth pastor might could handle 50 in their youth group, but not 150. Guess what? You’ll never see 150 in that youth group.

Personally, I love what Rick Warren has always said, “pastors, you must lead your church as if you are 5 times larger than it already is.” Are you doing that? If not, YOU have created a lid. Most lids in my opinion are not the result of any spiritual dynamic, it is what we create. Many people like being small and alot of people dont want to reach more people… “Everyone wants to reach people until you start reaching people…” Let me remind you, if you are a pastor or Church Leader… YOUR JOB IS TO REACH PEOPLE. No matter what Susie Bell on the front row has to say about it!

So my encouragement to you if you are a pastor or church leader, dont allow lids to be created. Challenge yourself to initiate and do more than you have done. Get behind your pastor and EXCEL! I tell my staff all the time, “Dont bring me a problem without a solution. I will not do your job for you.” Take as much off your pastor as you can, I promise, unless you have been there, you dont know the pressure and struggle that being a Sr. Pastor really is!

I will be adding additional discussion on lids in the coming days.

Have a great weekend!

There are several things on my mind this morning and some I wanted to share with you…

First of all, the relief efforts for the tornado victims. We need all the supplies we can get or money to send to assist and do what we can to help the people in Central Alabama from these devastating storms. Please do your part! You can give online at http://oasisonline.tv/554145.ihtml and mark it Storm Relief or you can deliver supplies, INCLUDING CLOTHES, to the Oasis Admin offices and we will handle shipping to the centers of distribution. Thank you…

So many things are happening in the world and around Oasis, some have asked about updates on these things so… Here it is… Quick recap of the last week…

Easter Sunday… 82 souls saved with over 1000 in attendance on Sunday, Saturday, over 5000 for the Egg drop…. AMAZING! (Pastors, I hope and pray you had great numbers and life-change stories as well from Easter weekend…).

Sunday of this week at Oasis, 22 people got saved in the 2 morning Experiences! Again… AMAZING! We have witnessed at Oasis at least 520 people giving their heart to Jesus this year alone! There is a great harvest happening NOW! The largest attended 11:00 Experience since going to 2 Experiences was this past weekend… Let’s continue to PACK THE HOUSE!!!

Toni and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary this past weekend… Crazy how time flies! She’s still my sweetheart and I look forward to many many more years!

I hired / introduced Pamela Albanese as the new director of Children’s Ministries at Oasis. She will serve as the Children’s Pastor in “the Wave”. We are excited to welcome Pamela on staff to lead the mission for our children in this region. Rhonda Smith, who has been on my staff for the past several years is still here, just stepping aside as the Director. She will still be assisting Pamela and the other leaders who work in “The Wave”.

A quick word about titles… We don’t do titles at Oasis. We have to define the area that one is responsible for or works in sometimes, but titles are not something that we emphasize. Too many people want a title just for a title… A title doesn’t make you, you should make the title! That is backwards from culture I know, but I just don’t like the whole ego that titles sometimes  does to a person. Everyone wants a “pastor” title or “manage” or whatever… The title too many times is used too loosely. We don’t have time to focus on those things, we just need to focus on equipping people and reaching people for Jesus… He will set you apart and give you influence when your heart is on the ministry or the responsibilities of the position rather than the title of the position… Daniel 6:3 is the key verse for our team at Oasis right now… DISTINGUISH YOURSELVES and see the INFLUENCE increase! Lets just focus on EXCELLANCE! Sorry… Just a ramble there…

We are starting some renovations and update work on campus with the lobby, children’s dept, and auditorium as we are updating the stage set in the coming weeks. It’s just time. Change is good. We will be installing a state of the art computer check in system and member information system for all people who attend Oasis Church… This will be a way to stay connected better and also see all that is going on at Oasis within the membership and such… More to come on that…

Still looking for a bus for our youth… We need one… Let us know if you can help! Call my assistant, Kathy, at 228-762-5639 if you have any leads… Thank you to all who have contributed to this cause! You guys are great!!!!!!

Staff interviews and reviews are this week… Full evaluations of dept. heads and their leadership teams… That will be fun!

Mother’s Day is Sunday, Toni will be speaking in both AM Experiences… There will be a treat for moms too!

National Day of Prayer is Thursday at the Jackson County Courthouse… I will be leading one of the prayers… Hope to see you there!

Wednesday night, Toni continues teaching her series called “becoming” about the fruits of The Spirit… Great Teaching series! If any of you pastors or church leaders want the material, email her at tcamp@oasisonline.tv.

Ok, what else is on my mind this morning??? It is about staff prayer time at 8:00… So I need to wrap it up. Just some ramblings on what is going on around Oasis…

Very excited about all that is to come!

Have a great day all!!!

What a weekend at Oasis this past weekend! The 11:00 experience especially as the house was full and at least 21 people gave their lives to Jesus! I spoke a stand-alone message titled “EXTRAordinary” Our Creative Arts team did a heart-touching performance in both Experiences as well… It was a great weekend with Great attendance!!

We have begun soliciting all we can to assist in the Tornado Relief efforts that are taking place in Central Mississippi and Central Alabama. There are thousands of people with thousands of needs in those areas and this is a great opportunity for THE CHURCH to show up BIG time to help in their time of need… There is a list of items on our facebook page and on the OasisOnline.tv website as well as listed here for you to contribute. Please turn in items to the Admin office at Oasis between the hours of 9 and 3 Monday-Thursday. We will ship out every Wednesday. Funds can still be donated from our website or by manually turning into ADMIN as well.

Thank you all for your help and support for these people affected by these devastating storms…

Mother’s Day is Sunday and my wife Toni will be speaking in both Experiences… She is also teaching a class on the Fruits of The Spirit on Wednesday nights in Higher Grounds for all adults… Hope you can make it!

Have a great week and thanks again for your help in the relief efforts. If you have any questions, you can contact the Oasis Church ADMIN dept at 228-762-5639. Thanks again.

Supplies Needed:

Water, Food, diapers, Work Gloves.

Generators◦Covered Trailers

Box Trucks

Batteries

Flashlights

Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, body wash, shampoo, etc.)

Toilet paper and paper towels

Paper Plates and Plastic Utensils

Towels

Wash cloths

Blankets

Baby diapers and wipes

Baby food / formula

Bottled water

Juice (individual)

Garbage Bags

Work Gloves

Tarps

Rakes

Shovels

Chainsaws

Gas Cans

WOW! What a weekend at Oasis Church! Over 5000 people at the Easter Egg drop on Saturday in the largest event we have ever pulled off as a church! THANK YOU to all the volunteers that made it possible! Over 120 people in our church came together to pull this event off… AMAZING! Jason and Amy Warren are the instruments that were used to coordinate and organize this event. I am so thankful and proud to have them on our staff as Outreach Pastors!!!!

The Easter Experience on Sunday at the PHS Gym was a huge success as well! Over 1000 people in attendance and at least 80 who gave their lives to Jesus!! The Video will be online at http://www.OasisOnline.tv soon.

It is really awesome to see that somehow our invite card to the Easter Egg Drop made the Jay Leno show on the Headlines segment! WOW! Here is the link: http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/headlines-4-25-11/1322422?__source=tnt|home|featured|recent .

I am amazed! I am so thankful to be a part of a life-giving movement here on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi! Words cannot describe how thankful I am to The Lord for giving me this amazing opportunity to reach people for Him! Again, to all the staff and leaders and volunteers at Oasis… THANK YOU ALL! I pray for you daily! You are making the Dream a reality!!!

We also have a new Children’s Ministries Director at Oasis. Pamela Albanese will be taking the reigns this week as the Children’s Pastor of “The Wave”. We are excited about her implementing the vision she has for children in teaching them about Jesus! Pamela is a certified teacher at Ocean Springs Elementary and her husband Beau also serves in Pastoral Care and Security at Oasis.

There is much that I could say, I just ask you check out the facebook page of the church and my personal page if you would like to get follow-ups on all these things that are happening at Oasis… Great weekend! I hope and pray for all you pastors and other churches that you will continue to see the harvest that Jesus has called us to go after in your churches! Our facebook page at Oasis is http://www.Facebook.com/OasisChurchGulfCoast and my facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/ericcamp… You can follow me on Twitter too at http://www.Twitter.com/ericcamp.

Have a great week!!!

I’m currently sitting in the hotel room just reflecting on some of the great things already happening at the ARC conference in Baton Rouge at Healing Place Church… So many confirmations on what The Lord is saying in these days to His Church! It is great being able to spend some personal time with the Lead Team from Oasis and connect with them on more of a personal level and see them excited as I have been to be a part of the ARC. I can’t say enough about ARC. The Relationships that are built and the support that is available throughout ARC is the main reason I love this Organization so much!

I am so looking forward to the next 2 days of this conference!!! Meeting and connecting with these guys who have been mentors in my life for the past couple – three years is such a blessing!!!

I am also thrilled that for the first time, I have the love of my life, my co-pilot, and my best friend with me on this trip! My wife has never been able to accompany me on one of these trips… Not being familiar with Baton Rouge and all the road construction and other things, I have realized what a blessing to have her with me to keep me on the right street and to help navigate this entire trip! By The Way…. I LOVE BATON ROUGE! Great city! But still, WAR EAGLE!!! Anyway…

Dino Rizzo talked on RELATIONSHIPS last night and how that the vision of ARC, Association of RELATED Churches, was to connect in a very RELATIONAL and REAL way. I have come to the conclusion that there are so many people who dont have real authentic friendships… especially pastors. Some thoughts Dino shared about friendships and characteristics were:

1. A friend is willing to sacrifice

2. A friend is a loyal defense

3. A friend gives you freedom to be yourself

4. A friend is a source of strength and encouragement…

Many of us can say those are pretty important characteristics of a true friend… So do you have that in your life? If not… the other key statement made was “if you want friends… show yourself FRIENDLY”.

I pray we dont do life alone… I pray if you are one who truly needs a friend and solid relationships that you will show yourself friendly and The Lord honor and reward you with deep authentic relationships…!

Oasis… Toni and I love you all so dearly! Our Church is going to do great things in South Mississippi!! Already seeing it!!! Easter is going to be amazing!!! I pray for you all today and encourage you to stay focused on the THRIVE challenge!!! Will see you all this weekend!! Have a great day and amazing week!!!

This Past Wednesday night, I challenged our mid-week crowd to take the “Thrive” Challenge starting Thursday, March 31 and lasting for 21 days… This challenge consists of a fast and daily disciplines that are outlined in the THRIVE booklet… see attached.

Why?

Why do this?

Well… We are in a pivotal season as The Church. Oasis is in a pivotal season. Easter is coming up, thousands of people are going to be saved by the Grace of God, and many Christians are being led to “go deeper” in their walk with Jesus… We are attempting to help in that desire…

So many are living their lives just “surviving”… not THRIVING. God’s plan has never been for us to just SURVIVE… He desires for us to THRIVE.

Read the following which is the THRIVE booklet and I encourage you to take this challenge with us… Let’s believe God to do GREATER things as we are obedient and rely on HIM.

Thrive Booklet:

What is THRIVE?

Thrive is a 3 week spiritual journey focused on moving us from a place of surviving to THRIVING! During this time, our church will unite by Praying, Fasting, & Giving to see old cycles broken, align with the timing of God, and establish ourselves in a place of Financial Freedom.

Webster’s definition of THRIVE is:

1. to grow vigorously

2. to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances

3. to gain in wealth or possessions

1. 21-day Thrive Challenge

Pray, Fast, & Give every day for 21 days.

We believe as we do this together for 21 days, we will grow spiritually, see obstacles removed, and move toward personal Financial Freedom.

2. Passover // Special Offering

Sow a financial seed for the Passover / Easter Offering.

3. 21 Day Thrive Commitment and Special Financial Goal

1. According to the scientific community, it takes just 21 days to develop a habit, good or bad! By uniting to Pray, Fast, & Give for 21 days, we will develop powerful spiritual habits that can last a lifetime!

2. We are in an appointed time on God’s calendar. We are in a season of heightened spiritual activity. Jesus often performed miracles around Passover as well as Pentecost and Tabernacle. It is important to align ourselves with God’s timing.

3. God is moving! We want to move with Him, from just surviving to THRIVING!

Let’s get started. It’s time to move from surviving to THRIVING!

*Important Notice: Fasting requires reasonable precautions. If you have any health concerns, please consult your physician prior to beginning your fast, especially if you are taking any medication, have a chronic condition, or are pregnant or nursing a baby.

Day 1 – Thursday

Read the story of Passover in Exodus 12 & 13. Meditate on the power of God’s deliverance. Ask God to show you

areas in your life where culture has enslaved you. Write down the areas in your life you want God to help you in

moving from surviving to THRIVING.

Thrive Challenge: Wake up 30 minutes earlier every morning during this challenge to create margin or extra

time for your spiritual growth.

Journal Entry

How are we going to THRIVE?

Why now?

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Day 2 – Friday

Read Isaiah 58:6-8. List the promises mentioned that result from a fasting lifestyle.

Thrive Challenge: Box up unopened food items that you won’t be using during this fast and give them as an offering to the hungry. Drop it off at Higher Grounds Café or any other local food pantry (ex: bread, cookies, sweets, meat, sodas, etc.).

Journal Entry

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Day 3 – Saturday

Read Daniel 1:8-15. Daniel resisted the foods and practices of his culture and became stronger and healthier than

those around him. Ask God to give you and others supernatural strength and favor as we fast. Write down

areas in your life where you’ve developed an appetite for culture. How has that appetite affected your life?

Thrive Challenge: Calculate the money you will save by fasting and consider applying this toward your THRIVE

Commitment.

Journal Entry

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Day 4 – Sunday

Read Acts 10. Cornelius, through Praying, Fasting, and Giving, brought an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to his

culture.

Thrive Challenge: Unite with other believers for a time of prayer and worship either at Oasis, your home, or

somewhere in your community.

Journal Entry

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Day 5 – Monday

Read Galatians 5:1. FREEDOM!

Thrive Challenge: Ask the Lord today how He would have you use your gifts and talents for FREEDOM to Thrive at Oasis. Visit www.OasisOnline.tv or the facebook page at www.Facebook.com/OasisChurchGulfCoast or the Guide  to explore ways to connect through volunteering, participating in small groups, getting equipped, and serving through missions outreach opportunities.

Journal Entry

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Day 6 – Tuesday

Read Romans 12:1-2. Ask God to renew your mind and reveal to you His plan for you to THRIVE.

Thrive Challenge: Don’t read or watch any news today. Instead, choose to read or watch something positive.

Also, unite with other believers for a time of prayer and worship either at Oasis, your home, or somewhere in your community.

Journal Entry

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Day 7 – Wednesday

Matthew 6:25-34 reads: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body,what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sowor reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry,saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Thrive Challenge: Apply the principle of this passage and commit to coming to church every Sunday during the 21-day Thrive Challenge. Be an active worshipping and giving participant in each weekend service.

Journal Entry

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Day 8 – Thursday

Read 1 Cor. 10:1-13. Ask God to empower you to THRIVE. List areas in your life that you currently are facing

temptation or just surviving and ask God to provide you the way to THRIVE in that area.

Thrive Challenge: Do what James 5:16 tells us to do. Get transparent! Have the courage to share your struggles

with someone else and believe God for the breakthrough.

Journal Entry

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Day 9 – Friday

Read Numbers 11:1. Write down the areas in your life that you find yourself continually complaining.

Thrive Challenge: Regardless of circumstances, don’t allow yourself to complain about anyone or anything for

the entire day.

Journal Entry

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Day 10 – Saturday

Read Matthew 11:28-30. Embrace God’s Sabbath for you, your friends, and family.

Thrive Challenge: Disconnect from culture today by avoiding technology (TV, computers, video games, etc.)

and use that time do something special with your friends or family.

Journal Entry

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Day 11 – Sunday

Read Proverbs 28:27. Consider that there are over 2 billion people in the world living in poverty, surviving on less than $1 per day.

Thrive Challenge: Ask the Lord to show you an area in your life that you could make a sacrifice (ex. reduce cable, sell a possession, fast a meal regularly, etc.). Consider giving that amount to make a difference in another person’s life.

Journal Entry

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Day 12 – Monday

Read Psalm 103. Make a list of the blessings you are currently enjoying.

Thrive Challenge: Don’t pray today for anything. Simply, praise God for everything.

Journal Entry

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Day 13 – Tuesday

Read Matthew 20:25-28. Consider ways in which you can follow Christ by serving others.

Thrive Challenge: Serve our community by participating in the Easter Events for Easter weekend -or- demonstrate a random act of kindness to someone.

Journal Entry

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Day 14 – Wednesday

Matthew 6:25-34 reads: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body,what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sowor reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, whichis here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Thrive Challenge: Apply the principle of this passage and commit to coming to church every Sunday for the remainder of the 21-day Thrive Challenge. Be an active worshipping and giving participant in each weekend Experience.

Journal Entry

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Day 15 – Thursday

Read Numbers 13:1-31, 14:1-10. Joshua and Caleb had a different perspective because of their faith. They

had a different spirit which caused them to see giant opportunities where others saw giant obstacles.

Thrive Challenge: Take a “giant” step today. Start that project, initiate that conversation, do that thing you’ve

been dreaming about today!

Journal Entry

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Day 16 – Friday

Read Mark 11:23-24. Consider the obstacles and challenges that hold you back from THRIVING.

Thrive Challenge: Write down this scripture and carry it with you all day. Any time you face an obstacle or have

a thought about one of your challenges you may be facing, simply read this scripture out loud to your obstacle.

Journal Entry

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Day 17 – Saturday

Read Mark 2:27. Sabbath is literally translated “take a breath.” Ask the Lord to reveal to you areas of your life

where you need to “take a breath.”

Thrive Challenge: Get outside with friends or family. “Take a breath” and explore God’s creation and enjoy

cultivating THRIVING relationships with those you love.

Journal Entry

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Day 18 – Sunday

Read Matthew 26:26-28. Jesus often ate a meal with His friends. He used this time of community and communion

to build and strengthen their relationships. He also used a meal to represent becoming our Passover Lamb at the

Last Supper.

Thrive Challenge: Gather with your friends or family, share communion, and pray for courage needed to fulfill the radical faith steps you’re considering in order to THRIVE.

Journal Entry

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Day 19 – Monday

Read Psalm 19:14. In this passage of scripture King David is asking that the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart be pleasing to the Lord.

Thrive Challenge: With your close friends or family, reflect on your journal entries from this 21-day THRIVE

Challenge. Make note of your successes, where you are now THRIVING, and how Praying, Fasting, and Giving has

changed your life.

Journal Entry

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Day 20 – Tuesday

Read the story of the widow in 1 Kings 17:8-16. The widow moved from surviving to THRIVING by the act of giving in faith. Consider the radical step of faith you want to take to move from surviving to THRIVING.

Thrive Challenge: Make it a point to initiate that radical step of faith… JUST DO IT!

Journal Entry

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Day 21 – Wednesday

Psalm 105:37 says, “He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes.”

Meditate on this scripture as we discuss Passover and Easter and move from surviving to THRIVING!

Thrive Challenge: Join us for the Refresh service tonight to celebrate our victories from our 21-day THRIVE Challenge and give our “first fruits” Passover / Easter Offering to the Lord.

Move

from

surviving

to

THRIVING!

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