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1. Personal Devotion--Private Prayer and the Word
Daily devotion is imperative for a productive and living connection to God. There's no minimum or maximum time limit set; this is simply your personal time alone with God and His Word. The Apostle Paul's instruction to the Thessalonians was "Pray without ceasing." Daily devotion--connection to God--gives God an opportunity to speak into your life and direct your steps.
2. Prayer--Corporate/Public Prayer
While private prayer and devotion is important, so is corporate/public prayer. From time to time, special church prayer meetings are held. Your participation in these are encouraged. Our challenge for corporate/public prayer is two-fold. Every service is preceded by 20-25 minutes of Pre-Service Prayer 9:30 AM & 5:30 PM on Sundays and 7:00 PM on Wednesdays. Your connection to these times of prayer is vital to the moving of God's Spirit in that service! Also, our Altar Services are a great time of corporate/public prayer. An altar service can alter a destiny!
3. The Word
The Psalmist David wrote, "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." This connect point is two fold.(1) Daily Bible reading should be a part of your daily devotion plan. A wide variety of reading plans are available to help you. Whatever plan you choose, the important matter is connecting to the Word daily.(2) In addition, we want everyone at ALC to be connected to a Sunday School class. Classes for children and adults are geared to impart the Word of God in ways that help us understand its application to daily life. Get connected to the Word each week through Sunday School!
4. Fasting
There are a multitude of scriptures regarding fasting. In Joel the commandment of the Lord was, " . . . turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting . . " Jesus instructed the disciples, saying, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting . . ." Jesus himself fasted forty days. So it is that we, as 21st century apostolics, follow the practice of fasting. Fasting can take many forms. You can fast a particular favorite food for a specific amount of time. You can fast one meal or three meals. You can fast a day, where you eat only one late afternoon/evening meal per day. There are specific kinds of fasts for specific needs. Search the scriptures. Make fasting a regular part of your service to God.
5. Family
Monday night is Family Night at Abundant
Life Church. No events or activities are placed on our church calendar
for Monday evenings in order to allow our church family to set aside
this one evening for special time together with their families. As a
church, we are committed to building strong Christian families. We
believe our community, our state, and our nation can be strengthened as
Christian homes are strengthened. Make sure your family has Family
Night!
6. Worship
The thread of worship
winds its way from Genesis to Revelation. We hear Abraham saying, "I
and the lad will go yonder and worship" (Genesis 22). We find John in
Revelation commanding simply, "Worship God." We rejoice in the Psalms
as David the worshiper cries, "O come let us worship . . ." In Hebrews
the command is clear, " . . . let us consider one another to provoke
unto love and to good works, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together . . . so much the more as ye see the day approaching." The day
of His coming is nearer than ever before. In worship we can ready
ourselves by the strength and power found only in His presence.
7. Evangelism--Give Me Five!
Luke
recorded the singular mission of Jesus Christ: "The Son of man is come
to seek and to save that which was lost." We read in John 4 that the
woman at the well in Samaria actually led her city to Jesus Christ.
Revelation tells us we overcome by the word of our testimony. "Give Me
Five" refers to five people with whom you will connect until they are
brought to Christ. The list of five is made up of four "new" people
(those who have never been brought to Christ through salvation) and one
person who is "Missing in Action" (those who used to attend this church
but no longer attend church). We must reach the lost, both those who
have never known Him and those who are MIA, for "He is not willing that
any should perish!"
8. Discipleship
There
were those who followed Jesus from a distance, much like we "follow the
news" today. There were those who followed Him a little more closely,
found among the masses here and there as they gathered. Then there were
the twelve, the men who followed Him closely . . . His disciples. There
was then, and there is now, a price to be paid for discipleship. His
call to discipleship requires a full-life commitment. It goes beyond
church membership and attendance at Sunday services: "Then said Jesus
unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save
his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?"
9. Personal Involvement
Abundant
Life Church provides multiple opportunities for ministry. While there
are specific requirements for certain levels of involvement, there is
always something you can do to become involved in a ALC Ministry. From
greeters to Sunday School teachers, musicians to magicians, there is a
place for you to give of yourself. Ministry opportunities are available
in the following areas: Audio/Visual, Children's Ministry, Christian
Education, Discipling, Guest Services, Home Bible Studies, Ladies
Ministries, Men's Ministries, Music, Prayer, Senior Citizens, World
Missions, Youth . . . You have a God-given ability He wants you to
share with others. We'll help you find your place!
10. Fellowship
As
we study the book of Acts, we find that they "continued steadfastly" in
the Apostles' Doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. We
cannot neglect the value of fellowship with likeminded believers. John
wrote, ". . . If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin." Invite someone to your house for dinner!
Or, make plans to meet someone at a local restaurant and share a "dutch
treat" meal. Go for a walk with a friend or two. Create opportunities
in your life for fellowship!
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