Summer Growth Groups Rooted Strong

I had the opportunity to visit each of our Growth Groups during our kick off week. It was great to see the groups filled with people studying the stories in God's Word. As we have entered week two, we are seeing the power of Growth Groups. God's Word is alive and we are seeing discipleship occur in our church through our groups. I am delighted to see new people are in Growth Groups this semester. I am thrilled to hear each week new people are sharing the Bible story or facilitating the group. Our goal is to see disciples made who in turn will make more disciples. 

I have two challenges for those who call Ridgeview their church home:

1) Join a Growth Group this summer. Do the things needed to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

2) If you are in a Growth Group, consider now the possibility of leading one in the Fall. Start asking to share the Bible story for the next week. Start asking now to help co-facilitate with your Growth Group leader.

Growth Groups are the primary way we make disciples at Ridgeview. Join one; look to leading one in the future. You'll be glad you did!

In Christ,

Pastor Tommy

Summer Growth Groups: Here we go!

We've gotten off to a great start to our summer Growth Groups semester. Our Growth Groups are meeting each week during this summer up to August 14. They are open groups. If you would like to jump in on one of them, I promise you will enjoy your experience. Also, because each week we will be taking a story from the Gospels, you can jump in at anytime and not be behind. As I shared Sunday, there is no discipleship without relationships. We want to see people at Ridgeview become disciples!

I'm looking forward to this Sunday as we begin a new message series on Father's Day entitled "Man 2 Man." Men, I will unpack for you what it means to be a shepherd warrior. We are going to look to God's Word and the model of Jesus to help us become better men, better husbands,
better fathers, better leaders, better co-workers, better Christ-followers.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tommy

Are we making disciples at Ridgeview who are making disciples?

That question above has convicted me deeply as a Pastor. There are many things a church can be busy doing; good things. But, are we doing the main thing? Jesus gives us the main thing in His Great Commission. He says in Matthew 29:19-20, "19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 
I believe we are doing a good job in the "going" part of the Great Commission, at least in our community. I believe there are a few minor tweaks we will be making for this summer Growth Group semester that will improve the "making disciples" part of Jesus' command. At Ridgeview, we have people at all different levels of spiritual maturity. We have new Christians (infants) who are just learning the truth of the Bible. We have Christians in our church who are on the child level who are coming out of the infant stage of Christianity and are growing spiritually, developing habits of Bible study and prayer, and giving of their time and money to God, and are building relationships with God's people. We have people who are young adults in their spiritual journey. Just like natural children, spiritual children do go into things with the attitude of "it's more about me." Christians who are young adults in their faith move into more of an attitude of becoming less self-centered and more others centered. They begin to see themselves as a minister. They tithe and give their time not out of duty or sense of obligation, but out of a sense of thankfulness and love. Then, there are those who are spiritual parents. They have not arrived spiritually but they are growing and serving. They see themselves as one who intentionally needs to invest in others so they can make disciples who are making disciples. Parents reproduce and make babies! 


My question is where are you? Are you at the infant level in your discipleship stage? The child level? The young adult level? The parent level? There is nothing wrong about being at the infant or child level in your Christian faith. But, God does not want you to stay in that stage. I recently saw a documentary on television about a thirty year old man who is known as an adult baby. He had the capacity to feed himself but chose as he came home at the end of the day a caretaker to feed him, put diapers on him, wear kid's pajamas, and tuck him in his adult sized crib at night. He even built an adult high chair. It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen in my life because that is not normal! It is not normal, or it should not be normal, nor is it God's will for Christians to stay stuck in the child level. The Bible says in 1 Peter 1:2-3, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."


Here's my challenge. We are beginning our summer Growth Groups semester starting this Sunday, June 12. We are not doing any topical type studies by a popular Christian author or going to go through a Christian devotional book. Nothing wrong with them. But, we are simply going to go through the Gospels this summer and take one story each week from the Bible and go on this journey of "Following Jesus Together." MY CHALLENGE FOR YOU IS TO JOIN A GROWTH GROUP THIS SUMMER! Why? BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY ARE THE BEST TOOLS WE HAVE IN THE CHURCH WHEN COMBINED WITH THE BIBLE & THE HOLY SPIRIT TO MAKE DISICIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES! The Bible says in Hebrews 3:12-13, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." You cannot make disciples in the church without being in relationship with other believers who are open and transparent with one another around the Word of God.

When we combine Growth Groups (people who are in a relational environment with one another) who are taking the stories in the Bible and in cooperation with the Holy Spirit are open and honest with one another, we will see disciples made. We will see disciples who follow Christ, are being changed by Christ, and are committed to the mission of Christ.We will see people move from the infant stage of Christianity to the parent stage where they are investing in others to raise others up to become spiritual parents  themselves. Listed below are the Growth Groups we are offering this summer. You can sign up for them Sunday on your Connection Card or at the Growth Groups table, or you can contact Paul Eill (paul@ridgeviewchurch.net) to find a Growth Group for you. Make the choice today. God has called you to be a disciple who makes disciples!

In Christ,

Pastor Tommy

*Brown Growth Group: Sundays, 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the home of Gloria Bupp (10 Windward Peak Ct, Greer)

*Hargrove Growth Group: Sundays, 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the home of Tommy & Tanya Hargrove (14 Swenson Ct, Taylors)

*Eill Growth Group: Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the home of Paul & Paula Eill (21 Cottage Ln, Taylors)

*Culbertson Growth Group: Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the home of Rex & Carolyn Culbertson (4476 Hawkins Rd, Greer)

Please welcome our new worship leader!

This Sunday will mark the first official Sunday our new part-time worship leader begins. His name is Taylor Strutton. He is pictured above in the middle. Taylor is a North Greenville University student working towards his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. He is going into his senior year. Taylor loves the Lord and is excited about leading Ridgeview in worship through music. He is a very talented young man with the ability to play a variety of instruments such as piano, guitar, and any form of percussion. Vocally, he is top notch! Please make a point of welcoming his this Sunday as he makes this transition to Ridgeview!

Also, I would like to thank those who have taken the mantle of leadership on the worship team during this time of transition. Jenny Dunster was a huge help and did an excellent job after our worship leader left for Buffalo, NY. Most recently, Jennifer White stepped in and led us in sweet times of worship. I appreciated how both ladies gave their very best to God in leading worship. There's a lesson for all of us, no matter what we do to serve Christ. Scripture says in Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." When we all have that mindset, we realize we must give our best for God. To this end we labor!

See you Sunday!

This Sunday: Morning Student Sunday/Graduate Recognition Service, Evening Banana Splits & Outdoor Movie Night

I am pumped about this upcoming Sunday! C.J. Cauble and our Ridgestudents will be leading us in worship. C.J. and the student worship band are ready to go!  We will also recognize our graduates on their fine accomplishment. Later that Sunday evening we'll gather at O'Neal Village to enjoy banana splits and an outdoor movie. I encourage you to invite your family and friends to the great time of fellowship we'll have Sunday night. It's a great way to build relationships and share the love of Jesus with many people! It's going to be a great Sunday morning and evening!

Hope to see you then!

Pastor Tommy

Former Ridgeview Worship & Student Pastor Milo Wilson To Preach Live This Sunday! (And Why I Believe It Was A Good Thing They Left To Help With A Church Plant In Buffalo, NY)

Okay, before the hate mail comes, let me explain. Just read some excerpts from the book, The American Church in Crisis. Please let this sink in:

"More than 91 million people live in the United States today who did not live here 16 years ago. 70 million of them are under the age of 17.  (factoring in birth rate and immigration).  In no single state did church attendance keep up with population growth.  The states with the greatest decline were in the New England region."

"We need 3,205 new churches every year to keep up with American population growth. That number is 10 times higher than the actual net gain of churches."

"3,700 church closings and 4,000 church starts each year.  Net gain of 300.  We need 3,205 just to keep up with population growth."

Ten Reasons to Plant Churches

1. Large majority of Americans do not attend churches.
2. New churches are more effective than established churches at conversion growth.  3-4 times the conversion rate of existing churches.
3. New churches are more effective to reach ethnic populations as it's more difficult for existing churches to become more diverse.
4. New churches are historically the best method for reaching the emerging generation.
5. New churches are a test lab for lay leadership.  People often report that helping launch a church was the most spiritually significant part of their faith journey.
6. New churches provide research and development for the Church.
7. New churches provide a channel to express the energy and ideas of passionate, innovative young pastors.  Denominations need stabilizers and innovators.
8. New churches can sustain growth for the next forty years
9. New churches provide synergistic benefits to established churches.  Denominations that plant many strong churches have more healthy, growing and established churches.
10. New churches lower the age profile of the American church, increase its multiethnicity and better position the whole church for future changes.
11. 
    

Predictions for 2020

1. Population attending Christian church on any weekend will drop from 17.5 percent to 14.7 percent.
2. 55,000 churches will close between 2005 and 2020, while 60,000 new churches will open.  Net gain of 4,500 churches, though the population will require 48,000 new churches.
3. Evangelical church attendance will be 8.5 percent.

"Whoever wants to save their life will lost it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." – existing churches must embrace this teaching of Jesus.

I believe Milo and Erin Wilson made an incredibly selfless decision to lose their lives for Christ and go to Buffalo, New York in helping with a new church. I believe church planting is one of the most important things churches must be doing as they make disciples. I look forward to interviewing Milo and Erin Sunday on the great things happening at The Well Church and how our dollars are being used to reach people in this heavily unchurched area. I also look forward to hearing Milo share our final message in the Parenthood series as he tackles  the issue of discipline.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tommy

Our Parenthood series continues this Sunday as we open up one of the most known stories in the Bible, the Prodigal son of Luke 15. We will see that God understands the pain all of us go through when someone we love rebels against God. From this story in Luke 15, we will learn some principles we can apply in reaching the prodigals in our lives whether they are a son, a daughter, a spouse, or a relative or friend.

Hope to see you Sunday!

Pastor Tommy

Mother's Day Celebration With Special Guest Ruth McWhite, North Greenville University Director of Women's Ministries

What a special Sunday we are going to have this Mother's Day at Ridgeview. I am pleased to share that my friend Ruth McWhite, director of women's ministries at North Greenville University, will be our speaker. Ruth is a dynamic speaker and will touch your heart with her love for the Lord and love for His Word. As we are in the middle of our Parenthood series, Ruth will speak directly to our mothers this Sunday. She speaks from experience as a mother who has kids both in school and who are married. You will be encouraged!

Also, I look forward to sharing a children's message with our Ridgekidz in the worship service and they will be singing a worship song they've worked on to present this Sunday. There's even going to be some motions to it! It's going to be a great day! Hope to see you then!

Pastor Tommy

I am excited about this retreat! It will be an incredible opportunity to come together to receive some training on principles of making disciples who make disciples with guest speaker Mike Mohler of Trinity Point Church, Easley. One of the last things Jesus said as He ascended into heaven was, "Go and make disciples..." We must obey what Jesus commanded!

Every Christian in our church is at a certain level as a disciple. They may be a spiritual infant who has just come to Christ. They may be a spiritual child that is developing the habits of Bible study and prayer and growing in their relationship with God. Others are spiritual young adults; they are becoming less self-centered and more others centered. They are beginning to see themselves as a minister. Our goal for every disciple at Ridgeview is to become a spiritual
parent. A spiritual parent is a mature disciple but continually growing and developing in their personal relationship with God and as a disciple of Jesus Christ. They understand their role as one who needs to intentionally invest in others- making disciples who can make disciples.

The most important thing we must be about doing at Ridgeview is going and making disciples who can make disciples. We are convinced that the best way to do that is through relational environments! The relational environment tool that we use at Ridgeview is Growth Groups. We have seen time and time again over these last seven years great spiritual growth in the lives of those who choose to be a part of a Growth Group.

So, let me ask you to seriously consider coming to this retreat May 6-7. For $25 you will have three meals paid for and an incredible opportunity on how you can learn to be a disciple who makes disciples. This is one of the most important training events we've ever done. I hope to see you there!

Easter Sunday and Parenthood

What a wonderful Palm Sunday worship celebration we had, especially the baptisms! I'm looking forward to this Easter Sunday as we begin a new series entitled, "Parenthood." This Sunday we will deal with the parent's two priorities in raising their children. Let me encourage you parents to be here Sunday with your family. I'm going to share an interesting study Sunday. You've got to be here this Sunday to fill in the blanks, but here it is:

Kids Who Become Active Christ-Followers As Adults
If mom and dad went to church: __________ % of kids will as adults.
If mom only went to church: __________ % of kids will as adults.
If dad only went to church: __________ % of kids will as adults.
If neither mom nor dad: __________% of kids will as adults.

I promise the percentages will surprise you and are a big wake up call for all of us! One final thought; what does a series on parenting have to do with Easter? Well, I believe that because Jesus rose from the dead, He can help us with our families. Scripture says in Ephesians 1:18-20,  18) I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19) and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20) which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms..." Because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead, the penalty for our sin has been paid for. And because He rose from the dead, for those who have believed in His name (like many of the parents at Ridgeview), they have the power to lead their families; the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!

Praise God! You may be struggling in your parenting skills but you have help available. You have God's Word and you have God's Spirit that gives you power. I look forward to seeing how God's Word and God's Spirit come together as we share principles from Deuteronomy 6 on effective parenting and praise the Jesus who gives us all hope!

See you Sunday!

Pastor Tommy